One glass tankard three quarters filled clinked down against the tabletop gently. The other was completely full of the amber liquid, not having been touched since its arrival at the table. Alfred let his eyes wader around the establishment for the umpteenth time. It was a pretty nice joint, he had to admit. The bar composed of shining, expensive looking dark wood, the low crossing rafters against the creamy ceiling, the soft lighting – everything about the place looked dark and dignified. Classier than American bars by a long shot, but perhaps a little duller. So far, no bar fights to watch or games on the radio to bet on. Oh well. It had been so long since he'd been to a drinking establishment that he was ecstatic to be here and drink actual beer again. The limeys had decent beer, he'd give them that too. Besides, the night was young.

"Aren't they here yet?" he complained lightly, twirling his finger around the rim of his glass in boredom. His companion just shrugged, leaning back in his chair.

"Yes, they are in fact here, they're just invisible," he deadpanned. Ironic that he would make the invisibility joke, he who was so often overlooked. His violet eyes glazed over slightly with annoyance. "Look Alfred, just be patient. It's just a little past seven. They'll be here soon, I'm sure of it."

Alfred pouted. There were many things he was not good at. Patience was one of them. "I'm just antsy over here," he grumbled. He had never been found of sitting still for any reason either, while they were on the subjects of things he was no good at.

Matthew tilted his head at him, almost amused. "Why, Alfred – are you actually nervous about your date? This isn't like you."

"Heroes don't get nervous, especially over stuff like dates!" Alfred insisted. "This is gonna be awesome!" His eyes betrayed his worry though. What had he been thinking?

They had been at the store. His brother had just informed him that he was going out tonight – a somewhat surprising revelation, giving his tendency to be shy around strangers. It was normally Alfred who got the girls at home. Anyway, that French girl had come back and was right beside him, already hanging off of Matthew. Alfred could barely understand her accent, but he picked out something about a double date. In one moment of clarity, "I theenk I might know someone to see you tonight."

"How about that blonde?"

Damn. He had actually said that. What had he been thinking again? He wasn't even sure he had been entirely serious. He had been stunned when Francoise had said she could make it happen. How on earth could she convince her? The little Brit seemed quite foreboding. She was damn cute and he liked that she had a real spirit in her, it was mad hot. Seeing her flustered was quite adorable as well, though that hadn't been his intent. But the small girl was harsh. Alfred had barely said a word to her before she bit his head off. He didn't even get what she had been yelling at him about anyway. He had just been trying to ask her a simple question. How was he supposed to have a good time with her tonight, not knowing in the slightest what could set her off?

Matthew smirked in his direction. "Whatever you say, pal," he murmured. Hearing the light tapping of heels on the lacquered wood floors, he turned his head towards the entrance with a faint smile on his face. "I think they're here."

Alfred followed his brother's eyes, his own widening in anxiety. At the same time though, he put on the blinding smile he was so proud of. She did look pretty… Here went nothing.

Alice blinked, her grassy eyes adjusting to the light as she looked around the dimly lit pub. It was lovely in here. She had never been here, but she had been told some nice things about it. She didn't get to dwell on it though. Lithe fingers were still wrapped tight around her wrist as Francoise dragged her further into the restaurant. "Zey're over 'ere, Alice," she told her, pointing to a round table in the middle of the floor.

She followed where Francoise was gesturing and bit the inside of her cheek. There he was, that daft American, looking like a deer in headlights with how open his sea blue eyes were. He looked sort of taken aback, and Alice wasn't sure just why. He stood up after a moment, and Alice scowled lightly before she felt an elbow jab her in the ribs. She switched her glare over to Francoise, but the Frenchwoman was already ignoring her friend's annoyance.

"Ah, Matthew!" She cried lightly, letting go of Alice to quickly embrace the other blonde who had stood up. Alice blinked. She hadn't seen him there a moment ago. Francoise turned back to Alice after a moment, batting her eyes coyly. "Alice, of course you remember Alfred and, um, Matthew," she introduced smoothly. As if Alice didn't remember the other one. Her 'date'. Oh, wonderful.

"Yes, yes, I remember him," she grumbled, shooting Alfred an irritated look out of acknowledgement. He looked like he had calmed himself down, and stepped forward to pull out Alice's chair, still grinning idiotically at her. Alright, he got that part right. She still wasn't thrilled with this though. Matthew did the same for Francoise and the date had begun.

Francoise was the first to speak, of course. She glanced around everyone at the table and Alice could see her little brain hard at work finding a way to make this evening work. Good luck with that.

"Zo, what brings you two men to Angelterre?" she asked right off. Alice shook her head. What kind of question was that? They were two GIs, what did she think they were here for? To sightsee?

Matthew and Alfred exchanged looks and it was Matthew who responded. "Well, of course we can't discuss the specifics. But our squadrons happened to meet up and we'll be heading over to the mainland soon, I expect."

Alfred grinned broadly at the mention of mainland. "Yeah, I hope it's soon! Being on the boat getting over here was so boring. I want to see some action!" For a few moments he had brightened even more, happy he had found some way to talk. "I mean, what was all our training for anyway? I can't wait to go kick some German ass!" He didn't notice Alice recoiling on the other side of him, glaring at him furiously. Francoise noticed though, sending the blonde girl an unreadable glance before turning her attention back to Alfred.

Francoise nodded, looking interested. "What was training like?" she asked, faking interest remarkably well. Alice looked down at the table and scoffed. Was she really interested? Probably not. Francoise wouldn't care too much about anything not related more to her and what she liked to talk about. That certainly didn't stop her from talking however, babbling on about whatever she could imagine while Matthew tried to get a word in edgewise. Alfred had slightly better luck babbling when he could, but it was still no use against the Frenchwoman. Matthew tried to follow along, but once Francoise was off, she was off. Alice grimaced. Not only was Francoise's voice starting to get on her nerves and give her a headache, but her nonstop chatter only made the tense lack of talking between her and Alfred worse. They hadn't said one word to each other thus far.

Alice never looked at him. Alfred tried to catch her eye once or twice, but just looked away from her awkwardly. He was starting to deflate ever so slightly. Even he couldn't ignore the hostility radiating from her. He felt as if she would cut his head off if he so much as said a word to her. She was so… cold! How was he supposed to have a good time if his date was a block of ice? Since when did heroes have such problems with getting a cute girl to just look at them? This wasn't like him at all. He looked at her one last time eventually. He made up his mind that he was going to salvage something out of this evening. He was going to make her smile if it was the last thing he did. And frankly, with Alice, he wouldn't be surprised if it was.

The air was still thick and uncomfortable long after Francoise had finished her tirade of nothing in particular. For a few moments the four were seeped in awkward silence never truly broken by some small coughs or anything of the like. This wasn't going well.

"Well, zees 'as been lovely, but I want a drink. Matthew, can we go to ze bar?" Francoise asked out of nowhere, standing up with a flourish. Alice glared at her furiously, daring her to leave and abandon her with the awkward, idiot American. Francoise pretended not to notice, smiling stiffly. "Matthew, please?"

"Um, sure, alright." He stood up reluctantly and glanced over at Alfred apologetically. Francoise latched onto his arm and dragged him away from the table, leaving the two bespectacled blondes alone, much to the dismay of them both.

Dead silence.

This was what Alfred had been worrying about. He couldn't have a one on one conversation with this girl. Hell, he hadn't been having a conversation involving her at all. As far as he knew, they had nothing in common. What could they possibly talk about? But if he didn't do something, this night was going to be a waste and she was going to continue to hate him for… what exactly had he done to her again? Whatever, he didn't want to waste this evening. He was with a cute girl and he had copious amounts of good alcohol within reach. He was going to pull something out of this even if it killed him.

"So..." he forced a smile at Alice, "um… how did you and Frenchie meet?" he asked awkwardly. It seemed like as good a place as any to start a conversation.

Alice just glared at him with those cold green eyes of hers, not saying anything for a moment. Alfred could feel himself drawing back against her gaze. "She left France. This was the closest town across the channel." Pretty straightforward. "She moved to the flat below mine."

He tilted his head. "…what's a flat?"

Oh bloody hell.

She glared at him incredulously, scoffing. "Apartment, you bloody idiot. Learn proper English."

Alfred blinked at her. "Hey, I know my English. It's not my fault it's all weird over here."

"Our English came first, you wanker! It was you stupid Americans who bastardized it!"

"That's exactly what I mean. What the heck's a wanker?"

"You!"

Alfred sat back. Well, this wasn't going well. Alice was glowering at him. What had he even said? She was so easy to tick off, he didn't know what he was doing to do it. He couldn't even enjoy it. He ran a hand through his hair, looking at her. "Look, sweetheart-"

"Don't call me sweetheart!"

Dear lord… "Fine then, Alice. Calm down. I'm sorta lost here. What exactly did I do? Why do you dislike me so much? You don't know me, and really, I don't know you. All I'm asking for is to know why you're so pissed at me."

She stiffened. Her reasons would be over his head. She didn't feel like getting into it. Alice didn't let up her relentless glare at him. "You wouldn't get it. I don't need to justify myself to you anyway. It is absolutely none of your business."

"It's my business when someone is mad at me for reasons I don't even get. Try me, seriously. Tell me. What did I do to you? Geez…" Ask anyone who knew Alfred; he was not a mind reader. Far from it, he couldn't read between the lines if his life depended on it. With Alice, it seemed, much to his misfortune, that his life very well might depend on it because of how irritable she was and that she wouldn't tell him a damned thing!

Alice was growing annoyed. At least, more annoyed than she had been earlier, if that was even possible. "You just annoy me, all of you do!" she snapped.

"What do you mean, 'all of you'?"

"Americans!"

That got a slightly hurt look from Alfred. It was kicked-puppy-esque and for a split second Alice almost felt bad about that comment. But not quite.

Alfred blinked once or twice sadly. "Why did you even agree to this anyway, if you hate Americans so much – for reasons I don't get?"

"I didn't agree. That damn frog princess swindled me into it. I had no choice."

He nodded, glancing at the bar where Francoise and Matthew were talking quietly, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Yeah. I can see that."

She leaned her cheek into her palm on the table, not responding. Damn. Alfred leaned back. Conversation, if he could call it that, terminated, it seemed. Silence once again descended over their table, unbroken by the murmurings of conversation around them and the occasional demure laughter coming from near the bar. This girl was being so difficult. Now there was really but one thing to do – to the alcohol.

Alfred reached for his still mostly intact tankard of beer and chugged half of what remained. That was a little better. Good alcohol always made stuff better. He dared another look over at Alice, pointedly looking away from him. She hadn't had anything since getting here. "Um… you want a beer or something?" he asked simply. "I'll pay."

She turned her head back to him, raising an eyebrow pointedly. "I'd rather not," she responded icily. "I don't drink beer. I'm a lady."

He shrugged. "That's not what your friend said this morning. Frankly, I sort of believe her more than you, honey."

Alice glowered at him again, her cheeks ever so slightly dusted with pink. At this point, Alfred was getting over being frightened. It was sort of cute, actually. And entertaining. "Don't listen to a word she says!" She sat back for a moment, exasperated. "Oh bloody hell, she's such a stupid frog, they all are…"

He raised his hands a little defensively. "Hey, hey. You do that a lot you know. Like… saying all people are this or something…"

"Generalize?"

"Yeah, that word!" He nodded quickly, adding the big word to his vocabulary. "You're always doing that! It's not always true! Like, the French are not that dumb." Alfred turned away slightly, raising his beer to his lips. "I've heard they all know how to say 'I surrender!' in ten languages," he muttered.

He spun back to the table at the sound of an odd noise. It sounded like a snort almost, mixed with a suppressed laugh. Alice was hunched over, her face hidden behind a swath of blonde bangs, covering her mouth. Alfred glanced at her in astonishment for a few moments, confused. Then understanding broke out across his face in form of his dazzling grin. She had laughed! He had gotten her to laugh! Hell yeah! "You thought that was funny!"

"No I didn't, no I didn't," Alice insisted, lifting her head up and trying to look serious. But her pink dusted cheeks betrayed her amusement.

Alfred pointed to her cheeks, laughing a little. This was great! "You did! You totally did! I knew it!" He punched the air in a victory stance. "Alright, your turn!"

"M-my turn for what?"

His grin wasn't letting up any time soon. "A joke? You got any jokes?"

She shook her head hastily, covering her mouth again for a second. "No, no, I don't know any French jokes," she insisted. However, she tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment. "Well, maybe just one," she said slowly, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

"Lay it on me." Alfred blinked at her dumbly for a second. Her eyes looked really gorgeous right now, even more gorgeous than they normally were. Was it just the lighting? Or was that her actually being happy over something?

"Um… what do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up?"

"I dunno."

"Their army."

Alice started laughing at her own joke a split second before Alfred loudly joined in, taking a moment to actually get it. That hadn't been too bad. However, Alfred's laughter started to die out before hers for an unexpected reason. He just stared at Alice, dumbstruck more than he naturally was. Wow… she had a really cute laugh. A really, really cute laugh. And when she laughed, she smiled and her smile was the sweetest and most adorable thing. Alice had beautiful eyes and a sweet smile and an adorable laugh… there was nothing Alfred wanted more than to see her like that more often.

He hadn't realized he had been spacing out as her laughter had started to die down. He only snapped out of it when her smile vanished, replaced by a confused scowl. "What are you staring at, git?"

Well, nothing lasts forever.

Alfred sat up rapidly, almost falling out of his chair in his haste. He gave her a sheepish grin. "You, sweetheart. Do you know how cute you looked right then?"

Alice's cheeks burned pink, stunned. She opened her mouth, about to bite back a response, but just as she opened her mouth, someone else did.

"Ah, what ees thees? Iz ma petit Alice 'aving a good time?"

The blonde girl looked up quickly, surprised to see Francoise hovering over Alfred's chair, a smug and knowing smile on her face. Alice stood up as fast as she could, shaking the table. "W-what? No, what are you talking about?"

Francoise laughed as Alfred looked on in confusion. What had just happened? "I know what I saw, cheri. You were enjoying yourself. But I am afraid eet ees time we take our leave, Alice. I promised your mother zat I'd 'ave you 'home early." She beamed at Alice innocently. "I know you like to be 'ome at a… proper time."

"Um… yes, you're right," Alice said hastily, moving away from the table. She put a hand to her temple quickly, calming herself. Alfred deflated slightly. He could almost see the ice encasing her again. Dammit, he had been making a little bit of progress with her. This was disappointing.

"So, you two ladies are calling it a night?" a quiet voice sounded from behind them.

Alice jumped, glancing at Matthew with her eyes wide. Was he there just a second ago? "Bloody… don't sneak up on people like that," she insisted. "And yes, we should be leaving now, I suppose."

Francoise turned to Matthew, embracing him and kissing him on each cheek. "Au revoir Matthew, then. I had a lovely time tonight, and I'm sure Alice did too." She blatantly ignored Alice's grimace of disapproval. "So, when can we see each other again?"

"How about tomorrow for lunch?"

"Sounds magnifique."

Alfred glanced at Alice. Did he want to see her again? She was so volatile. He didn't know what he could talk to her about and it was so easy to offend her anyway. And he had never met someone so hard to make smile. He didn't know if it was worth it. But then again… her smile. Wow, her smile was great. He grinned again just thinking about it. It would be so worth it to see her smile and hear her laugh again.

He strolled up to her. "So, what about it?"

Alice blinked. Why was he so close to her? "What about what?"

He smiled gently. "Going out tomorrow."

Was this actually happening? Alice's mind wasn't even functioning right now. Why would he want to ask her out again? Tonight hadn't gone that well. She still wasn't sure she even really could tolerate him. She glanced over him icily. "I don't know," she said coldly, turning towards the door. "Francoise, you coming?"

Francoise smiled charmingly at Matthew and kissed his cheek again. "Au revoir, Matthew." With that she hurried out after her friend. She smiled at Alice sweetly, leaning her head on the blonde's shoulder. "Zo, Alice, tell me. 'ow did you enjoy your date? I know you were 'aving a good time, don't try to deny eet. You two were laughing. Ah, l'mour ees een ze air, I know eet!"

Alice glared at her harshly. "What the bloody hell are you saying? I was about to kill him most of the evening! You call that 'l'mour' or whatever? You are so very wrong, Francoise. Like you were to set me up like this!"

She just shook her head, ignoring Alice's rant. "I know what I saw, ma cheri. Why were you laughing then?"

"We were telling French jokes! That's all you are, by the way!"

For a second a dark look crossed over Francoise's face. She looked almost hurt for a heartbeat. But it was gone too fast for Alice to have even seen it. Francoise put on a smile again, again ignoring everything Alice had said in the past few moments. "Zo, are you coming weeth me tomorrow for lunch? Alfred asked you, did he not?"

"No. I don't want to go. That's that!"

Alice stormed ahead of Francoise, wanting to get home desperately at this point. Her back to Francoise, she didn't see the scheming grin cross her friend's face. Oh, Alice would be going tomorrow, if Francoise had anything to say about it.