A/N: I had a craving for something somewhat domestic/fluffy and also cigarettes, and here we are. Just roll with it.

America was just about to doze off on the couch when he was startled by the slam of the front door. He sat up and wiped the drool off his face before grabbing the remote and flicking off the television. He'd just managed to take a casual pose before England walked in, looking grumpier than usual and twice as disheveled.

England looked at him with a deadpan expression for a long moment before saying, "I know you have a stash of cigarettes and I very much need for you to get me one right now."

Not even bothering to deny his continued dirty habit, America stood and gestured for England to follow him into the small, cluttered room that served as his home office. "Everything okay at the embassy?"

England made a cynical snorting noise behind him. "No less than usual."

America knelt down and rummaged around in the back of the bottom drawer of his desk. He finally found the pack, lighter and ashtray, and handed them up to England. "They probably taste extra nasty. I've had these for a while."

"Thank you. I should be embarrassed to ask, but I'm not."

"I should be embarrassed to have them, but I'm not."

"Desperate times?"

"Usually."

England laughed at that, but it still sounded tired and hollow. "Sit in the garden with me?"

"Of course."

America took his hand and led him out into the backyard to sit on the beat up, but comfy cushioned wicker loveseat. It was still light out, the yard soaked in gentle summer warmth. England sat with a huff, and quickly opened the pack of cigarettes. He shot America a questioning look when he saw that about a half dozen cigarettes were missing.

"I only smoke 'em after we've had a big fight," he explained sheepishly. "Like I said, I've had that pack for a while, so..."

"I don't know if I should be offended at how many are gone, or impressed by how many aren't." England smiled kindly at him, and plucked a cigarette out, placing it between his lips. He flicked the lighter impatiently, but couldn't manage to get it going, becoming increasingly frustrated.

"Here, let me." America took the lighter from him and flicked it to life, the small bright flame dancing for just a moment against the tip of England's cigarette before he pulled it away.

England took a long, grateful drag, then tilted his head back to exhale a thin column of smoke. He coughed and winced, and shot America a wry look. "My god, those have gone stale."

"Told you. Old pack."

"Hmmm."

America let him enjoy the cigarette in silence for a few moments before putting an arm around his shoulders. "So, are you really okay?"

Sighing out his nose, England nodded and tapped away some ash. "It seems today was nothing more than a conspiracy to raise my blood pressure. I don't know why they called me in. It was a waste of time."

"I'm sorry, that sucks."

England laughed bitterly. "No, what "sucks" is that I had to give up a day of vacation with you to be blathered at by a bunch of fools who think I have the answer to everything when they are the ones who are supposed to be making decisions, not me. I'm not sure which I prefer: when they deign to yell at me, or when they ignore me all together. At least the latter would have let me stay in your bed this morning."

America leaned over and kissed his temple. "I missed you."

"That doesn't make me feel any better, you know." England leaned his head against America's shoulder, then took another pull on the cigarette.

"I know, but I want you to know it. I missed you. It was boring without you."

"Now there's something I thought I'd never hear you say. Usually I'm what is boring."

"I love you anyway."

England looked up at him. "And if I didn't love you as much as I do, I'd take more offense to that "anyway" business."

America laughed and kissed him crookedly on the mouth. "Fuck, those did go stale. Put that shit out, I'll go buy you a new pack."

"I appreciate the enthusiasm for my impending relapse, but no, thank you. I feel better now." England took one final drag on the cigarette then put it out, placing the ashtray and pack on the ground. "Now, if you think you can stomach it, could I have a proper kiss?"

"You can have a helluva lot more than that, if you want."

America kissed England slowly, not minding the residual smoky smell and taste so much any more. He drew him in closer, wrapping the arm that had been resting over England's shoulders around him so he could press his hand between England's shoulder blades. England responded with a sigh and cupped America's cheek tenderly with his hand before combing his hair, skimming down his neck, and finally resting it against his chest. America hoped he could feel how hard his heart was beating, but pressed his own hand over England's just in case. He felt England clutch at his shirt as he tilted his head back to let America take even more control of their kissing.

Realizing he was still dressed up in his work clothes, America let go of England's hand and shoulders in favor of loosening his tie and fumbling with the top button of his collared shirt. England allowed it with a laugh, which quickly turned into a groan as America kissed beneath his jaw and along his throat. America would have continued if England hadn't gently pushed his face away.

"As much as I enjoy where this is headed, I don't think your hedges are quite that high, darling."

"Boooorrrrrriiiiiinnnnggggggg," America teased, but then kissed England's cheek playfully.

England played along with a grumble, then shrugged out of his suit jacket, folding it over the back of the loveseat before laying his head in America's lap, legs flipping awkwardly over the arm rest. He pulled America's arm over his middle, laying his own hand over America's and lacing their fingers together. America relished in the cuddling. It wasn't so often that England so outwardly demanded affection.

They relaxed in happy silence as the sun began to set, casting rich orange and purple beams of light through the trees and dappling their little loveseat. After a few minutes, England lifted America's hand and kissed the back of it.

"Thank you."

"For what? I didn't do anything."

"Yes, you did."

"Besides enabling your delinquency, what did I do?"

"More than you think." England smiled up and him. "Just this is more than enough. And I'm very lucky to have it."

America's heart genuinely fluttered, but he couldn't help replying with a little more teasing. "Jesus, it's weird when you get all sappy. You better start yelling at me soon or I'll get used to this."

"I'll only be this kind until you buy more cigarettes. For your sake."

"Deal," America said with laugh, vowing to never purchase another pack for the rest of his life.