The seasons went by. Winter had come.

The young prince felt the cold coming from outside the window. There were no more leaves on the branch, the birds were nowhere to be seen either. Sometimes the sky was grey and dark.

His health did not get better, it got worse. As time passed, he could sense it everyday: how his body broke bit by bit.

His end was coming.

British Empire sent as many letters as he could, his brothers also paid a visit once a month. They often stayed from 3 days to a week. Their conversation was much better than the one he shared with his father due to generation gap and difference in their ways of thinking.

Still, United Kingdom had never been sincere.

The truth was he was used to smiling and lying.

He had endured them for all his life so a few more days would be nothing.

How he looked forward to end his suffering.

- Here, try touching it.

United Kingdom's small finger moved to touch the snow in France's hand.

When France came in and hope to ignite any conversation, United Kingdom said that he never felt the snow. So France stretched his hand out of the window and waited for a short time before coming in with a bit of snow covered in his palm.

It was cold, indeed. And it broke the minute he touched it to melt into water.

- You want to feel it again?

- No, it is enough.

France nodded as he sat back on the chair.

- Are you cold?

- I am fine, thanks.

United Kingdom was about to open his book again when France posed a strange question:

- What do you think about adoption?

The young prince was taken by surprise as he opened his eyes wide to lool at France. The latter was serious. France did not look away, he looked straight into United Kingdom's eyes.

- What do you mean?

- Um, you see. With your current situation, it is best we don't do it. So I think about adopting a child.

- An adopted child will only bring harm to your reputation, won't they?

For once United Kingdom really questioned France's intelligence level. He was near the end of his life and his partner asked for a child. He knew the importamce of an heir but he was about to die which he repeatedly emphasized, how could he give birth right now?

It was worse than what the late queen did.

- I don't care about it. If you want a child, we will adopt a child.

- I- I want?

France's facial expression changed and it seemed that he was confused and questioning, as well as United Kingdom at this moment.

- Last week you said you wanted to have a child. You said you wanted to be a mother.

As United Kingdom tried to remember, a memory stirred up in his mind. Last week France asked him about the book he was reading - France always asked what he read, United Kingdom showed him the book. He did say something about the child and mother stuff.

- I- What I meant was being a mother and having a child sounded like a wonderful life-long experience. I did not say I wanted.

He had long stopped dreaming about that future since his health deteriorated. Before, he once thought that even if his child was a result of his loveless marriage and only an heir to the French throne, he would love still love them with all his heart and raised them right.

Now it was too late. Even if he could live longer and they could still try, he would pass away soon and left his child on their own.

After the trauma of his past, he was unable to let his child live in the palace alone.

- Oh. I-I see.

He saw the disappointment in France's eyes which he understood because he could not fulfill his duty as the future queen of France.

And that also meant France would need to marry again and produce another heir.

- France, can I tell you something?

- Of course, go ahead. - His answer came without hesitation.

- Can you hold out your hand?

France did what he was told as United Kingdom reached for something in the bedside table. He took out something to put it in France's palm - his palm was still cold from the melted snow. And once United Kingdom's hand left France's, the latter saw their wedding ring.

- I forgot about it until now. I want to discuss this with you.

France stared at it before returning to his partner but the young prince refused to look at him in the eyes.

- I think I won't make it till the end of this year. So I return it to you. After I die, remarry, France. This time, I hope you can marry someone you truly love.

- What... do you... mean?

- Father asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I never answer him. But I will ask him to let you and Scotland tie the knot. You guys are really in love. I am still very sorry that I intruded in your love story. Since it is my death wish, father will consider.

United Kingdom was too focused on his own plan that he did not notice France's expression. The French prince was in shock, if there were more to notice, he was terrified.

- I will depart very soon, France. So let's not be cruel to each other, shall we?

At least with his last few days, could they have friendlier conversation? The one in which they were truly themselves with no mask on, without duty and scheme, only the souls.

But France stood up immediately and left the room without a word.

United Kingdom just gave a small smile as he thought France and Scotland would finally be together, France must have been over the moon that he ran out to announce the news.

Yet, he would never know what France looked like when he left, his eyes red as he ran to the nearest rest room and vomitted. The servants started murmuring once they noticed, some tried to ask him. France stayed silent.

France did not come back to help United Kingdom with his bath, and he did not show up for dinner with the French king either. Upon knowing France's state in the afternoon, the king paid him a visit.

France refused to let him in at first but his father decided to enter anyway. The king found his son sitting on the couch with a ring in his hand.

He silently sat next to the prince.

- His finger is small, isn't it?

The king was confused until he realised it was France's wedding ring - the other one.

- I never noticed it until now.

The two royal family members sat in silence until the king finally got to make his son eat anything. While they dined, France also made sure that United Kingdom had his dinner.

~~~\\~~~

United Kingdom woke up in the middle of the night to see a black figure on the chair next to his bed. He jolted before knowing it was France. He let out a relief breath.

Yet, his surprising sound woke France too.

- Fran-France... You scared me. - The British prince tried to compose himself - Why are you here at this hour?

- I can't sleep.

Even when he stopped himself from getting angry, United Kingdom really thought about throwing the table clock at France's head. Just because he could not sleep, it did not mean he could go around the scared others.

- I see. Nightmare? - Nevertheless, United Kingdom asked.

- No, just... can't.

- You want to talk? Maybe then you would feel tired and sleep.

- Sure.

France did not recommend any topic which frustrated United Kingdom. He was already bedridden, why did he still have more thinking to do? He tried to find any common ground that the two shared but they were either private or unrelating subjects.

- Can you tell me about the flowers in your garden?

- The... flowers?

- You have many species there. Why did you want them? Are there any special meanings?

And so France explained about his hobby of going to the garden and enjoying the natural surroundings.

Like what people often thought of him, France had eyes for beautiful things only. When he saw paintings of rose garden in a child book back when he was smaller, he wanted to create that place for himself. He envisioned his garden and let the servants do their jobs.

The flowers were chosen by him as well. He loved many kinds of flowers. To France, they bore their own stories, their own shapes and colours.

The glass house was built after when France demanded a dining house in the garden so he could have dinner while looking at his garden.

- You are right. It is breathtaking.

France nodded as he realised that he had never spoken that much in his life. He had never opened much about his life until now.

- I guess they are being covered in the snow now.

United Kingdom's health got worse since the beginning of winter so he had not seen the garden. But in the books, they said that white snow lured the nature to sleep with its cold winds and whispering lullaby, only for the spring to come and bring life to all creatures.

But United Kingdom would sleep forever in the cold, lonely winter.

- Yes, they are. But spring will come. They will bloom again in spring.

- Of course. It is nature.

- Can you- Can you.... - France was trying to ask, he wanted to but he did not know how to express it - Can you wait for spring?

United Kingdom did not catch France's hope. He gave the other a sad smile.

- I have lived long enough. Death is my salvation.

France's first reaction was to object and suggest something else, like going out and exploring the world again, he knew United Kingdom had never seen a mountain or a countryside field and yet, somehow, he stopped.

France understood what the younger had been through. His life was spent locked up in the tower for 16 years, humiliated by others for being the cause of the late queen's death. When he got out of the tower, he made some ill-fated friendship, realised how weak the bond between him and his family was, being thrown into a marriage of convenience with a loveless husband who was, before now, still in love with his brother.

And what was more? That husband planned to throw him into the tower again to create chances to meet up with his lover.

He had endured a lot.

Death was... a salvation.

He never encouraged death as the ultimate solution. But United Kingdom looked forward to death as a child waiting for his parents to go home after their work.

- Can we kiss again? - France said after giving up.

He knew he was going to lose United Kingdom this winter.

- Now, now. What is this? - The other smiled - Don't do that or I might get a wrong idea.

- But I-

- I don't want to make it harder for you and Scotland. I am sure you don't want that either.

Did he still love Scotland? He did not know anymore.

After things happened, France and Scotland no longer engaged in any conversation. They did not quarrel or anything. They just stopped talking. France had not thought of Scotland or their love for some times now.

He felt like they had fallen out of love.

- Are you sleepy? It is quite late now, you can rest here.

France accepted his invitation and lied down on the other side of the bed.

- Then goodnight, France.

France stayed until United Kingdom fell asleep. He moved closer to scoop up the smaller in his arms as he held onto the warmth and scent of his partner.

In his dream, United Kingdom could hear a crack sound of a breaking body, and he felt peaceful.

~~~\\~~~

More snow fell outside the window to signal the middle of winter with a lot of snowfall and cold winds.

- France, can you do me a favour?

- Of course, just say it.

As his life was coming to its end, his relationship with France improved a bit as they now conversed like a friend.

- Can you... just shed a tear or two at my funeral?

- What- - France was too stunned to speak even when he prepared himself for the final moment.

- No one will do that for me. So can you at least consider my last request?

France tried to find a sign of joke inside United Kingdom's tired gaze only to disappoint himself.

The end had come.

~~~\\~~~

France did not shed a tear or two.

He hid his face in United Kingdom's lifeless figure as he cried. His whole body shook while he tried to stop himself from letting out pitiful noises.

The French royal family member's departure was taken place in France.

United Kingdom's family showed up, some of the brothers were crying. Even sorrow was written on the British king's face.

They cried for him.

And so did France.

He sat in the church for a long tim after the funeral ended. He was deep in his world before British Empire came and sat next to him.

- In the last letter he sent to me - The king spoke - He asked me to approve of you and Scotland's marriage and to be kinder to my sons.

France stayed silent.

- You two can tie the knot now. I allow it.

- I... won't remarry. Thank you for your cosideration.

As soon as France prepared to leave, the king spoke again:

- It was United Kingdom's wish.

- Did you do what the late queen wished for before she died?

- YOU-

- He properly hates me now. But I am already married with him. I can't see myself in another marriage.

France did not hesitate to trigger the king. His late queen begged that he would love United Kingdom even when she knew her son would cause her death, but British Empire threw him into the tower for 16 years as a punishment.

He even guessed that United Kingdom would feel guilty as he thought this was all because of him that France refused to remarry.

But France just could not bear sharing his life with anyone anymore.

France looked at the coffin decorated with flowers one more time before leaving.

I hope you will find happiness in your next life.

~~~\\~~~

True to his words, France never remarried. He ruled his kingdom alone. But the rumours went around that he had fallen in love with the person in the portrait in the throne room. He had fallen too deep that he could not bring himself to marry again.

~~~~~\\~~~~~

The end.