It was as though a switch had flipped on them. They had been experiencing long days filled with fun, laughter and missed moments. Time had been languidly guiding them through Arthur's long holiday. Giving them time to talk, time to connect. Now time had no mercy. Everything sped up. The pace of the days doubled and tripled. They became full and frantic. Before Arthur even knew it, the next Friday night had arrived. His two weeks nearly up. His probation was finished. He was returning to hell.

Friday. Black Friday. Up at 6.30am. Camping outside a store. John wanted a good deal. Alfred wanted a PS4. Arthur wanted nothing. There was pushing. Shoving. A hand on Arthur's waist. Pulled away from being trampled. A man grabbed three flat screen TV's. Exhausted. Late lunch. Late dinner. Late to bed.

Saturday. Late morning. Later lunch. To the pool. Old swim trunks. Arthur wasn't a good swimmer. Alfred took him down the slide. Arthur screamed. They rode it again. Arthur laughed. They watched Netflix. They held hands. Arthur rested his head on Alfred's shoulder. He sighed. He was happy.

Sunday. At the park. Playing football. Soccer, Alfred called it. Scoffs from Arthur. Laughing from John and Derrick. Arthur was hit in the face. Football stopped. Ice. Early lunch. Movies. Dinner. Bed.

Monday. Early morning. Ready for school. No uniform? Arthur followed Alfred. School tour. Missed first and second period. Small break. Study hall. Lunch. Biology. English. Elective ASL. Gym. Arthur hated Gym. Home. Dinner. Alfred did homework. Bed.

Tuesday. First period, Geometry. Humanities. Change of schedule. Group activity with the exchange students. Out on the field. Alfred was good. Arthur wasn't. Alfred's body was fun to watch. Flushed faces.

Wednesday. A bus ride. Out to with the students again. Another tour. Packed lunches. Rainy day. Hands touching, legs grazing. Back of the bus. Eyes meeting. Faces blushing. Elizaveta interrupting. Laughing. Home. Arthur tired. Alfred not. Playing games. Alfred won. Arthur knit.

Thursday. Alfred was in lessons. Arthur was not. He was lost. Arthur met some other students. From Russia and Australia. They were nice. Girls flirted. Arthur was uncomfortable. A French man flirted. He told him to fuck off. He pouted. Arthur swore. Walking home. Alfred missed him. Arthur smiled.

Friday. Arthur did an art project. The exchange students loved it. Arthur did too. Alfred was in classes The shared a table at lunch. Alfred touched his leg. Arthur blushed. Elizaveta laughed. Alfred whined. He had English, then Biology. Arthur didn't. They said goodbye. The principal came. He was happy. The exchange was a success. They were quiet going home.

Alfred and Arthur had finally got back from school and were so glad the weekend was here. They just wanted to spend five minutes alone. Those words they wanted to exchange had been burning on each others lips. Yet neither of them had been able to break the silence.

Saturday.

Arthur woke with a grunt. They were having a goodbye barbecue for him today. Arthur gulped.

Goodbye.

It sat in his mouth like a bad taste. Engulfing his mind and making it heavy.

He turned over and pulled himself out of the bed. Today would be the day. They would talk. They would finally take that step to figure out what they were doing. With all the hand holding, and the soft touches. The near kisses. Arthur felt the persistent butterflies in his stomach and grumbled at them. "I can do this" He whispered softly to himself. With new found confidence he left the room and headed down stairs. He was used to being down before Alfred by now. He put the kettle on and got his mug ready. Nothing beat a tea in the morning. John entered the kitchen, a little sleepily and nodded to Arthur. "It always surprise to see someone here before me" He said with a chuckle.

Arthur smiled. "I have always been an early riser" He said with a shrug. Pouring the hot water into his mug. "I like being up early" He added.

"You and me both" He said as he pulled out the coffee pot and poured a lot into his waiting mug. "Alfred just can't seem to get up on time most days. We normally have to drag him out of bed before school" He said with a smirk. Arthur smiled back.

"Maybe he burns so much energy in the day he needs lots of extra sleep to build it all back up" Arthur said with a laugh. His hands wrapping around his steaming hot mug. He sighed and took a sip. Blissful.

"About today" John began, sitting a half drunk mug on the table. "It' just going to be us, is that okay?" He asked softly. "I think you have seen more than enough of our family these past two weeks" He chuckled. Arthur shook his head.

"I would have been happy seeing everyone again. But I think it would be nice and…quiet, if it were just us" He added, his cheeks growing a little pinker at the thought. John nodded and smiled.

"I agree" Then he walked closer to Arthur. "Maybe me and Derrick can make ourselves scarce as well" He said a little slyly. Arthur looked at him with wide eyes, then he looked away a bit embarrassed and bit his lip. "I can see that way you have been looking at each other" John explained. Arthur was shaking a little. "It seems like you two need to have a chance to talk" He said and patted Arthur on the shoulder. Arthur looked up at him shyly.

"Thank you" He said, and put his own mug down on the table. "For everything" He said, then he wrapped his arms around the taller man's waist in a hug. John was a little taken aback but hugged him in return.

"Make sure you thank Derrick too" He added with a smirk as they pulled away from each other. Arthur smiled and nodded.

"Of course"

Alfred was down an hour or so later. Arthur was on his third cup of tea and was quietly reading a book. His breakfast already eaten and the dishes washed. He took a heavy seat in the chair next to Arthur. Pulling over the cereal into a bowl. He poured in milk too carelessly it splashed onto the worktop. Arthur huffed at him and handed him a tissue. Alfred grunted. He finished his cereal then poured another bowl. Arthur finished his tea then washed up the mug. He put his book down then sat next to Alfred again and waited.

"Alfred me and your dad are heading out for a bit, we'll be back later to start the barbecue up alright?" He said from the kitchen door. Alfred frowned.

"You guys need help?" He offered, a little perplexed they were wandering off on a Saturday without them. John smiled at him, he glanced at Arthur.

"No thanks buddy, we'll be back later" He added and made to leave.

"Where are you going hough?" Alfred pressed further. His cereal was forgotten for now.

"Ahh, just getting some shopping done, and some other errands" He explained, a little sheepish. He was trying to leave as quickly as he could.

"Well, we'll get our shoes on" Alfred said as he made to stand up. Arthur looked at John. He looked back.

"Ah, no, me and your father are going to go together" He said.

"Right? So why can't we go?" He offered again.

"No reason, we just wanted some time together" He said with a nervous chuckle. Then before he could say anything more, he backed out the door and grabbed a waiting Derrick by the sleeve. Pulling him out the door as quick as he could. Alfred looked at them confused.

"What the hell was that about?" He exclaimed, then looked at Arthur, who shrugged. "Why are they so weird, they would normally trail me everywhere on a weekend. I had to watch my dad buy a nose hair trimmer for god sakes" He shook his head, and Arthur just laughed nervously. His hands clenched in his lap. Alfred grumbled a bit. Then he finally came to a realisation. "Wait!" He looked at Arthur with wide eyes.

Arthur stared back. A little worried. "What?"

"That means we have the whole house to ourselves" He said with a grin. Then his voice got a bit quieter. "Just me and you" His voice was soft and tender. He quickly finished the rest of his cereal and practically threw the bowl in the sink. Arthur tutted and he went back to wash it. Then he dashed back to a waiting Arthur and grabbed his hand pulling him into the now free and empty living room. He then pulled him down to sit next to him. Then, Alfred froze.

He just stopped looking at Arthur. Their hands were interlocked together, and Arthur was shyly looking up at him. His face was flushed pink. He wasn't sure what Alfred had been planning when he ha dragged him in here. But now he wasn't even sure if Alfred knew. Eventually, Arthur pulled away from him and turned on some music. He sat back on the sofa softly. Alfred had just watched him. Arthur nudged closer to him. "These past two weeks" He began softly when Alfred still said nothing. "Have been the best in my entire life" He explained to him. He absolutely needed to understand how he felt. How thankful he was. How much he needed him. "I don't know why we have been doing this," His hands wringing together with worry. "But I like it" His voice was so quiet now, it was practically a whisper. "Alfred, I like you" His head was down against his chin as he said it. Unable to look him in the eyes.

Alfred was quiet. Arthur was scared. His eyes tear up.

Alfred's hands were then on his face. He pulled his face up to look at him. Their eyes meet again. Alfred's hands were soft on his face. Arthur smiled at him, a stray tear escaped and he brushed it away. "Arthur, I like you too" He said quietly. "I guess we should have started with that. Before it got a bit weird" He said and laughed. Then, his face got closer. "I feel like," His voice was so quiet. So unlike the Alfred he had grown to know that Arthur blushed brighter. It made him excited. His soft, husky voice. "We could have had more of these" He said. Their lips were so close now. Arthur could feel his breath on his face. He closed his eyes. "If we hadn't been so stupid" He said, and Arthur smirked. Then his lips were on his. His heart raced in his chest, and his stomach was queasy with butterflies. His kiss was so soft, and tender, and unexpected of the brash Alfred. It was the most perfect first kiss.

Alfred pulled his lips away, and Arthur giggled. It made Alfred laugh too. Then the intensity that had built between them broke. And Alfred's hands were tight on his face and he pulled him in tighter. Arthur gasped and let him ravish his mouth with hot kisses. His hands wrapped around Alfred's neck and crept into his hard. His fingers running through the soft golden locks. Alfred let his tongue lick across Arthur's lip and Arthur let out a noise he didn't know he could even make. It made Alfred chuckle as they broke the kiss for a moment. Alfred pulled Arthur onto his lap. Arthur's flushed face got even redder. But he let him pull him close.

For a moment. Alfred just stroked his face. His fingers brushing past his lips. It made Arthur shudder.

He kissed him again.