can hear barking, and he does smile a little. He's missed her a lot. Perking up when Alfred answers the door, he gives a sheepish little smile. "Ciao. Sorry for just leaving her here..."

stumbles a little, but can't even bring himself to be annoyed when Maddy runs at his legs, jumping and barking as he pets and tries to settle her. "Si, si, bella. I missed you too okay? I would have brought_

_you, but no pets allowed."

glad she's been behaving. "I spoil her, that could be why." He moves to scratch behind her hears, and she rolls over, wiggling for him to scratch her belly instead. "Spoiled." He murmurs, but does it anyways. _

_"You're sure she was behaved?"

nods. "Buono..." Patting her, he pulls back to look at Alfred. "Let me cook something for you as a thank you?"

smiles at that. "Wonderful. I'll make some pasta for you, okay?" Unless he was sick of pasta..

happy that Alfred likes his pasta at least, and follows him with Maddy trailing them both.

a pleased hum, and starts pulling the pots and pans that he needs, as well as the ingredients. "Do you have any particular kind of pasta that you would like?"

smiles at that, before shrugging and pulling more things. "A surprise, then." Alfred seemed to like meat anyhow, so something with that much at least.

glances over with a smile as Maddy darts in, jumping around Alfred's legs to be pet. "You're on Maddy duty, how's that?"

smiles a little at them both. "Buono." He puts up a pot of water to be boiled, cutting up spices and vegetables.

watches them both, Maddy licking her mouth everytime she glances at him. The both of them and their bellies... "You can have some of the tomatoes if you'd like. Maddy isn't fond of them, though."

smiles at that. "Well she seems to like carrots just fine. So not all vegetables."

tilts his head a little "Maddy? Are you secretly a rabbit?" There's a bark in response, and he shrugs. "I guess we'll never know."

laughs quietly. "Si, and just as spoiled."

blushes lightly at that. "Ah, well...she's my princess, what can I do, hm?"

smiles. "She's cute." he finishes up the sauce, holding out a spoon for Alfred. "Try some. Tell me what it needs."

smiles at that, and adds a little bit of salt, and some more oregano. "Okay., The pasta's almost done as well."

stands a little straighter at that. "Grazie." He takes great pride in his cooking.

hums, straining it, before sprinkling more oregano. "Almost. It's still hot."

him an amused look. "Si, you're always hungry." He filled a plate with pasta for him anyways. "Wait a few more minutes, okay?"

fills a plate for himself, and pulls out the wine to pour them both a glass as well. Wine and pasta always went well together.

shrugs. "Si, I brought a bottle. That's okay, right?"

shrugs. "It's good to have at least a glass a day. Red wine, though."

shrugs. "Good for your heart, apparently."

nods. "Si. Especially with all that junk you eat when I'm not here to cook for you. Si?"

rolls his eyes. "I don't know how you manage to have such a good metabolism."

raises an eyebrow at that. "Active? There's active, and then there's..." Alfred. "You."

raises an eyebrow. "Now I'm an oldie?" Well, he was. But Alfred was always calling him 'kid'.

...doesn't get Alfred. "I'm older than a lot of those oldies...."

supposes...that Antonio is a lot older. As well as France, and.. "Well that doesn't make me young. I'm still older than you..." He supposed looking young was a compliment...though.. "Che cosa? I don't act _

_young!"

swats at his hand. "You're just taller, that's not older! And I don't act young!" Huff!

rolls his eyes. "I do say so." He shoves another forkful of pasta in his mouth, humming softly as he chews.

he would be the one and only person to enjoy that. Antonio was an idiot, so he didn't count. He motions for Alfred to eat his food, seeing as pasta was disgusting when it was cold.

isn't sure what other fun stuff he has on his mind...he's actually a little wary.

can take back the pasta if that will make Alfred feel better...

supposes he'll let him eat it then. He likes watching Alfred enjoy his food anyhow.

been thinking of opening a restaurant. He likes cooking, and likes it more when people enjoy his food.

would be happy for that. "Si. Not just pasta, but si a lot of pasta...."

thinking to open a restaurant back home. "Home too...But I can give you whatever you want. If you come down, you can eat as much as you want for free."

smiles a little at that. "Buono. You can bring whoever you want as well." He knew about...he was pretty sure it was Matthew.

shrugs. "Si, I suppose." Everyday was dinner in Italy for him. "The canal rides are nice for dates. You should take...uhh." Oh, what was his name...

smiles, amused at the fact that Alfred calls him a boy toy. "Ah, si si. Matthew. I knew that, I'm just bad with names." Or rather just his. Matthew was a nation...right?

would have thought he'd want a proper dessert after the pasta. But it was Alfred... "Si, even more reason to bring him. You can go for a ride through one of the canals. Very romantic."

smiles softly. "Si, it's nice. Especially at night when the stars come out."

figured he would. If not Alfred then perhaps...uh..Matthew would. "Si. You can get someone to play the guitar and sing in the background as well. If you want the whole experience, I suppose."

snorts at that. "A little more romantic, and less stupid...but si. Like that."

nods. "Si, si, more sweet. I'm sure the two of you will have lots of fun."

laughs at that. "Si. I'm sure people tend to do a little more, but if you have company then that would be the line."

shakes his head. "Good. You need someone to make sure you behave." He's teasing him lightly.

him a look. "Mostly. Is pushing it..."

snorts softly. "Of course. When you're not causing trouble..."

bats at his hand. "Alfred. You cause trouble wherever you go. Every single conference is..." He shakes his head.

flushes at that. "I am not ridiculous at conferences!" He is..a little. >>;

grumbles a little. "I just...I usually try to keep Feliciano in check." When he wasn't yelling as much as everyone else, and being an ass to Antonio...he supposed...

flusters, and smacks him lightly on the arm. "Shut up! I'm not as bad as the others, okay? Fuckin...wine bastard always feeling people up under the table.." Well not anymore since Scotland. "And everyone else_

_creating a fuckin' shit storm..."

huffs at that. "Well...only in my corner! I annoy Feliciano and Antonio, but you're the one that riles everyone up over a...a fucking.." He makes a vague hand motion. "Giant robot." He thinks it's more amusing+

_than anything though. He likes watching Alfred at meetings.

rolls his eyes. It would be...but he's not going to say that. "You're ridiculous."

shakes his head, but he's smiling. "Ridiculous."

swats at him. "I should be in a shitty mood. The conference was stupid."

rolls his eyes. "So full of yourself." But Alfred was one of the few people that made him smile. Idiot.

swats at him. "What reason is that?"

snorts loudly, shoving him lightly. "You're so full of shit." He's trying to hide his grin though.

starts to grumble, until Alfred mentions ice cream. He then shuts up pretty quick, following more than happily. He whistles so that Maddy bounds into the kitchen behind them.

shrugs. "Whatever ice cream you have." He knows Alfred doesn't have gelato, but his taste in ice cream is pretty good regardless.