*This has been edited slightly since the first posting.

Alfred pushed open the thick wooden door and cupped his hand over his mouth. He shouted loudly that he was home before entering and beckoning Arthur after him.

Arthur looked around the cabin. The inside was just a cozy as the outside. There wasn't much on the walls, just a few paintings. But it was well kept and inviting, and Arthur felt just a bit more comfortable. He was actually quite nervous at the prospect of being recognized.

A woman in a blue dress and a lovely white apron rounded the corner. Her hair was a light brown, but her eyes were just as blue as Alfred's. Not that Arthur looked at Alfred's eyes.

"Alfie!" The woman squealed, running up to her son and folding him into her arms. It was strange, Alfred must have been a few inches taller than her, and yet she had no trouble tugging him down and making him look like a toddler.

"Oh, I missed you so much, sweetheart! How has everything been going? Have you been behaving? Are you eating enough?"

Alfred laughed and pulled away gently. He was very careful with his mother. "Of course, Ma! Stop worryin'!" He held onto his mother's shoulders tightly, as if she might vanish right then. Then he lifted one off and reached into his back pocket, and handed his mother something with a smile.

Arthur watched as her face lit up. "The Royal Guard badge! Oh, Alfie!"

Arthur was almost jealous with how easily and openly they loved each other. But before the moment could get too touching, a giant voice bellowed Alfred's name, nearly blasting out Arthur's eardrums.

Then a bear swooped down and almost picked Alfred up off the floor. "My boy!" The bear cried happily, setting Alfred down to rest his hand on his shoulder.

Once the bear was still, and talking to Alfred about accomplishments and missing each other, Arthur learned it wasn't a bear at all. It was a man who had to be a foot taller than Alfred (and Alfred was tall) and three times as wide. His hair was the lightest blonde one could imagine but his skin was a darkened by farm work.

Arthur almost squawked when the massive man turned to him. "An' who is this?"

Arthur smiled nervously and held out his hand. "Arthur, sir."

The man growled through a warm smile and clasped Arthur's hand, successfully ripping his arm off when he shook it. "Nice 'ta meetcha, boy!"

Alfred's mother smiled calmly. "Yes, it's a pleasure to have you. Alfie has written letters about you, I think he called you his best friend." She told him. She smiled cheekily and grasped Arthur's face. "And you're such a cutie! It's nice to know Alfred has a good choice in friends!"

Alfred cut in with a rosy blush. He peeled his mother off of his friend. "Jeez, mom. Can you be any more embarrassing?"

The woman just chuckled and stepped back to her husband's side. Right on time, Matthew entered the door. "I'm home, Ma," he grunted.

His reunion was much like Alfred's, hugging and talk of missing each other and fretting over his well-being. Arthur thought is was touching.

Soon after, Alfred took Arthur on a tour through the neighborhood, and Matthew stayed behind to say hello to some of his old friends. (Someone named Kuma or something...)

The 'neighborhood' consisted mostly of fields of various grains and vegetables. The cottages that dotted them every now and then were always homely and welcoming. Once in a while someone would dart out of the fields and clasp Alfred on the back, welcoming him home and asking him how things were going and "You an Ace yet?"

Each time Alfred would smile and greet them as if they were his family. Then he would tell them "Naw, not an Ace yet. But I'm a Royal Guard! Not too far away!" When they would laugh, he would invite them over to his birthday party which of course they would agree. "Haven't missed one yet!"

Some of them would acknowledge Arthur and greet him cautiously. Alfred later explained that they were a bit nervous to newcomers, but "Once they get used ta ya, they'll be just fine!"

Arthur noted Alfred's accent was thickening. He rather liked it.

When the tour was over the sun had reached the mid-day point and Arthur's stomach was protesting. "I know!" Alfred exclaimed. "We can go to the abandoned farm!"

Without Arthur's consent, Alfred dragged him through a wheat field, stopping to call towards the barely visible cabin that stood watch over it. "Ya mind, Mr. Cleave? I was goin' ta the Old Farm."

So called 'Mr. Cleave' laughed and waved from the front porch of the cabin. "Go ahead! Just make sure there's room for me at your party!"

Alfred waved back and continued. They reached the edge of the field, which led off to a small clearing before it hit forest. Without missing a step, Alfred dragged Arthur onto a dirt path and pulled him towards Deck knows what. He only stopped when the trees began to thin, and the remains of a fence stood in his way. "Ah man, this brings back memories," Alfred sighed. The shade provided some cool air, for which Arthur was grateful. Running in the middle of summer was not his favorite activity, and he was already sweating.

Alfred grabbed him by the hips—yet again—and ease him over the fence. Arthur complained. Alfred laughed. All was well in the world.

After hopping over the fence himself, Alfred took the time to survey his surroundings. "Follow me," he whispered, beckoning Arthur with a wagging hand.

He led Arthur down an invisible trail, through thinning trees. The ones that were around were young compared to the forest. Arthur thought they would reach the end of the woods soon, with all the tiny trees. Until they hit the first peach tree. It was ridiculously tall and had the soft fruits hanging down from almost every branch. Arthur wanted to reach up and just take them all, but Alfred stopped him.

"Wait 'till we get ta the good ones," he breathed in a very calm and quiet voice. Arthur was surprised Alfred could even talk like that. He supposed it was the forest's doing, but all the same his cheeks flushed and his heart pounded.

Soon enough, Arthur heard a faint trickle of running water, and on walking closer, Alfred moved to reveal a small crick with peach trees lining it. The water was probably only knee deep at the mid point, and it made pleasant sounds as it danced over rocks.

Alfred smiled softly and ran up to the nearest peach tree, signaling that these were deemed worthy enough to eat. The boys began to pick all the ripest fruit. Alfred even scaled the tree to get the ones on top, and Arthur followed after.

When Alfred gave him a confused look he merely replied: "I was bored as a boy and the Gardens had trees. I'm not completely useless, you know."

Alfred smiled.

When the boys arms were laden with so many peaches they couldn't walk five steps without one falling, Alfred declared it was time to stop. Arthur was about to bite into one when he noticed Alfred's horrified stare. "What?"

"You can't eat 'em warm!" Alfred shouted, breaking the quiet of the forest. A crow cawed in the distance.

Arthur cocked his head. "What are we supposed to do, wait for winter?"

Alfred hook his head, setting down the peaches near the bank of the creek. He turned away from Arthur and pulled his shirt over his head.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Alfred looked stared Arthur over his shoulder. "Duh, I'm cooling off the peaches." He tied the top-end of his shirt off and dropped in the peaches from the other side. Twisting that off too, he laid the make-shift sack in the water. "See?" He asked Arthur, pointing at the thing he made.

Arthur had to admire his intelligence.

Arthur copied Alfred, turning away and stripping off his shirt.

Arthur was blushing up to his ears, and he tried to shut out all of his thoughts as he pulled the tunic over his head. He quickly tied off the shirt as Alfred had done, and laid the bag next to Alfred's in the water.

Then he stood there, shirtless, wondering just what peasants did in their free time. If this was a daily activity, he began to wonder what they had done behind their parent's backs.

"So, Artie..." Alfred began, trying to break the tension. "How are you feeling about the whole...Queen thing?"

Arthur held his breath. They hadn't talked about that (besides brief mentioning) since the day in the library. "Well..." Arthur sighed, sitting down on the edge of the creek. "I suppose I'm worried. I love my powers, the Magic is beautiful. But...the bad outweighs the good. Honestly, sometimes I wish I wasn't a Royal at all."

Alfred sat down beside him, and began taking off his boots. "But you'll make such a good Queen! You're smart and you know all the these manners and you care a ton about Spades!"

Arthur huffed and watched as Alfred removed one boot and began working on the other. "So? Most people in the kingdom fall under that description. The only thing that separates me from them is my heritage, and let's face it, I never even knew my parents!"

Alfred succeeded in taking off his shoes. He sighed happily, dipping his feet in the freezing water. It really was hot.

"Yeah, but the magic chose you for a reason. It made you Queen for a reason. I think it's trying to show us to drop our pride and accept new things." Alfred said, staring a the peach tree above them. "I mean, all the other kingdoms stopped caring about gender and heritage a long time ago. I think the magic is trying to show us that we need to start to change."

Arthur stared down at Alfred. "That was...amazingly intelligent."

"I have moments." Alfred told him with a smile and a wink.

Arthur let that sink in. He stared at the massive trees around him, thinking about the future.

"I think I can change. I can be Queen. But our kingdom has never been happy about new ideas. It's what started the whole great war. And besides..." Arthur took a deep breath and laid back as well. "I wonder if...the Magic will give me a King that won't fall in love with me."

"Huh?" Alfred asked.

"All of the other Kingdoms do not require courtship between their Royals. Spades is the only one the Magic makes fall in love. But...if everything is changing...then maybe that will too..." Arthur frowned deeply. This had been worrying him for quite a long time.

"Artie..." Alfred turned to pull Arthur into a hug. It was awkward, as they were both laying down, but Alfred made it work.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm sure whoever the King is will love you like crazy."

And, Arthur added in his thoughts I wonder if I could love whoever the king is, when I'm so in love with you.

I'M SO SORRY ;A;

I know I promised to update last night, but my wifi crashed! It's freaking HAILING here. It's insane.

I love you guys, I do. And all your reviews are amazing! Really, there's nothing better than the long ones you guys are leaving. And for those of you who can't get around to reviewing: Thanks for alerting and favoriting! Really, you guys are amazing!

Sorry for any mistakes, I'm American!

-Mallory