Erik - Norway

Mathias - Denmark

Eva - Fem!Iceland

Lars - Netherlands

Elise - Belgium

Marianne - Fem!France

Chapter Ten:

"Why is everything so pink?" Lars wondered as he walked into Matthew's house, looking around with horrified awe. Matthew winced, looking embarrassed.

"Blame the girls; Valentine's Day is coming up, so they want to celebrate by puking pink everywhere," Matthew said, rolling his eyes. "Sometimes I wish they weren't so..."

"Girly?" Lars supplied and Matthew nodded. Lars rolled his eyes. "Because the thought of girls acting girly is unthinkable," he said sarcastically.

"Shut up," Matthew replied, leaping upstairs to put his backpack away and joining Lars in the kitchen.

"Are you going to make hot chocolate or what?" Lars asked impatiently, his face still pink from being outside for so long.

"I will, calm your balls," Matthew replied, pulling out the hot chocolate powder.

"Is Mathias coming?" Lars asked as he sat down on the dining table, frowning as snow that he hadn't managed to shake off of his hair fell onto his lap.

"In a few minutes; he just texted me to say he's gonna try walking Erik home or something," Matthew replied. Lars snorted.

"Like that's gonna happen," he remarked.

Matthew shrugged. "Well, considering Erik still hasn't killed Mathias for what happened on New Year's Eve, I think Mathias has a chance," he replied.

"Does Erik even know?" Lars asked curiously.

"Björk says she came home in time to see Mathias running around their house screaming while Erik chased them...so I'm guessing he does," Matthew replied.

"True," Lars agreed. "Björk's cute," he remarked, making Matthew turn to stare at him with confusion.

"What?" Matthew asked.

"Björk's cute," Lars repeated.

Matthew stared at him. Since when did Lars make random comments like that – unless...

"No," Matthew gasped in horror.

"What?" Lars asked innocently.

"You like Björk?" Matthew demanded.

"No!" Lars protested. "I don't like her like her; I just think she's cute. Maybe I'll ask her out for Valentine's Day or something," he added.

"And that totally doesn't mean you like her," Matthew replied sarcastically.

"I don't! I think she's pretty jokes and she's cute and dude, I want to get laid," Lars moaned. Figures. Matthew rolled his eyes and turned back to making hot chocolate.

The doorbell rang and Matthew motioned to Lars to open the door as he began pouring the hot chocolate into three mugs.

"'Sup, bitches?" Mathias asked cheerfully, sauntering into the kitchen.

"Lars wants to fuck Eva," Matthew told him innocently. Lars, who had been standing behind Mathias, suddenly looked horrified as Mathias froze in his place.

"He wants to fuck who?" Mathias asked, looking shocked.

"Eva," Matthew replied, sounding gleeful.

"But she's like a sister to me!" Lars exclaimed, whirling around to face Lars. "How could you, bro? What if I banged your sister?" he demanded.

"You did," Matthew and Lars said in unison.

"Both of our sisters," Matthew clarified.

Mathias looked sheepish. "Right; forgot about that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck as he sat down. "I guess I give you my permission to screw her – it's only fair," he replied.

"You guys do realize that whether or not you have Mathias' permission, whether or not you guys bang is up to Eva?" Matthew asked, handing Lars and Mathias their mugs of hot chocolate before taking his own and joining them at the dining table.

"Why would she say no to me?" Lars demanded. "I'm too awesome for that!"

"Whoa," Mathias said, his eyes widening, "that was a total Gilbert moment, bro."

"Speaking of everyone's favourite egotist, anyone heard from him?" Lars asked, rolling his eyes.

"He commented on my status a few weeks back," Matthew said, blowing over his mug lightly.

"Which one?" Mathias asked, wincing as he drank, the hot chocolate burning his tongue.

"My relationship status," Matthew replied and Lars and Mathias nodded.

"You talk to Natalia at all after the breakup?" Mathias asked curiously. Matthew shrugged.

"Kind of. It's still awkward seeing her but whatever," Matthew said casually. The three fell into a peaceful silence, trying to drink their hot chocolate without burning their tongues off.

"D'you think I should ask Erik out for Valentine's Day?" Matthias asked suddenly.

Lars and Matthew stared at him.

"I think he's suicidal," Matthew remarked lightly.

"We should intervene before something serious happens," Lars agreed.

"Yeah; my suit's too small for me so I won't have anything to wear for his funeral," Matthew added.

"This isn't a suicide mission," Mathias huffed, looking annoyed. "I have a pretty good chance of scoring with Erik."

"What, are you going to get him really drunk first? Because according to some people, that's rape," Lars replied.

"No, I'll have you know that Erik and I have gotten quite far in our relationship," Mathias said snootily.

"Just because Erik doesn't kill you when you stand near him doesn't mean he's going to put out for you," Matthew informed him.

Mathias glared at them both. "You guys don't believe in the magic of Valentine's Day," he sniffed.

"I didn't know there were any other magical holidays apart from Christmas," Lars deadpanned.

"Why must you mock me?" Mathias exclaimed.

"I'm home~!" a voice called out from the door way just then, as Matthew and Lars rolled their eyes at Mathias.

"We're in the kitchen!" Matthew called out.

"Where all men should be," Alyssa teased, appearing in the kitchen, her cheeks flushed from being outside. Her jaw dropped when she spotted the still steaming cups of hot chocolate in the boys' hands. "You didn't make any for me?" she demanded, horrified.

"I'm sorry—"

"SINCE WHEN WERE YOU SO CRUEL, MATTIE? MY OWN BROTHER, FORGETTING TO MAKE ME HOT CHOCOLATE!

"I said I'm sorry-"

"I'LL JUST GO OFF AND RETIRE IN MY COLD LITTLE PRISON OF A ROOM. PERHAPS, IF I WISH IT, I WILL PERISH FROM THE FREEZING-"

"Knock it off with the fake British accent, Al, I said I was sorry," Matthew snapped, annoyed. Alyssa pouted.

"I was just practicing for drama class," she sniffed, flipping her hair back prissily. "And I don't accept your apology," she replied.

"Well, in Matt's defence, he thought you were banging Ivan so he didn't bother wasting a cup on you," Lars piped up, looking amused. Mathias let out a snort and Matthew hid a smile as Alyssa turned bright red.

"I-I wouldn't be doing anything like that with Ivan!" she exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Why not? You did it with me, and we weren't dating," Mathias remarked.

"Well that's different," Alyssa replied.

"Oh, I get it," Mathias said, nodding, "you like to fuck without having commitments."

"What – no!" Alyssa howled as the boys laughed. She glared at them. "You guys are such dicks, honestly. I'm leaving," she said, walking away.

"Where are you going?" Matthew called out.

"To Ivan's," Alyssa replied, the sounds of her putting on her coat and shoes could be heard from the front door. "Shut up!" she exclaimed as Lars and Mathias began wolf whistling and jeering. The boys heard the door slam shut promptly after that.

"You guys are dicks," Matthew said, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

Mathias and Lars exchanged grins. "What can I say, we're just that cool," Lars said cheerfully.

Mathias had to leave soon after that for his shift that work, leaving Lars and Matthew to retreat to the living room to watch MTV, making commentary all the while, successfully amusing themselves more with their banter more so than the actual shows.

"Teen Mom's more fun to watch when you spend your time making fun of the girls," Matthew remarked as it went to commercial break. Lars hummed his agreement, looking thoughtful.

"Matt," Lars said suddenly, "are you free on Valentine's Day?"

Matthew turned to stare at his friend, looking amused. "Are you asking me out?" he teased. "I'm very flattered, but I don't go for creeps," he added.

"Shut up," Lars said, shoving Matthew. "But seriously, are you?" he asked, sounding serious.

"Uh...yeah, I guess. Why?" Matthew asked curiously.

"Will you ask Elise out?" Lars asked. Matthew blinked at him.

"Ask out Elise? As in, your sister?" Matthew asked, confused. "Why?"

"I think she likes you; she's always talking about you and stuff. And as her older brother, I have to keep her happy and shit so ask her out," Lars said.

"Lars," Matthew said in exasperation, "I think it's cute that Elise likes me but...it's been a month since me and Natalia split up and I'm not yet ready to go on dates and stuff again."

"Could you at least talk to her? I don't want the thought of her being home alone while I'm out with some next girl to guilt trip me on one of the only days I get laid," Lars said. Matthew sighed.

"Fine, but you owe me," Matthew said finally.

Matthew stood on Lars' porch, feeling stupid. Lars was out at work so Matthew didn't have to worry about Lars being there, at least. Matthew rang the doorbell and stepped away nervously.

The door finally opened and Elise's head popped out. "Hey, Matthew!" she greeted cheerfully. "Lars is at work right now," she informed him, looking apologetic.

"No, I know," Matthew said quickly. "I came here to talk to you," he said.

Elise blinked, surprised. "O-okay...come on in!" she said, holding the door open for Matthew. Matthew walked in and sighed happily as warm air hit him. Elise giggled at his expression. "It's really cold outside, isn't it?" she asked.

"Way too cold for a February," Matthew agreed.

"I can't wait until its summer again," Elise moaned and Matthew nodded his agreement. He followed Elise upstairs to the den, flopping onto their couch happily. It had been too long since Matthew had seen that couch. They needed some bonding time, stat. Elise giggled at the goofy grin growing on Matthew's face and sat down crossed legged on the ground across from him.

"What are you doing?" Matthew asked curiously as he watched her cut up various pictures of her and her friends and placing them on a pink piece of paper.

"Making a collage to put in my locker," she replied cheerfully, arranging a particularly silly picture of her and Alyssa making faces at the camera.

"Ah," Matthew replied, nodding. He didn't quite understand the need girls had to decorate a locker they were only going to use for one year but he didn't question it, preferring to instead just watch Elise cut and paste and repeat.

"Are you ever going to tell me what you were going to tell me?" Elise asked finally after a few minutes.

Matthew blinked at her. "What?" he asked.

"You said you came to talk to me. So spill; what's up?" Elise asked, staring at him curiously. Oh, right. That. Matthew blushed, looking embarrassed.

"Nothing," he said quickly. Elise's eyes narrowed.

"Seriously, spill," she said, and it was at that precise moment that Matthew noticed the scissors in her hands.

"Will you go out with me on Valentine's Day?" he blurted out, leaning away from the scissors.

Elise blinked in surprise, her eyes widening. "W-what?" she asked, her cheeks turning pink.

Matthew blushed as well, mortified. "," he said quickly, burying his face into the couch.

"Lars put you up to this?" Elise demanded.

"Well he said you liked me and-"

"Oh, sweetie," Elise said, looking contrite. "I don't have a crush on you."

"You don't?" Matthew asked in relief, looking up.

"I don't," Elise said with a nod.

"But Lars said you talk about me all the time," Matthew pointed out.

"That's just because I feel so bad about what happened between you and Nat. You guys were such a cute couple...it's depressing," Elise said. Matthew sighed.

"Yeah, it is," he agreed.

There was a silence.

"I'm really sorry if my idiot brother made you think I liked you or something," Elise said gently.

"No, it's alright – seriously. I was kinda scared about dating you, to be honest. I was only doing it because Lars would rip my balls off if I didn't," Matthew replied, grinning. Elise giggled. "I'm guessing you have plans though, for Valentine's Day," he prompted and Elise flushed.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," she said cryptically. Matthew smirked.

"You like someone, don't you?" he teased and laughed as Elise turned an even darker red.

The two hung out for a little more before Matthew decided to get home, bidding Elise farewell and laughing as Elise promised him she'd give Lars hell for jumping to conclusions and embarrassing the two of them like that. Matthew was relieved that Elise didn't like him; dating a friend's sister once was enough.

Pity he still had no plans for Valentine's Day, though.

Matthew frowned at his laptop, his eyebrows furrowed. How should he conclude his essay about King Lear? He absently chewed at the inside of his cheek as he tried to figure out a decent concluding sentence that didn't sound awkward or clichéd. God, Matthew hated essays.

His phone buzzed on the coffee table nearby, distracting him. Matthew leaned forward on the couch to pick it up.

Dudecntmakeittourhouse2day,imgoinoutw/bjork,the text [from Lars, presumably] read. Matthew rolled his eyes. Great, another person out on Valentine's Day while he was sitting alone writing essays.

useprotection, he replied.

The reply came a moment later. Ohshit,thnxforremindingme, it read. Matthew fought the urge to roll his eyes again and tossed the phone onto the seat beside him.

It was four pm and Matthew was sitting in almost darkness while his sisters were out doing romantic things. He scowled at nothing in particular and continued to type, his eyes hurting from looking at such a bright screen in a dark room. Of course he could've put the lights on, but goddammit, Matthew was going to mope and moping he was.

Matthew hit ctrl s on his laptop, saving his finished essay before printing it out wirelessly on the printer. He had completely finished his homework and now he was completely bored. Matthew considered his options. He could either stay at home, mope some more and watch quality trashy reality TV on MTV, or he could go outside and buy some maple cookies.

The answer was obvious.

Matthew waved a confused Kumajiro farewell as he locked the house, tightening the scarf around his neck [a Christmas present from Katyusha] as he walked towards the sidewalk.

It was very dark outside but also very quiet. Matthew didn't mind the cold air biting at his exposed cheeks; the feeling was refreshing after being stuck in a hot house alone. A car passed by occasionally, sending extra gusts of wind in his direction. Despite it being only four, the streets were practically empty and the sky was very dark. It felt like it was midnight. Matthew suppressed a shudder [that was totally from the cold and not from the fact he was all alone and if someone were to attack him no one would be able to hear him scream because he wasn't a pansy and would never scream – he would yell in a manly sort of way] as he cut across the small parking lot to the convenience store.

The warm air hit him as the sliding doors opened, making Matthew loosen his scarf ever so slightly. He made a beeline towards the snack aisle, wondering if he should just get as much food as possible and make himself a little feast instead.

He wandered around the aisle in search of his favourite brand, mentally making a list of things to buy as well for his feast.

"Matthew?" a voice asked behind him just then, making him start.

"Gilbert?" Matthew asked, turning around to face the newcomer. Gilbert was standing in front of him, looking just as surprised to see Matthew as Matthew was to see him. "Don't you live on residence?" he asked curiously.

Gilbert snorted, reaching over Matthew [oh God why did Gilbert smell so nice and why the hell was Matthew noticing this, dudes don't normally notice how their friends smell 'cause seriously, that's creepy] to grab a box of chocolate chip cookies. "My roommate kicked me out so he could get some and since my dad's out on a business trip and Louise is out with Feliciano and is staying over at his house, I'm buying shit to eat because, as efficient as both my father and sister are, they completely forgot to restock the fridge," he said, rolling his eyes. "What about you? Don't you have epic plans for tonight?" he asked, dropping the box of cookies into his grocery basket.

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Like I'd be able to land a date," he scoffed. "I'm making myself a feast pour un," he said, shuffling away from the cookie aisle to buy some chicken and other ingredients.

"Make it pour deux or whatever? That way I don't need to eat microwavable shit," Gilbert asked hopefully, following him.

"Sure – at least my day won't be too pathetic now," Matthew said and Gilbert grinned.

"'Course not," he said cheerfully, helping Matthew pick out the best chicken breasts to buy, "I'm too awesome for that."

Fifteen minutes and over twenty dollars later, Matthew and Gilbert were exiting the store and walking back towards Matthew's place, Matthew rolling his eyes as Gilbert complained about how he was holding the heavier bags.

"Suck it up, Princess," Matthew teased as Gilbert dramatically proclaimed his unprotected fingers were going to freeze and fall off.

"I'm not a princess, pansy," Gilbert shot back.

"Asshole."

"Whore."

"Sluu."

"Skank."

"Cunt."

"Motherfucker."

"Only if it's your mother~"

"Fuck you."

"You wish you could," Matthew said with a wink, shoving his bags at Gilbert so he could fish out his keys and unlock the door. He smirked as Gilbert swore loudly, already walking into the house. Kumajiro ran towards them, yipping and jumping around Gilbert's feet as the older man walked into the house, grumbling under his breath about 'jerky boys named Matthew who can't hold anything for shit and made awesome people like himself nearly freeze their fingers off trying to help'. Matthew shot back with how he was offering to feed Gilbert, and Gilbert shut up immediately.

"What are you going to make?" Gilbert asked curiously, perched upon the kitchen's counter. Marianne would have a heart attack if she ever saw him, Matthew noted to himself with a grin.

"A feast," Matthew answered, pulling out pots and pans.

"Specific," Gilbert snorted, rolling his eyes. "Can I help?" he asked.

Matthew stared at him. "You can cook?" he asked disbelieving. Gilbert glared at him.

"You're talking to the guy who grew up with Antonio and Marianne with Feliciano and Lovina living next door. Of course I can cook – I bet I can cook better than you," he added, smirking.

"Oh really?" Matthew asked, eyebrows raised. "You wanna prove that?" he challenged.

"Obviously," Gilbert replied.

"Top Chef style?" Matthew asked. Gilbert grinned.

"You're on," he said.

The two ended up crashing on the couch shortly after eating; their stomachs about to burst from the amount of food in them.

"So who won?" Gilbert asked, burping loudly, trying to push Kumajiro off his stomach.

"I did," Matthew said, hiccupping slightly. He leaned over to the coffee table to grab a water bottle. He couldn't reach it, his fingertips just grazing the exterior. Oh well, he could hold his breath instead.

"Wait, why did you win?" Gilbert demanded. "My food was clearly superior to yours."

"Yeah but this is my house so by default I win," Matthew replied.

"Douche, that's cheating," Gilbert said, shoving Matthew. Matthew groaned, falling backwards and landing back on top of Gilbert. "Fuck, you're heavy," Gilbert grunted as Matthew's head fell onto his lap.

"You're just jealous," Matthew murmured, feeling sleepy.

"Of what? That you have a fat head?" Gilbert demanded.

"Mhm," Matthew said, drifting off.

"Dude, are you falling asleep?" Gilbert asked after a pause. Matthew didn't answer. "Matt, I'm going to push you off of the couch if you don't answer me," he threatened.

"Lemme sleep," Matthew groaned irritably.

"Well I want to sleep too," Gilbert huffed. "So move over so I can lie down."

Matthew inched off of Gilbert's lap, groaning as Gilbert flopped into a lying position.

"We're gonna break the couch," Matthew remarked. Gilbert snorted.

"That'll piss Iggy off," Gilbert said cheerfully. "And I'm always up for pissing her off," he added. "But shut up now; I'm trying to sleep," Gilbert said after a pause, curling around Matthew and wrapping his arms around the younger boy.

"I'm not a pillow," Matthew complained, cheeks burning.

"So?" Gilbert's muffled voice asked. "You're cuddly and I'm sleepy. Now shut up or sleep on the floor," he commanded.

And so Matthew shut up, eventually giving in to sleep [it wasn't hard, really, since Gilbert was warmer than Kumajiro and warmth and a full belly always made Matthew sleepy]. They slept for the rest of the night, both unaware of when Matthew's sisters returned from their respective dates, looking surprised at how peaceful Matthew and Gilbert looked.

It had probably been Matthew's best Valentine's Day ever.

A/N: Good lord, it's been a while, hasn't it? I apologize; Nanowrimo and school kept me busy for these past few weeks.

I'm ridiculously fond of calling Iceland [normal and genderbent] Bjork now. I'd imagine Matt and Lars don't pronounce it right either; they just say Buh-jork. Or Jork, if they're being lazy and don't feel like pronouncing the Buh. Mathias doesn't call Eva Bjork as much as the other boys do, but when he does, he pronounces it the proper way.

Until next them - whenever that may be