Ch. 12:

Francis knocked on the Kirkland house door, making sure the ground below him wasn't too dirty when he got on his hands and knees. He could not believe he was about to do this.

The door opened and Francis realized it was too much to ask for that Arthur or perhaps a butler would answer the door.

Allistor stood in front of Francis, still tall, still ginger, and still looking like he'd snap Francis like a twig.

The man's eyes widened in surprise before he pulled out the cigarette in his mouth and smiled, "Hello, Francis. It's been too long."

Francis fought back a shudder, that smile was too friendly, he was up to something. "Yes, bonjour Allistor, it really has been long…I need to speak to your brother."

"Which one," Allistor chuckled quietly, that friendly smile still in place, "I have many."

"T-the one I dated…Arthur."

"Oh~ you mean the one you had on your puppet strings and led around like your personal play thing, the one you shagged for a year and had him get emotionally attached before you tossed him back out into the rainy London streets and left his heart in tatters. Well, I'm afraid you can't see him; actually I'm afraid you won't be able to see anything once I burn your eyes out. Then I think I'll slice you open and turn your innards into haggis for Nessie. She loves the taste of back-stabbing French bastards."

All this was said cheerfully and with a smile that could rival the sun in brightness.

"Fair enough," Francis replied, taking a step back, "But I thought Alfred fixed your brother's heart."

"He did, then left again. Now my brother's a little upset so I don't think you of all people would be a welcome sight to him."

"Be that as it may," Francis continued, "I really need to speak with him, it's important."

Allistor opened his mouth, no doubt ready with another friendly threat, when a new voice spoke up: "Who is it, Allistor?"

Francis actually found himself sagging in relief upon hearing Arthur's voice.

"Take a wild guess," Allistor replied, stepping back so his brother could see their visitor.

Arthur's eyes widened in shock then narrowed, "What do you want?"

"I need to talk with you," Francis said, letting a bit of his desperation slip into his voice, "Please."

Arthur looked even more surprised but nodded resentfully and walked to the door "Leave us, Allistor."

That looked to be the last thing his older brother wanted but with one look from Arthur, Allistor shrugged, smiled cheerfully at Francis who saw the evil in the action, and left.

"Make this quick," Arthur ordered, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, "I'm busy."

"I need your help," Francis went right to the point, "Specifically I need your help financially."

He quickly grabbed the door before Arthur could shut it in his face, "Wait please! Hear me out! I need to get to America!"

"America?" Arthur opened the door and looked Francis up and down, his expression unreadable. "Why do you need to go there?"

"Because Matthew's there," Francis took a deep breath, "Arthur, this is a little late but…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did to you, for playing you like that I…I was a bastard, still am I guess. But I'm a bastard in love."

"With Matthew," Arthur asked disbelievingly.

"Yes," Francis tried to put every bit of conviction he possessed into that word, "I love him and I'm not going to let him get away. I need to go to him. I need to at least tell him how I feel."

"So, you need my money for a plane ticket?"

"Just a little," Francis assured, "At the end of month I'll be getting some money and then I just need a bit of yours… Please Arthur."

Francis dropped to his knees and Arthur stared at him with surprise.

"Please, I love Matthew like you love Alfred."

That was exactly the right words to say, Arthur's eyes softened and he sighed, "At the end of the month."

Francis's heart nearly burst out of his chest at those words, "T-Thank you!"

"I'm not doing this for you," Arthur snapped, back to his usual prickly self, "I planned on going there as well, don't think you're the only who wouldn't chase after the one he loves. So since that's already my plan you might as well come along."

Francis would've hugged him if Arthur wouldn't claw him for doing so, so instead he smiled, "Merci, Arthur."

Matthew stared down at the waves lapping on the shore; he stood next to the lake, at their home. Alfred's words rang in his ear: Just don't jump in.

He scowled at his reflection in the water, had he really turned that pitiful. Ever since he had got on the plane on the way back to America he had tried to act as brightly as possible. Like he was fine, like he wasn't dying inside every time he woke up and Francis was lying there beside him. It had been a month now and the pain hadn't eased. Matthew knew he needed to erase the summer from his mind, Francis had probably found someone new by now. The thought nearly made Matthew sick.

Hearing running footsteps behind him Matthew let out an aggravated sigh, he may have been faking his cheerfulness but Alfred was the one acting all depressed, yet he thought his brother would jump in the lake…

He whirled around with a scowl, "Al, I'm fine you don't-" Every word and thought evaporated in his head when he saw who it was. It wasn't Alfred. It was someone he thought he'd never see again.

Francis.

There he was, standing right there, slightly panting from his run, his long hair a mess , his chest peeking from his slightly unbuttoned shirt. He was still beautiful; his eyes still gleamed so perfectly that Matthew couldn't breathe.

Francis took a small, cautious step forward, like Matthew would get frightened and run if he moved too fast.

A small, shy smile spread over the Frenchman's soft lips and from behind his back he pulled out…a rose, and offered it to Matthew.

He for one could not process this, he stared at Francis, then the rose, then back again, "I…I…eh?"

"Mathieu," he took the rest of the steps needed to stand right before the Canadian, "I…I couldn't say it before…but…I'm sure now. I love you, Mathieu."

Matthew's heart stopped…he had said it…there was no misunderstanding that he had said it clear as day…he loves me…he loves me…

He quickly shook his head, trying to collect his thoughts, with Francis's confession and the events of last month he felt too conflicted, "If-if that's true then why…why did you…" He couldn't finish the words. Why did you break my heart?

"I was afraid, Mathieu," Francis grabbed Matthew's hand in both of his, looking at him a desperate sorrow in his blue eyes. "I…I've never really been in a committed relationship and to be honest, I never thought I would, I never wanted to. But…" he brought a hand up to brush a lock of hair behind Matthew's ear and the simple gesture made the boy's heart stutter.

"But then I met you…And it was…strange, it was something I'd never experienced before. And I didn't realize until you were gone just how hard it would be, just how much it would hurt, to live without you."

Matthew swallowed, trying to hold back the tears that had threatened as soon as he saw Francis, "It hurt. It hurt like hell when you didn't come to say goodbye."

He loves me…

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry Mathieu…I didn't think I could do it…I…I was falling for you. And I didn't think I could do that…but then I found out…the thing I couldn't do was leave your side."

He loves me…

Matthew tightened his grip on Francis's hand, still warm, still soft, "…I don't know what to say…"

"Will you say you love me, Mathieu? Will you say is right now…to me? And meant it…? Can you forgive me, Mathieu…?" Francis's voice was as tight as Matthew's heart and he realized he wasn't the only one who felt this way.

He loves me…

"That depends…are you sure you want to stay? Because once you do I will never let you go again."

"Mathieu, I pray to Heaven you never do…" he looked on the verge of tears as he said it, his smile small and scared but radiant nonetheless…

…I love him.

"Then yes. I forgave you the moment I saw you standing right here before me…And I've loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you."

He quickly brought the rose to his face, breathing in its scent with his eyes closed, he felt too embarrassed to look at Francis.

But then Francis's hand was on his, moving the rose down and then Matthew felt warm lips caress his own. Matthew didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Francis's neck and kiss back, a burst of joy warming him as he felt Francis wrap his arms around his waist and pull him closer.

But remembering something Matthew pulled back from Francis's lips, "Before I forget to ask. How on earth did you get here?"

Francis smiled, "Arthur and I made the trip…"

Matthew smiled both in amusement and happiness that back at the house his brother was just as happy as he was. "What a plane ride that must've been."

He shrugged, "I've had worse…I've had better."

They both chuckled and Matthew felt fresh tears of joy prick his eyes, something told him he would be shedding a lot of those soon. He smiled warmly down at the rose, recalling a similar flower that had introduced him to the man that changed his life, "You know…I still think my brother wouldn't approve of you giving me flowers."

"Well…" Francis wrapped his fingers into Matthew's hair, pulling them so close their noses touched, his eyes smiled, "We'll just keep it under the rose."

Matthew smiled brightly, thinking he'd burst from his happiness, his violet eyes sparkled as he gazed at the love of his life, he had to be the happiest person in the world. Who would ever have thought quiet invisible Matthew Williams would meet and fall in love with the most handsome of Frenchmen? And who would've thought that Frenchman would've loved him in return?

But it was true, staring into Francis's sparkling eyes and grinning face Matthew knew he was truly and completely loved and he could never ask for anything else, because this is what he always wanted.

Lips still smiling, eyes still sparkling, and still the happiest person in the world, he wrapped his arms around his true love and dipped in for another kiss.

Fin