Snowflakes danced around me the next evening as I marched my way to The Pines Square for my rendezvous with Arthur. Like the snow that drifted around me, my thoughts were tumbling and dancing about in a dizzy mish-mash in my head.

Is Sabrina really going to be gone for such a long time? Maybe he's going to tell me that there's nothing between us, or he's engaged, or that he hates me, or…

My thoughts hit a brick wall as I rounded the corner and saw him standing just under one of the pine trees, shielding him from the snow. Those misty green eyes definitely sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my core get a little warmer.

"Cold, Miss Hatsune?" He asked coming to stand by my side. I grinned

"not anymore, Mr. Kirkland." He laughed lightly and held out his left arm.

"Do you mind if I escort you this evening?" He joked.

"Not at all." I said as I took his arm.

It was almost as if I had never left. Arthur quizzed me on the same things I had learned as a child, and through dinner we debated on the politics and benefits of the small piece of land I would inherit soon, and before we both knew it; we were in Arthur's posh apartment, making small talk by the fire, and drinking warm drinks. He'd asked what I'd done after I had left, and I had begun to fill him in on my travels when he interrupted me.

"Miku…Perhaps I should have rephrased this, what did you do after we'd last spoke?" he said, handing me a mug of tea, a hot toddy gripped in his own.

"I…" I trailed off. In all technicality, the last time we'd spoken was that horrible day in August when I'd called for a simple 'hello' and received a emotional barrage of monumental proportions. My thoughts swirled as I reminisced, my eyes glazing over. A few moments later, Arthur was shaking me awake, a comforting smile on his face.

"Miku? You've got to remember now…" He said, in the very same patient and kind voice he used that miserable afternoon on the phone. The tears began to well at my eyes, and as much as I tried to wipe them away, they began to drip slowly down my face.

"I-I tried to wait for y-you, I r-really did. I d-did for t-t-two whole y-years, and t-then, w-when y-you didn't, I b-believed that Sa-Sabrina was right…" The tears dribbled faster, and my nose threatened to begin running.

"Right about what?," Arthur asked. When he didn't get a response, he lifted my chin and made me look at him.

"Miku…," He said cautiously,

"Sabrina was right about what?"

"…a-about, everything. W-when you didn't call b-back, I thought, 'She must be right, that's why he won't call me, because he hates me!' and I went mute for two weeks, shut up in my room, because you never wanted to see me again, and I love you." I managed to say.

"But of course you wouldn't-!"

I never finished my sentence because, next thing I knew, his lips slammed against mine, his arms wrapped around me in the warmest embrace I think I had ever received. I was stunned I couldn't move, my eyes must have been as wide as saucers, tears streaming down my cheeks. Arthur broke off but didn't let go, looked me straight in the eye and announce,

"Miku, I love you. I would not have done that if I didn't. I wasn't allowed to call you, all my calls, texts, emails were screened, along with my mail and packages. I was absolutely dying to see you, to apologize and beg forgiveness, and just to hold you in my arms again and tell you that everything is going to be alright, love. I love you for you, and no one can change that. I. love. You." I looked at him in disbelief,

"I don't be-believe you." He looked as though he were going to cry himself.

"Miku. You are the most beautiful, kind, loving person I have seen in nearly four-hundred and fifty years. You must understand that I love you like I have loved no other in that period of time."

At that moment, everything I'd kept bottled up for eleven years came loose, pouring out of me in waves of emotion. Joy, sorrow, confusion, hope, love, everything. Arthur began to cry as well, and we cried, and laughed at us crying. I hugged him hard, and smelled his smell, and never wanted this moment to end. We lay in a warm, happy heap on the couch, when Arthur jumped up.

"Miku! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!" Arthur picked me up and spun me around, before dropping me back on the couch and running into the next room, whooping and hollering the entire way. He came in with a shopping bag and a few tools.

"Arthur, have you gone off your rocker?" I asked, blowing my nose. What I really wanted to say was, Are you drunk on life or Hot Toddies? But I didn't think that was very nice for the moment. A few moments later, after clattering about with the tools and the door, and after a few choice cuss words, he stood up and grinned triumphantly.

"TADA, AND THE CORONATION OF OUR LOVE THIS NIGHT IS CHANGING THE LOCKS. MIKU I'M A FREE MAN, AND YOU ARE MY GIRL!"

Arthur ran back over to me, flicked on the radio, and giddily pulled me out of my seat, and we began to dance to the Christmas songs that played on the tiny old looking radio. We danced and danced, and we felt like we were flying. When the song ended we fell on the couch laughing, so happy to be with each other. Outside, the snow was picking up, and I sheepishly called Elizaveta to tell her I couldn't make it home, and that I'd be staying at Arthur's house. She squealed with glee, and hung up.

"I insist, you take the bed, you are my guest." Arthur was saying, a bright cherry blush on his face. We were standing in the bedroom, debating on who was going where in the room. I ignored him and pulled on one of his button-down shirts and crawled in between the blankets. After I was under, I slapped the bed next to me impatiently. He sighed,

"I guess it can't be helped. You always got your way as a child too, love." Arthur stripped down to his boxers and slid in next to me, shivering. We scooted together, arms wrapped around the other to guard against the cold.

"Ohhh, how I've dreamt of this for years…" He cooed stroking my hair. I smiled, and nestled closer.

"Arthur?"

"Yes, love?"

"Thank you. This has been the single greatest evening of my life…so far." He kissed me on the nose and said,

"My dear, this is just the beginning."

A/N:
WHOOOOA HOLY COW, TALK ABOUT A HIATUS. AND SO MANY REVIEWS AND ALERTS! I'm so touched! I sincerely am sorry about the Hiatus, I got distracted with school and other…interests?

Hooray, Arthur and Miku are together! I can't tell you if these happy times will last, but they'll be living the good life for a while at least.

Shoutout to The Lanterkeeper! Thanks so much for reviewing! I really do appreciate the reviews you guys. Also, a Hot Toddy is a drink made with whiskey, hot water, honey, and lemon juice.

Any questions? R&R!