Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

AN: Sorry about the delay! I've been very busy. Like it feels like only a week has passed, but then I look back and realize it was month. Not really much to say this chapter, just that I am sorry about the delay and it is dedicated to one Morning Chrysanthemum, because she always writes very long, touching reviews and her review actually reminded me about this chapter. Of course, all of you reviewers are wonderful and I love all of you dearly. Thank you all so much.

Kiku woke up confused. He couldn't remember everything that had happened last night. He wasn't sure how he had arrived in this bed. He did remember being at work late, Gil had walked in and invited him to a party, but after that, it was all a blur. He sat up and was very surprised to be tugged back down. Apparently, he was very unobservant when he was this hung over.

Kiku glanced over to see who was holding onto him and nearly had a heart attack. Arthur was still fast asleep, muttering, "No. Stay."

Mentally, Kiku started freaking out, which was quite an accomplishment when he felt like he had spent the better half of the night hanging upside down in a meat locker with a persistent and never ceasing hammering. What had happened? Why were they in bed together? Well, that was actually a simple question. He was at Gil's house so there probably were not a ton of beds. So, sharing made sense. Arthur's arm around his waist did not.

Kiku didn't move, more in shock than anything else. Though, it did feel nice being held by Arthur…no. He was not going to think about that. He was not going to go down that path again. Arthur was just a friend, a very good friend, and that was all they would ever be. Friends.

Kiku glanced at his watch. Almost seven. It was Friday, so there was work in a few hours. He should get up and leave, but he couldn't bring himself to move just yet. He wanted to stay right there. It felt safe.

Just as he thought that, Arthur woke up. Kiku couldn't help but notice how utterly perfect Arthur looked, features heavy with sleep, hair mussed up. Arthur smiled once his eyes focused in on Kiku. "Morning love."

"M-morning." Kiku was very taken aback with the tenderness there.

Arthur seemed to pick up on that. He brushed a few strands of hair out of Kiku's eyes. "How do you feel?"

"Ano…fine. Hung over. Everything is sort of a blur."

He laughed. "You were drinking a lot last night…" Arthur's brow furrowed, processing the words a little slower than normal. "Wait, how much do you remember of last night?"

Kiku shrugged. "Not a lot. Why? Did something happen?"

Arthur's face fell, but he struggled to hide. "No. Come on. We should get going."

It was then that Kiku knew something had happened. What had he done? What had Arthur been counting on Kiku remembering? They walked carefully through the mess that was Gilbert and Ludwig's house. They didn't talk until they got out of the house.

"Do you want a ride home?"

Kiku shook his head. "I am not that far away from here. I can walk."

Arthur studied Kiku's face then leaned in close, but he held himself back. He hugged Kiku instead. "Be careful, love. I'll see you in a few hours."

Kiku grabbed Arthur's arm as he turned away. "Arthur, what happened last night?"

Arthur looked at Kiku, then away. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"It is obviously something. What happened? I am sorry for anything I might have said. I do not drink often, I am sorry."

"No. It's not like I want you to be sorry for what you said." Arthur sighed. "I want what you said to be true today, but I guess it's not."

"What did I say? Arthur, please, just tell me."

Arthur's phone chose just that moment to start ringing. Arthur hesitated before picking it up, green eyes locked on Kiku's face. "Hello? …what? I'll be right in." He hung up, eyes still fixed on Kiku. "The incubators failed this morning. I need to go in."

"I will see you later." Kiku nodded and broke off eye contact. "Bye."

"Bye love."

Arthur got into his car, watching Kiku walk down the road. He was handling his hang over pretty well, not even stumbling. It was once Kiku had turned the corner that Arthur started driving to the lab.

At a red light, he let his head drop onto the steering wheel. Kiku didn't remember. Last night, he and Kiku had admitted their feelings and kissed. Kiku didn't remember that. Arthur had dared to get his hopes up and now he felt horribly crushed. He had thought things would be different, but Kiku had just been drunk. There was the saying that in wine, there was truth, but Arthur felt too crushed to hope.

There was a honk behind him and Arthur drove again. He didn't want to be hurt again. But, he couldn't give up on Kiku without knowing that there definitely was no chance, as pathetic as that sounded.

He parked and got out, looking up at the imposing building. It was time to forget about last night and get to work.

After some water, a shower, and a cup of coffee, Kiku was feeling a little better. He still had a headache, but it was manageable. He had to get to work. He was the first one there. He looked around, trying to figure out what to do. Arthur walked in with Gilbert who still looked a little hung over. They walked over to Kiku.

"All right, so the incubators are broken. The flies that were in the 18 degree one are in the 18 degree room. Most everything else has been moved to the empty section of desks here," Arthur recited at top speed. "The incubators should be fixed next week, hopefully before Doctor Roma comes back. We need…I don't know what we need."

Gilbert patted Arthur's shoulder. Arthur looked a little bit like a zombie. "Kiku, we need you to make some more food. We're going to have to flip these flies earlier than expected."

"Understood. I will get to it."

Gilbert watched Arthur give Kiku's back a doleful look. "Arthur, what happened last night?"

"I don't know what you're—"

"I saw the two of you go up to my room and now you keep giving him these looks…did something happen?"

Arthur glanced away. "Nothing—"

"Don't lie to me, limey."

"Shut up you dog. What happened was nothing."

Gilbert shook his head. "You're so stupid sometimes…Go take a break. You look like hell."

Kiku was watching the food cook, waiting for it to boil. It was very close to that. He couldn't miss this point or else the food would be ruined. The door opened. Kiku didn't look up. "It is almost boiling. Food will be finished soon."

"I didn't come here to talk about the food. Kiku…" With gentle hands on his hips, Arthur turned Kiku around so they were face to face.

"Arthur?"

"Last night…you told me liked me."

"W-well, of course I do. We are friends, A-arthur." Kiku pushed Arthur away, stepping around him to nervously put plastic bottles into boxes. His heart was beating much too fast.

"Not 'like' for friends. 'Like' with more meaning. Like, why I always call you 'love.' Is it coming back now?" Arthur stilled Kiku's hands.

It was starting to come back, in pieces. He did remember sitting on the couch, talking to Alfred, then Arthur had appeared. Arthur had gotten him and upstairs. Kiku had asked why Arthur always called him 'love.' Arthur had explained. Kiku had spoke. And then…oh god. They had kissed.

"Got there?" It must have been obviously written on Kiku's face. "What I said last night was the truth, Kiku."

"That is…very forward, Arthur." Kiku pulled his hands free and turned away from Arthur, trying to keep his panicking under control. He could deal with this. It was just not easy. He was not ready to deal with this. He could not. "I was drunk last night."

"But, there was truth in what you said, wasn't there? I've seen the looks you give me. Kiku…look at me."

Kiku pulled away from Arthur again, going to check the fly food. "This needs to boil. You should get back to work."

Arthur sighed and Kiku turned around as he went to the door. Arthur looked back at him. They stared at each other for one, two, three heartbeats. Then, they had bridged the distance between each other. Kiku didn't know who initiated the kiss, only that he didn't want it to stop.

They broke apart when they heard footsteps approaching. Kiku was still breathless, leaning against the wall. When had he gotten there? Arthur looked to be in the same state, running a hand through his hair. Gilbert opened the door and looked between them.

"Everything all right?"

Kiku answered quickly. "Yes. Arthur just had a question. He was leaving."

Arthur gave Kiku a confused, slightly hurt look before turning to Gilbert. "Yeah. What's going on?"

"I was just wondering where you moved the cultures." Gilbert was trying to read what was going on in Arthur's face, but he couldn't see it. He looked to Kiku, but Kiku was busy turning the cauldron off and stirring.

"Come on. I'll show you."

Arthur was silent as he led Gilbert into the 18 degree room. Kiku had reciprocated that kiss, hadn't he? He hadn't forced it on him, had he? Why had Kiku sent him away?

"Arthur, what just happened? Things were tense in there."

Arthur handed Gilbert the stack of cultures. "Nothing."

"You know, the more you say it, doesn't mean I'll believe you. Doesn't make it true either."

Kiku went through the motions of making fly food, still unable to understand what had happened. He liked Arthur as more than a friend, he couldn't deny that to himself now. He had kissed him! What was Kiku supposed to do?

Kiku was not good at relationships. He hadn't been in many. He didn't even know how to handle friendship half the time. How was he supposed to 'handle' this? They worked together, sort of. It was inappropriate. But, that didn't stop Kiku from wanting it.

He covered the last box of vials with cheesecloth and started cleaning up the kitchen. Had he messed up everything?

"Staring at the door isn't going to make him come out."

Arthur started at Gilbert's words. "Just…shove off, Gil."

"I'm your friend, Arthur. I'm doing this for your own good. Go talk to him."

"It's fine, you prat. There's nothing to talk about."

Gilbert shook his head. "You're making a mistake."

"No, I'm not." Arthur turned away purposefully and walked away.

Around six, Kiku was finally able to leave. Well, actually, Gilbert told him to get out of there. He got into the empty elevator and the doors had almost closed before Arthur slid through. Kiku looked up at him, a little confused.

"What floor?"

Arthur turned to him and then put his hands on his shoulders. "Are you angry at me?"

"N-No. Why would you ask that?" Kiku couldn't look anywhere but Arthur's eyes.

"Then what the bloody hell happened earlier? Explain that."

"We…we were done talking."

"Done? We hadn't even said anything, Kiku!"

Kiku felt himself getting angry and he didn't quite know why. "We had said all that was necessary! Why are you so obsessed with this?"

"I'm not obsessed with 'this,' I'm obsessed with you."

Kiku shook his head, disbelief etched on his features. Why had the elevator chosen today to stall and move twice as slow as normal? Why did the lab have to be near the top of the building? "You do not know what you are saying. Do not lead me on."

"I'm not leading you on. Kiku, I told you the truth—"

"Enough! I do not want to hear this."

"You need to hear this!" Arthur tightened his grip on Kiku's shoulders. "I can't keep doing this…Kiku…"

"Who are you to tell me what I need to hear? I can make my own decisions!"

"I'm not doubting that, but you need to hear me out—"

"No, I don't—"

"Why won't you—"

"Why are you being so diff—"

And for the second time that day (not counting the previous night), they were kissing. It was very short lived though, because the elevator stopped on the ground floor. Kiku pulled away from Arthur, face bright red as he stepped through the doors as soon as they opened. Arthur stayed on the elevator, staring after Kiku. Kiku had a weekend to stop and think about everything.

He knew this: he was never going to get drunk again. It caused too many problems.

AN: The incubator did actually break one of the summers I was there for work…the lab basically went crazy.

So, yeah…take this chapter as you will. :) Hope you all enjoyed it!