After the trial was a time for peace and prosperity. Even after Alfred and Arthur decided it would be best to break things off between them, but only momentarily. Once they had the calm chat of having their own home, they came up with a little plan of their own. They were to break up with one another, or in more of an optimistic term 'take a break', and allow Arthur to heal after the fiasco with Peter's mother. Yet, they were to start things up where they left off immediately following Alfred's graduation when Alfred wasn't Arthur's student anymore. From then on, they would be searching for their first house together. It seemed so pointless and so simplistic when Alfred and Arthur talked it over.

Yet, there was a gaping hole in Arthur's chest after the first week of their little break. His bed felt so incredibly cold, taking care of Peter required a bit more effort on Arthur's part like it had from the very beginning, and it required so much willpower not to pick up his cell phone and invite Alfred over to spend the night.

It wasn't easy for Alfred either. It felt odd to be the typical college student again. Being invited to parties and guzzling down shot after shot, yet rejecting every advance thrown at him by a swarming crowd of drunk ladies. Not staying behind after class to tell Arthur his latest batch of playful flirts that the Englishman found incredibly cheesy, however he still blushed nonetheless. Not being able to spend as much time with Peter as he had before, not being able to stay up with the child nor watch those Saturday morning cartoons alongside him. And especially not being there beside Arthur whenever the elder was grading the papers spread out on the comforter of his bed; having Arthur sit in his lap as Alfred here rested his head on Arthur's bony shoulder and not-so-patiently waited for the Englishman to hurry on up.

To put it bluntly, every moment felt like pure agony. And the only thing needed for arthur to have a full recovery was to appear after graduation. Which, for some, came quicker than expected, since they were thrown up on stage for a slip of paper and a handshake-though it felt as if they were fresh-faced seniors only a week ago. Yet, Alfred practically ran upon that stage for the slip of paper he paid thousands for and hurried along to his seat so the ceremony could end.

Four-hundred students, five speeches, and one suicidal thought on Alfred's part later-and the ceremony was over. Alfred F. Jones was free to be with Arthur Kirkland now. With one simple text from Arthur reading 'Get your bloody arse over to my classroom' their relationship was in full bloom once again.

Shedding his tacky graduation cap and matching robe on the way there, Alfred was all smiles and giggles as he walked through his old college campus-the sunlight shining down on him as the wind softly blew through his hair. As he reached the English building, Alfred sucked in a deep breath before pushing open the double doors and navigating his way to Arthur's classroom. Upon entering that sacred room, he saw Arthur with his back to him, glancing at the chalkboards that were lazily cleaned and making out remnants of his cursive writing with the white chalk. And Alfred felt like a love-struck baboon upon sight.

"Yo, Artie!" He called out, catching Arthur's attention as evident by the elder turning his head over his shoulder to glance over at Alfred. Alfred set his discarded graduation articles down onto one of the vacant chairs before making a move towards Arthur. "I'm one-hundred percent done with this school now."

"Yes, I know, I suffered through the ceremony as you did." Arthur said as he turned his entire body, not just his head, around to face Alfred. "I suppose we can date again."

"Are we goin' from where we left off, or are we startin' over?" Alfred asked, slyly snaking his arms around Arthur's waist and tugging the Englishman towards him.

Playing along, Arthur placed his hands on Alfred's shoulders, palms accounting for the curve in which the shoulders connected to Alfred's back. "Where did we leave off with?"

"A kiss."

"And what did we start with?"

"A kiss."

"Either way, in about-" Arthur momentarily halted his speech to glance over at the ticking clock placed firmly on the wall in front of him. "Thirty seconds we'll be kissing."

"I mean, if we continue from where we left off, we're gonna see how sturdy that desk is. The other way is just a plain old kiss." Alfred explained, about ready to pounce and officially claim Arthur as his.

"I prefer the latter. Besides, things can't become officially until it is consummated."

Luckily for both of them, Arthur's back was facing the oak desk he normally sat behind the entire school year-for both English courses Alfred had taken. With small steps, Alfred was stepping forward and forcing Arthur to step backwards; until the elder's backside hit the brown desk. "Yeah we better get to work then."

One year had drifted on by as Alfred and Arthur were starting their relationship up again. In the first two months, Alfred graciously moved on in into the Kirkland's apartment. Three months after that, both Alfred and Arthur had begun their epic search of finding a house for Peter to finish growing up in. Four months after that, they entire family began packing up for their big move-their pockets empty of cash from the payments they placed on their dream home-and saying goodbye to the landlady with many heartfelt thanks within those farewells. Add on one more month, and all the boxes were unpacked and the Jones-Kirkland family was ready to start anew.

Arthur discovered a new job at a university close to their new home, of course as an English professor who disses American literature and his preferred method of torture is Shakespeare and James Joyce. Peter was enrolled in his first kindergarten class, and made some newfound friends that would occasionally swing on by for a sleepover where Arthur was restricted from making them healthy snacks. And Alfred reeled himself in a job in his father's business, starting midway up the cooperate ladder with a paycheck he couldn't complain with and of course having his hour lunch break over at the university with Arthur.

Things were rolling along smoothly, the home they stumbled over being the one Alfred envisioned whenever he daydreamed during class. The room dedicated to being a shared office between Alfred and Arthur, the chalk drawings on the driveway courtesy of Peter, the white picket fence boxing the house in, all that was missing was a yapping dog-however, Arthur didn't want such a mutt running amok around the house all over his sparkling clean floors.

Now here lies Alfred, in his cozy bed alongside a snoozing Arthur, the past year registering in his mind. He frowned and smiled at certain memories that flashed before him: when Arthur allowed him to move in, Peter's mother swinging on by one more time to spit in Arthur's face before never popping up again, every Saturday morning watching Peter's face light up whenever his favorite superhero came on, and when Alfred presented a ring to Arthur in the comfort of their own apartment-in the bathroom to be exact when Arthur was preparing to leave for night classes.

Alfred felt Arthur's breaths brush down his chest as well as felt those blonde locks tickle at his jawline. His fingers glided over the wrinkled fabric concealing Arthur's back. His blue eyes were glued to the ceiling as he tried to fall asleep, his eyes tired yet his body was still hyperactive. He's been wide awake since Arthur and Peter fell asleep three hours ago. But now he wouldn't be alone, since Arthur was stirring himself awake as he rolled out of Alfred's embrace having his back face Alfred. After the Englishman was fully awake, he turned his head over his shoulder and noted Alfred's eyes staring dully at him. "How long have you been up, love?"

"I dunno."

"Ever since I've been sleeping?"

"Yeah."

Sighing, Arthur placed his arm underneath his pillow and placed the side of his head against the grey object. "Thinking again?"

Stretching his arms above his head, fingers laced together, Alfred replied with. "Mh-hm. It's kinda fun looking back at the past year. Hell, two years."

Narrowing his eyes in thought, Arthur retorted with. "What? Thinking about how I narrowly lost my son?"

"I kinda just gloss over that now. It's fun looking back on us. Y'know?" Alfred relaxed his body, as he placed both his arms behind his head.

"Hm... Like how you used to come over for tutoring sessions? Listening to me drone on and on about Prince Hamlet."

"Nah. More intimate stuff."

"Oh, when we figured out my desk wasn't entirely sturdy, and I told my boss one of my students had to have defiled my workspace?"

Alfred chuckled quietly to himself, taking into account the thin walls and how Peter's room was right next door. "Yeah, like that." He closed his eyes. "Y'know, 'cause of you I missed out on bein' a college kid."

Arthur violently turned his head over his shoulder once more, a glare to those green eyes. "Oh shut it, you git. You choose to waste your time with me."

"I know. I'm thanking you."

Arthur's gaze softened. "What for?"

"You and lil you are the best things that I accidentally found. It was illegal for some time, but I'm glad I broke the law."

The Englishman rested back down on his pillow, this time flipping onto his other side so he could face Alfred. "It's been a year and a few months since we've been together, and you bothered to tell me this now?"

"Better now than later."

"Would've been beautiful the night we first moved in. You sense of dramatic effect is atrocious."

"It's nice to see you still like criticizin' me."

"Shut it you bloody git, and get some sleep."

AN: This isn't the end quite yet. I've decided to write an alternate ending where Arthur loses. But for those of you wanting a happy ending, I guess this is goodbye. It's been a pleasure writing this story, and I sincerely hope you all enjoyed every last second of it. I have another UsUk story in the works right now as well. Farewell everyone!