The day after the hospital visit, Arthur went back before work in order to see Francis. But he had been informed at the front desk that Francis had been admitted to the ICU. So he wouldn't be able to visit Francis right now. He had left the hospital, with his feet feeling heavier than before. Antonio noticed his sullen expression when he came in and offered another day off. But Arthur turned it down. Working hard now would help him to keep his mind off of things. And it did help a bit. But it didn't make him forget. He didn't want to forget.

Every day, he came back to the hospital, and every day he was told the same thing. Francis was in the ICU. Come again some other time. Arthur wasn't even given an update on his condition. He felt upset. Usually, only the immediate family got to be in the ICU right? So that meant that Francis was alone in there every day, wasn't he? It was sad to think about. Perhaps that's why he continued to come every single day. Perhaps that's why he found himself thinking about him more and more often. Perhaps that's why he felt so worried.

Eventually, a week passed. Arthur came to the hospital again, and the lady at the front desk immediately seemed to know what he wanted. She greeted him with a smile and handed him a piece of paper. On it was a room number. "Francis is there. He was allowed to leave the ICU and come back to the recovery ward this morning." She said. Arthur let out a sigh of relief. He had been getting really worried. He had been thinking, that if Francis still wasn't well today, then he would stop coming every day. He looked at the paper. Oh, this was the same room he had been in when they had first met.

He hurried to the elevator and tapped his foot impatiently as it brought him to his requested floor. Once there, he hurried down the hall and to Francis's room. To his relief, he had not been deceived. Francis was sitting on the bed, staring out the window, like he had when they had first met. Francis heard someone come in and turned to look at him. He seemed a bit paler and a tad bit thinner, but otherwise okay. When Francis saw him there, he gave him a small smile. "Your back." He said. "I was getting a little worried." He voice sounded a bit softer. Like his throat had been hurt.

Arthur approached the bed and one else on the side of the bed. "Are you..are you alright?" Arthur asked. Francis nodded.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that last week. It wasn't exactly my proudest moment." He apologized. Arthur just shook his head.

"Don't apologize." He said. "I'm the one who should be apologizing." He sighed and placed his hand on Francis's hand. "I should have been here sooner. I left you alone. I'm sorry."

Francis chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I'm sorry for wasting your time. You came all this way to visit, and I just had to have an attack." Arthur frowned. He didn't have the heart to tell him that he had come to deliver another bouquet of flowers, not to visit Francis.

"Well, that's not something you should apologize for. It isn't your fault." He sighed. "Francis, you told me once that you don't have any family right? And not many friends?" Francis nodded. "So..that means you don't get many visitors right?" Another nod. Arthur hung his head a bit. He was right. Francis was all alone. "Well then...you can consider me a friend alright? I'll start coming from now on. I promise." Francis seemed quite surprised.

"Y-you don't have to do that for my sake!" He insisted. He knew he had been looking forward to seeing Arthur, and had been genuinely hoping that he would come. But after the bitterness at the last visit, he knew that Arthur wasn't interested. The last thing he wanted to do was to trouble him.

"It's not just for you." Arthur returned. "I've...I've been losing sleep over this Francis. I've been feeling so dreadful over the way I spoke to you and how I ignored you after that. So I want to redeem myself." He gently squeezed Francis's hand. "So I promise. I'llcomee every day from now on. I'll visit you all the time. You shouldn't have to be alone. I want to be here with you. Is that alright?" Francis's eyes were wide as he stared at him. "I can understand if you tell me no. I can understand if you tell me to burn in hell. But please, give me a chance to make it up to you." Francis didn't say anything. Instead, he just turned his head. Arthur looked up, only seeing the back of his head and that curly blonde hair. He seemed upset. So he wasn't ready to forgive him huh? That was to be expected. Arthur loosened his grip.

He prepared to let go and stand up, but he could feel the hand holding his, suddenly give it a firm squeeze. He paused and looked up at Francis. He still wasn't facing him, but he could see that his shoulders were beginning to shake a bit and he let out a soft sob. "Francis? What's the matter? Are out feeling sick? Should I call for a doctor?" He asked frantically. Francis shook his head and brought his other hand up to wipe at his tears.

"I'm sorry." He said. As he turned to look at Arthur. "I was trying to hold them in ever since you came here. But they just won't seem to stop now." He admitted softly.

"But why? Why are you crying? Are you that upset with me?" He asked. Francis shook his head again.

"No silly. I'm crying because I'm happy." He said, earning him a confused stare. "I don't ask for too much. I make it a point not to. But if I could just have one moment of selfishness and could have anything I wanted, it would be for someone like you. Someone who would stay with me..even when I'm potentially on my death bed." Arthur's eyes were wide.

"Don't talk like that!" He scolded. "You're going to be fine, I know you are!" He insisted. Francis looked sadly at Arthur.

"Non. I'm afraid that's all the flip of a coin right now. I could get worse, I could get better. That's how it's always been but..." He said softly. "I'd never had attacks like that so close to one another. Not since I was very little." He sighed. "The doctor says it's my older age that's making me weaker. And that someday, I could suffer as I did there in the ICU, fall asleep, and then never wake up. Or I could just get gradually weaker and weaker at home, to the point where I can't lift my head. And then die a slow and painful death. I don't want that..." He blinked furiously as new tears formed in his eyes. "I've been getting so sick and I don't know if that means that my time is coming or not and.." He sniffles. "And I'm scared." He admitted.

Arthur shifted, a little uncomfortable. He wasn't good at comforting others. He never had been. Sometimes he ended up saying the wrong thing, and sometimes he didn't seem sincere enough. So he wasn't sure what to do. Francis removed his hand From Arthur's and placed them over his face, to shield his tears from being seen. "I'm sorry.." He said softly. Arthur watched him for a moment. He did the only thing he could think of doing. He sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around Francis. He pulled the frail man closer so that his head was on his chest.

"You must stop apologizing." He said. "I've already told you that you aren't at fault here." He gently ran his fingers through the man's curls. "Well, I promise you. No matter what happens, if you get worse, or if you get better, I'll come to see you. I won't forget. I won't abandon you. And I'm sorry for doing so earlier. Would you forgive me?" He could feel Francis nod against his chest.

"I do. I forgive you." He pulled away and looked up at Arthur. "But please keep your promise. It would truly mean the world to me if you did." Arthur smiled.

"I think you'll learn quite quickly, that I don't break my promises."

Any ideas for the next chapter? Because I'm a little stuck. I have at least one chapter to fill before the next one.