{Chapter Seven: Arthur's POV}

I had seen Matthew's older neighbor walking around her neighborhood before, but never alone and sure as hell never as lost looking. Now because I am a proper gentleman I decided to pull over and help her out.

"Excuse me ma'am, but are you lost?" I asked her when I got out of the car.

She sighed. "I believe I am," she replied looking rather disgruntled. "Do you happen to know where I live?"

I nodded. "I believe I do, yes."

"Good, because I don't."

On the car ride to her house, I found out that her name was Amelia, she used to be an actress, and since she said she could apparently tell I was gay she told me a little bit about her late wife Alice.

"We met during one of my first movies," Amelia explained. "She was the youngest writer I had ever seen, came straight over from England when she graduated high school. She wanted to be a novel writer but Hollywood convinced her to use her brilliant skills to write movies instead. I'm glad she did, because she was the love of my life." I opened her car door for her and lead her to her front door when she immediately handed over her house keys. "Oh, I know I can trust you Arthur, or else I would hit you with my cane."

I laughed as I opened her front door and handed her the keys. "You have so much spunk, Amelia. No wonder a picky Brit like Alice liked you."

At this Amelia laughed like I had told her the funniest joke in the world. "Oh dear, Arthur, she didn't. Well at first she didn't. When we first met she was quick to show just how much she loathed me. Being the romantic I was, fell instantly in love with her and planned to woo her if it was the last thing I did."

"You must have eventually if you two were married, right?"

"Alice never liked to admit it but I did rather quickly. I know she kept up the act just to spite me. That's something you would do, wouldn't you Arthur?" My only response was to blush. "I thought so. Oh and Arthur dear, thank you ever so much for rescuing me."

"It was my pleasure, Amelia." As she took off her coat I looked around her living room. Pictures starting from old black and white ending at more modern looking ones in colour of Amelia, Alice, and their families covered almost every available spots on the walls. However, an old writer's desk shoved in the corner was decorated in various awards dedicated to both Amelia and Alice. I was also quick to notice the cold, untouched soup sitting on a TV tray in front of what I would guess to be Amelia's chair. I wonder… "Amelia, well I was going out to dinner tonight, and since I don't know anyone and you and I seem to hold wonderful conversations, would you like to join me if you're not busy?"

Amelia smiled and laughed. "Honey, I haven't been busy since 1973."

For the first time in three years, I was actually enjoying myself on a dinner "date". Amelia told amusing stories about her past jobs, what it was like to grow up on a farm in the middle of nowhere while dreaming to be an actress, and more about Alice.

"So let me ask, no one knew about you and Alice?" I asked her.

Amelia smiled fondly. "I think no one even thought about two women being married during that time because it was absolutely unheard of. Everyone just thought we were best friends, and really that's what we were except we loved each other in a slightly different fashion. When we went to award ceremonies, we would either go separately or take our brother's as our "dates."

"You have a brother?"

"I did! His name was Mike, and boy was he a rebel. Gave daddy some real trouble in his teenage years. Alice, on the other hand, had many siblings, so she would take her older brother Scott with her."

I nodded in understanding. "That makes sense."

Amelia pursed her lips, looking at me in thought. "You know what I've been asking myself all evening?"

"What? Why I'm bothering you with all these questions?"

"Why a handsome man like you would spend his vacation in L.A. with an old lady like me."

I took in a sharp breath, already feeling the tears prickling my eyes just at the thought of Francis. "I just needed to get away from my everyday life and the people I see all the time." Amelia gave me a disbelieving glare. "Okay so not all the people, mainly a bloke. An ex-boyfriend who, who just got engaged and forgot to tell me." I used the napkin in my lap to attempt to wipe away the tears. "Sorry, I shouldn't be crying."

"Oh don't worry about that dear, but you really shouldn't be crying over him because he's obviously an asshole."

"He is a huge asshole. How did you know?"

Amelia smiled at me comfortingly. "He let you go. Arthur, sweetheart, let me tell you something. In show biz, we have the leading man and the best friend. You, I can tell, you are the leading man but for some reason you're acting like the best friend."

I sighed and gladly took her offered hand. "Oh Amelia, you're right! You're supposed to take the starring role of your own life! You know, I've been going to a therapist for three years and she'd never explained anything to me that well."

Amelia shrugged. "I blame Alice for my way with words."

I sighed as I sat down on the couch and glared at the telly. "What the bloody hell are all these machines for?" I muttered when the phone(?) rang. "Gate?!" I read off the small screen. Well shit…

{Meanwhile at the gate: Alfred's POV}

I waited as the intercom system rang. Seriously what was taking Mattie so long?!

"Al, I can't be here all day," Natalia nagged.

"Nat, my brother just broke up with his boyfriend, I need to see him!" I protested.

Natalia scoffed. "Whatever."

"Hullo?" A British sounding voice responded from the speaker.

"Mattie?" I asked confused.

"Matthew's not here right now, but I'm trying to open the ga-oh fu-" 'beeeeep!' the intercom interrupted. I snorted. "If you heard that I'm sorry."

{Back to Arthur's POV}

I came running out the front door as a candy apple red convertible came driving in. A handsome blond man stepped out and walked up the steps. "Well you're not Mattie," he stated but smiled anyway.

I mentally cursed as I felt my cheeks becoming warm. Did I really just embarrass myself basically in front of his gorgeous bloke?! "Erm, no I'm not. I'm Arthur Kirkland."

The man stuck his hand out and shook mine. "I'm Alfred F. Jones, Matthew's brother. Where is he, by the way?"

"Matthew's in London."

"What? Mattie doesn't go anywhere."

"Well we have that in common. Excuse me, not to sound rude by do you need something?"

"Huh? Oh yeah! I just came by to check on Mattie. Since he's not here I guess I'll call him later then."

"Al can we go now? Mat's not even here!" A blond woman whined as she stepped out of the convertible and walked up the steps to be next to Alfred.

I sighed. Naturally a handsome man like Alfred would have a girlfriend. "Well you shouldn't keep your…"

"Natalia," Alfred said.

I raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't keep Natalia waiting. It's not a very gentlemanly thing to do."

Alfred sighed this time but quickly replaced his frown to smile at Natalia. "Alright Nat, we better get going. It was nice meeting you, Arthur."

"Thanks," I muttered when suddenly a strong, warm wind picked up and nearly knocked me over.

"Be careful dude! Santa Anna's get really rough this time of year!" Alfred warned me.

"What?" I asked like the genius I was.

"Santa Anna's; a warm wind that keeps the temperature hot down here this time of year." Alfred and Natalia stepped back into their car, but surprisingly Alfred winked at me. "They say anything can happen when they blow, just don't blow away."

I watched, still in shock from the wink, as he drove away. I closed my eyes, enjoying the slower breeze that now caressed my face. "Anything can happen…"

A/N: See? I said I would update again today ^-^ Mike is one of the name's I liked for 2P!Canada and Scott (sorry it's lame) is the name I chose for Scotland. I hope ya'll enjoy this slightly different level of USUK I decided to add because why not. I couldn't have Amelia's late husband be an Arthur because that would be kind of weird... (Yes, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it). Plus, I wanted to switch up the story a little bit since we have male Arthur coming to America instead of female Iris, so I decided to have female actress Amelia help him out instead of male writer Arthur. Sometimes I like to be different.

So much USUK shoved into one smallish chapter...I think I have nine more chapters to go before this fic is over!

Ciao, Athineath~