"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Alfred asked.

"I'm sure of it, you need to at least apologise, and tell him that he was right," Arthur answered, "Oh, and tell him I also apologise, because somebody forgot to mention that it wasn't that someone's house."

Alfred smiled weakly, "I did say that I was sorry, didn't I?"

"Obviously I need a refresher," he remarked.

"Well, I apologise, it completely slipped my mind to tell you that it was his house, it didn't seem important at the time."

"Hmm, how exactly can something be forgotten and not seem important, at the same time?"

"Oops... I guess it was one or the other? I don't remember! Can we just let this go; I defiantly didn't want that to happen in the first place."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Bloody git, okay, back to the matter at hand, you need to apologise to Matthew."

Alfred sighed, "What if he really hates me?" He said in a half whisper.

"He can't hate you that much, even if you are a complete dumbass, it wasn't that big of an argument to be honest," Arthur gently placed his hands on Alfred's, and looked him in the eye, "It'll be okay, I promise." He leaned over and kissed him on the forehead and smiled.

Alfred smiled in return, and exhaled heavily, "Okay," he dialed Matthew's number and pressed call.

Ring

Ring

Ring

Ring

Ri-

"Hello?" Matthew answered with a squeaky sounding voice.

"Mattie? It's me Al, is now a good time to talk?"

He cleared his throat, "I'd rather do this in person, if that's okay with you."

"No problem, I'll be over soon."

"Bye."

Click

Arthur looked at him questioningly, "What's going on?"

"Mattie wants to talk in person," he shrugged, "I guess that's a good sign, right?"

"Sounds like it, see I told you it would be alright," Arthur teased.

"Hmm, I think it would be best if I didn't have you along," He paused.

"Obviously, do tell him that I was sorry about the whole incident."

"Okay, I'll remember."

Knock knock knock

'He's here,' Matthew inhaled nervously, and opened the door. Seeing his brother, he pulled him into a tight hug, which was immediately returned.

"I'm sorry for everything Mattie, I'm so sorry."

"S'okay Al, I shouldn't have been so hard on you," Matthew said in a quiet, shaky voice.

"No, it's isn't," Alfred stepped out of the embrace, "You were right to do what you did, I was a massive hypocrite, I was telling you that you shouldn't be diving into a relationship with someone you hardly know, while I was doing the exact thing, and in your house no less! You were right to say that I have no right telling you what to do in your personal life, because it's just that, your life, not mine."

Matthew smiled sorrowfully, "Thanks Al, but that isn't the only reason that I asked you to come over."

"Matt, what's wrong?"

"I- come inside," He said ushering him in and closing the door behind him, 'oh god, I can't tell him, it'll tear him apart, maybe it's best if he doesn't know.'

Alfred took a seat in the living room, worry swirling about his mind, Matthew sat across from him.

"Matt?"

Um, I- never mind, it's not important, forget I said anything."

Mattie, seriously, tell me what's wrong?"

"N-nothing, just drop it okay?"

Alfred raised an eyebrow, "Whatever it is, if it's important you'll tell me eventually right?"

"If it was important yes of course."

"Well, whatever it is, I'll be here for you if you need me."

Matthew smiled in return.

A few moments past in comfortable silence until Matthew spoke again in a quiet voice, "You can move back in if you want."

Alfred grinned, "Thanks Matt, but there's really no need, my house will be done in less than a week, I can tough it out with Artie 'till then."

Matthew laughed, "So how is he coping with living with you then?"

"Coping? Am I really that bad to live with?" He said jokingly, "He's doing fine, he actually asked me to apologise again for what happened, because he feels totally guilty for the whole thing."

"Even though it wasn't really his fault?"

"Yup."

"Wow, okay, tell him it's okay, I'm happy for you two."

"Really? Thanks Mattie," He smiled, "So, talking about relationships and such, what happened between you and Gilbert while I was gone?"

"Nothing much I guess, he stayed over until this morning."

"He did? Son of a bitch, I'm going to go strangle him right now."

Matthew rolled his eyes, "It's not like anything actually happened Al."

"Why should I believe you? For all I know, you two could have had like, sympathy sex or something."

"Wow, like that would totally happen between us, no we just stayed in the first day, and went to the pub and had a few beers the next day."

"You two got drunk together?" Alfred looked astonished.

"Not drunk, we just had a few, that's all."

"This is bad, very bad, I mean, it took him at least two months I mean, after they started dating, for him and Liz to get drunk together," Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Okay, to get a few drinks, but this is really, most incredibly, bad."

"And why, may I ask is this ok so bad?"

"Because, he only gets drunk around the people he cares a LOT about."

"Wouldn't that be a good thing then?" Matthew asked quizzically.

"Of course not, just because I said I shouldn't be telling you what to do in your personal life, doesn't mean that I'm going to stop. You'll always be my baby brother, no matter what you do."

"Oh I see, it's just bad because you don't want me to grow up, well, sorry to be a downer, but believe it or not, he isn't the first to ever show interest in me."

"WHAT? And you didn't tell me?" Alfred was appalled.

"Al, you so remember that I went to high school, things happen, you know that," he said plainly.

"Excuse me? I- nope, just, what? How many?"

"Does this really matter Al?"

"Yes!"

"Um, I only ever dated one guy here, but he turned out to be a total jerk, and then back in Canada when I first transferred to normal school; there was someone who always left me flowers in my locker, never found out who it was though."

"So nothing ever, like, happened right? Please god tell me you didn't."

"Don't worry my innocence is still whole, but really Al, it is none of your concern, I can sleep with whoever I want, however many times I want and it shouldn't affect you."

"I know it shouldn't, but you don't understand Matt, I'm your older brother, I have to make sure that you're not going out and doing stupid things like me, it's my job to be a hypocrite in these situations," Alfred's phone buzzed.

Matthew rolled his eyes, "Yeah, whatever, okay I'm sure that's Arthur making sure I didn't freak out and kill you because of what a horrible person you are, and I really need some sleep."

Alfred checked it, and sure enough it was him.

Everything okay?

~Arthur

"Yeah, I guess I'd better go make sure he doesn't burn down the apartment because he tries to cook something, those English, I swear it's in their blood to be cursed forever to burn all of the food they touch, see ya Matt," he said as he headed out the door.

"Bye Al."