The beeping of the monitor was Arthur Kirkland's least favourite noise in the world. All it did was remind him of where he was, of the reason he was here, and he despised the constant reminder. He straightened up in the chair, his back creaking causing him to groan. He was too old to be sleeping like that, but he refused to leave his husband's side, and they refused to let him share the bed, so the chair it was. He looked over at the bed, at the slumbering figure laying on it. Only the beeping monitor assured him that Alfred was really alive, his skin, always so tanned by the sun in their youth, was now almost as pale as the sheets he laid on, and his eyes were closed. His breaths were shallow enough that his chest barely rose and fell, and Arthur found himself constantly placing his hand on his chest just to feel the faint beat of his heart. He sighed softly, feeling his eyes brim with tears that he thought he'd long since shed dry. How many times had he cried now, since the first time they'd heard the diagnosis the year before-terminal prostate cancer, the same thing his father had died of years ago now. He took Alfred's hand in his, squeezing it the slightest bit-something they had always done when they were young, always holding hands whenever they went out or even if they were just sitting on the couch watching movies. But now…a sob escaped his throat as he held onto the hand tightly, a hand that had once thrown a football for a winning touchdown, piloted an aircraft for the US Army, made him a hero to his whole town and, most especially, to Arthur himself. But now he could barely lift that hand from the bed, and those blue eyes so filled with life were dim behind his spectacles.

"Nnh…Artie?"

Arthur gasped softly at the soft voice, squeezing his hand and Alfred's eyes flickered open slightly, a faint smile on the other man's face. Arthur tried to smile back, even though his cheeks were glistening with tears and his heart was aching as Alfred looked at him, eyes slightly unfocused.

"I'm here, love."

"'Course you are…you're always here." Alfred smiled, squeezing his hand weakly. "We did promise forever…"

"Sixty-six years is a rather long time." Arthur nodded, eyes tearing up again. "But nowhere near long enough to be at your side."

"Hush…it was going to happen someday, Art." Alfred said softly, and Arthur felt a pang in his heart at how weak his voice was-how many times in the past had he told Alfred to keep his voice down? He wished now that he could hear him shouting and laughing that boisterous laugh of his.

"B-but I was supposed to go first…it makes sense, I-I'm older…" Arthur whispered, a few tears dripping onto their joined hands, and Alfred just shook his head weakly.

"You have to live…live for me a bit longer, 'kay?" Alfred smiled, his breath wheezing a bit, and Arthur's eyes widened in horror.

"Al-"

"Shh…it's okay, Artie…you knew it'd be soon." Alfred whispered, his voice getting fainter and his eyes threatening to close, but he was holding on, because he wanted to stay with Arthur for every moment he could. "At least…at least I could be with you."

Arthur just shook his head, more tears spilling over his now wrinkled cheeks, his hand shaking as he clung onto Alfred's weaker one.

"B-but what about m-me….how can I l-live if you're not here?"

"Because you have to…I'll see you soon, I promise." Alfred smiled weakly, squeezing Arthur's hand slightly, as best he could. "Don't cry, babe…I lived a long life, and…I don't regret any of it."

"B-but..I-I…" Arthur couldn't even get words out anymore, his voice was so choked with emotion, and he found himself clutching onto Alfred's hand. Alfred just smiled, his eyes falling shut but he forced them back open.

"I love you…I love you, Art, no matter what…forever and ever…"

Arthur sobbed, clinging onto his hand, and when he saw the nurse enter the room he realized what it meant, and suddenly he was so scared, because Alfred was leaving him, he was never going to see him again, he was going to have to bury him, the one man he had loved with all his heart…he clung onto his hand tightly, leaning over and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, letting them linger.

"I-I love you too, Al…I love y-you so m-much…" he whispered against his lips, and he heard Alfred chuckle breathily.

"Good to…know…bye, Artie…see ya later…"

Arthur froze, his heart stopping for a moment when he sat up and saw his eyes shut completely, felt the hand in his fall limp. The machine flat lined, and the nurse just walked over calmly to switch it off, Arthur still staring at Alfred's face in shock. This couldn't be real, it couldn't be happening-he couldn't be dead, Alfred, the light of his life, the bright and energetic boy who had run off to join the army to be a hero, the one who always had a smile…he was dead. The nurse just gave him a sympathetic look, her brown eyes sorrowful as Arthur's shoulders hunched and he started to sob loudly, refusing to let go of Alfred's hand, to lose that last contact. The Nurse just put a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft as she intoned.

"Captain Alfred Franklin Jones, time of death, 9:32 A.M."