Love and War: USUK - Chapter 2

Author's Note:
There are three periods of time in the fanfiction and we have a song for each section. (remove spaces)
1783 --- http:// www.youtube.com/ watch?annotation_id= annotation_657325&feature=iv&src_vid= sugHun5M7zo&v=wb86m-bz_N8
1786 --- www.youtube.com/ watch?feature= endscreen&NR=1&v=sug Hun5M7zo
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September, 1783

Alfred smiled at the thought of his British friend. He prayed that Arthur was somewhere safe, not fighting or dead. Just thinking of the smaller man shot dead, laying unnamed in one of the many rivets carved out by cannon fire. He could picture his hair matted and dirty, so unlike the perfectly groomed look Alfred was used to, the green eyes dull and lifeless, the limbs twisted at odd angle, a red coat stained deeply by the dark crimson blood that flowed freely. It made him sick and yet his brain always thought of it. Thinking of death by bullet made him think of what a true horror it would be.

He never knew the pain of a bullet. He had made it through the war in the long haul. Now Alfred held back tears as he pulled himself to a tree just outside of Yorktown. He could hear distant shots but that didn't matter to him. His leg burned in pain. He had lost his gun and lost his courage, the gun yanked out of his hands as he fell, another soldier requiring the weapon. His courage had left him long ago. When he wrote his name down on that long slip of paper he felt his life slip into another's hands. The time when he walked by Arthur's house to join with the rest of the men who had now lost their lives he had felt his heart break. He knew it was stupid. Arthur had joined the Royal Army and there was nothing Alfred could do about it. He had signed up to kill his one true friend.  Arthur's face as he walked by tore his heart out and left it with the Brit. Now with no heart and no friend all he wanted was for everything to go back to normal. He wanted Arthur to have his life and his heart, not some general and a cold musket.

The rustle of nearby bushes brought his attention back to reality. His leg throbbed as he reached for the gun that was no longer there. Alfred leaned back against the tree he had used as salvation and clutched the pocket that held his watch. He saw a flash of red and knew it was all over. No Red Coat would leave an American to live. If he was to die then he would do it with Arthur on his mind. He wouldn't have it any other way to think if his love as he took his last breath.

He looked up with sorrowful eyes to meet his executioner. The coat was tattered just like his. The face looked worn and serious, the same face Alfred wore whenever he fired a shot. He looked at that dirty blond hair, slicked down from the rain and grime. He looked at the dark eyebrows. He met those beautiful green eyes and his heart gave a twinge. 'Arthur,' he said sadly.
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Arthur stumbled through the woods, disoriented. Every single shot he heard grated on his nerves. He kept picturing Alfred one of the nameless fallen that lay on the battlefield, all bloody and broken. His stomach churned at the very thought. Why in the world had he joined this pointless cause? He knew it was worthless when he signed up. The Americans were a determined bunch of people and he knew that they deserved equal rights. The day he watched Alfred follow that important looking man on the horse his heart had left his chest to be with the goofy American. He would lock it away with the memories of Alfred for every battle. He had no heart when it came to firing a shot for his heart was with Alfred.

He saw blue out of the corner of his eye and reacted automatically. He raised his wearing gun and aimed, shortening the distance between them. He stared blankly, directly in the American's eyes never realizing who was sitting on the ground. His heart was with those beautiful blue eyes that looked so much like those sitting in front of him. He took another step closer.

'Arthur,' the man said sadly. Arthur's eyes widened and he could finally see; that beautiful golden hair with that stubborn cowlick that refused to go down even in the rain, those bright blue eyes that stared through his soul. He lowered his gun before dropping it all together.

'A-alfred?' he whispered. 'What happened to you?'

Alfred smiled slightly, glad that Arthur wasn't focused on their differences at the moment. 'A bullet hit a tree and caused some of the wood to fly into my leg. It's not too bad but it hurts like hell.'

'Your division just left you here?' Arthur fell to the ground next to Alfred and looked over his leg. Alfred was right; it wasn't too bad. He started picking out the pieces of wood, mumbling words of comfort with every flinch.

'They had a job to do. They thought that my leg was worse off. I would have been a nuisance.'

'They shouldn't have left you. They would have won the battle even if they left a few men here.'

Alfred looked up in awe. 'Did you just side with the patriots?' he asked stopping Arthur's hand from its job and holding it tightly.

'It's a losing battle,' Arthur said sadly. 'I'll have to go back to Britain soon, a disgrace from the king's army.' He toyed with the frayed sleeve on Alfred's jacket unsure of how the other would take what he said.

A hand touched his face and brought it to look in Alfred's eyes. Arthur leaned forward a few inches without even realizing. When he tried to pull back Alfred's hand prevented his escape. 'Don't go back. Stay here with me.'

'Alfred...' Alfred wouldn't let Arthur finish his sentence. He gently pulled the man closer until their lips met hesitatingly. He finally understood his feelings and he wasn't going to let this opportunity get away. Arthur froze at the touch but soon relaxed, shifting closer again but avoiding Alfred's injured leg. As they pulled back Alfred had a soft smile on his face.

'Stay here in America with me. I love you Arthur and can't live without you.'

Arthur smiled sadly, nuzzling Alfred's hand that was still on his cheek. 'I have to go. These free people won't like one of their oppressors here. I'll still visit and I'll write every day.'

Alfred frowned deeply. He looked at Arthur for a moment before hearing a rustling of the bushes again. 'I see blue. You should probably go unless you want to be shot,' he sighed sadly as Arthur stood and gathered his belongings.

Just before Arthur disappeared into the gloom he turned back. 'Oh and Alfred?' Alfred looked up. 'I love you too.' With a swish of his red coat he slipped into the dark woods of a free America.
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June, 1786

Alfred stood in the bustling New York harbour, a tall and proud twenty five year old, checking his pocket watch. He would show up here every time a ship pulled into harbour that was from Britain. He wasn't even sure Arthur could make it back to America. The journey was expensive and his family had been sent back to England almost penniless. He wasn't even sure if Arthur was in England anymore.

The large ships were like Alfred's friends. When he wasn't working in the stables he would be helping at the harbour. They reminded him of Arthur. He used to know that strangest information about ships, information that no one would bother to learn unless they were on one. Animals were more Alfred's thing but his strength was useful in loading the massive vessels.

'Oi are you Alfred Jones?' a sailor called to the young man. Alfred looked up from his watch and nodded. 'Some Limey asked me to give this to you.' The sailor handed him a clean piece of folded parchment. Alfred looked down at it and thanked the man before reading it.

Alfred, Well I'm glad to see you are in good health. I wanted to write to you before I actually saw you. I figured I should tell you how I made it through the hell that was life after the war. That day you left to go and fight I made a promise that my heart was with you. I had to lock it away if I ever wanted to fire a shot. I wasn't sure if I would be able to tell you this to your face. I have no courage you see. You still have my heart and you kept me alive through my own personal hell. Luckily my family had connections and we weren't thrown out of all social standings after my failure in the war. If I hadn't met you under that tree when I did, one of those bullets would have ended up in me by my choice. You saved my life more than once and now I want nothing more than to see you and embrace you and be with you once more. If you still want to see me and can face a Limey then meet me under that familiar tree. With love, Arthur.

Alfred held the note close as he raced to the stable to find his horse. Arthur was back. Arthur had seen him. Arthur still loved him. He spent several days riding hard in order to make it. Arthur had never specified a date but Alfred wanted to be punctual. He figured that Arthur had been at the harbour and was taking a ship down to the other port. Ships made decent time down the coast and Alfred had to stop for breaks.

He reached the outskirt of Yorktown a few days after he received the note. He hoped that the town hadn't taken over that little wooded section that he remembered so well. The woods were thinner than he remembered but the same tree still stood. His mind flashed back to that day in the rain and his leg gave a twinge. He sat down in the very spot he had lay in pain and waited, resting his forearm on his propped up knee, letting the other lay against the dirt.

Soon he heard footsteps approaching and turned to see the newcomer. He smiled at who he saw. Arthur still looked the same. He wore a nice coat and breeches, his clothes still showed his style. His hair hadn't changed and he hadn't even grown that much taller. His vivid green eyes showed maturity, cast down at a pocket watch in his hand. Alfred had waited three long years to see Arthur again, every anticipating moment lead up to the meeting of two pairs of joyous eyes.

'You're late,' Alfred grinned as the Brit stopped dead in his tracks and looked up.

'Alfred! You came!' Arthur rushed forward as Alfred stood and pulled the man he loved into a hug. 'I wasn't sure how you would take everything.'

'Of course I came Artie. And you know what? I left my heart with you as well. You always had it,' Alfred smiled. He leaned down and sweetly kissed the other. 'I love you and always will.'

'I love you too,' Arthur said. He looked around. 'Well this hasn't changed.'

Alfred laughed. 'This is one of the few things. Welcome to the new United States of America Artie.'