Chapter Text
Arthur and Francis started meeting in secret more often. They felt so happy in each other's arms, when the other wasn't being an idiot obviously, and kissing felt more natural than breathing. During the day they often felt guilty that they couldn't be happy with their partners like every other normal person, but one look at each other and all that faded away.
Two months after the first time it happened they met once again, and there was kissing, much more than usual. They were getting warmer by the second and the layers of clothes soon became nuisances and were clumsily off.
While they stared at each other in their briefs Francis gently caressed Arthur's cheek. Arthur let him, gently cupping the hand on his cheek and giving him a tender smile. The kissing resumed, more passionate this time. Francis guided Arthur's head to the pillow, then moved his lips to Arthur's cheek and his jaw line. When he reached one particular spot on his neck, Arthur started gasping and whimpering almost pathetically, so Francis continued kissing and sucking that spot over and over again, which provided the desired result: Arthur was a blushing mess. He was so beautiful, Francis thought, and he couldn't resist stopping and placing a chaste kiss on the lips.
Arthur loved that, but he used it to recover and reverse the positions, seamlessly flipping a shocked Francis so that he was the one on the pillow. He went straight to the neck, hoping it would provide the same result it had on him. It did so and more. Francis was losing it more than Arthur had, with a bright red face and everything that could standing up. Arthur was very proud of himself, but this vision had made his crotch feel a little heavy. My god, you're so beautiful, he thought while smiling.
“No please, don't let us interrupt this moment.” Marianne commented amused, followed by Alice's delicate laugh.
Both men froze, now red in the face for a rather different reason.
“H-how... how long have you been there, Alice?” Arthur trembled, not believing the situation.
“Not long.” she giggled.
Arthur stood up and went to Marianne, his fiancée and Francis' sister. “I... I'm so sorry Marianne, I-”
“I can stop feeling guilty about kissing your sister then?”
Arthur and Francis gave each other a confused look, and Alice could not stop laughing.
Francis spoke. “But... but you hate each other... how...?”
“You two didn't seem so friendly either, so we're not sure about your definition of hate” Marianne pointed out.
They were all silent for a few minutes.
“What should we do then?” Francis muttered. “We can't call off both weddings...”
“Yes, quite so. People would start to talk.” Arthur sighed, leaning into Francis.
“We would all be in so much trouble.” Marianne added softly, holding onto Alice.
There was more silence.
“Suppose we... didn't call off the weddings?” Alice piped up shyly.
The others replied only with a bemused expression.
“I don't suppose it's too far off, but what if we got married anyway? Each to their official partner of course, but we could conduct very close lives and no one would think anything of it, as we would be a family!” she explained.
The other three were still confused, but they also looked interested in this plan.
“That's a better idea than any of us could think of, Alice,” Arthur said “but the thing most people are expecting from these marriages are some heirs. And let's face it, making one would be rather hard...” he added, blushing slightly"
“I think we would not be the ones most affected by the pregnancy, Arthur, stop sounding so selfish.”
“I beg your pardon, I'm not-”
“Ladies, would you be willing to have a child? It's a big thing.”
The two women looked at each other, then down at their bellies nostalgically touching them, smiling a little.
“It would be nice, I suppose.” Alice smiled.
“Yes, being a mother would be the greatest honour.” Marianne agreed, grinning.
“Francis,” Marianne turned to her fiancé “would you try and make a child with me were we married? If not for me, would you for Arthur?”
Francis looked at him and smiled. “Anything for Arthur.”
“Brother? Would you do it for Francis?”
“You cruel woman” Arthur joked, not daring to look up. “Of course I would.”
“Hey, I'm not that bad!” Marianne protested.
They all laughed. The air had finally gotten lighter.