The sun was shining, the birds were singing and there was even a cool breeze to sweep off the heat of the day and rustle the trees. The air smelled of sunshine and rainbows and kittens and-

Arthur wanted to puke.

He held a small brown bag with a thin green card peeking out the top that was—of course—from Alfred as well as Arthur.

Because Arthur just had to agree to come to Alfred's stupid family's party...bollocks.

"Arthur, Darling!" A feminine voice exclaimed, a slight northern accent on her tongue.

"Mrs. Jones!" Arthur said, throwing his arms out to meet the woman's, and putting on a (rather convincing) fake smile.

"Oh please, Dear. How many times must I tell you? Call me Amelia."

Arthur chuckled nervously and nodded. Bloody Americans. He thought. With their bloody friendliness and their stupid smiling.

"Alfred is over there with the kids, he said you would be late. Oh, is that a present come righ-"

But Arthur wasn't listening. Instead, he was staring in the direction Mrs. Jones had indicated only moments before. There, Alfred was smiling. It was an amazing smile. It was genuine, not teasing, but a true smile of happiness. He watched as Alfred picked up a small blonde boy and threw him in the air. Both of them were wearing matching baseball caps, and the little boy had a glove.

"He's always been good with kids."

Arthur snapped back into reality, turning to face Alfred's mom (who was smiling knowingly.) "He coaches the little league, did you know that?"

Arthur shook his head, that no, he didn't know that.

Mrs. Jones just chuckled and tugged Arthur away gently. "Care to meet the others? Or should we just stare at Alfie all day?"

Arthur blushed up to his ears and followed along behind Amelia as quick as possible. That woman was evil.

The rest of Alfred's family was just like all the ones before. Happy, friendly, and all around nice. After just a few "hello's" and a handful of stolen smiles, the Jones family had completely accepted Arthur.

It wasn't until the food was served that Alfred came over, the little boy clinging to his hand. "Hey, Artie!" Alfred said, his worried eyes not matching his bright smile. "This is Peter."

Arthur looked down at the blonde clutching at Alfred's hand. He had the Jones' trademark blue eyes, but (as strange as it was) his eyebrows looked a lot like-

"Who are you? Are you Uncle Alfred's wife?"

Arthur spluttered. "Wife?"

Alfred could barely contain his laughter. "Yes, yes he is, Peter."

"He looks funny!"

Arthur's eyebrows dipped down in confusion and (though he'd never admit it) hurt.

"C'mon, Peter. Be nice. 'Sides. Arthur looks fine to me." With that, Alfred swooped down and pecked Arthur on the lips.

They had kissed plenty of times before. Arthur feared how many times they had in Vegas. Then there was when Alfred's parents came over.

But they had never done it because they truly wanted to. It was a short, sweet, little thing that really shouldn't have meant anything at all—merely a greeting—but to them...it was their first kiss.

Alfred coughed and sat down. It was as if he hadn't thought about kissing Arthur before he did it—but that it was simply instinct.

"Whatever," Peter said, shrugging, "Can you pass the watermelon?"

Later in the day, after they had all loosened their belts and played a few more rounds of baseball, Peter, Alfred, and Arthur went out for a short walk in the park. They hadn't planned it, exactly. It just happened. At the time, Arthur had been entertaining Peter with Pirate stories when the young boy suddenly announced that he needed to use the bathroom. This prompted Arthur to search for Alfred because he himself had no idea where anything was in "this bloody hellhole of a park."

And soon their short walk turned into an even shorter run as Peter announced his dire need of relief.

Arthur stood outside the bathroom, waiting for Peter and Alfred to get out, as the line was rather long.

"Arthur?" A voice called.

Arthur turned to find the last person he ever expected to see—Elizabeth.

"Eliza?"

"Wow, imagine meeting you here!" Elizabeth exclaimed, almost over-doing it. Perhaps she was uncomfortable seeing her ex. "You look...you look great, Arthur."

Arthur nodded. Why was she talking to him? "I suppose."

"Wow...this...this is great. Um...Do you want to maybe go out sometime and-"

Arthur shook his head quickly. "No! No. I'm sorry. But...I'm busy, yes? I have work...and right now there's this party and-"

Elizabeth's eyes seemed to spark. "You really are doing great..."

What's that supposed to mean? Arthur wanted to scream. You expected me to be a sniveling mess?

"Well...um...it's been nice taking to you. Weird...bumping into you like that."

"Yes, I rather agree."

Elizabeth turned briskly and almost fled the scene. Arthur didn't feel a pang of longing...not one spot of regret. Except maybe buying that ring.

He did wonder where that had gone to...

"Arite~!" A hand slipped into his own. It felt nice, warm...natural. Even though it was still wet (at least Alfred washed his hands.)

Peter took Alfred's other hand and the group made it back to the party that was sure to be ending soon.

That night, for the first time, Arthur didn't mind heading back to Alfred's apartment.

He laid in his (Alfred's) bed, the covers seemingly softer than usual. "When I was younger," He told Alfred on the couch just across the room, "I used to love boats. I would go anywhere as long as you could boat there. But my favorite place to go was the docks, and I would just sit there and watch the sun set or rise as the boats bobbed in the water..."

Alfred smiled, and closed his eyes, snuggling deeper into the couch.

I know Peter is usually Arthur's brother but I made him Alfred's nephew because...well, I needed a nephew and he ft the criteria.

Mrs. Jones is named Amelia after fem!America of course.

There was more fluff in this~ How I love fluff. Expect more! Only a few more chapters to go.

Sorry for any mistakes! I'm American!

-Mallory