A/N: Thank you for the reviews, I'm forever grateful! I'm also really sorry that I don't reply to any of them, I use my iPod and it's too much hassle to change my browser on my iPod to reply.

Arthur's POV in this whilst I practice trying to get an Alfred style. (Thanks for the suggestion Mister-Lion~) Before I forget, shout out to ShiandSaisei C: It was close enough I'd say. The show is come fly with me, sadly it only has 6 episodes –sob sob-

I'm also sorry this took so long, I've had some horrible fever (Why do I have such a shitty immune system!) and had to rewrite this chapter quite a bit so if it sucks… I'm sorry.

Anyway, I've decided to have either RusCan or Franada~! I might change my mind in later chapters but for now it's that. Thanks for the votes C; I also apologize beforehand for the small bit of past RuUK there is in the chapter. It'll never happen again. I promise.

Oh, before I forget… I don't own Heinz mentioned last chapter. C; Although they do make yummy soup. I also don't own Hetalia… Or USUK would be canon.

Onwards!

Two weeks had passed in the blink of an eye; I had been so caught up in moving in that I hadn't really noticed the days passing by. Everything was in its rightful place and it almost felt like I was back in the family home in England. Ahh the nostalgia, the hot blazing fire place in the winter and the lull of the news in the background whilst sipping mum's best hot chocolate. Today wasn't all too different from the rest, I had wanted to get mine and Peter's rooms right that I had forgotten to buy food and toiletries. Peter had to remind me, which is why I was now at the supermarket with him stood in front of the sweets section choosing what he wanted.

"Arthur, bon bons or sugar dip?" The small boy was holding both the packets up to me with a smile; he looked between the two of them and then back at me. It was obvious he was trying to tease me that he had sweets; it was something he always had done when I took him out shopping with me. It never bothered me though since I don't have a sweet tooth…

"Just pick one and put it in, we still need to get something for tea so I don't want to be spending all day in this aisle." I told him with a sigh, he quickly put both of them in before climbing into the metal cart and into the too small child seat at the front. We walked down the aisles, stopping several times when something caught mine or his eye.

"What do you want for tea?" I asked as I opened the freezers to look at the meals inside, I was feeling awfully generous so I would let him decide… Only tonight though. The blonde in the cart sighed and slumped forward in boredom.

"I kind of want curry…" He said as he rested his chin atop his hands. It was as I stuck my head came from the freezer and it was closed that I felt a tug on the back of my shirt.

"I didn't mean your curry! I meant frozen, yours is horrible!" I felt my eye twitch in irritation. Why did he have to come with me again? Oh yes. He annoyed mum to no ends as well so she had palmed him off to me claiming that he was my meal ticket.

"Oh? That's just too bad Petey; I'm in the cooking mood today." I said in a sugary fake voice. Fuck my generous mood, I'm choosing tea tonight. Peter groaned and begged me to go back to the freezer aisle as I walked over to the spices, picking up vegetables and chicken along the way. I only ignored him though, his pleads were just adding wood to the fire that is my mood. I picked up several spices and put them into the cart with a smile whilst Peter mumbled to himself quietly, Peter was just so much fun to tease even if he claimed to not be annoyed by 'someone with eyebrows that take up half of their face'. Shopping had never been fun; it had been something that was more mum's job. Mum had also always done the cooking so the several herb and spice names and brands all just flew over my head. Peter had stopped his grumbling and I was too absorbed in the spices to see that he had started conversation with someone. I picked up a random red packet and put it back down after scanning the back with disinterest.

I had only looked back to the child in the seat of the trolley as I heard someone talking and laughing. The all too familiar blonde American that I had met only two weeks ago was ruffling Peter's hair as if they were old friends, Peter himself just cringing with his eyes screwed shut. The glasses wearing male looked up to me with a smile that only grew in size when he recognized me. Peter was glaring at him and patting down his messy blonde hair.

"Hey Art! Haven't seen you in a while, when was the last time we'd met…" He scratched his chin in contemplation before looking to me with a smile

"About two weeks ago! I probably would've seen you while I was working again but had to call in sick"

"Why are you at a super market if you're ill you gormless idiot? You should be at home getting better." I left my place at the trolley to go and look over him and see if he really was as fine as he looked.

He should've expected to get sick at one point, the only times I've ever seen him are when he's working. I don't doubt for a minute that he more than likely was working whilst I wasn't with him. Although he claimed to have called in sick he really didn't look it. His tan skin didn't look a sickly shade, even under the bright light of the supermarket. He wasn't sniffling or coughing either.

"You don't look ill." I said before looking back to the rows of foods with a scoff.

"Eh? You thought it was me?" It was obvious he was teasing me with his tone of voice, I had been a little worried but it had all disappeared and gone to someone else when I realized it wasn't him that had been ill, "No need to worry. My brother was sick; I just had to look after him."

The smile fell slightly and even though I had never met this brother I was worried for him. From what I know Alfred was a happy person and it was rare to see him so down in the dumps. "Well I hope he gets better soon," the worry in my voice had been evident and I think Alfred probably caught onto it. He had to be quite sick if he had to have someone stay at home and look after him. Hell, whenever I was ill I would have to lie in bed all day and if I needed anything it had to be done by myself or I had to wait for someone to get home.

Alfred had given me a large smile; he had also taken one of his gloved hands from his pockets and given me thumbs up to show that he was okay. "He's fine now, just a little fever. Nothing he couldn't get over!" he had laughed at the end of his statement; it wasn't the laugh when something was funny but instead a relieved one.

"Heh, I never expected to see you here. Do you always just approach random kids and chat with them?" I said teasingly to him, Alfred had blushed before raising his hands in defence.

"I thought I recognized him. Is all, probably the eyebrows?" He said in a teasing voice right back, we had given each other a friendly punch to the shoulder to show that we had been kidding before going off into random chatter about anything and everything. I had forgotten that we were actually talking in the middle of a super market until Peter kicked me in the leg making me turn from Alfred and to him.

"Oi~ Jerk, I'm bored. Can you leave your boyfriend alone for just a minute and take me home? I bet I'm missing all the good shows on the telly right n-."

"H-He's not my boyfriend! I am not even gay!" My reaction had been instant and slurred together in my rush to get it out.

It hadn't been a complete lie, I wasn't entirely straight but nobody really needed to know that. Alfred was turned away and laughing to himself quietly but trying to not be obvious, I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment as I quickly turned away with a huff that could've easily been passed off as anger. When I looked back to Peter he had that smirk that literally screamed 'I've just found a partner in annoying Arthur.' But it quickly morphed back into his neutral face as Alfred turned around to face us again, a small bit of amusement still evident in his face.

"Oh wow, me and Art aren't in that kind of relationship, heh. He's one of my friends" Alfred was wiping at the invisible tears in his eyes as if what Peter had said was absolutely hilarious. He had chuckled a little before perking up as if he had remembered something.

"Oh man, sorry though Art, gotta run. Matt asked me to come and get him some ice cream since I was going to get myself some and I bet he thinks I've gone abroad to get it or something with how long I'm taking…" Alfred turned away from us but looked over his shoulder with a goofy smile before waving and jogging up the aisle to the freezer section.

I stared after him for a moment in confusion, the name seemed so familiar but I couldn't quite put a finger on where I had heard it before. … Another kick to my leg brought me from thought, "Chop chop, 'Art.' As I said before I'm probably missing all the good shows and I'm sure your boyfriend will text you when we get home so stop looking at the place he was in and take me to the check out." Peter said with that knowing smirk. I felt my face heating up again as I muttered a quiet 'he's not my boyfriend.' Before pushing the trolley away with a little more speed than was really necessary.

Why had I decided to move out again? Freedom was one part of it but I really had been a lazy teen; sitting down all day, making my mum come and get the dirty uniform from my room because I was too lazy to take it down and have them bring me up my meals and make me porridge in the morning. It had been a cushy life but it never had me prepared for now. It annoyed me how many times I had to go and get bags from the table so that I could put them in the empty cupboards.

I couldn't even turn on the washer so there was a giant pile of dirty washing waiting in the basket by the machine for 'someone' to put it in. How do people deal with this stress when they move out form their parents' house! I was considering texting mum (even if it would cost a fortune) and asking her how to turn on the washer and dryer. I would have preferred hanging them out and letting them dry but no, we didn't even have a washing line hanging from the windows like we had back in the terraced house in England.

It was as I was beginning to consider throwing the boxes of cereal at the wall (because they wouldn't fit in the cupboard) that my phone had started buzzing on the table. I had turned to look at it with confusion because nobody ever texted me. The only texts I had ever received were from the phone company and mum telling me when I would be in and that was over two months ago. I had jumped down from the counter top and smoothed my creased jeans out before walking to the table to see who had actually bothered to text me. It took me a while to remember who Ivan was ("who the hell's Ivan? I don't know any Ivan's!") But when I remembered I had let out an embarrassed 'oh!' as I realised I had been talking to myself and that I actually did know an Ivan…

We had just lost contact after he had gone to visit family in Belarus, he was actually my ex. A nice man, surely, but it had all been too much. It was weird though, he used to text me so many times a day that it was almost creepy after we had broken up but the number of texts had dropped after a while. It seems he was finally getting over me, we had split after I had noticed how protective and wanting to keep me to himself, he hadn't been understanding at first but had gotten his head around it after a while as we decided to stay as friends, he would occasionally add 'I love you' to the end of texts accidentally but had noticed after a while and stopped. He was a very sweet person; I just hope he finds someone that can cope with him. I was glad that we had managed to stay as friends because I'd really rather not lose the few friends I had at the time… Okay maybe I wouldn't mind losing a certain trio but that's about all.

I had texted him back quickly, the few people I kept in contact with made me happy so I really don't mind how few there is. I left the phone on the table as I grabbed the plastic bag filled with milk and several other things to go put in the fridge, the several neon sticky notes on the front of it reminding me to 'pay the bills.', 'go shopping.', 'feed Iggy.' And 'finish my draft.'

Ahh, Hello Arthur. I've just gotten back from Belarus. Natalia's still as cranky as you know her to be, Katyusha was a little sad you didn't come up with me this time but maybe next year, yes? I haven't spoken to you in so long, or sent you a text. I heard you're in America now! Well done, but I would've stayed in England if I was you… Your decision though. I'll have to come up for a visit! How's Peter doing, is it nice and sunny?
Ivan.

Ivan, nice of you to ask, I'm glad to see your sisters are still doing okay, I'll come up with you for a visit if I have enough time and money next time you go, if the offer still stands then that is. America's warm, I miss the drizzle of England though. Peter's doing fine, you're welcome up for a visit anytime you want to.
Arthur.

"Oi, idiot. Someone's at the door for you, a Francis and awesome or something. What a stupid name, who'd call their kid awesome"

I turned to look up from the notebook on my lap to see Peter leaning against the door frame of my bedroom, he was grumbling. He should know by now that I can't understand his bloody grumbling, "If you have something to say Peter, speak loud. I can't hear you when you're whispering to yourself."

He looked at me before huffing, his childish pout turning into one of irritation. "SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR FOR YOU." He shouted before slamming my door shut, well somebody's grouchy today.

I turned back to the book, tapping my pencil on my chin in mild irritation before my door opened up again a moment later, Peter probably coming back to apologize.

"If you're going to apolo-"

"Well hello Arthur. " I looked up to see the annoying Frenchman at the door. It seems Peter had let them in without waiting for me to go and greet them, Gilbert walking towards Francis a little slower as he yawned. I growled in the back of my throat, it was 5 in the afternoon and if Francis was coming to me this early it meant he usually had something stupid to request.

"What do the two of you want?" I asked lowly as I turned back to the paper, I just hope the two of them manage to get the message that I'm too busy for their idiotic antics today and go home.

Of course they didn't and Francis walked into my bedroom looking at the small things on my shelves and the pictures on my wall. "We were heartbroken that you didn't turn up to our party. We had planned it just for you, to get to know some people since you have so few friends." The wavy blonde sighed as he stroked the white wall. I looked up again slightly confused. I closed my notebook with a loud 'slap' before giving him my full attention, what was he getting at? Was it really that shocking that I was too tired to turn up to their little party?

"What are you getting at Francis? I didn't need you to welcome me anywhere; I'd have rather spent a quiet night at home anyway." I looked at him as he turned to look back at me, the sad expression from earlier was now non-existent and I didn't like the look of that smirk he had now.

"Yeah, you should come out with us tonight. We're gonna have beer and everything!" Gilbert put his arm around Francis and smiled widely, why were the two of them so stubborn? I really don't have time for any of this!

"Now you're in America you should… Turn over a new…" Gilbert didn't say anything for a few seconds as he thought of the right word for it. "Book?"

"It's turn over a new leaf Gilbert and piss off. I'm too busy to go along on one of your stupid adventures today. Get out." I grabbed the thing closest to me which happened to be a pillow and threw it at the German, who caught it and threw it back at me with double the strength.

I was fuming by now, I had made it obvious for the two of them that I didn't fancy going and getting smashed with them but they just won't give up! How the hell had I managed to live through high school with these cock heads by my side all the time! I stood up and jabbed a finger at them. "I am not going out tonight and no matter how much you try to convince me I want a quiet night at home without any of your stupidity!" The smirk on both of their faces said otherwise.

"So where shall we go first?" Gilbert was sat at the wheel of my Audi Q-7, his grubby hands tapping the steering wheel to the beat of the song on the radio. "Shall we go pick up Toni?" The two in the front seat looked back at me both smiling falsely. I huffed at them in anger and irritation, how the hell had we gotten to this point? Oh yes. They had dragged me out and told Peter to go find Tino at the café over the road.

"Do whatever the hell you want; I didn't even want to go out anyway." I crossed my arms and stared out of the window with a scowl. The setting sun giving an orange glow to everything which was actually quite nice. Francis and Gilbert sat in the front weighing out the pro's and con's of going to get Antonio before going to the club, Gilbert arguing that a rich alcoholic might go to all the clubs in town and buy all the beer if they were to waste their time going for Antonio who was probably sexing his little Italian. Francis arguing back that there was a very little chance that a rich person would waste all their money on alcohol. If they were taking me out to a club then they are definitely paying since they: a. dragged me out and b. I didn't get the chance to grab my wallet…

They were both shouting and laughing with each other, leaving me to scowl and look out of the window in the back. It was as they were arguing about the best kind of energy drink in the world that Gilbert broke off midsentence and stopped the car abruptly, making me jerk forward and groan in pain as the seatbelt dug into my neck. It was good that nobody was on the road or the driver's that would have been behind us would have probably crashed right into us with how randomly the albino had stopped. Francis swore loudly in French as Gilbert quickly attempted to roll down the window before sticking his head out. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel of the car and the other cupping his mouth as he shouted, "Hey Alfred!" to the American who was walking down the street who had turned to look at the silver haired male in slight shock.

Gilbert started up the car again and rolled forward a few metres before pulling up to the curb by Alfred. Alfred had his arm linked with a boy who looked just like him who was wrapped up in the blue eyed American's jacket.

It seems that I had been the only person who didn't recognize the person with Alfred. "What are you doing out with Matthew! Alfred, he's sick and meant to be in bed!" Francis had shouted as he climbed over Gilbert to get to the open window. Gilbert looked to the blonde in Alfred's arms with shock as the small boy looked into his eyes tiredly, looking like he was about to say something.

Alfred had pulled Matthew closer to himself as if to hide him. Making the boy squeak slightly, before he looked to the American in confusion, he looked as if he wasn't all there and was instead day dreaming.

"You should have at least brought out his wheel chair or something! You know he tires easily."

The tan male had scoffed before scowling at the Frenchman. "Why do you act like you can take better care of him than I can, Francis? He just wanted to go out for a walk without his wheelchair because he said he was feeling better this morning. I was on my way to take him home actually. So if you don't mind we'll be on our way." He pulled the tired blonde closer to him if that was even possible, before guiding him down the road slowly. Francis sat back down in his chair with a angry huff and murmur of 'what nerve!', Gilbert sat there stupidly before turning to Francis and murmuring his own 'I know right?' the two sat there with their arms crossed like children, not even bothering to start the car up and go for Antonio like they had originally planned.

"If you're so bothered about making him walk, Francis, why don't you go offer them a ride home? Idiot." I snapped at Francis, he was being completely childish. If he was so bothered about them walking then he should have at least helped them, it was a simple thing to come up with and I was surprised that he hadn't thought of it, or acted on it if he had thought on it. Gilbert hummed quietly in contemplation before turning the keys in the ignition. Francis put his hand on the wheel to stop the German before he could move, he turned back to look at me with his childish pout still there, "Fine, but only Matthew can come. Alfred can walk home." He turned back around to Gilbert and gave him a nod as if his decision was absolute. The silver haired male nodded before driving up to the pair a little ways away and stopping. I quickly fumbled with the handle of the door as Alfred turned to look ready to shout back at Francis, his shout died on his lips as he saw me get out of the car and leave the door open. "Are you getting in or what?" I said huffily. Alfred looked at me in confusion before helping his brother in.

"We're only taking Matthew home, not y-"

"Oh shut your trap Francis. This is my car and I will decide who goes in it." I snapped back at the blonde in the front seat, who glared before turning back around with a huff. Alfred nodded and hummed in thanks as he buckled the blonde at the window seat in.

His brother looked just like him, his hair a little longer and wavier but that was about all I could notice in the darkening sky. He also looked very tired and as if he was about to drift to sleep at any minute. I sat in the window seat behind Francis to let Alfred sit by his brother, the American kept giving him small looks before looking back forward out of the window.

The car ride had been awkwardly quiet for a few minutes before Francis turned back around looking sheepish. "Okay I'm sorry. I was worried but is he okay? He looks exhausted." He said gently before looking up to Alfred, worry evident on his face.

The glasses wearing male smiled back slightly before looking back to his brother and moving some stray hair from his sleeping face. "He's fine, it's obvious he's getting better which is good. A few weeks ago he would be too tired to even walk or I would've had to use the wheel chair, but today he managed to walk. I'm proud of him. The doctor said that some exercise could help him get better so he wants to try going for walks every now and then." Alfred was smiling gently, which looked so very different from his usual grin.

It felt like I was intruding a little on them all, as if I was seeing something I wasn't a part of or wasn't meant to be there for, it felt awkward but it was heart warming just to watch them. Francis' usually perverted demeanour was non-existent at the moment and he looked more like an older brother for the twins, "I'm glad. I just hope he gets better." He said quietly before reaching out and stroking the sleeping boy's cheek.

Gilbert pulled up on the curb by the side of a set of apartments before turning to look back at Alfred, "Need any help taking him in? Don't want to wake him up." He whispered quietly whilst looking at the sleeping boy. Alfred nodded, I got out of the car to let him out as Gilbert and Francis also got out. They all moved around to Matthew's side before turning to each other as I trailed behind them awkwardly.

"So how are we going to do this…?" Francis asked the American who looked back to him with a smile.

"So I'll open the door, and take his arms. You and Gilbert can carry his legs." He said as he moved over to the door getting ready to catch the blonde in the car.

"What will I be doing?" I asked irritated, I felt as if I had been forgotten as I crossed my arms over my chest, Alfred looked at me a moment before smiling sheepishly.

"Sorry Art, forgot about you. You can… just trail behind us. Watch out for thieves and stuff, take my hero role while I carry Matt. That cool? Good." Alfred didn't give me a chance to answer or protest as he turned back to the car and counted down from three before throwing the door open and catching the body that fell out. He pulled him out slightly as Francis and Gilbert grabbed his feet. The three of them carried him to the front doors that I had to open for them. It seems that my new job was to open doors and to press the button for the lift which was taking a long time to get to the ground floor. It was silent in the building only the quiet breathing of the three of us and the gentle snores of Matthew.

The elevator doors opened with a ding, the group of teens inside moving out of the way slightly to let us in. "What floor do we want to go to?" I asked quietly turning to look at the group behind me.

"We're on floor 12." He whispered back. As the elevator slowly moved upwards the three of them noticed how uncomfortable Matthew must be and shifted positions so that he was on Alfred's back, leaving Francis and Gilbert without anything to do. The elevator doors opened with a ping and the four of us all walked back to Alfred's apartment, when we reached the door Alfred stood in front of it a moment before turning back to look at us.

"Um, my keys kind of… In my back pocket. Can one of you get it out for me?" Alfred said with a slight blush and a small apologetic smile. It ended up being me that had to get it though as Gilbert started complaining about how he wasn't gay and would rather not touch some other guy's ass, and well… Even if Francis had been brotherly earlier, I doubt he wouldn't be able to stop himself from touching Alfred if his hand had to go anywhere near his back side.

"It's in one of my back pockets, don't know which one." Alfred quickly rushed out as he stared at the door waiting for me to get the key for him. I was aware of how much I was blushing as I stuck my hand in one of the pockets and oh how firm Alfred's arse felt even through the fabric but I pushed those to the back of my mind as I quickly felt around.

"… It's not there." I said lamely and turned to look to the side in embarrassment.

"… Try the other one." Alfred replied quietly. I stuck my hand in the other pocket trying to ignore the fact Alfred's jeans were skinny and clung to his arse quite tightly. I eventually pulled the metal out with a mumble of 'found it'. My cheeks were bright pink and I could hear Francis and Gilbert snickering in the background. I think Alfred was blushing too but it was hard to tell when I can't see his face.

"Will you open the door for me… Please?" He mumbled quietly. With a sigh I moved to the door, Alfred shuffled out of the way as best he could with a sleeping man on his back. I turned the key in the lock and opened the door, holding it open for Alfred and the two idiots like any gentleman would.

"I'll be right back, putting Matt to bed."Alfred said quietly as he walked to one of the rooms at the end of the hallway and went inside. I followed Francis as he seemed to know where he was going. The Frenchman flicked on the light in the small living room and plonked down on the sofa, joined by Gilbert.

"Well this place certainly hasn't changed since the last time I was here…" He said to himself as he picked up a envelope from the table and read the front of it. The room was small and had a kitchen attached to the back of it. A ratty sofa in the middle of it and a TV against the wall was about all there was to it apart from the random bookshelf that was pretty much empty by the hallway.

"It's rude to go through people's things, Francis." I scolded him, the Frenchman turned to look at me before smiling and putting it down.

"Oh? Well I think it's rude to feel people up when they're trying to ask for help, Arthur." Francis said sweetly. I felt my cheeks flush bright.

"I wasn't feeling him up; I was simply getting the key from his back pocket because he was unable to do it himself! Don't jump to conclusions you perverted idiot!" I said loudly, I looked to the side in some attempt to hide my blush and look annoyed. I hadn't felt him up; it was simply his fault for wearing too tight pants!

"The blush on your cheeks says otherwise, cher" Francis drawled the end out before cracking his eyes open slightly and giving me a knowing smile.

"Fuck you Francis. Budge up so I can sit down too." I grumbled out before shoving him to the side, Francis fell on Gilbert with a laugh before sitting up straight and moving to whisper in my ear.

"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me… 'Art'."Francis said loud enough for Gilbert to hear. The two of them fell against in each other in laughter as Alfred came back into the room.

"What secret? What are you guys talking about?" He asked with a smile. He pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat facing us on the other side of the coffee table.

"Nothing for you to worry about Alfred, just Arthur being a pervert like usual." Francis said as I turned to hit him on the shoulder and shouting that I wasn't the pervert in here.

The night went fast, Gilbert ended up raiding Alfred's fridge for beer saying that he had right to because he was better than us all. He found some in the end and cracked them open as we passed around several cans of beer between ourselves.

We had originally been talking quietly in fear of waking Matthew but had gradually got louder as the happy buzz kicked in. We weren't shouting, more like talking a little louder than usual. We had turned the telly on and left it running in the background as we all chatted with each other about everything that happened, from Gilbert and his brother dressing like each other for the day (he had to get his brother relatively drunk before the blonde German would even think of taking his clothes off.) then woke up in the morning to see Ludwig scared shitless that he had a clone, to Francis walking in on Antonio and Lovino, said Italian cursing up a storm whilst Antonio just smiled goofily.

We had even gone as far as to play truth or dare, giving each other the most stupid dares we could think of. We felt like children but that could have just been the effects of the alcohol. We had been going far into the night chatting and laughing until Gilbert's brother came around and took him home, Francis managing to mooch a lift home from him. This left me and Alfred alone but in no way was it awkward. That was until…

"Hey Arthur, do you have a girlfriend?" Alfred asked whilst he held the can of beer to his lips. I had looked at him confused before shaking my head in the negative.

"No, I'm too busy to tie myself down to someone, maybe when I'm a little older." I had said as I opened another can, the two cans we both held were the last as Gilbert had drank a lot. Alfred hummed in thought. "Why do you ask anyway?" I asked as I drank a little bit, looking at Alfred out of the corner of my eye.

"It's nothing really, just thought you had a wife since I saw you with a kid shopping earlier. Thought he might have been your son or something. You kind of do look old enough to have kids." Alfred said as he shrugged his shoulders. I had to stop myself from spitting out the beer before I looked at him bewildered.

"No, he's my brother… How old do I look to you Alfred? I asked with narrowed eyes and flushed cheeks. He looked at me a minute before thinking.

"Hmm… Thirty?" He asked seriously. I ducked my head in embarrassment. Do I really look that old? I put a hand to my eyes as I smiled sadly. Alfred must have thought that I was happy that he thought I was younger than I actually was because he started increasing his guesses.

"Was I wrong? You kind of look thirty… Are you thirty three? Four?" He added a little shocked sounding; I looked up to him with a sheepish smile and small flush.

"Well actually Alfred… I'm twenty three. I still have quite a way to go until I get to thirty…" I said quietly. Alfred gasped and moved over to me, eyes wide and shock evident on his face.

"No way! You have to be lying to me, I was sure as hell you were thirty! I mean you kind of look it and act like your old." Alfred grabbed a hold of my cheeks and touched around my face in search for non-existent wrinkles. "No way man. You're lying to me, I know it." He said surely. I sighed and looked into his eyes.

"Alfred I am twenty three years old. No older, no younger." I said quietly, I broke eye contact and looked to the side. Alfred hummed again and moved back to his seat, taking a long drink of his beer before shaking it to see if it was empty.

"I was so sure you were thirty. Like, super sure." He put the empty can down on the table before pulling a pillow to his chest. We lapsed into an awkward silence; I held the now empty can to my lips pretending to drink it to prevent being asked a question. Alfred was looking to side contemplatively as he bit his lip.

My phone started vibrating in my pocket; I looked to Alfred apologetically before pulling it out. A text from Tino telling me that Peter wants to know if he could sleep at his house and if yes if he could come over and let them in so he could get some clothes. I sighed and looked at the clock at the top of the phone, one in the morning. I looked up at Alfred without raising my head as I put the mobile down on the sofa. "Sorry Alfred, I need to go let Peter in so I'm going to have to go…" I said awkwardly looking away. The blonde hummed and got up to see me out.

He stood in the door frame sheepishly, not looking me in the eye. He opened his mouth to say something before closing it. He looked up at me and said, "Sorry for embarrassing you Art. I just thought you were older because you're all smart and stuff…" He still had the pillow that he had been holding on the sofa, he was clinging to it like a child would a security blanket. I smiled at him before giving him a light tap on the shoulder.

"It's rude to ask a person their age without saying yours first." I said with a smile, he smiled back at me knowing he was forgiven. "Eh, well sorry. I'll see you tomorrow anyway Art. Back at work and stuff." He said with a chuckle. We both stood there a moment before saying our goodbyes; he closed the door as I turned to walk back. I was still smiling stupidly but I really didn't know why, the smile wasn't fading and lasted up until I had gotten home.