A/N: This chapter was so hard to write, mostly because I kept getting stuck on certain scenes. At least I finally got it finished (and on Canada day to boot) so I hope you guys enjoy!

"What?" Gilbert looked up from his computer, thinking he had heard wrong. "Repeat that again."

Matthew took a deep breath and deliberately repeated his words slower to annoy his boss. "I need to take a week off." Gilbert kept on staring at his assistant as if he had grown a second head. Matthew resisted the urge to snap at him. "We talked about this a few days ago, sir. My brother is going to be in town next week and he asked me to show him around. You said it was fine as long as I reminded you."

Gilbert had a vague memory of his assistant telling him that, but it was clouded by the memory of the hangover he must have had. He must have agreed to anything anyone had said that day, what with his head feeling as if it had been smashed against the sidewalk a few times, just to get people to leave him alone. Though it did explain the phone call he had received from a unknown woman asking him if he was still interested in her services- had the call not been on speaker Gilbert might have taken her up on that offer, though Matthew promptly told her that that he was not interested and rather roughly ended the call.

Nevertheless, he had promised Matthew he could take a break though a part of him wanted to refuse. The idea of not seeing Matthew for a week was unpleasant to him, but who was he to tell his assistant that he couldn't show his (idiotic and immature, in his opinion) brother around the city? Well, he was his boss but he wasn't a mean boss (to some, at least). So, swallowing the urge to say no, Gilbert forced a grin on his face. "Alright, you can have next week off."

"Really?" Matthew looked at him questioningly. "You're not going to make a fuss?"

"You haven't taken a vacation in a while." Gilbert shrugged. "I think you deserve it. But," He grinned wickedly at his assistant, "Just because you won't be here doesn't mean I'll behave. Get ready to be sending out gift baskets for months after you come back, Mattie."

The look of pure horror on Matthew's face was priceless.

Due to the fear he had induced into his assistant, Matthew had come back to work the next day with a glint in his eye that Gilbert had long learned to be afraid of. Before he could react, Matthew placed a briefcase on his desk and opened it in one fluid motion. Gilbert would have been impressed had he not seen the amount of paperwork inside that was, most likely, going to need his signature. "These need your revisions and signature of approval by the end of the day, sir."

Gilbert gawked at him. "You mean all of these? By today?" He gestured to the large stack of papers. Matthew nodded and took out his phone.

"By six in the afternoon would be preferable. You have a seven-thirty reservation at Luce del Sole with Lovino Vargas-"

"Wait," Gilbert's head was reeling. He could feel the beginning of a headache just under his right temple. "I thought that wasn't until next week."

"I moved it up. Along with all your appointments for next week."

"Without my permission, Williams?" Gilbert had stood up at this point, his eyes practically glaring daggers at his assistant. He gave a lot of freebies to Matthew, but redoing his entire schedule was something that he couldn't let slide easily, despite the feelings he may have for him. "Last time I checked, you're supposed to be following my orders not your own."

"I'm supposed to be doing what's best for the CEO of the Beilschmidt Company, and I am." Matthew stated calmly. His eyes didn't waver from Gilbert's own and even had the audacity to glare back. It was at moments like this, when he showed a side to him that wasn't proper or business-like, that Gilbert wondered if Matthew was ever worried of getting fired (though he knew he would never have the heart to do that, not to him of all people).

"And how is playing around with my schedule helping me?" Gilbert spat. "What, am I not trustworthy enough for you? You think I can't handle things on my own? Do you think I depend that much on you, Williams?" Perhaps he was overreacting to the situation, but he really didn't give a fuck. He knew why Matthew had gone and changed everything- his assistant didn't believe him capable of doing his work without someone supervising him. He would think that working with each other for two years would have developed some trust between them. Gilbert, on his part, trusted Matthew with more things than he cared to admit. He had only hoped that Matthew felt a fragment of what he wanted him to feel- because even a friendship between them was pushing his limits; Gilbert didn't know how would handle having Matthew that close but unable to touch.

However, the look in Matthew's eyes said it all, and it hurt Gilbert more than anything he could have said out loud.

It took a minute for Gilbert to stop his fists from trembling and it took another to stop the urge to laugh uncontrollably. Ironically, staring at the amount of paperwork helped to calm him down from jumping over his desk and punching and or kissing Matthew in the face. He took one more moment to take in a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes. Much to his chagrin he now had a headache, which was getting increasingly worse the more he thought about the current situation.

"I'm done thinking about this." He muttered, shaking the unnecessary thoughts from his head. He looked at his assistant, now with his usual impassive expression on, with a poker face of his own. "I'll do all the necessary work this week and go to all the meetings, but if you ever attempt something like this again Williams," Gilbert forced himself to say the words. "I will fire you on the spot. Are we clear?"

Something flashed in Matthew's eyes, but Gilbert was still seething that he didn't bother to try to identify it. "Yes, Mr. Beilschmidt."

The next few days passed by as Gilbert expected them to be- hell. He was doing double or triple the work as usual and having an average of three to four meetings a day with different clients. There were even times where he had to take his work home, where it would be finished in the early hours of the morning. Gilbert was tired, both in the physical and mental sense, and he was beginning to look forward to the day Matthew's vacation started. Unfortunately for him, that was still two days away and he was very close to ripping his hair out.

That was why Gilbert, in a desperate attempt to release all his stress, half-assed his last meeting of the day and rushed out of the room before Matthew could realize he was gone. He practically sprinted to the elevator and pulled his phone out once the doors had shut. He needed a drink or ten, so he called his usual drinking buddy Matthias the day before to set something up. Matthias had told him to meet him at the usual bar- an old-fashioned looking bar with the best beer Gilbert had ever tasted in the states- after he finished his shift at the fire department.

Gilbert texted him to ask if he was finished and grinned when his friend responded that he had.

Awesome. I'll be there in ten.

"Gil!" Matthias waved at his friend the second he had stepped through the door. Gilbert grinned and headed over to where Matthias was seated with a pitcher of cold beer. "It's good to see you, man!" Matthias clapped him on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit. "It's been forever since we've had a drink together! I was starting to think you found other people to get smashed with."

Gilbert laughed. "Please, not everyone can handle my awesome self when I drink. You're lucky I deem you worthy enough." Matthias scoffed but didn't comment. He could drink just as many drinks as Gilbert could and they both knew it. It had gotten them kicked out of multiple establishments in the past, especially when the two decided to compete to see who could drink the most and still walk in a straight line without toppling over. That's what Gilbert liked about Matthias- the guy had no limits when it came to drinking. "Let's get this party started!" Gilbert reached out for a glass but stopped when he noticed there were three. He stared at Matthias in confusion. "Three glasses?"

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot." Matthias laughed sheepishly. "I invited a friend of mine. He's been real stressed out with this book he's writing- apparently his editor is evil incarnate or something so I thought a drink would help."

Gilbert frowned, but before he could say anything he heard the door slam open, attracting multiple people's attention to the panting man slamming the door closed as fast as he could. The entire bar was silent for a moment before Matthias stood up and waved at the stranger. "Hey Arthur, you're late!"

"Terribly sorry." The man-Arthur- said sarcastically. "I'll be sure to run faster from the French next time so I won't be tardy."

"Your editor?" Matthias guessed. Arthur practically slumped into his chair and grabbed a glass and filled it to the brim with beer.

"That frog is absolutely the worst! I swear if he says one more thing about gourmet food I'll-!" That's when Arthur noticed Gilbert staring at him. "Ah- hello." Arthur blinked. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Arthur Kirkland." Arthur extended a hand out to Gilbert.

"Gilbert Beilschmidt at your service." Gilbert continued to stare at Arthur or, more specifically, at his eyebrows. They seemed familiar somehow. "So, you hate your editor?"

"Yes." Arthur responded so fast that it surprised Gilbert. "Francis Bonnefoy may be considered one of the best but in actuality he is-"

"Wait, Francis Bonnefoy?" That was Matthew's boyfriend. " He's your editor? And you hate him?"

"Yes." Arthur was beginning to look annoyed. "Do you know him?"

Gilbert once again stared at Arthur and then at Matthias, who was grinning from ear to ear as he emptied his second drink. "I hate his guts, too." Arthur instantly perked up at this.

"Oh? I'm glad to finally meet someone with common sense then." Arthur lifted his glass towards him and smirked. "Cheers to hating the frog?"

Gilbert grinned and clinked his glass against Arthur's. He had a feeling that they would become very good friends.

After parking the car in the parking lot, Matthew took a sip of his coffee and checked his phone. Normally he would arrive at his boss's penthouse at nine or ten in the morning, depending on the amount of work Gilbert had to do that day. This entire week had been no exception- Matthew had woken his boss up at nine, ignoring the curses and glares he received from a half-asleep Gilbert, and somehow managed to get his boss to do every single thing Matthew had pushed on him.

So it was a bit odd for him to arrive at his boss' place at noon.

It was the final day of what Gilbert had dubbed "hell week" and it was a relief to not only him but to Matthew as well. The entire week was filled with a heavy tension that Matthew had never felt before in the presence of his boss. Yes, he had seen Gilbert act cold and merciless to others but never to him. It made Matthew feel even guiltier of his actions than he had already. He could realize his own mistakes- he shouldn't have let paranoia and Gilbert's teasing get to him- but that didn't help with the nagging guilt in his chest every time Gilbert had to take work home or when he would arrive with dark circles under his eyes as if he had stayed up late finishing the work Matthew had brought on him.

The worst part of it all was probably that Gilbert had not once looked him in the eye since everything began, and that made him feel shittier than everything combined. Gilbert could hold grudges longer than his brother could, a feat that was both impressive and annoying. If Matthew didn't do something to be back in his boss' graces, then the threat of losing his job would become a reality (he dare not think of how he felt when Gilbert had threatened him with that; he'd rather not remember the way his chest felt as if it was physically stabbed).

Matthew had spent all week trying to figure out the best way to apologize to his boss but had no clue as to how until yesterday night, when a bartender called him and told him to come pick up Gilbert. He was used to picking up a drunken Gilbert, it happened at least once a week after all, but it had come to a surprise to see Arthur there as well. He had thought the author was in London finishing up his novel, that's what Francis had told him anyway, but that was apparently not the case. Arthur, for some odd reason, was standing on a table with Gilbert and Matthias laughing and singing. All three of them were so obviously smashed that Matthew couldn't help but pity them for the hangovers they would have the next day. That was when he realized just how he could get back on his boss' good side. He had never been gladder for his boss' drunken antics until that moment.

Matthew took the elevator up to Gilbert's suite and used his key to go inside, carefully rearranging the items in his arms as he did. As expected, the place was as messy as it always was despite a maid coming in three times a week. He placed the bag he was carrying and his cup of coffee on the kitchen table and checked up on his boss. Gilbert was sprawled in his bed in the most undignified way possible, with one leg hanging off the bed and half of his blanket on the floor. It was a hilarious sight to see that Matthew couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fick dich auch." Gilbert groaned, grabbing a stray pillow and placing it over of his head to drown everything out.

Matthew rolled his eyes but didn't comment. Instead he stepped into the room and stopped a few steps away from his boss' bed. "I brought coffee." He lifted up his right arm to show the Styrofoam cup in his hands.

Gilbert peeked one bloodshot eye from the pillow and looked at him suspiciously. "Black?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bring it here."

Matthew silently obeyed and carefully placed the cup in his boss' hands. Gilbert took a large gulp of it, ignoring how hot it was, and nodded. "Danke, Williams. This makes me feel less shittier than I already do."

"You're welcome." Matthew said. "About your schedule for today…"He had to cut himself off to stop himself from smiling at the look on Gilbert's face. "Your brother has agreed to attend today's meetings in your place and promises to give you a detailed account of everything."

"Really?" Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?"

"He said it was an early birthday present." Matthew lied. Actually, it had taken him forever to make Ludwig agree to going to Gilbert's meetings and even then the younger Beilschmidt had only said yes because his partner, Feliciano, had convinced him. "He also said to stop drinking on the weekdays." Ludwig had said more than that, but his boss didn't need to know about the lecture his brother would give him after everything was through.

Gilbert continued to stare at him before shrugging and taking another gulp of his coffee. "I don't know how you managed to do that, but thanks. Stupid hangover. You think you can get some breakfast from that diner a block away?"

"Already did." This time Matthew allowed himself to smile. "I've been working with you for years Mr. Beilschmidt. I would be a bad assistant if I didn't know what your favorite hangover meal is."

At this Gilbert laughed but it turned into a hiss of pain. "Schiebe, don't make me laugh right now Williams. Did you bring aspirin too?" Matthew nodded. Gilbert whistled. "Remind me how'd I ever got a badass assistant like you to work for me?"

"I was the only one who showed up to the interview."

"Haha, very funny. " Gilbert rolled his eyes. "Now go get me my pills and breakfast, Mattie."

It had been days since Gilbert had called him Mattie so it shocked him to hear it after what felt like an eternity. He didn't know why, but it felt good to hear it again. He couldn't help but smile in relief that his relationship was Gilbert was slowly going back to how it used to be. "Yes, sir."

"You're half-forgiven Mattie." Gilbert said after he had finished the breakfast his assistant brought him. Matthew looked over at him in confusion.

"Half-forgiven?"

"For giving me hell this week." Gilbert clarified. Just because he had a hangover, one that was slowly fading away, didn't mean he couldn't figure out what Matthew was doing. Matthew was too prideful to apologize to him directly, so the breakfast and coffee were his way of saying 'I fucked up and I'm sorry'. It was a good way to apologize in his books, though it wouldn't completely do the trick. Matthew had to suffer at least a bit more before Gilbert would fully forgive him.

Matthew gave him a look of disbelief. "I'm only half-forgiven, sir?"

"Let me remind you that you changed my entire schedule without my permission to satisfy your own needs, Williams." Matthew looked away. Gilbert bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. "You need to do one more thing to make me completely forgive you."

"And what's that?" Matthew raised an eyebrow, curious as to what his boss could possibly want. The possibilities were endless when it came to Gilbert. There was a reason he had inherited the CEO position from his grandfather after all.

Gilbert took a moment to contemplate what he wanted. His first thought, much to his shock, was 'go on a date with me' but it was rejected for obvious reasons. He decided to go with something he had always wanted, but Matthew's professionalism had always gotten in the way of. "From now on you have to call me by my first name. No more of that Mr. Beilschmidt crap."

Matthew looked at him as if he was insane." Mr. Beilschmidt, that's unprofessional-"

"You've known me for years Mattie. You think I give a fuck about professionalism?" Matthew opened his mouth to retort but Gilbert didn't let him. "Besides, we're practically friends at this point so it's cool if you call me Gilbert. Or Gil. Mr. Awesome would be fine too-"

"Okay, fine!" Matthew sighed. "Gilbert it is, but only when no one's around."

"Awesome." Gilbert grinned. He mentally fist-pumped at the fact that Matthew hadn't denied the fact they were friends. His day was getting better and better. "You're now completely forgiven Mattie."

Matthew scoffed, but he didn't hide the amusement in his eyes.

Gilbert had convinced him- though it was more like forced- to stay and watch a few movies on his flat screen. Most of them were comedies but every now and then Gilbert would pop in an adventure movie that Matthew ended up liking so much that he planned on buying the movies for his own entertainment. Along with the popcorn, chips, and large amounts of soda, Matthew had genuinely enjoyed the movie marathon with his boss. It felt like they were friends (though Matthew had mixed feelings about that; he never did like mixing his work and personal life).

He left Gilbert's suite hours later with a smile on his face that only grew wider when Gilbert shouted 'See you in a week Mattie! And tell your brother that he's still not as awesome as me and never will be!'

That smile was still plastered on his face once he reached his apartment. As he placed the key into the lock, he idly wondered why Gilbert could always put a smile on his face, unintentional or not. Perhaps it was a perk of being around his boss for too long, but Matthew didn't really bother to delve into that thought further. Gilbert was a fun and interesting boss-and friend now, he supposed- that had a knack for making him smi-

"Bonjour, mon amour!" A warm pair of arms circled around his waist as a kiss was placed lovingly on his cheek. "I've missed you so much, Mathieu!"

Matthew's eyes widened as his mind slowly registered what was happening. When he did, his mind blocked all thoughts of his boss as he embraced his lover tightly. "I've missed you too, Francis."

A few extra things:
- Luce del Sol is the restaurant that Lovino and Feliciano opened up together. Lovino handles the business side while Feliciano cooks. It's a really popular restaurant, but Lovino seeks Gilbert's advice on advertising it to make it even more successful.

-Arthur is currently hiding from his editor because he gets writer's block every time Francis speaks. He's also hiding from a certain America who keeps distracting him from his work, which is why he decided to hang out with Matthias for a few days without anyone knowing (of course that idea sort of backfired when Matthew saw him).

-I couldn't resist having Matthias (Denmark) as a firefighter because I'd thought he'd be perfect for it.

-As for the people wondering whether this fic will be prucan: yes, I'm planning on having those two end up together :)