"Schwester, did you invite him to dinner?" Ludwig called from his library.

"Nein," Maria sighed coming out of her bedroom. "I'll text him that now West…but he's getting ready for a trip to Tonis'."

"Wirklich?" Ludwig said coming out with his reading glasses on. Ludwig smiled a little. "It's nice to see he found someone isn't it?"

"Well, Bruderlein, they found each other once by accident. I guess it's the whole 'If you love something blah blah blah' saying. They were both heartbroken over the divorce, you know the story." Ludwig nodded. "It's like you and Feli really. Kesesesese."

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

"Nothing Bruderchen~! Kesese! Let me just text Specs," Maria got out her phone and turning back into her bedroom.

"How are you and Vash doing?"

She turned around. "Awesome! We're like having sex every night! It's the best sex I ever had and waaaay better than any sex you ever will! Kesese!"

"You know it's not all about sex," Maria nodded. "I noticed that you've been leaving your 'gear' at home."

"We just w-wanted to go vanilla for a little while, so we could get into the swing of things, kesese…"

"Uh huh. I also noticed that Vash didn't bring his gear to Spain…where you were both 'doing it at any free moment'."

"I told you! We just wanted to go vanilla-"

"Vash keeps a lot of other things with his gear." Ludwig commented. "Unless, you weren't using any protection."

Maria flushed a little. "You don't know!"

"Maria, are you still afraid of contact like that?" Ludwig gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She shuddered violently. "I think everyone would understand that. Especially what you've been through. All of the tests with Ivan. It's okay that you and Vash aren't having sex. There's a lot more to a relationship th-"

She ran to the bathroom, like she usually did when his name came up. Ludwig sighed and went back into his library.

~That Night~

Maria was playing loud music upstairs and getting ready. Ludwig decided to keep it simple, and reminded her to do so as well. He was just wearing a light blue button up and slacks. He hoped she wouldn't go all out in either extreme: Just wearing pajamas like she did normally, or wear one of her old ball gowns from who knows when. The doorbell rang at exactly seven sharp. Ludwig gently walked over to the door. Feli, Vash, Lili, Roderich, and even Elizabeta had shown up to this little party.

"Ludwig!" Feliciano said jumping and hugging his boyfriend. "Is there going to be pasta? Ve?" Then, three dogs came running down the stairs.

"Maria! You were supposed to keep them in their kennels while we ate!" Ludwig shouted up stairs. A small 'Entschuldigung'* was heard coming down.

"It's okay Luddy, your doggies are really cute and nice! Ve~!" Feliciano said bending over and petting them. Lili joined him almost immediately.

"Danke for inviting us to dinner," Vash said smiling. Ludwig nodded, knowing he was here for free food and to see Maria. She, Lili, money and guns were the only things that made him smile anymore. Roderich looked like he was deep in thought and Elizabeta looked ecstatic to be there. The music from upstairs stopped.

Maria came bounding down the stairs and in Vashs' arms. Vash quickly pecked her cheek. She was actually wearing normal clothes: a T-shirt and jeans. Roderich looked away blushing for a moment. Ludwig rolled his eyes, realizing Roderich didn't know what Maria had been through during the Cold War with Ivan. Plus he had said they might be fucking in their hotel room. In a way, Ludwig wished he had figured it out early. Maria didn't need to lie to him and the rest of the world about something like that. There was no shame in it.

"Ve~!" Feliciano said hugging Ludwig again. Elizabeta smiled at the both. "You got dinner under control Ludwig?" She asked.

"The awesome me made it!" Maria said snuggling into Vashs' chest. Without her thigh high heels they were about the same height. Everyone went somewhat silent. "What? I'm an okay cook at worst! I'm way better than Arthur." Gilbird landed in her hair and seemed to nod.

"She is a good cook when she knows what she's doing," Ludwig nodded.

"Si! Ve~!" Feliciano said rolling on the floor in the living room with Blackie** in his arms. Roderich facepalm'd and Elizabeta just giggled watch Feli do that for about five minutes. Maria and Lili had gone into the kitchen and checked on the food. Vash just stood there awkwardly with Roderich and Ludwig.

"So…you must enjoy her company a lot," Roderich commented.

"Ja, she's…she's pretty amazing."

Roderich blushed at that and rolled his eyes.

"Have you two…actually…had sex?" Ludwig said quietly also blushing.

"Nein, but she does lots of things for Lili and I. She managed to clean my entire gun collection in a day. When I got back from running some errands she was polishing them. She knows her away around a gun."

"Then what the hell did I walk in on?" Roderich cut in again.

"She was getting ready and you woke me up. Plus, you know how perverted she can be." Roderich nodded. "She just isn't ready for that yet. I understand it as best as I can despite her behavior."

Berlitz and Aster** went up to Roderich and Vash. Vash began rubbing Asters ears and talking in nonsensical Baby German. Roderich had to choke back a laugh and started to pet Berlitz.

"Abendbrot ist bereit!***" Maria shouted from the kitchen.

Everyone, including the dogs, found their way to the dining room. Maria and Ludwig brought the food to the table. It was an abnormally quiet dinner from them. The only exchange really taking place was Maria asking Feli if she had gotten his favorite foods right, and him nodding in response followed by 've~'s. Normally, Maria and Roderich would have gotten over a fight about something. Maybe the preparation of food, or the way the table was set up. Then, Elizabeta would be dragged into the fight, on one side or the other. That left Ludwig playing peace keeper, Feli waving a small white flag, and Vash and Lili eating and proclaiming their neutrality. Then it could go one of two ways: either Roderich standing down or the start of a food fight. The dogs would normally get a little snack by eating some of the food off of the floor.

"So, Roderich, how are you and Toni doing?" Maria asked quietly.

"You called me today. To my knowledge, nothing has changed." Roderich replied.

Maria's eyes practically glowed ruby. She was starting daggers at Roderich.

"Wie bitte?**** Did you call Roderich, Roderich for once?" Vash asked a bit surprised.

"Ja, that is Specs' name."

"You almost never call Mr. Roderich by his real name Maria. Ve~, even I know that!" Feliciano explain looked a bit concerned.

"This is a bit more serious than normal Feli. Keseses," Maria went back to her food for a moment. "We're talking about Toni after all."

She carefully slid her plate under the table to Aster. "I'm going to bed for the Nacht. Tschüß!*****" She left the dining room and climbed upstairs followed by Gilbird and Blackie.

The table remained quiet for a minute.

"Luddy, why is she so protective of Antonio?" Feli asked tugging on Ludwigs' sleeve. Ludwig could only shrug. She had been a bit more protective of everyone, including himself, since she had come back from Ivans'. Elizabeta looked down at her plate for a moment, and then slid it under the table, giving it to Berlitz.

"Danke for the dinner Ludwig. I had a nice time. It was wonderbar, but I really have to go back to my house." She got up and left.

"She says 'wunderbar' strangely." Vash said getting up from the table and Lili following his lead. "We have to leave too Ludwig. Danke." They followed Elizabeta's lead.

Roderich, Ludwig, and Feli just sat at the table. Feli finished both of their plates. Roderich looked at his watch. He had to leave for his train in about a half hour.

"I'm going to have to leave soon too," He said calmly to them both. "She's really worried about Anton."

"Ja."

"Si. She must not want something like my fratello happening to him again."

"Are he and Emma dating?" Roderich asked curiously.

"They have been dating for a while. Ve~, he didn't want to upset him."

"That doesn't explain the beach."

"No. But you know how my fratello is."

Roderich nodded and got up. "It's been a wonderful evening." He went to the door and opened it slightly.

"Ve~, be nice to him Roderich. I don't want to see him upset again either." Feli said sadly.

'I won't Feli, I promise,' Roderich thought to himself closing the door behind. He got into his car and saw two ruby red eyes staring at him from the second floor with two canine eyes. He just had to remind himself that she was just worried for her friend. Like everyone else seemed to be.

Pardon!/Sorry*

Germany owns three dogs, Blackie, Berlitz, and Aster. Blackie is a Dachshund, Berlitz is a German Shepherd, and Aster appears to be a Hovawart.**

Dinner is ready!***

Come again?/Excuse me?****

I'm going to bed for the night. Bye!*****

Bruderlein=Bruderchen= Little Brother.