Arthur wasn't sure what he was expecting. But he always had a worry deep in his heart and the back of his mind that Alfred would just one of these days… Alfred would just get up and leave him… as he had done to Alfred. Leaving him with these words… "I lied." He knew though… Alfred would never do that. The boy was not that cruel. He knew this… Still. It'd serve him right if he was abandoned as such. It was something he deserved and he couldn't stop feeling nervous and worried.

"Is something wrong?"

Arthur looked into concerned sky blue eyes. They were having lunch together. At McDonalds of course... He did hate that London was filled with these places too…

"I…" he began poking at the wilting green leaves of this "salad." "I worry…"

"Bout what?" Alfred tilted his head to the side.

"About… us. I guess…"

Alfred frowned at this. Unease and worry so clearly written in his face. A fear, much like Arthur's… but this one was all the more rational. That fear that Arthur was going to make a fool out of him again.

Arthur dropped the plastic fork and waved his hand. "No! No no… not like that. Please don't make that face." He took a deep breath. "It makes me sound horrible for even mentioning it… But… I worry that… you'll leave me… hurt me… as I hurt you."

It broke his heart to see the look Alfred gave him at this. "I would never do that to someone." Sky blues wouldn't even look at him now. "Even if they hurt me again and again that way… I'd never do that in return."

"I know! I'm sorry… God… I'm such an arse… I know Alfred." He ran his hands through his messy blonde hair. "I'm sorry I said anything…"

Alfred was silent now. Just picking at his fries and burger. Damn… why was he so bad at this? Why… did he just keep screwing things up more and more… twisting what should be wonderful into something horrible.

He swallowed and toyed with the red ribbon on his wrist. "A-Alfred?"

The other blonde made a small sound in response.

Arthur leaned over the small table and tilted Alfred's head up to look at him. "May… I give you something… something for you to have… that's important to me like your ribbon was important to you…?"

Alfred blinked a few times and smiled brightly. A warm sunny smile. One he loved so much. It made Arthur smile back. He couldn't help but do it too. "Yes… please! If you don't mind. I'd love to have something of yours… to have always…"

Arthur leaned in further and kissed his blonde on the forehead. A rare show of public affection. Something he'd been trying to do more. Anything to show Alfred he cared… and was serious this time. "I'm glad. Hurry up and finish your meal then we'll walk back to my place and I'll find something for you to have."

But what? That was a good question…

He'd been digging through trunks for a good hour now… trying to find something important to him… and also something Alfred could carry on hand always… but it was a difficult. He'd found his old pirate hat, which Alfred would probably love to have but… that wasn't something he could always have with him…

This was becoming embarrassing… He could feel sky blue eyes watching him… waiting…

Arthur growled and threw open another trunk desperate to find something. Anything…

"Arthur… you don't-"

"I do! This is important!" he snapped unintentionally. He just… "I just have to have something… I know I do. Something perfect for you. I'm so old. I have so many things. So much history… There is something just for you in one of these. I just know it…"

Alfred took a seat on an already rifled through trunk and shuffled his feet, a tiny smile on his face. He stayed silent just waiting for Arthur to find something or give up.

But after another hour of digging through old things… he was beginning to feel that this was hopeless… Did… he really have nothing…? Nothing he could give to Alfred…?

"Arthur…?" He sighed sadly. "What Alfred…?"

"Can I have this…?"

Arthur turned around to see what Alfred had found. His eyes lit up and he smiled. "My old compass…" He stood and walked over to where Alfred was. "A pirates dearest friend…"

Alfred smiled up at the blonde. "So… may I? I could wear it under my shirt… even if it is a bit bulky… I'll keep it safe though."

Arthur gave the American a warm smile. "Alfred… of course you may. This compass…" he took it out of the other's hand and inspected it… yes… this was the one. "It led me back to you… oh so many times… My little America."

Alfred's smile grew bigger at these words. "I never needed a compass to lead me to you… I always knew…"

Arthur clutched the item to his chest tightly and leaned in to kiss his America. His… his dearest America.

He could feel Alfred's smile as the other gently kissed him back. For one so strong he was always so gentle. Arthur slowly pulled away, placing the compass back into Alfred's hands. "For you. If you're ever lost… it will lead you back to me…"

Alfred hummed softly at these words. "Arthur… please know… I will never be cruel… and leave you as you left me."

Arthur placed a finger over the American's lips and hushed him. "I know… I know… You're not a horrible bitter person like I am… I am just grateful you've come back to me… I should not have even mentioned it… I'm sorry."

He gently ran his fingers over the American's cheek, who gratefully leaned into his hand. Every touch… every bit of affection… Alfred soaked it in. Welcomed and savored it.

"Please… stop being sorry. Just be you… let's put this behind us… please? No more thinking on it… I don't want to. It hurts… so… let's be done with it…"

Arthur smiled. His sweet Alfred. "Okay… forgotten…" Alfred… Alfred the one who was hurt was the one who wanted to drop it… Arthur ran his fingers through the boy's hair. Knowing how much he enjoyed it… especially when fingers strayed towards that little bit of hair that stuck right up. "But… let's… let's make love tonight… Do it right this time around…"

Alfred swallowed nervously, glancing up at Arthur with uncertainty in his eyes. It broke his heart… "I mean…!" Arthur quickly tried to correct. "You don't have to if you don't want to… we can wait. I just wanted to completely clear everything up… start over…"

Alfred shook his head. "It… it's not about that. I mean… I don't want you to fuck me to make something bad go away… It should be done… in the moment. In… a fit of passion and love… not out of obligation…"

"Of course…" He leaned in and pressed his forehead against Alfred's. "You're so young still Alfred… how are you so much wiser then I?"

Alfred let out a soft laugh, wrapping his arms around the other. He had no answer. He just made lots of romance movies… watched a lot of those movies. He loved cheesy cliché things. He wanted his romance to be perfect like that. And while this one started off more then a little rocky… he knew he could fix it to be everything he hoped it could be.

"Alright then… we'll wait… for the right moment. And I'll make you fall in love with me… all over again."

Alfred beamed nuzzling into the Brit's stomach. "All over again you say… It's been a long time since I first fell…"

"Oh?" Arthur grinned, continuing to run his fingers through the soft hair. "How long… how long have you loved me…?"

"God… forever Arthur… I mean… I was really mad at you for a really long time…" Alfred sighed, his fingers making little patterns on Arthur's lower back. "But… maybe it really hit me… once the nineteen hundreds rolled around…"

"A hundred years…" Arthur murmured. Such a long time… To sit and wait… and long after someone… While Alfred had been pining for him, he'd been bitter… making plans… that was past now… Like Alfred asked of him… "Will you love me for a hundred years?" Arthur asked curiously.

"Easily."

Arthur smiled bright, tears forming in his eyes. "Let's go upstairs… I'll… start the fire place. Put in a movie for you… and… and-"

"Cuddle with me~?"

"Yes." He kissed Alfred again, pulling him up after their lips finally parted.

"We're going to be alright…"

Alfred held his compass tightly to his chest. "I've always thought so."

Yes… despite everything. All he'd lived through and done to Alfred… and vice versa… they were going to be fine. Even if things for some reason soured… they were still Alfred and Arthur… their feelings never had to change. He'd remember that… should that day ever come where relations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America become bad.

"I love you Alfred…"

"I love you too, Arthur!"

It was said quickly. Without hesitation. Like he used to. So… things were really going to be okay… more than okay.

He tugged the American up the stairs and made him comfortable on the sofa before hurrying to make them some snacks. Some coffee and cookies for Alfred. Tea for him.

Before he knew it he was back on the sofa with Alfred, watching some… horrible American movie he managed to find on the telly.

He didn't mind though. He was comfortable and cozy beside the man he'd always loved. He was just to stupid to realize it until recently…

He was lucky… Lucky that Alfred still said the words like I love you to him. Still lucky that he was allowed to be this close to the lad again.

"Thank you for the compass…" Alfred said softly.

"Nothing to thank," Arthur replied, with a smile. "I am happy to give it to you."

Alfred hummed pleased and leaned into Arthur, nuzzling into the Brit.

The elder smiled, setting his tea aside so he could wrap his arms around the American. Yes… they were going to be perfectly fine.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. I'm so sorry. How do I end a fic? I don't freaking know… I had this done a week ago. 10 pages. Sex scene. Wrapped up the story of Prussia and Austria. And then my computer ate it. I just didn't have the heart to write it all up again. Yes. I know that makes me lazy and a fail. I just couldn't. So you have this and I'm sorry. ;A; I sorta thought it fit better anyway… but I don't know. I'm just sorry…