Chapter 3

Feliciano Vargas wasn't exactly the brightest pea in the pod. He was an optimist though certainly, always bright and happy and smiling no matter what you told him. Sometimes that made him seem really annoying but his close friends and his brother treasured his company greatly.

Of course... his closest friends consisted of Matthew, the shy and quiet English student, his boyfriend the loud but funny business major and his own boyfriend, Ludwig Beilschmidt, the strict engineering student with pretty blue eyes and strong arms... And ahem... what was he talking about? Oh right, yeah and his brother, but his brother didn't often give off that warm "I'm so glad you're in my life" vibe he got from the others.

But Feliciano was too happy and oblivious to think or care that he only had a handful of friends and a mean, sort of scary, older brother. Life was too wonderful, too spectacular, too pasta filled not to love~!

And that was just the kind of person Matthew needed around now so when Feliciano's cheerful voice greeted his ear over the phone he wasted no time in explaining the basics of the situation to the cheerful Italian and within ten minutes they had worked out arrangements for Feliciano to spend the next month with him in his apartment. Which leads us to where we are now.

"Ve~ Matthew!" Feliciano's voice called from the little kitchen, "I'm making Pasta to cheer you up!"

Matthew cracked a smile as he sat down at the table, slumping down against the wood as he watched his friend dance about the kitchen to find the supplies he needed to make the perfect Pasta. "Thanks Feli... But I'm not all that hungry... Are you sure Ludwig is ok with you staying here for a month?"

"Si, he's fine with it ve~ You must eat before you wither away to bones!" Feliciano looked terrified at the thought, "I don't want to think of your bones as white flags Mattie..."

Matthew shook his head, "That is such a ... weird thing to say."

Feliciano shrugged going back to work with a happy little smile etched into his face, "So, shall you fill me in on the rest of what is wrong during pasta or ~?"

"Hm, what would you prefer Feli?" Matthew sighed hitting his forehead against the table with a dull thunk. The Italian turned at the sound, blinking in confusion at his very sad best friend.

Slowly he set down the spatula that he clutched in his hand and went to sit across the table from Matthew, reaching forward to pat the blond head gently, "I think I would like you to tell me now so I can work on making you smile again..."

Matthew huffed, moving away from Feliciano's gentle touch, "I'm an idiot Feli. I don't want to smile."

Feliciano gasped, "But Mattie, smiling is the very best thing in the world, it makes people happy in a way that only Pasta should and the world becomes a better place and -"

"Ok, ok!" Matthew chuckled, turning his head so his cheek pressed against the cold wood and his eyes could meet his friends, "I get it, you're trying to tell me I deserve to be happy. Thanks-"

"Oh well yeah that too," Feliciano cut him off before he stood to go back to making pasta, "You talk and I'll cook! Ve~"

Matthew stared at him with wide eyes for a moment before shaking his head and launching into the details to give to his weird, but lovable best friend.

"Ah scusi... Do you know where the art room is?"

Matthew's laughter at whatever odd joke his long time boyfriend had just told him died off at the tiny voice coming from his left. He turned, half expecting to find some small child that was looking for an older sibling. He definitely did not expect to see a man the same age as himself, maybe a year or so younger smiling brightly at him and Alfred while clutching onto a map of the campus and a fair amount of art supplies.

'"Oh um, it's on the floor above this one," He answered nodding towards the staircase, "At the very end of the big hallway."

"Mattie I have to go to my Math class," Alfred whispered and Matthew nodded, turning to kiss him quickly before Alfred waved and darted off down the hallway.

"Ve~ You two are very cute together!"

Matthew blushed and turned back to the other man, "Ah, thanks... do you not have a bag to put all that stuff in?"

"Ah... no," He shrugged still smiling the little curl on top of his head bouncing in a way similar to Matthew's own, "I just transferred here so I could move to America with my older brother so I haven't gotten all of the necessities yet."

Matthew decided not to mention that he could have just used the bag he had most likely used at his last school, he didn't think he wanted to hear the complicated answer, "Well... my class is pretty close to the art room, want me to help you?"

"Ah grazie! Yes I would like that very much!" The man's smile brightened and didn't falter even as he and Matthew struggled to move the supplies from his hands to the blonde's. It was rather difficult to do so and not end up with them all landing on the floor, but somehow they managed.

"So, where was your old school... um..."

"Feliciano," The man helped him out, "Ah I was studying art in Venice. It was very beautiful there."

"So you're from Italy?"

Feliciano nodded, "Born and raised! How about you..?"

"Matthew."

"Can I call you Mattie?"

"Only my boyfriend calls me that..." Matthew shrugged, "But I don't really care."

"Ve~ Mattie shall be my new best friend then!" Feliciano laughed happily as they made their way up the stairs towards the art room, turning heads as they did.

"Um, alright sure. And to answer your question I'm originally from Canada but moved here with my family just before high school."

"Was that when you met the cute blond boy downstairs?"

Matthew chuckled, "Alfred, and yeah, we started going out halfway through the first year and well," He blushed wishing he had a free hand to rub the back of his neck, "We've been together ever since..."

"Aww how sweet!" Feliciano trilled skipping slightly at the info, "I wish I had someone like that in my life."

"You're single?"

"Sì," He smiled as they neared the large doors belonging to the school's art room. "I have only just moved here after all Mattie."

"Yeah but you could have had someone back home," Matthew smiled, "It's not like you're not good looking."

"Ve~ Say that around your boyfriend I dare you." The two of them laughed and Feliciano made to push the doors open with his hip when suddenly the doors swung open from the inside and instead of hitting cool wood his hip thudded into something warm and soft.

The man he had just hip checked let out a low grunt of pain when the hip hit his gut and Feliciano gasped as a very tall, blond and muscular man glared down at him, "What was that for?"

Feliciano squeaked, smile actually falling away from his face as he shivered in fear, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to hit you, please, please don't hurt me!" He actually looked close to tears and the tall blond blinked, anger fading away to glance from the hysterical Italian to Matthew who looked just as bewildered.

"Uh... it's fine I'm not going to hurt you," The blond said stepping out of their way, "It was an accident after all..."

Immediately Feliciano brightened up, "Grazie! I am sorry though, I won't let it happen again!"

The blond grumbled something under his breath before nodding curtly to the two of them and heading off down the hallway. Feliciano's eyes followed him in innocent curiosity and interest. "Got eyes for an engineer Feli?"

"Feli?"

Matthew shrugged, "You want to call me Mattie, I think I have the right to call you Feli."

Feliciano burst into happy laughter as they finally entered the art room, "Si, that is alright. Do you know him?"

"Yeah, that's Ludwig Beilschmidt. I think him and Alfred have math together."

Nodding Feliciano and Matthew started dumping his art supplies at an empty desk, "Hey Mattie?"

"Hm?"

"I'm not going to be single much longer, ve~"

If you asked Matthew today he would tell you that the funniest thing he had ever seen was honestly the night Feliciano actually did go up to Ludwig and ask him out. The look on the larger man's face had been priceless paired with the oblivious Italian that was smiling up at him brightly holding out a little flower (Alfred's suggestion, "Hey it had worked with Mattie!") had just been perfect.

They were very cute together.

"The guest room is ok is it?"

Alfred sighed, "I can't believe you've been letting Francis sleep in the room usually reserved for me. Why aren't you just letting him sleep in your bed? He obviously wants to."

Arthur scoffed at him, "Because that frog is not getting anywhere near me when I am not completely covered."

"Are you trying to tell me you sleep naked?"

"W-what!? No!" Arthur choked and Alfred cackled as he began to toss some of the large amount of pillows that were on the guest bed to the floor, his brother leaning against the doorway watching him silently. "Honestly why you would immediately come to that conclusion..."

"What conclusion ma fleur?" Francis suddenly poked his head into the room, smiling brilliantly even after the afternoon they had discussing Alfred's predicament with Matthew.

Arthur scowled, "Nothing, go to bed."

"I was waiting for you to join me," The Frenchman pouted and Alfred smirked at his brother, waggling his eyebrows as the older man shoved Francis away from him harshly. "Don't be so cruel Arthur..."

"I will not be sleeping with you!"

"Ah but you do not mean that~"

"I'm pretty bloody sure I mean that!"

"Will you guys just go and fuck already, I'm tired and if I can't get any from the one I love than somebody should at least get something," Alfred sighed crawling up onto the bed and under the covers. The silence that followed was sickening as Francis and Arthur stared at him sympathetically. "I don't need your pity!" He snapped but the two only shook their heads.

"We'll help you plan something out tomorrow then. Francis is giddy to help you and I'm sure we can find something on the inter-webs that could help," Arthur walked over to sit on the edge of the bed and like he used to do when Alfred was little, tucked him in tightly.

"Bah the internet will be of little use when you have me helping you anyway," Francis laughed winking from the doorway, "We will have the love of your life back in your arms Alfred, do not worry."

Alfred winced and closed his eyes, "Yeah... easy for you to say, you're whole relationship isn't on the line. And fuck, what am I supposed to do about my confidence now?"

"I admit him not finding you attractive must have felt like a low blow but you can pull back from that, there must have been others that have -"

"I'm a virgin Arthur."

The Brit blinked, "Ah right... Well we'll figure something out alright? You're not alone in this Alfred."

"Oui, and if worse comes to worse you could always find a little sexy thing to tell you you are sexy to gain your confidence back, ohohohohoh~" Francis looked only too delighted at the idea but Alfred stared blankly at him.

"Did you seriously just tell me to cheat on your brother?"

The look fell from the Frenchman's face, "Ah... non, let's not bring that up again, oui?"

"Idiot," Arthur sighed pinching the bridge of his nose before standing, "Rest up and we'll start tomorrow alright? You probably don't want to wait too long with the time limit you've placed on yourself after all..."

Alfred groaned hitting his head back against his pillow, "Another stupid mistake..."

The two older men frowned at him before Arthur lent down and kissed his brother's forehead, "It will be ok... Go to sleep alright?"

When the other nodded Arthur straightened back up and made his way out of the room, shutting the light off as he did. Francis followed, neither saying anything to the other and when Francis tried to follow Arthur into the master bedroom the fight had been completely silent in fear of possibly waking up the depressed boy down the hall. Finally with a huff Arthur stepped aside and allowed the Frenchman into his room. But Francis' joy didn't last long for once he was done stripping to his boxers and climbing under the covers Arthur muttered something about sleeping in the other room and shut the door behind him, leaving Francis in the dark all alone.

Francis scowled disappointingly, "Prude..."

Alfred stayed awake half the night wondering why his left side felt so cold and refusing to think it might be because there wasn't an adorable Canadian slumbering on the empty side of the large bed. A million plans were running through his head, he had little time, there had to be something he could do... he would do anything, anything at all for his Matthew.

Sighing he rolled over, facing the empty side of the bed and reaching out to trace where Matthew should have been. "Why is love so fucking complicated?"

Back at Alfred and Matthew's apartment Feliciano was sprawled out on Alfred's side of the bed, snoring softly and causing the little curl to flutter above his forehead. Matthew watched him for awhile, feeling a little weird that it wasn't his long time boyfriend there instead, but at least he had managed to convince Feliciano to not sleep completely naked...

Shaking his head he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Knowing Alfred he would start trying something to save the situation as soon as possible, he was Matthew's hero after all and he was going to try, try his absolute hardest to help as well. After ranting to Feliciano over Pasta and wine the two of them had come to the conclusion that either Matthew was just not interested in Alfred that way and they would have to move on, or he just hadn't found the thing yet that would make him want Alfred.

They had been together for a very long time but their relationship had always been perfect, no fights, no bumps, just smooth sailing, "I really don't think Love is supposed to be so smooth," Feliciano had stated at dinner, "The hardships in love only make the lovers closer, ve, perhaps this was supposed to happen!"

"Please let him be right..." Matthew whispered into the darkness, closing his eyes when he felt them water without his permission, "Alfred..."

And at that exact same time, about twenty minutes away Alfred whispered Matthew's name into the darkness of his room, wishing that he would get an answer and crying softly when he remembered he wouldn't.

The next morning Alfred had to force himself out of bed and down to the kitchen where he could smell something meaty and delicious wafting through the house.

"Morning," He mumbled to his brother at the table with the newspaper and Francis at the stove cooking bacon and eggs from the looks of it, both returned the greeting before going back to what they were doing.

Breakfast was a pretty quiet affair, the three of them lost in their own thoughts as they ate, though Arthur did sulk about how if he wanted he could cook just as well as the French Frog once before falling back into silence. Finally Alfred couldn't take it anymore and set down his fork.

"What am I going to do?" He asked them and Francis smiled warmly at him.

"A Miracle mon cher. You will have to pull off a miracle."

"Don't make it sound impossible you prick," Arthur snapped smacking the back of Francis' hand with his fork and splattering some egg on his cheek as he did. Francis looked horrified at the food touching his skin but Arthur ignored him to turn to Alfred, "I looked up a few things on Google this morning-"

"Whoa you know how to use Google?"

"What - Of course I know how to use Google you twat! How fucking old do you think I am!" Arthur seethed and Alfred laughed slightly. Without the loud obnoxious laughter he was used to Arthur's anger vanished quickly and he sighed, "Anyway, I did some research, it's still up on my laptop in the den if you want to look it over."

Alfred nodded, "Thanks, I'll do that now and maybe go see Mattie this afternoon."

Francis shook his head, "Non, he needs a day away from you. Research today and act tomorrow perhaps."

"But Francis..." Alfred slumped against his chair, "I only have a month..."

"Attraction takes only a second to appear, you just need to find what Mathieu is attracted to. You have time," Francis smiled and then stood, "However, I do believe I must go visit him, he will be needing his le grand frère for comfort. Perhaps I will pick up something to help you as well?" He laughed and then swooped down to kiss Arthur's cheek. "I will be back ma fleur."

Arthur went red, "I don't care if you ever come back ever you fucking frog! And stop calling me your flower goddammit!"

Alfred sighed, tuning them out and heading off into the den where Arthur's laptop was indeed sitting on the coffee table by the couch, an article was already pulled up entitled, "4 Key things that make you attractive."

Resolved to whatever was going to happen next Alfred sat down, pulling the laptop onto his, well, lap and beginning to read. Thank god he didn't have classes...