When Ludwig regained consciousness, he was lying in bed. 

He didn't remember going to bed. 

Days before, he'd decided he wasn't yet ready to tell Lili how he felt because he wasn't a total babe yet. Of course he'd planned to do something romantic, but with the confession off the table he was back to square one. He was sure he'd eventually think of something and then….poof. Here he was in bed.

Most likely, he had just lost time due to a black out because another alter took over to do something in the outside world. They'd probably just played video games judging by the Switch on the bed. He checked the time on it. 

IT WAS ALREADY 8 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT! Valentine's Day was practically over already! Ludwig sighed deeply. Then he slammed his face into his pillow and screamed out his frustration. 

After he finished letting of some steam, the delicious smell of popcorn drew him downstairs. 

"Mornin' Sleeping Beauty!" Lili greeted him when he came into the kitchen. She was carrying Joseph on her hip and had been talking to him before Ludwig entered.

"It's no longer morning." 

"Ye, I noticed. I was at work all day." She reminded him. 

He looked at her bowl of popcorn. "What are you doing?" 

"Making popcorn, what does it look like? Or is that illegal now?" 

"No, I mean why are you doing this?" 

"I mean...why not? You sure are Mr. Nosy today. I'm planning on watching a movie tonight. Usually, for Valentine's Day, I just get drunk at home, do weird schtuff, and see where the night takes me. But I can't drink this year 'cause I'm breastfeeding, so I'm switching it up." She explained, booping Joseph's little nose with her finger.

"What movie are you watching?" 

"The Notebook." 

"Ooh! Can I watch? I've neva seen the movie before but I heard it was good!" Roy exclaimed, poking his head into the kitchen through the ceiling.

"Umm actually--"

The doorbell rang, everyone head's turning toward the door. Lili handed Joseph over to Roy before making sure she wasn't looking like a hot mess and opening the door. 

It was Matthias. 

All of a sudden, all the drowsiness left Ludwig's system at once.

"UGH! What is that doing here?!" He shouted, pointing at the intruder.

In a flash, Lili whipped her head around to glare at Ludwig. Her fiery orange eyes burned his flesh and pierced his soul. Her lips clenched together tightly and her nose tweaked to one side. She looked like she wanted to explode but could not, for they had company over.

Overwhelmed by her overpowered "mom look", Ludwig instinctively whimpered, submissively shrunk back. 

She turned to Matthias. "Sorry, could you excuse me for a moment? I've got to take care of something." 

She then stomped towards Ludwig, taking his skinny brown wrist and dragging him into the kitchen. 

"What was that!?"

"I--"

"Save it! Nothing you have to say is going to excuse that level of disrespect! I don't know what your deal is with him but whatever beef you have, keep it to yourself! Everyone who enters this house is treated with respect! This is my house, and whoever enters it is my business and you are not owed an explanation! Matthias took time out of his day to come hangout because he thought I would be alone and sad on Valentine's Day! And you're over here, a grown-ass man behaving like a selfish 5 year old! Now, I better not catch you pulling anything like that again, am I understood?!" 

He nodded feebly, avoiding her gaze.

"Thank you, I'll trust you'll maintain your promised level of respect with all of my friends and guests. Now, go to your room! You won't be joining us in the movie watching festivities." 

"Fine! I don't even wanna watch ThE StuPiD NoTeBooK anyway!" He shouted, storming out of the room and up the stairs. 

"Can I watch the movie, Lili?" Roy asked politely.

She shifted her weight uneasily. "I'm sorry Roy, but I don't think so. You're...a ghost and Matthias wouldn't really appreciate you being there. I also need you to watch the twins while Matthias and I hang." 

"Oh. Okay, I understand you'll….want some space to hang." Roy replied, trying not to sound too upset. 

"Thank you for understanding." She whispered before returning to Matthias in the living room.

She sat down near him on the couch, exhausted from what had just gone down.

"I'm so sorry about all that. Ludwig can just….be that way sometimes. He...doesn't seem to get along well with others." She joked. 

"It's a'right mate, yez didn't hafta to go to town on 'im like that. Seems like the la's just gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. He wasn't even wearin' 'is kecks!" Matthias laughed. 

She couldn't help but smile. "I appreciate you being so understanding but...he's more than old enough to know better at this point." 

She got up to go get her bowl of popcorn, which she'd forgotten before. When she returned, she picked up the remote to start playing the movie. 

"So...is it just gonna be us?" 

"Not if you count Beethoven….who is currently trying to eat my popcorn." She chuckled, letting him have a piece. 

Matthias shifted nervously. He had suggested they hang out at Lili's house because he knew there was another man staying there, one who could act as a sort of "chaperone" during their time together. He tried to remain focused on the movie. He'd never seen The Notebook before, he just might like it. 

Meanwhile, Ludwig was sitting at the bottom of the stairs, straining to hear the pair's conversation. He really messed up. Not only did he not get Lili anything for Valentine's Day, but the enemy was moving in quickly. He'd already infiltrated their home! In the wild, it would be customary to fight back and bite Matthias' hindquarters as a stern reminder that Lilium was off limits at the moment. She wasn't even a Muslim, so he had no idea why Matthias was even trying to get with her. Was he trying to convert her? Add more people to his cult? 

"Man, what happened back there?" Roy inquired. 

"What do you mean 'what happened'?" 

"You didn't get Lili anything for Valentine's Day! That should be you on that couch, watching that romantic movie! You were supposed to confess! What happened?" 

"Well, I just think it's a tad too soon to confess just yet. I'm….testing the waters, you see. Once I confess, I'll be out in the open and exposed, my heart and deepest feelings vulnerable to a violent attack." Ludwig said dramatically, "So, like every good, experienced hunter knows, I must wait." 

"Wait….for what?" 

"For some kind of signal, some sort of sign. I am uncertain if Lilium even feels for me what I feel for her. It seems as if every sign I do have, is one pointing in the opposite direction. If I pounce too soon, our relationship will be ruined."

"And if you pounce too late, another man, a dashing, charming, masculine, beautiful man like Matthias, will sweep her off her feet."  

"Well, when you put it like that I hardly stand a chance…." He trailed off, climbing up the stairs. 

"Hey, don't give up hope. We've still got time…."

"You know" Roy began, "when Lili said I couldn't watch the movie, I was a little bit hurt. I tried not to be, but deep down I was. If Matthias didn't come over, I could've watched it. It got me thinking…."

Ludwig turned to his brother, believing he might've suggested getting rid of their little problem and making it seem like...an unfortunate accident. 

"...I was hoping you could promise me….that when, not if, you and Lils end up together you….won't make me leave." 

"Why would we do that?" 

"Well...when couples get married, they like...to have alone time. Together. They want to live in their own house where they have the privacy to do...couple things. Like have sex and….have sex. Men don't really like other men hanging around."

Ludwig understood that. He and Lili weren't even dating and he still didn't like other men hanging around, or even visiting the house. But Roy wasn't like those other men. He was his brother and he was gay, so he wouldn't stand in his way of becoming Lili's mate. 

"But when you guys get married," He continued, "….I don't want things to change. The three of us have a good thing goin' here, with Beethoven and the boys." 

"I...actually agree. I've been thinking, and I don't truly believe I really want to date Lili--"

"Woah, woah, woah, don't go backin' out now! You're low self-esteem is getting in the way--"

"Can I finish, please? Anyways, I don’t want things to change, I like what we have now. If we start dating, her expectations for me will change, and I may not be able to change with them. I'll only inevitably disappoint her, we'll break up, and our relationship will be ruined. I feel I will not be able to provide her what she needs. But I do not want to leave the position open for another man to steal. I don't know what to do, this dating thing is too hard and I haven't even started yet!" 

"I….I don't really know what to say. This seems like something you'll have to figure out for yourself, after you realize what it is you truly want. Just know this Ludwig: Lili can't wait forever. She is a normal, mortal human and she doesn't have decades and centuries for you to make up your ancient mind. Sure, there's always a chance we could kill her so that she becomes a ghost, but there's no guarantee she'll become one. It's not worth the risk. You'll need to decide sooner rather than later. 

So….no pressure!" Roy concluded before disappearing into thin air.

                                                 *****

Lili enjoyed the film, finding it hilariously stupid. She couldn't believe it made some people cry. Perhaps they were so blinded by the "hot" love interests that they couldn't see how utterly terrible the movie was. On the other hand, Matthias found the movie appalling because Allie cheated on her fiance and the movie painted her act in a positive light. 

Ludwig watched Lili bid Matthias a farewell from the stairs, making sure they didn't kiss or do anything gross like that. Matthias didn't even hug her. Good, Ludwig thought, he was smart enough to know to keep his distance. 

If he knew what was good for him, he'd stay far, far away.