Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.

AN: Thanks for all the really nice reviews! You guys keep making me smile.

Now, instead of studying for my upcoming prelim [test], which I really, really should be doing, I decided to write you guys a chapter. So, enjoy!

On Saturday, Kiku woke up extremely groggy. The events of the past day took a while to sink in. Once they did, Kiku groaned, covering his face with his hands. That had been so stupid of him. How could he have let himself get burned? How could he have let it stop him from working?

Why had he let Arthur drive him home? Why had he let Arthur stay?

Kiku wearily got up and stiffly got ready for the day, wincing every time he moved his arm the wrong way. He finally made it to the kitchen and made tea, realizing that he'd have to go shopping. He stared at the pill bottle helpfully placed on the table. He picked up the note there and read:

I know you don't like medication, but take it. For my peace of mind?

Feel well soon,

Arthur

Kiku read the sticky note a few times then shook his head. He carefully stuck the note up on the refrigerator and knocked two of the pills into his hand. He swallowed them quickly then went to get organized for the grocery store.

Kiku walked through the store, a little confused. It was very big, very bright, and there were people everywhere even though it was early on a rainy Saturday morning. He finally got a cart and was wandering through produce when someone spoke in his ear.

"What are you doing up and about?"

Kiku turned to look at Arthur. "I could say you were stalking me."

"Well, you could say that, but," Arthur grinned, "you wouldn't. How are you?"

"Fine. And yourself?"

"Doing better now."

Before Kiku could ask what that meant, someone clapped an arm around his shoulders. "Hey Kiku! How are you?"

"G-Gilbert. Hello. I am fine—"

Arthur gently tugged Kiku back, away from Gilbert and inadvertently closer to himself. "Don't crowd him, you twat."

"I'm not crowding him! Stupid limey…" Gilbert glared at Arthur.

"Bloody—"

"Stop?" Kiku suggested quietly. "Please?"

To his surprise, Arthur sighed and chuckled. "We'll finish this later, Gil."

Gilbert nodded with a smile. "So, how are you doing, Kiku?"

"I am fine and yourself?"

"Pretty awesome!" Gilbert grinned.

Just then, Ludwig wandered up, seemingly randomly. "Gilbert, we need to stay on task. Oh, hello Kiku."

"Hello Ludwig," Kiku replied.

Gilbert rolled his eyes. "You can manage the shopping by yourself, can't you? Come on West! It's not that hard!"

"Do you two live together?" Kiku asked, confused.

Gilbert slung an arm around Ludwig's neck. "Yep! We're brothers! Except I got all the awesome genes in the family and West got none of them."

Ludwig sighed. "Yes. Now, Gilbert, please. I do not want to be here all day."

"Fine!" Gilbert pouted. "I have to go be responsible now, which is so not awesome. Bye, Kiku! Feel better. Later, limey."

And then Gilbert and Ludwig were gone. Arthur looked to Kiku. "Where were we before that wanker interrupted?"

"Do not call him that," Kiku said softly. "It is quite rude."

"I know, love. That's why I was saying it. But, I'll stop for you."

Kiku blushed faintly, glancing at the floor. Did all British people speak like this? Or was it just an Arthur thing? He refused to entertain the notion that Arthur only spoke like this to him. That thought was absurd.

"Kiku?"

Kiku jumped. "I am sorry. What?"

"Let's meet up here in an hour, all right?"

Kiku agreed before he realized what he'd agreed too. Nevertheless, he ended up waiting in front of the store an hour later as Arthur pulled his car forward.

Arthur spoke as they drove, chatting about random things. Kiku felt very relaxed in Arthur's presence.

Because Arthur drove him home, Kiku invited him in for tea, never expecting Arthur to say yes. He had hoped Arthur would say yes, but he'd never expected it. Arthur always seemed so busy.

It was once they were sitting at the table, Kiku pouring tea that he remembered.

"Arthur, you forgot your jacket last night. I'll get it for you."

He missed the slightly disappointed look on Arthur's face as he went to the closet to get the soft leather jacket. He handed it to Arthur, who smiled.

"Thank you. And thank you for everything you did yesterday. You did not need to—"

"Anytime, love. Now, sit down," Arthur said playfully. "It's annoying craning my neck to look at you—"

"Just because you are taller than me does not mean you need to say so," Kiku replied with a slight pout. One of the odd topics that had come up the previous day was height, or rather how Kiku was one of the shortest people in the lab.

Arthur reached out and tapped Kiku's nose. "Don't pout."

Their eyes met for one, two, three heartbeats, then Kiku glanced away. Blushing, he changed the subject. They talked for nearly an hour when Arthur's phone rang. Annoyed, Arthur looked at it then groaned.

"I'm sorry, Kiku, but I have to take this."

He flipped open his phone. "Alfred, you twit, what is it this time? I'm with…No. Don't react like that. Matthew can take care of… Bloody hell, listen to me! …it's very simple. You ask…Fine. Fine. I'll be there."

Arthur hung up and gave Kiku a sad smile. "I'm sorry, but my cousin is being a twit. I have to go solve matters before he makes them worse. But, we should do this again."

Kiku walked with Arthur to the front door. "Thank you for driving me home."

"Thank you for the tea and for inviting me in." Arthur smiled at Kiku, pausing at the door. He appeared to be studying Kiku, before leaning in close, "I'd rather stay here with you."

"I…" Kiku didn't quite know how to answer. On the one hand, he really didn't want Arthur to leave. On the other hand, Arthur was flustering him. Arthur seemed to read what was going on in Kiku's head. He ruffled Kiku's hair.

"See you on Monday, love."

Weak kneed, Kiku walked back into the kitchen, sitting down heavily at the table. He noticed Arthur's jacket. He'd forgotten it again. Kiku grabbed it and hugged it to his chest, breathing in the reassuring scent of the jacket. He'd have to remember to bring the jacket into work on Monday. That reminded him of Arthur's use of the word 'love' again. That had to be a British thing. He knew it was, but he'd never heard Arthur use it with anyone else.

The rest of Saturday dragged on. Kiku cleaned and tried to keep busy so he'd stop obsessing. He fell asleep on the couch. He woke up in the middle of the night, hearing a man speaking with a British accent. After freaking out for a few seconds, he realized he'd left the radio on and the British man was a correspondent. He got up wearily, turned off the radio and finally went to bed.

He spent Sunday researching information so he could understand the project. He e-mailed his family, reorganized everything in his apartment, really anything to keep himself busy.

Finally, it was Monday morning and it was time for work. Kiku hugged Arthur's jacket to his chest. Arthur wasn't at his desk when Kiku got there. He walked over to his chair and put the jacket down.

"Hello Kiku," Arthur said, striding over.

Kiku jumped, turning around. There was another blonde man accompanying Arthur, but his hair was darker and his eyes, behind glasses, were blue. "Hello, Arthur and…?"

"I'm Alfred, Arthur's cousin! He's got to have told you about me! He's told me all about you—"

"That's enough, you twit." Was it just Kiku or was Arthur blushing?

Kiku hid a smile. "It was nice to meet you, Alfred. Arthur, I imagine I will see you later."

He slipped around Arthur, past Alfred, and went to his lab bench. Gilbert was there, waiting. As per usual, there was a problem with the flies. Kiku smiled and went to work.

Alfred watched Kiku walk away. He turned to Arthur grinning. "So that's him? You've got good taste sometimes, Iggy."

"It's not like that!" Arthur said too quickly, his face flushing. He turned to put his things down. "He's just a friend."

"So you wouldn't mind if I went after—"

Arthur shoved him up against the lab bench. "You so much as look at him and I'll do you in, understand?"

"Easy now, Iggy. No need to get so rough." Alfred shoved Arthur off.

"Shove off. Why are you even thinking about him like that? You've brought that administrator home four times now."

"Administrator? Oh, Ivan." Alfred shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "I don't think it's serious."

"Since when are you looking for serious? You were always just looking for someone to shag." Arthur's brow furrowed. "Wait. This is about Matt. You think just because he's got something that looks like it'll last, you want something too?"

Alfred laughed. "Yeah. That's it. I've got to get to work. See you later."

Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked down the lab benches and saw Kiku concentrating as he put together a titration set up. He was so focused on what he was doing, completely obvious to the world. Arthur smiled unconsciously.

By the end of the day, Kiku's arm was throbbing with pain. So, perhaps working wasn't the brightest idea he'd ever had. He was beginning to wonder if he should have just gone immediately to medical school. But, he'd wanted to get experience. He'd wanted to go into research.

He stepped outside, an ominous crack of thunder loudly ringing in his ears. He sighed and pulled up his hood. Hopefully the bus wasn't late tonight.

A car slowed down next to him. "Kiku, want a ride?"

Kiku looked up and then smiled. "Thank you, Arthur."

AN: Next chapter's where things get fun. I'm excited, anyways. I decided a little insight into Arthur's mind was needed. Sort of… it was sort of more of an excuse for me to look up British slang. I'm a child, I know.

Thank you to all who reviewed! It really means a lot to hear from you all. And, sometimes, I take your suggestions into consideration. :)