I'm so sorry it took so long. Thanks for everyone, especially HungarysGotAFryingPan who has helped me throughout this I-can't-write time. Once again, I'm sorry. Please enjoy!

"More wine, cher?"

"Yeah, sure." Francis leaned in closer to Arthur to pour some wine into his glass. He took a deep breath. Arthur filled his lungs. 'It's pitiful, Francis. You are pitiful,' the voice in his head reprimanded.

"Thanks." Arthur sipped his wine. "You see, I'm going to America."

Francis's eyes widened. "You're moving?"

"No.. Alfred's parents want to see me. I'll go there on the 28th."

"Ah..." Francis leaned back to the couch. He might run into Arthur (and Alfred) at the airport then.

"Yes. After the launching."

"I know. Well... There's nothing you have to do after the launching so it's fine. How long are you staying there?"

"About a week or so."

"Then...remember that you have to write a story for the publisher's yearly magazine. The deadline is on next month."

"I know." Arthur sighed. "Hey, Frog. What if his parents don't like me?"

"Alfred's?" Arthur answered with a nod. "Pluck your eyebrows, cher. They might think better of you if you don't have those catter-" Francis's answer was cut by a smack on the backside of the head.

"Bastard. I'm being serious right here." Arthur narrowed his eyes and looked sharply at the other man who was rubbing his head and wincing in pain.

"You have ever met my family. They like you." Francis patted Arthur's back lightly, "I bet Alfred's parents will too. I mean, who wouldn't love a guy whose usual face is I-am-a-bastard-and-you-know-it-so-leave?"

Arthur smacked Francis's head harder that time. "And to think I was going to thank you..."

Francis laughed lightly. He didn't lie about his family. They love Arthur, really. They even asked him to just bring Arthur to whatever occasions his family held.

Suddenly there was a really loud noise outside.

"Shit. Was that thunder?" Arthur asked, his finger pointed vaguely into the air.

"Yes, I think it was. You aren't scared of thunder, are you?" He never knew the Brit was scared of thunder. They have experienced lots of things which are even scarier than thunder and the man didn't even flinch. They also have ever been locked in traffic on a trip at night where a storm was happening but the man looked just fine.

"I'm not, but Alfred is." Arthur shrugged and fished his phone out of the pocket, "need to call him."

'Alfred again...huh.'

"Alfred, hey."

Someone talked very fast and loudly on the other end. "Oi oi, don't shout. I'll be there in a minute."

Silence.

"Just watch TV or something, yeah? Okay." Arthur ended the phone call.

"You're going home?"

Arthur turned to face Francis and let out a small sigh, "I have to. Sorry. Alfred-"

"Needs you. Yes, I understand." Francis cut in and stood, "Alfred drove you here, right?" Arthur hummed a response. "I'll drive you, then."

"I can call a cab, you know."

"Non, it's fine." Francis smiled at Arthur who was still sitting on the couch, a wine glass on his hand. 'I want to be with you a little longer tonight..' he added in his mind.

"Okay." Arthur finally stood and followed Francis to the front door.

They wore their coats and stepped out of the apartment. Francis locked the door, "where should I drive you to?"

"My house."

Francis dropped the keys he was holding.

"You don't need to be so surprised." Arthur said bitterly.

"Ah. No. Sorry." He let out a stiff laughter and took the keys on the floor. "Well... I was a bit surprised. Just a bit. Since when?"

"Um... Yesterday." A faint blush was seen on Arthur's cheeks. "Can we just... go now?"

"Ah. Sorry."

Francis drove Arthur home in silence, save for some responses he gave when Arthur talked to him.

That was the first time it happened. They have never stayed silent. Well..Not in this kind of silence, not in this thick and rather uncomfortable silence. Their –yes, their, silence was the kind of warm silence, the silence that envelops you like a blanket comfortably, not choking (like this one).

Arthur thought that Francis was angry. Because he had to leave soon, that is. Because before –when there wasn't this relationship between him and Alfred, when it was just the two of them, Arthur would just have a sleepover in Francis's apartment. There was no one they could come back to, except their families...and each other.

"I'm really sorry, Francis." Arthur said, as he held on the handle of the door's car.

"Oui, it's okay. I understand." Francis kept his eyes focused on the wheel.

"Okay." Arthur opened the door and put his left foot first out of the car. "Thank you for the night, Francis."

"Don't make me feel like it's a date, cher." Francis looked into Arthur's eyes and smiled. The smile didn't reach his eyes.

Arthur let out a little laugh that sounded like a bell to Francis's ears. "I'll see you later," he said after he went out of the car. Arthur closed the door, and ran to the house as fast as possible.

Francis drove away as soon as he saw Arthur reach the front door, for he didn't want to see Alfred hugging Arthur and holding him like his last life line.

Sorry again that it's short - -" Please review. And... Just like what I have said (or wrote) before, I'm not a native speaker of English and my English is just crappy.. So if you find any grammar mistakes...Please let me know. Thank you! :D