"Please, marry me."

Arthur was looking down at the blonde in front of him. There he was on one knee, holding a box with a ring in it.

"W-what?"

"Marry me."

He couldn't believe it. He didn't understand. He thought Francis hated him. Every time they saw each other, an argument started. And now he was here? Proposing? That didn't make sense.

"Please, answer. . . I can't stand this silence." He was no longer smiling like he was before. Now he had a worried expression. He truly didn't understand. He had thought that Arthur loved him. Francis had thought the man was just being shy all those times that they had flirted, arguing back and forth. But it looks like he was wrong.

He slowly rose to his feet, avoiding the Brit's eyes.

The English man said nothing and only stared at the ring. It took him awhile before he looked up at the man holding it.

"Why. . . ? Why would you propose to me?" His voice cracked as he stared at the long blonde hair that fell to the Frenchman's shoulders.

"Because I love you."

Arthur's chest felt like it was on fire. He didn't understand. He couldn't see how some body like Francis could love him. "W-what?"

"I said I love you. I've loved you for years. For centuries, really. I thought that you knew. . . I had always thought that. . . you loved me as well. Especially when I'd catch you staring at me in the meetings. . . blushing and turning away when I stared back. . ."

Wait, I blushed? Arthur's thoughts rang in his head.

"I've always enjoyed our time together and I've wanted to propose for such a long time, but I was scared as to how you would react," he laughed softly. "I guess my fears were right."

The Englishman was speechless. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't form the words. He didn't really know what to say. What do you say in a situation like this?

"I'll just go then. . . I'm sorry for bringing this up," Francis started to walk away, eyes dull with unspilt tears.

"Wait. . . Francis." Arthur grabbed his arm and turned him around, looking up at his face.

He had realized something. He did love Francis. All those times that they argued were never for real reasons. It was always because he couldn't act normally around the Frenchman. Originally, he had thought that it was because of hate, but no, when he was around people he hated, he didn't act like this. This was different. He had caught himself several times staring at the blonde, but it was never in disgust.

He continued to think about this and his face scrunched up in a way that Francis thought was adorable.

". . . I do love you." Arthur had whispered in a shy voice. "I have loved you for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to let it out." He looked up and saw Francis' eyes wet with tears.

Francis wrapped his arms around the shorter man and pulled him close, nuzzling his face into the crook of Arthur's neck. "I can't tell you how happy I am. . ."

Tears flowed against his neck, but Arthur, instead of pushing away, hugged back. He brought his hands up to run through Francis' hair, enjoying its silky texture against his fingertips.

"Will you marry me?" he whispered.

The Frenchman stopped crying and pulled away from his love. "W-what?"

Arthur smiled, "Will you marry me?"

He felt a hand reach behind his neck, pulling him forward to meet soft lips. Arthur melted into the kiss, but it ended too soon as the other pulled back.

"Yes, I will marry you." Francis smiled down at his new fiancé. "Of course I'll marry you."