Simplicity

A/N: I'm so sorry for making you wait so long! I've been busy as all hell! You really have no idea! Plus, I almost died and almost had to tell you guys the fanfic was over. Here's what happened:

I used my computer too much on my bed without a cooling device and fried everything in my computer, thus losing all my progress and my insanely long outline for this story. Sad to say, I wasn't willing to retype everything. So, I cried myself to sleep for nearly a week.

Turns out, I'd e-mailed it to myself recently! So happy! I jump into my inbox, but I emptied my inbox recently. I cry again and then dive into my trash folder, which also was emptied recently. Another week of crying myself to sleep.

Eventually, my mother took pity on me. She told me that if I'd e-mailed it to myself, it'd be in my sent box. Sure enough! Everything except the last 10 chapters (which I immediately re-typed and altered) so, the fan fiction is still alive!

Sorry about the wait! I'll continue to variously apologize for that, but I'm shooting for 1 or 2 chapters a week, depending on my schedule and when I have free time and such! Yay! I hope you're all as happy as I am about this! SO EXCITED!

Haha! Alright. Thanks so much envysfangirl and HaruWitch for reviewing, you made me smile. ^.^

Owlcitystars98: Aw! No sparkly green blood? That's not fair! That would have been so epic! Well, here's a chapter of the story, so enjoy it! =P

NONAMESWEREAVAILABLE: I just wanted to say, once again, that I love your name. Also, I really really loved your review. I'm not telling you anything, you shall have to be a loyal follower to find out what's happening. But, I laughed so hard reading your review. You've got some cool ideas going on!

Alright, so I've talked a lot, right? Well, read me a little more! Normal warnings, I know there is some OOC even if you tell me there's not. But I'm the author, so I'm always going to be hard on myself!

The actual warning is that the people each chapter focuses on will jump. I'll keep jumping within chapters to a minimum, but this chapter focuses on FrUK. So, POV jumping will happen throughout the story. It's for the betterment of the story, though, so enjoy!

Alright. Now here's the story:

England sighed, relaxing into his couch. William Shakespeare's The Tempest was in his hands and a warm cup of tea was sitting on the coffee table in front of him. No work to do today meant a day to himself.

Flipping the book open, England sighed. Who the hell was knocking on his door on his day off? It's not like he had any family that would ever come around and visit him or anything even remotely like that! Getting up, Arthur set the book on the coffee table with his cup of tea and went over to the door, opening it and closing it instantly. "Go home."

"Zat wasn't very gentlemen like."

England opened the door again, glancing up into France's blue eyes. "What do you want?"

"Can I come in?"

"No."

"Pourquoi?"

"Pardon?"

France smirked. "It's French for 'why'."

"Right, well I don't speak frog."

"S'il te plaît?"

"No!" England knew that one. "It's my day off, I don't need you-"

"I know it's your day off, Angleterre! Zat's why I'm here!"

"To ruin my day off?"

"Mais non. I'm here to ask you a question."

"Right, well ask it and leave."

"Will you go on a date with me?"

England started laughing. "My my, we're back at this?"

"Why are you laughing?"

England blinked, stopping and looking at him. "You're… you're serious?"

"Oui."

"No!"

"Pourquoi?"

"I'm not going on a date with you, that's ridiculous!"

"Non, it's not."

"Yes it is! Now go home."

"Hear me out, Angleterre!"

"Go home, France."

"Just one date, zat's all I'm asking!"

"Why? So you can say you've dated practically every country alive?"

France stands still, blinking slightly. "Non. I wouldn't date you just to say that."

England sighs, unsure if that was supposed to be some sort of insult or not. "Just leave."

"Besides… I'll have you know zat zere are a good few countries I have not dated-"

"So go date them."

"But I don't want to date zem, I want to date you."

"Right. You should drink a little less-"

"I'm not drunk and I'm not joking."

"Well I'm not dating you."

"One date."

"Why? Why are you here, making a complete fool of yourself?"

"Well, I wasn't planning on making a fool of myself when I came. Actually, I imagined zis going very differently."

England blinked, listening to what he was saying through his insanely thick accent. "You imagined how I would react?" England started laughing as the reality sunk in. "Right. And how did I react in your imagination?"

"Well, you jumped into my arms and-"

"You know what? I'm sorry I asked. I don't want to know whatever absurd scenario your perverse mind imagined."

"So you'll go?"

"Where? With you? On a date? No."

"At least give me a good reason why not!"

"Because I hate you! In fact, not even that nice. I loathe you! Because I don't have to go on a date with you! Alright?"

"Zat hurts, Angleterre."

"Good, now leave."

"Give me a chance to take you on one date. Just one! S'il te plaît?"

"No. I've given you my answer, now get off my property!"

"Give me one date and I won't bozer you for a month!"

"It'll take more than-"

"A year! Name a price, I'll figure out a way to do it!"

England pauses, looking at France. "You couldn't last a year not being bothersome."

"I can find a way if zat's what you want!"

"France, I… why on Earth do you want to take me on a date?"

"If I gave you my reason, you might try and close ze door in my face."

"What's that supposed to mean?" England sighed, trying not to think of all the possible reasons he might close the door in France's face. However, as we all know when you try not to think of something, your mind jumps to all the wrong and worst conclusions. England started to close the door when France put his foot in it.

"Wait! You wouldn't close the door in my face for the reasons you're thinking of!"

"How the hell would you know what I'm thinking?" England opened the door again, releasing France's foot.

France removed his foot, smiling. "Well I'm obviously psychic."

England shut the door, locking it.

"Please, Angleterre?"

"Go home, France." England sat on the floor on the other side of his door, putting his face in his hands. "I'm not getting paid to go on a date with you."

"Angleterre, I…" France sighed, putting his forehead on the door with both palms of his hands. "Arthur, I just want one chance. Please, just give me one chance." There was no reply. "I know you haven't left the door yet."

England glanced behind him at the door. "Can't you just leave me alone?"

"Non. Not until I get an actual reason for you not dating me or you say yes."

"I gave you a legitimate reason; I. Hate. You."

France chuckled a little. "Je t'aime."

"I still don't speak frog."

"Well you should learn. It is the romance language, after all."

"I have no desire to learn frog, either. You're full of yourself, that's my reason. Now leave."

"I'll leave if you agree to date me."

"You'll leave if-"

"And I'll be back to pick you up at 6:30 tonight!"

England sighed, burying his face in his hands. "What type of date is this going to be?"

"I'll be taking you to dinner, of course!"

England stands, opening the door a little and glancing out at France, who was recovering from nearly falling forward with the door he'd been leaning on. Francis smiled, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "You know, you should tell someone before you open a door zey're leaning on."

"You shouldn't lean on other people's doors."

"Hehe… alright."

England gave France another hard stare before looking at what he was wearing. "You don't honestly plan to-"

"Oh, non! I'll put a suit on! Et une cravate aussi!"

"What?"

"A tie."

England sighed, closing his eyes. "One date and you'll-"

"I'll stop bozering you!"

"Fine." The answer came after a bit of silence, and was mostly said under England's breath, but it was there. That was all France needed. He smiled, running off to go get ready.

"I'll be back at 6:30!"

"Alright…" England opened his eyes, but France was already gone.

((~~/O\\~~))

"What are you doing?" England straightened his tie, looking at himself as if to make the reflection change its mind. The reflection only did what England did, and he already agreed to go. "You were supposed to say no. Stick with your answer; he would have gotten the idea eventually."

There was a knock on the door, followed by the ringing of the doorbell a mere 30 seconds later. England sighed, glancing back into the mirror. "You could pretend you're not here…" Knocking again, followed by the doorbell again. Arthur gritted his teeth together. "I'm coming!"

The knocking stopped and England buttoned the last button on his jacket before heading to the door and opening it to reveal a dashing France sporting a suit that really did fit him. England didn't even want to imagine how uncomfortable he must be wearing that. There was no way he'd be as comfortable as he usually was in his francy, showy clothes.

"Good evening, France. Would you kindly mind not killing my doorbell next time you visit?"

"Mais oui!" Glancing at France's outfit, it was nearly perfect. He could pass as gentlemen if it weren't for the tie. The suit was black, his shoes were nice, his pants were ironed, but the tie was wrong. Not only was it crooked, but it was tied wrong in general and it was bright red and blue.

"Oh God, what is that?"

"C'est une cravate, as promised!"

"That's not a tie…"

"Très bien! You're learning French!"

"I'm not."

"Ah, but you remembered what 'une cravate' meant!"

Sighing, Arthur began fixing France's tie. "Right. You could at least make an effort to learn."

"I did make an effort!"

"A very poor one."

"But an effort, nonetheless, non?"

England pulled his hands back, having finished with his tie. France smirked as England looked away from him. "Let's make this quick."

"Mais oui. Does that mean you won't want desert?"

"No, I don't want desert!"

"Fine, we can go without. Allons y!"

"Wha-" France grabbed Arthur's hand, pulling him out to his car and opening the door for him. England pulled his hand out, getting into the passenger seat and buckling his seat belt as Francis ran around and hopped in the drivers' seat, buckling his seatbelt and starting the car. Surprisingly, he drove responsibly the entire way to the restaurant. Pulling into the parking lot, Francis put the car in park and jumped out, getting around to Arthur's side and opening his door for him.

The hand he held out to help Arthur out was left floating on its own when England got out unassisted. Francis smirked, closing Arthur's door and locking the car. His night would not be ruined!

Escorting Arthur inside, France gave the name of the reservation to the waiter and they were seated within minutes. Francis had planned this all out and the night would go perfectly!

And, in typical story fashion, it did! As a matter of fact, the food was even done perfectly! Arthur held his tongue from a few sly remarks about Francis that could have easily slipped in, and France acted like a gentleman. Too bad England was only there to get it out of the way. He did stick around for desert before leaving the restaurant with Francis, back out to his car to go back to England's house.

Longest night of my life, and I've been through many long nights… England sighed, staring out the window and waiting to get home. Once there, he would take a bath, enjoy a cup of tea, and then climb into his large, warm bed. Hopefully, France would find his way out of England's mind. Granted, after a night like that it wasn't very likely. Not that he'd enjoyed the night, or anything. That wasn't it. France was just… acting different. Not in a better way, either! What the hell had possessed Francis to try something so… so… outlandish! And, what had possessed England to start referring to France by his first name, even in his thoughts?...

England blinked, watching his door open. He hadn't even realized they'd gotten to his house. Once again, France held his hand out for England and once again, England got out on his own. "Good night, France."

"Wait."

"What?"

"I'm going to walk you to your door, obviously!"

"I'm perfectly capable-"

"Ah, but it's not a matter of capability! It's a matter of romance. I am ze country of love, you know!"

England began walking himself to his door, disregarding France again. It wasn't worth his time.

"Wait!"

Don't ask. "What now?" I said don't ask, you twit. You'd be better off just going inside and forgetting.

"I have a question."

Don't… England turned around, sighing and ignoring his nagging conscience. "What?"

France walked forward, leaving 3 feet of space between them. England took a step back. "Will you go on anozer date with me?"

England blinked, staring at him like he was crazy! Better yet, speaking a different language! "No. I thought we had this figured out; I go on a date with you, and in turn-"

"Oui, oui. I wouldn't bozer you anymore. If you agree, zough, I think it's a little different. Non?"

"No, it's not. I would still be bothered because I don't want to date you. How many times must I say it?"

"But if you just give me one more chance, I can figure out how to make you happy!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well it's obvious you weren't pleased with the date."

"That's nothing to do with it! I'm rather shocked you pulled that off, actually."

"Nothing to do with it? Zen why won't you date me again?"

England blinked, noticing the slight trap he'd given himself. "That's not what I meant."

"It is."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is!"

"How would you know?"

"Remember? I'm psychic!"

"No, France. You're not."

"Just tell me what's bozering you! Surely it's not ozer people's opinions!"

"No! Quite frankly, I don't care what other people think of me."

"And zat's why you're such a gentleman?"

England paused, glaring menacingly at him. France was dangerously close to getting punched in the face.

"Is zat the reason?"

"No."

"Zen what is?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Please? I'm sure we could figure out some way around it, non?"

"No. It's not that simple."

"Not that simple? Zere's definitely a reason?"

England cursed himself inwardly, sighing. "Yes there's a reason, but there's no way around it."

"Are you certain? I haven't tried yet-"

"There's no way."

"What is it?"

England crossed his arms, looking up at France. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I care!"

"No you don't! You've got some other reason, I know it! It's unlike you."

"Well I gave you my reason; you just don't know what it means yet." England looked at him puzzlingly for a moment before France answered the gaze. "Je t'aime."

"It doesn't count as a reason until I know what it means."

"Why not?"

"It just doesn't."

"Well I'll tell you what it means if you tell me why you won't date me."

England looked at France for a long, hard moment, trying to determine if he was really curious enough. Curiosity killed the cat… but… He could always look up the meaning… England had a sinking feeling in his stomach as he turned his head to look away from Francis. "It's sacrilegious."

"What?"

"Sacrilegious. It would be sacrilegious for me to date you."

"So screw religion!" France blinked, finding himself sitting on the ground with a throbbing pain spreading from his left cheek to the entire half of his face. Slowly, he reached a hand up to put it on his cheek, glancing up at England who was putting his fist down. France sat shocked for a moment, staring at England.

That was not how he had hoped or even expected the evening to end. "Are we done?"

France gazed up into Arthur's green eyes, trying to form words for a moment until one thing shot to the front of his head. "So zat's the reason? As in… if it wasn't zere… you would date me? As in you like me?"

England turned around, beginning to walk inside. France shot a hand out, taking hold of England's hand with his own. "Wait."

"Let go of me. No, I don't like you."

"What if I promise not to tell anyone?"

"Like you could keep your mouth shut about anything."

"I could!"

"It's not that simple! Good night!" England tried to pull his hand away, but France held it a little tighter, bringing his other hand up and placing it with theirs. "France…"

"Arthur, please. Give me anozer chance."

"You said you'd stop bothering me. This is pretty bothersome."

"Ze date's not over, you haven't gotten inside yet."

"Then this is a lousy end to a date, you were better off leaving it at well enough."

"Just tell me what I can do to make it better!"

"Leave!"

"Huh? Non, not tonight. A future" England glanced at France, making sure France wasn't about to say 'date'. "get togezer."

"I'm not telling you anything of the sort, now go home." England jerked his hand out of France's, turning and going inside.

"Bonne nuit!" France called from his spot on the sidewalk before standing up and dusting himself off. He would have to put ice on his face when he got home. Note to self: don't disrespect Arthur's religion. France turned around to go to his car, stopping when he heard his name. Not his country, his name.

"Francis?..."

He glanced over his shoulder. "Oui, chéri?"

"I… I still don't speak frog…"

"It means 'darling'."

England felt his face get a little pink, thankful for the lack of light due to the hour. "Right…"

After a moment of silence, France smirked. "Did you need something?"

"No. I wanted to make sure you know I don't like you and I'm not interested in you at all…"

France blinked. "Okay…"

"But, since you asked I figure I should give you an answer. That's all."

"Answer to-"

"I don't want to go on any extravagant dates. I prefer much simpler touches. Good night." England closed the door before he even had a chance to hear France's reaction, locking it and going to the kitchen to get some tea.

France stood star-struck for a moment before a smile slowly began creeping to his face. For a night that completely failed, he didn't think it went quite that bad.

A/N: Alright, I haven't written for a while (due to a dead computer and crying myself to sleep), so tell me how I did. This got a little bit on the lengthy side, sorry about that.

I love personalized reviews! Tell me your thoughts, feelings, emotions, likes, dislikes, my mistakes, your ideas, how your weekend went, I DON'T CARE! Although… it's Wednesday for me… so how your week has been going? XD

I'll do my best for an update every week! Beaucoup d'amour!