"Catch me if you can!"

Little kids ran around in gleeful laughter as they played their game of tag, occasionally shouting and accusing each other of unfair play.

"I got you!"

"You just touched my shirt!"

"I touched your arm!"

"No you didn't!"

"Yes I did!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

It made Arthur smile, as he watched on. The park was always a safe haven for children; the sand softening any falls, the equipment bright, new, and all freshly painted. There was even nice padding underneath and around each swing, slide, merry-go-round, and such. It was the best place for children to have a good time with others their age, and it was where he had planned on taking Françoise when she had been old enough to handle the roughhousing of the gradeschoolers.

… Emphasis on "planned."

And, now he couldn't, for very obvious reasons. For one, he had given Françoise back to her rightful Father figure who she was actually biologically related to, and two…. Well, number one was really all the reasons why all the plans he had for her were now non-existent/impossible.

… But, if there was a number two, it would be that he would never be able to be a part of her life ever again, even as just an unrelated uncle.

Arthur took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. He leaned his head back against the tree he was sitting against, since he knew he couldn't be seen on the park grounds. That would just look odd, so instead he was disguising himself here, behind the brush of nature.

He just… had to hear laughter again. True, honest, cheerful laughter. The most pure kind of laughter - children's laughter. Because as long as children still laughed and played and talked and ran, then everything would be all right.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself the small fantasy of imagining Françoise was still his, and laying in his arms… smiling, laughing, telling him to read her a story… He could feel her soft cheeks as he kissed them, hear her tinkling laughter mingling with the others, see… see her, looking so beautiful and wonderful and magnificent -

He turned the illusion off by opening his eyes, which were quickly filling up with tears. It hurt, coming back to the cold clutches of reality and finding only yourself…

Arthur's body forced him to gasp in a large breath of air, since he wasn't getting enough himself. He yawned shortly afterwards, his eyelids feeling much heavier than before. Maybe… if he napped here, close enough to hear the children laughing… he could get a peaceful night's rest.

When Arthur opened his eyes next, he saw that the moon was glowing brightly in the clear, dark sky.

He smiled a little, sitting up and immediately groaning from the aches in his neck and back. He started to stretch as he continued to stare up at the moon and the stars. They were still as beautiful as he remembered… They went on despite this tummulting world, shining proudly every night without fail…

So why couldn't he move on? Alfred had practically admitted that he didn't want to kill him. That meant he forgave him, right?

Right?

Well… He supposed Alfred never really said the words, "I forgive you," to him, so, then again…

Arthur sighed, shaking his head as he stood up, walking over to the quiet swingset. Touching it, the sky brightened to day once more, and he could remember when two little kids swung side-by-side, trying to see who could go the highest. He smiled, the sky turning dark again as he went forward and sat down on one of the swings, pushing himself back and forth. It was an uplifting feeling, sitting on a suspended seat and swinging through the air - it was as if he could kick all of his troubles away… And yet, these swings held yet another memory for him.

Closing his eyes, he remembered when he and Alfred had come here for a date, on a clear night such as this one. The superhero had convinced him to swing with him, even though Arthur tried to say he was too big for such things anymore. He didn't really have much of a choice when Alfred pulled him with that stupid strength of his.

They just sat there at first, talking… about what, he couldn't remember, but he remembered laughing a lot, just as the children would. Sometime during a comfortable silence, Alfred had went behind him and started pushing him, though he almost swung around the support bar a few times - the big idiot had found it quite funny…

When Alfred finally stopped the swing, Arthur had turned to yell at him for scaring him half to death, though he never got a chance to. Alfred had captured his lips in a kiss, and, just like always, Arthur felt powerless to resist.

His eyes snapped open, his breath coming just a bit faster and his mouth run dry. Damn it… he hated remembering things like that most. It was as if his subconscious was mocking him, reminding him what he had, what he lost, why he should feel guilty… How close he had come to happiness, and how he had lost it all.

He sighed again, and when he was on the ascent of a swing, he let go of the swing ropes and let himself fall onto his back, on top of the soft padding. Poof. It hurt, but it was a numb kind of hurt - like his life had become. Just an endless little throbbing pain in the back of his mind he tried to forget about…

He wished… oh, it was so stupid to do that, but he wished he could see him flying, high up in the sky without a care in the world. He wished that The Hero would come out of "hiding," he wished that everything was alright for him, he wished that the superhero was happy again… He wished he could take away his pain, and he could, but… it seemed like Alfred didn't want him to.

Why would he want to remember me? Arthur asked, blinking the stars away from view for a brief moment. I've done nothing but horrible things to him. Why would anyone want to remember him now, after the horrible thing he had done? It was a mystery to him, but for some reason, the public and Alfred just couldn't stop thinking about him twenty four/seven. Though he supposed he had been asking for it, what with that interview and all… He never did get the chance to show everyone who he really was, or lock himself up. Maybe he'd go do that tomorrow, who knew.

For now… going home was possibly the worst punishment imaginable for him. Where he would see his prized nursery, rich with the bittersweet memories of "his" little girl…

Ah, yes… Maybe prison would have been a blessing.

Which was why he didn't deserve to go there.

AN Annzy: Hey guys! It's good to be back :) This chapter probably seems kind of filler-ish, but I also think it's important to look into the psyches of both of our favorite characters!

AN Knux: And its a great way to pad things out while we work on some… Stuff, that's going to happen later on. XD That's why the updates are coming at a snails pace guys! School for us, and some July plans got in our way. XD But the story is almost done and ready for editing! :D And the good news is that it's at least over twenty chapters~ ;)) So the wait will be worth it~

Annzy: *chuckles* Ah yes, it will very much be worth it~ Even if there's no graphic sex scene (sorry to disappoint! This is rated T after all! We have something better in store anyway in my opinion~)

Knux: *Laughs evilly in the distance and drinks tears*

Annzy: … Well, until next time, you lovely folks, you! :) I hope you enjoy the ride as much as us!

Knux: *LAAAAUGHHHSS*