"We're here today with the Olympian favorites from four years ago, the Special Relationship couple, Alfred Jones and Arthur Kirkland!" The interviewer leaned over to shake hands with both of the athletes. "Thank you so much for joining us!"

"Oh, it's always a pleasure." Arthur smiled kindly. His hand was resting on Alfred's. He would tap the back of his hand when the interviewer moved over to shake his hand or if he needed to look anywhere.

"The swimming meets are over and, wow, Arthur, you really made out this Olympics. Four golds and two silvers. Impressive. Quite a turnaround from London."

Arthur chuckled, but it didn't sound happy. "Yes, well, that would be because my main competitor wasn't able to swim."

The interviewer looked at Alfred in pity. "Yes, and what a show you two would have put on this time."

"Arthur would have still beaten me at some point," Alfred said. He smiled at Arthur beside him, even if he missed and his smile looked a little strained. "He's an amazing swimmer. I just wish I could have seen it happen."

"The first meet, what an incredible show there. Had you planned on giving Alfred your gold on the medal podium?"

Arthur nodded. "If I won, yes. And since I had, I asked the judges if it would be all right to have Alfred come down. They allowed it, and so I rushed to ask the volunteers to bring him down. His parents didn't even know what I was planning."

"Why did you give it to him?"

"Well, because I won it for him. London was Alfred's games. I wanted Rio to be his as well, even if he couldn't get in the water. He's still very much a part of the swimming team for the Americans, and for many other countries. His accident, well… It brought a lot of athletes together to help him."

"Your prosthetic eye was very expensive, and your family didn't have the funds. The American swimming team enlists support from other swimmers to get you the money. How do you react?"

Alfred laughed. "As much as anyone really could. Just, gushing gratitude. Those guys are the best. When I left the team, no one was happy to see me go. And it wasn't just my guys, but it was swimmers from all over, ya know? They really came together to help me. My family, Arthur, and I are all eternally grateful."

"Do you think you can still swim today?"

"Of course! I know how to keep going, and most of the time when I swam during practice before my accident, my eyes were closed. I know when to turn before I hit the wall and how many strokes to get to the other side." He tapped his temple and smirked. "You do it enough times all of your life and you kind of remember these things."

"What happened then?"

"My coach," Alfred said simply. "He didn't want me to. He was worried of all the problems that could happen. If I got chlorine in my eyes, he thought it would bother my fake eye or that the other eye would become irritated or infected. And then there was writing to the ICC to ask for my inclusion into the Olympics. Even the Para-Olympics might have turned me away. I don't blame him now, but I was pretty pissed at first. Now, I understand. It was a hard time for everyone, and he was only looking out for me."

"Have you two grown as a couple since this experience?"

"Yes, I think so," Arthur replied. He squeezed Alfred's hand to gain strength. Whenever there was mention of the accident that cost Alfred his sight, Arthur always became very unstable. "I… Well, it was my fault that Alfred had his accident…"

Alfred cleared his throat loudly in irritation. The interviewer looked at him, confused, but Arthur continued to speak.

"But I was able to rectify this by helping Alfred adjust to the transition. I moved to America to move in with him and his family and would take him with me just on simple chores. It was good for him to get out and get back into doing everyday things, even if he couldn't see. It helped ease the pain."

"Arthur and my parents were great. I mean, just really amazing. I think I'm only able to be here in Rio because of everything they did for me." Alfred leaned over and kissed Arthur's cheek.

"Does that mean you almost didn't come?"

"Yeah…" Alfred shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "I was really mad. I had been barred from any team because of my coach and I fighting, and I didn't want to know who would break my records. Worse, I couldn't even watch as Arthur swam. That was hard for me. I love watching him swim. All I kept thinking about was the London games and how I was there for the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony, and when I would take Arthur to all of the other matches. It was a real downer."

"Was it the same for you, Arthur? Did you almost not come as well?"

Arthur hesitated. He had never said anything of this to Alfred, but he supposed it was a moot point by now. "Yes. For Alfred's sake, I almost stepped down."

"What changed your mind?"

Alfred was frowning by now. Had he been able to see, he probably would have given Arthur a cold stare at learning of this news. Arthur tried to ignore him.

"Well…gold. I still really wanted it. I'm an athlete I want to win. And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became with myself for not going. If I didn't go, Alfred would have been let down. I didn't want that. I wanted to win for him and for me. So I told myself that even if I win only one gold, it would go to Alfred, but I should win two so I can have one for me too."

"How are things now in your relationship?"

Alfred shrugged. "Normal. I mean, we still go on dates and, well, it's awkward when we come home late because my mom gets upset and asks us 100 questions."

"Yes, we're trying to find a place of our own to live."

"What's in store for your future? Marriage?"

Both of the men blushed and began laughing nervously. Arthur looked about ready to get up and leave, but he was still holding Alfred's hand. If he left, he would never hear the end of it from Alfred's parents.

"W-well, it's still illegal in my state, but who knows how long that will last." Alfred rubbed the back of his head. "I dunno. It's kind of a thing we take day by day."

"Do you plan to still swim?" The interviewer asked Arthur.

He shook his head. "No. This was my swan song farewell to the games. I will teach, most likely, as will Alfred. We're planning to open a school in Iowa to help children with disabilities."

"I love kids," Alfred said suddenly. "If we can't have a few of our own, I say we just adopt 'em at a school we run."

Arthur laughed. He wanted to kiss Alfred, but not in front of the camera. He already hated the pictures on tabloids of them sharing an intimate moment. This was his relationship. It was no one else's business to know what Alfred looked like when his eyes were closed in bliss as they kissed.

"Now, we've heard a lot about your family, Alfred, but what of yours, Arthur?"

Arthur tensed up. He remembered everything. The harsh voices, the unforgiving things they said, and the judgmental displeasure of the entire situation. They had always been so kind and loving before, but this was too far. A man with another man wasn't "right" in their book. An Olympian should be an Olympian, according to them. Apparently that didn't mean he could love freely.

"They… They have made it clear how they feel about my decision to move to America and live with Alfred. It is something we do not talk about often."

"Does that mean you don't visit England anymore?"

"Oh, no! We do! Quite often, in fact."

"Yeah, I loved England! We have a lot of good memories there!" Alfred pat Arthur's hand reassuringly. "I still remember when we met."

"Not much is known about it, but can you explain how you two met and what went through your minds?"

"The first thing I thought of was how hot Arthur is!" Arthur choked at this, but Alfred continued. "I mean, I'd seen him on T.V., but oh my God! You just can't understand. Here he was, in our shared room, putting his underwear away and I'm staring at him with my eyes buggin' out. Oh, he was so hot."

"Alfred…," Arthur started, obviously embarrassed. He looked at the interviewer in hopes they'd turn the conversation elsewhere, but the man couldn't get a word in edgewise as Alfred was off talking about it.

"And then he was swimming in the lane next to me and I was freaking out! This guy is amazing to watch! I swear, he commands the water! And he looks good as he does! I mean, yeah, the swim cap makes his eyebrows look bigger, but that's part of his charm. I can remember it all vividly in my head. When I know how Arthur would react to something, I just recall a memory and keep hold of it because it's all I can do. I don't ever want to forget what Arthur looks like."

The interviewer smiled, pleased. "That's so sweet."

"Yeah. I just love Arthur. When we met, I couldn't help the things I said or did. I was overcome by just being near him. I don't want to sound stupid and say it was love at first sight, but man it sure felt it."

"I know it was for me," Arthur said quietly. He felt eyes, both seeing and unseeing, on him, but he was focused on his lap at the moment. "I just… I was in awe of Alfred, and a little intimidated. I think that's why it was so easy for us to… well start off our relationship the way we did. I wouldn't say he pushed me into anything as it was voluntary, but I was certainly…more inclined to go along with any and everything if only to please Alfred and keep him by me for as long as I could."

"Did you fear him leaving you?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes… I mean… He's world famous, attractive, and just…a wonderful man."

"Now you know how I feel!" Alfred laughed.

"Well, it sounds like you two are on track to a long and healthy relationship. I'm sure everyone wishes you luck in your endeavors. The actions here in Rio with you two will surely go down in Olympic history, and everything you've done will certainly not be lost, Alfred. Thank you again for coming to this interview."

"Thank you." Arthur tapped Alfred's hand, and he leaned forward to shake the man's hand.

"You okay?" Alfred asked later that night. He was lying on his side and running his hands over Arthur's bare form. He just wanted to memorize Arthur the best he could with the pads of his fingertips. It was easier that way to call back up a memory of how pale Arthur's skin was in the moonlight, and how breathtakingly beautiful it could be.

"How do you mean?" Arthur asked slowly. He was tired from the day's events and the end of the Olympics, but he was swimming in a haze of happy emotions leftover from his orgasm a short while ago.

"I mean… That interview wasn't too hard for you?"

Arthur chuckled. "No, my love. It always gets easier to talk about your accident and my family. It's all right."

Alfred smiled. He shifted to lie on his back. Arthur moved to lie across his chest, resting his ear just over his heart. "I can't wait to open our school together and have our own place."

"Yes… It will be amazing."

"We still gotta figure out a name for the school."

"How about the JoKer School of Swimming?" Arthur suggested.

"Joker?"

"Yes, a combination of our last names: Jo-Kir, only it'd look better as Joker since people would be confused with the JoKir aspect."

Alfred thought about it for a minute and then agreed. "All right. I like it. And we'll have our flags hanging and our medals out for display and it'll be great. We can swim together every day."

Arthur sighed happily, forgetting that Alfred was blind and forgetting to blame himself and forgetting how he thought Alfred could ever actually leave him. They no longer had to trade medals to keep promises of a return. This would be their future together despite the heated swims they used to be involved in. The media would leave after a while and they would be alone together to swim and love and be happy.

Hoshiko2's cents: Man, I had to pick the sappiest ending, huh? Well, in any case, this epilogue was to thank all of my readers for the support for this story. It was quite kind and I really appreciated it.

Also, Joker is the name for USUK in the J-fandom.