Battlefield of Love EnglandxReaderxAmerica Ch. 1

Battlefield of Love
An ArthurxReaderxAlfred Short story
Chapter 1
**Disclaimed: This is a work of fiction and has little to no resemblance to history.


(e/c) eyes impatiently watched the setting sun outside her window. It was getting late and for what felt like the hundredth time, he still wasn’t home. A sigh escaped your lips as your fingers drummed against the side of the wooden table. You had done all of your chores and his as well. Dinner had gotten cold on the table as hours passed. The fireplace was burning and house was cleaned.


Once the sun had officially left your view, you began picking up the plates. Another meal gone to waste. As you dumped out the homemade food made especially for the two of you, the sound of a door opening and closing could be heard.


Hurrying, you placed the dishes to the side to be washed later and straightened out your dress. In fast uneven steps, you made your way to greet your newlywed husband. “Welcome home, Arthur. You’re back awfully late.”


He sighed, shrugging off his coat of which you took into your hands and hung up. “Yes. The Parliament can be quite busy.” The look of fatigue was apparent in his eyes, those green eyes you once watched with such joy had dulled ever since tensions had increased between the colonies. His boots sagged against the wooden floors as he made his way to the couch by the fireplace.


“I see...” You tried not to bring up his job as you knew already how painful it was. There were rumors of a rebellion and worse of all, there was a chance his brother was leading it. “Would you like some tea?”


Arthur waved off the offer and closed his eyes. “No thanks, dear. I’m rather too tired for anything else.” His hair was disheveled more than usually and his tie was becoming undone at the knot.


Your fingers balled up clutching the hem of your dress nervously. “Wouldn’t you at least like to come to bed? You haven’t had a good night’s rest in quite some time.” Nor had the two of you really communicated since your wedding night. Who would have known that the Stamp Act would have risen so many troubles the night of your honeymoon. You understood the importance of his work but was it really necessary for him to do so on the night the two had proclaimed your love to god? It had been months since then and the two of you hadn’t even shared the same bed yet.


“I don’t believe I have the energy to drag my feet up the stairs tonight. Perhaps tomorrow...” And with that his voice drifted off as soundly as his thoughts. You watched his peaceful face illuminated by the fire before going off to fetch him a blanket.


It was an old blue blanket you received long ago by a special friend. A smile lit up your face as you recalled the fond memories the two of you shared as you tucked your husband in. You pushed aside some of his blonde locks and pecked his forehead before taking soft steps up the stairs and to the bedroom.


The bed had seemed much larger lying there alone without the warmth of two strong arms wrapped around you to keep you warm and keep you security. It was feeling still lingered in the back of your mind but one your senses had completely forgotten.Your arms clung tightly to yourself trying to recreate the feeling but to no ail. After moments of staring at the crescent moon hanging in the dark sky above, darkness enveloped your whole body sending your mind into a state of melancholy.


















Bright sunshine hit your lids as chirping birds woke your senses. Rubbing your eyes, you yawned with your arms stretched out. There was nothing particularly noticeable about the room. Just an empty dresser counter, a desk with a half burned out candle and you. Just lying there on wrinkled sheets, you’d soon have to make only to lie alone in...






Making your way down the stairs, you made your way to the now emptied spot you last saw your husband. The firewood had turned into ashes, there was an indenture in the sofa and the blanket...The blanket! Where was it?


You moved the cushions back and forth, searching through the cracks. Where did he put it? Just as you were about to give up hope, your eye caught the sight of blue fabric peeking out from the corner of the fireplace.


Your fingers dug into the charred remains looking for the gift you cherished so much. When you found what you were desperately searching for, all you found was a small square the size of a handkerchief left. For a moment you doubted it was impossible for you to clutch it any tighter within your hands against your chest.


A familiar wetness flowed down your cheeks. Tears? You didn’t know. And you didn’t care. Your grip tightened determined never to let it go again. Why? Just why had things gotten this bad? As your rubbed the fabric in between your fingers, you had realized the cloth was oddly damp. In fact...The ashes had been too. Had Arthur tried putting it out?


The (h/c) glanced back towards the cushion. Not even a note left behind... Wiping the fluids off your face with whatever part of your hand that wasn’t covered in soot, you stood up. Chances were Arthur had left met up with the rest of the Parliament. You didn’t know what made the ache in your heart throb more: your missing husband or the rest of the blanket.


Taking deep breaths, you finally decided to clean yourself up and then visit the market down by the pier. It would be dinner time before you knew it... Not that anyone would be there to enjoy it.










“Two carrots please!” you called out to the vender. A (f/c) bonnet that nicely matched your gown blocked partial view of the sun from your eyes. While the vender was fetching your request, you reached out to pick out your coins. With a smile you greeted the vendor when he came back, you dropped the money into his free hand and then proceeded to grab the carrots when suddenly one of the carrots were snatched away from behind.


“Excuse me. I don’t think it was rather fair of you to-” You turned around only to be greeted by a familiar face taking a large bite off the tip of the carrot. A wide grin broke out on your face as you nearly dropped your grocery filled basket out of surprise. “Alfred!” you nearly squealed. A few bystanders near you stopped to watch your display before passing by. Turning red, you returned to your formal ladylike composure. “What are you doing here?”


“I just came to visit babe.” You caught a quick sight of his own grin which broke out on his face as his vibrant blue eyes gleamed right before you pulled you into a hug against his chest.


After you got over the initial shock of the gesture, your face softened to a gentle calm look as you wrapped your own arms around his large back, gently patting it every now and again.


Perhaps it was a little feverish for a married woman to be seen embracing another man in broad daylight while in public. But you didn’t care. This was your brother-in-law after all. And you hadn’t seen him since the day of the wedding.


“How have you been? What have you been up to?” you asked with curiosity peaking out of every inch of your body. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the carrot still in the vendor's palm and quickly gave a slight nod as a thank you before dumping it into your basket. “Other than your latest carrot heist.”


“Aww. You know, I was planning a career in the art of carrots.” He grinned... It was the same childish grin you had grown to love over the years. “Haha. Just kidding. The hero would never steal from innocent bystanders.” You arched a brow. “Hey, you’re not so innocent. I still remember the time you tried forcing me to put on your mother’s gown.”


You giggled with a balled up hand a few inches away from your mouth to cover your amused grin. “Actually, I believe I succeeded.” And you were darn proud of it too. You still remembered the image of a whimpering Alfred putting on heels, dress, and earrings; the whole ensemble.


“But in response to your question, I have been doing great. It’s not easy rounding up the colonies together into tip-top shape but you know me,” he said as confidently as you remembered him to be.


“I believe I do. I especially got to know you very well when I got to apply Mother’s lipstick on you.” The amused look on your face spread now showing in your carefree eyes. “But don’t you think you should speak about such matters in a softer tone?” you asked worried. Although there were still residents of London who were supporting the colonies in their rumored plans, the number that opposed it outnumbered them.


“Ah. You’re right _______!” The blonde gave you a pat on the back as a sign of approval. “Thanks for having my back, babe.” He wrapped one of his arms around your neck. The smell of sweat and pine filled your nostrils.


“A-Alfred!” you said flustered. Never had you been this close to anyone of the opposite gender other than your husband. And even Arthur blushed whenever he tried doing such a gesture.


“Call me Al, babe.” His grin never faltered as he awaited for your reply. The sky blue orbs stared down into yours with pure sincerity which only made his sun bleached hair stand out even more than it did previously.


You broke eye contact and began staring at your fidgeting white gloved hands. “Don’t you think you should be a little more subtle? I am a married woman now. And who knows what the people might say...”


“Let them say what want! You’ll always be _______ ________ to me!” Although you loved his childish personality sometimes it made you wonder how dense he really was. After all, there were a quite a list of activities the two of you had done as children that wouldn’t be acceptable now. However, it seemed Alfred had missed the memo on that.


“Right...” You looked up at the sun up in the air. “Oh dear. It’s already past noon, I must get going and prepare dinner.” There was a little to no probability Arthur would make it back in time for the two of you to eat as a family but as long as there was a chance, you would hold onto that sliver of hope.


“Relax ____. Your basket isn’t going anywhere.” He teased. “Besides there’s plenty of time before lunch, much more dinner. Why not relax with me?” It was clear that Alfred had not completely thought this through. Not only would it affect his repetition as well as yours but your husband too. Didn’t he care at all about what the neighbors would think?


You thought it over in your head. You did have an abundance of time...but no. You were a married woman now. What you did reflected on Arthur whom you loved so very much. Ever since you were children even. When he proposed on the night of your coming of age, you couldn’t had been any happier. The two of you have been dating for years. Often Arthur would court you and you’d happily comply to his flirts. The three off you had been together since you were just children.


“I’m sorry...I just can’t.” Although neither of you mentioned it, the two of you both knew the reason why you had declined. And not either one of you were happy with this arrangement. But it just wouldn’t be right. Arthur would never give his consent for you to spend the day with another man.


“Oh. I understand... Housewife duties and stuff right?” For a moment you thought you heard his entire voice drop an octave but it was quickly picked back up. “Man, that Arthur is working you to the bone!”


It was true that things had been harder at the house since Arthur had been taking up more responsibilities at work. But you understood why he did so. You and Arthur had an unspoken agreement. The two of you wanted children and well... You needed money to raise them. After everything that had been going on lately, taxes had skyrocketed in both the colonies and Britain to help pay off the war. Your smile faltered for a moment before you asked softly, “Alfred...?” Now was the time for you to tread lightly.


“Hmm?” his tone sounded so innocent that it almost hurt to say the words that followed afterwards.


“Does Arthur know you're here?”


Now it was his turn to hesitate. His mouth opened but no words came out. After closing it and reopening, he replied. “I don’t think so...” A moment of silence was shared between the two of you. But suddenly his face lit up once more. “But who knows? He is Arthur after all! Hahaha.”

You laughed along. “Yes. I do believe there is nothing he doesn’t know about. Or at least nothing that he doesn’t have a deduction for.”


“Oh _____... You have no idea...” these words were muttered in a barely audible tone so you weren’t sure if you had caught all of his words correctly.


“Come again?” you asked for clarification.


“Hmm? Nothing. Well, I guess you should be going off now, right?”


“That’s right.” You now realized how you had to look up when you spoke to him. He really had grown a lot since you last got a good look at him. At the wedding, you remembered seeing him for a brief moment as the best man but it wasn’t long enough to see all of the changes his body had gone through. “So I suppose this is where we say farewell.”


It seemed that both of your faces had twinged a bit in sadness at the news.


“Hey _______....?” he asked taking one of your hands into his, sandwiching it in between his much larger ones.

“Yes, Al?”


“I won’t be here too long. What do you say about meeting me at the pub tonight?”


“Tonight?” Your brows raised and your eyes widened. “No. No. No. I don’t think I can-”


You were abruptly cut off by the colonist. “Just one night. I’m sure, old Artie won’t mind. Besides you can always make up some excuse.”


You couldn’t. Arthur wouldn’t allow for you to spend the day with Alfred much less part of the night. And you couldn’t lie to Arthur. A marriage was all about being truthful to your partner. “Al...”


“Please?” he begged, giving you those adorable puppy eyes of his.


You sighed, giving in. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Fantastic! Well, I have to go help out with the boys at the pier. I am undercover you know!” He held a finger to his lips to signify his subtleness, making you giggle once more. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes. Goodbye Alfred.” You smiled to yourself, now in a cheery mood. The two of you parted ways and you turned your back so that you could make your way back to your manor.

“Oh and ______?” you heard him call.


“Yes?” You turned your back to face him.


“Arthur has no idea how lucky he is to have your cooking every day. You’re an amazing cook. You should really make something for me sometime! For old times’ sake!” His hands were cupped around his mouth trying to amplify the sound.


You smiled back at his gesture, doing the same with your free hand. “Will do, Alfred!”


A half-smile was all you saw on his face before the two of you went on your separate paths.