+ Court Yard +

Arthur almost threw the book at Ivan's head. Only reason he didn't was because he was not going to be in trouble for damaging the diary.
"Whut in the Queen's Royal name is that supposed to mean?! Am I wearing a skirt? No. Do I wear make-up? Eye liner does not count! Do I use to word 'like' after every syllabl? No! I am not gay!"

"Ehehe~ Oh Arthur, no need to deny it~ You just arn't all that open about it. But you don't want to break poor Alfred's heart now do you?" Ivan said innocently.

The words silence him better than anything else in the world can. He wouldn't actually... This couldn't be... There was no way that... Could it? Arthur's reasonable, steady, always thinking side says this is crap and to treat it like such. But the part of him that had always been a little more hopeful wants to think it is real.
"'ll come to that decision when the time comes," he replies with a slight smile.

"When will that be, neh? When you're on your death bed?" Ivan says.

"I dun't need your help for relationship advice, Braginski, nor did I ask for it. 'll make the decision when 'm good and ready. Alrigh'?"
For what felt the first time in the past hour, he actually had a good reason to smile.

Ivan smiled and patted his head. "At least I can admit my feelings~"

"I can too... if I 'ad them," Arthur argues.

"You do feel hate, anger, sadness, and so on, da? Woul love be so hard?" Ivan asks.

A sly smile crosses the Brit's face and he shrugs his shoulders a bit. "Perhaps. Love is a stronger force than those feelings. It's scarier and 'arder to deal with than any of those, even 'ate. It's making yourself vulnerable and expecting the same in return. Might not be ready for it yet.:

(OKAY THIS PICTURE ------ http://randomsplashes.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3pt510)

"Oh i see, well i know one day you'll be on you're knees for Alfie~" Ivan says smiling.

(I love you... There are no words xDD)

Arthur blinks, chosing to take that statement the less French-way.
"Like you are for China?"

( ;D I just thought of you when i saw that xD )

"Mhmm~" Ivan say, flushing. "Unless, of course, you'd be on you're knees for me, da?" Ivan said smirking.

(that made me all warm and fuzzy on the inside)

Arthur glares at Ivan.
"Not on your life."

"Aw, that hurts my feelings. I do that for you if you asked~" Ivan says, poking Arthur's side.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go deal with it. 'm sorry but not 'appening," Arthur says, brushing the Russian away from him.

"Ehehe~ Missing Alfie?" Ivan asks.

"'onestly? Whut kind of question is that?"

"A question that i already know the answer to~" Ivan says smiling.

"Then you know that the answer is no."

"Sure~~~~" Ivan says, tapping England's head.

Arthur blinks.
"May I ask something?"

"Eh? Ask away Iggy~" Ivan says smiling.

"What is your obsession with physical contact?"

"Eh? What do you mean, da?" Ivan asks, curiously.

"Poking and hugging and such. You're a rather affectionate person. Nothing wrong with it," Arthur ammends, "It just surprises me."