Arthur had escorted Alfred out of the castle, and the pair was making their way to town. Both were still flushed from their encounter in the castle earlier. Alfred to speak, breaking the silence.

"So uh, how did you start working for that guy?" he asked pointing back towards the castle.

Arthur looked at Alfred. "My brothers got me the job, they are friends with Gilbert and Ludwig" he said as they continued to walk. "I really didn't want the job..." he continued trailing off.

"Really?" Alfred said surprised "Then why did you take it?" he asked curiously looking at Arthur who sighed looking at the other man.

Shaking his head Arthur sighed again. "If you must know, I took this bloody job because the ruddy git's all wanted me out of the house." he said angrily. "They said I was to bossy, that this would be a good job for me, where I could order people around and get paid for it." he spat.

Fuming Arthur let out a frustrated noise; turning to Alfred he looked at him. "Would you mind coming to the pub with me or something, I need a drink." he said desperately.

Stopping Alfred looked at Arthur happily. "Sure I can! As soon as we get out of these woods" he said brightly. "Matt doesn't drink much, and most of the people where I live don't like me much drunk, they say I'm to much to handle at one time!" he laughed off handedly

"That makes two of us." Arthur said blushing. "My coworkers won't drink with me either" he said laughing "Like it stops me from doing it anyway..." he said with a depressed laugh.

Both men continued walking through the woods chatting lightly. As night fell they could see the lights of town through the dark woods fast approaching. Through the darkness there could be seen an eerie glow.

Alfred stopped dead in his tracks going pale. "Do you see that?" he asked Arthur pointing into the woods at the glowing light and slowly going behind the shorter man.

"What are you afraid of ghosts or something?" Arthur teased. Looking in the direction Alfred pointed, he saw the movement of the light. "I wonder if it's a good spirit or a bad spirit" he said calmly a slight smile on his face.

Alfred was slowly becoming more nervous. "B-bad spirit?" he said trying to sound brave, but his voice cracked.

Arthur's smile widened "Yeah, good spirits bring luck, and bad spirits cause havoc and fallow their victims for the rest of their lives" he said. Arthur looked back where the light was coming from. "Its not saying much, but it is coming closer." he said to himself.

Alfred's eyes were glued to the light that was slowly making its way towards the pair. "IT'S A GHOST! SAVE ME" he shouted hiding himself fully behind the shorted British man, holding onto his hand for dear life. As the figure appeared more clearly Alfred continued to shield himself behind Arthur. "Don't let it get me please!" he whimpered as it came closer into view.

"Like what are you doing Alfred? It's totally not cool to be hiding like that" The voice of Feliks came from in the bush.

"Feliks!" Alfred said relived. "What are you doing here at this time of night?" he asked standing up, but not letting go of Arthur's hand.

"Like I came out here to find one of my ponies, it ran away... "He said stomping his foot and then smiled. "And I totally wanted to see if this shirt really did glow in the dark" he said happily. "So like who's your friend? And what are you two doing out here?" He asked a knowing grin on his face, causing both Alfred and Arthur to blush.

Arthur just looked at Feliks "I am Arthur Kirkland" he said shortly.

Alfred continued "We were going to town, I had no idea Ivan didn't live in the woods!" he said gesturing to the woods behind him with his free hand.

Feliks rolled his eyes "Yeah, right "he said grinning at the way Alfred held onto Arthur. "So like those ponies aren't gonna find them selves, see you in town" he said noticing Arthur's face getting redder and redder. Leaving and waving Feliks left the area.

Arthur turned to Alfred when Feliks was out of sight "That was random" he said quietly. Looking down at the hand still entwined with his own he looked back at the taller man. "Will you get off me?" he asked ripping his hand away from Alfred's grasp and turning away.

Alfred smiled slightly "We should keep going, towns close" he said making his way past Arthur and continuing down the path.

*********************

Matthew had lost track of time sitting on the bed thinking of all he had just lost. A knock on the door broke him out of his thinking. "Come in" he called. The door opened, a small brunette boy who was smiling into the room. He was wearing an apron and bandana pulling back his hair, except a piece of hair in a curl sticking out form under the cloth.

"Hi, I'm Feliciano" he said coming further into the room.

A small smile appeared on Matthews face. "Hi, I'm Matthew" he said holding his hand out. Feliciano took it and the two shook hands.

"Can I get you anything?" Feliciano asked happily, a broad smile on his face. Matt shook his head in a negative fashion.

"There's nothing I want." he said causing the man's smile to fall a little.

"But I brought you pasta" he said anyway pulling out a plate from a try in the hall. "Or would you rather have tea?" he asked hopefully. Matthew finally gave in and accepted the cup of tea from Feliciano and started to drink it.

As Matthew finished his tea, there came a knock on the door. A deeper and stronger voice could be heard on the other side. "Liciano?" was being called. The Italian stood up happily.

"That's Ludwig, he's Gilbert's brother." he said excitedly. "Come in" he called happily.

A tall blonde haired blue eyes man came in the room. "My brother wants you to join him for dinner" he said to Matthew calmly. Feliciano had attached himself to Ludwig when he had entered the room.

"Dinner?" Matt asked confused.

Ludwig nodded "He has a temper, so I would go if I were you" he said seeing the look on Matthews's face that clearly stated he was not going to go.

"Why didn't he ask me to come to dinner himself?" he asked offended.

"I don't know why he didn't ask you himself, all I know is that I need an answer from you" he said sighing frustrated.

Matthew looked at the pair in front of him. "Tell Gilbert that if he wants to have dinner with me he has to come and ask me himself" Matthew said stubbornly, his arms crossed over his chest.

An angry and frustrated scream was heard from outside the door, making every one but Matthew flinch. "Please go to dinner" Feliciano pleaded breaking the silence.

Matthew shook his head. "Not unless he asks me" he said flatly.

Pounding was heard on the door to Matthews's room at that moment. Ludwig went and answered the door. Gilbert stood in the door way. "Tell him that he will come to dinner!" he shouted.

Matthew looked at the albino man. "You'll get no where acting like that" he said glairing.

"Fine! Stay in there until you agree to eat with me!!!" he shouted slamming the door behind him, and silence was left in his wake.

Matt looked around the room at Ludwig and Feliciano. He could feel the emotions of the day finally coming to the surface. "Maybe staying strong is going to be harder than I thought..." he said disappointedly. Tears started to form in his eyes and fall as everyone left the room and he was left alone to cry himself to sleep.