***SUPER IMPORTANT WARNING! MY COMPUTER SNAPPED IN HALF! I will have to get it repaired, and I won't be able to make any updates until I get it back. This chapter was typed frantically on my broken computer before it completely dies, because I don't want anyone to think I have abandoned this story!
I am so sorry if it takes a week or two for me to post a new chapter, but again thank you so much for everything and all of your support, it really has been a wild ride so far. WHAAA! I was so excited to introduce Romano in a few days!
Anyways, enjoy ; ) AND PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!***
Late that night, Arthur and Francis cuddled up closely after another evening of intense lovemaking.
"You know… my lease to my old apartment ends soon. I was wondering if I should renew my lease, or…" He trailed, unsure how to finish his sentence.
"Oh, when does it end?" Francis pondered. He knew exactly what his British friend was trying to imply, but he took great pleasure when he was able to embarrass Arthur and see the poor guy fluster.
"I-it ends next week." He answered with a gulp.
The Frenchman wrapped his arms around Arthur's waist and kissed him. "Well, what would you like to do, mon Cher?" He asked, biting his partner's bottom lip.
"W-well – I know we've been getting along everything, and… I just don't want to impose, okay! If you want, I could stay here, or I could renew my lease." Francis' planned worked like a charm, as his boyfriend was currently a flustered mess.
"I won't hear anything of it." Replied the blue – eyed man with a ruffle to Arthur's hair. "You'll stay here. I want you to be able to save our money and be comfortable financially, I don't want that landlord of yours to suck in everything you have."
Deep down, Arthur wanted to say thank you, but of course he was still a prideful man, and that pride was preventing him from doing so. "I can get along well on my own perfectly fine without your help, thank you! But if it's more convenient for you, I will stay just to make you happy. Baka." With that said, the Brit released a sigh of relief and laid his head back down on Francis' chest. "Hug me, you idiot."
Francis laughed so hard and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's back. "I was right. I always did peg you for a tsundere."
Ignoring Francis' last comment, Arthur opted at pretending to fall asleep instead. 'I love you, you stupid frog. Too damn much.' He thought only to himself.
The next day, Arthur, Francis, and Gilbert all sat at the breakfast table to enjoy a nice meal. Even Gilbird had his own bowl of birdfeed and sat next to his beloved albino and picked away at the tiny little seeds.
"So, it looks like tea and biscuits is finally moving in then, hu?!" The German laughed after taking a bite of his toast.
"Did… you just call me tea and biscuits?" Asked Arthur, mildly amused.
Gilbert simply nodded his head. "Yup. Because you're English. Now, you're forever known to me as Tea and Biscuits in my head and in my journals."
The Brit chuckled, clearly getting used to the German's strange behavior. "And, yes. I am moving in today." He said with a kind smile towards Francis. "Since I am off today, all I have to do is take the bus down to my old place, pack up some necessities and a few other things that I can't live without, and I'm officially moved in."
"Want some help, love?" The Frenchman asked.
The green – eyed blond shook his head. "Ah, no worries. I'll just be a couple hours, tops. Then maybe we can all do something later on when I get back." He finished the last few bites of his meal, stood from his chair and gave his boyfriend a hug and a kiss goodbye.
Gilbert, pretending to be jealous widened his beady red eyes to appear vulnerable and innocent, and held his arms out to beg for a hug as well.
Not being able to deny him, Arthur walked over and patted his new eccentric friend on the back.
The German stuck his tongue out at Francis in mock victory.
The bus ride was only approximately twenty – minutes, and Arthur was back in his old, crummy apartment before he even knew it.
'Thank God I left this place.' He thought to himself. The apartment was more miserable than he remembered. Everything was bland, cramped together, and he'd be way too embarrassed to have any of his new friends and now boyfriend over to this dreary home. Since he had not visited his own home in over a couple of weeks, the floors were dirty, the air was cold, and the whole atmosphere had a very depressing aura about it. Almost as though someone had died from loneliness. 'Well, guess I better start packing. It's been a nice ride here, but I'm sure as hell not going to miss this.'
The moment he headed into his old bedroom, the Brit knew that something was abnormal about the place because he saw a dark shadow stand in the corner by his bedpost.
"When did you forget about me, Arthur?" Asked the mysterious voice that was now brought to tears.
"Didn't you love me? I tried so hard to take care of you, did I do something wrong? Was it the way I made love to you?"
There was no denying that voice. It was Ivan, Arthur's old Drug Lord that he had just up and abandoned for the promise that Francis had made to turn his life around.
"You never made love to me, that was rape." Said the Brit rather forcefully. He was terrified, but he was not going to let this man control his life anymore. "You don't even know what love is!"
"Neither do you!" Screamed the Russian. "Don't lie to me! No one can treat you like I treat you. I am as close to love as you'll ever get, and there was a time where you believed in me!"
"I've moved on, Ivan! Please… just let me go." He begged. "I won't give you any trouble, and you'll never have to hear from me ever again. I won't even call the police, and I'll never tell anyone what you did to me. Just please let me go."
The Russian mocked sympathy towards the Englishman. "Oh, does little Artie have people who care about him? Don't you remember what happened last time you thought that someone cared about you? Don't you remember how well that turned out?!"
Arthur shook his head frantically. "No. This is different. Francis is different and he would never do anything like that to me."
Ivan now stood out of the shadows. His hands shook madly, and the man looked like he had not eaten or showered in days. "Let me love you, Arthur. Let me love you, and I'll never let anything bad happen to Francis or to any of your friends."
