Visits went from two times a week to once every two days. They started to become more frequent and when it came to taking leave, Arthur and Francis found it extremely saddening. Both desired for the other to stay longer but neither voiced that. Arthur couldn't tell if his desire to stay with the Frenchman was due to his need to pass time and be productive without feeling guilty every day for not doing anything. Francis was too scared to say anything due to being desperate for some type of company that wasn't just nurses and his doctor.

Nonetheless, their unvoiced thoughts effected both in a positive manner for their visitation hours gradually began to lengthen.

It was September and the fall colors began to blend and take over the dying summer. Trees began to glow a beautiful orange and yellow, their leaves drifting through the air and clustering against buildings and street curbs. The weather grew chilly to the point where sweaters and scarves were began to appear on every pedestrian.

Arthur shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, feeling content with the warmth his simple grey beanie provided him. He didn't mind the sudden drop of temperature. In all honesty, he preferred the cold rather than the heat. It complimented his emotions.

When he entered the hospital that afternoon, he found it exceptionally busy. It appeared many had fallen ill from the weather and the hospital was in a rush. Groaning, Arthur trudged into an open elevator and silently prayed he wouldn't catch a cold.

Once reaching the LTC unit, the Brit felt a little smile crawl over his lips.

He couldn't wait to see Francis again. The Frenchman regained his liking after a few more visits. Of course, the man was still awfully annoying and seemed to enjoy picking at his British backgrounds and appearance, but other than that, the Brit found the other very nice. They talked about what they liked and even found some similarities.

Arthur simply couldn't wait to share another friendly conversation with Francis. He couldn't explain... there was just something that tethered his interest to the sick man.

Once at the door, Arthur knocked on its surface before entering.

"Francis, it's me–" He greeted softly, stopping once he saw Francis.

The long haired blonde was sitting upright in bed, holding a phone to his ear. His eyes shined from the sun out the window yet they weren't bright like the world outside. A curtain of faint despair mirrored off of them as an empty sigh escaped his lips. Francis glanced up when Arthur entered, forcing a quick smile to the Brit before focusing back on whoever was speaking on the other line of the phone.

"Je suis désolé. Nous ne disposons pas de l'argent." Francis responded in French. "I know... but, mama can't take you. Matthew, please don't cry. Si vous plâit... Matthew."

Matthew? Arthur had never heard of that name mentioned in their past conversations. It made him wonder. Through the stillness of the room, Arthur could hear the faint voice of a boy crying on the phone. A jumble of words were mixed in with those cries, only Francis seemed to understand them.

"I'll come to visit once I'm better, okay? I promise." Francis continued speaking after a good minute after hearing Matthew's tearful response. "Stay with Mama and keep her company. She needs you, Matthew. You can do that for me, non? Once I get better, I promise I'll see you again. Your big brother never breaks his promises, okay? So, you must trust me on that."

Arthur lowered his gaze upon hearing what Francis said. Oh... It sounded like 'Matthew' was Francis's brother— his little brother to be more precise. Apparently he wanted to see Francis and Francis simply could not due to his state.

"...Is that mama?" Francis questioned, eyes lighting up in a faint bittersweet. The corners of his lips twitched into a hopeful smile as soft murmurs were made on the other side of the phone. "Tell her I say hello... Yes... Oh, okay.." he bit his lip, blue eyes gleaming with a thin sheet of tears. "Je t'aime, Matthew... Au revoir."

With that, Francis set down his phone and tapped the 'end' button on his phone. An uneasy silence blanketed over the hospital room as he slowly set his phone beside him on the bed.

"Was that family?" Arthur asked after a moment, putting as much delicacy and hesitance on the question. He knew how sensitive the topic of family could be for some people. It could awake unwanted memories or painful past depending on their history.

Francis swallowed thickly with a flickering smile.

"Yeah... that was my little brother, Matthew. He lives with our grandmother in France." He responded softly, picking absentmindedly at the edge of the thin hospital blankets. "I used to, um, take care of him before I fell ill..."

"You take care of your brother?" Arthur inquired curiously, unsure if he was being too nosy.

Thankfully, Francis chuckled and accepted his question with an open attitude. "Yes... I used to. My father left my mother when I was five years old— Matthew wasn't born yet. When I turned 17, my mother passed away and Matthew needed someone to take care of him. He's 13 years old now."

Arthur nodded, mind turning with interest and dismal relation to the other's situation. He couldn't imagine having to give Alfred up after the loss of their parents. Even if Alfred was only a few years younger, he still wouldn't want to part ways with him and entrust his safety with anyone other than him. Francis was 21 and Matthew was 13— that was an 8 year difference.

"I apologize; I didn't mean to be such of a downer today." Francis mumbled with a sigh, eyes drifting down to the bland sheets the hospital provided.

There was an awkward silence that began to settle, putting discomfort both on Francis and Arthur. Internal conflict pulled Arthur around his mind. Should he say something to comfort the other? Was he even in a position to do such a thing? Would that make the situation worse? Obviously, the Brit was extremely ignorant upon the concept of basic socialization. It was usually something he tended to avoid. Yet, right now, it didn't seem like he could avoid it.

"...You don't have to apologize. I understand what you're going through."

Arthur found the words falling off his tongue before he could take it back. Immediately, he bit his lip, inwardly yelling at himself. Shit. Talking to people— that alone was a stretch for the young adult. Opening up and talking about personal topics? Hell no. That was one of the biggest 'no's in his book. Especially if it had to do with his parents.

He saw Francis's demeanor brighten just a tad, slightly relieved. Slightly.

"You... do?" The Frenchman's interest on the other loosened Arthur a bit more. Maybe talking about it with only Francis isn't so bad... It is Francis, a patient with no visitors only with the company of doctors and nurses who could care less about people's gossip and interest.

"Yeah." Arthur sighed, granting a tiny smile. "My parents died in a car crash about two years ago... I take care of my younger brother, Alfred. He's in his sophomore year of high school right now."

He paused for a second, looking over at Francis awkwardly. To his surprise, Francis was wide eyed and practically leaning towards him a bit, obviously intrigued in what was being told.

"How did they die?"

Obviously, Francis wasn't as considerate and hesitant upon saying such possible insensitive things. However, seeing as how far he managed to even discuss this topic, Arthur didn't feel flustered by it.

"Car crash." Arthur stated with a sad chuckle. "We were driving back home from one of Alfred's academic decathlon events and, well, a pathetic drunkard just happened to cut our drive short... Alfred and I were sitting in the back so we didn't get significantly hurt, only broken bones and such. Our parents... they died on the spot. I don't remember much from that day. I just remember we were talking about a family trip we could do the next year. Dad mentioned Florida, Mom wanted to go to England to visit her parents, Alfred wanted to go to Las Vegas, and I genuinely couldn't care less... I guess I'll never figure out where we could've gone. Before we could come to a conclusion they just..."

Arthur stopped talking when he felt a gently thumb caress his cheek gently. He hadn't even noticed the silent stream of tears that cascaded down his pale cheeks. Francis, arm outstretched to wipe Arthur's face, bore a pitiful facade as he gazed over at the other.

"I-I apologize... I shouldn't of said all that." Arthur quickly stated, clearing his throat as he tried to cease his tears. They continued to fall yet his composure remained indifferent.

This was the exact reason why he never opened up nor spoke about himself with anyone. Most of the time, he'd be overtaken by grief or emotion and have his neutral mask lifted off of him. The Brit hated being true to his feelings with anyone that wasn't Alfred. Alfred was probably the closest person to see Arthur emote without any restriction.

"You don't need to apologize." Francis said softly, casting a small smile towards Arthur. "Sometimes you just need to let it out... and, going by my own experiences, I understand."

Usually in a predictable and corny movie moment, the hard person would break down after being given the okay and allow themselves to be comforted. They would cry and the other would reassure them. After the crying, they would stop crying and the comforter would stare at them. They would stare back. There would be dramatic music playing in the back, cueing the obvious 'a relationship had just been formed' moment. That certainly could happen... if this wasn't Arthur.

Arthur cleared his throat, sitting back a bit. He regained his indifferent facade once again, drying up any more tears that threatened to fall.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I don't need to let it out— I am doing completely fine."

Francis sighed softly, lying back on his bed. He didn't pry Arthur any further to be true to his emotions and inner grief. He wasn't in any position to do so. It was Arthur's choice if he chose to continue to vent and completely open up.

A tiny moment of silence spread across the room before Francis broke it.

"My father left my mother and I when I was younger. Mother was pregnant with Matthew when he left. I think that was the reason he left... I doubted he ever loved my mother. I don't even see him as a genuine father." Francis chuckled bitterly, eyes trailed up to the ceiling. "A few years ago, Mother fell ill with a terrible illness. I can't quite remember what it was but it was severe. She died while I was still in school... I had to drop out in order to take care of Matthew. He doesn't quite remember her since he's still pretty young. I enlighten him every now and then about her... I did my best to care for him while I was able to. However, I had to send him to the only other family we had left which was our grandmother..."

He looked over at Arthur with a gentle smile. He reached over to grasp Arthur's hand in his pale one, squeezing it softly.

"It seems we are in similar situations, non?"

That was a fact Arthur couldn't deny. To be exact, it was quite surprising. He truly never thought anyone would understand his current situation. Everyone else lived normal lives with loving, whole families and their future set in stone. It felt like no one was just drifting in a repetitive wave of uncertainty, mixed with the stress and loss of needing to take care of your small family.

Arthur nodded, feeling his lips tug into an equal smile.

"I suppose we are."

_
A/N:

No joke.
I wrote three sentences and didn't continue with another few sentences weekly for this chapter.
Writer's block sucks rip.

anyways, I got something out! woo! enjoy!

please leave your feedback in the comments/reviews! I love reading them.