Hi guys! Thank you so, so much for sticking with me all this way! Just so you know, I do only have a couple more chapters to go but I promise it will have a happy ending! I promise to write more long works in the future, whatever fandom they may be. Enjoy ; )

After the two exchanged false pleasant greetings, Alfred appeared to relax significantly.

"What are you selling tonight, miss?" The American flirted, attempting to hide his stutter and insecurities as much as possible. Even the others had to admit that Alfred's more vulnerable side was rather adorable, his façade of having to be the top dog in every situation faltered today, but his best friends were prepared to back him up if things began to spiral downwards too quickly.

Natalia shrugged with a flirtatious smirk of her own. "That depends on what you like. We usually sell cocaine and heroin, but we are also known to go beyond for our most valued customers. I can get you anything, if I like you, that is."

"J-just some coke would be fine. I-I mean the drug, not the drink." He laughed nervously as he tried to pretend to mask his stammer for a sore throat.

"You alright?" Questioned the woman with a raised eyebrow. "This is your first time, isn't it? Don't worry, you never have to worry about your wife or your business finding out about your after - hour endeavors. Every purchase you make here is secret." She pulled out a bag filled with a powdery white substance and handed it over to the mysterious customer. "That will be three – hundred dollars."

His eyes widening, Alfred thought that three – hundred dollars was rather a lot of money to pay for such a small bag of cocaine.

"He's got her." Whispered Arthur to a police officer through a listening device around his ear. "Start closing in on her, but don't jump in on the scene, we don't want to put Alfred in danger."

Natalia seemed to be eying the blond man's suspicious behavior, but later thought nothing of it as he was a paying customer at the end of the day, and money was money.

Just as Alfred was about to hand over his hard - earned money for a bag of drugs that he would never dream of using in his life, a loud 'click' filled the quiet streets. An officer had stealthily approached Natalia and pulled her arms behind her back, cuffing them and turning the key to lock them tight.

"You bastard!" She shrieked. "I know very powerful people who wouldn't hesitate to kill you in a heartbeat!"

"You won't be threatening to kill anyone for the rest of your life." The officer warned. "And, you are being pressed with charges for murder, as well. You have the right to remain silent and a right to a lawyer," The man began as he proceeded to read the rest of Natalia's rights.

After the chaos of the evening, the trio allowed Alfred to stay overnight at their place just in case if he felt overwhelmed by the day's events.

"Well, boss, you finally did it." Announced Arthur with a chuckle. "While you have always been a hero to us, you've actually managed to bring a criminal to justice, just like the ones you talk about in the comics and movies all the time."

"I knew I could do it!" He boasted proudly. "It was nothing at all, very easy!"

Gilbert's chuckles could be heard from the kitchen. "Right! You should have seen your face! I thought you might have pissed yourself, you looked so shaken!"

"Gilbert, I would not make fun of Alfred, if I were you," The Frenchman began. "At least he didn't piss himself in the third grade."

Feeling a story coming on, both Alfred and Arthur eagerly encouraged Francis to continue, much to Gilbert's dismay and humiliation.

Both Alfred and Gilbert were considerably drunk by the end of the night, but Arthur and Francis had both watched their alcohol intake.

"It's like… he's Gilbert times two when he's drunk." Said the Brit with the hardest laugh he has had in a while.

"I know I give him a lot of shit," began the Frenchman as he wiped some tears from laughter out of his eyes, but he's great at parties."

Arthur gazed into his partner's eyes, even he can't remember seeing Francis filled with this much joy. "Thank you." He said, seemingly out of nowhere.

Francis cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean by that, love?"

"Whether you realize it or not, you all saved my life today. You didn't have to, but you did. And, because you all so stupidly put your lives in danger, just as I have, I can walk the streets now feeling safe. I don't have to worry about someone trying to rob or kill me if I walk home from work or my appointments. Natalia seems to be going to prison for life, and –" It was difficult for the blond to finish his sentence, because he was going to finish it with Ivan, and he would be reminded of the murder seen Natalia had committed right in front of his eyes.

Francis seemed to understand, as he nodded his head and wore a look of sympathy. "I'm sorry you had to see something so traumatizing, even if the man did terrorize you – but that's not the point, I know. If I could, I would keep you safe from all of the dangers in the world. Always."

Arthur leaned in to the crook of Francis' neck. "You know you can't do that. But, in a strange way, these unfortunate circumstances only made our relationship stronger. I'd wake up with you beside me every day, and I will always be thankful for that, and I'd never want to go back to a life without you. I just…" He chuckled. "I guess I don't know what I'm saying anymore, but my point is that I love you, Francis."

"I love you, too, Arthur." Replied his fiancé and the two men kissed. Their hands stayed entwined for the rest of the night.

"But I think either you or I will have to drive Gilbert and Alfred back. Gilbert is definitely way too drunk to drive his own car. Do you think he would mind if I drove it?"

Francis shook his head. "No, he definitely won't mind. For all we know, Gilbert would forget this night ever happened the moment I make bacon and eggs the next morning."