"Hey, Ludwig you excited for this weekend?" Alfred asked as Ludwig walked into the living room/kitchen area.

"I guess," Ludwig said as he opened the fridge and pulled out a water bottle.

"Oh come on," Alfred complained as he paused his video game. He turned to face Ludwig and leaned on the couch. "It's your 21st birthday weekend. You don't want to party at all."

"You do remember my parents are coming right?" Ludwig asked taking a sip of his water.

"Really you think your parents won't let you get drunk?" Alfred said with a laugh.

"I just don't feel comfortable doing so," Ludwig sighed and rolled his eyes. He walked back into his room and sat at his desk. He looked over his textbook reading over each word slowly, as usual. After a few moments, he picked up his phone. He saw one message from Feliciano.

How are you doing?

I'm doing well. Ludwig responded quickly.

Are you doing anything for your birthday?

My brother and parents are coming up Saturday night. They're taking me out for dinner.

That sounds like so much fun! Ludwig couldn't help but smile at his boyfriend's excitement. I wish I wasn't working all weekend!

I've already told you it's fine.

Alright, alright but I'm making it up to you next weekend ok!

Okay

"Ugh I hate lying to him," Feliciano said as he collapsed on his bed.

"Lying to who?" Kiku asked as he walked into their bedroom.

"Ludwig," Feliciano said with a sigh.

"Apologies for the ruse question, but why are you lying to your boyfriend?" Kiku asked with hesitation.

"Because his parents invited me to join them for dinner on Saturday and they want it to be a surprise," Feliciano sighed and continued to stare at the ceiling.

"Well, that is understandable." Kiku put his bag down and opened up his laptop.

"Yeah, I still can't up but feel bad though."

"Have you met his family before?"

"I met his mom," Feliciano said with a slight pause. "Once. When we started dating. She seemed nice. And he talks about them positively all of the time so I assume they're good people. But it's different in a restaurant in public and at a social event."

"I think things will go great," Kiku said as he gestured to his laptop. Feliciano nodded as Kiku put on his headphones and started to play his game.

"I hope he's right," Feliciano said. "I hope they're everything he tells me about them."

"I'll be back in a few hours," Ludwig said as he grabbed his ID off the hook near the door. "I shouldn't be out too late."

"Have you," both Arthur and Matthew said at the same time.

"Make sure you party hard!" Alfred yelled as Ludwig closed the door. Ludwig rolled his eyes as he walked through the hallway. As he walked outside, he saw his parents' car sitting in the building's parking lot. He kept the same base and smiled as he saw his parents exit out of the car.

"There's the birthday boy," Karla said as she walked over to him and hugged him tightly. "I can't believe my baby boy is twenty-one! How does it feel?"

"I don't know the same," Ludwig said awkwardly.

"I think your brother was more excited about tonight than you are," Wolfgang joked.

"No, I'm excited," Ludwig said with a smile. He looked around a bit. "Where is Gilbert?"

"Oh he got caught up at work," Karla said as they started to climb in the car. "He's going to meet us at the restart."

"Okay," Ludwig said as he buckled himself up. "Hope nothing too bad happened."

"I don't think you got to look that fancy," Mei said as Feliciano stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

"We're going to Ludwig's favorite place," Feliciano said as he adjusted his hair for the umpteenth time in the past fifteen minutes. "It's probably super fancy and I am not sitting there underdressed."

"I think you're fine," Mei said sweetly.

"They better not be wearing suits or something," Feliciano mumbled to himself. He tripled checked his shirt, seeing no trace of his binder peaking out. Gently he adjusted his collar and smoothed it out a little.

"Hey, Feli I think your ride is here!" Victoria shouted from downstairs.

"Be right down!" Feliciano called poking his head out of the bathroom. He looked himself over in the mirror, adjusting the last few things he needed too. He took a deep breath before walking out. Grabbing his jacket as he did. Smoothing it out as he walked out the door.

"You must be Feliciano," a young man said stretching out his arm.

"Yes, you must be Gilbert," Feliciano said a bit awkwardly as he grabbed the man's hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," Gilbert said after letting go. He looked over Feliciano a bit. "My brother does know how to pick them."

Feliciano remained quiet but kept a smile. He walked into Gilbert's car. He glanced at himself in the car mirror before giving a quick nod.

"Man is my little bro gonna surprised," Gilbert said as they started to drive off. "He talks about you all the time."

"Oh really," Feliciano said sheepishly, playing with his a bit.

"Oh yeah," Gilbert laughed to himself a little. He then leaned back a little and smiled. "Before you came into his life I don't think I've ever seen him that happy."

"I doubt it," Feliciano said with an awkward laugh.

"Oh, I mean it. Ludwig was always the super-serious type all of a sudden you come along and he's smiling every day. I'd use to be lucky to see one a week. I don't know what you did but you changed him somehow."

"Got a text from Gilbert he should be here soon," Karla said as she put her phone back in her purse. "He'll be here in about five minutes."

"Well that's good," Wolfgang said as he checked his watch. "He'd be here before our wait time is up."

Ludwig smiled slightly. It had been a while since the four of them were able to get together. He understood why. But he did miss those old nights where it would be the four of them. Once he realized he was gay, there was a bit of tension. Every day he was worried about accidentally slipping up. Ruining everyone he loved and cared for. Thankfully now that everything was out the open, things were back to the way they were but somehow better.

"Ludwig!" Ludwig felt someone wrap their arms around him.

"Gilbert please we're in..." Ludwig said as he turned around. Then he froze. In front of him was his boyfriend. Smiling warmly as always. "Feliciano?"

"Happy birthday!" He said excitedly.

"Surprise we invited him to join us!" Karla said excitedly.

"I thought you were busy," Ludwig pondered while Feliciano hugged him tightly.

"I found some time," Feliciano said a bit flirtatiously and with a little laugh.

Ludwig smiled warmly and hugged Feliciano tightly. A few minutes later their table was ready. Ludwig took Feliciano's hand gently. The two walked in together, with Feliciano staying close to him. When they got to their table, Ludwig pulled out the chair for Feliciano and pushed him in. The five of them sat for a bit before placing their drink orders.

"Wait hang on I need a picture," Karla said pulling out her phone.

"Mom," Ludwig said a bit annoyed as he grabbed his glass of beer.

"What it's my baby's first drink I want to immortalize it," Karla said with a laugh. Ludwig rolled his eyes but remained smiling. Slowly he lifted his glass in the air. Holding it slightly as if cheering. Karla smiled as she took the picture. She smiled after taking it.

"Are you going to drink it or what?" Gilbert teased.

"Did you not see Mom take a picture?" Ludwig took a sip of beer.

"So how does it taste?" Gilbert asked excitedly.

"Taste good," Ludwig said before taking another sip.

"What a you way to say that!" Gilbert said with a laugh

Feliciano laughed to himself as he took a sip of his water. The next few minutes were filled with idle chatter. They placed their orders and continued talking. Mainly it was Ludwig and his family talking to each other. Feliciano would chime into occasionally but mostly kept to himself. But he couldn't keep his eyes off them. There was a warm air to them. Something he hadn't felt with his own family in years. He had to deal with tension and hatred at home. His only solace being his two brothers. Seeing Ludwig's family act like this, made him grateful. Grateful that Ludwig didn't have to deal with the pain he did.

"So Feliciano, Ludwig said you go to art school?" Karla asked shortly after their food came. Feliciano nodded his head quickly. "What is that like?"

"It's a lot," Feliciano said before taking a sip of his water. "I enjoy it but there's a lot of work outside of class. Depends on the class though. Sometimes I can get the projects done during class sometimes not."

"Isn't just painting? Can't be that long." Gilbert asked before Ludwig nudged him under the seat. Causing Gilbertto glare at his younger brother.

"Oh, I'm not talking any painting classes this semester," Feliciano said awkwardly and with a slight laugh.

"Are you not a painter?" Wolfgang with a bit of confusion.

"I am, just wasn't able to fit any into my schedule that I hadn't taken before."

"That's alright, dear I'm sure you'll get one next semester."

"I hope so. But thank you."