The field of soul science was a relatively new area of study, with soul mate indicators having only been introduced in the past 60 years. As unbelievable as it seems 99% of people are estimated to meet their soulmate before they reach 30.

All he could think when he saw the man was how pitiful he looked. Eyes lined with bags, pinkish and bloodshot. He shot a nervous grin at Arthur sat in the sunny window seat. Alfred watched the two from afar. It surprised him to see the way Arthur instantly relaxed around this stranger.

Nervously he tapped his fingers against the take out mug. The mix of sorrow and jealousy in his gut was giving him a rising sense of nausea.

He'd always told himself that when this day came he would let Arthur go, so why did he now hesitate?

A month before, when he found the note in Arthur's pocket, he was furious, feeling so much pity for the man. Even insisting that Arthur contacted him and that they meet again.

What would he do without Arthur… probably move back to the states. That had been his plan ten years ago. He could imagine himself living with his brothers family for a while before finding his own place. Asking his firm to transfer him back to the states would be easy enough, at least he hoped.

Looking up from his thoughts he noticed Arthur looking at him out of the coffee shop window. His calloused hand wafted, gesturing for Alfred to come inside.

Crossing the street with little caution, his mind mostly clouded by his worries, Alfred rested his hand on the wooden door. He paused for a second, small pieces of paint flaked off and fell to the ground. Did he really want to meet this man?

There was no time for indecision as the door was jerked open. Arthur gave him a quick, reassuring smile "Apparently he wants to speak to you alone. I'll be down the street in the library."

The smile provided little comfort, he settled uncomfortable in a hard wooden chair across from the man. Arthur's back disappeared from sight down the street.

"So I guess you're my competition!" The man spoke, a painful grin stretched itself across his face. "I'm Gilbert."

"Alfred F Jones, Arthur's boyfriend." Gilberts grin dropped, if only for a brief second.

"Ja, I know," There were a few moments of awkward silence between the two before Gilbert spoke again "It's kind of funny. My ex broke up with the amazing me the moment she met her soulmate. We were childhood friends but she barely even talks to me now!"

Alfred chewed his bottom lip slightly. He felt pity towards him, yet at the same time unable to let go of Arthur completely. "Sorry to hear that dude… Artie is just like stubborn, I guess"

The usually confident voice came out strangled and forced. A strange clicking laugh erupted from Gilbert's lungs. "Don't pity me! It's not my fault she couldn't handle my awesomeness. I prefer to be alone. My own company is best!"

He grinned before taking a long drag of the lukewarm coffee before him.

"Actually…" Alfred looked down at his hands resting on the table, Arthur's empty tea cup was sat, discarded, just to his right. He reached out to touch it but instead let his fingers fall empty. "Arthur and I broke up."

There was some spluttering as cold coffee entered Gilbert's airway. He opened his mouth a few times before he was able to make any words. "Say that again?"

"Well, I broke up with him," Still not bringing his head up to make eye contact Alfred continued, "I don't know if Arthur told you but I, I already met my soulmate. He was really the love of my life, y'know. Even after eleven years I can't forget that. It would be totally unheroic for me to take that away from you two!"

Almost with precise timing, the small chime above the door rang. Arthur stepped through it, he cradled a large dusty volume in his arms. Which he then dropped onto the table, pulling the two seated men to his attention.

He pulled a chair up to the small table, the legs scraping along the floor as he didn't bother to lift it. His stern gaze met Alfred's eyes, forcing him to drop his bravado.

"You better not be trying to decide my future without me" He sighed, "I am an adult and I can, in fact, make my own decisions."

"Ja, sure. So what do you decide?" Gilbert bluntly forced himself through the tension. "This one says you broke up with him, want to have a date with the awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt?"

Alfred wriggled awkwardly in his seat, feeling the strong urge to be anywhere else. Arthur had shifted his gaze over to Gilbert, leaving him feeling extraneous. Eyes suddenly stinging as the welled.

"I guess that's my hint to leave!" He smiled cheerily hoping his glasses might hide the building liquid in his eyes. Pushing past the door, he didn't look back to see Arthur attempt to follow him.

Gilbert held onto the thin arm, it felt surprisingly strong in his grasp. "He! I asked a question,"

"Can't you see I've been dumped, you prick?" Arthur turned back to look at Gilbert as he released his arm. "I need a fucking drink."

"I'll buy you beer?" He grinned, bringing a slight glint to his eyes, "Consider it our first date."

XxxX

AN: I hate to leave Alfred in the lurch like this, but at least for now this is the end. I may eventually come back to write more (perhaps I'll do a prequel about Alfred and Kiku?) Alas, we don't all get a happy ending - but the way I felt writing it Alfred never really got over Kiku, so he had to let Arthur go.

Thanks so much to anyone who has enjoyed this!

UPDATE!: I am working on a prequel fic to this focusing on Alfred and Kiku's relationship and also a follow up on Arthur, Gilbert and Alfred! It probably won't be posted until the other multichap fics I'm working on are finished but I have already written the first chapter so you never know...