Warnings: Implied and mentioned sex. And just...read with caution...please...

What a nice bed…wish I had one like this back at the dorm…or at Matt's place…wait, what?

Alfred popped open his eyes with a start, his random dreamlike thought suddenly turning into a nightmare. He looked around the room to find that it indeed wasn't his dorm nor Matthew's bedroom.

It was Arthur's.

Oh my god, what am I doing here?

His question was immediately answered when he finally felt the presence of another in the bed. Alfred didn't dare turn around to look at the Englishman, keeping his back facing him while looking straight ahead.

Did I really…?

The events from last night slowly drifted into his mind, replaying the scenario. He was only here for some dirt, but somehow landed in Arthur's bed instead and got carried away. The blond remembered trying to stop himself and pretending to have another sleep attack before things got serious but couldn't. Was it because he wanted to finish what he started? To not disappoint Arthur? Or was he desperately trying to bring about some sort of feeling towards the landlord?

The American simply didn't know, but it all boiled down to the facts: because of the spur of the moment, he couldn't rein in his urges in time.

It wasn't entirely his fault though. Arthur looked like he enjoyed it as much as Alfred if not even more so.

Alfred frowned, hoping that sex was indeed all Arthur wanted out of him and now that his desire was granted, he can cut off their relationship with ease.

I have to get outta here!

When no movement came from the other end of the bed, the taller blond shifted carefully under the sheets closer to the edge.

I can't be here right now…

He was about to swing his legs over when the blanket moved on its own and a soft grunt was heard to his right.

"Mmm, Alfred…you're awake?" Arthur murmured before moving closer to the stiffened blond next to him to cuddle.

The contact made Alfred wince. All of this felt wrong. The spacious bedroom suddenly became stifling and cramped, the warm bed as cold as a sheet of ice. Arthur's gentle words were venomous hisses in his ears while his touch felt like daggers slicing across his skin.

"Y-yes…" he finally found his voice. "I'm so sorry for what happened last night," the words tumbled out of his mouth. Out of all the things he told the Englishman, this was the most honest statement he has said to him. Alfred truly regretted what he had done, and now he doesn't know how to get out of the situation.

"Don't be," the sandy blond reassured him and nuzzled into his chest.

Alfred bit his lower lip, making sure Arthur didn't see him do it. Taking a quick glance down at the bed, he grimaced when he saw the mess they made. He also noted that although he was still fully dressed in his t-shirt and jeans, Arthur wasn't.

Shit…it really wasn't just a dream…

When an idea to leave finally came to mind, he gently pushed the Englishman away at arm's length to say "I completely forgot! I have a meeting to tend to early this morning, and I won't be back for a couple of days,"

Arthur looked up from his comfortable spot between Alfred's arms to pout at him. But before he could get a syllable out the American continued.

"The announcement was sudden, I wanted to tell you about it sooner but it was very late and…I should get going now," He shot up from the bed and was about to flit out through the bedroom door when a hand wrapped around his wrist.

"Shouldn't you at least take a shower before you go?" Arthur's eyes were almost pleading for him to stay. He was sitting up on the bed now, still undressed, the blanket falling off his shoulders to reveal the extent of Alfred's damage. Bite marks were seen on the Englishman's neck, chest, lower back, and stomach. Alfred didn't even want to look any lower for more that might have been there.

Arthur leaned in for a kiss on the lips but never received one as Alfred quickly pulled back. Seeing the disappointed and almost hurt look on the other blond's face, Alfred held back a frown before leaning over the bed to chastely kiss him on the forehead instead. "I'll take one in Matthew's apartment. It'll be more convenient since I have to start packing," he replied with a plastered, sad smile. Gently prying the fingers off his wrist, he gave another apologetic kiss on the palm of Arthur's hand before making his way to the door. "Again, I'm very sorry…please bear with it until I return."

X.X.X.X

The moment Matthew saw his brother trudge into his apartment, he could already tell that something was wrong. "Alfred…"

The older barely spared his younger brother a glance before dragging his feet across the floor towards the bathroom where he took a long shower. When he was done, he slumped onto the couch, staring blankly at the equally blank television screen. Matthew thought he was going to resume playing his video game when the blond muttered dismally "It's over…I fucked up…"

"How? The last time I saw you…" Matthew tried to gather his thoughts. "You distracted Arthur very effectively,"

"…" Alfred remained silent for a very long time before stating "I've had enough."

"What?"

"The deal's done," the taller blond sighed exasperatingly. "I can't keep pretending anymore…at least you got the pictures right?"

It was the photographer's turn to remain quiet now. He bit his bottom lip nervously, knowing that he shouldn't say what he was about to say; but Alfred needed to know the bitter truth. "No…" The baleful glare his brother sent him made his breath hitch and he quickly explained "T-the pictures were all too blurry…you can hardly tell what they are…" Matthew bowed his head and focused his violet eyes on nothing but the wooden floorboards. "It was just too dark to capture anything properly,"

At this, the tension in the room finally snapped when Alfred animatedly jumped off the couch. "What! You're telling me that I did all that for NOTHING?"

The harsh tone made Matthew wince as he backed away from his raging brother. Still, he was confused as to why his failure unsettled the normally cheerful blond so much. "W-what happened last night? What did you do?"

The younger's questions apparently didn't register to Alfred, for he was already walking nervously back and forth in front of the sofa. "I made a mistake…" he mumbled more to himself than to Matthew. "This wasn't supposed to happen...It wasn't supposed to go that far..." When his dark sapphire eyes finally landed on the other blond in the room he demanded "You're going to help me sever it."

"What's 'it'?" he asked cautiously. "Your relationship?"

"Yes!" Alfred threw his hands up. "I've had enough of this fake relationship…I'm tired of lying…"

"But-"

"For God's sake, Matthew, I had sex with the man!" Alfred finally confessed, breathing heavily from pent up frustration.

"You what? Alfred…why-"

"I don't know okay! I just did…it was only physical intimacy though…" Alfred ran a hand roughly through his blond hair. "I don't love him."

"Al-"

Just then both brothers heard something clatter against the floor near the open front door.

Arthur was standing there, his arms dropping limp to his sides as the items he once held broke in front of him at the threshold of the apartment. It was apparent from his slightly wet hair that he just got out of the shower, donning a collared shirt with a sweater vest over it. His expression was unreadable.

"Arthur…"

The landlord was already running down the hall before Alfred could say anything more.

Not that he had anything in mind. Based on his reaction, he knew that the Brit heard everything. "Why didn't you get the padlock?" he hissed angrily.

Irritated that the other's frustration was being put on him, Matthew snapped "It takes time to go out and buy one you know!"

Alfred strode over to the spot Arthur had occupied seconds before, noticing that the sandy blond wanted to give something to him before he left. The glasses he left on Arthur's nightstand now laid cracked on the ground...he didn't even remember when he took them off in the first place. The neatly folded embroidery from before was now complete and spewed out of a small box tied with a ribbon. A single red rose had a small letter attached to it.

"To my beloved Alfred,

Because you had to leave on such short notice, I wasn't able to give you a proper gift. I mean, I always wanted to give you this since we went to that restaurant as an apology gift…but…just have a safe trip you git! I wish I can accompany you, but that's childish thinking, so instead bring these with you as a reminder of me.

Sincerely,

Arthur Kirkland"

Endnotes: Sorry for the incredibly short chapter...but seeing as though this is the turning point in the story, I wanted it to focus only on that.