Been a few days since I wrote anything... oh well, here we are.

A huge thank you to the guest reviewers, you guys are awesome. I'd have replied to you individually, but I can't, thought I'd give you all a shout out up here though!

Enjoy ;)

"Get the fuck out!"

"Oh, yes, just push me away and ignore me like you do all your other problems!"

"I mean it, Scotland! Get the fuck out of my house and don't bother coming back!"

"Don't worry! I won't be!"

The slamming door made them both flinch, but it didn't make either of them look back.

"You're being a idiot."

Scotland scowled at the blonde-haired Frenchman across from him, dressed uncharacteristically sloppily, and raising an eyebrow at him over his coffee.

"What the fuck do you mean I'm being the idiot!" He growled, "It's clearly not my fault!"

France rolled his eyes, "I don't care who's fault it is, in fact it was probably a joint effort, my point is that you're both acting like children."

"Oh, like you're one to talk."

France waved a hand in dismissal, "I am not in a relationship with the man, effective communication is not important."

"So you're saying I should talk to him? Well gee France, I hadn't thought of that! Had you considered that the stubborn little brat won't talk to me?"

Once again, France rolled his eyes, making Scotland clench his jaw in irritation, "Scotland, my dear, had you considered that your idea of talking is normally mindlessly dumping your unfiltered opinions upon whichever unfortunate soul is unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire?"

He raised his brows pointedly at Scotland, making him sink back against the sofa with a pout, "It's not that bad."

"It is, now, I want you to go back to England, and have an adult conversation. Relationships aren't all sunshine and roses, if you can't work through this then I pray for your future relationship partners."

Scotland sighed, leaning forward and running a hand through his hair, "I don't want future relationship partners, I just don't know how to approach him about it."

France sighed, smiling a little in a mixture of sympathy and amusement, "There isn't a way to approach him. You just have to do it. Now suck up that pride and make him tolerable again before the next meeting."

He could hear England's phone ringing from outside as he pressed his ear to the door. Gritting his teeth and frowning, he pulled out his keys and entered the house. It was quiet when the phone rang off, eerily so as Scotland checked around the downstairs rooms, void of any life other than the occasional twinkle of some magical creature lounging on something soft. He bit his lip as he climbed the stairs, wondering whether he should call out or not.

He heard the sound of water splashing from the bathroom, and followed the noise, pushing the door open a little to see England submerged to his neck in the bath, swirling suds around with his fingers. "Why'd you come back?" he asked, not looking up.

Scotland hesitated on an answer for a moment, momentarily unsettled by the calm in England's tone, "France informed me that I was being an idiot."

England scrunched up his nose, "You went to that tosspot?"

"Who else am I supposed to go to?" Scotland replied, trying his best to sound less exasperated that he was, "He is Europe's big brother, isn't he? The guru on all things romance?"

England rolled his eyes, his mouth dropping below the water for a moment, blowing out a few bubbles, "That's what he likes to say, isn't it?"

"England. Arthur, we need to talk."

"France tell you that too?"

"Arthur..."

"Whatever, Scotland, talk then."

"I don't want to talk if you're not willing to listen."

"I'm here, all ears, talk away."

Scotland sighed, walking over to the side of the tub and kneeling beside it so his chin rested on the rim, "Look, I know you don't get any say in our gov-"

"I can't propose that Scotland." England finally met his eyes, a strange expression on his face, a mixture of irritation and something like sadness, "You know that."

"You can but you won't."

"It would be a waste of my time and yours."

"This argument is a waste of time!"

England growled, sliding down in the tub so his head went below the water. Scotland waited while he sat below the water, the occasional bubble reaching the surface, until he came up for breath, his eyes staying closed and his hair messily plastered to his face, "I don't know what to say to you, whatever I do you're going to be unhappy with the outcome."

Scotland sat back on his haunches, a deep frown on his face, "How can you be so sure? Wh-"

"Alistair! It's not going to happen!" England glared at him, his voice strained, "I hate to disappoint you, but you've just got to accept that!"

A hand touched Scotland's face, England's face holding a cautious and what he probably considered to be apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, Scotland, I am, but it's not going to happen. I wish it could, but there's nothing I can do."

He grit his teeth, his jaw clenching, as he darted his eyes away from the other's "Fine, I get it."

A thumb brushed along his cheekbone, making him look back up, "Scotland, I-"

He wrapped a hand around the back of England's neck, pulling his forward into a gentle kiss, "I get it, there's nought you can do about it, I'm being stubborn."

England smiled strangely, as if he couldn't quite attach an emotion to it, "I think that was the most mature conclusion to a disagreement we've ever had."

Scotland released a short breath of laughter, "Well, I can't very well invade you these days. Now can I?"

England hummed, his eyes flicking over Scotland's face, "You could try, but since we share an army that might prove difficult."

Scotland didn't reply, but leant back to pull off his shirt, earning a confused look from England.

"What're you doing?" he asked, sitting up a little straighter.

"Joining you, I haven't had a bath in ages," Scotland replied, kicking off his trousers and his socks.

"Great, and I was having such a lovely time as well."

Scotland rolled his eyes as he removed the last of his clothes and awkwardly slipped into the bath, ignoring the water that splashed over the edge. He faced England who was regarding him with a raised eyebrow, and frowned considering their position for a moment, "No, I think the other way."

England chuckled as Scotland's back rested against his chest, the man giving a content sigh as he did so, "Ah, yes, this is better."

"Happy there?"

"Very."

England's hands rested on his sides, drawing lazy lines up and down, and in return Scotland did the same to England's legs, the two of them falling into a content silence. And like that they stayed, until Scotland said something stupid which resulted in a great deal of the bathwater ending up on the floor.