Some weeks later, Arthur felt a lot stronger, and he and Francis were closer than ever, spending every day with one another, bike riding, picnics, and fun was always on the agenda, till one day there was a phone call. Francis would normally answer and tell whoever it was to go away, he was doing it to protect England, to stop anyone else getting near him in fact, of course he didn't divulge that to his husband. Francis was busy in the kitchen so Arthur picked it up and there on the other end was a familiar voice.
"Hi its Alfred." He said, "Yes I know you keep saying England is busy but if you could just tell him I want to talk to him…"
"Hi… its…er… England here…" replied Arthur
"Wow I was expecting Francis again." Said Alfred "Its so good to talk to ya, I've been trying to get hold of you for weeks. "
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked confused.
"Well every time I rang Francis would say you were busy, I don't know what's so important for ya that ya can't spare me a few minutes on the phone…"
"Oh… its just… work and things…" Arthur lied. "But I have time now."
"Ok dude I'm in London for a couple of days cos the President is visiting, thought ya might wanna meet up."
"Oh of course Francis and I…"
"No not Francis… Just you and me." Alfred said. "I feel kinda bad about the things that happened before, I just want to talk like we used to. Can you make it?"
"Er… now?" Gulped Arthur as he looked around. Francis was still in the kitchen making some delicious food. He hadn't even heard the phone ring and was completely unaware. "Uhhh Francis is just making some food…I can't really…"
"Dammit Artie!" Sighed America "Are you so blind ya can't see what he's doing to ya?"
"What do you mean?"
"Dude nobody can get a hold of ya. We've all been phoning and calling and sending emails and texts and nobody's seen or heard from ya. Francis keeps saying you're busy all the time… didn't he tell you everyone's been trying to call?"
"Um… no actually he didn't mention it…." England muttered wondering why Francis hadn't passed on any calls or messages to him. "I expect he just didn't want to disturb my er…work…" England said covering for him.
"Look, why dontcha just come over ok? I'm staying at the Hilton."
"I... don't think I…"
"If ya don't come over tonight it could be a long time before I can see ya again if Francis is controlling your life like this." Alfred said. "If you're coming over I'll expect you in an hour. Don't bring him I don't want him around."
That comment really annoyed Arthur. He hadn't thought Francis was controlling his life but when he realised that he'd kept all his phone calls and messages from him and kept everyone away from him that was suspicious.
"He's not controlling my life… I'll see you in an hour." Mumbled Arthur as he put the phone down. Francis was still in the kitchen, singing away and cooking and genuinely hadn't heard a word. Arthur stood at the door of the kitchen watching him. Quietly before Francis could say anything, England got his coat and sneaked out the front door without saying anything. It was twenty minutes before Francis came through to the sitting room.
"Dinner is almost ready…." He said flamboyantly but then as he looked around, Arthur was nowhere in sight.
"Angleterre?" He asked, his breath catching in his throat. "Angleterre?" He began to panic, every room he checked and he wasn't there, he was gone. He'd simply walked out without so much as a bye or leave, and he hadn't said a word. He realised that Arthur's coat wasn't hanging up where it usually was either. Still, at least his clothes weren't gone, so it was likely he'd just gone out for a few minutes for fresh air perhaps. He went back into the kitchen and turned off all the appliances, the cooker and the kettle and everything else, and just sat down at the table, his hands shaking, trembling with panic.
"Je me quitte pas" he mumbled as he drank from a glass of French red wine. "Je me quitte pas… Je me..qu… itte pas…."
At the Hilton, Arthur arrived and knocked on the door and Alfred answered.
"Hey Dude, I'm glad ya showed up. " Alfred said and gave him a huge hug. "I've been so worried about you, everybody's been worried about ya." He said "Look I got us a takeout…"
Arthur glanced at the McDonalds meal in a bag on the table. It wasn't nearly as appetising as the food Francis made, but he didn't tell Alfred that.
"Sit down Dude, I got something I gotta say." Alfred said sitting down "Pull up a chair." Arthur couldn't help thinking that Francis would have pulled up a chair for him. However he sat down with Alfred and tried to tackle the McDonalds Big Mac and fries and a coke. It tasted disgusting but he didn't say anything.
"So… what do you have to say Alfred?" Arthur asked as Alfred ate like a horse, stuffing his face with food just like he used to when he was a kid.
"I was thinking that you er… had to have been going through something right?"
"So what if I have." Sighed Arthur… "I haven't been trying to emotionally blackmail you if that's what you think." He said. "I told Francis not to say anything to anyone…"
"I believe ya Artie." Alfred said and at that moment there was something that passed between them. Their eyes locked just for a moment and Arthur looked away.
"What are we like buddy?" America said reaching out and taking Arthur's hand. He didn't pull away from him he just let him take his hand and hold it.
"You were always my big brother, my guardian, almost father, I've called you that… "
"America… you were … are… my life." Arthur replied in a rare moment of clarity. "When we were together, everything was so different. I watched you grow… I …I…"
"And you've been everything to me Arthur." America replied sitting a little closer. "When I heard you were sick, I just wanted to make you well again. Just wanted to try… " He said kneeling at his chair.
"America…" sighed Arthur with tears in his eyes. "I love you, I always have… always…"
"I know what will make it better Artie…" America said softly as he moved to kiss him tenderly on the lips. Taken by surprise Arthur was at first hesitant but then such a feeling of warmth came to him, in that empty place that had been hurting ever since America left him, filled again with light and love and happiness… filling him up with something beautiful. America held him and kept kissing him over and over.
"I love you so much Alfred…" he sighed "You have no idea…"
"We could be one again…" Sighed America "You could be mine this time, I'd look after you."
"You…?" gulped Arthur "You love me like that?"
"Yes, we could run this world together." Alfred said softly nibbling on his ear. "There would be no need to argue about anything, and we'd be happy wouldn't we Artie?"
Slowly the tears fell from Arthur's eyes as he realised woefully that this was a lie, a terrible lie, a heartbreakingly selfish lie. "And… and… we'll be together always…?" He asked.
"You're my everything Artie…" Sighed America "Just think of what we could be together… just think about it.. and I'll make love to you… " He said undoing the buttons on Arthurs shirt. "I was yours… and now you'll be mine…"
Tender sobs escaped him as America kissed his neck and started to undress him. Oh but the feeling of love for him was overwhelming, and yet inside he knew that it wasn't true… it could never be true.
"I want it so bad…" He whispered, as he cried softly "Everything you said, I want so bad…I want you… I love you…"
"There's no need to cry my love…" America said "shhh…"
Francis sat at home quietly, tensely waiting for Arthur to come home. His beautifully prepared dinner lay untouched, as he poured himself yet another glass of wine and shakily held it to his lips.
"Je me quitte pas…" was all he could say.
It was not so long till he heard the door open, keys turning in the lock and Arthur entered, closing the door softly behind him. As he went to the kitchen he saw Francis there, looking quite upset, shakily sipping his wine.
"Where did you go?" He asked quietly. "Je etias inquiet"
"It doesn't matter Francis." Arthur replied.
As he approached, Francis saw that he was limping and something wasn't right. He finally looked up at him and it was obvious he'd been in some kind of fight, there were bruises on his face, and his shirt was ripped. It had been raining badly outside and he was soaking wet, he didn't even have his coat on, as he'd left it behind.
"It will never matter again…" He said softly. "Je t'aime… Francis… Je t'aime…" He said reaching for Francis.
Alarmed, Francis jumped up and held him, tightly as he could. "Je me quitte pas… Arthur…" He sobbed. "Je t'aime…."
He helped Arthur get into some dry pyjamas and sat with him on the sofa stroking his hair and hugging him. "I didn't know where you'd gone. You left without saying anything… and our food … you didn't even want that."
"I did… you've no idea how much I did." Arthur replied snuggling into Francis warm chest.
"Where did you go Mon Amour?" Francis asked gently.
"I went to see Alfred." He replied, and Francis heart could have stopped in his chest. He gulped and his grip seemed to get tighter.
"A…Alfred? What did he want?"
"You've been keeping my phone calls and messages from me…or so he said…."
Francis let go of him and sat up and then he stood up…pacing backwards and forwards on the floor his heart pounding fast.
"I… I… confess." He said finally. "I feel so much love for you, so much… its hard to control." He said. "Are you going to tell me that its over…. That you are in love with your former colony? " cried Francis. "Don't try to pretend there's nothing between you… you've always loved him."
Arthur looked at him with pure love in his eyes and took his hand. "Sit down my love." He said softly. "Please…"
Francis sat down and looked him in the eyes, those tender green eyes that he adored and loved so much. "Je me quitte pas…" He mumbled.
"Alfred wanted me." He said. Francis' eyes filled with tears, and his lips started quivering as he listened to what Arthur was saying, his heart breaking in his chest.
"He kissed me, and he said he wanted to be with me again…"
At those words, Francis broke down, sobbing into his hands, believing it was the end. "I…suppose you will want to be with him…"
"He lied… selfishly and horribly… he lied…" Arthur replied. "He made me feel whole again, he played on my love for him, he promised so much and I can't deny it Francis, I wanted it so bad…"
Francis just looked at him wide eyed as he spoke and listened. He took both of his hands in his own and held them. Arthur continued "He said he wanted to make the hurt go away, and believe me Francis he did, it felt like I was… the way I used to be…" Arthur said "But it was a lie, and it was the worst thing anyone has ever done to me…" He continued, unable to keep the tears from coming, he tried to remain calm. "He wanted me to be his, to run the world with him, and you know what that would mean? It would mean I would be under his control and completely powerless… a slave to the most dangerous and powerful nation on the planet… I love him, but I love him the way he used to be. " Arthur said "A wild child… a son… not this… not this man he has become."
Francis just continued to stare at him not sure if he should be angry or grateful that he came back to him or what he should be feeling. He blinked a few times wondering what to say.
"I'll tell you what I did Francis…" Sniffled Arthur as he brushed away a tear "I pushed him off me."
Earlier that night….
"I love you my England…" whispered Alfred in his ear as he continued to undo his buttons. "Just think… we'll be one again, and you'll never be ill and you'll be powerful, so powerful…."
"Or you will be…" Arthur replied. "With no one to contradict what you say." He gasped as America kissed his neck.
"Hmm…" Alfred replied. "You have no idea how many nights I have dreamed of kissing you, of making love to you.." he said with a low growl.
Arthur wanted more and he felt delirious but he managed to find some strength and pushed him off, scrambling to his feet. "Don't you ever…ever do a thing like that to me again…" He cried. "You are a liar Alfred F. Jones." He said. "I have the love of the most beautiful man with a sacred heart…" He said firmly. "His name is Francis Kirkland Bonnefoy, and he's my husband. I will never cheat on him, not with you, not with anyone. I love him." He said making his way to the door, and picking up his coat. "That was the worst thing you've ever done to me Alfred…worse than …that day…" he sobbed but as he was about to leave Alfred grabbed him and pulled him back, throwing him to the floor.
"I offer you the world and you throw it back in my face? What is this? Are you fucking stupid England?"
"No…" He said in a low voice "I think I'm seeing the light for the very first time…" He said and got up. "I don't want you… I want my husband."
In a fit of rage, America hit him once, twice, three times. Arthur just let him, and didn't fight back. He left him there and limped home to Francis, the man he loved with all his heart.
Francis listened and his heart filled with love as Arthur told him what happened. They hugged each other and cried, deep crying as never a truer heart beat in any mens bosom.
