inside reading a newspaper and sprawled out on the couch. It had briefly occured to him that Arthur hadn't visited him this year, but he figured perhaps it was for the obvious reason.

finally knocked on the door and stood back, sighing to himself.

blinks up at the knock,taking a moment to set the paper down and fix his clothes before answering the door. He seems a little surprised at the sight that greets him. "Ah... bonjour Arthur.."

puts on a small as he greeted him in return. "Hello Francis, happy belated birthday."

puts on a smile himself, stepping aside to let him in. "Merci, cher. I had thought perhaps you had forgotten this year."

shakes his head as he hesitantly stepped inside. "I have never forgotten... why would I start now?"

closes the door and shrugs. "You mind is as feeble as ever?" he suggest, with a teasing grin.

frowns at that before thrusting the gift he'd brought with him at the French man. "Very funny."

chuckles softly, catching the gift from him. "Merci mon couer~~" he teases, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "May I open it now, or will you make me serve you tea first?"

ignores the kiss, for once not flinching away from him instead he just shrugs. "It's entirely up to you Francis. I don't exactly trust your tea."

"Coffe it is then," he grins, though instead of actually going to make coffee he starts peeling at the wrapping, too curious to see what's inside.

had gotten him a silk tie and a pair of cufflinks, all reasonable gifts really. He rolled his eyes as he watched him open it already.

pulls out the tie and links, smiling. "Merci, these are quite nice."

nods, glad he liked them. For the day he could easily forget any arguments they were having or had. "I'm glad you like them."

hums softly, holding the tie up.. yes, he had a shirt this would match he decides silently, before setting them down in favour of leading Arthur through to the kitchen. "How has life been treating

you?" he asks, making small talk as he starts up the kettle.

followed him into the kitchen and rubbed his temples. "About as well as you would expect with everything that's been going on."

hums softly. "I suppose that is fair. At least you have the royal child to be happy over?"

frowns and shrugs before he took a seat. "I suppose."

arches a brow at this. "You're never not excited for a royal child. What is wrong?"

shrugs again. "I am excited, but at the same time I'm just wishing the whole thing is out of the media."

hums at him. "It has never been a thing you could keep out of the media, even before the media existed. Has your mind feebled so much to forget that?" he hums, pouring two cups of tea and offering one to

Arthur, made the way he liked it of course.

glared at him for that but accepted the tea with a quiet thanks. "No my mind is perfectly fine aside from the fact that I even try to come talk to you once a year on civil terms."

takes a seat beside him, chuckling a bit. "I am just teasing, of course. The visit is appreciated, even if the birthday is not," he hums, sipping his own tea.

took a sip of the tea, surprised it was just right. He really shouldn't be though. "Thought you'd be long over the whole getting old thing."

makes a noise of disagreement, shaking his head. "Every year it's a reminder of how long we've been here, and consequently, everything that's happened since..."

frowned at that. "There are other days in the year to remember those things. To much has happened to spend one day dwelling on it.

"

hums. "Perhaps, but that doesn't mean they don't come to mind today as well, on top of how much time has passed since.."

watched him over his cup of tea with a slight frown before nodding slowly. "I see."

purses his lips. "It's not my fault you discarded your hert back in your pirate days," he huffs.

paused mid sip of tea and stared at him. "I did no such thing."

simply hums doubtfully at that, sipping his tea as well.

narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "You really no nothing about me anymore Francis."

laughs. "Your pirate years were hardly recent."

looks away from him with a sigh. "No I've had time since them you know."

merely hums at him. "Not that you've changed much since, other than the becoming much like an old man part. Some days I wish your punk years had stuck around a little longer," he laughs.

frowned at him again and huffed. "You know I don't always act like an old man." He really didn't. He just preferred not to show it around other nations.

hums at him. "Just most of the time you do," he agrees.

folds his arms over his chest. "If you think that you should come to the bar with me on Tuesday night."

arches a brow. "Why tuesday?"

blinks and shrugs, "that's the night I go."

pauses... and laughs. "Oh dear, you even schedule your drinking," he laughs in pity. "You poor old man."

glares at him, "no that's when my mates are there."

hums at him. "Sure sure."

stares down at his mug before he gets up and sets it down. "Well I'll be off. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."

isn't surprised in the slightest. "We didn't even break out the alcohol this year," he hums, relaxing back in his seat. "Why do you keep just giving up on talking with me, cher? We used to have such

long conversations."

looked over at him and frowned. "What do we have to talk about that we haven't already discussed Francis? I think we're both pretty clear that we wont be friends."

sighs. "Willfully ignorant as always. You do realize I still consider you my friend, oui?"

getting a headache already from this as he looked down before he sat back down. "I still don't have anything to talk to you about..." he know he should stop being an ass, Francis wasn't doing anything uncalled

for.

hums, hesitating a moment before standing to go to his liquor cabinet and pull out some wine for them. "Well, seeing as you probably don't want me to talk about how great Gregory is, what

would you like to talk about?" he asks, pouring two glasses before coming back over to sit down, handing one to Arthur.

took the glass with a quiet thanks and watched him for a moment. "I would much rather you not talk about that. I am glad you two are happy though."