Note
So, I didn't intend this to be as fluffy as it is. I haven't written fluff in forever, so it's my own fault. Enjoy the slash. And don't say I didn't warn you.

I own niether Ford nor Arthur. And if you don't like slash, then don't read it.

Owning Up

It wasn't that they didn't have any real kind of real relationship.
Of course they did. They'd known each other for over 15 years. So it was there.
Oh yes, it was there.

It was just a sort of thing they didn't much talk about. They had each other's company, and they had each other to shag. And they mostly left the relationship alone. Because you shouldn't try to fix what wasn't broken, Ford said. Plus, the talking bit got in the way of the shagging part.

But it wasn't like they weren't in love. They were.
It was more that niether of them wanted to admit to it.

Ford was just too plain proud and stubborn to stoop to that level of helplessness that was admitting your undying love to someone. And he'd figured that in some cases actions speak louder than words...and Arthur tended to agree with him.
To Arthur, Ford Prefect was a constant. Something familiar to cling to in a universe that was constantly changing. But he was far too scared to admit this fondness to Ford because, well, he figured Ford was there for the sex. Which was usually the case.

But which was not the case in this case.

It was more along the lines of Ford being terrified that he might actually be in love and that he might screw it all up and Arthur might leave him with no one but Marvin for company in that desolate hole that would be his life without an Arthur Dent.

So when Ford finally did just crack that day in the middle of the arguement about the towels and the shoes and yell at Arthur that he loved him, it was with much amusement that Ford watched Arthur's expression turn from anger to shock and then fall over a series of chairs.

"You love me?"
"Yes."
"You love me?"
"Umm...yes?"
"Why is that question?"
"I don't know Arthur! Stop asking questions!"

Arthur fidgeted and looked helpless. Ford looked at him pleadingly and tried not to seem as helpless and frustrated as he felt.

"Well, I mean, I love you too. It was just...I didn't expect it from you. You know, to...I dunno."
Arthur stumbled over the words.

"You love me too?"
"Yeah, I mean, of course I do."
"Really?" Ford gave him an actual truly sane looking smile.

Then Ford hugged him. And Arthur thought it was wonderful. Because it wasn't because they were about to die. But mostly because Ford loved him.