It was after dinner and the twins were alone in the cabin when Alfred realised he got a text. The text.

Matthew knew he got the text because he watched as his brother opened his phone with a comment about Dad finally replying and started bouncing up and down with babbled excitement.

Matthew already had a feeling he knew what the text said... he just hoped it didn't force them into a dynamic.

"Mattie, guess what!"

He thought about just replying bluntly, but that would probably take away Alfred's joy and wouldn't that be wrong because it was just so innocent?

"Do I have to guess? I think you're just gonna tell me, eh?"

"Yeah of course I am! I'm older than you!"

Matthew didn't know how to react so he just sat there and nodded, his face and composure completely devoid of anything.

"Hell yeah! I'm the big bro! You're the baby!"

Why did it sound like he was being teased?

Then Alfred kinda pulled a face and tilted his head as his smile waned.

"You okay?"

"Yeah?"

"Cus you're kinda reacting."

Matthew wasn't reacting at all, that was the point!

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you're kinda reacting in a Matthew way, y'know? It's like you've suddenly gone blank and you're not really here."

Matthew didn't know how to respond to that. What did Alfred want him to say?

"Just tell me what you're thinking dude," Alfred chuckled. "I can't help if you don't talk? Like, what are you worried about- do you think this'll change things?"

Matthew nodded and shrugged.

"Dude! This changes nothing! It's just a little fun fact, remember? Seriously, why are you worrying?"

Matthew shrugged but didn't have a response.

It had been a week and every night Matthew crashed in bed because each day was so demanding.

Between Alfred's ongoing French lessons, they had been able to fit in a lot of details about each other's lives.

Matthew's wasn't so difficult. Not compared to Alfred's. He didn't have so many things to recite and explain.

Francis worked at the restaurant which wasn't far from their house or the ice rink. He was able to show that over Google Maps. Roderich didn't live far and Matthew explained how he managed finances and stopped by for dinner every now and then. Roderich was also an avid piano player and Alfred was impressed when Matthew said Roderich had taught him. But the impression gave way to dread when Alfred realised he might have to learn the instrument... without the instrument at camp.

"Well, he doesn't teach me so much anymore so he won't expect you to play it," Matthew offered as he thought about ways around it.

"Yeah! And even if I have to I'm sure I'll be able to think of a way to get out of it. Like, oh no suddenly I have to go to the bathroom or something, I'll be fine."

"I'd prefer to have a plan so you weren't put in that situation to begin with."

"And that's how we're different."

Matthew couldn't agree more. He needed a plan while Alfred found plans suffocating when he could just improvise.

Francis also had two close friends, Gilbert and Antonio who also stopped by for dinner often and sometimes on really short notice. Well, short notice for Matthew while Francis seemed unbothered. Everyone in Francis' life was shared with Matthew, and they were all welcome in their house. Somehow, over time Francis' house had developed to be the place to be.

"They're kinda like my uncle's, I guess. They've been Papa's best friends for longer than I can remember. They're all really loud when together so I guess it would be easy to fade into the background and not get noticed."

"Got it. That's basically what happens with Arthur anyway when he has people over and I get too annoying."

Matthew thought about Gilbert's relationship with his brother and a thought came to him.

"Maybe I was upset about you being older because Gilbert has a younger brother and... Gilbert's really embarrassing. He's loud and obnoxious and holds his older status over his brother all the time. Maybe that's why I felt weird about you being older."

"Bro, I promise I'll only be over-protective. NOT annoying or embarrassing. Or at least not because I'm older."

Matthew laughed at that as he thought about how he'd bring up something that he'd been pondering over the week. He needed Alfred's opinion on it because his brother had all the friendship experience.

"I need your advice," Matthew's tone wasn't serious but he saw Alfred straighten up.

"Yeah, what about?"

"Um, well for context I feel a bit guilty sharing some of this because it's private information but 'Matthew' already knows this so, you have to know it too."

Alfred leaned closer.

"So, Gilbert's brother- he has a way younger half-brother called Ludwig. I think one parent left the picture somehow and the other remarried and Ludwig was born. Then both parents died and Gilbert had to raise his brother... anyway, his brother is early 20s now while Gilbert is 30 something and..."

He was finding it hard to string it all together when his thoughts were jumbled. Explaining it all would be the hardest because he knew Alfred wouldn't understand what he was thinking at all.

"Wow that's some hot tea," Alfred said. "So what exactly are you asking though?"

"Well, your standards for considering someone a friend are a bit different than mine... I guess I don't know someone's a friend until I have proof or they say it but I've been thinking about what you said about how age doesn't matter and how you think so I just want your opinion on if Ludwig is my friend or not."

"Do you want him to be?"

When he was younger, Matthew wished he was his older brother.

"Yeah."

"Okay," Alfred said confidently, "So what's stopping you from just thinking he's your friend?"

"He's way older which I guess doesn't really matter but it might matter to him, he might just think I'm some weird little kid that he has to put up with because his brother's friends with my Papa."

"Okay but if he's never said that then you don't know that, okay? How long have you known him?"

"All my life. Francis has been friends with Gilbert forever and Ludwig's parents died when he was young so... Francis helped out a lot."

"That's both ouch but also really sweet," Alfred admitted. "Well, if you've known him for so long then yeah you're probably friends... do y'all hang out much?"

"He used to come over all the time after school when he was in school. But I think that was because Gilbert told him to... Now that he's in uni he comes over all the time, even if Francis or Gilbert aren't there. I think it's much quieter than where he and Gilbert live. I think they live on the highway by the airport. I don't really know because Francis' place is where everyone goes. Sometimes he helps me with my homework which is nice but it could be an obligation thing, I don't know. If he's over at the same time Francis' friends are then we just sit in my room, but it could just be because it's quieter, I don't know."

"Literally what I'm hearing is you've already got an older brother. As long as you don't tell me you don't need me then I won't get jealous! I'm kidding, really, sharing is caring so that's my older brother too now. Especially if he helps with homework."

Alfred said it so simply, so it must be true.

"But seriously, all that makes me think you guys are friends. If it was me I'd assume we were friends the moment his brother and your dad- shit, our dad, became friends. Mattie, y'all definitely friends which is so good because otherwise I'd be worried that you're a sad lonely loser- kidding! kidding!"

Alfred lunged forward with a twinkle in his eye as he grabbed Matthew's shoulders with desperation causing the latter to freeze up. It was habit, even if by now he was almost completely used to his brother's outwardly expressive nature.

"I'm proud of you, I hope you know that," Then Alfred hesitated as if he didn't know how to approach his next thought. "Also, don't take this the wrong way- uh, saying that sounds bad but uh, I'll just do it stop me if you don't like it."

Because Matthew could even question Alfred on what the fuck he was on about, Alfred closed the gap and engulfed him in a hug with a laugh.

"Sorry if this is a bit too fast but I'm just so excited to have a brother, that you're my brother and we can go on this epic switcharoo adventure together!"

This... was the first time they'd hugged. Somehow it felt important, like they'd crossed off a milestone and Matthew felt like they'd grown closer. He never imagined he could be close like this with someone before... Matthew hugged Alfred back. It was nice and it made him tear up.

"I'm so glad too."

When that moment was over they were back to work. This time, Alfred was pulling up Google Maps to show where relevant lived as he started getting into explanations.

"Okay, so here's a picture of Bella from her BoomerBook, I think she's from Belgium or something and she's one of Aunt Alice's coworkers. Bella cooks for people who can't cook and brings them food so that means a lot of old people. But not just old people, Arthur too. I can't complain because that means she cooks for me too and her cooking is delightful compared to the bland slop that Arthur trained himself to be content with."

Matthew studied Bella from her photo while Alfred mused.

"Since she's both Alice's and Arthur's friend... do you think she knows?"

"Depends how long they've been friends," Matthew suggested.

"A long time, but I don't think that long," Alfred shrugged. "Also, she can speak French and I think she does it to piss off Arthur. So when you swap can you eavesdrop and tell me what she's saying?"

Matthew would usually feel paranoid about eavesdropping, but if she didn't know that 'Alfred' understood her, it would be all too easy.

Alfred pulled up a photo of a pleasant-looking cat. Then another, and another. His camera roll had a lot of this cat.

"So the cat is Rosie, it's Arthur's. If you're wearing my clothes you'll smell like me so everything will be fine. What's she gonna do? Run and hide under Arthur's bed? It won't even be suspicious because you can just say 'oh, I probably smell like camp' and laugh it off."

Then Alfred pulled up a photo of Alice. Matthew was questioning if he should've found photos for his introductions.

"So Aunt Alice, not Mother Alice because ew, lives by herself somewhere else but she might as well live with Arthur cus she's over all the time. She's kinda a hardass and you'll definitely see how they're related because they just speak so similar but she's really soft inside. I don't know how to put it, you'll pick it up."

Then Alfred pulled up a photo of him and a boy.

"This is Kiku, we're kinda losers together. He's a chill friend so we just hang out in my room and we both like games and anime and TV and movies and memes and cultured stuff like that," then Alfred sighed, like he was working himself up to something. "And since you told me a relevant secret I'll tell you one too. We both read fanfiction. I know it has a loserish stigma but that's just how good friends we are, okay? And the stuff we read is either funny as fuck or it's just stuff the show failed so it's not actually cringy, I really need you to understand that."

"I don't know anything about games, anime, tv, movies or fanfiction," Matthew said.

"I'll give you some tutoring like how you're tutoring me in French!" Alfred said with confidence. "As long as you can just bullshit your way through, I'm sure you could be fine. Or if you see him you could just sit and do your own thing while he does his, cus that's something we do. Maybe like you and Ludwig?"

Matthew felt nervous about so many unknown variables and hoped that by the end of the camp, he'd be up to it.

"Anyway, onto Ivan and co. He has an older sister that's basically his Mum and my Mum. Okay, not really, it's just a running joke. She's definitely an older sister. I don't think you'll see much of her. But you will see a lot of his younger sister, Natalya. To be honest I don't know how much English she actually knows and that makes her stick to Ivan like glue. She's younger than us but definitely still scary. She clings to him all the time and she's only just kinda warmed up to me."

Alfred found a photo of their family.

"Anyway, their family backstory kinda sucks. They fled from Russia or something so don't bring that up because I think their real Mum's dead and their father's stuck in Russia, which is a good thing from what I've picked up. Anyway, onto Ivan himself, I really, really don't know how to explain our friendship. Apart from good luck navigating all that. Disclaimer - Me and Ivan are actually really close and we care about each other a lot buuuut... I know we definitely have a unique relationship that you might not understand. Me and Ivan are kinda assholes to each other. Not completely or extremely, but just, kinda in a joking way and then sometimes just because we can be an asshole. It's... yeah I don't know. You might just be able to avoid him. This is my older brother instincts stepping in."

"Wouldn't it be suspicious if you avoid him?"

"Yeah. Just lie and say you're busy or something. I don't know. I'll have to think of how to explain things so you can understand then tell you how to act, y'know... maybe I'll call him on another day and you can hear how we interact."

"That's a good idea," Matthew mused. "Maybe we should do that for everyone?"

"Hey, sounds good to me!" Alfred chuckled. "But yeah, back to Ivan... I don't want him to make you uncomfortable. Not that he'll make you uncomfortable on purpose but we have a really... unique relationship. If you want to draw a line, you have to be serious. Not serious but light or silly or polite because then he'll take it as a joke. But if you look serious he'll know it's serious. He's not actually a threat or anything."

Matthew just nodded. He could only take Alfred's word for it.

Their discussion for the day was basically over and the last thing they noted was anything they can't cover up should be blamed on camp. Any change in behaviour or mood or personality that couldn't be explained with something logical would have to be dismissed with some lie about camp. It was a last resort option that would certainly work for 'Matthew' since it was his first time going, but Matthew didn't think it would work for 'Alfred'. He'd have to work extra hard to imitate his brother.

That night Matthew was sitting alone on his bed because Alfred was in the shower. He'd just called Francis before so Alfred could listen in, but Matthew really felt like it was a chore. Maybe he'd tell Francis he didn't have to call Matthew every day and then lie saying it was because he was so busy at camp and not because he just couldn't wrap his head around why Francis would lie to him his entire life and let him grow up so isolated!

Anyway, it was worth it though because he could see how happy it made Alfred. He just reminded himself he'd get to see Arthur soon enough.

Now Matthew was alone and there was something he'd wanted to do since he got Alfred's opinion. He couldn't think of a better time. He had Ludwig's number for a long time, but Matthew wasn't much of a texter. He just didn't have anyone to text. So far his digital conversation with Ludwig had just been out of necessity so after much deliberation, he sent a text to Ludwig.

Matthew:

How are things back home? Have I missed out on much?

It was a safe topic of conversation. Matthew's heart lurched with panic when he got a reply immediately.

Ludwig:

Things are exactly the same, you aren't missing out on anything. How's the camp?

Oh shit, since it was right after Matthew's message he can't take time to reply because Ludwig knew he was right there and if he didn't respond he was ignoring him and being rude-

Matthew took a breath and built on Ludwig's response.

Matthew:

I'm glad I'm not missing out on anything! It's actually really fun here and I've made some friends so it's not that scary anymore.

Ludwig;

Well, that's good to hear. I'm sure you'll have a lot of stories to tell when you come home.

He didn't want to let the conversation end. Maybe he should just ask about uni, that was a safe topic.

Matthew:

How's uni going?

Ludwig:

Funny you should ask, I was just having a study break when you texted. I've managed to study a lot today so I should sleep well tonight.

Alfred came out of the bathroom and wandered over to Matthew.

"What's up?"

"I'm texting Ludwig."

"Oh hell yeah, I'm so proud of you! Lemme have a lookie-"

Matthew let Alfred read the texts from over his shoulder.

"Wow, you guys type weirdly formal," Alfred laughed. "At least I know that now so I can commit identity theft better. What's he studying?"

"Engineering."

"Oh cool. I'll withhold the Jojo's reference until you can understand it."

When Steve came in with the phone bag, Matthew almost found himself disappointed to have his conversation cut off. He shot off a text explaining he had to go and received one just before he turned his phone off-

It was just a typical 'goodnight' and well wishes, but it meant a lot to Matthew. He had a smile on his face when he handed over his phone because he truly felt like he'd gained another friend. A friend he apparently had all along, but maybe it was just his own overthinking that had prevented him from seeing it.

Over the week they found themselves in the cooking class building a lot. Matthew had a lot to teach when it came to working in a kitchen. It was partly necessity and partly because he wanted to share his cooking skills with his brother.

Plus it meant hanging out with Feliciano and Lovino. Ever since Matthew got Alfred's advice, he found it easier to view the other twins as friends. It was a really nice revelation to have.

As Matthew found out, Feliciano loved cooking almost as much as him. Lovino enjoyed it but apparently had a stronger love for another hobby.

Matthew found out about Lovino's gardening skills when, in the middle of completing the class's recipe, Lovino would break off and leave Feliciano to his own capable devices while Lovino dragged the room's big bin over and started going through it.

Since it had been a couple of lessons since Matthew had been bombarding Alfred with 'kitchen knowledge' (as his twin put it, his twin who enjoyed hanging out with him), he figured he could leave Alfred to test his skills.

"What are you doing?" Matthew asked as he watched Lovino hunch over a separate bench and carve up the scraps.

"Recycling seeds, what else?" Lovino said like it was obvious, before mumbling. "I can't let this go to waste..."

He had pieces of paper towels everywhere as he separated the scraps by what they were.

"Oh. Why?"

"So I can take them home and add them to my collection," Lovino said as he tossed some scraps in a nearby bin after putting their seeds on the bench.

"A seed collection?" Matthew asked curiously. "What do you use it for?"

"My garden. I let them dry out here and then when I take them home I can plant them."

"His garden's really big and impressive!" Feliciano cheered from where he was working on the recipe. "He grows all the best stuff. Nono loves the stuff that Lovi grows!"

"As he damn well should," Lovino said proudly. "It's my garden because I do most of the work."

"I help cook it!" Feliciano protested.

Lovino 'tsk'ed.

"Did you want any help separating the seeds?" Matthew offered and Lovino gave him half of the scraps before showing him how to separate them.

"He's done this every single year," Alfred said, half distracted by the recipe. Matthew was proud that his brother was doing so well without his guidance. More than that, he was happy that Alfred was happy to learn at all and not just treating everything Matthew was throwing at him like a chore. Especially with learning French. French is a part of him and Matthew would feel a little upset if Alfred was less than impressed with having to embrace that, like Matthew initially worried when Alfred made French jokes before clearing up they were jokes and made jabs at the British too.

Matthew was worried Alfred wouldn't be able to learn enough French in time, especially when Matthew had yet to tell him just how urgently Alfred needed to learn. Matthew would've told him conversationally at some point, but with the discovery of being twins... he kind of forgot. At least if Alfred loses motivation for learning French Matthew could bring this secret up and he knew his brother would be all for it.

Every year, Francis went back to his home country, and took Matthew with him.

"It's actually kinda impressive," Alfred continued. "He takes home really fat bags full of seeds every year and shit- I still need to see your garden!"

"I'll show you a picture later," Lovino said as he wiped his hands on a towel, "and it's not that big, we live in a city to all the backyards are so shitty and small-"

"It is big! It fills up the entire backyard! There's no room to cloud gaze anywhere!" Feliciano chirped.

"I'd love to see what your garden looks like," Matthew said. "My Papa's friend lives in an apartment so he has no room to grow anything so he has a garden in our backyard. I'm sure he'd love some inspiration on how he could set it up to be better because he always talks about wanting to expand it."

"Oh, should I be taking notes?" Alfred said before quickly backtracking. "-For my Dad, of course. Anyway, what's the name of your Papa's friend in this case?"

"Antonio," Matthew said and Alfred nodded.

"It's not that impressive," Lovino huffed. "Just lots of raised garden beds that I made Nonno build and then I planted things that need some shade around where the fence is and then plants that need full sun anywhere else. Nonno was just able to build a lot of things himself so that just filled up the garden."

"You must be really dedicated to gardening then," Matthew said with respect. "Um, do you know a lot about tomatoes?"

"Of course I do!" Lovino held up a paper towel covered with tomato seeds. "They're my specialty."

"Last year we had so many tomatoes that Nonno had to give them away," Feliciano laughed.

"You can never have too many tomatoes! He could've just made more sauce with them!"

"So-" Matthew felt rude for interjecting but if he didn't speak the conversation would certainly move on without him, "would you know what's wrong with Antonio's tomatoes?"

"Probably. I bet it's just something really dumb because they're so easy to grow."

"I don't know what the problem is... I just heard Antonio complaining about them before I left for camp. He'd been trying to get them to grow for ages but they just look, I don't really know, sad?"

Lovino then started to interrogate him about all sorts, like what did Antonio plant with the tomatoes and what did he fertilize them with. Matthew did his best to answer but felt out of his league.

In the end, Lovino rattled off a checklist of things he could try to do to improve them when he got home.

-Plant with basil, chives, mint, parsley, marigold

-Do NOT plant with potatoes (Lovino was very insistent, to the point where Matthew questioned if Lovino liked potatoes at all)

-Fertilize with raw eggs (raw eggs?)

Matthew would just have to suggest to Alfred to suggest it to Antonio. Or maybe Matthew would just text Ludwig to suggest to Antonio. It would give him an excuse to talk to his friend and that way Antonio would know sooner!

Then Lovino offered to split his seeds with him. Matthew wanted to turn him down but Lovino had made up his mind. In fact, Lovino was insistent because then Matthew would be able to expand his garden.

Matthew realised this was how Lovino showed he cared. In his mind, it was the equivalent of gifting someone food.

"I already have a lifetime supply of seeds," Lovino bragged, "there's nothing I can't take the seeds out of!"

So while Alfred and Feliciano cooked, Matthew bonded with Lovino about gardening. Lovino was more than happy to share tips as he talked about his passion. Matthew almost felt sad that he wasn't actually going back to his home to help Antonio with his garden, but his eagerness to see Arthur outweighed it.

When the recipe was done and they were cleaning up their station, Matthew remembered something and caught Alfred's attention.

"Every night when Papa and I have dinner together he has a glass of wine. Apparently, it's for his health, but he always lets me have some. He puts it in a shot glass and we clink our glasses together..." he heard his tone go from fake 'reminiscent' to bitter and he got to the point. "I'm used to the taste now but I found it really gross at first."

He passed it off as a random story being shared between friends but he knew Alfred knew the importance.

"Wow, I wish my Dad would let me drink alcohol," he laughed. "I'm actually kinda jealous. But I don't think I can imagine the taste..."

But how is Alfred going to get used to the taste of something he can't have until it's right in front of him.

"Oh! I just had a great idea, what if we mixed up some disgusting concoctions and I tried to drink them without reacting! We could turn it into a game and we both drink it and see if we both have good poker faces!"

It sounded really stupid. But because Alfred suggested it...

"Yeah, that could be fun," Matthew said.

"That's the stupidest fucking idea I've ever heard," Lovino said, deadpanned.

"I wanna play!" Feliciano said.

"Of course you do, dumbass," Lovino shook his head. "But to save time I can tell you now that you'll fucking lose. You can't not react for shit."

"But still, it'd be fun!"

"Damn right, it will be!" Alfred said, "Come on Lovi, at least watch if you don't wanna play."

"Who said I wasn't playing," A dark shadow fell over Lovino's face. "I'll be the one making the drinks."

Spoilers: Feliciano didn't even swallow the drinks. He spat everything out. He was smart.

Lovino wasn't surprised Feliciano couldn't deal with it. Apparently, the Italian's tastebuds were too refined.

Alfred threw up behind the building and Matthew was impressed that he didn't do the same. But at least he got to see his twin's poker face was well trained and Matthew had faith his brother would be able to handle wine without making himself suspicious.