Warnings: Angst, hurt and misunderstandings.

I do not own Hetalia or these characters, Himaruya has that honor.

Please enjoy.

Kingdom of Spades
Front Gates

~Dwelling in the Present~

"I'll do my best to come home to you as soon as I can, I promise."
Alfred assured his husband, taking his cheek into his hand as always.
Arthur nuzzled his cheek into his calloused hand, emerald eyes fixated on Alfred's.

Both were doing their best to remain strong in their faith; Alfred bit his lower lip, praying that Arthur would not betray his trust.
For Alfred his word is his bond and regardless of how much he loved Arthur, he knew better than to trust his words.

Arthur needed to trust that Alfred would return and that he would not disappoint him.
Their pact was made between lovers in a sacred place and it had to be honored,
but still doubt leered in this tragic place. It had been weeks since then, yet those words still held their potency to Alfred, but it was also the same for Arthur who despite his efforts, wondered if it would be in vain once loneliness came.

'I've heard this too many times before, but the pain is still there.' Arthur thought to himself, wishing the moment between them would fade.
"I know you will Love, I know."

"Remember our promise, okay?" Alfred sheepishly asked that reminded Arthur how young the Spade King truly was.

"Yes, yes. Now go, before you make me wait even longer."
Arthur insisted, shooing the man to his leave. Alfred did not delay a moment longer, stealing a kiss on the cheek before departing. Arthur touched his flustered cheek, keeping the fond memory to warm his heart as he would wait for his lover's return.

Once Alfred and his men were out of sight, Arthur gave a sigh and took repose in the garden, teasing the blue petals between his delicate fingers. Yao looked at Arthur with an unforgiving gaze, sharp brown eyes fixated on Arthur's demeanor. The Queen seemed a love sick fool, but Yao could not trust his guise as true. He wondered how long it would be until Francis were to show up.

"Yao?"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Where is he heading?" Arthur asked, still not turning away.

"The Kingdom of Hearts." Yao stated, curious yet still not surprised.

"That's just a day's travel is it not?" Arthur asked, tracing the stem of the rose.
"Yes, he'll need to get there by sea…" Arthur hummed.

The statement came even more curiously than one would desire, but Yao remained silent.

Arthur pricked his finger, watching as the blood settled on the petal.
"Yao, don't you think these would look absolutely beautiful in red?" He asked rhetorically, knowing full well that roses did not come near the shade of crimson he so desired to see.
"I'll be in the study this evening, reading on the Spades' family records.

Also, please bring my meals to me, rather than making a fuss with the staff." Arthur ordered before taking his leave.
"As you wish, Your Highness." Yao replied, refusing to bow.
Arthur truly could care less, finding his way about the castle himself as always.
He was always alone.

It had only been two days and Arthur has successfully kept his loneliness at bay by busying himself with work, but once the work was no more it haunted him.
Arthur decided to read on the history of neighboring Kingdoms and fairy tales in order to numb the pain, but once night fell it wouldn't suffice.
Sleeping in their bed was far too troubling so Arthur decided to sleep in a chamber that he knew too well, one he stayed in for many years curious to the life he would lead driven by one day knowing the truth that had been hidden from him.

Arthur stirred from memories of old at the sound of pecking at the window of his study.
At first it didn't register to him, but he took haste to open the stained glass window and let the exhausted blue bird rest on his arm.
"Poor thing." Arthur spoke to it softly, petting the top of its head in appreciation.
It had a note attached to its leg, which Arthur was quick to untie.
He knew the bird's master, he knew it was Francis. It seemed that he wasn't willing to let go just yet from the appearance of the not, written rather sloppily compared to the beautiful script that usually filled the letter.

He set the bird to one of the shelves to give it a proper rest as he read the note.
"You did not answer my previous messages, which I took it as a yes.
We'll rendezvous tonight; there is much to be said."

Arthur gasped, knowing well that this wasn't what he wished for.
"Bloody hell!" Arthur cursed, punching the shelf and startling the bird.
"That's not what I wanted!"
He began to think to himself for a possible solution, taking a pen and small paper to work and attaching it to their messenger and sending him back.
It would be too late now, but he needed to remedy it.

"Turn back?" Francis asked himself, reading the message from his campsite in the outskirts of the Diamonds and Spades border.
Francis was displeased, not satisfied with the answer in return, however he knew well that Alfred was not home.

"I'll be going it alone." Francis assured his men, taking his horse through the path well traveled.

Sunset came and Arthur had yet to receive another message which set Arthur at ease, filling his mind with ways that he would fix his relationship with Alfred and romantic fantasy.
It was silly really, but even now such notions made Arthur blush and hope in dreams coming true.
Having decided to take his meal in his private garden, Arthur was able to appreciate the roses Alfred had planet as a gift of love and devotion. The roses were beautifully in bloom, new buds replacing the old from the last travel Alfred had taken without Arthur.

The garden was quiet for Arthur dismissed the guards to tend the front of the gate per usual when he was in the garden. Arthur couldn't help wonder if they simply allowed this for they knew Francis would probably meet with him; however tonight was not the case as far as Arthur knew. That relationship ended and Arthur wouldn't be getting himself involved again.

The warm glow of afternoon was something too familiar and still did bring the Diamond King to mind. Secret tryst in the last rays of light that even made sapphire into gold and vision white once both glistening bodies were spent. Arthur shook his head, quick to resist the temptation.
No, he didn't need him.
He was only using him.

Arthur had always been in control and he was in control now. He was choosing to be the faithful husband everyone expected him to be as he waited for Alfred's return out of love.
It wasn't for the Kingdom's sake; it just would be one of the consequences as a result.

As Arthur contemplated his motives and the consequences of said motives, he heard an all too familiar call of a lark that wasn't native to these lands.

"Francis?!"
Arthur blurted out, mouth still full.
He was quick to abandon his meal and hurry to the lover's gate. He could see the King in gold, a brown cape hardly muddling the grand attire beneath. The fool had always been too flashy for vanity's sake

"You idiot! What are you doing here?!"
Arthur cursed in hushed whisper, trembling hands working the lock free and pulling the door aside so Francis could enter.
France did so with a stupid confident grin of his as he casually closed the gate behind him, announcing his stay.
This was possibly the worst situation Arthur could have gotten himself into.
Arthur couldn't risk a guard catching here to tell Alfred of his presence right after his promise of loyalty. It seems just as when one tries to do the right thing every worse thing occurs right after.

"You ignored my letters."
Francis stated, only to be silenced by a cold clasped hand over his lips.
"Get inside, you fool!" Arthur hissed, dragging Francis inside, taking a double take to ensure he had not been seen. However he had by the very soul he wished hadn't been seen.

The rose bush rustled as those behind it shifted, Alfred slumped against it in defeat, voice fading fast. His heart sank lower than he could imagined, eyes wide with shock and soul filling with sorrow.
"I can't believe it."

"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty." Yao replied, sadness in his eyes as he offered a hand on Alfred's shoulder in sympathy, but he knew that healing from this would take much more.

"I never thought… I just… He gave me his promise…" He spoke in pained whisper with so much hurt in his voice, that Yao couldn't think of words in response.
His voice changed to something with underlying anger still in soft words.
"...I can't believe I trusted him."

"Your Majesty, it's not your fault. I swear it." Yao insisted however Alfred wouldn't stay for such words, he needed to go somewhere far away. His flight or fight response triggered and he knew that it would save himself more trouble than it was worth.
"I… I need to go." Alfred announced, his knuckles white at his sides.

Surely the King didn't mean those words. Not when he was in such emotional distress!
"Your Majesty-"

"I'll return soon, just as we had planned. For I unlike him am a man of my word."
With that Alfred left, hands tightly clutched at his sides and his tears streaming down his face in defiance to his strong will as he made his way to the front gate in efforts not to be seen by Arthur.

Yao was concerned deeply for not only his King, but for the peace of their nation as well.
He knew that Alfred had enough of betrayal and was growing desperate to retain control again, but Yao prayed that it would not escalate so that it would threaten the peace that took so long to acquire with so many sacrifices. No love was worth a Kingdom, not in Yao's eyes and especially to one least deserving. Perhaps this was just what Alfred needed in order to open his eyes to Arthur's imperfections and to how wicked he truly could be.
"I wish you safe travel, My Lord." Yao said as he watched the afternoon sun melt away to nothing.

As soon as the quarreling royalty were safe indoors, Francis was struck hard in the face with a cold hand. The clueless expression on his face only succeeded in infuriating Arthur even more, at least Francis anticipated the strike to the face.
"How dare you come here! I told you, I wasn't going to do this again to Alfred!"
"If you'd allow me a moment to explain." Francis began, only to be cut off once more.

"Was I not concise in my letter?"
Arthur spoke in harsh words that slipped his lips like poison.
"I told you already, I won't be pursuing any further relationship aside those of the protocol."

"Yes, I'm aware; however I will not support your decision."
Those words struck Arthur to the core only making his temper rise, but Francis refused to be ignored after so much travel.
He would be heard.

"You never gave me the opportunity to tell you how I felt about this matter.
You were right when you said we both took part of the way things are.
Therefore we both should speak on the matter."

" There's nothing more to be said! It's over!"
Arthur shouted, the cry echoing against the walls of the small corridor.
"You can't mean such things… perhaps we should discuss this in a more familiar place." Francis suggested with lewd intention evident in his voice.
A stray hand tempted to touch, only to get smacked away.
Francis' blue eyes shimmered in the rejection that he had never experienced. He was accustomed to getting his ways regardless of those toes he had to step on in order to attain it; however this time it was an "indefinite" no and his efforts seemed to come to waste.

He had made the mistake of testing Arthur's loyalty and had succeeded in making Arthur shed tears, something he never wanted for him and something that in the past wouldn't have mattered.

"Dammit Francis, I can't do this!" In that moment Arthur's voice broke as well as tears of frustration.
"Not when I stand to lose everything!"
Arthur felt defeated, anxiety building and everything within him biding him to run away from the situation, however a firm hand placed on his wrist kept him still and forced Arthur to listen.

"I know you're frustrated and I understand that you want me to leave, but if you think that I'll easily give this up you have another thing coming."

"Francis…?" The Diamond not only caught the Spades' wrist, but also his words.
"What are you-?"

"Arthur, how can you be certain about giving up what we have?" He asked in a gentle voice, allowing his hand to roam up Arthur's thigh and leaving goose bumps behind from his lingering touch.
He pressed the other against the wall, pelvis meeting with his while Francis loomed over him with smoldering eyes of blue fire.

"How can you say that our time spent together never meant anything to you?
I know your heart better than anyone.
I've known you in your youth. You can't tell me that we never meant anything."

"It did once." Arthur admitted, still keeping his eyes from Francis.
"But that was long ago and we've both grown up since those days.
Dwelling in the past is no such life for those in the Present."

"Oh, but love it did mean much to me."
He whispered into the shell of Arthur's ears, applying gently kisses to the warm lobe and offering a few to Arthur's neck for a moment until the Spade pulled away.
"In fact is still truly does..."

Those kisses that once made Arthur shudder in pleasure for more only heightened the anxiety of losing Alfred and Arthur wanted nothing to do with the King of Diamonds any longer.

'Things truly had changed,'Francis observed as Arthur's eyes gave way to angry tears, though his brows remained furrowed.
Then came something unexpected, a quiet plea.

"Please, don't do this to me.
I meant it, I meant every word in that letter and I just won't lose Alfred.
I just want him and you're standing in my way.
Please respect my wishes."
Arthur pleaded with desperation that did not suit him in the slightest.

Francis had it with this new found virtue that Arthur was clinging to.
It didn't make any sense to change things as they were. Until the last letter everything had been as it should; no one complained and everything was in balance.
The existence that Francis had grown comfortable in was now being shaken and stripped from him, but Francis wouldn't let it go without putting up a fight.

"I won't give you up so easily. You belong to me!" Francis spoke passionately in raised voice.

Arthur's tears stopped and all that came from Arthur now was anger.
"I've never belonged to you and you know that!
I'm married to Alfred Jones, not you Bonnefoy.
And I'll be damned before I let anyone else but Alfred ownme."

Francis noticed that he had frustrated his lover far more than he had anticipated, lowering his voice and returning his gentle ways:

hushing his little rabbit, offering a gentle brush of the hand on Arthur's tear stained cheek and forcing Arthur to look directly at his enchanting gaze.

"But who is always in your bed tending to your needs?
Who is at your beck and call when desire has you at your end?
I don't see Alfred now tending to this precious rose."
Francis argued in a firm voice that captivated, well except now of course.

Arthur felt the need to defend Alfred, even though a part of him agreed with Francis.
Then again, Arthur wasn't willing to admit that bastard was right!

"He has other priorities that needs to tended to and he does what he can!
Yes, you've been there for me all these years as I have been there for you in return…
However I promised that I would support him by keeping my word.
There are few things in this world I can take as face value, but Alfred's kept his word.
He's always come back for me and he always tries…
Even in his inexperience he knows what is important and what I need.
He always returns for me and manages to leave me aching for more of him.
And only in return he wishes for all of me. He wishes my honesty. He wishes things that should have been promised on our wedding day.
I promised him honesty, Francis. That is much more than I ever thought I'd give him, but for him I'm willing to offer it to him."

"Honesty so late in the relationship? It's almost laughable."
Francis spoke out of hatred, only to quickly regain his cool composure to further inquire.
"Did you promise him simply out of protocol?"

"Pardon?" Arthur asked, quite surprised at the formed question he wished not to answer.

"I asked you: was this decision of your own accord or was it simply out of duty to your Kingdom."
These words stung more than they should have in Arthur's mind. Francis knew how much Arthur hated protocol and to accuse him of being submissive to the law made Arthur feel emasculated; however having his pride hurt was possibly the least of his concerns now, he needed Francis to leave.

"N-no, of course it was out of love."
Alfred is stressed as it is without our escapades behind the back of the crown.
I'm tired of hurting him." He explained in his weakening voice that gave way to emotion.

"You're being foolish." Francis snapped quickly.

And you've overstaying your welcome!" Arthur replied in contest, his head held up high and rage in his emerald eyes.
Francis was surprised at how firm Arthur was being this time, holding his breath in shock.
It was nothing as the other occasions when he was given letters promising no more, this time it seemed that Arthur meant it.

"It's that way then, is it?"
Francis asked, shocked that Arthur was determined and staying by his ideals.
Arthur opened the door, showing him the way out, with an indignant pride that spoke volumes.

Francis eyes sharpened at the gesture.
" I see. Goodnight then.
I'll allow you to continue sacrificing yourself to a man who won't appreciate you;
a man who will continue to leave you to your own mean.
If that's what you want, I suppose my presence here is only offensive. I'm sure you'll remember your way to my bedroom if ever you feel the need to apologize."

"Get the hell out!" Arthur shouted, pointing to the exit.
"Before I call the guards to have your head!"

"With pleasure." Francis replied, head held high as he left the way he came with that stupid confident smirk on his face.

He was mad to think that after he insulted one that he would return as a result of such offense.
And yet it made him wonder if his pride and will would be strong enough to keep from Francis.
Surely after hearing such insults it would be enough to maintain his stubbornness, even in his loneliness.
At least Arthur could take comfort in that he did not allow his promise to be broken and that now all would rest easy within the chambers of the royalty of Spades.

A/N: Just when school seems to let up, nope. It's like you always have that one teacher who dangles hope in front of you, then snatches the rug under you with a massive paper due. I am going to continue writing this, so don't fret. Just sit back and watch as things continue to escalate.
-What did you just say?- Yes reader, there's more drama on the way! Brace yourself. I'd love to hear your opinions in review, thank you!