But then, the things Arthur might have expected to be problematic had turned out to be not so much. For one, their relations with Alfred's ex-wife and her new husband were polite and, thankfully, infrequent. And he didn't let Alfred's ridiculous fortune, even as depleted as it was by his divorce, bother him: he had his own home and successful career to worry about. He understood being an overachiever and never resented extra time Alfred spent at work; it would be hypocritical, given that he'd had to clear case files from his sofa so they could sit together and eat Thai takeout in front of the TV.
Portia was learning these things as well. She'd managed to stay the course with Yong, for nearly as long as Arthur had known her to keep any man.
She was supposed to be coming to the party, in fact, though he could not see that she'd arrived. As if on cue his phone buzzed and Arthur pulled it from his pocket. That was a benefit to wearing clothing among the naked: he had somewhere to put his things.
It was a text from Portia. can you tell htem we're running late sorry? And are you wearing clothes?
Yes and YES, Arthur texted back.
"There's one good thing about being naked-- you can enjoy a party without being a slave to technology," Alfred teased.
"It was Portia. They're running late. And you're just jealous because you wish you had somewhere to keep your own phone, addict," Arthur told him.
"Never fear, Alfred; I could help you stow your phone if you really wished," Bonnefoy said, to an accompanying salacious giggle from Chelle.
Arthur narrowed his eyes in what he hoped was a fierce glare. "You're just begging for a furtive shove into the pool when you least expect it, Bonnefoy," he said.
"Your empty threats don't frighten me, Englishman," Bonnefoy told him with a raised eyebrow.
"You guys are too cute," Alfred said. "Like lawyers in love. I just know if it wasn't for Chelle, I'd be out a boyfriend right now 'cause you'd have, like, run off together long ago."
"Then I am doubly glad I have her," Bonnefoy said, raising his glass in a salute. "To love!"
"Cheers," Arthur said, as everyone said it. He drank, and held his glass for Alfred to take a sip, and then he did kiss him, quickly, unable to resist lime and salt and Alfred.
To love, to affairs of the heart: he'd never given second chances, but he'd given Alfred second and third and been given them in return, and most of the moments so far had been worth it.
And thus, like a romance novel, it ends when the characters get together (plus a bonus dorky epilogue). Thank you SO MUCH for reading and commenting!
I know it’s not perfect but hey, it was my first try at writing a “UKUS romance novel.” If there are any plot points I didn’t tie up but were important enough that I should have, please feel free to tell me! If there are any gaping plot holes, please feel free to note those also. There’s a lot I couldn’t cover because of my decision to write the whole thing in Arthur’s POV, and I tried to get Alfred’s personality across but I might have totally failed.
As for the name changes in these last chapters, let me plead that these are original characters who are Americans of international descent, not the nations, so I ask that you pardon me this. I used “Yong-Soo Choo” because Shin-Soo Choo is my favorite Korean baseball player and he rocks, so I used that name. And I have worked with a Judge Hardesty who was awesomesauce, thus using that last name for Elizaveta.
I might deanon this at some point, if it isn’t already obvious who wrote it. It is mostly unbeta-read, and so it needs a good, hard edit (unf) before I do anything of the sort.
All Right, Tonight (Part 62/62)
Portia was learning these things as well. She'd managed to stay the course with Yong, for nearly as long as Arthur had known her to keep any man.
She was supposed to be coming to the party, in fact, though he could not see that she'd arrived. As if on cue his phone buzzed and Arthur pulled it from his pocket. That was a benefit to wearing clothing among the naked: he had somewhere to put his things.
It was a text from Portia. can you tell htem we're running late sorry? And are you wearing clothes?
Yes and YES, Arthur texted back.
"There's one good thing about being naked-- you can enjoy a party without being a slave to technology," Alfred teased.
"It was Portia. They're running late. And you're just jealous because you wish you had somewhere to keep your own phone, addict," Arthur told him.
"Never fear, Alfred; I could help you stow your phone if you really wished," Bonnefoy said, to an accompanying salacious giggle from Chelle.
Arthur narrowed his eyes in what he hoped was a fierce glare. "You're just begging for a furtive shove into the pool when you least expect it, Bonnefoy," he said.
"Your empty threats don't frighten me, Englishman," Bonnefoy told him with a raised eyebrow.
"You guys are too cute," Alfred said. "Like lawyers in love. I just know if it wasn't for Chelle, I'd be out a boyfriend right now 'cause you'd have, like, run off together long ago."
"Then I am doubly glad I have her," Bonnefoy said, raising his glass in a salute. "To love!"
"Cheers," Arthur said, as everyone said it. He drank, and held his glass for Alfred to take a sip, and then he did kiss him, quickly, unable to resist lime and salt and Alfred.
To love, to affairs of the heart: he'd never given second chances, but he'd given Alfred second and third and been given them in return, and most of the moments so far had been worth it.
END
Thank you for reading!
________________________________________
Shortish Author’s Notes!
And thus, like a romance novel, it ends when the characters get together (plus a bonus dorky epilogue). Thank you SO MUCH for reading and commenting!
I know it’s not perfect but hey, it was my first try at writing a “UKUS romance novel.” If there are any plot points I didn’t tie up but were important enough that I should have, please feel free to tell me! If there are any gaping plot holes, please feel free to note those also. There’s a lot I couldn’t cover because of my decision to write the whole thing in Arthur’s POV, and I tried to get Alfred’s personality across but I might have totally failed.
As for the name changes in these last chapters, let me plead that these are original characters who are Americans of international descent, not the nations, so I ask that you pardon me this. I used “Yong-Soo Choo” because Shin-Soo Choo is my favorite Korean baseball player and he rocks, so I used that name. And I have worked with a Judge Hardesty who was awesomesauce, thus using that last name for Elizaveta.
I might deanon this at some point, if it isn’t already obvious who wrote it. It is mostly unbeta-read, and so it needs a good, hard edit (unf) before I do anything of the sort.
Thank you again!!