Author's Note: Arthur tops, for those of you who have preferences when it comes to this stuff. That is all. Oh, and I'm pretty sure there will be one more chapter after this. So, it's not over yet.

Arthur showed up at his doorstep the morning after Alfred's fight with Gilbert, throwing the entire Jones family for a loop. Arthur Kirkland was definitely not a morning person. If it wasn't a school day, Alfred was lucky to see Arthur awake and not entirely pissed off before noon. "Hey, Carrie." Arthur was actually the only one aside from Lucie who had ever called Alfred's mom by a nickname. They'd actually been close, once.

Alfred heard his boyfriend's voice from his spot at the table, trying to ignore the tense atmosphere that he and Matthew had been festering in ever since the other day. Their dad sat between them, pretending to read the newspaper although he kept glancing between his twin sons as the silence wore on. "Good morning, Arthur." Alfred's mom greeted, sounding amused. "You're certainly a man on a mission today."

"Always." Arthur replied. "I'm actually here for Al."

Alfred paused mid-bite at the mention of his name, completely forgetting about the flavor of pancake on his tongue as his heart rate spiked considerably. He wasn't sure what Arthur wanted him for, but if it was going to be like any of their previous rendezvous, Alfred wanted to finish his breakfast quickly.

"Oh? Do you boys have something planned?"

"It's more an impromptu trip. Al had a bad week at school, so I'm hoping to cheer him up a bit."

"Is that so? Freddie never said anything about having troubles. He's still eating breakfast if you want to wait for – "

"No, no, I'm coming!" Alfred called, abandoning his breakfast without a second thought and rising from the table before his mom could ask Arthur just what sorts of troubles Alfred had been having.

For a small town in the country, Allen was surprisingly lacking in farms. There were a few on the outskirts of the city, a couple dozen miles away on the roads that led to Topeka and Salina, but Alfred had never seen them, only heard about them in passing. There was one, though, that had been attracting teenagers long before Alfred was even a thought in his parents' heads. The Omega wasn't sure why it was even still around; it didn't serve much of a purpose aside from being a neat place to hang out in. The barn belonged to the owner of the general store, who was a senile old man with bad hearing and eyesight that was none the wiser when high school students dropped by to mess around in the hayloft.

The boys had been to the barn before, though they were always in the company of others. Alfred wasn't concerned when they arrived – Arthur hadn't seemed to be plotting anything – and threw himself down onto the nearest pile of hay within seconds of stepping foot inside.

Alfred had always loved it there. It was quiet and peaceful; light peered in through cracks in the wood and windows up in the loft, creating a scene of absolute serenity. It was something he'd been itching to draw, and that's just what he did, having grabbed his sketchbook before he left with Arthur, if only so his mom wouldn't be too suspicious if they were gone for too long.

The boys were silent as Alfred lay on his back with his knees up and sketchbook leaning against them, Arthur stretched out languidly not too far away, arms behind his head and eyes closed. They hadn't spoken since they arrived, and while it wasn't awkward, especially since Alfred was too busy trying to perfect his shading technique, the Omega was curious about a few things.

"So, why'd you bring me out here?" Alfred asked, eyeballing a rafter that honestly looked a few minutes away from giving way before starting to draw it, giving up on trying to transfer the filtered light above him to paper. He'd need colored pencils for that.

"I figured you would enjoy it." Arthur replied. "You have an eye for these sorts of things."

"What things?"

"Beautiful things." Arthur elaborated, and Alfred grinned, turning his head to glance over at the other Omega. Arthur's eyes were open, and the smirk on his face was soft and kind of adorable. Alfred was struck with the urge to kiss him but resisted. He couldn't make it too easy. "Besides, you and I were in desperate need of a quiet place to clear our heads for a few hours. I figured a little field trip out here wouldn't hurt."

"You figured correctly." Alfred laughed, grunting when he accidentally strayed from his current pattern. "Stop distracting me. I'm trying to do these rafters right."

"You were the one who asked why I brought you out here. I was perfectly content to just – "

"You're still talking." Alfred interjected, chuckling when he saw the look on Arthur's face. "Sorry, Art. You're fun to hassle."

"So I've been told."

"You heard from Annie lately?"

"She called a few nights ago." Alfred wished he'd been there when she had. He hadn't seen Annie since her wedding back in January. It had been a small, simple affair, held in a church down in Anderson that was far bigger than the one in Allen. While Annie had looked beautiful, Alfred was certain everyone in attendance had paid more attention to her baby bump, even Lucie and his parents. Alasdair started crying when the vows were said. It had certainly been a day to remember. "I didn't get a chance to speak with her, but Mum said she and David were doing fine. I'm not too worried. Annie's kid will be in good hands."

Alfred had to agree. Annie was pretty much as maternal as they came. "Mattie still won't talk to me."

He wasn't sure why his predicament with his brother followed a brief discussion about Annie. The fact still remained that Arthur hadn't tried to discuss it once, and Alfred knew his boyfriend probably had a very strong opinion about what had happened. It was best to just force it out of Arthur then and there.

"I can't say that I blame him. When Matthew told me you picked a fight with Gilbert and he almost punched you, I wanted to sock you myself."

"Why is it such a big deal?" Alfred huffed as he closed his sketchbook. He wasn't getting much done anyway. "You fight with Gilbert all the time!"

"I'm usually the provoked in those situations, not the one doing the provoking. Matthew said you literally stopped talking at lunch, took his milk, and then poured it over Gilbert's head."

"Did Mattie tell you why I did it?"

"Because of his comments about male Omegas."

"Exactly!" Alfred exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air, upsetting the straw beneath him. "I'm sorry if I got sick of him telling me that I'm trash and did something about it. I'm so fucking sorry I stood up for myself for once and picked a fight that Matthew had to finish. God, Arthur, I thought at least you would understand why I did it."

"I do understand." Arthur replied, and the straw rustled as he repositioned himself, turning onto his left side to stare seriously at Alfred. "But you went about it wrong. Matthew started crying when I spoke to him after school, Alfred."

Alfred froze, lowering his arms back to his sides, not sure whether he was more shocked to hear that his brother had been crying or Arthur using his full name. "He – He was crying?"

Arthur nodded, his hooded eyes darkening a little as he recalled the memory, looking perturbed. "Matthew may be an Alpha, but going at Gilbert as he did yesterday in your defense shook him. He told me that he saw Gilbert raise a hand to you and he couldn't control what he did, and if you hadn't grabbed onto his shirt, he probably would have kept going. Matthew loves you, Alfred. He doesn't know how to help you, how to make you see that you're not worthless."

"Um, I know I'm not worthless. I kinda went after an Alpha in a rage about it, in case you forgot."

"See, that's the thing. You do think your worth is measurable. It's why you got so angry with Gilbert; he put something you've thought your whole life into words, and you reacted badly. He shouldn't have said those things, and frankly, he's lucky I wasn't there. I would have done much worse than pour a carton of milk over his head."

Alfred frowned, watching as Arthur pushed himself up and then began to crawl over to the younger Omega on his hands and knees. "If you would have done worse, why am I being lectured?"

"Because I know that I matter." Arthur replied, settling down next to Alfred. "I would have beat Gilbert for being an ignorant arse, not because some part of me thought he was right."

Alfred sighed, refusing to meet Arthur's gaze even as he rolled onto his side to face the other Omega. Arthur was right, just as he was every time they had conversations like this. How many times was it now that Arthur had to reassure Alfred that there was nothing wrong with him? Two? Three? Whatever the number, it was getting old, but Alfred didn't know what to do to fix it.

He thought everything would be easy once he accepted that he loved Arthur and that there was nothing wrong with that, but while Arthur was ready to move on, he kept having to wait for Alfred to catch up. What more did he have to do? "Do you think I'm worthless as well, Al?"

"No." Alfred replied instantly, appalled at the suggestion. "Never."

Arthur smiled, rubbing his hands up and down the length of Alfred's left arm, and Alfred shifted closer, wishing for the fabric of his long-sleeved shirt to evaporate into thin air, leaving nothing between him and Arthur's hands. "Think about how you felt just then. Imagine how I feel, living my life day to day knowing that the person I value more than anything can't see how special they are."

"Gilbert's such an ass." Alfred grumbled, reaching up to brush a few stalks of hay from Arthur's hair as the other Omega began to press kisses along the expanse of Alfred's throat. "He basically told me all I want is to have sex with an Alpha."

"That was just him stroking his own ego."

"He said I'm useless without one."

Arthur paused, and Alfred began to squirm, able to feel the brush of Arthur's tongue against his skin when he spoke, or maybe he had imagined that. "And what do you think?"

Alfred hesitated, contemplated saying what he knew Arthur wanted to hear, but decided against it. Arthur would see through him anyway. "I don't know."

Arthur's eyes darkened and Alfred found himself being pulled into a bruising kiss. They were never frenzied when things like that happened. The two Omegas were slow and careful, inexperienced and timid when it came to intimacy, unsure of how much would be too much. But that day, the kiss Arthur initiated became something else entirely, something reckless and deep and prying that left Alfred fighting off a premature erection.

"Hey." Alfred had to pull away first when it became apparent that Arthur wasn't going to, wiping away a thin line of saliva that was trailing down his chin while Arthur silently reached down between their bodies, grasping at the zipper of Alfred's jeans. It was obvious what the other Omega was going for, but Alfred couldn't help but ask, slightly nervous, "What are you doing?"

The sixteen-year-old wasn't sure how to react, and while Arthur wasn't any more experienced than he was, the older boy certainly gave Alfred the impression that he knew what he was doing and Alfred only had to follow his lead for everything to work.

"Take off your shoes." Arthur ordered before pressing his lips to Alfred's again, his tongue coaxing them open, pushing into his mouth. Alfred was struck by how warm and soft Arthur's tongue was, how it sent an almost electric shock down Alfred's spine, and when the Omega managed to toe off his sneakers and socks, he immediately reached over to grasp at Arthur's face, refusing to let him pull away as he returned that new form of kiss with almost embarrassing enthusiasm, inexperience be damned.

Arthur didn't try anything else after he unbuttoned Alfred's jeans, choosing instead to inch up Alfred's shirt a little and grasp at the younger Omega's hip, dragging dull nails across Alfred's skin, trailing lower and lower until he was reaching into the boy's pants and boxers, clawing at his ass. Alfred gasped into Arthur's mouth as the eighteen-year-old dragged him closer, the straw beneath them scratching at his skin where his shirt was riding up.

"Artie." Alfred murmured when Arthur continued to knead his skin and grind his own erection against Alfred's pelvis. He was fairly certain where all this was heading, and it struck him how much he wanted it, though it shouldn't have been a surprise. He'd been dreaming about it since he was thirteen, since that first heat he'd had to suffer through all on his own. "Artie, c'mon. C'mon."

Arthur helped him shimmy out of his jeans and boxers once he'd thoroughly acquainted himself with Alfred's bare backside. He mouthed at the younger Omega's navel and chest as he began to divest him of his shirt, though he was so slow about it that Alfred ended up having to pull the offending fabric over his head mostly on his own, hands flying to Arthur's own shirt soon after to pull that off as well.

Alfred never once grew bashful about being the only one completely naked throughout the entire ordeal. If anything, he was pretty pleased with the situation, if only because Arthur could then physically see how badly Alfred wanted him and then maybe he'd hurry the fuck up. He still wasn't talking much, but his eyes spoke volumes as he dragged his gaze down Alfred's body unabashedly.

The younger Omega started to feel nervous again when Arthur pulled away, taking his comforting warmth with him, to unbutton his own pants. He took off his glasses and tossed them aside, uncaring of where they landed, mostly because the thought of clearly seeing Arthur's dick, not just some bulge in his pants, was still terrifying. "Are you okay with this?" Arthur said, sensing Alfred's discomfort, speaking for the first time since he told Alfred to take off his shoes. "We can stop."

Alfred shook his head. While everything was happening really fast, he wasn't about to stop, not when Arthur was the only constant thing in his life, the only one he could completely depend on. Arthur seemed to nod to himself and then stuck his own fingers into his mouth.

It was a slow process. Despite Arthur's previous stoic silence, his eyes were anxious as he pushed into Alfred once he was finished stretching him, scouring the young Omega's face for any trace of discomfort while he stroked the inside of Alfred's trembling thigh with the hand that wasn't wrapped around his own erection, guiding the head inside. It wasn't exactly painful – Arthur had been way too thorough with the preparation for that, despite the lack of proper slick – but it was definitely uncomfortable.

Alfred didn't allow himself to breathe until Arthur was all the way in, jumping slightly when the other Omega reached out to touch his cheek, so focused on staying relaxed enough to take Arthur in that he didn't notice when the other called his name.

"Are you okay?" Arthur asked. He looked strained, was probably having to force himself not to move until Alfred said it was all right. Alfred realized Arthur hadn't taken his jeans off all the way, could feel the teeth of his zipper biting at his skin, and while the Omega knew it was going to chafe like hell later, he didn't particularly care.

"I'd be better if you would move."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fucking sure!"

But that was all just to hide the fact that Alfred was actually scared by what was happening. He really wasn't confident it was going to work. They were both hard as hell, sure, but what they were doing was way different than kissing. What if it didn't feel right? What if neither of them enjoyed it or someone couldn't manage to get off? Alfred was so worried Arthur would just –

He had nothing to worry about. On that first true thrust, Alfred arched with a shout, his legs jerking up so his feet were pressed flat against the straw-covered floor, knees digging harshly into Arthur's sides. They were both startled, Arthur probably more than Alfred, but he didn't stop in his movements, Alfred's reaction enough to encourage him to entwine their fingers and pound into Alfred with an almost animalistic desperation.

Alfred honestly doesn't remember much about the period after Arthur breached him and before they reached their end. He wishes he did, tries to think back to that day when he's alone at night, when his day is too stressful and he really wishes Arthur was still with him.

He can best capture it in his dreams, when he blinks and suddenly finds Arthur's face looming over his, glistening with perspiration, and eyes alight with a deep and raw expression of love, the old rafters of the barn spreading out like the limbs of a tree above him. The lighting Alfred had struggled to sketch onto paper had highlighted the Omega's dirty-blonde hair, and without his glasses on, Alfred had fancied Arthur some kind of angel. He'd been completely ruled by lust and pleasure then, not in the best frame of mind for any constructive thought, but it hardly mattered.

As he moaned and arched after Arthur every time he pulled away, Alfred wondered if that was how a real heat was supposed to be. He felt completely safe beneath Arthur, dominated and used in the best possible way. Gilbert was wrong. Alfred didn't need an Alpha. Arthur was perfectly capable of taking care of Alfred, could still make him feel good, even outside of his heat. Alfred loved every moment of it, and he told Arthur as much with the noises he made.

When his prostate was first struck, Alfred let out a sound that was some odd mixture between a groan and a wail, and while he still had a mind to be embarrassed, turning his face to the side and draping an arm over his eyes, he didn't try to stop himself from doing it again, especially when he felt Arthur throb dangerously inside him. "Alfred." Alfred blinked his eyes open when a hand gripped at his forearm, dragging the appendage away from his face and guiding it up and around Arthur's shoulders instead. "Do you get it now?"

Alfred grunted, fighting back a series of whimpers as he pressed his unoccupied hand to his face, losing his mind to how good it all felt. He wasn't sure what Arthur was talking about, what it was the Omega was supposed to be understanding, but Arthur didn't give him a chance to think about it regardless. He reached down between them to grasp at Alfred's erection, which at that point had remained untouched, straining against Arthur's stomach, and it was then that Alfred reached his limit, biting his lip so hard he drew blood when he came into Arthur's hand.

Arthur was murmuring something in Alfred's ear when the younger Omega finally came back to himself, panting harshly into the dusty air and tightening his one-armed grip around Arthur's shoulders when he registered that something was oozing out of him, around Arthur's pulsing member. "Please. Please don't call yourself worthless anymore. I'm not – I can't – "

While breathless and well sated, Alfred still had the wits about himself to realize that Arthur was far from blissed, and that his voice and body were shaking, disturbing the semen trickling out of Alfred even more. With Arthur still softening inside him and as close as he could possibly be, Alfred could feel everything, every twitch, every breath, and the young Omega gave a pained and tired moan, weaving his fingers into Arthur's dirty-blonde hair, rocking his hips gently, wanting Arthur deeper, still. "I saw it. What you wanted to show me."

"You should've seen it before, you idiot."

"I know. I know, I'm sorry."

And Alfred was sorry, more sorry than he'd ever been about anything before. Now that his head was somewhat clear, he knew what Arthur had been referring to when he said, "Do you get it now?" What was Alfred doing, focusing on others and what they thought about him when he had people like Arthur in his life?

God, that Arthur Kirkland. They spent the better years of their childhood together, knew one another inside and out, and it's a feeling Alfred hasn't been able to replicate since then. He acquired new best friends, but it wasn't the same. He has his memories, but they never suffice. No one ever cared for Alfred as unconditionally as Arthur had – not even his own parents. Arthur hadn't been sure how to put just how much Alfred meant to him in words that Alfred would actually hear, so he'd showed him through actions instead, in the most ultimate way possible. Arthur had loved him just for existing, had stayed by Alfred throughout all the years of change and confusion, when things were terrifying and the risk of getting caught and shunned was just too high.

Alfred cried after he lost his virginity. Arthur did, too, though it hadn't been out of embarrassment or pain or any other assortment of things that were directly affiliated with the intimacy they'd shared. Alfred still has trouble pinpointing a reason as to why they both broke down after all was said and done, especially where Arthur is concerned. He'd never become unhinged like that before, or at least not in front of Alfred. Perhaps he really had been bothered by Alfred's low opinion of himself. Or maybe something else had been going on, something even Alfred hadn't been able to detect.

Alfred had to watch as Arthur pulled away from his neck slowly, raising himself up on shaky arms, jaw tight, eyes wet, and eyebrows furrowed as he started to pull out. Alfred panicked and arched after Arthur, locking his thighs, slick with sweat and semen, around the Omega's hips, halting any other movement. Alfred held Arthur there until it was imperative that they leave lest they get caught, knowing that the moment wouldn't last forever but unwilling to let it slip through his fingers just yet.

Alfred thought there wasn't much to lose after that. He and Arthur had broken every rule, done all the things everyone had told them they shouldn't. There was no stopping them.

But, as had become the trend, Alfred was wrong.

On that last day, in May of 1986, Alfred once again allowed his temper to get the better of him, and he made everything worse.

They had the house to themselves, Alfred's parents away for the evening and Matthew on a date with Lilli. When Arthur sat up from his place on the bed, told Alfred he had something to show him and then started to take off his shirt, Alfred hadn't expected what came next.

"Oh, my God." Alfred gasped, jaw literally dropping at the sight of angry, red scratches that were on the expanse of Arthur's skin, reaching from the insides of his shoulder blades and extending down to the small of his back. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Oh, I don't know." Arthur mused, balling up his grey t-shirt and throwing it to the floor, smirking all the while. He and Alfred didn't see each other as much since Arthur graduated. It was kinda lonely, walking to and from school with only Matthew for company, though even after two months the twins weren't on the best of terms. The thought of going back to school next August without Arthur left Alfred feeling anxious. "I think it happened a few days ago."

Alfred frowned, thinking back to when Arthur had stopped by on Tuesday after school to return a book Alfred's mom had let him borrow. Alfred had been alone in the house, washing dishes in the kitchen when Arthur let himself in. Alfred had been glad to see him, kissed the other Omega's cheek in greeting before going back to the dishes. Arthur had set the book on the counter, took a dish from Alfred's hands and then… "Oh, I did that?"

"Why am I not surprised you don't remember?" Arthur mused, watching Alfred's face as the American leaned forward to ghost his fingers across the marks he'd made, muttering an apology when the older Omega winced. "Damn, they still hurt. I didn't even know they were there until I went to bathe and caught sight of them in the mirror. Imagine what would have happened if I walked about my house with no shirt on and Mum saw."

"She'd think it was some girl anyway."

"What a rich notion indeed. I kind of like them, actually. They're like a badge of honor."

"Oh, shut up." Alfred said, smacking Arthur between the shoulder blades, grinning wickedly when Arthur's back arched with an indignant shout. "It's what you get for pinning me to the table. What if my mom had come home?"

"She was at sewing circle!" Arthur hissed, rolling his shoulders in some nonsense attempt to relieve the pain. "Your father was at the office, and Matthew was retaking a math quiz. We had all the time in the world."

Alfred hummed happily as Arthur crawled back to his side, laying down on his stomach with a huff and resting his head on his forearms. After that first tryst in the barn, Arthur never acted strange during and after sex. It didn't really matter where they were – if Arthur was randy enough, Alfred would find himself bent over the nearest surface with little to no warning. Not that he minded any. It was actually pretty entertaining. "I still think it's hilarious that your mom is under the impression that you're some chaste gentleman that hasn't even thought about looking at a girl in the wrong way."

"Well, she'd be right in that sense. I'm not like you, Al. The opposite gender does nothing for me."

"Whatever." Alfred said, linking his arms together behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. "Either way, you've done a good job of hiding all that horny over the years. Boy was I blindsided that day in the barn."

"I was just trying to prove a point." Arthur was beginning to inch Alfred's shirt up, and the younger of the two Omegas grinned. He'd actually been expecting this – not that Arthur was just going to have his way this time. "And I think I did a great job of that. The sex was only a bonus."

"I'm having a hard time believing you didn't plan any of that." Arthur grunted as Alfred rolled over on the bed, straddling the back of Arthur's hips and effectively putting an end to anything the Omega might have tried to pull. The scratches looked even worse from that point of view. "Who takes his boyfriend out to some barn just to talk about his worth as a person?"

"I do, I suppose." Arthur replied, peering over his shoulder curiously. "And just what are you doing up there?"

"Admiring my handiwork."

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, you know what?" Alfred said excitedly, leaning forward and over slightly to catch Arthur's eye. "You'll have to get ready for college soon!"

Arthur groaned, turning to bury his face in one of Alfred's fluffier pillows, grumbling something along the lines of, "Don't remind me."

Neither of them had really thought about what they would do once high school was over. It pretty much went without saying that there was no way they were staying in Allen forever. But Alfred had to wonder if small-town boys like themselves would make it out in the real world. Arthur had a vague idea, having grown up in Nottingham for ten years, but they'd lived pretty sheltered lives, and while Alfred wasn't particularly nervous, he did wonder how things would play out.

Since his dad was a lawyer, Alfred's family was pretty well off. Honestly, Alfred never understood why his parents had settled down in such a small town in the first place. College for him and Matthew wouldn't be a problem, but what about Arthur? The Kirklands weren't necessarily poor, but it would have been a struggle to send five kids to school if Annie hadn't dropped out and Scott wasn't such a genius that his brain practically paid for school all on its own. That left Alasdair – who still lived at home and was forgoing college for the time being – Arthur, and Peter.

Arthur didn't talk about it much. Did he even have a plan? Alfred assumed he did. Arthur was always thinking ahead.

"Where do you think you're going?" Alfred pressed. "You gonna follow Scottie to Cornell?"

"I'm not that smart, Al." It was a struggle to hear Arthur speaking through the fabric of Alfred's pillow, but the younger Omega made do. "Mum's been talking about sending Peter and I to live with my grandparents for a while and maybe attending uni there."

Alfred frowned, trailing his eyes along the scratches, somewhat thrown by the mention of Arthur's grandparents, who Alfred knew to be living in Finchley. Arthur was going back to England?

Arthur lifted his head in a confused daze when Alfred slid off the bed, propping himself up on his elbows to watch as the Omega moved for the door. "Where are you going?"

"I'm not going anywhere." Alfred replied even as he left the room, able to hear his bed creak and groan as Arthur made a move to get up, probably rolling his green eyes in irritation at his boyfriend's antics, unable to predict the storm that was brewing dangerously with every step Alfred took down the stairs.

By the time he reached the landing, Alfred was beyond enraged, glancing over his shoulder to find Arthur at the top of the stairs, pulling his shirt back over his head in case anyone came home and saw the scratches. "This better be good, Al – " Arthur started with a sigh but cut himself off when he noticed whatever look must have been present on Alfred's face. "What's wrong?"

"Was all this a joke to you?"

Arthur quirked a massive eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall as he eyed Alfred carefully. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific."

"The me and you thing." Alfred said, and looking back, that was probably when Arthur began to realize that things were going horribly wrong. "Why did you even want to have sex with me?"

"It's not – " Arthur seemed to be at a loss for words. "It wasn't about that. I know you seem to think I planned it all, but the barn was just – "

"Was it some 'do or die' type thing? Like you were trying to get in one last hurrah before you left?"

"... Bloody hell, is that what this is about? Me possibly going to England?"

It wasn't really a big deal. Alfred knew his boyfriend missed England something fierce, and he really couldn't fault him for wanting to go back. Maybe if Alfred had been told sooner, he wouldn't have reacted as badly as he had. But when Arthur told him about his mom's plans to send Arthur and Peter both away, all Alfred could think about was that Arthur was leaving him, and that there was a possibility he wouldn't come back.

Alfred felt a bit used. Arthur was his best friend. Their new-found intimate relationship didn't change that. But if Arthur had known he was leaving when everything began, why not tell Alfred when things started to get serious? Had he just planned on telling him the day he left? Have his mom say something after? If Arthur was going to school there, they would have to leave soon so he and Peter both could get settled in and look for places of education before the year actually started.

Alfred feels like an emotional idiot for it now, wishes he could turn back the clock and melt into Arthur's embrace instead of push him away. He'd been sixteen then, young and in love and incredibly stupid, among other things. But he'd also been very vulnerable, a tender-hearted, adolescent Omega that didn't focus on the then and there, only the future. He'd seen a lonely existence without Arthur, the only other male Omega he knew, the only person he trusted wholeheartedly aside from his brother Matthew, who at that point was still refusing to speak with him.

Alfred wishes with everything he has that he'd been in a mind-set to communicate all of that to Arthur that day, but he hadn't been, and just like with the incident with Gilbert Beilschmidt, Alfred reacted badly.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Alfred snapped, startling Arthur, because up until that point, Alfred had been calm. "You asshole, this is a conversation we should've had months ago!"

"It didn't cross my mind. I'd practically forgotten Mum had even mentioned it!"

"Oh, I doubt that. I can't get away with anything, your memory is that good."

Arthur pushed away from the wall, running a hand through his hair in obvious agitation, looking at Alfred as if he were just Peter throwing a temper tantrum. "Okay, fine, Mum's been talking about this for a while now. But it's not a done deal, Alfred. I wasn't going to say anything until we knew for sure."

"Great, well, thanks for being truthful for a change."

"Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"

"You don't get to fuck me and then up and leave the country, Arthur!" Alfred shouted, hands balling into fists at his sides. "Good job on proving to me that I'm worth something. All you've really done is establish a booty-call in your favor!"

"Alfred." Arthur said dangerously, and Alfred caught a glimpse of the Arthur Kirkland that would attack an Alpha without blinking. Alfred had never been on the receiving end of such an acidic glare, and to say he wasn't frightened would have been a lie. He'd become accustomed to the fond looks Arthur would send his way when the other Omega thought he wasn't looking, was used to falling into Arthur's arms when he opened them, not scrambling to keep the distance when his boyfriend took a step forward. "I'm probably not even going to school in England, so calm down."

"No, you should go. Really. Don't let me stop you."

"Stop that!" Arthur shouted, and Alfred found himself against the wall near the door, palms pressed flat against the flowered wallpaper as Arthur stalked closer. "You're not even listening! What the hell do you want me to say?"

"I don't know." Alfred said, because he really didn't. He wasn't sure what Arthur could say in that situation to diffuse all the anger Alfred felt inside himself.

"No, that's not good enough!" Arthur slammed his fist against the wall next to Alfred's head, and while the pinned Omega wanted to shrink back, despite the fact that there was nowhere to go, he steeled himself as Arthur glowered down at him, refusing to even flinch. Arthur's scent was overwhelming, though it was far from comforting then, tinged with anger and a hint of fear. "We're going in circles, Alfred. There's always something that comes between the two of us, and it's usually you."

"Don't pin this on me – "

"What's wrong this time? What's going on in that thick skull of yours that can't allow you to have peace with anything you do? Why are you so unhappy?"

"I don't know." Alfred bit out through gritted teeth, pushing at Arthur's shoulders to force the other Omega back. Alfred had known for a long time that something was bothering him, something other than his religion, sexuality, or his nature as an Omega. But he'd never been able to put words to it, couldn't even express it in a graphite portrait. "You think maybe we're having these problems because you're so pushy? I barely have time to process something before you're up in my face demanding a response! Just back off a little, would ya?"

Arthur was speechless; and that never happened, not ever. He didn't look shocked as he stared down at Alfred, just... blank. Yes, that was a good word for how Arthur had looked that day. Blank. "You're such a child, Al. You know, that's one of the aspects of your personality that I find most endearing. And irritating."

Alfred supposes it was a good thing Arthur never let him say another word that day. He would have only made the situation worse. "Perhaps I should go to England." Arthur sighed, averting his gaze from Alfred's. "The distance would do us some good. Or at least, I hope it would. You did say you wanted me to back off."

It was then the younger Omega realized his mistake. "That's – "

The front door opened just as Alfred took a hesitant step toward Arthur, and Matthew blinked when he noticed the two of them standing there. "Oh, hey. Am I… interrupting something?"

"I was just on my way out, actually." Arthur replied. He sounded so tired. "I'll see you both later."

"Artie – "

"Just leave it, Alfred." Arthur interrupted, and Alfred wasn't able to conceal his flinch when the other Omega left, slamming the front door behind him.

The blue-eyed American groaned in frustration, running a hand restlessly through his hair. "Sorry, Matthew, that was – "

Matthew was watching him. While that in and of itself wasn't terribly alarming, it was the first time in a couple weeks that Matthew actually looked at Alfred without any prompting. And what Alfred saw set the Omega on edge. "How much did you hear?"

Mattie blinked, glancing out the window to where Arthur could be seen trudging down the street toward his own house. "Enough."

Alfred would have panicked, if it were anyone else. But it was Matthew, his brother, the person he trusted with pretty much everything, even if they had been going through some rough patches. Come to think of it, when was the last time the brothers had spoken face to face like this? Alfred couldn't fathom the idea of his brother betraying him. Even then, Matthew hadn't looked as if he were preparing to run out the door, screaming that his brother was a sinner. He was calm.

The young Omega watched as his Alpha brother shrugged off his jacket and hung it on one of the hooks near the door, though he didn't turn back around, leaving Alfred to stare at his back. "So… you and Arthur… you lay with him as you would a girl?"

"Not exactly." Alfred could literally feel the heat building in his cheeks. "I mean, so far, I've been – "

"I get it!" Matthew said quickly, sparing both of them the embarrassment of what Alfred had almost blurt out. "I get it, Alfred, you don't have to explain."

"You're not gonna tell Mom and Dad, are you?"

Despite being more biologically capable, Matthew was always the one who followed after Alfred when they were kids. He'd always been quiet, not one to express how he felt about most of the things his twin brother did, but that day, the disappointment and uncertainty had been written clearly on Mattie's face, and for a moment, Alfred feared the worst. "No, I'm not. I think this is something you have to tell them yourself. Hearing it from me or anyone else will only make things worse."

Alfred inhaled sharply. Ever since he'd realized his feelings for Arthur, Alfred had steeled himself over the knowledge that his family's reaction wouldn't be a positive one if they ever found out. He'd known that, but in the face of the negative feedback he was receiving from Matthew, it hurt far worse than anything Alfred could have prepared for. But still, he had to try. "I don't think gender matters when it comes to loving someone, Mattie. Arthur and I… we're no different than you and Lilli, or Mom and Dad. It wouldn't feel so weird if society hadn't labeled it harshly."

"So, you do think it's strange?"

"A little." Alfred admitted, more freely than he would have even with Arthur. "Not as much as before, but it's difficult to let go of something I've been told all my life. Thinking back to how I felt in the beginning, and with how things have been between us lately… I can only imagine how much you must hate me now."

Matthew was quiet for a long time. Alfred refused to cry there, planned on waiting until he was in the safety of his bedroom, when the reality of what had happened in such a short amount of time finally sank in: his first real fight with Arthur, Matthew overhearing and hating him for –

Alfred grunted as he found himself being hugged, squirming around in his brother's hold. He always forgot how strong Matthew really was. "I don't hate you." Matthew sounded nearly as wrecked as Alfred felt. "I could never, no matter how many stupid things you do. And you do make stupid decisions."

"Hey!"

"I may not understand," Matthew continued, pulling away enough so that Alfred could see his face – and breathe properly – and the Omega was relieved to find that his brother was smiling, "but I want you to be happy. If Arthur makes you happy, I have no right to put a stop to that. But… why were you two fighting when I came home?"

"It's complicated." Alfred sighed as Matthew pulled away completely. "Arthur's probably leaving for England soon."

"He is? What for?"

"School, I think. Apparently Lucie's been talking about it for months, and Arthur just decided to bring it up today."

"So, that's why you were so mad."

"Was I wrong to be?" Alfred asked miserably.

Matthew placed a hand on the back of his own neck, looking to the ceiling with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Arthur must have had his reasons, but it probably would have been better to say something earlier. From all the shouting, I thought you two were breaking up or something."

"Not yet." Alfred replied, and Matthew glanced over at him, blue eyes soft and sympathetic.

"Hey, don't be such a downer. Things will work out! And if they don't, well, it'll be God's way of saying it wasn't meant to be in the first place."

Alfred wasn't sure if his brother was talking about him dating Arthur, or just the whole liking men thing in general. Even if things didn't work out between the two Omegas, Alfred doubted he would focus solely on girls for the rest of his life. It wasn't that simple. But Matthew was still smiling, and Alfred didn't have the heart to do anything that might make it disappear. "I'm starving." Matthew declared, tugging urgently on Alfred's hand. There were still things they needed to talk about, their two month long fight being the most prominent of topics, but it was obvious Matthew wasn't going to approach the subject just yet. "C'mon, let's go make sandwiches."

"But I'm not hungry!"

"Tch. Since when are you not always hungry?"

"You little – Ugh, fine! But, uh, you probably shouldn't eat on the table. Mom hasn't washed it in a few days. You know… germs and stuff."

Later that evening, Alfred was drawing in his room when he heard the distant sound of knocking on the front door downstairs. Alfred glanced up briefly but didn't make an attempt to get up, knowing it was most likely for his parents or Matthew. Arthur wouldn't show up so soon after their fight, of that Alfred was certain.

Alfred heard his father go to open it, though there wasn't much sound after. Actually, all was completely quiet. He wasn't concerned until Matthew suddenly appeared in his room, shutting the door behind him gently. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Alfred teased as Matthew stood with his back pressed against the door, blue eyes wide. "Did Lilli's dad or Vash ask when you were gonna pop the question again?"

"Lucie's here." Matthew said grimly, and Alfred frowned, closing his sketchbook.

"Okay. Is there some reason why she shouldn't be?"

"I was helping Mom with dinner when Dad went to answer the door. Lucie looked upset. Like, really upset. Dad told me to come up here, but I hid around the corner and listened and – She knows, Alfred. About you and Arthur. She's telling Mom and Dad right now!"

Alfred could only stare. After Matthew overheard his and Arthur's argument and realized what was going on between them, nothing had really changed, and Alfred allowed himself to relax. But there was no way the adults were going to be as lenient as Matthew had been. The Omega's worst fears were going to be realized. His parents would disown him or ship him off to a seminary and Arthur –

Alfred nearly catapulted off his bed, knocking his sketchbook and pencil off his lap. "What are you doing?" Matthew asked as Alfred grabbed the phone, dialing one of the only two numbers he'd ever bothered to memorize in his life. "Who could you possibly – "

The phone only rang once. "Hello?"

"Arthur!" Alfred gasped, falling to his knees next to his bedside table, and he heard Matthew lock the door. "Arthur, have you spoken with your mom since this morning?"

"Alfred?" Arthur was obviously trying to sound disinterested, but Alfred could hear the alarmed undertone in the other Omega's voice. No wonder; Alfred's voice was trembling far too much to be normal. "No, I haven't even seen her since she left for work. Why?"

"She's here at my house. And she knows about us. Mattie said she's telling my parents right now! Arthur, how does she know?"

Matthew placed a hand on Alfred's shoulder as the boy cried over the receiver, waiting desperately for Arthur's response but fearing it as well. He didn't want to believe Arthur had told his mom, but who else had known aside from them and Matthew? They'd been careful. There was no possible way…

"That fucking bastard." Arthur said eventually, his voice trembling just as Alfred's was, though with anger instead of fear. "I swear to God, next time I see his face – "

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Just stay in your room." The sound of a door slamming shut came from Arthur's end of the line. "Lock the door and don't leave tonight. Give your parents the opportunity to sleep on whatever my mum is telling them. I'll come over once everything settles down. It'll be okay."

"I love you." Matthew's grip on his shoulder tightened. "I'm so sorry for fighting with you earlier. I overreacted."

"It doesn't matter. Not anymore. I'll see you tonight."

The line went dead before Alfred could reply, though it was Matthew that finally took the phone from his brother after a few moments of silence and hung up. "Mom and Dad will kill me."

"Don't think about it." Matthew said, dragging Alfred to his feet. The Alpha didn't try to deny what his brother was saying, because he knew Alfred was right.

"You should go." Alfred gently shoved his brother in the direction of the door. "If they find out that you knew but didn't say anything… they'll be mad."

"I'm not gonna leave you like this." Matthew retorted, fidgeting anxiously in front of the door. "You don't look so good."

Alfred forced a smile, reaching around Matthew to unlock his bedroom door, and when he opened it, the hushed voices from downstairs seemed more sinister than anything the Omega had ever heard before. "I need to be alone for a while. Arthur said he's coming over later. You wouldn't want to be here for that."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Just go, Mattie, I'll be fine."

But as soon as his brother left the room and Alfred found himself completely alone, the Omega stopped trying to stay calm. For the rest of the evening, he checked every ten or fifteen minutes just to make sure the lock on his door was firmly in place. He sat at the far edge of his bed, pressed against the wall and straining to hear everything that was going on inside his house. Alfred was certain he heard his mom start to cry, though he could have imagined that.

He wasn't sure what to make of it all. His day had been normal enough, dull and uneventful, and then suddenly everything was happening all at once. First Mattie found out, then Lucie, and now Alfred's parents. What with how fast news traveled around town, the whole community would know about Arthur Kirkland and Alfred Jones come morning. They would think they were both dirty homosexuals that did nothing but have sex while they were together.

It was one of the things that bothered Alfred most, that all everyone seemed to focus on when they thought about same-sex couples was the physical aspects. Alfred believed there was such thing as emotional intimacy, something that anyone who was in love was capable of experiencing, even him and Arthur. So what if they couldn't have children together? There was more to life than raising kids. And while sex with Arthur was awesome, Alfred didn't spend all his time thinking about when he could next have access to Arthur's dick.

The first knock came at Alfred's door around nine. Lucie had left nearly half an hour before; Alfred had watched her walk home from his room. He was still watching the streets below his bedroom window when he heard the tentative tapping, and he whipped his head around to stare at the door, holding his breath. "Alfred?" It was his mom. "Are you awake?"

The Omega remained silent. He could see his mother's shadow through the crack at the bottom of the door. She shifted her weight from side to side, and Alfred thought he heard her whispering to someone, probably his dad. "Alfred, you're not in trouble. We just want to talk with you."

Alfred didn't believe a word. There was no way his parents just wanted to talk. There was certain to be yelling and tears. They would make him go to confession. So, Alfred stayed quiet and returned his gaze to the window, didn't move an inch even as his father began to pound on his door, ordering him to open up. For once, his mother was being the passive parent while his dad took the lead. Like a typical Alpha and Omega pair, something Alfred wasn't allowed to experience.

They didn't give up until Matthew came out of his room and told them to give Alfred some space nearly an hour after they started trying to coax him out. Alfred was grateful for his brother's loyalty despite the circumstances. It was nice to know his stickler of an Alpha brother loved him more than he did some Bible passage.

When the sun finally went down, Alfred grew anxious, watching the streets for any sign of Arthur. He couldn't see the Kirkland house from his window, though he could see the sidewalk that led down to it. He really hoped Arthur kept his word. He didn't feel like being alone for the rest of the night.

Finally, at nearly midnight, Alfred noticed movement from the shadows. He didn't make a move to unlatch his window until the figure stepped onto his front lawn, and by the time Arthur had managed to climb his way up to Alfred's window and into his bedroom, the younger Omega was crying. "Are you okay?" Arthur demanded quietly, reaching out to grip Alfred's shoulder just as Matthew had done earlier. His green eyes flashed dangerously in the gloom. "Did you speak with your parents?"

"I'm fine. And, no, I didn't."

"Thank God." Arthur was wearing the same grey t-shirt and jeans he'd had on earlier in the day. Distraught as he was, Alfred probably wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't clambered into Arthur's lap the moment the eighteen-year-old was settled on his bed. "I'm so sorry it took me so long to get over here. Mum and Alasdair were still talking in the kitchen when I left. It's only a matter of time until they notice I'm gone."

"What are we gonna do?" Alfred whispered. He couldn't pretend that things were okay, no matter how much he wanted to. "You didn't hear my dad. He sounded like he wanted to rip my door off its hinges and beat the gay out of me."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me."

"Do you know how your mom found out?"

"I told Scott." Arthur admitted. Alfred was astounded. Last he'd checked, Arthur and Scott weren't on the best of terms. What was Arthur doing telling his older brother something like that? "It wasn't a conscientious decision on my part. When he came home to visit over spring break, he brought his new-found drinking habit along with him and… well, I suppose you can hazard a guess as to what happened."

"You idiot." Figures Arthur would admit to something so devastating while in a drunken stupor. Not that Alfred was surprised. Arthur may have been a man of the Church, but he had a rebellious streak that was fueled by his curiosity to try new things. A bottle of brandy or whatever else Scott had brought with him must have been too much of a temptation for Arthur. "And here I thought I'd be the one to spill."

"I'm sorry, Al." Arthur sighed, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Alfred's, closing his eyes. "He was so pissed he could hardly talk straight. I didn't think he would remember. I hardly do. Weeks passed and still, he never said anything, so I thought we were fine. There's a slim chance it wasn't him and Mum found out some other way, but I'd bet my life that it was Scott. Remember when he told on us for accidentally busting the Beilschmidt's window when we were kids?"

"He was always awful at keeping secrets." Alfred said, blue eyes trained on Arthur's green ones as the older Omega ran his hands over the expanse of Alfred's back. Alfred knew Scott well enough to know that the second oldest of the Kirkland clan hadn't told on them to be spiteful. He was probably just concerned for them and wanted to put an end to whatever was happening before it was too late to get out. Alfred wasn't angry with Scott, but it was obvious Arthur didn't share the same sentiment. "What do we do now?"

Arthur was quiet for a moment. "Your parents are asleep, yes?"

"As far as I know."

"Hmm. Even so, we'll have to be quiet."

"What are you – "

"Do you trust me, Al?"

"Well, yeah, but – "

"Then follow me."

Alfred had never gone outside past ten o'clock before. Not that he was scared of the dark or anything, it was just kind of creepy to walk down the streets of his hometown and not see a single person.

He held onto Arthur's hand tightly as the other Omega led him through the dimly lit streets, unsure of where they were going although he'd been all too willing to leave his house when Arthur suggested the idea.

Despite the fact that it was way past the time when he normally went to bed – especially on a Saturday night, considering he had mass in the morning – Alfred wasn't tired. His stomach was in knots, he had a horrible headache, and all he could think about was how these were probably the last couple of hours he would spend alone with Arthur for a while.

"Here we are." Arthur said suddenly, sounding quite pleased with himself, and Alfred looked up from the cracked pavement below him to find himself in pretty much the last place he wanted to be right then.

"You brought me to church." Alfred said flatly as Arthur tugged him inside. "What, are we gonna go to confession and renounce our heathenistic ways in the house of the Lord?"

The church was unlocked at all hours of the day. There wasn't much to steal anyway, not that anyone in town would ever think to do so. It was quiet inside, the entire establishment smelling of what Arthur said was smoke but Alfred thought of as old people. Candles near the alter and tabernacle were the only source of light once Arthur closed the door, and Alfred found himself migrating to the pew his and Arthur's families always sat in during Sunday mass.

He placed his hand on the back of the pew and just stood there for a moment, aware that those once boring Sundays were now far out of his reach. Alfred saw phantom images of Scott and Alasdair tearing information sheets in their hands out of boredom, Annie fidgeting in agitation as Peter pulled on locks of her hair, and Arthur or Matthew nudging Alfred as the blue-eyed Omega dozed off during the homily.

Despite the intense sadness he felt, Alfred couldn't help but smile. He missed the Sundays they'd all shared before Annie left for Anderson and Scott for Cornell, even if he'd never liked going to church.

"Come on, Al." Arthur said softly, placing a fleeting touch on Alfred's elbow.

They walked to the front pew, Alfred mimicking Arthur in making the sign of the cross before sitting down next to his boyfriend, staring up at the massive crucifix on the wall behind the alter as he waited for an explanation as to why they were there.

As the silence wore on, Alfred spared a glance at Arthur only to find that his eyes were closed and he was mouthing words silently to himself. Alfred stared, mesmerized, until Arthur sighed and blinked, returning Alfred's look. "I always come here whenever I feel stuck."

"I didn't know that."

Arthur smiled. "You don't always pay close attention when it comes to anything that has to do with the Church."

"I'm sorry." Alfred replied, and he meant it. He knew how much their religion meant to Arthur, and it bothered him to some degree that he didn't care as much as Arthur wanted him to. He never had and probably never would, but on this last night, he would try. He owed Arthur that much. "I honestly can't remember the last time I actually prayed when I didn't need something from Him."

"I've noticed that it's when a person is at his or her lowest that they turn their hearts to God. Either way, He's always there to listen."

"Always." Alfred echoed, focusing his attention on the crucifix once more. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons of the Holy Trinity; a mystery no one alive could fully comprehend. Alfred had been told all his life that Jesus had died for their sins. So, they would all inevitably fail. Was it really so bad if he and Arthur shared a bed together, if Christ had already paid their debt? "So, He's here now? He sees us?"

"Yes. And no matter what we do, no matter where we go, He will hear us when we're in trouble, and He will help. All we have to do as humans is reach out."

"Don't you think it's lousy if someone like me only prays when I need something?"

"Better late than never." Arthur said, and Alfred looked down as the other Omega grasped his hand, entwining their fingers together. "At least you recognize that He exists and that you can't do everything alone every once in a while. Some can't even do that much. Even if our families and our community shut us out, Alfred, He won't. The both of us are here in our darkest hour. That should be enough."

Alfred closed his eyes, squeezing Arthur's hand so tightly his entire arm started to tremble. "But what if it's not?"

"Then we tried our best, though our best wasn't good enough. But at least we were kind and open to those who deserved it. At least we acknowledged that we weren't perfect. That's more than a lot of people would do."

Arthur made a sound as if he were going to say more but thought better of it, and the older of the two Omegas stayed quiet for a few more moments before speaking again, though not to Alfred. "Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Alfred stayed silent as Arthur continued on with his prayer, still holding Alfred's hand but completely focused on the alter and the area surrounding it. Alfred's eyes began to burn as he listened to his best friend speak, not listening for variations in his speech pattern or even just his voice in general, but the emotion laid thick beneath every word.

In the church with Alfred close at hand, Arthur was probably in as peaceful a state as possible. But even considering that, he sounded wrecked. He sounded lost, like he was on the verge of tears, and Alfred bit his lip, filled with loathing for his parents and Lucie and Scott and everyone in the world who looked down on people like him and Arthur.

See, that was the thing. They were all people, with emotions and aspirations. Female Omegas were supposed to stay home and raise children. Male Omegas were supposed to work and provide for a family but also ignore their instincts to do as the women did. Looking past the gender, they were all the same. The only thing that set them apart was society's perspective. Alfred wanted that to change more than anything, so things like this didn't have to happen, so someone like Arthur didn't have to feel like the only person who cared was someone he couldn't even see.

" – and deliver us from evil. Amen." Arthur had said it twice already, but on the third, a hesitant voice finally joined his.

"Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name." It was difficult to force the words out. Alfred didn't know if he was praying for the wrong reasons, for Arthur's sake or for his own, but he didn't care. Catholicism aside, Alfred believed in a benevolent God, and Arthur was right – He was listening. He wasn't going to abandon them, not ever and especially not then, and Alfred could say the "Our Father" knowing that.

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

The boys fell asleep like that with tears streaming down their faces, and it was the sight of them huddled together in the front most pew that greeted their local priest when he walked into the building the next morning. "Are you boys okay?"

"We came here last night seeking council, Father." Arthur said groggily while Alfred blinked sleep out of his eyes. They were still holding hands. "I apologize if – "

Father Todd chuckled above them, dressed in his black seminarian garb, and the look he gave the two was fond. Alfred wondered if that look would melt away into one of hatred if the man knew just what he and Arthur were to each other, if the hand holding weren't indication enough. "There's no need for apologies, Arthur. It's just odd to see the two of you here out of your Sunday best. What would your mothers say?"

"'I didn't raise you to be such a heathen.'" Alfred said, turning away from the priest. "That's what my mom would say, anyway."

It was the first Sunday in nearly seven years that Arthur Kirkland and Alfred Jones didn't sit in their respective pew. As families started showing up, Alfred released Arthur's hand to wipe his sweaty palms on the fabric of his jeans, uncertain if his own family would show up. They shared pleasantries with Feliciano and Lovino when they arrived through the side door, Antonio and Lilli when they showed up a few minutes after each other, and Arthur glared at Gilbert as his former classmate shuffled in with his family. It was almost as if nothing had changed.

The rest of the Jones-Kirkland clan showed up a few minutes before the service was about to start. There were whispers as no one made a move to join Arthur and Alfred at the front, but Alfred had expected that. He couldn't help but note that even though his parents and Lucie had probably believed him and Arthur to be locked up in their rooms, they'd gone to mass without them anyway.

Arthur and Alfred exchanged a look.

Alfred threw himself completely into the service, refusing to think about anything aside from prayer. It was odd; Alfred had been going to mass since he was a baby, but he'd paid so little attention that there were things about the rituals that he hadn't noticed before, though looking back, he still can't remember them.

After the closing song, the two Omegas stood up and approached their usual pew. Peter, at least, looked delighted to see them, and Arthur took his younger brother in his arms when the Beta reached for him. "You're almost too heavy to hold now, Petey."

Matthew looked about ready to kill himself when Alfred met his gaze, and the Omega gave his Alpha twin a reassuring smile that wasn't returned. No one said anything to the boys. After all, there wasn't anything to say – at least not in the presence of so many people.

Lucie and Alasdair were refusing to look at Alfred, though Lucie and Arthur shared a silent look that probably spoke volumes to the green-eyed Omega. Alfred's own parents looked vaguely uncomfortable – or at least his mom had, shifting her weight and eyes nervously, as if the entire congregation could feel the sin radiating off her Omega son. His dad was impassive for a change, talking pleasantly with Father Todd when the man approached, but Alfred could tell his dad was silently fuming.

Even then the Omega knew he had lost his father's favor forever.

Alasdair and Lucie started to walk away, giving Arthur no choice but to follow, and Alfred felt a tug at his heart as he watched the other Omega leave, out of the building that had become their sanctuary over the past few hours. Once they left, they would be at the mercy of their families, and they wouldn't hold back.

Arthur paused before he got too far, however, hoisting Peter up higher on his hip as he turned around to face Alfred. His green eyes were sad, but he was smiling. "See you later, Al."

"Yeah. Bye, Artie."

It was the last they ever saw of each other.