It was a normal day for Arthur Kirkland, he had just gotten back from work and his husband hadn't gotten home yet. About ten years ago he had married a French man named, Francis Bonnefoy. He had originally married him because he thought he loved him, after about a year or two into their marriage, Arthur realized how much he hated Francis! He honestly couldn't even remember why he thought he loved him in the first place!

Arthur would have left years ago but unfortunately another thing he didn't count on when he married Francis was the fact that...he was abusive. The first time he told Francis that he wanted to leave him, he lashed out and beat him.

Arthur tried his hardest throughout the years to not piss the French man off, though his tongue did slip a couple times and of course that didn't end very well for him. And being that Francis wasn't home yet Arthur gave out a sigh of relief till his phone rang, it made him jump before he decided to see who was calling.

He grimaced when he saw it was his husband but answered it all the same, "Yes?" "Bonjour mon chéri!" , Arthur grimaced again, after years of hearing French spoken to him in many different ways, he hated it with a passion. "What is it Francis?" he said trying not to sound as annoyed as he actually was.

"Unfortunately I won't be coming home until pretty late tonight because a couple things came up at work." Arthur was a bit surprised for a moment and asked, "What kind of work?" "Just finishing up a project, it's a very annoying project though, so when I do get home I would like something to cheer me up." Arthur, yet again, grimaced as he knew exactly what Francis had in mind when he said that.

Whenever Francis was having problems at work or just plain annoyed with something at work, whenever he got home...he would make him go straight to their room to release his stress on him. Almost every time he would let his stress out through sex, but when something really bad was going on, then his stress was released through beating him and then rough sex.

In the first couple years of the marriage, things were fairly nice and romantic, including where and how they met, they had met in the spring time when they met near the Eiffel Tower. And after some time of dating, Francis proposed to him on top of the Tower, and the honeymoon was at a hotel in the french Alps with beautiful views of the mountains around it, those were nice times. But years later, Arthur can't even believe he fell for anything like that.

Arthur just sighed as they finished and hung up with a quick "Je t'aime" from Francis and a quiet and slightly unrecognizable "...You too" from Arthur. He didn't love Francis anymore and every time he had to say that it made his stomach churn.

Arthur decided that to calm his nerves, and his stomach, he would find a good book to sit down and read for a bit. He looked at all the books he had and he liked all of them, but he had read them over twenty times...he had to calm his nerves a lot. He let out a sigh and decided that he would go to the library a couple blocks away for a while, since he had plenty of time.

He hopped in his car and started up the engine then headed to the direction on the library.

He got to the library within about five minutes, he stepped out of his car and headed inside.

Once inside he just let out a calm sigh as he headed to the literature section. He looked through many isles and at many of the books there, he saw one that looked interesting and decided that he might want to check it out. He stretched his hand out to grab the book, at the same time someone else was. He looked over to apologize and what he saw was a young man, he couldn't have been any older that him and he felt as though the earth just stopped.

This guy was tall looked pretty tan, pretty muscular and had beautiful hair that looked liked a pure golden wheat field, and for some reason he had one little hair standing proudly on to of his head. But what caught Arthur's attention were the big bright and absolutely beautiful blue eyes the guy had, it was like a color Arthur had never seen before. Arthur felt his heart stop, and his eyes couldn't leave the young man and it seemed, the guys eyes weren't leaving him either.

Arthur shook his head and chuckled a little saying, "Oh my...I'm so sorry." followed with a small smile. The young man the gave a huge, bright and absolutely gorgeous smile. "Nah it's alright."

Arthur just chuckled again and said, "Did you need this book?" he asked pointing towards the book.

The young man gave a nervous smile and said, "Well not if you need it."

Arthur found himself chuckling again, he couldn't remember the last time he chuckled or even SMILED so much! "I don't need it really, It seems like you need more than me."

The young man smiled again and gave a nervous laugh, "Yeah kind of, I have an important seminar coming up and that book has what I need."

Arthur then said, "Well then please by all means take it. If I may ask, what is the seminar on that you need this book for?" Why was he even asking this? He was pretty sure that he wouldn't ever see this guy again after this, so why did he keep this conversation going?

But none the less the guy still answered, "The many ways to make companies and manufactures more environmentally safe and helpful." I smiled and said, "That sounds interesting."

The young man then laughed and said with his hand out stretched, "Crap, I'm sorry. I'm being rude, the names Alfred F. Jones, it's nice to meet you." Arthur barley even thought of what he was doing and grabbed Alfred's hand and replied, "Arthur Kirkland, it's a pleasure to meet you as well." They both smiled as they shook each others hand.

They then spent the next couple hours talking about many things, that involved basically anything ranging how Alfred was doing in college and the recent project that he was working on to how thing's at Arthur's work was going. As they continued talking a library employee came up to them and told them that the library was closing.

Alfred then asked Arthur if he wanted to go get a coffee with him, Arthur thought for a moment before looking at his watch. Usually whenever Francis said that he would be home late, that meant that he would be gone till around midnight. In other words, he still had plenty of time to spend more time with Alfred.

"Yes, I think I still have some time." Alfred flashed a gorgeous smile before they got up, got the books Alfred needed and headed out into the cold of the England streets. As they walked they continued talking and laughing over random things, sure they argued over one or two things in their conversation but they just ended in laughter, no serious arguments, and that gave Arthur a warm feeling in his chest.

The cafe that they were heading to was only about a block away from the library, so Arthur left his car there so he could just walk back and get it later.

They got to the cafe and Alfred ordered himself some coffee with some vanilla and Arthur ordered himself some tea. They headed to an empty table and continued the conversation they had before they had to order. Within a minute or so they were given their drinks, Arthur took a sip of tea then asked, "So, tell me about your family, or maybe why you decided to move here to England."

Alfred took a sip of his coffee, smiled and said, "Well before me and my brother came here, I used to live in the US and my brother, Matthew, lived in Canada. We then decided to come to the collage here in London, dad pays for Mattie and I pay for myself."

"You pay for yourself?" Arthur asked a bit astonished. Alfred smiled and nodded his head, Arthur then smiled and asked, "I'm guessing that you have a well paying job to be able to pay for this yourself?"

Alfred nodded again and said, "Yep, it's a bit boring but whatever, it's pay works well enough for me." Arthur chuckled, Alfred then asked, "So tell me about you and your lifestyle and what-not." Arthur's face fell as soon as Alfred mentioned his home life.

He put back a small smile and said, "Well, growing up I had three older brothers and you can imagine how that always went, especially since I was the youngest." Alfred grimaced a little, "Three older brothers, that really sucks dude. What about your parents?"

Arthur set his tea down for a moment and said, "My mother died when I was very young and...my father well...let's just say he wasn't a very "fatherly" type of person. And once everyone got old enough they left, my family wasn't very close once my mother died. So one brother moved to Scotland, another to Ireland and the other to Whales, then I came here to England, I heard a couple years ago that I have a younger brother now, and he lives with my father and step-mother now."

Alfred just kept a straight face all throughout the story and once Arthur finished, Arthur was looking out the window, Alfred put his hand on top of one of Arthur's. Arthur took in a breathe once he noticed Alfred's hand on his and looked Alfred right in the eye, neither of them said anything but somehow, it worked.

Arthur smiled and so did Alfred before he let go of Arthur's hand. They were about to begin talking again till Arthur got a phone call. "Oh, excuse me for a moment, I'm sorry." Alfred just smiled and nodded his head as Arthur stepped out of the cafe for a moment.

As soon as he answered the call his faced palled significantly and Alfred could see it from inside the cafe. "Bonjour mon amour." Arthur felt his mouth go dry, "Francis..." He whispered, Francis just chuckled on the other end of the phone and said, "I was allowed to come home a earlier than I expected, so I am on my way now. I hope you are waiting patiently at home for me. Au revoir!"

Arthur stood there for a second till his mind clicked that Francis was on his way home and he wasn't there...shit. That was the only word going though Arthur's mind as he rushed back into the cafe to tell Alfred he had to go home. "Already?" was Alfred's reply.

Right as Arthur was about to sprint out of the cafe and sprint to his car Alfred grabbed his wrist. Arthur turned around a bit frantically and Alfred asked, "Can I see you again?" Arthur stared at him for about a minute then answered, "If you want to..."

Alfred smiled and leaned closer to Arthur's face and said, "I want to more than anything." Arthur blushed and said, "Then we will.."

Alfred smiled again and said, "When and where?" Arthur just seemed to be in a trance, forgetting why he was in such a hurry, "I'm not sure when...but how about at the library again...same place.." Alfred's smile grew and before Arthur knew what happened Alfred gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

Arthur smiled a little and put his hand on his cheek, till reality came back to him, "Bloody hell, I'm sorry I really have to go. Goodbye." He said as he dashed out of the cafe.

Luckily for Arthur he got home and inside about a minute before Francis got home. Francis of course didn't suspect a thing and that was also a good thing. But unfortunately nothing was going to stop the night that he had planned for them.

The night may have started out nice but, it was too good to last. It ended in beating, nails clawing into skin, biting, and more but none in passion. all in force and anger. Arthur laid there awake staring at the ceiling as Francis was asleep next to him.

He looked over at the clock to see that it was around three in the morning, he then looked over at Francis to make sure he was asleep, once that was conformed he slowly got up and headed to the bathroom. He closed the door and locked it, he then looked at himself in the mirror and noticed the new coloring around his eye that his husband had given him.

He carefully washed his face so as not to hurt his eye anymore than it already was. Once he finished he looked at himself again, he examined the new bite mark on his shoulder over the old one, and the other bruises that joined his front. He also felt new nail rakes on his back and gently rubbed his side because he couldn't reach his back.

His mind then started to wander, to a certain blonde that he had met earlier that day. A small smile came to his lips as he remembered the wheat blonde hair with the reluctant one on top, the beautiful blue eyes that were a blue that he couldn't even describe and his smile with his soft and delicate lips.

Arthur then put his hand on his cheek where he remembered where Alfred had kissed him and he blushed at the memory. He then wondered if Alfred would treat him like Francis does, he then shook his head to get rid of that thought, One: because he didn't think Alfred would every want someone like him, and Two: he didn't think that he and Alfred would ever be together in the first place!

But there was always that one thing that Francis always said that stuck with him that always no matter what, would stop him from finding a better relationship, he would always say, "You know that no one will ever love you like I do right? No one can, not someone like you. I am the only person that could ever find you attractive in the least, and that isn't even very much these days."

That always made Arthur want to ask why he didn't want to leave him then if he didn't find him attractive anymore, because Francis had a thing for beautiful things, so it always made Arthur wonder why he insisted to stay with him, if he never liked looking at his face. Arthur always tried to ignore what his siblings always said about the way he looked, but when Francis kept saying how unattractive he was...it kind of gets dug into his brain whether he wanted it to or not..

But Arthur tried to never stop the hope that one day things will get better.

He finished cleaning himself up and headed back into the bedroom that he hated being in, he slowly got into the bed facing away from Francis and as far as he could from him. The thoughts of Alfred in his mind helped him fall asleep and forget about any pain he had on his body or in his heart.

For the first time in a long time...Arthur had happy dreams.

The next morning Arthur awoke to the familiar smell of a French breakfast. Francis never allowed Arthur in the kitchen because the last time he tried to make something in the kitchen, he had almost burnt the house down.

Francis wasn't too mad about that because it was still pretty early in their marriage, he just laughed at Arthur while the fire department put out the fire. But after that Arthur wasn't allowed in the kitchen to cook anything, he was only allowed to go in to make himself some tea and anything else that didn't involve heating anything up in any way.

So Arthur tiredly got up and put on a pair of boxers and a big long-sleeved button-up shirt and headed into the bathroom to clean up and look more presentable than he was.

When he walked into the kitchen, Francis greeted him with a "Bonjour mon petit Anglais." and a peck on cheek, Arthur made sure that he didn't kiss the same spot as Alfred had.

After the first time of trying to leave Francis, Arthur could have sworn that Francis suffered some kind of bi-polar disorder. Because after it he beat the living shit out of him he would be sweet and caring again, it didn't make any sense to Arthur but he dealt with it the best he could.

They started to talk about things that they both had to do that day and by the sound of it, Arthur wasn't sure if he would get to see Alfred that day. After breakfast Arthur went upstairs to take a shower, Arthur always enjoyed showers it gave him a bit of time away from the world, unless Francis decided to join him at times...those were horrible showers.

When Arthur got out of the shower he looked at himself in the mirror again and looked at his black eye, 'I don't know if I even want Alfred to see me like this...' he thought to himself as he got some make-up out. Yes he had makeup, after some of the beatings he took he had to find out how to hide the noticeable bruises from people at work.

Although the first time he did it, it didn't turn out too well and his old friend fro collage and co-worker Felix noticed. He took him to the side for a private talk which resulted in Arthur bursting out in tears and Felix comforting him, after that Felix taught him how to properly apply the makeup so that it would hide the marks.

Arthur finished applying the necessary makeup to hide what needed to be hidden. He heard Francis call from downstairs that he was leaving, Arthur said goodbye as he heard the front door open and close.

Arthur sighed and put the makeup away before heading out to work.

"O mój Boże! Arthur, again?" Arthur suddenly heard when he walked into the office. He sighed and said, "You can tell?" Feliks just sighed and walked Arthur to his cubicle to fix the makeup. Arthur sat in his chair as Feliks got to work gently fixing what Arthur had already done. "You really need to, like do something about this Arthur, it really isn't, like good for you at all going on like this, and it is honestly, like getting me a little worried."

Arthur just sighed again and said, "I know and I'm sorry you have to keep doing this whenever a new one comes up." Feliks just gave Arthur a warm smile and said, "It's, like no trouble helping out, and at least you let me. Toris totally won't, like let me get near him with my makeup."

Arthur gave a small smile and a chuckle in return and suddenly smiled, he felt that if anyone he could trust telling Feliks about Alfred. "Feliks I need to tell you something." Feliks didn't even get to ask what it was about because Arthur quickly dragged him to a private area of the office before a word could even come out of his mouth.

Arthur then looked around before turning to Feliks and said, "I think I found someone." Feliks looked confused for a second and asked, "What do you mean?" Arthur calmed himself down to explain what me meant to Feliks.

Once Arthur was finished explaining what happened yesterday Feliks was smiling, but his smile fell when he asked, "But what about Francis? You know if he, like finds out about this, it will more than likely be the end of both you and this Alfred."

Arthur sighed and ran his fingers through his hair and said, "Well first off I don't know if I will ever even see him again and second, I'm careful enough if anything was to happen. I actually think that I found someone Feliks, and if he actually feels for me the way I'm hoping...I think we can figure something out."

Feliks just sighed and smiled at him again and said, "I sure hope so Arthur, for your sake, I sure hope so."

By the end of the day Arthur was utterly exhausted, and he could only hope that Francis wouldn't want anything extreme tonight. He packed up his things, said his goodbyes to everyone in the office and left. Once he got outside he looked at his watch and was surprised of the fact that he got out a bit earlier than usual.

He smiled and decided to check the library for his blonde beauty...he paused...his? He chuckled and blushed, hopefully soon he would be.

He walked into the library and casually waked over to the same section that he met Alfred in yesterday. He was a bit sad that he didn't see him there, he started to look around a bit round that section for him. Though he didn't have to look very far as a pair of hands covered his eyes.

Arthur smiled and turned to see the person behind him being just who he wanted to see. Alfred was standing behind him with that big smile he had. "Hey, I was worried I wouldn't get to see you again." Alfred said as he kept a hold of Arthur's hands.

Alfred then felt the ring on Arthur's finger and looked down at it with a curious look. Arthur's eyes widened as he noticed what Alfred was looking at. "You're...married?" Arthur just stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to say, "Alfred I...I don't love him anymore...and I haven't for years."

Alfred looked at Arthur a bit confused, "Why? And why are you married to him if you don't love him anymore?" Arthur just sighed and took Alfred behind the library and told him about Francis, he left out what Francis would always say to him, that being the self confidence crusher he always got. But as he told Alfred about his abusive husband Alfred just kept a focused look on his face.

He then suddenly took a tight hold on Arthur's hands and said, "Well, if you don't love him and he treats you like this..then...how about we..." Alfred didn't really finish that sentence as a blush was already setting in, and Arthur had his own that was twice as big as Alfred's.

"Alfred we can't..." Arthur said looking down at his feet. Alfred looked up with a sad look on his face and said, "And why not?" Arthur kept looking at his feet and his mouth just decided to go on its own without him even realizing what he was saying, "Because...no one will ever love me if I leave him..."

Alfred just kept staring at Arthur with a look on his face that said that he couldn't believe what Arthur was telling him. He then gently grabbed Arthur's chin to force him to look Alfred in the eye and said, "I love you Arthur."

Arthur's eyes widened and he pushed Alfred hand away ad said, "But you can't we only met yesterday and you don't know anything about me! There is no way we can be together!" Arthur tried to walk or run if he had to away but Alfred kept a good hold on the hand he was still holding.

Arthur didn't try too hard to get out of his grasp, he felt that he should shake Alfred's hand off and leave and never see him again but...he didn't want to. Even though his mind kept telling him to leave because it wouldn't work out but he couldn't do it, his body just stayed in one place.

Arthur had been wanting a better relationship for years and he could finally have one but of course he was skeptical, he was nervous, and he held a lot of doubt. He wanted to believe in Alfred and his words, in what he was saying, in what he could promise, but Arthur above, most things, was afraid. Afraid to trust, to believe, and most of the time, to hope.

While all of these thoughts and more were going through Arthur's mind, two arms gently warped around his torso to hold him in a gentle embrace. And a voice that could have been an angels said, "Then let me get to know you, all of you. Let me love you in the way that your husband hasn't...please, I love you."

"You can't love someone you hardly know Alfred..." Arthur said in a quiet voice. Alfred held him tighter and said, "Then I really like you...and I want a chance to love you...and for you to love me. Can we give it a try? Please?"

Arthur then gently moved Alfred's arms but kept hold of them to show that he wasn't going to leave and leaned up and carefully pecked Alfred's cheek and said, "...Alright...as long as you promise never to treat me like he does..."

Alfred just smiled and pushed their foreheads together and said, "I would never even dream of treating you like that." Arthur then gave a small smile and hugged the man in front of him.

Arthur hoped with everything he had that he could be with Alfred as some point in time, he wanted to be happy with Alfred, he wanted to be loved by Alfred, he wanted everything Alfred could give him. But to get everything from the one he loved he had to have nothing from the one that he didn't.

Arthur then grew nervous and Alfred could tell. "What's wrong?" Arthur looked away and said, "What am I going to do about Francis though? If I leave him...I don't even want to imagine what he'll do to me.." Arthur started to shake as he thought of the anger that his husband would show if he tried to leave him again.

Alfred held Arthur close and said, "We'll think of something, I promise. He doesn't deserve you Arthur, out of what I know of you right now, you are too good for him and he doesn't realize it. We will be together some way some how...alright?" He told him while he lifted Arthur's face to get a good look at the frightened look he had.

Alfred kissed Arthur's nose and gave him a warm smile. Arthur looked at Alfred for a moment and gave him a warm smile back. Arthur gave Alfred another big hug before they headed back into the library to see if they could find out more about one another before Arthur got a call as a signal that he had to go back home to his horrid husband.

It had been about a week since Arthur had been seen Alfred and he was getting anxious. The whole week had been so busy that Arthur didn't have time for anything else. Francis of course made him have time for some things, which didn't help poor Arthur the day after when a pile of paper work got put onto his desk.

Arthur had gone through so many papers that week, he was sure that his hands had at least fifteen cuts from the sharp pages on them. By the time each day was over all he wanted to do was sleep, which most of the time Francis wouldn't let him till he got what he wanted, so of course Arthur wasn't exactly allowed to say no.

Arthur always had at least one incredibly busy week every month, so its not like it was an all the time thing. And luckily for Arthur after his busy weeks, Francis had and even busier week, which gave Arthur time to relax and catch up on some sleep.

After the two days that he wanted to recover he desperately wanted to see Alfred. So after he left work he decided to go to the library in hopes that Alfred was there.

When he got to the library he went straight to the section that he and Alfred had met in. Arthur got nervous because he couldn't find him anywhere. Arthur then had that oh so familiar hollow feeling coming up in his chest, 'I knew it...I knew he wouldn't be here. Who was I kidding, he's a college student and I'm an adult...we may be four years apart, but that's too much. I can't believe I let myself believe-'

Artur's thoughts were interrupted by two brawny arms that hugged him from behind. "Artie! I missed you so much." Alfred held him from behind and nuzzled his face into the back of Arthur's neck. It took Arthur a moment to realize that Alfred was right behind him and holding him tightly.

As soon as he realized what was going on he smiled and laughed, "I missed you too Alfred." Alfred loosened his grip on the Brit, enough so that he could turn him around to see his face, "Where have you been? I was afraid that you had forgotten about me." Alfred said with a slight pout.

Arthur just smiled and said, "I would never forget about someone like you. And besides, you made a promise to me that you would make my life better, there was no way I would let you off that promise that easy." Alfred gave a big smile in return and said, "And I never go back on my promises. But where have you been this week, I came here everyday wondering where you were."

Arthur blushed and said, "Y-You came here everyday?" "Of course I did." Alfred responded with a smile. Arthur blushed even more and said, "Well once a week every month I have a really busy week, and last week was it, but now I'm back on my normal schedule." Alfred held Arthur tighter and said, "That would have been nice to know before-hand."

Arthur blushed again and said, "Sorry.." Alfred just smiled, still holding onto Arthur and said, "It's fine, now come on, if I'm allowed to love you properly I still have a lot to learn about you and visa versa." Arthur couldn't believe that one human being could make him blush so much!

Arthur and Alfred had spent a couple hours talking to one another about each other, and by this time you couldn't even tell that they had only recently met! They found out so much about each other and found so much in common that you could have sworn they knew one another for years.

Arthur then realized he had to get home before his husband and told Alfred that he had to leave. Alfred gave him a sad look and said, "I really wish you didn't have to leave...I miss you when you do." Arthur blushed a little and said, "I'm sorry love, but I am still married." Alfred huffed and said, "We have to fix that."

Arthur chuckled and stood up to stand next to Alfred, "I know Alfred, and I hope that we do soon." Alfred looked up at Arthur who at the moment had his head turned so Alfred couldn't see his face. Alfred stood up and before Arthur could notice a thing Alfred had connected their lips in a sweet and caring kiss.

Arthur's eyes went wide for a moment till he relaxed and enjoyed the kiss. It was warm and it felt so loving and caring with no hint of lust or hate or anything else like when he was forced to kiss his husband. Arthur felt himself melt into the gentle and incredibly sweet kiss. And Alfred held him so tenderly while they kissed, Arthur never wanted to stop, but sadly they had to.

When they parted they looked into each others eyes and smiled. Alfred chuckled and Arthur followed a moment after, neither of them were ready to let go of one another. Arthur finally decided to slowly let go of Alfred so that he could leave. They were still holding hands just smiling at the other, "I...have to go Alfred..." Alfred gave a cute pout that made Arthur never want to leave him and just hold him forever and never let go.

But instead Arthur just gave him a sad smile and kissed his forehead, "I'll see you soon, alright love?" Alfred smiled again and said, "I'm gonna miss you until then though." Arthur blush and said, "So will I...see you soon." "Not soon enough." Alfred mumbled back.

Arthur blushed even more and decided to finally turn around so he can leave, their hands slowly left each other as Arthur left the library.