Chapter Text
Sleep had not come easily to either Feliciano or Lovino, knowing that the next morning, they would both leave the camp and go off to a new home, a new life....
….a new father.
Feliciano was a jittery mess from the moment he awoke, panicking as he ran about, checking his appearance, making sure that everything of Lovino's were in his luggage and fretting that he had missed something.
“Calm down, idiota!” Lovino finally snapped after Feli had checked the luggage for the nth time. “Everything's in there. Keep your head and everything will be fine.” Feli wrung his hands.
“But what if I give myself away the moment they see me?” he whimpered.
“They will if you act like that,” Lovino replied. “Get it together! You're leaving on the first coach, it's too late for second thoughts.” It was good that they would leave on different coaches as it reduced the chances of discovery, although being isolated almost from the start of camp, the only people who would notice were their camp-mates who knew all about the swap anyway but still, best not to take chances. Feliciano took a deep breath, put a scowl on his face and growled in his best Lovino impression, “I'm not having any damn second thoughts.” Lovino grinned.
“Ve~ that's more like it,” he simpered, adopting a meek look and then went back to Lovino again. “You've got all the information you need, just act like that and it will take a while for anyone to realise.” Lovino looked at his watch, stood up and began to gather all his (Feliciano's) bags up.
“Get your shit together,” he ordered and Feliciano picked up his (Lovino's) suitcase and bags, “We've got to meet the others at the coaches.” After one last look around to make sure that nothing had been left behind and everything was in order before leaving the cabin for the last time, they headed toward a scary but exciting adventure.
* * * * *
The last thing to go into Arthur's suitcase was Flying Mint Bunny and he closed the case carefully, as if his precious plush would shatter like glass if he did it too roughly. A stark contrast to Alfred who sat on his case to close it enough to lock it.
“Yeah!” he cried, like he had just defeated an ultimate boss in one of the many games he played. “I am the Packing King!” Arthur looked at the suitcase like it was about to explode and scatter its contents all over the cabin again.
“Is that how you packed it to come here?” Arthur asked, awaiting the clothing fountain at any second. Alfred scratched his neck, sheepishly.
“Well, my brother packed my case for me,” he admitted, a little red-faced. Arthur sighed.
“Of course, he did,” he muttered, picking his case for his bed and putting it on the floor. “Are you ready? We have to meet the others at the coach.” Alfred grabbed his suitcase (which, by some miracle, managed to stay shut and locked), and plunked it down, next to Arthur's.
“Yup!” he replied and looked around, sighing. “I'm sorry to go, it's been a great Summer.” Arthur smiled.
“It's certainly been interesting,” he admitted. “I have to agree. I'm going to miss all this.” Alfred put his hands on Arthur's hips and pulled him in close.
“I'm gonna miss you the most,” Alfred whispered before lightly kissing Arthur's lips. Just as he was going to pull back, Arthur's hand wrapped around his nape and pulled him in for a firmer kiss.
“I'll miss you too,” Arthur replied when the kiss ended. “But there's always next year. I'm sure I can persuade Mum to put our names down.” Alfred smiled.
“I don't wanna wait that long,” he said. “First chance I get, I'm coming to England.”
“But first, I have to go home to England,” Arthur sighed before pulling out of Alfred's hands and picking up his suitcase and carry-on bag. “Come on, the others will be waiting for us.” Alfred sighed and picked his own luggage.
“Okay,” he said as they walked out the door. “Still, I can't wait to get to England and see you in a tartan skirt.”
“Alfred,” Arthur replied with a suffering tone. “It's called a kilt and that's Scotland.”
* * * * *
“I can't help but feel guilty about Ludwig,” Matthew said, picking up the white bear plush that Gilbert's brother had worked so hard to make good as new. And here Matthew was participating in a scheme that was leaving Ludwig thinking that Feliciano hated him. “I mean, your brother seems to really like Feli.....”
“Ja,” Gilbert agreed, packing his carry-on bag. “I know but, hopefully it won't be for too long. Once it all comes out, Feli can tell him everything and I'll be there, pleading Feli's case.”
“He really likes Feli, does he?” Matthew packed his last remaining things and closed his luggage, just before Gilbert's arms came around from behind.
“As much as I like you, Birdie,” he replied and kissed Matthew's right temple. “Which means Ludwig will come around.....which means Feli has nothing to worry about.”
“You approve of Feli for Ludwig, don't you?”
“How can I not?” Gilbert shrugged. “The guy's a sweetheart. Just what mein stick-in-the-mud bruder needs and it won't be too hard to get them back together. Not with Großvater's help, he'll be able to get in touch with Cousin Roderich when we need to.”
“I just it all works out for them,” Matthew replied and Gilbert smiled. His Birdie was cared about others, even though he himself was often over looked. How did he gets so lucky to get this sweet guy?
Oh right! He filled his toothpaste tube with Wasabi paste.
“It will,” Gilbert declared, hugging his Birdie again. “I have faith. My big question is when am I going to see you again?” Matthew squeezed Gilbert back.
“I'm sure my parents would love it if you came to visit, next holidays,” his whispered in Gil's ear. “Or I could come visit you.” Gil smiled.
“Sounds like a plan.”
* * * * *
Matthias and Lukas already had their luggage piled by the first coach, ready to be put aboard while the two Nordics waited, away from the other homeward bound campers, for their fellow conspirators to arrive. Soon the others would be here and they would discuss the final details before Feli and Lovi departed for their great, daring endeavour.
“So today's the day,” Matthias stated the obvious. “Do you think Feli and Lovi are nervous about this?”
“I would be very surprised if they're not,” Lukas replied. “Especially Feliciano but we've gone too far to back out now and I wish them the best of luck.”
“Well, we all have each other's numbers so we can keep track,” Matthias said, checking his phone then giving Lukas a side eye glance. “Oh wait! I don't have yours and you probably don't have mine. We should exchange them now while we can.” Lukas took out his phone, opened it and handed it to Matthias before taking his while managing to roll his eyes without actually moving them.
“Subtlety is not your middle name,” he commented, tapping his number into Matthias's phone and handing it back. Matthias just grinned as he held out Lukas's to him.
“Still worked,” he replied with a smirk. “At least now we can making arrangements to visit each other.”
“Why would we visit each other?” Lukas asked.
“Why wouldn't you want to visit me?” Matthias said. “Or me to visit you?”
“You're loud and annoying.”
“Well if you don't want to....”
“I never said I didn't want to, I just ask why we would.” Matthias smirked and moved closer to Lukas.
“So you do,” he said, pulling Lukas closer.
“Maybe,” was all Lukas was willing to concede which just made Matthias smirk more before giving Lukas a light peck on the lips.
“Perhaps a little more than maybe,” making Matthias's face burst into a grin.
“I can make that a definitely,” he promised, going in for a bigger kiss......
“HEY DUDES!” They both turned to see Alfred, madly waving at them while dragging his suitcase behind him, followed by Arthur at a much less energetic pace. Alfred and Arthur dropped their luggage at the pile for the second coach as they would be accompanying Lovino.
“We all set, dudes?” Alfred asked as Arthur joined them after dropping off his own case.
“We're still waiting for Matthew and Gilbert,” Matthias replied. “As well as the two men of the hour.”
“Well, I hope Lovino doesn't leave Feliciano alone,” Arthur commented. “I'm sure I saw Ludwig hanging about, waiting for a chance to speak to him.” Matthias gave a laugh.
“Given that Feli looks like Lovi right now,” he commented. “That would make for an awkward meeting.”
“Funny as Hell though,” Alfred replied with a grin.
Speak of the Devil and see who appears......
“VE~ CIAO EVERYBODY,” came a shout and they all turned to see the twins with Matthew and Gilbert coming up the path with their bags and suitcases, 'Feli' carrying the violin case which he dumped in the same pile of luggage as Alfred and Arthur for their coach while 'Lovi' dumped his in the other pile.
“Feli, please be careful what you say,” Arthur scolded the dark-haired, Italian twin. “You might have given yourself away.” A scowl covered 'Lovi's' face.
“That was that idiota,” he groused, pointing his thumb at his lighter-haired twin. Arthur turned to Feli who put on a quivering lip pout.
“Ve~ was that wrong?” he simpered on the verge of tears. Everyone's jaw dropped.
“Okay, now I'm scared,” Alfred replied and the twins laughed.
“We've been practising on the way up here,” 'Feli' said. “It's hard acting like a wimpy crybaby.”
“And now Lovino's back,” Gilbert replied. “You should have heard them, going back and forth, acting like the other. It's traumatically nightmare-inducing.”
“It wasn't that bad,” Matthew replied. “But they are getting really good at it.”
“Keep that up,” Arthur said. “And it's going to be a while before you're found out, that was excellent.”
“It was like we'd slipped into an alternate reality for a moment,” Matthias replied with his hand dramatically over his heart. “I thought they'd somehow traded personalities,”
“Good,” Lukas commented. “That's exactly what they need. Let's go over this one more time. Feliciano, tell me the basics of Lovi's home life.”
“V...,” Feli began and then he cleared his throat. “Papa's called Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, although Lovi calls him Jerk Bastard. Home is Ville Carriedo, a big vineyard ten miles outside of Madrid, Spain. Papa likes turtles and tomatoes and he has a younger brother called João who runs the wineries. Has a temper that he doesn't lose often and goes camping and horse riding with Lovi. Papa has a housekeeper called Emma Andersson and her brother Lars is the vineyard manager....And there's a friend of Papa's called Francis Bonnefoy from France. He takes care of the advertising.”
“Very good,” Lukas said before turning to Lovino. “Now you.”
“Vati is Roderich Edelstein,” Lovino ran through everything he knew. “And he's a famous musician who opened a music school and he lives just outside Vienna, Austria. He has a bad sense of direction and gets lost a lot. There's Elizaveta Héderváry who is his housekeeper and pretty much Feli's mother. They're the only ones who live in the house, although Vati's grandpa, Wolfgang Beilschmidt will sometimes visit. Vati's rather strict but rewards Feli when he thinks he deserves it.”
“Well done,” Arthur said. “And you have the layout of your houses memorised?”
“Hallway when you go in,” Lovino rhymed off. “Staircase in the centre that branches off either side. Downstairs on the left, sitting room, library and music room with a downstairs rest-room at the back. On the right, study, dining room with a door to the garden and the kitchen and there's a laundry room. Upstairs on the left, Vati's room and Feli's room, along with guest rooms. On the right, Miss Elizaveta's room and more guest rooms, all with changing rooms and en-suites. More stairs going to the third floor where the servants quarters were, not used now, and another set of stairs, leading to the attics.” Lukas and Arthur both nodded and turned to Feliciano.
“Bottom floor has a open plan sitting and dining room with a door and serving hatch to the kitchen. Sitting area has a door the leads on to a deck area that looks out over the vineyard and has stairs going down to a swimming pool. There's a study and a utility room too while a staircase against the left wall goes upstairs to the top floor while stairs also go down into the basement where Papa keeps his private wine collection. Upstairs, there is Lovino's room on the right with its own bathroom. Papa's room is at the end of the corridor on the right. Emma and Lars's rooms are in the middle with a rest-room in between for guests as well as a few room for any guests that might stay over but it rarely happens. There's another door at the back of the house that leads to the stables where there are five horse including Lovi's horse, a palomino which is called …... Marco?” Feli looked at Lovino to see if he remembered that right and Lovi nodded.
“I didn't say palomino right and said polomino instead,” he replied. “And since it was close to polo I decided to call my horse Marco.”
“One way to name a horse,” Matthias replied.
“It seems you have the basics down,” Arthur said. “But you have to be vigilant, little things are where you'll slip up on so.....”
“Hello, boys!” came the sound of Alice Kirkland's voice and they all turned to see her with Athene and Nephthys, coming toward them. “And how are things between you now?”
“Great, Mrs Kirkland,” Alfred said, cheerfully. “I can't believe we were ever fighting each other.” Athene and Nephthys gave big smiles.
“Another triumph of physiology,” Athene commented.
“Works every time,” Nephthys agreed. Arthur frowned at his mother.
“You do this to everyone?” he asked.
“Only those silly enough to start prank wars,” Alice replied, unapologetically. “I'm surprised none of your brothers told you, they all went through the same thing.” Arthur muttered something about killing those traitors when he got home.
“Speaking of your brothers,” Alice continued, looking down at her clipboard and marking things. “Your eldest brother will be meeting you at the airport to take you home.”
“Oh no, Mum,” Arthur replied, grabbing his hair. “Not Allistor!”
“Yes, Allistor.” Arthur pulled his own hair and screamed. He could look forward to not being allowed in the window seat and Allistor deliberately trying to make him airsick the whole flight home. First screaming brat Arthur saw, he was swapping seats with.
“I need someone responsible with you,” Alice explained.
“And you choose Allistor!”
“Enough complaining,” Alice ordered. “Now on the coaches, all of you. We have to make sure we have everyone. Get on!” Arthur groaned and climbed the coach, followed by Alfred, Lovino, Matthew and Gilbert....as well as Ludwig while everyone else boarded the other coach that was going to another airport.
* * * * *
The coach drove through the streets to the airport where the passengers would be boarding planes to return home and Lovino clambered off the coach with Arthur and Alfred to wait for their luggage to be offloaded before they went into the airport together.
Due to their different destinations (Alfred to New York, Arthur to the London and Lovino to Vienna), they had to go to different check-in desks but once that was done they went to sit in the Departure Lounge to be called for their planes. Arthur's would be departing first although his brother would be coming for him soon, followed by Alfred's and then Lovino would be leaving last. Alfred had been joined by Matthew and they would be naturally travelling home together. Gilbert and Ludwig would also be travelling home together so they were sitting with them, much to the irritation of Lovino in regards to Ludwig.
Ludwig was desperate to get a moment alone with Feliciano but it did not look like it would happen soon. He had to talk to Feli before he boarded his plane as he might not get another chance for a while but Feliciano would not look at him and seemed irritated that he was there. He was going to have to grovel to stand any chance of getting Feli to like him again. It was not like him to be angry for so long....or at all.
The conversation was kept to small talk and every time Ludwig tried to talk to Feli, someone diverted the topic and Ludwig could not make any headway so he would have to wait until there were less people to run interference. The first to go was Alfred and Matthew as their flight was called and they gathered their carry-on bags, Matthew and Alfred gave Gilbert and Arthur a last kiss on their cheeks and they went to get their plane after Alfred whispered to Arthur to watch Ludwig with Lovino.
And that left Arthur, Gilbert, Ludwig and Lovino. Arthur sat on one side of Lovino and Gilbert sat on the other side while Ludwig sat across from him, hoping to get a conversation with Feliciano.
“Feli,” He began. “About the night I,,,”
“Hey Feli!” Gilbert exclaimed. “Next holidays, how about we come for a visit? We could have a great time, what do you say?” Feliciano seemed to take a moment to consider.
“Ve~” he replied. “I like that idea.”
Lovino knew that Gilbert was trying to divert his brother but it took him a moment to get into 'Feli mode'. He thought of shooting the idea down but he knew Feliciano wanted to make up with Ludwig when this adventure was over and Lovino did not wanted to ruin his brother's chances.
“I will look forward to that,” Ludwig smiled. Lovino forced himself to smile back and Ludwig felt a little hope for recovering his relationship with Feli so he tried to initate conversation again and then....
"Oi, Bunny!" a voice called out, laced with a Scottish accent and everyone looked round to see a red-haired boy in his late teens, possibly in his early twenties with, what clearly ran in the family, eyebrows the size of Arthur's. "Shift yer arse. Home awaits!" Arthur sighed and he picked up his bag.
“That's Allistor,” Arthur said. “Well, we have each other's numbers and emails so don't be strangers.”
“Ve~,” Lovino replied. “I'll call when I get home so you know I arrived, okay?” Code for 'I'll call you later and tell you how everything went''.
“Ja,” Gil concurred. “Let us all know, Feli.” Arthur gave one last wave and walked away with his brother. Lovino's flight was next and Gilbert was all that stood between Ludwig and who he thought was Feli.
There was an awkward silence while Lovino waited for the flight to Vienna to be announced that made Lovino jumpy. He was fidgety and his knees kept bouncing up and down in a fight or flight response and, when his flight was called, he practically jumped out of his chair, grabbing his carry-on bag.
“Time for me to go then,” he said and then mentally kicked himself that he forgot to say Ve~ but Ludwig did not seem to notice. “So I'll call you later when I get home, ciao.” As he walked to his departure gate, he heard the call for the flight to Berlin and sighed in relief because it meant that the Beilschmidt brothers would have to go and get their flight and he could get clean away.
“Feliciano!”
Mio Dio! How did the Potato Bastard get away from his brother? Lovino took a deep breath and prepared to face his brother's suitor. He could get through this and maybe make his fratello's job to recover his relationship with the macho jerk a little easier (although he did not know what Feli saw in him.).
“Ve~” he replied, turning to see what Ludwig wanted. “Luddy, shouldn't you be getting to your flight?”
“This will only take a few minutes,” Ludwig replied. “Feli, I wanted to apologise for pushing the issue of whatever was my brother was up to. I had no idea it would upset you so much and you were right. Mein bruder had nothing planned for the last day and I'm sorry I doubted you.” Lovino was smirking inside. Oh, if only you knew!
“Ve~,” he replied. “I was angry that you wouldn't listen to me but I guess you know your own fratello so I suppose you naturally thought he had some mischief planned so I think it would be petty to keep punishing you for it.”
“You really mean that?” Hope flooded Ludwig's heart at Feli's words. He could not help but think that something was off. He could not put his finger on it but, for the time being, he would ignore it in the face of Feli's forgiveness. “Then it would be all right to visit you during the next holidays as Gilbert suggested?”
“Ve~ I would like that,” Lovino almost made himself vomit with the way he gushed. Why did his twin have to be such a mushy person? Lovino prayed that something would save him from this situation and salvation came in the form of the Potato Bastard's brother who had panicked when he found that his bruder had disappeared and panicked even more when he saw him talking to Lovino.
“Yo! West!” he called, getting his bruder's attention. “We need to catch our flight. Move your unawesome ass!”
“Ja, ja,” Ludwig called. “I'm coming.” He turned back to Feli.
“I better go,” he said. “I don't know why he's suddenly obsessed with punctuality. Usually it's me dragging him to places on time. I'll call you tonight and we can talk more.”
“Ve~, Oki doki,” Lovino replied, planning to be too busy to answer his (Feli') phone. He did not know what he would be doing but he would make sure he was doing something. He was about to turn when he felt Ludwig's hands on his face, tilting it up as Ludwig came closer....MIO DIO!
Ludwig firmly placed his lips over Feli's in a sweet kiss. Well, it would have been sweet if Feli did not feel like he had suddenly turned to marble. Ludwig guessed that Feli was still not comfortable around him again just yet.....never-mind! He had a chance to work on that.
From a distance, Gilbert's jaw hit the ground.
“West!” he yelled to bring this to an end before Lovino killed his bruder and Ludwig broken the kiss.
“Ja, coming,” Ludwig replied and turned to a stunned Feli. “I'll see you soon. Auf Wiedersehen, Liebling.“ And with one last kiss on Feli's forehead, Ludwig ran back to his bruder while Lovino shook himself out of his stunned stance and turned to go to his departure gate, furiously rubbing his mouth on his sleeve.
“You owe me big time, Feli,” he groused, hoping he would not need the sick-bag on the plane but, if he did, it would not be for airsickness.