Woo! Chapter Three is here! If you don't think there's a lot of progress with the pairings here then don't worry - some direct Ludwig/Feli will coming real soon. I'd like to thank everyone whos reviewed so far (I love you ALL), especially Paigeolivar4 and alguien22792 for reviewing every chapter so far. ^_^

(If I've missed you and you've reviewed twice sorry for missing that)

I don't own Hetalia. Enjoy and review it helps me get motivated!

When Alfred awoke the next afternoon he found himself draped over his couch with his knees bent in an uncomfortable position and his right arm asleep underneath himself. He scrunched up his eyes and reached around blindly for his glasses, finally finding them sitting folded next to a note in Matthew's neat writing.

Went to work; wont be back until around nine because of a work thing.

Pancakes are sitting in the kitchen. Don't sleep too late.

Mattie.

Alfred perked up when he read pancakes and walked happily to the kitchen where the promised pancakes were sitting proudly on a tray on their small falling-to-pieces dining table with an array of sauces, fruit and butter.

Rubbing his hands together in anticipation he slowly took a seat. He said a thank you prayer to the domestic God that was his little brother, poured an excessive amount of maple syrup and strawberries on the stack and put a generous forkful in his mouth.

Seriously Mattie, how are you still single?

This thought reminded him of the day ahead with the lovesick German doctor - he was pretty sure he was German, or at least around about that area. As he stuffed himself with pancakes he wondered about this man.

Hmm…Intimidating and angry? It's going to be tough figuring what makes this guy tick.

A whining noise broke through his thoughts and he glared at the big white dog beside him.

"NO."

He pushed his pancakes to the centre of the table.

"Go away Kuma! These are not for you!"

The whining grew louder and more high pitched. Alfred went to give the dog the mightiest glare he could muster, but paused when Kuma's eyes went large and dopey, and then raised a paw to Alfred knee hopefully. He sighed and picked up a half eaten pancake dripping in syrup from his plate, then threw it to the floor where it landed with a sickly splat and was then demolished by a very excited Kuma.

"Fuck you, Kuma. Seriously."

Alfred pulled his pancakes back into his arms and mumbled to himself.

"Stupid fat dog…"

-…./=====/

Alfred didn't find it difficult to spot his new client once he'd found the hospital cafeteria. As stated, a blonde man was sitting at the back table by himself, nursing an orange juice and staring intently at documents strewn around the table. Alfred picked up a tray, bought a sandwich, drink and several snacks to pose as a family member of a patient the doctor was treating so as not to arouse curiosity among the doctors and nursing staff.

Plus I'm pretty hungry.

He walked over and sat on the chair directly opposite the doctor. His head snapped up quickly. Alfred held out his hand.

"Alfred Jones! You called me yesterday?"

This did nothing to relieve the stiffness in the man's shoulders but he took Alfred's outreached hand non the less.

"Dr. Ludwig Beilschmidt."

"Right."

Alfred clasped his hands and looked around to make sure nobody was within earshot of their conversation. He leaned forward.

"So, tell me about this resident guy?"

Ludwig coloured slightly and coughed into his hand.

"What exactly do you need to know?"

"Anything and everything - what he's like, the first time you met, why you like him and why you're having problems getting his attention. Basically, the more I know the more I can help you."

Ludwig stared intently at him. After a few moments of consideration he nodded in understanding.

"I met him four months ago. He recently became a resident here and due to his clumsy and day dreamy nature I was put in charge of him as I have a reputation of producing competent doctors. He's very annoying and hopeless. He can't do anything right and to be honest he's lazy. It's very frustrating."

Ludwig took a break to take out a cleansing wipe from his coat pocket to polish his glasses. When he put them back on his expression softened.

"However, he is enthusiastic…and he is always very friendly to me, even though he says that he finds me scary from time to time. I don't have many friends; but he still sits with me when we have a break and keeps me company."

Alfred gave a small smile at this.

"…I - I would like to know how I could let him know - or find out what I could do to make…"

Ludwig appeared reluctant to complete his sentence and was becoming flustered. Alfred raised his hand for him to stop.

"It's okay, you don't have to say it. So. Your main problem is communication. You said it yourself that he thinks you're scary and it's clear to me you're a bit stiff with people dude."

Ludwig nodded as Alfred took a sip from his coke.

"Right. We need to turn your flaw into something positive."

The confused look on his face made Alfred break into a grin.

"Don't look so shocked! It's not a completely bad thing. Right - you're big and scary, but you could also be big and protecting like a superhero. Like, against people who are horrible to him or others who appear threatening to him. Can you think of anyone?"

Ludwig thought hard.

"He always takes the long way home back to his apartment because he's frightened of a group of boys who congregate there from time to time."

"Are they actually dangerous?"

He shook his head.

"Nein. I walk past them all the time. They're hardly even teenagers."

"So you walk home at the same time in the same direction?"

" My shifts always end an hour after his."

Alfred's grin grew twice in size and an excitement built in his chest which threatened to bubble over.

"Okay. I have something good and if you trust me you will follow it to the letter. It'll only start things off so you'll have to be patient okay?"

Ludwig understood, but appeared uneasy at the grin on his face.

"Tell him to stay behind until your shift ends; I'm sure you'll have no problems convincing him. Walk through the short way home you usually do with him - it'll make you appear more of a protector than scary, so that will get rid of one of the things you're worried about. Got it?"

Ludwig appeared to be in shock at how easily the young Alfred had managed to think up such a detailed plan, and he took several minutes to compose himself.

"I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Alfred accepted the thank you by patting him on the shoulder, his mouth currently filled with the remains of his sandwich and the last two squares of a chocolate bar. He swallowed.

"Okay, just keep me posted on how it went and I'll give you some help with stage two. By the way - what's his name?"

"Feliciano Vargas."

"Cool. Call me later okay?"

Ludwig nodded and went back to his papers as if nothing happened.

Alfred took up his tray and exited the cafeteria.

I hope it goes alright. He seems like a nice enough guy.

========/============/

After going home and playing videogames for a few hours, his eyes drifted to the fading numbers written on his hand. Since Arthur's number hadn't been given to him with his permission he was a little reluctant to call in case he was rejected - or hung up on straight away and told to take a hike - but the numbers kept nagging at him. Eventually the nagging made his games seem boring. Before he could even register what was happening his phone was in his hand and half the number had already been dialled.

He gulped and typed the rest of the number. Warily, he took the phone to his ear and listened.

Arthur answered after three rings.

"Hello, Arthur Kirkland speaking. Who may I ask is calling?"

"Hi Arthur it's Alfred…you know, from the bar?"

A murmuring of swears could be heard.

"How did you get this number?"

"Your friend gave me it. The French guy."

"I should have known that frog would do something like this…"

"…"

"…What do you want?"

Alfred laughed.

"I wanna ask you out to dinner; maybe even a movie."

"I don't like movies."

"Dancing?""I don't like dancing."

"Skating?"

"I don't like - look, can't you take a hint lad I'm not interested! Now goodnight I'm rather busy-"

"No please don't hang up!"

Arthur sighed and stayed on the line.

"Listen," Alfred started, being extra careful with his words. "I really like you and would like to get to know you better - didn't you feel anything? If you didn't then you can just hang up now and I'll never bother you again, but if you did, what's stopping you from having dinner with me? If it's age I wouldn't care if you turned out to be 100 years old - I'd still date you."

A small chuckle not meant to be heard came through the phone. Alfred raised his hopes slightly. The silence that followed that chuckle slowly gnawed at that hope until he was biting his nails.

"Fine."

Alfred blinked.

"What?"

"I'll go to dinner with you - but I get to choose the time and place and I can leave at any moment so don't get all whiney and change your mind."

"I'll go wherever you want just tell me."

" Amaretto's at eight O'clock Saturday. You better book a table now it's always busy. Bring your card too. I intend to rob you."

Alfred laughed, nervously trying to remember how much money he had stashed away.

"Can't wait."

/-/-/

RING. RING. RING.

"Muhh…hmm…"

RING. RING. RING.

"Go away…"

RIN-

"FINE!"

Alfred got himself out of his bed and answered his mobile.

"Hello? Do you realise what time it is? It's-"

He looked at his alarm clock and spluttered.

"It's four in the morning! What the hell do you want?"

"Are you the Matchmaker?"

"Yes I am the Matchmaker. A Matchmaker who you just woke up."

"Well it doesn't say anything about hours you can't call so that's your fault."

Alfred growled and rubbed his temples.

"Listen if you keep talking to me like that I'm gonna hang up."

The caller groaned.

"I'm sorry okay? It's just this awesome guy needs your help and I've had like seven beers to get the courage to call you."

"Oh."

"So do you help me now or do we meet up or what?"

"Since it's four in the morning we'll meet up. What's good for you?"

" 2pm tomorrow at the café on the corner of Moss street okay?"

"Yeah that's good - I'm going to go to sleep now. See you then."

Alfred hung up and flopped back onto his bed.

God help the poor guy he's after.