Chapter 20

"That smells absolutely wonderful, love."

Alfred turned to beam at a tousle haired, sleepy looking Arthur. "Figured you'd be hungry by now. It's noon after all, sleepy head."

Arthur's eyes widened a bit. "No way." He turned to look at the grandfather clock in the living room, needing proof that Alfred wasn't just teasing him. He wasn't. It really was twelve o'clock.

"Blimey, I haven't slept in for that long since...ever," he said astonished and sipped the tea Alfred handed him.

"Well, that is what this trip is for. To make you relax and recharge or else ya gonna end up looking like an old man," Alfred grinned and Arthur was about to protest but was cut off as the American set two plates on the round dining table. "Breakfast is ready, sit down and eat up. Gonna need all your strength today."

"Oh? Still planning on having sex in all the rooms?" Arthur asked between bites of bacon and egg. Alfred laughed, his mouth wide open showing off some mashed up toast. Arthur scrunched his nose.

Charming.

"Yeah, but that wasn't exactly what I meant. You are such a perv, Arthur."

"And that should come from the guy who fucked me in my own bakery, using olive oil as lube? No, you are the one with the dirty kinks," Arthur fired back, stabbing his fork in Alfred's direction, who just shrugged and smiled.

"So what is it you have planned for today?" He then asked and appreciated that Alfred waited until he was done chewing before answering.

"I was thinking we could go for a walk in the woods or take the old rowing boat out on the lake. The weather is too awesome to spend inside all day."

Arthur's eye twitched. Oh how he hated it when Alfred said 'awesome', it reminded him of a certain German bastard who was probably burning down his café right this instant, that bloody-

Calm down, he scolded himself. He was not to think of the café on this trip, he had promised Alfred that much.

"Sounds lovely," he replied instead, forcing his temper down again. Alfred beamed at him.

"Awesome!"

Arthur sighed.

"You can't be serious," Arthur chuckled into his scarf and squeezed Alfred's hand lovingly.

"Oh, but I totes am! The entire kitchen was sticky for weeks!" Alfred grinned. Arthur turned his head slightly to look at his American boyfriend as he continued to describe how he and his cousin had gotten into trouble when their grandmother's old food blender exploded because it couldn't handle all the thick sticky marple syrup Matthew kept pouring in.

Arthur loved the way Alfred used his entire body when he talked. You would almost think he was Italian, the way he moved his free hand about as he described something and the hand linked with Arthur's swung back and forth. Kind of childish, Arthur thought to himself, knowing he wouldn't want it any other way.

"So yeah...got banned from her kitchen and from marble syrup for a month or so. Poor Matthew was the first to break. Caught him smuggling marble syrup to his room," Alfred laughed and Arthur joined in.

"Your turn now."

"My turn?"

"Yeah, tell me about something that has gotten you into trouble with your family."

Arthur scratched his nose in thought. "Well, there was that time when I got my tongue pierced," he said casually. Alfred's eyes widened and he stopped in his tracks, forcing Arthur to stop walking as well. He turned to give Alfred a questionable look.

"No nonononono. You have no right to look confused, Art, only me. You had your tongue pierced?! Like, you?!"

"Yes. Yes I did, "Arthur cleared his throat and began to feel slightly embarrassed by Alfred's reaction.

"You. You had a tongue ring?" Alfred's facial expression was some mixture between shock, scepticism and confusion, his gaze flickering from Arthur's eyes to his mouth.

"Yes, Alfred. Now, would you please stop looking like I'm about to turn into the Queen?" He said as he rolled his eyes and started to walk again.

"Eh, yeah sure. Sorry." Alfred followed but kept sneaking glances at him. Arthur turning into the Queen somehow seemed more likely than him having a tongue piecing.

"And that got you into trouble?" The American asked instead. Arthur nodded.

"Yes, my parents were horrified. Their reaction similar to yours...just tenfold and slightly hysterical as well."

Alfred grinned. "So how did you get busted?"

"I was allergic to the metal and it is kind of hard to cover something like that up when your tongue swells up. I couldn't talk and felt like I could hardly breathe either. It was horrible," Arthur said and grimaced.

They stopped walking again. They had reached the top of a hill which overlooked the forest. It was breathtaking with its deep autumn colours and once again it reminded Arthur of England. He was pried from his thoughts when Alfred suddenly cupped his face in both hands and kissed him deeply.

When they pulled away Arthur was about to ask what that was for, but got interrupted when Alfred's murmured, "open your mouth," against his lips. Arthur complied when Alfred kissed him again. His hands closed around the fabric of the American's jacket as Alfred's tongue moved against his own. Alfred hummed into his mouth making Arthur's knees go week and he felt himself pulling them both towards the moss and leaf covered forest floor. When they were laying side by side on the ground - still in a lip-lock, Arthur moved his hands so he could gently entwine his fingers in the American's blond hair. Alfred snaked his arms around his middle and pulled him closer, sighing softly into the kiss.

When Arthur pulled away for air (damn the human body for the need of oxygen) he was met with a smirk.

"What?" He asked confused, narrowing his eyes just slightly in suspicion.

"Can't feel it."

"Excuse me?" Both brows now raised to add to his puzzled expression.

"Can't feel where you piercing used to be," Alfred grinned like the sly bastard he was. Arthur stared at him in disbelief before growling what sounded suspiciously a lot like, "twat" before giving Alfred a shove. The push made Alfred roll over as he started laughing. The laughter soon turned into a "wooah", though, as the lovely law of gravity took over and he started to roll down the other side of the hill.

Arthur stared wide eyed after his boyfriend as the latter tumbled down and only stopped when he reached the bottom.

A snicker.
Then a giggle.
...That turned onto a full blown laughter.

Arthur simply couldn't help himself. Never had he seen something so funny. Mud on his bomber jacket and jeans and leaves as well as twigs sticking out from his hair, Alfred looked like a scarecrow - a very confused and slightly ill looking one of that. Arthur got up and made his way down the hill as well, stumbling slightly as tears started to blur his eyes. It was rude, he knew - but shit, he found it hilarious.

"Are yo-hahaahaha. I'm sorry. A-are you alright?" Arthur tried to get out, clutching his stomach when he finally reached Alfred. The younger was sitting cross legged and rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah, 'cos ya sound oh so worried," Alfred said with a pretend pout.

"Don't blame me. That, love, that was karma," the Brit stated as he wiped his eyes, a huge grin still on his face, to which Alfred stuck his tongue out at. Arthur squatted down at in front of him and removed a large red marple leaf from Alfred's forehead (oh, the irony) before caressing his cheek, his grin turning to a soft smile.

"And yes, I actually am worried. So please tell me, are you alright? Did you hurt your head?" He asked as he scanned Alfred's face.

"Nah nothing too bad I think, might get a bump," Alfred smiled back but winced when his hand touched the back of his head.

"Yup, definitely a bump on the way," he said and they both laughed.

Then they just sat there. Silently staring into each other's smiling eyes, Alfred learning into Arthur's touch to his cheek.

"Art-," Alfred cleared his throat and wetted his lips before trying again.

"Arthur."

The Brit was one step away from answering with a "yes that's my name, don't wear it out", a phrase Gilbert often used, but something hold him back. Maybe it was the sudden seriousness in Alfred's tone. So he settled for a, "m-hm?"

Alfred's lips moved as he said something. Arthur blinked once. Twice...Trice, before he realised what Alfred had said,

"I love you."

Arthur eyes widened a tad and his mouth opened slightly. Then the impact of the words hit his brain, his nerve system but most of all, his heart.

"I-"

Arthur's brain had shut down, his skin prickled and he felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. The hesitation set off a slightly panicked look in Alfred's eyes and he bit his lower lip and the Brit mentally slapped himself for his tongue-tie. He moved his head from side to side as if to try to shake his brain to life again, resulting in an even more panicked expression from Alfred. Arthur hurried to embrace the young man close. He screwed his eyes shut as he whispered into his boyfriends ear, words he had longed so much to say but too afraid of being rejected,

"I love you too, Alfred."

A/N:

I have to apologize to you guys for the very very late update. It's been more than two months since I last posted a chapter on this fic. I'll do that I can to make sure that doesn't happen again.

November and December have been crazy busy for me as my two jobs has taken up a lot of time. Thought I would be able to finally write during Christmas but I took on a holiday job so no time there either. On top of all the working I have been working out a lot as well - first because I had a boxing match in November and later because I'm joining the Military this summer and I really want to get fit and do well when I go in. Oh and I turned twenty in December as well - the plan was to be able to update on my birthday or on Christmas Eve/day - but as you see, that plan failed miserably.

Alright enough about me.

I don't quite know what I feel about this chapter. Like, holy fuck this update is cheesy xD But then again, the entire fic is rather cheesy, huh?

Another thing I'm unsure of is, Alfred and Arthur have known each other for like half a year now - in their case, is saying "I love you" too early? Ugh I dunno man.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please tell me what you thought. (And sorry for the lone authors note :/)

~A super later Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from SpyMiss~