What's taking so long? Is no one home? Arthur was about to turn around and head back to his own apartment when the door in front of him finally opened. He glanced up into blue-violet eyes hidden behind a pair of round glasses and stopped tapping his foot, immediately straightening out his posture.

"Arthur," came the greeting. "Hi."

"Hello, Matthew," he said in response. "You wouldn't have happened to receive my mail again, have you? I was expecting a package and it didn't arrive yet, but the company insists they've delivered it."

"Hm, why don't you come in?" Matthew offered. "I'll check. Sometimes Alfred picks up the mail and just dumps it somewhere without bothering to tell me about it."

With a grateful nod, Arthur followed him inside, becoming distracted despite himself at the name. He knew that Alfred was Matthew's younger brother, and while he had never actually spoken to him, he seemed like a nice person. Annoying, as he was sure that Alfred was to blame for the awful pop music playing loudly at two in the morning, but nice.

And he's probably here, a voice in the back of his mind whispered, and suddenly Arthur was reminded that this was Alfred's apartment, too. He could run into him at any moment.

He started feeling nervous. What if he did? Would he say something?

"I think I've found it," Matthew said. He held a small box in his hands, and, turning it over to look at the label, he confirmed it. "Yup, it's addressed to you."

"Thank you. I don't know why they keep delivering my things to you. Sorry for any inconvenience," Arthur said politely as he took the box.

"It's no trouble at all," Matthew insisted.

Arthur nodded. "I'll be heading back then," he said, but as he turned around, he ran into someone. His mind instantly considered the first logical person for him to bump into: Alfred. He thought he felt his heart skip a beat.

But then, he heard an odd, accented voice that he didn't recognize, and he knew that it couldn't possibly be Alfred.

"Nah, why don't you stay for a while? Make yourself at home. We can put on movie."

Eyebrow raised, Arthur stared at the albino in front of him, confused. "I, uh," he faltered. "I don't believe I know you."

"What?" he feigned shock, and as he cockily continued, Arthur couldn't help but decide that he didn't like him. "I'm the awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt!"

Gilbert stuck out his hand, which Arthur stared at but made no move to shake. "Yes well," he met his gaze again, frowning. "I'm Arth-"

"Oh, I know who you are!" Gilbert interrupted, smirking. He seemed much too pleased with the situation. "You see, I happen to know a little birdie who-"

"Gilbert," Matthew hissed. "Don't."

Gilbert rolled his eyes. "Ja, ja, whatever." He turned his attention back to Arthur. "I see your name on the mail all the time, so I know who you are."

"You live here?"

"He doesn't," Matthew said, crossing his arms. "But he sure acts like it."

Gilbert shrugged. Arthur regarded him for a moment longer before continuing on his way. "Right then, I'll be leaving. Thanks again, Matthew. Goodbye."

After he had returned to his apartment, Arthur couldn't help but over-think things. It was a bad habit of his and often caused him to end up considering situations that would never actually happen. He had to wonder though: what if he had seen Alfred? What would have happened after that?

"Oh hello, I'm Arthur," Arthur would have said. "You're Matthew's brother, Alfred, right?"

"Yeah," Alfred would reply with a grin. "Did we get your mail again?"

"Yes, but it's no bother."

"Nah, I'd hate to waste your time like that. Since you're already over here, wanna go out and-"

The phone rang.

Face red, Arthur scrambled for the phone, tossing the package on a nearby table and kicking his shoes off as he did so. He'd just been standing in front of his door like an idiot! What was wrong with him?

"H-Hello?" he said quickly, hoping he didn't seem too surprised. He so had not just been daydreaming about his neighbour. Definitely not.

But it seemed that if his voice did give anything away, the person on the other end didn't notice anyway. "Arthur, darling!" the woman screeched, and Arthur winced. It was Francis' mother, who spoke entirely in exclamation marks. Nice.

"How are you, Ms. Bonnefoy..." he mumbled. Usually she'd berate him for calling her such, and insist to be called Marguerite, but today it seemed she was too excited to care.

"I am magnifique! And you?" She didn't give him a chance to answer. "Oh Arthur! Guess what?"

"Wh-"

"I'm getting married!"

He wanted to roll his eyes. "Wow, I cannot contain my shock." Marguerite Bonnefoy had probably had more marriages than he could count on two hands, and each time she acted like an eighteen-year-old who'd just been proposed to by the love of her life. "I mean... Wow! Good for you!"

"Oh, I am so happy you've finally moved into the area!" Marguerite continued to gush. "I can't believe you've made it this long without experiencing one of my weddings! You know, all the ladies in my book club agree that I am a phenomenal wedding planner!"

"Well, I'm certain that it will be-"

"I already have the cutest outfits planned for you and Francis!"

Arthur's eyes widened. He'd seen enough photos of Marguerite's infamous weddings to know of the disaster behind those words. "Y-You shouldn't ha-"

"This year, I want a fairytale wedding. Oh, it'll be marvelous!"

"Um, maybe-"

"Imagine it! The wedding is outside in a green field. The guests are dressed as princesses, princes, and fairies."

What was this, a costume party? Someone may as well wear a full-body dragon suit. "I don't think that's-"

"I walk up the aisle, dressed in a beautiful, sparkling, flowing, white dress, wearing a tiara and jewellery to match, and Charles cries when he sees me. We recite our vows and kiss, and I throw the bouquet and a young, beautiful princess catches it."

"Uh, okay, but-"

"Then we have a party, and Charles and I ride away in a horse-drawn carriage!"

Arthur sighed. He could feel a headache coming on. "Great. It'll be amazing."

"I know!" Marguerite let out a happy sigh. "Well Arthur, honey, I have to go now. I'll call you up another time to discuss more details about the wedding!"

"Can't wait," he murmured. "Bye, Ms. Bonnefoy."

"It's Marguerite!" she exclaimed, then hung up. Arthur went to get some Aspirin.

The following day, Arthur found himself in front of the mirror he had hanging in the hallway, running a comb through his hair. His attempts to gain control of it failed him as always, so he gave up and went to pull his dark grey coat off the hook instead. As he pulled his arm through the sleeve, slipping on his boots at the same time, he couldn't help but listen in on a conversation going on outside the apartment.

"But Mattie-"

"No, Alfred. I'm busy. Since you don't work, the least you could do is run down to the supermarket and buy all the food that you eat."

"You eat it too."

"If there's anything left by the time you're done."

He then heard the door shut, which must have meant that the argument was over and Alfred was on his way to the store. The same store that he was on his way to.

And shopping was something that could wait, Arthur decided. He did need to stop by the library and pick up a few new books. It was better than risking an awkward encounter with his neighbour, at least. Who he, again, did not daydream about. That was absurd.

The next chapter will be fun ;) But some things I'm planning for the future will be even better... Please review! ;D