Arthur Kirkland-Bonnefoy went to sleep and never woke up again.
Or did he?
Arthur felt himself being shook, and he turned away, happy to be resting.
"A... Arth... Arthur... Wake up Arthur." A familiar voice called. Annoyed that he was being ignored, the other man slapped the Brit hard across the face.
Arthur shot up like a bullet, startled and angry, "Wha- Who-"
"Good morning, Mon Cheri." Francis smiled at his husband of nearly 50 years, but looking as young as he had been the day they married, 26. Arthur stared at him speechless, and his stomach churned. This man looked and sounded like Francis, but he had an unnatural glow around him. Despite the slight fear Arthur had that this was not his lover, he jumped forward and wrapped his arms around the other, burying his face into Francis' neck. "You look so young, Arthur. I guess I do too though..." Francis smiled and embraced the Brit.
Arthur felt the embrace but no warmth from the other, slowly, reluctantly, letting go. "This... I'm dreaming, am I not?" Francis shook his head and Arthur's eyes grew wide, "But... you're dead... and I..." Arthur looked down now and saw that he was sitting inside of a person, though the person. He quickly shuffled to the other side of the bed and realized he had been sitting in his own body. However, now, it seemed strange, lifeless. Arthur leaned forward to try and touch his own cheek, but Francis gently grabbed his wrist and stopped him.
"Love you are-"
"Dead..." Arthur finished, soundlessly, still staring at his dead body. "The boys. I was supposed to talk to them. They wanted me to go into a home."
Francis nodded, "I know, I was there. I was always there, waiting for you. Protecting you. But I could not protect you from yourself. You gave up, and it hurt me to watch, love."
Arthur looked at Francis, and began to fully understand the situation. "So do we... stay here? Do we watch the boys? Keep them safe?"
Francis smiled and shook his head, "I was watching them too, they will be fine. Now that you are here I can finally leave this realm. We can leave together."
"Where will we go?"
Francis pointed at the bedroom door, which was glowing softly, "There, I think." Arthur got off the bed and approached the door, holding out his hand for his partner.
"Well," he asked the Frenchman as their fingers intertwined, "What are we waiting for?" He gave Francis a light kiss on the cheek then they opened the door and walked through.
Author's note: Someone requested I do another part with the boys. I hadn't even thought of that! I will be sure to start on it right away!