A/N: Well this took more effort that I really wanted given that my keyboard suddenly decided to be french, but here it is.

Enjoy.

Mistakes are my fault, but do not blame me!

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"What the fuck do you want?" Gilbert snapped when he opened the door. Francis groaned and ran a hand through his hair.

"Sometimes it's really hard being friends with you, you know?" Francis responded. "I'm coming in, we need to talk."

"Goddamnit Francis, I'm pissed at you—"

"And you'll be even more pissed if this happens without you knowing about it, and I will do it with or without your approval. If you give a shit about being friends with me in the future you will listen to what I have to say, otherwise you can expect not to hear from me for months," urgh, Francis hated it when Gilbert acted like when he was pissed everyone else had to work around it. "Years," Francis added, when what he'd just said didn't seem to stick. Gilbert was shaking his head in disapproval but he stepped aside long enough for Francis to slip in, and slammed the door behind him.

"Alright. You're fucking here, and I'm listening so talk."

"Okay," Francis took a deep breath, "I might be getting married."

"What? Didn't you have your heart set on Arthur or something?"

"I do."

"Francis, you aren't making any sense."

"Then shut up and let me explain!"

Gilbert forcibly shut his mouth and Francis breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Arthur has put forth a formal request to become a Certified Pack Alpha."

"What! Francis you cannot be serious, you know that packs exist for those alphas to perverted to just bone one, and they only have eyes for the omegas. You'd be lucky to get the time of day from your precious alpha stepped in that filth."

"I can feel the love rolling off of you from here," Francis said, gesturing across the wide expanse of kitchen between them. Gilbert scoffed. "Look, Gil, I can understand why you feel that way, and I concede that there may certainly be packs like that out there, but if Arthur wanted that he'd just do it. He doesn't need legal representation for that."

"Well then what the fuck does he want?"

"It's a foil, Gilbert. It's all an elaborate plot to hide in plain sight. There's me and Arthur, Lovi and Toni, and these two omegas that Arthur knew when he was younger that are absolutely head over heels for each other. None of us can really be together like we want but this pack, this lie, is our chance to get the happiness we deserve."

"Arthur's boss okay with this?"

"They requested it."

"They what?!"

"There were some rumors that the head guy, like the Russian guy who has the big worldwide desk, had been caught messing around with another alpha. The entire company was desperate for anything and everything to pull some of the heat off him."

"So you're shacking up with an alpha cause his company told you to?"

"Oh who cares Gilbert! I've wanted something like this my entire life, and now I can have it. If it means taking advantage of corporate bullshit, then I'll gladly take advantage."

"And when someone visits your den or whatever the fuck you live in and makes a complaint because of all the weird scent signals?"

"Arthur is a darling sweetheart, but he's also a really good actor, and he can play the absolute asshole of an alpha who forces the two omegas unwilling to make out for his entertainment really really well."

"So anything weird is just played off as Arthur being a pervert?"

"Hey you can't tell me it wouldn't work. The cops would accept it, hell they'd probably even expect it."

"It's sad that the system is so fucked up that you're right."

"I know. But again, I have an opportunity so I'll gladly take advantage."

"Damn I... okay. Okay. As long as Arthur can pull it off, you're pretty golden."

"Yeah, I know."

"I want to meet him."

"I would never expect anything different from you."

"You moved in with him yet?"

"No it's still a maybe. I said might be, remember? It's all depending on whether the courts certify him or not. I mean we might pack anyway if they say no, but legally it'd be a lot harder for them to touch us, if something went wrong, if Arthur were certified."

"You're right about that. God, sorry for being such an ass, things have been..."

"Gilbert I know it's... there's something else."

"What?" Gilbert sounded darkly suspicious.

"Arthur got a call from Roderich."

"I... he... What? What!"

"I know, it was frickin bizarre. He was trying to demand to be part of this pack, and pull you into it, and I feel like I told Arthur more about your personal life than you'd really be comfortable with, but I didn't want Arthur walking in blind."

"Walking in blind?"

"Arthur met with him in person to try and figure out what the hell was going on. There was only so much I could do, cause you haven't been all that forthcoming about your situation recently—"

"Please tell me you aren't going to just let that little freak join the pack—"

"Of course not, Arthur isn't stupid."

"Oh thank god."

"He did send them to talk to you, though."

"Both of them?"

"Yeah. Apparently they are equally invested."

"What the Jesus f-ing Christ."

"I know it's—"

"God, that was not the impression Elizaveta gave."

"Should I even ask?"

"It's... ugh she cornered me in a field on day and gave this spiel about how her marriage was ruined because she lusted for me, and she went behind Roerich's back to get in contact with me. And then tried to kiss me.

"Gilbert that's... Listen if you don't want to talk to them, you don't have to."

"Damn right I don't."

"But it might be worth it to find out what they really want, and listen to what they have to say."

"Francis you... she tried to manipulate me into a relationship, you cannot be siding with them!"

"I'm not saying you should jump on the relationship bandwagon! God knows there are a lot of terrible places that could go, but Arthur did his best to slap some sense into Roderich, whom actually seemed pretty serious about making things work. And maybe their only intentions are to be manipulative, in which case don't do it, but maybe they do genuinely want to try and make this work. It's not even like you'd be trapped alone with them, hidden away, it's pack. We're all going to know each other's habits' inside and out, and if it ever gets bad, you'll have us on your side."

"You're saying I should go for it." Gilbert was quiet, and wasn't making eye contact. Francis frowned and crossed the kitchen, putting his hand on his friends shoulder. Gilbert reluctantly looked up at him.

"I'm saying it might be worthwhile to listen to what they have to say. You've wanted this, haven't you? If this turns out to be as good an opportunity for you as it is for Toni and me, why not?"

Gilbert nodded, and then slowly pulled Francis in for a hug.

"But what if it isn't, Francis," he whispered, "what if they do just was to use me as some fucked up glue to fix their marriage."

"Then you don't get involved, and they will both be missing out on something very special. And you will find someone better."

"You really do believe that."

"I do. And Arthur would let you join the pack just you by yourself, if you really wanted to..."

"Would he really?"

"Of course."

"He hasn't even met me."

"Gilbert he doesn't even need to. You have an honorary spot under his wing because Toni and I like you, and he'd accept you into his house even if he didn't like you just because I told him to."

Gilbert trembled with broken laughter and clutched him even tighter.

"Jesus, Franni, why do you get the best guy."

"I wasn't afraid to look for one, Gil. That's all."

.

"Arthur."

"Gilbert. It's nice to meet you," finally, he doesn't add aloud. The other man can read it in his face well enough.

"Yeah I... Thanks for having me."

There is laughter from the main room, Alfred's boisterous one mixing with Francis' lilt. Arthur took a moment to be glad that Antonio was busy and Lovino still uncomfortable with them all without his presence, because meeting Gilbert among Lovi and Alfred's bickering would have created even more awkwardness then there is now.

"It's no trouble."

"Yeah... so how goes the court debate?"

"It's stalled for the time being, but Vash, my lawyer, is very optimistic about the outcome. He has more tricks up his sleeve then he's playing right now."

"That's uhm... That's good." Gilbert coughed self consciously. Arthur wondered how long it had been since he tried to converse with someone new.

"Has Roderich tracked you down yet?"

"Err... yeah. We had a talk it was... not as horrible as it could have been. Listen, I'm grateful for all that you've done for Francis and it's really nice that you all have offered to include me but... I'm not even sure where I stand on all this. I thought what I was doing made sense, but things have been shifting and—"

"You don't want to make a decision you'll later regret."

"Yeah," Gilbert said weakly. "That."

"Well you're here right now. Come on in, and I'll introduce you to Matthew and Alfred."

Gilbert nodded slowly and followed Arthur into the main room. Francis smiled and Gilbert tipped his head and then stopped when Matthew's head snapped forward with recognition.

"Oh my god," Matthew said, as Gilbert said, "It's you."

"Wait a minute, you know this guy?"Alfred turned to Matthew.

"Yeah," Matthew answered, "We see each other on the subway sometimes."

"Well nice to meet you properly, mysterious omega, my name is Gilbert Beilschmidt."

"Matthew."

"And you must be Alfred."

"Is your hair natural?" was Alfred's elegant response.

Gilbert seemed slightly off put, then he burst out laughing.

"Oh it's been a while since someone's asked me that. The hair is entirely natural, as are the eyes."

"So you're actually albino!"

"Yup!"

"THAT IS SO COOL."

Francis was laughing into his hands, and Matthew had this small but fond smile over his face at the ridiculousness of them both.

"Hey Matthew," Arthur waved him over, and Matthew got up curiously. "At some point in the evening, can you talk to Gilbert?"

"You want an answer on whether or not he wants to join? It may be too soon for that."

"I know, and it's not that. He seems really unsure of himself and what he actually wants. If anyone can help him navigate that crap it's you."

"I'm glad you have so much confidence in me."

"Hey we've all been there, right? Wondering if that relationship was worth it, if it was even a good idea."

"Yeah, I get it. I dunno what I can do for him exactly but..."

"Just asking that you try. Maybe it'll make things easier on him."

"Can do, boss," Matthew flipped back with easy familiarity. Arthur smiled. He was glad that Matthew and him had found back some of the effortless chemistry they once had. Francis had been giving the two of them strange looks, so Arthur dropped down onto the sofa beside him.

"What was that about?" Francis asked, suspicion colouring his voice.

"Just requesting Matthew corner Gilbert at some point. I think he could help him figure things out."

Francis paused before nodding, a small smile spreading over his face.

"That's a smart idea. Matthew seems very clever and knows people. You're right, he might help."

"Might, might not, but it's worth a try."

"Arthur?"

"Hm?"

"I know others have probably said this but... Thank you. For doing all this. I know it can't be the easiest thing going in that courtroom, acting like you're not—"

"Francis, easy relax. It doesn't bother me. I don't mind doing the work. Trust me when I say you're worth it. This," Arthur gestured to the room, "is worth it."

Francis turned his attention back to the room to find Alfred and Gilbert in an in depth conversation about cartoons, enthusiasm sparking in both their eyes. His chest felt warm, so he nestled into Arthur's side like he was born to be there, and then Arthur's warmth was surrounding him and everything was perfect.

Matthew observed them all, a bright smile flicking over his face, before returning to the velvety embrace of a very nice book.

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A/N: I may actually meet the deadline for this, which would be really nice.

Reviews are love!

~RosemaryBagels