Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine.

Matthew sighed and continued to rub his sobbing brother's back, occasionally glancing around at the other restaurant patrons, ready to glare if anybody was staring. "C'mon, Al... we really should go home to talk about this, don't you think?" Alfred had already spilled out the whole story like five times. When he didn't answer, Matthew gave Francis an apologetic look. So much for their "date".

It was funny, really. Nobody who knew the brothers would have ever guessed it would be Alfred to find love first, to fall head over heels, and be wined and dined and made love to. While Matthew was perfectly content to have a physical relationship, with dates being mostly a precursor to being tossed onto a bed and fucked. He was only nineteen, plenty of time to have fun before settling down.

But it seemed that tonight wasn't going to end in sex. And that was okay. His brother was more important than being plowed into a mattress.

"What do I do?" Alfred whimpered. "I—ow!"

"Sorry." Matthew rubbed a different part of his back.

"Thanks... What do I do? I love him, Mattie, I don't want to lose him..."

"Lose him?" Matthew smiled gently, tugging Alfred closer. "Idiot. Why would you lose him? It's just a fight. You said yourself he was in a bad mood all day."

"B-but I said bad things about him..."

"Seriously, Alfred, all couples fight. Now you've gotten past the first one, so that's good!"

Alfred cracked open one eye. "Have you?"

"Me?" Matthew glanced toward Francis, who was watching in quiet sympathy. "You mean us? Well, no, we haven't had a real fight yet, but we're not as serious as you guys are..."

"What would you do if you did?"

"Uh. I guess I'd apologize."

Alfred sniffled. "And that's all?"

"I... I guess it depends on how big the fight was..."

"What if it was a big fight?"

Matthew sighed. "I suppose I would apologize and blow him." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Francis grin.

"Matt!"

"You asked..."

Alfred was quiet for a long moment. "Do you... think that would work?"

"I wasn't offering advice for you," Matthew said quickly. "You don't need to... er... unless you think that would work..."

"Ah, being gay..." Francis sighed. "If it were a woman, it would be easy. You just need to apologize, because the woman is always right—even if she wasn't—then give her some flowers."

"You are nuts," Matthew said. "Girls hold grudges for years. It's men that are easy, they would forgive anything to get laid."

"Ivan likes flowers," Alfred said. "Maybe I should give him flowers and blow him?"

Matthew really wished he had not brought that up. "You can just start with apologizing and go from there. And he should apologize, too, and..." They said that curiosity killed the cat. That phrase was very true. "Can you...?"

Alfred wiped his nose on his sleeve. "Can I what?"

"Well... you've always talked about how... er... big Ivan is. Can you... um..."

"Oh." Alfred chuckled. Well, at least that was an improvement, the poor thing was a mess. "Well. No. Not the whole thing. But I manage, and he seems to like it."

Matthew noticed Francis opening his mouth to say something, and quickly elbowed him. It was time to move on. "Well, anyway, I'm sure everything will be fine. You just need to let him cool off, then you can both say you're sorry, because you love each other."

Alfred nodded.

"Come on, let's go get you some ice cream and then get home." Matthew glanced over at Francis. "Sorry."

"It is fine." Francis smiled. "Take care of him."

Matthew helped Alfred up, and put an arm around him as they left the restaurant. "Did you really think your relationship was over?"

"Idunno..." Alfred mumbled.

"You should know better."

"Well I've never been in a decent relationship before!"

"But you know Ivan."

"Yeah..." Alfred stared at his feet as they walked. "And I always thought he liked how I acted... he's always said he did. He said I brought light into his life. Now he's saying I'm too childish."

"Well what you did was kinda stupid."

Alfred shoved Matthew's arm away. "Shut up."

"See? You are being childish."

Alfred hesitated, then pressed close again. "Yeah..."

"Come on. What flavor do you want?"

Alfred smiled. "Our usual. One scoop chocolate, one scoop maple."

By the time he got to the end of a sentence, he couldn't really remember how it had started. Ivan gave up trying to read and tossed the newspaper aside. He wasn't in the mood for news, anyway.

He wasn't going to work, though. He had decided. No work until tomorrow morning, he was taking a day off.

It was bizarre. What the hell was he supposed to do with himself?

Ivan retrieved the newspaper and attempted the crossword puzzle. After filling in three words, he stood and shuffled over to the window to gaze out at the fog. What appropriate weather for his mood. But he could only watch the blanket of gray for so long before moving away to find something else to do.

He tried watching television, browsing the internet, snacking, plotting the murder of people he didn't like, and even contemplated a bath or a nap. It was like the fog had settled on his soul instead of the land. He just couldn't concentrate on or enjoy anything. Ivan finally gave up and approached his bar, scowling when he realized how low he had gotten on booze. Someone would have to go to the store. Or he could go to a... no. No bars.

Ivan was considering a nap much more seriously when a knock came at the door. He didn't even bother seeing who it was before pulling the door open—he didn't really care if it was an enemy.

It was Alfred, looking sheepish and carrying a bouquet of sunflowers.

"Al..." Ivan had to remind himself of how they had parted, though all he wanted to do was hug Alfred tight and not let go.

"Hey." Alfred didn't quite look at Ivan. "Um, I know you said you didn't want me just dropping by..."

"It's all right," Ivan said. "I'm pretty much alone here."

"Oh, okay. Good. Um..."

They stood in awkward silence, looking everywhere but at each other for a long moment.

"Vanya..."

Ivan looked up, heart pounding. Alfred was still using his nickname... "Yes?"

"I'm sorry!" Alfred finally said, tears filling his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't cry." Ivan tugged Alfred into his arms. "Don't ever cry. I'm sorry, too."

"I didn't mean what I said! Well, maybe a little, but not in a bad way, and I'm sorry I act like a kid sometimes, and ruin your clothes, I won't do anything childish anymore and-"

"Shh," Ivan said. "Don't, Al. Don't change. Maybe use some common sense, but don't try and change. Well, maybe a little, if you want."

Alfred just sniffled. When Ivan pulled back to kiss him, he couldn't help but notice how red his eyes were. It made Ivan's heart ache to think of Alfred crying so much because of him. "I love you."

Alfred's smile melted the fog in Ivan's soul. "I love you, too. And this is great!"

Ivan returned the smile. "It is?"

"We fought! If a couple can make it past the first fight, they can make it past anything."

"Oh." Ivan couldn't help but laugh. "Is that how it works?"

Alfred nodded, setting the bouquet aside. "And... and I'll pay for the clothes."

"Oh, don't worry about that."

"I insist! How much were they?"

Ivan coughed. "About nineteen hundred..."

"Each?"

"Yes."

"Dollars?"

"Yes."

"So, uh... Do you want a blowjob?"

"Er." Ivan blinked. "Now?"

"Whenever."

"Is that in payment for the suits?"

Alfred chuckled. "Maybe."

"That's a lot of blowjobs."

Alfred laughed some more, until his eyes happened to fall on Ivan's hands and he gasped. "What happened?" He lifted one of his hands to peer more closely at the skinned knuckles.

"Um." Ivan tugged the hand back. "Well, I was upset the other day, and punched, uh... a wall."

Alfred grimaced. "Don't do that."

"I won't do it again. So come, sit down."

Alfred bounced over to the couch with his usual enthusiasm, warming Ivan further. Had he actually yelled at Alfred for being childish?

"Oh!" Alfred picked up the bundle of leopard print fabric that had been slung over the back of the couch. "You've been wearing the Snuggie?"

Ivan nodded. "When I've been cold."

"Aww... So!" Alfred set it aside and patted the cushion beside him. "Where's your sister?"

Ivan settled down beside his lover on the couch. "She is working."

"Oh yeah? I don't think you ever said exactly what she does."

"Many things." Ivan smiled. "She is currently dabbling in politics."

Alfred wrinkled his nose. "Well, I guess she's suited for it."

"You haven't seen her again, have you?"

"Nope."

"Good." Ivan sighed deeply. "After I threatened to do to her anything she did to you, I was half afraid she would try to rape you or something."

"The girl has issues."

"You have no idea."

Alfred grinned, snuggling close. "I wasn't kidding about the blowjob."

"Not that I'm complaining, but what is it with you and blowjobs today?"

"It's what Mattie said he'd do if he ever had to apologize to Francis..."

Ivan rolled his eyes. "I may not know Francis too well, but I'm going to say that's probably how one says 'hello' and 'thank you' to him, also."

"Probably." Alfred giggled.

"And you..." Ivan trailed off as his brain caught up with him. "You talk about that sort of thing with your brother? Sex?"

"Eh, sure."

"Ah..." Ivan swallowed. "Yes, I could go for one about now."

Ivan walked out of the bar just as Matthew was about to walk in. And he knew it was him, since Alfred was still inside. Their eyes met, and Matthew's narrowed. That didn't bode well, but Ivan could guess what he would be unhappy about.

"I suppose you want to speak with me as long as I'm here?" Ivan said.

"Please." Matthew allowed himself to be propelled around the side of the building. "Well..."

"I seem to recall, when we first met, you threatened me with awful things if I ever hurt your brother?"

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck, expression sheepish. It was endearingly similar to Alfred's mannerisms. "Not really. I said I wouldn't do that... Why, do you want me to yell at you?"

"You looked annoyed when we just ran into each other."

Matthew shrugged. "A little. But you were both to blame, it wasn't entirely your fault."

"Thank you."

"Just mostly. Don't take your bad moods out on him."

Ivan nodded. "I will not."

"I don't want to have to see him cry again."

"If he ever cries again because of me, you have my permission to kick my ass."

Matthew laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind. Now if you'll excuse me, I brought Al some food."

"Wait," Ivan said as Matthew turned to leave.

"Yes?"

"We should do something."

Matthew blinked. "You and me?"

"All of us. All four of us."

"Four..."

Ivan nodded. "Like a... double date?"

Matthew chuckled. "What, you mean Francis? He's, uh, we're not... a couple."

Of course not. "Then me and my boyfriend, and you and your fuck buddy."

Matthew's face reddened, and his expression grew slightly perplexed. Ivan could imagine why the concept of all of them hanging out would seem odd. Alfred ranted about Francis often, and Francis probably wasn't Ivan's biggest fan after their first meeting. "Well... sure. Why not? Um... let's get ice cream tomorrow after I'm done with classes. Do you know where the ice cream parlor on 5th is?"

"Yes," Ivan said. "I am dating your brother. I am familiar with ice cream parlor locations."