A/N: This story was written for the USUK Community Secret Santa Event on Livejournal. The two prompts I worked with were: 1) All I want for Christmas is you and 2) Cuddling under a quilt. I don't own anything alluded to or mentioned! :)

Title: Grounded

Warnings: None

Summary: Alfred and Arthur get stuck at the airport on Christmas Eve.

"British Airways flight 1350 to London, Heathrow," Arthur read aloud as he traced the flight number on the departure board. "Cancelled."

Alfred remained silent as his partner turned to him with a disgruntled expression.

"I told you we shouldn't have waited until Christmas Eve to fly out to my parents' house. They'll have my head for this, Alfred! The family won't be all together on Christmas!"

"Artie, calm down," the American begged as he took Arthur's hand and led him away from the electronic screen. "It's honestly not that big a deal. I'm sure they'll have us on a flight over tomorrow."

Alfred guided his boyfriend back to their gate and together the pair took a seat on the rather uncomfortable airport chairs provided.

"No, Alfred... you don't understand," Arthur said irritated as he held a hand to his head and started rubbing his temples. "It is a big deal. This was going to be the first time you met my parents! They were going to welcome you into the family at Christmastime, Alfred! They were finally going to accept us as a couple..."

The American reached over and squeezed the shorter man's shoulder.

"Aww come on, Arthur. You make it sound like just because we won't make it for Christmas, we won't make it there at all. I'm sure your parents will be happy to see you, regardless of what day it is."

The Briton sighed and looked up at the man seated in front of him.

"But Alfred, that's not the only thing," Arthur said gently, his gaze quickly traveling to the marble ground. "I wanted the holiday to be perfect... I wanted to just spend time cuddling in front of the fire, and drinking cocoa...," Arthur admitted with a flushed face and refused to look at his partner. "And to top it off, I sent all of the gifts I bought you ahead of us, so now I don't have a single thing to give you. This whole holiday is ruined by the stupid insurmountable amount of snow."

For a moment there was no response, but then, out of nowhere, Alfred laughed.

"Christmas ruined by snow? I've never heard that one before."

Arthur cast a glance upwards to glare at Alfred, but held back when he realized the man was not mocking him; he was simply being the sincere and juvenile person he always was.

Alfred wiped a fake tear from his eye as he calmed himself down. He looked back at Arthur with bright blue eyes, and an equally brilliant grin. He leaned forward and took Arthur in his arms.

"Aw babe, please don't be sad," he said in his gentle tone as he placed a chaste kiss to the top of Arthur's mop of sandy blonde hair. "We don't need presents or fireplaces to celebrate Christmas," he remarked, and the Brit looked up at him curiously. "We've got all we need, right here."

Arthur sent him a quizzical look as the American stood up.

"You don't believe me, do ya, Artie?" he asked with a childish grin. "Well I'll show you what I mean. Sit tight and watch our bags. I'll be right back," Alfred said as he started jogging down the terminal. "Christmas Eve will be awesome, just you wait and see!"

Arthur waited patiently in the terminal for his love to return. For a while he simply sat glancing out the window at the falling snow, but when that tired itself out, he started to people watch. He would observe as someone passed by him, and created a whole life for them in his mind. The young woman who just hurried by for example, was changing planes to meet her family over winter break, though that plan was now ruined. The five or six year old boy who was led by his father as his mother followed quickly behind, was excited to see his grandparents again. Only now, because of the sudden snowstorm, that too was a deflated dream. Arthur started to wonder if anyone could be happy spending Christmas Eve cooped up in an airport.

"Santa's not the only one who's watching people, huh?" Alfred remarked with a smile, and Arthur was startled out of his musings. The American let loose a loud but good-natured laugh, and as he did, Arthur caught sight of the two paper cups he was holding, and the plastic bag slung on his arm.

"Hold these, will ya?" Alfred requested, as he handed Arthur the warm cups and picked up the small carry on the couple had brought with them.

"Alfred, what are you planning?" Arthur asked confused, as he followed the golden blonde to another area of the airport.

"Be patient, Artie! Isn't that what you're always telling me?"

"Alfred, honestly?" Arthur asked incredulously as his boyfriend removed a pack of candy canes from his bag and started to adorn a plotted plant in the corner of terminal E. He sat in front of the decorative greenery, shaking his head, though a small smile was evident on his face.

"Yep!" Alfred responded, not looking away from his work for a minute. "Hey Art, do me a favor and dig out the blanket I packed. It should be on the top, in the main pocket."

Arthur complied with the request, and unzipped their miniature suitcase to find an old plaid quilt he'd made for Alfred ages ago, neatly folded on the top.

"You brought a quilt? Love, we're going to England, not Siberia," Arthur responded sarcastically and Alfred chuckled.

"Actually, I packed it just in case. I know how you always tend to get cold in movie theaters and stuff, so I thought I'd bring it."

"Oh," was the only intelligible response Arthur could come up with as his cheeks started to flush a light pink. Alfred had been... thinking ahead? To make everything more comfortable for him? Well now that was rather sweet.

"Great!" the louder of the two announced as he placed the last candy cane on the plant and stepped back to admire his work. "Whadda think, Arthur?" he asked as he took a seat next to his sweetheart and sent him a dorky smile.

"Quite creative," Arthur answered as he rolled his eyes, but Alfred's grin simply expanded and he laughed.

"I knew you'd like it! Now we have a Christmas tree to cuddle in front of!"

"A Christmas tree to do wha-"

But Arthur was cut off, as Alfred wrapped his arms around the Brit's middle and pulled him into his lap. He took the quilt from Arthur's hands, and spread it across their legs.

"Mhhm it's not a fireplace, but I thought it would do," Alfred murmured against the Briton's neck, and Arthur could feel his skin grow hot; though whether it was from arousal or his boyfriend's endearing charm, he wasn't sure.

"Oh Alfred," he sighed, though contentedly, and turned to rest his head on his lover's shoulder. The two cuddled together under the quilt, gazing at Alfred's marvelous creation, and beyond through the window, as snow blanketed the ground. Some Christmas songs coming from the airport speakers made for soft background noise and aided in giving the couple's awkward predicament an almost cozy feeling. The two stayed like that for another few minutes before Alfred suddenly remembered something.

"Crap! Where are those cups I gave you? The hot chocolate's getting cold!"

Arthur maneuvered over to grab the cups and handed one to Alfred. He removed the top off his own cup and lifted it to his lips when Alfred panicked and grabbed the beverage away from him.

"No! Artie wait! Ya gotta drink it the proper way."

From the plastic bag where the candy canes had emerged, Alfred pulled two souvenir coffee mugs. The American poured the contents of one of the paper cups into a mug and handed it to Arthur. The mug was plain white, though bright, colorful words printed on the front read: "Somebody in Boston loves me." Arthur couldn't help but smile at the silliness of the whole situation.

"There we go," Alfred announced as he poured his own hot chocolate, and tugged Arthur back into his arms. The two sat warm and cuddled in each other's arms, slowly downing the sweet liquid.

By the time Arthur had downed the contents of his mug, and gently laid it on the ground, the sky outside was dark, though still speckled with white as snow continued to fall. He wasn't sure how many hours had passed since they arrived, but the couple definitely should have been pretty far over the Atlantic Ocean by now, and yet they were still stuck here in the Boston airport.

In spite of that, when these thoughts crossed Arthur's mind, he didn't frown as he might have before. Alfred's good intentions and sweet company never failed to brighten his mood. He'd never admit it, but he was absolutely grateful he'd met and fallen in love with such a wonderful, though often childish person.

"Artie, you still awake?" Alfred whispered, and Arthur realized he'd closed his eyes for just a moment. He blinked himself awake and lifted his head off of Alfred's shoulder.

"Yes," the Briton answered, albeit tiredly. Alfred grinned and pulled something from his jeans' pocket; his phone. He fiddled with it for a moment before looking back at Arthur.

"Great cause there's one more thing we gotta do on Christmas Eve," he said with a playful grin, and revealed to Arthur a glowing screen that displayed a digital mistletoe. "$0.99 mistletoe app for the win, man!" he said with such a joyful tone, that Arthur didn't even berate him for wasting money on something so stupid.

Alfred held his phone up above their heads and leaned in to kiss his partner. Arthur was tired at this point, but he smiled into Alfred's sweet show of affection, and kissed him back just as gently. He pulled away and with a grin on his face and pink cheeks, which Alfred then quickly moved to press a kiss to.

"Merry Christmas, Arthur," he said tenderly, pocketing his phone, and wrapping more of the blanket around himself and his partner as he brought the Briton closer. "I love you."

Arthur didn't even bother averting his eyes this time, though his flush did grow brighter.

"I love you too, Alfred. Happy Christmas."

Alfred pulled Arthur down to the floor and the two snuggled within the confines of the blanket until the elder of the two fell asleep in Alfred's embrace. The American smiled at the shorter man in his arms and gripped him even tighter. Lightly in his ear, Alfred whispered a few words that would go unheard.

"I told you we don't need glitz and glam to celebrate the holidays. After all," Alfred smiled at the bundle in his arms. "All I really want for Christmas is you."