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The Scent of a Rose	By : larien04 Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2855 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia and I make no money off of this fic!

Chapter List
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The pair had decided that during their wedding preparations that they would stay in England during the week to help repair the destruction and during the weekends they would stay in Paris. It was exactly the life Arthur had told Francis in their late night ramblings that he wanted. Francis didn’t seem to mind being in England so much either; the British citizens seemed to adore the man. He may not have been very good in the manual labor department but he unselfishly took it upon himself to help the citizens of England by way of interior design, offering his help in picking out various color schemes and suggesting furniture.

While Francis was more accustomed to living in a larger house he found the British man’s smaller house charming. Even still he practically demanded that if he was going to spend his week days there then Arthur desperately needed a new kitchen.

Arthur had stubbornly refused stating that he liked his kitchen the way it was and that if the Frenchman had his way in the kitchen then he wouldn’t be able to find anything if the man wasn’t around. Francis had countered with the unassailable logic that Arthur would no longer have to worry about him not being around and to just leave the kitchen to him. Arthur had given in to the man but only under the condition that he teach him what all the new items were so that if he needed to he could use his own kitchen.

The day that the kitchen was completed Francis had taped a piece of paper to each item with its label and a short description, in French of course, with the logic that Arthur needed to learn more French. Upon the discovery, Arthur had foolishly declared he would not even look at the kitchen another moment unless Francis put some English labels up. Francis resolved at that moment he would never change the labels if it kept Arthur out of the kitchen.

The wedding preparation itself was relatively simple; they had decided that they were going to get married in the rose garden that made up their backyard in Paris. The scent of a rose had brought them together again and so they wanted to be surrounded by it on their wedding day.

The pair had initially disagreed on the ceremony itself; Francis wanted to make it a national event so that he could declare his love for Arthur to the world and Arthur wanted a simple ceremony with just the two of them; it would be more intimate that way. Arthur didn’t feel the need to proclaim his love to the world; he only wanted to proclaim it to Francis.

After hearing Arthurs logic, Francis had to admit that Arthurs idea was more romantic and thus all that remained left was to plan for their proverbial last nights of freedom.

The discussion of the Bachelor/Bachelorette party hadn’t gone exactly as the couple planned. The night that Francis had mentioned that he would graciously cater for Arthurs bachelorette party had sent Arthur into such an indignant rage at the suggestion of being a girl that it had nearly gotten the Frenchman decapitated. Francis had slept alone that night.

Francis had eventually gotten Arthur to agree to a single engagement party with just a few of their friends. Arthur had been annoyed at the ridiculous notion of a party when they weren’t even going to have a public ceremony but Francis would not cede on the point of having a celebration so Arthur was forced to compromise.

The couple had agreed that this party would be held under a flag of truce and there would be no hostilities and no politics at this party. Francis had been long time friends with both Gilbert and Antonio and he wanted them there. England hadn’t argued the point much; it had been the mention of Italy that annoyed the younger nation.

“Look, I know the party is supposed to be under a flag of truce but you can’t be serious here, I know Italy is your little brother and you care for him but we both know that idiot is going to bring Germany with him and if it’s alright with you I would rather not have Germany anywhere near my country for quite some time.”

Francis, the voice of reason, as always, had argued that the party wouldn’t truly be a under a flag of truce if the host wasn’t going to follow his own rule and even Arthur couldn’t dispute that.

Strangely enough though, inviting half of the Axis to the party didn’t stir up quite as much trouble as Arthurs need to invite his former colony. He had been finishing up the final touches on the invitations in bed one evening when he had attempted to casually bring up the subject. “What about Alfred?”

Francis visibly tensed “America? Qu'en est-il lui?”

The darker blonde sighed knowing that this was already going in the wrong direction “I think we should invite him.”

The French Nation looked at his lover like he was insane “Are you trying to depress yourself? Should we go downstairs and have a look at the center piece of your collection to remind you of why that’s a terrible idea?”

“No, that’s quite unnecessary, but it has been over a century since I had any sort of relationship with Alfred, I don’t have feelings for him anymore. If you haven’t realized it yet it’s you I’m getting married to not him.”

Francis shook his head “Non, that’s not what I meant. I’m not worried about your feelings for him; I am worried that he still loves you.”

“Do you recall when I first came back to Paris right after your liberation? I ran into Alfred first, he was the one that ‘heroically’ led me to you. If Alfred had really wanted to make his move, as you say, he could have done it then and I would have gone back to the hotel with him that night instead of you. Now, stop being ridiculous.”

Trying to make peace before they both lost their temper Francis took a deep breath “Fine. You can send him an invitation but that doesn’t mean I have to like it and if he says one word to you that even sounds like it could be l’amour…”

Arthur cocked an eyebrow in amusement “You’ll what? Ask him politely to stop?”

Francis reached an arm over and pulled Arthur to his chest “Let’s not worry about it for now, cher, let’s go to sleep.”

Falling into an uneasy sleep, knowing that Francis was not entirely happy with him, the British Nation dreamt of a blonde that evening but it wasn’t the blonde that he shared his bed with.

The days passed and the invitations had been sent out, the house had been cleaned and the kitchen had been fully stocked with food and plenty of alcohol to last the countries a few days.

“Don’t you think the amount of alcohol we have is ridiculous, Francis? Why did I put you in charge of alcohol” Arthur asked in an irritated tone, looking at the long table that Francis was in the process of setting up with appetizers and alcohol.

Francis laughed “Arthur, there isn’t that much. This might be just enough for Gilbert and me and then if you add in all the beer we bought for America and Germany…” he trailed off.

“I thought you didn’t want Alfred here” Arthur countered, still annoyed.

“I don’t, but if I get him drunk enough maybe he’ll pass out early and the rest of us will be able to enjoy our evening.”

Arthurs eyebrow twitched in further annoyance and he spoke in a restrained tone “Francis, for the last time, Alfred has no such feelings and even if he did—“

“Even if he did, you would be completely oblivious” the Frenchman countered cutting him off.

“What do you mean?”

“The answer is basic psychology Arthur; you’re over him and in love with me so you have a hard time believing he isn’t over you.”

Before Arthur could come up with a coherent response the doorbell rang making the two freeze.

Putting his arm around the man he loved, Francis kissed Arthur “This is our engagement party, let’s not fight anymore.”

Blushing as always, Arthur agreed to put aside their differences and went to open the door.

“Took you long enough, is this what they call British hospitality?” Gilbert and Antonio had arrived together just like everyone knew they would, being attached at the hip.

Rolling his eyes Arthur invited them in and pointed them to where the refreshments would be.

“I know it’s difficult for you two but try your best to not destroy my house” Arthur warned the pair of friends.

“Is this guy serious?” Gilbert asked Antonio who merely shrugged in response.

Coming back from the kitchen Francis greeted his old friends with his enthusiasm and was immediately demanded by Prussia to tell the story of ‘how the hell he could end up with Mr. Stick Up His Ass.’

The doorbell rang again and Arthur walked away just in time to hear Francis explain to his friends that he was like a layered pie, and that one just had to get through a few layers first before they found the sweet center.

Opening the door Arthur made a conscious effort to smile and be friendly to the German and the guest that was clinging to his arm.

Oblivious as always, Italy hugged Arthur exclaiming his love for weddings and how when everything was sorted out with the war he was going to marry Germany. Ludwig turned scarlet and shoed his lover into the house while giving a courtesy nod to Britain and attempting to catch up to the energetic Italian who had bounded off.

Shutting the door, Arthur briefly contemplated shutting himself in their room while Francis and his friends got drunk but he knew Francis would yell at him later for being such a recluse so he went in and joined his lover.

Upon seeing his lover Francis put his arm around the man’s waist and handed him a drink “Here, Arthur, have a drink to take the edge off.”

Arthur took the drink with a frown “I will not be coerced into getting liquored up so that you and your friends can have a laugh.”

“See what I mean? He doesn’t even want to have a good time. How the hell do you put up with that?”

Arthur had had just about enough of the loud German and was going to put a stop to this behavior “Is it customary in your country to insult a guest in his own home because if it is, remind me to never visit. In Britain we aren’t as rude as you uncivilized idiots and if you have a problem you can leave the same way you came in.”

Grinning ear to ear the white haired German Nation didn’t even have the courtesy to look abashed until Francis threw him a warning look.

“Just ignore Gilbert, mon amour, he can be an idiot sometimes” Francis stepped in, halting the fight before it began.

At first Arthur had started drinking so that he could tolerate the idiots in his house, then he had continued drinking because Gilbert had taken it upon himself to be Arthurs personal bartender. Maybe the German wasn’t that bad after all.

It wasn’t until Arthur was downing his third scotch and relaying to Prussia the real history of how the English had graciously given the Irish their Independence in the 20’s that there was a loud bang on the door.

Prussia, having heard this drunken rendition before ever so politely offered to get the door. Seconds later Arthur found himself in a crushing hug from a very loud American. “Did you guys start the party without me?! That’s totally lame!”

Arthur wrested himself from the man’s grip and reprimanded him “You are literate, right? The invitation said 6, not 7:30 Alfred.”

“We would have been here on time if Mattie hadn’t insisted that I buy something formal to wear. I told him that it was a party and that heroes can wear whatever they want to par---“

“Alfred, please, stop talking. You’re hurting my head already and you’ve just arrived.”

Looking at the selection of beers Alfred frowned “EKU 28? Warsteiner Dunkel? What is this stuff? Don’t you guys have Budweiser?”

Germany’s eyebrows twitched in frustration “Nein! Your American beers are scheiße!”

“Ja” Prussia agreed “America, you need to be introduced to real beer, then maybe you’ll be able to come out drinking with us someday.”

Shrugging his shoulders in indifference America picked up a bottle of EKU and took a seat next to England. “So, now that the hero is here we can start the party, right?!”

“Ja, I suppose. It looks like Eyebrows is losing his buzz; let me get you another drink.”

Noticing his friend picking up the bottle of Absinthe Francis felt the need to intervene “Maybe something else for him, mon ami, Arthur already sees enough fairies.”

The party had gone without a hitch until a drunken Italy had climbed on top of his half drunken German lover and started to molest him, not caring they had an audience.

Francis had suggested they move to the dining room and Prussia and Antonio had grabbed as much of the booze and food they could muster in their inebriated states to bring with them before they all heard the sound of a belt being removed from somebody’s pants.

Sitting down, Francis pulled Arthur into his lap and kissed his neck “Je t’aime Arthur.”

“You have a surprisingly firm grasp for a drunk, you rapist” Arthur pointed out, attempting to escape.

“You like it when I rape you” came Francis’ eloquent drunken reply and Prussia and Spain high fived each other at the remark.

“Give it to him” Prussia encouraged.

Finally wresting himself from the older nation’s freakishly strong grip Arthur announced that he was going to figure out where Matthew and Alfred had gone off to.

Stumbling his way up the stairs, Arthur found Alfred in his guest room staring at the various artifacts, a beer in his hand.

“You really were great once, weren’t you?” the younger nation asked in an eerily serious tone.

Leaning against the door frame for support Arthur ignored the question “How did you know it was me? I’m stealthy you know.”

“Anyone could have heard you from a mile away trying to come up the steps.”

“Why is it that when I…when I have trouble speaking properly you can speak flawlesally...flaw…you can speak just fine.”

“Why did you pick him?”

“Who?”

“What does he have that I don’t? I’m the hero after all…” the tone was more hopeless than it was enthusiastic.

The look in the man’s blue eyes sobered Arthur up fairly quickly “Alfred?”

“He makes you happy doesn’t he? Didn’t I make you happy?”

Arthur backed out of the room “Alfred, are you drunk? Didn’t you come here with Matthew?”

“Yeah, I did. I’m really happy with Matthew, when you aren’t around. I thought that Mattie and I could be together, until I saw you with France tonight.”

Arthurs head was hurting from the sudden sobriety check and his heart was hurting from the pain in his former lover’s voice.

It had been over a century since the two had been lovers and Arthur had thought back then that Alfred was his soul mate but some wounds just can’t be healed and Arthur had never recovered from the wound Alfred’s betrayal had left.*

“I don’t know what to tell you, Alfred, you’ve had ample time to do something about it if you had actually wanted to. Now stop acting like a spoiled child, the only reason you have any interest in me is because I’m with somebody else.”

“Maybe you’re right” he responded in the most self-deprecating tone Arthur had ever heard the man use in his life.

“Alfred, I think you and Matthew had better leave.”

The younger nation smiled in defeat “Alright, Iggy.”

Arthur flinched at his former affectionate nickname and turned to go towards his bedroom, planning to retire there for the rest of the evening. “Please” he whispered with a hand over his heart, thinking of all the times Alfred had used that name in the past “don’t make this any harder.”

Appearing in front of him in two short strides Alfred ran his hand up the side of Arthurs face affectionately “Do you really want me to go?”

Pulling away instantaneously Arthur’s eyes lit with an emerald fire “America. Get out.”

At the use of his namesake Alfred took a step back and slumping his shoulders in defeat he silently descended the stairs and announced to Canada that they were leaving before walking out the front door.

A/N: Several notes here for our underage readers: EKU 28 is an *extremely* strong German beer that is so strong that they are normally not sold in stores in six packs and when it is served in restaurants it is only served with fancy meals.

Dunkel means dark and it is a specific type of beer such as “light”.

Absinthe is French liquor that is rumored to make people hallucinate when they are drunk and see “green fairies”. Absinthe was actually illegal in the United States up until 2008 because of this.

*Alfred’s betrayal: July 4^th.

Also, no need to worry, friends, Arthur is not in love with America and isn’t going to leave Francis because, after all, this is a FrUk story isn’t it? That and the fact that it took, what, 16 chapters to get them back together? They aren’t breaking up now lol.

Translations:

Qu'en est-il lui-What about him?
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- 19
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The Scent of a Rose