Tomorrow

A/N: Some people requested I continue this story, I am doubtful of making it a full story, but regardless I have written a second and third chapter for those who wished it, with a possibility of a fourth and fifth. This one is inspired by the song Leave the Pieces by The Wreckers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 2: Leave the Pieces

In the end it was Arthur who packed his bags and left. The fight had gotten so out of hand like so many others but Alfred had had enough as well. It was Arthur who had said the first of the damning words.

"I don't even understand why you stay around. All you and I ever do is fight and then you treat me like I'm some overbearing bastard that you can't stand to be around."

Alfred flinched back, but his eyes hardened. "I wouldn't have to pick fights with you if you acted like you love me. If maybe you could just give me a fucking clue and not be stuck in the middle of your own uncertainty of whether or not you love me. I can't stand staying here knowing you're so unsure and then you treat me like a fucking child because you're the one with doubts."

"I guess that says it all doesn't it," Arthur said.

Alfred shook his head trying to clear his mind. It had hurt and he hadn't meant the words to be so spiteful, but Arthur had hurt him first. Arthur who was always so unsure of if he loved Alfred, but never so much enough as to let him go. Not that Alfred wanted him to. Alfred couldn't imagine his life with anyone other than Arthur.

He snorted. "You're going to leave it like that, Arthur? You're going to be a fucking coward and walk away because you can't stand up to your own uncertainty and make clear what you want? You'll drag out the heartache for years and leave me here to pick up the pieces?"

"You are the one who pointed out my flaws. I'm just trying to make this quick. Clearly neither of us is truly happy, and I want to be, Alfred," Arthur stated coldly. "Get over it and move on for all I care."

Alfred stared at Arthur dubiously. How could he say that so easily? How could Arthur just give up when Alfred had spent so long fighting for what they had? It hurt, to see his efforts so callously tossed aside in an effort to leave him behind. Was he truly so horrible a memory to the other man?

"It's not fair you know," Alfred said softly, "how you just kept me hangin' 'round, waiting for you. I love you, Arthur, and if this is going to be the end I hope you leave the pieces of me I gave to you when you go. I may not be smart or well-mannered or cultured, but I'm damn good at fixing things. Maybe I can't fix our relationship, not that there was much of one on your side, but I'm hoping I can pick up the pieces and put myself back together."

"I don't want to hurt you Alfred," Arthur said. "I've never even seen you cry. You're stronger without me."

Alfred couldn't comprehend how the man could say that. He had cried plenty in Arthur's presence, but if it was tears he didn't want to see, he couldn't understand how the man could say that to his face and just stand there watching, as if trying to see his reaction. He was drowning in pain and heartbreak, but if Arthur truly didn't want to see his tears he could hold them back a little longer.

"I'll be fine, just take your love and hit the road," Alfred said, a pained smile crossing his lips as he watched Arthur about to say something before cutting him off. "There's nothing you can do or say right now to make this better, you're breaking my heart anyway."

Arthur once more motioned to say something, but Alfred couldn't stand the concern in the other man's eyes for the mess he was leaving him. He could pick it up; pick himself back up, eventually once the man was gone. He hoped. Or at least he thought he did. Alfred shook his head at Arthur who wisely kept his mouth shut.

Alfred turned away and walked into the bathroom and closed the door. He was so close to breaking down. God, why didn't he ever listen to Mattie when he said this is what would happen? How could he fall for someone so contradictory? Why couldn't he have fallen for someone who loved him in return?

He turned on the water and splashed his face. His eyes were stormy, his own clouded uncertainty of whether he wanted Arthur to stay or go, but Arthur's uncertainty was killing him and if he chose someone else then it also made their relationship a waste of his time to put effort into, much as he hated to admit something like that.

Arthur stared at the bathroom door where Alfred had disappeared through. Maybe he was harsh on the younger man, maybe he was uncertain, but he had honestly never thought anyone would be able to love him and there were few that actually could stand him. Arthur did love the younger man, but he didn't know to what extent and that frightened him.

They were both hurting, Arthur understood that, and the fight had been his fault, but his heart and Alfred's heart were both on the line, and Arthur could no longer bear that burden. He could stand to put himself down and accept others words and judgments, but it always hurt a bit more when Alfred was involved. Their faults, their stubbornness, their personalities just crashed. Arthur tried desperately to convince himself he was just following through with the inevitable…who cared if Alfred was a little right that he was conflicted in his love?

He called the one man he always turned to in times he required a friend that would never turn him away. Francis.