Title: The Perfect Pumpkin

Warnings: None

Summary: Alfred insists on taking Arthur pumpkin picking.

"Alfred, honestly, where are you taking me?"

The couple had been on the road for almost three hours now, crossing state lines several times. Day had just broke as Alfred woke up his partner and loaded him into his SUV having planned out the surprise trip.

"You'll see!" was the same reply Alfred had given Arthur every time he asked thus far. "We're almost there."

Arthur rested his elbow on the side door and glanced out the window. At least the landscape was pleasing; rolling hills and farm land as far as the eye could see. There had been little to no civilization for hours.

"Ah, there it is!" Alfred suddenly cried excitedly and Arthur turned back to face front. He eyed his boyfriend for a moment and then caught sight of what he was looking at. Not half a mile down the road there was a sign painted with a bright red arrow pointing down a side street. Arthur read it and groaned.

"Pick your own pumpkins? Really Alfred? Aren't you a bit old for this?"

Alfred's smile only grew as he made the right turn onto the side street. He followed the signs until the paved road became gravel, and the couple watched as the rolling hills turned into a sea of orange before them.

"Aww come on, Arthur! No one's too old to pick pumpkins."

But the Briton begged to differ. The moment he stepped out of the car all he could see were several happy families, all with young children walking up and down the pumpkin patch. He looked on for a moment, watching a young boy as he tried to pick up a pumpkin that was obviously too heavy for him. His father leaned down next to him and scooped up both the boy and the pumpkin. The child squealed with delight, and Arthur couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Don't worry, if you find one that's too heavy for you, I can pick it up no problem," Alfred smiled, as he followed Arthur's gaze and took hold of his hand. The Brit blushed but allowed it. "Now come on! We gotta find the biggest, bestest, most perfect pumpkin on this lot!"

Arthur just shook his head and smiled as Alfred led him through the rows of tangled vines.

After half an hour, the couple had walked up and down each aisle full of orange bloom. Arthur was toting a little red wagon full of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, as Alfred led the way holding a pair of pumpkin shears. They were coming round the bend now for what Arthur was pretty sure was a third time.

"Love, we've been up and down these aisles nearly three times now," he spared a glance at Alfred then motioned to the radioflyer. "I think we have a good harvest, no?"

Alfred didn't look back at him but just kept on walking. He had his eye trained on the fields and looked determined to find something amongst them.

"Artie, I told ya. I'm not leaving till I find the best pumpkin in this patch, and it's really close, I can feel it."

Arthur sighed, and made a quiet "umf" sound as he bumped into his sweetheart. He hadn't realized that Alfred stopped walking.

"It's really close now, Arthur. I can feel it."

Alfred took a step forward and frowned. He turned right, but frowned again.

"I hadn't realized you had pumpkin senses," Arthur said while rolling his eyes, and this piqued Alfred's attention. He dropped his shears and turned around. A huge smile spread across his face.

"There he is!" Alfred ran forward, and scooped Arthur into a hug. The later yelped faintly as his boyfriend swung him around several times before replacing him on the ground.

"Alfred, what on Earth do you think you're do-"

But he was cut off with a kiss. It wasn't long and hot and intimate, but rather passionate and overwhelmingly sweet. Alfred pulled back and simply stared at his boyfriend with what Arthur could only describe as utter adoration.

"What was that for?" Arthur finally managed to mumble as his cheeks brightened and a small smile crept its way onto his lips.

Alfred beamed at Arthur and pulled him into an embrace.

"I just found my most precious pumpkin."