Author's note: OH MY GOD. I AM SO SORRY YOU GUYS! I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! OH PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I KEPT GETTING SICK AND WRITER'S BLOCK AND SCHOOL AND I'M SICK AGAIN, I'M SORRRRRRRY!

I hope this *sniff* makes up *sniff* for it... *sniffle*

Disclaimer: I do not own Axis Powers Hetalia nor its characters, especially the ones in this story. Shoot, i don't even own Moulin Rouge.

Chapter 4: You

Alfred checked his watch for the fifth time that night. He stood in the center of the grand Hetalian Ballroom alone, still waiting for his special guest to arrive. He'd sent a letter to Arthur the night before, via his brother Matthew, asking him to meet him there at 3:00p.m. It was now 2:55p.m. Alfred was wondering if he would ever show, if he'd just thrown the letter away and not given it a second thought. Of course, why wouldn't he?

I guess he wouldn't want to see me…he thought depressingly. Especially after-

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the ballroom, getting louder and louder with each second. His tiny hopes started to rise. As the footsteps crescendoed to the highest level, his mouth widened into an incredibly large smile. A mess of bright blonde hair stuck its way through the large double doors, followed by a slim and tiny body.

Finally…he sighed inwardly.

My damsel arrives.

Arthur stood bent over in the doorway of the Ballroom, panting heavily, trying to catch his breath. He managed to look up at the clock hanging on the wall opposite of him. It read 3:00p.m. He sighed outwardly, immensely grateful that he'd made it.

Thank God I made it in time...

Arthur began to lift his head and regain his posture. But as soon as he caught a glimpse of the other figure in the room, he froze. Standing there, tall, bright, and handsome with a smile plastered on his face, was Alfred. Arthur's heart beat madly in his chest. He could feel the warmth flood to his cheeks. He was starting to wonder if his decision to come had been the right one at all.

Okay, he thought hurriedly. Get ahold of yourself, Arthur! He's just a man, you're just a man, you can do this!

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and started towards the center of the room, letting the door close gently behind him. He steadily made his way to the smiling figure and stopped, just a few inches between them. He looked up at Alfred and was immediately captured by his beautiful, sky bue eyes. He broke out into a cold sweat. He didn't know what to do.

He was panicking.

Oh my God, oh God, what do I say now?! What do i do?!

Neither said anything for a while, leaving an awkward silence hanging in the air above them. Arthur was thinking about leaving. He could just turn around and run. But before he had a chance to leave music cut the thick tension in half. Soft music with a melody so sweet and familiar filled up the empty space almost immediately. The song was an old one, Arthur realized. And he loved it. It put him at ease.

This music...so beautiful...he thought. It's made for a waltz...

He started to loose himself in the steady melody, not paying attention to Alfred who was still there. Before he could process what was happening, he felt a strong hand place itself on his waist and another enclose his slim hand. The hands moved, making him sway back and forth along with them, dancing the perfect steps of a Waltz.

Wh-what's going on?!

He looked up an blushed. Alfred's face was just inches from his own; his hot breath tickled his face. He tried to speak but all that came out were stutters.

"Eh-what-why-"

"Do you remember?" Alfred interrupted. Arthur shut up.

"Do you remember...when we first met?"

Arthur's eyes widened with shock; he hadn't expected this question at all- especially from Alfred. Of course he remembered! How could he forget something so precious?

"It was here, in the Ballroom,"Alfred continued. "Of course it was full of people back then!" He smiled goofily in an attempt to crack a joke.

It didn't work. He realized this quickly and decided to continue on with his story:

"I was younger...and quite a ladies' man back then!" Alfred heard a faint "hmph" from his partner. A smile tugged at his lips.

"I was alone that night, didn't have a dance partner. Wasn't having much fun, either. I even thought about leaving! But then," he looked down at Arthur. "I saw you."

Arthur blushed madly and cast a glance down at the floor. America laughed.

"You looked really nice in your black tux, by the way. I couldn't tear my eyes from you! And then i asked you to dance. Of course you called me a 'Bloody git!' when I made you dance with me!' he laughed again. "This song was playing in the background...I'll never forget it."

Alfred's eyes glossed over with nastalgia. Arthur could feel his doing the same as well.

The memories from that night came flooding back to Arthur, playing like a movie film in his head. There was him, seeing Alfred for the first time: tall, handsome, sky-blue eyes that never lost their light. Alfred asked him to dance and at first he gave him the bird, but then, hesitantly, he took his hand, letting him lead him to the dancefloor. They danced for what seemed forever. Then, other memories flashed by: them on their first date, a stroll in the park, Alfred attempting to make jokes, and their first kiss. The first sweet kissed they'd ever shared. The movie skipped ahead several months to the day when Arthur had woken up, found a letter on his dresser, and cried. Cried until no more tears could form, until his heart was empty.

"I think," Alfred resumed, knocking Arthur from his movie, "that that was when I fell in love with you."

Arthur gasped loudly unable to hide his surprise at Alfred's sudden words. He had never thought, not even for a moment, that they had both fallen in love with each other at the same moment. Immeasureable joy replaced the pain constricting his heart, but of course Arthur didn't show it. Instead, he just moved closer to Alfred, still swaying along with him, and leaned his head against his chest. Alfred wrapped both of his arms around him, pulling them closer together. It felt so right there; to be in in those big, strong arms. However, there was still something bothering him. There was a question he HAD to ask.

"Alfred," he began. He felt the hands of despair constrict his heart again, but he refused to back down. Not this time. "Why...why did you leave me?"

There.

He'd said it.

He needed an answer and he needed it now. The question had been haunting him forever and he wanted to get rid of it, for good, and now was his chance. When Alfred didn't respond for a while, he took a risk and glanced at Alfred's face. His bottom lip was turned up and his eyes were squinted, a habit he had when he was thinking hard about something. Of course, he had good reason to: one wrong word and he could lose Arthur forever.

"It was because..." he began. "I felt...trapped."

Crap.

Immediately, Arthur felt the pain return, stronger than ever, and could feel anger well up inside him. But most of all, he could feel hot tears pool in his eyes.

"You...felt trapped? Trapped?! I made you feel...trapped?!"

America immediately regretted his choice of words.

Double crap.

"N-no! That's not what I meant!" He racked the spaces of his brain frantically, trying to think of the right words to say.

"What I meant was...umm...i felt trapped by the city. I wanted to travel, see the world. But i didn't know if you'd come with me!"

The tears in Arthur's eyes began to fall.

"Aw, man! I love you so much, Iggy, and saying goodbye was too difficult for me. So I chickened out and left you a note. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. My stupid cowerdness! I'm so sorry..."

Arthur stood speechless. He had never heard America sound so...sad, so depressed before. And hurt. He lifted his head to get a good look at Alfred and choked on his tears. His face scrunted up, like he was writhing in pain. Arthur still loved him deeply and the pained expression only hurt him more. But now he knew the reason why he'd been left alone. he could feel the old pain start to disappear. Now he had to take care of this.

"Alfred..." he started. He took Alfred's face in his palms amd stared right into his eyes. He knew what he had to say and he was ready to say it.

"I forgive you, love."

Arthur saw Alfred's eyes widen and the relief that immediately spread across his face. It made him sigh with relief as well.

"But," he started agaom, "Never do something like this again, or I'll kill you, you stupid git!"

The insult made Alfred laugh, a genuine laugh and it made Arthur smile as well. How long had it been since he'd heard that laugh. It was music to his ears.

"Oh, Arthur..." Alfred sighed. His sky blue eyes softened.

"I love you."

And then he did what Arthur hadn't expected. He took his face in his hands and started to lean in closer. Arthur knew what this meant, but he didn't care. Well, maybe "care" wasn't the best word. But he knew one thing: he wanted it. Hours seemed to crawl by as Alfred slowly closed his eyes and Arthur did the same. He placed his lips against his in a sweet and loving kiss making Arthur's lips move with his. Arthur felt a shock run through him at the moment of contact but didn't move. He kissed him back. How long had it been since he felt those lips? Months? Years? Centuries? He couldn't move. He didn't want to move.

He wanted Alfred.