"Hey Ludwig – your awesome brother's back from his trip and wants to see you!" a voice called out a few weeks later. Ludwig heard the voice and blanched; attempting to hide the book he had been reading somewhere where Gilbert wouldn't see it. He nearly successfully did before Gilbert barged in with the dogs nuzzling him happily, Gilbert stooping down to pet all of them and his pet bird hovering over his silvery hair, twittering frantically. Gilbert stood up and the bird rested on his head as the man gave Ludwig one of his signature smiles.

"How was your trip?" Ludwig asked, trying to casually cover up the book. Gilbert laughed.

"Awesome. Me and Francis were hitting on this cute Canadian chick in Paris," he remarked.

"What was her name?"

"Matthew."

"…what?" Ludwig asked, looking confused. Gilbert laughed again.

"Turns out she was just a very girly looking boy. We still hit on him though," Gilbert said, grinning deviously. Ludwig rolled his eyes; it seemed like something Gilbert and Francis would do. "Oh – when I was on my way here to your place I passed everyone's least favourite aristocrat and Lizzie," Gilbert added.

"You saw Elizaveta and Roderich?" Ludwig questioned. Gilbert nodded.

"The chick's about to pop – she said she only had a few days left or something. Or at least, I think that was what she was saying. I was busy annoying Roddy. It was a bad idea to do that – they just came back from buying new kitchen supplies," Gilbert said, massaging the back of his head where Ludwig supposed Elizaveta had hit him at.

"You probably deserved it," Ludwig replied.

"Yeah maybe. Whatever – Elizaveta told me something very interesting about you," Gilbert said, his smile growing. Ludwig didn't like what Gilbert's tone supposed.

"What did she say?" Ludwig asked suspiciously.

"That you have a crush on Antonio's adorable brother-in-law," Gilbert replied. Ludwig blushed.

"That's not true!" Ludwig protested.

"Then why were you reading 'How to admit your true feelings to your closest friend' before I came in here?" Gilbert asked. Ludwig blanched. "I saw you hide it," Gilbert continued, chuckling. "Seriously bro? A self-help manual?" Gilbert grabbed a nearby chair and sat on it backwards, the dogs lying around his feet. "It's time your awesome older brother gave you a man to man talk," Gilbert said seriously.

Ludwig stared at the Albino. "A man to man talk?" Ludwig asked sceptically.

"Yeah. So here it is; books will only get you so far in life. You gotta listen to your heart sometimes – which sounds really freaking cheesy but hear me out. A book's not gonna tell you how to deal with Feliciano alright? You gotta figure out what to do yourself," Gilbert said, fixing his brother with a serious look.

Ludwig blinked back at Gilbert. Gilbert had never been so serious before. "What do you mean?" Ludwig asked.

"What do you think you should do?" Gilbert asked.

"Well the book said that I have to-"

"I didn't ask for what the book told you to do. What would you do?"

"I don't know!"

"Goddammit Ludwig you're such an idiot about these things – what would you do? Listen to your freaking heart!" Gilbert exclaimed, hitting his hand against his forehead in frustration.

"I don't know – ask him for a date or something?" Ludwig cried out, exasperated. He had no idea what this got to do with anything.

Gilbert's red eyes glittered and he leapt to his feet, knocking over the chair and nearly stepping on the dogs – which had run off the moment he stood up.

"Yes! Ask him out on a date! That's what you should do!" Gilbert exclaimed. He threw his arms into the air. "Hallelujah, Ludwig's figured out something on his own without consulting a stupid book!"

"But what if he says no because he doesn't like me that way?" Ludwig countered.

"Then you say 'alright, let's stay friends' and take it like a man!" Gilbert replied. "Feliciano's a really nice guy too – so it's not like that's ever going to happen."

"So you really think I should ask out Feliciano?" Ludwig asked urgently.

"Of course! God Ludwig, you should've asked me for advice ages ago – you could've been a relationship by now if I heard about this earlier!" Gilbert remarked. "I'm so awesome at dishing out advice," he said dreamily. "I should start up an advice column or something."

"When should I ask him out?" Ludwig asked. Gilbert shrugged.

"Whenever you see him next," Gilbert suggested.

Ludwig frowned. Feliciano was coming over to his house that night for the cats' play date and was staying for dinner.

"I'll ask him tonight," Ludwig said quietly himself, feeling determined.

"When's the baby due?" Feliciano asked into the phone as he put away a few paintings he had made that afternoon. He could hear Elizaveta chuckle.

"A few days – hopefully. She's kicking pretty hard," Elizaveta told him.

"Have you thought of a name for her yet?" Feliciano asked eagerly, pausing to stoop down and pet Gino – who purred happily and nuzzled his hand. Feliciano broke into a smile.

"Not yet! Roderich won't decide between Anna and Katharina. I'm at my wits-end when it comes to naming her – so if you suddenly hear news of you being uncle to a little girl named Elizaveta junior it's not my fault!" Elizaveta joked and Feliciano laughed.

"Katharina's a very pretty name," Feliciano suggested.

"That's what I think too but as if Roderich would listen to me. Have I told you about his newest idea? To name her after a composer! I would be all for the idea if it weren't for the fact they're all men! Roderich said we could feminize the name but I honestly don't want a daughter named Wolfgangette or Ludwiga!" Elizaveta exclaimed and Feliciano laughed again.

"Those names don't sound good at all," Feliciano agreed through chuckles.

"But speaking of Ludwig… when are you going to tell him how you feel?" Elizaveta asked. Feliciano blushed deeply. He had admitted to Elizaveta a few days ago that he did indeed have a big crush on Ludwig but was too afraid to tell the German man.

"Never?" Feliciano suggested and he heard Elizaveta sigh on the other end.

"Incorrect. You're asking him out tonight, ok?" Elizaveta asked. Feliciano blanched – a rather odd contrast to his previously red face.

"N-no! That'll be embarrassing!" Feliciano cried out.

"No it won't! You'll tell him that you like him and suggest a date and he'll blush and stammer out a yes like the awkward German he is and all will be fine!" Elizaveta told him.

"Why are you so sure he'll say yes?" Feliciano asked.

"Because Ludwig's older idiotic brother Gilbert called me after he went to Ludwig's house and told me Ludwig likes you," Elizaveta said matter-of-factly. Feliciano's heart fluttered.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Feliciano asked accusingly.

"Why would I lie about something like that? I'm telling you the truth – a hundred percent!" Elizaveta protested. "But it doesn't matter if I'm lying or not – Ludwig most definitely likes you and since he's probably too shy to ask you out himself you have to be ballsy and ask him out yourself!" Elizaveta added.

"But I don't want too!" Feliciano whined. "It's too scary!"

"Honey, trust me. I'm married to an Austrian who's just like Ludwig. I was the one who asked him out, did you know that?" Elizaveta asked.

"Yes… but you're so strong and brave! I can't do something like that," Feliciano reminded her.

"That's because you don't have the confidence for it! Just believe in yourself and you can and once you do, Ludwig will say yes and you'll be happily dating and wondering how the hell you were so scared to make the first move!" Elizaveta told him. "Trust me."

"Do I really have to?" Feliciano asked meekly. A part of him was fine just being friends with Ludwig and really didn't want to tell him how he really felt.

"Do you want to stay alone forever?" Elizaveta prompted. That was all Feliciano needed.

"Ok then," Feliciano said, taking a deep breath in. "I'll tell him tonight."

Ludwig stared at the cushions critically. They looked crooked. He arranged them so that they weren't crooked anymore. They didn't look right. Ludwig let out an annoyed sigh.

"Dude… chill. You going OCD on the house isn't going to make Feliciano say yes to you when you ask him out, you know," Gilbert told him, leaning against the wall behind Ludwig. Ludwig turned around and glared at his older brother.

"Didn't I ask you to leave an hour ago?" Ludwig asked. Gilbert snorted.

"Yeah. So?" he questioned.

"I'd appreciate it if you weren't here when Feliciano comes over," Ludwig continued.

Gilbert pouted. "But I haven't seen him for so long!" he protested.

"Gilbert…" Ludwig warned. Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"Fine, fine. I'll leave – maybe Roderich and Elizaveta are at home?" he said with a devious smirk. Ludwig sighed.

"Why must you always try to create trouble wherever you are?" Ludwig asked. Gilbert shrugged, turning away to leave the house.

"I guess because no one else is awesome enough to do it," Gilbert replied, walking towards the front door. Ludwig glanced at the clock hanging nearby. It was almost time for Feliciano to arrive.

"Hurry up and leave, Gilbert!" Ludwig called out.

"You're such an ungrateful brother, you know that?" Gilbert called back. Ludwig could hear the door opening. "Oh hey Feliciano!" he heard Gilbert exclaim. Ludwig's heart flew into his throat. It was time!

"Feliciano?" Ludwig asked, walking towards the door urgently. He found Gilbert standing there, smirking at him… and no Feliciano.

"It was too tempting," Gilbert replied with a smirk. Frowning, Ludwig pushed Gilbert out of the house and onto the porch. "Hey, no need to be pushy I was only jo-" Ludwig shut the front door on Gilbert's face. "You're a jerk!" he heard Gilbert call out from outside. "And Feliciano's actually here now," he added after a pause.

"I'm not falling for that Gilbert – now leave!" Ludwig exclaimed, opening the door to glare at Gilbert furiously.

And came face-to-face with a surprised looking Feliciano. Gilbert smirked at him and sauntered away, whistling what sounded suspiciously like the Wedding March. Ludwig glared at Gilbert's retreating back.

"Please, come in," Ludwig said hastily, allowing Feliciano inside, his heart beating madly.

It really was time!

Feliciano snuck a glance at Ludwig. Ludwig was watching the cats play with his three dogs, his face an odd pink. Feliciano knew he should have told Ludwig by now about how he felt… but something was restricting him. He was scared.

"Do you want to stay alone forever?" Elizaveta's voice echoed in his mind. Feliciano gulped. It was now or never.

"I have something to talk to you," Feliciano said, turning to Ludwig. He blinked; Ludwig had said the exact same thing at the exact same time.

"You go first," Ludwig offered, turning a darker pink. Feliciano shook his head.

"No – you," Feliciano prompted. Ludwig nodded, swallowing deeply.

"I'm… I'm not sure how to put this," Ludwig admitted, looking away. "But… I really enjoy your company."

Feliciano blushed. "I really enjoy your company too," Feliciano told him. Ludwig turned an even dark pink. "But go on," Feliciano prompted.

"I like you very much," Ludwig stammered [making Feliciano's heart flutter happily], "And…I…," Ludwig blurted out, his face practically turning purple with the amount of blood flowing to it. Feliciano blinked.

"What?" Feliciano asked, not understanding what Ludwig had said.

"I said… I like y-you very m-much and was wondering… i-if you would g-g-go out with me?" Ludwig stammered, looking away. "I understand if you don't want to or anything," Ludwig added quickly.

It was Feliciano's turn to blush. "I do!" he exclaimed, shyly walking towards Ludwig and sitting down beside him. "I was actually going to ask you out myself," he admitted, smiling. Ludwig looked and him and smiled back.

"So… you like me back?" Ludwig asked. Feliciano nodded. "And you were going to ask me out?" he questioned. Feliciano nodded again. "Well… I guess… I guess I accept," Ludwig said, looking away in embarrassment. Feliciano beamed, feeling all the nervousness escape his body. Ludwig liked him – and they were going to go out!

Feliciano threw his arms around Ludwig in his excitement. He felt Ludwig stiffen in his arms, before hugging Feliciano back.

"Do… do we have to kiss?" Ludwig asked cautiously after a few minutes of hugging. Feliciano smiled at him.

"No… unless you want to," Feliciano told him hopefully.

Gino, Ema and the dogs exchanged gleeful looks.

Mission: success!

The End.

A/N: LOL. Quick ending, eh? This entire story was actually supposed to be a one-shot - I decided to cut it up into smaller chapters instead of posting it at once so you wouldn't have to read a 10,000+ word story xD

I'm kinda sad that this story is over noww. D'you think I should write more stories in this universe? Make this a little bit of a series? Drop me a review and tell me what you think ;D

Thanks for reading!

~Awesome