Three months had passed.

Three.

Those months had felt like a feverish dream as the frenchman shoved open the swing doors to his bartending job and greeted the regulars. Everything had gone back to normal... Sorta.

Alfred and Kiku had gotten engaged and planned to be married (how cute!) while Ludwig went back his bar and Arthur...

"Hey Francis, got ye mind on something else or can ye serve me a beer, me lad?" Edward asked, tapping his fingers against the cedric tabletops. Everything had to be replaced from that night. He couldn't help but let out a small snort, trailing towards the beer-bellied pirate, grasping his empty beer mug and heading towards the kitchen.

Music blossomed throughout the whole building as Francis fingered the tap, filling the mug and rolling his eyes. Oh, how he hated and missed this job at the same time. The blasted job that started this whole rabbit hole in the first place.

Sasha pushed past the employee doors, a bare mug in her hand as she exchanged a casual glare at Francis. "Are you happy with where you are? I mean, we didn't expect you to get far as you did."

He only blinked in response as Sasha slid a small hair strand behind her ear. "I mean, don't you wish things ended differently? That you weren't stuck in some bar and could be out on the ocean with some damsel?"

That's when his boisterous laugh filled the small room. His eyes sparkled as he finished filling Edward's mug. "A part of me is sad to be here on St. Pierre; however, I enjoyed the journey I went on, despite the dream not working out for me."

He swiveled on his high heeled black boots that Arthur had smuggled for him. "And besides, being a pirate isn't an occupation I could see myself being in for long. I make a shit sword fighter." Quoting what Arthur had told him brought down his glamorous smile as he gave Sasha a small shoulder pat.

"If you have a dream, go for it, don't regret any second." As he said this, the music in the bar faded out, Sasha craned her neck as she gave a scoff.

"If we have to replace the furniture again, the boss is going to have your head!"

"I don't think it is for me..." Teased Francis, fear silverlined his statement as he softly pushed past the employee door, his eyes looking for the newcomer... To no avail. I guess he'd have to serve him whenever he could find him or her.

He sat down Edward's mug and noticed a small silhouette sitting in darkness. A red hat accompanied by a giant feather pulled over his facial features. Fuck... This individual just HAD to sit in my section...

He tiptoed over until the small details on the new pirate became even more apparent. Red outfit. Giant hat. Fancy jabot tie. Black high heeled boots.

"Mon Dieu!!!" Francis exclaimed as he flipped up the stranger's hat, only to be met with familiar emerald green eyes and busy eyebrows. "You're back!!"

The Brit jumped out of his spot and swiftly hugged the ... Now same height Frenchman??? This was?? "Tell me it's the boots... Tell me you haven't grown to RIVAL my beautiful height."

"Would you like the truth or a lie?" The Brit asked, only getting met with a punch to the arm. "Your shift ending?"

Francis craned his neck to glance at Sasha who only yelled: "I better be your maid of honor at your wedding!" And turned to more tables. Arthur intertwined his fingers around Francis' and the two exited the bar.

The wind blew fallen leaves across the pavement as the two passed the busy streets of the island. They didn't say anything to one another as other people glanced, glared or happily ignored their presence. It felt... Odd to have Arthur back, considering he never had a chance to say goodbye when Arthur recovered and went back to England.

I'll probably go back to England. He remembered the male retorting to him as they sword fought in the sprinkle that encased the island. The two moved away from the busy eyes of the street and into a secluded park. Just the two of them.

"I'm surprised you came back to St. Pierre, considering you wanted to go back to England," remarked Francis as the Brit's eyes turned to side eye the male.

"Well, things change. People change. Business change."

"Ah, I understand what you're putting down," a smirk drew itself from the corners of his ears as Arthur's eyebrows narrowed down. "It's because of me."

"Don't be so shallow, wanker," Arthur huffed as a dark hue decorated his face. Francis couldn't believe how he had forgotten about how utterly cute he looked when he got like that. "Maybe I am staying because my brother got married and I want to be around?"

"And you are denying that you don't have feelings for me and wanted to make us work~?" Was he grasping at something? Most likely... However, his face lit up when the Brit didn't object right away, his focus dreamily laid upon his face.

"I OBJECT—!" Arthur's eyes snapped out of whatever reality he was in and crossed his arms.

"So you weren't thinking about kissing me, JUST now?" Teased Francis as the Brit bristled.

"Of course not, SNOG!"

A giggle came flying out of the Frenchmale's mouth as the Englishman hid his darkening blush behind his gloved hands. "I meant frog!" Francis' giggles faded down when he felt his hands softly rest upon Arthur's hip, bringing the two of them closer.

Arthur's eyes rested themselves upon a nearby rock, looking off to the left, a petite smile waterpainted itself on his face. "Okay, okay, MAYBE I am staying because of you." His eyes fluttered back, to where they began to drown once again in Francis' purple eyes. "Got a problem with that?"

"Never did... You can call me quite giddy to hear that you're staying." He pressed his forehead softly against Arthur's.

"GUYS! GUYS! GUYSSS!" A loud voice boomed from their conversation, causing Arthur to retreat away from the public display of affection moment. He never changed...

"How did you—?"

"Arthur always took me to this park when I was little... This was our spot. Didn't help to check here when he told me he was back!"

"He told you but not moi-?" He gave a side eye at the Britishman, who only shrugged at the response.

A giant smile bounced across Alfred's lips as he pat Arthur on the back. "We're having a party at my place, you guys in?"

Arthur's eyes turned towards Francis as the Frenchman gave a small shrug. "We'll catch up, Alfred."

And just like that, the American bounced away and the two were once again alone. Francis softly pressed his chest against Arthur's, his arms returning on the male's hips. "Where were we?"

"We were about to go to my younger brother's party," grumbled Arthur as Francis pecked the male on the forehead.

"Oh shush! We have time!"

"For what?" He raised an eyebrow as Francis gave a devious smile, leaning in as Arthur placed a finger on the male's luscious lips.

"Maybe after the party but for right now, I like my attire to be wrinkled free," huffed the grump as Francis pecked the male's forehead several times. It felt natural to finally hold and be held in Arthur's arms.

Francis felt his hands run up the male's body and softly lace themselves into his jabot tie. A soft hue grew itself onto his face as Francis leaned forward. "Would you be against kissing?"

Their lips were centimeters apart. Arthur stepped forward, closing the distance as Francis felt his hands yank the tie as Arthur's fingers ran themselves through his thin hair. Feeling Arthur's lips against his over and over was intoxicating that he didn't realize that he shoved his tongue into Arthur's mouth when Arthur drew back.

"You trying to french kiss me?"

"French kiss? Non, that's an English kiss, that is what it is called!" Francis huffed, watching Arthur roll his eyes. He grabbed hungrily back at the male's waist and started the pursuit all over again; however, instead of pulling away, Arthur was the one who initiated the "french kissing."

It felt like whole minutes had gone by before the two drifted away from one another, panting for air. Their foreheads still pressed together as the Frenchmale gave a soft laugh as he watched Arthur adjusted his tie.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing, mon petit-amie."

"We are the same height," huffed Arthur as he crossed his arms. Francis dropped to his knees as he pressed his forehead into Arthur's stomach.

"That's what we call our partners... You should have picked up some French when you were in Britain."

"I did!" Retorted Arthur as he cleared his throat. "Je taimeee." This pronunciation gave Francis a belly ache with how hard his laughs sporadically started up.

"J'taime..."

"J'taime, now get up, I don't want you getting ideas down there."

"I already do~" Arthur stepped away when he heard that, causing Francis to fall onto the grassy ground. Leaves crunched against his face as dirt gathered upon his pale complexion.

"Keep it in your pants until after the party, I may be drunk enough to handle your shenanigans." Francis stood up as he softly rubbed his lips against the Brit's exposed neck.

"Until then, I look forward to it."

Arthur didn't speak at first until he gave a small exhale. "Maybe a couple more minutes out here wouldn't hurt..."

"Really? Wait! I should show you my updated garden and kitchen, I remodeled!" He cheered, grabbing Arthur by his wrist and dragging him away. Small chuckles escaped their mouths under the setting sun in St. Pierre.

It was crazy to think that this all started because of french perfume, smokes and rum; however, this was the happiest Francis had ever been and noticing the bright smile on Arthur's face as he allowed himself to be dragged away, the male didn't have to worry about being stoned by his older brother ... Or killed by his older brother.

The two arrived at his house as Arthur straighted himself up, glancing in the rose garden. "Thank you, Francis, for everything. You saved me back there when I couldn't save myself... I am glad you had decided to come with me, probably would of been in a cell and tortured to hell and back instead of standing here."

Francis delivered a small kiss upon Arthur's lips, not caring if people gave a small glance at them. "I love you, I wouldn't of been able to live with myself if you were hurt... Now! Let's get laid!"

"I came here to see your remodeled kitchen... Not to get laid.." Grumbled Arthur as the Frenchman winked, opening the door and allowed the male to enter before him.

He was excited to start a new chapter of his life with his beautiful partner. Nothing could touch or hurt him now...

The end.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

Thank you for all those who read this fan fiction throughout the years! I had fun writing this and editing it and now I am glad that this story can finally come to a close.

I had so much fun writing Arthur and Francis and maybe I'll write a sequel in the future! I'll probably be editing it still and doing some tweaking here and there!

I hope you guys had an amazing read and thank you for reading, means a lot 💛