Please enjoy ;) its about to get interesting...

Francis Bonnefoy

I sighed and rubbed at my temples. It was already ten, and we hadn't gotten anywhere new. This meeting would either last all night or be suspended until tomorrow. Either way, Alfred and William were bored and falling asleep.

I met eyes with Arthur across the table and motioned to them. He nodded, so I leaned over closer to them and tapped their shoulders.

"Come on, time to go."

They nodded sleepily, without resist, and we left quietly.

As soon as the door closed, William tugged on my arm and Alfred watched as I picked up his brother. He held onto my free hand as William rested his head on my shoulder and feel asleep.

Alfred was already dragging his feet when we got to their room. He opened the door to a blue and white room full of toys and clothing. A bunk-bed was pushed against the far wall in front of us, and the window to the right was open slightly.

Cool, night air pushed into the room as I kicked the door shut. It smelled of rain and mud, but it had stopped raining outside awhile ago.

William slid down from me and began sifting through the piles of toys and clothing.

"Don't worry about cleaning William, just go to bed." I said crouching down next to him.

"I can't," He replied around a yawn, "I need Kumajirou…"

Alfred piped up from his top bunk, "I think I saw him in the green box."

I stood up and walked over to the largest box in the room and opened it. Sure enough, the polar bear was right on top, next to a collection of rubber balls.

"Here you go," I whispered as I handed it to him.

He squeezed it then crawled into bed. I tucked in Alfred first, giving William enough time to orient himself and his toy.

"Good night Alfred," I whispered before kissing his cheek.

I crouched down to William, "Good night William."

"Night Papa," He whispered sleepily.

Alfred was already snoring softly when I left, leaving the door open a sliver.

Echoed voices carried down the hall from the meeting room. They must have called it a night.

I hurried to the door to see everyone out.

Sighing, I shut the door on the last car driving out of the front yard; it had started to rain again.

I meant to go into the kitchen, but I didn't make it passed the couch in the den.

I heard more then saw Arthur coming in and moved my feet so he could sit, but he never did.

I opened my eyes to see him staring to me from the chair across the coffee table between us. He looked very tired, and had swapped out coffee for a glass of gold liquid and ice…

Great

"What is it Arthur?" I asked, pushing myself into a sitting position.

"Well the meeting went too long and almost nothing was decided, and more questions arose about mundane things…"

I stood, "Here, let me get you something better than that to drink. How many have you had, anyway?"

He pulled the glass away from my hand and looked at me seriously, "The next thing I'm going to tell you will upset you, and I believe you should sit."

I was taken aback by what he said, what had I missed? But I sat back down anyway, waiting for what was coming.

He sighed and set his glass down, pressing his hands together in front of him, "It was decided that, for the good of the…future, we'll be taking Alfred and William, out of school…immediately."

I sat, frozen for a minuet, before responding, "What…why?"

"So that they can be better trained…no, prepared, for the future and-"

"Wait. What do you mean 'trained'? Arthur you had better tell me what's going on right now." I fisted my hands together, dreading his next words.

"They should be…they are, being transferred to a combat training camp where-"

"No! Absolutely not! I refuse to teach them such…barbaric things as fighting and…and war!" I stood, feeling anger bubble inside me.

Arthur tried to start again, "Now, now Francis. We can agree-"

"On nothing!" I finished, "I wont see my boys work at being 'tough' instead of smart and educated. It's ridiculous to even suggest such a thing!"

"Well," Arthur stood, his breath tainted with alcohol, "you don't have to see anything of it."

I took a step back, "What the hell are you talking about Arthur?"

"You know what I mean," He sneered and shoved me back further, "Accept it, or leave."

"What?"

"Are you deaf now? I said do what I say or get out France!" He shouted.

The use of my formal name was like a punch in the gut, but I wouldn't back down that easily.

"I don't know if it's the alcohol talking or if it's you, England, just listen close," I said throwing his name at him like a curse, "I have as much authority over our boys as you do and I say-"

"Then get out! You've been mooching off of me for too long you wine drinking, frog bastard!"

"Hey! Why don't you just shut-up, eyebrows!" I shouted back.

"Oh, that hurts. Who told you that one, you're girl friend? Oh wait, she's dead isn't she?" He gave a fake pout and then started laughing.

I stumbled back, feeling numb and sick at the same time. It felt like someone else was talking when I said, "Well, at least I have enough heart to know true love when I see it, and to feel the pain when it's gone."

My vision blurred as I ran. I wasn't controlling my body anymore. I was too numb, and broken. There were too many feelings to sort through. I realized I was shutting down again as my arm slammed the bedroom door shut. My legs shook and I tried to step forward, only to fall back against the door and slide down. I rubbed my eyes, but my fingers just slipped off. I gave up and let them fell, the silent tiers dripping rhythmically off of my face onto my clothes. I could feel the hole inside me stretching painfully, threatening to swallow me again.

Ghostly voices began filling my head…

"No, don't do this, don't die. Jeanne!"

I shook my head, but the memory kept playing, over and over again. It was the night she was caught, and when she was taken away. When she…

"No stop it! Let me through!" The room began filling with people and the crowd pushed against me, forcing me away from her. I couldn't see her anymore, only hear her, "Oh, God no!"

I shook with pain, my body subconsciously rocking back and forth. I didn't hear him walking up to the door, but I felt him force it open, pushing me along the floor.

He sighed, "You look almost as terrible as you do on a normal day."

I didn't respond to his insult, but I let Arthur pull me to him. My legs shook and I could barely stand, but I knew Arthur wouldn't let me fall, well, not on purpose anyway.

"You smell like you took a bath in a bar," I stuttered as he lay me down on the bed and rolled over to the other side.

"And you smell like you should have." He sat up to pull the blankets over my shaking body.

I laughed, but it was without joy, "You're not as sharp when you're this drunk."

He stared at the ceiling, "Apparently I'm sharp enough…"

I looked at him and whispered, "It's my fault for being so weak…I mean it has been years since…"

Arthur looked over, "Hey, it is not. She…they, really hurt you that night. I should know. I mean, I should've done something more."

"You did," I forced myself to rollover onto my side and face him, "I never thanked you for that did I?"

Arthur let his head roll on his pillow and faced me, his tired eyes drooping, "You don't need to, and it was the right thing to do,"He laughed, "I mean it's not like I could leave you out in the street for anyone to get at you…

What? Why are you looking at me like that for?"

I smiled at him and touched his cheek and neck, "You do care, don't you l'Angleterre?"

"What? I most certainly do not. It was just that-"

I pressed myself closer to him, purposely cutting off his sentence with my lips. WE hadn't really kissed in a while, just as we hadn't really fought in ages. Even though the later wasn't ever pleasant, this was. I had forgotten how soft he was.

I snaked my arms around him, pulling him closer. He tasted like alcohol, but I didn't mind.

He twined his fingers in my hair, before groaning and pulling back.

"Are you mad at me Francis?" He slurred as he nuzzled against the crook of my neck. The movement tickled and I laughed softly, "Would I be holding you now if I was?"

He stilled, sighing heavily, "Tell me the truth, I know when you're lying Francis."

I lay my chin on the top of his head. It was true, that I was lying because I was mad, but I loved him. I wasn't even sure if it was the drink talking or him, but I did know that I didn't want the answer to that question, not yet at least.

He pinched my side, prompting me to answer, "Fine, I'm not mad…just, offended and shaken…and maybe a little hurt."

He squirmed out from my embrace, only to shift up to my eye level, "I really am sorry. I won't do that to you again."

I spoke before thinking, "I'm sure you will."

He moved before my shaken, sleepy mind could react. He pushed down my shoulders and pressed his nose lightly against mine.

Obviously he was going for a serious look, but his slurred speech gave him away, "Really, I mean it."

He touched my lips with his gently, silently asking me if I believed him. I kissed him back softly, before rolling him over and pushing him off lightly.

"It's late, and you'll feel terrible tomorrow morning. You should sleep."

I kissed his eyelids as he whispered back, "Don't tell me what to do you frog."

He shifted closer and nipped my ear, "Besides, I'd rather feel good now…"

I laughed and pushed him back, "Don't tempt me. You're drunk and you need to sleep. The answer is no, mon cher."

He sighed and nuzzled against me again, breathing heavily just before falling asleep.

I squeezed him closer once, before falling asleep myself.

Have i mentioned how much i love this pairing! *fan girl scream*

It's almost too cute to type...almost

See you in the next chapter!