I was awoken by soft hands that were creasing my face. Slowly pulling my eyes open I was met with Emiliano's big blue eyes. He looked at me in curiosity but when he realized that I'm awoken he croaked a big grin.

"Good morning, little one." I whispered with a groggy voice smiling at him "What are you doing up this early?" Asking I looked at my phone seeing that it's only 6 am.

Last night Emiliano didn't want to leave so I proposed to Xavier to stay the night here, to which he agreed. Emiliano didn't want to leave my side so Xavier let him sleep with me in my room while he slept in the room next to us.

He even said that if I want he can take him away to his room so he doesn't hurt me or the baby when the baby boy falls asleep. However, I didn't have the heart to do that, to let him take him away from me.

I don't know. Maybe it's maternal instinct, but when I looked at him scrunched next to me looking so little and fragile I couldn't tell Xavier to take him away.

So instead I let him sleep with me, he didn't move an inch through the whole night. He kept my shirt in a tight hold with his little fists while being curled in my side.

It was a little uncomfortable to sleep like that, simply because I was scared that I will crush him if I move but I didn't mind.

"Mama." Emiliano squealed bringing me back to the present. It's so weird to hear him call me mama but he constantly calls me that. Don't get me wrong it's cute, however, I don't want to have any problems with his real mom.

Smiling at him I got up from bed "Are you going to help me make breakfast?" I asked him on which he nodded his little head and extended his arms for me to pick him up.

"Wait for me here a second, okay? I need to go to the bathroom quickly." I said pecking his hands and quickly making my way into the bathroom.

After I finished my business I returned to the room where I found Emiliano in the same place where I left him. He is so calm boy, that it's so weird to see. Usually, kids his age would throw a fit at any second but not him.

"Let's go." I exclaimed taking his hand and leading him into the kitchen. "We are going to make a breakfast, are you going to help me make it?" I asked helping him climb on the chair. Although he didn't like that spot so he continued to climb until he was sitting in the middle of a kitchen island.

"Okay, we can work like that." I said with a chuckle while getting groceries out of the fridge and putting them on the counter.

"What do you want to eat, huh?" I asked Emiliano leaning on the island. He looked at me than at ingredients pointing his little finger at eggs. "You want that I made you eggs?" I asked him again causing him to nod his head in approval. "Okay then."

. . .

Time flew by really fast and in no time we finished making breakfast. The only thing that was left was to make a salad.

"Is it nice?" I asked Emiliano while taking a glance at him munching on his scrambled eggs.

"Si." He squealed clapping his hands. "Okay, then but shh, daddy is sleeping. Eat all of it so you can be big." I whispered and proceeded to cut onions for a salad.

I was in the middle of cutting onions when my eyes started to sting and tears started to leak down my cheeks. My head snapped at the entrance of the kitchen when Emiliano squealed "Dada.".

When my eyes connected with Xavier's his whole facial expression transformed into one of concern and fear.



Aleksei turned towards Antea and croaked a big grin while pointing a gun at her head. She pulled Emiliano closer to her body trying to shield him from this monster.

"You really thought that you could save her from me. You thought that I'm not gonna find her. Did you think that I'm gonna let you have your happily ever after? To have another child when mine is dead? Did you think that I would let you be happy even for one second? You don't deserve happiness." He hissed and pressed a trigger.

I jumped out of bed frantically looking around the room. Searching for something, searching for him. My ragged breathing and racing heart calmed down a bit when I recalled the past day.

'He is not here. They are fine. She is fine. I'm not gonna let anything happen to her or our children. Never again.'

Taking a deep breath I looked around the room. This room just like her whole apartment is simple, but at the same time, it gives that homey and cozy feeling.

Walking outside of the room I stopped in front of her room, debating with myself should I walk inside. 'Maybe they are still asleep.'

Grabbing a door handle I was about to twist it when voices from the kitchen stopped me. Turning around I slowly approached the kitchen doorway only to find Antea and Emiliano cooking.

The sight in front of me caused a genuine smile to stretch across my face. If you asked me a couple of months ago will I ever smile like this? My answer would be 'No.'

On the other hand now looking at this in front of me. These two, pardon me, three... sono il mio tutto. Sono la mia vita e tutto ciò di cui avrò mai bisogno. (..they are my everything. They are my life and everything I will ever need.)

I was brought back with Emiliano's loud shriek. Focusing my eyes on him he gave me a smile which I gladly returned, switching my eyes to Antea my heart stopped.

Her eyes were red and tears were freely flowing down her cheeks. Fear gripped my body as I took a long stride to get to her. This can't be happening again.

'What happened? Is she hurt? Did something happen while I was sleeping? What caused those tears that are shining down her rosy cheeks?'

I quickly pulled her in my chest "Hey, amore mio. Shh, what happened? Why are you crying?" I cooed to her while rubbing her shoulders gently. To my surprise, I got a small laugh in return.

In confusion, I pulled back a little but still having my arms securely wrapped around her. Looking at her she lifted her head from my chest and looked at me with a smile causing me to frown. 'What is happening?' I thought as I took a scene in front of me.

"Are you okay?" I asked looking over her searching for any kind of injuries. She quickly nodded her head "I'm fine." She whispered with a chuckle.

"Who made you cry? Tell me." I almost begged to look at her shiny eyes and tear-streaked cheek which caused my heart to break.

"I was just cutting onions for a salad." She mumbled lowering her head down on which I averted my eyes to the kitchen counter where indeed was onions.

Relief filled my body and I pulled her back to my chest keeping her closer to me. I love the feeling of having her in my arms. I don't remember the last time we were this close.

Unknowingly I tightened my hold on her and leaned my forehead on her head closing my eyes. "Mi hai spaventato." I whispered more to myself than to her, yet she heard me and slowly but surely circled her arms around me. ("You scared me.")



We stayed in that position for some time. I wasn't able to move from her, from her embrace. Her intoxicating coconut fragrance made me close my eyes and just enjoy the moment. Enjoy having her in my arms again after so long.

"Xavier?" She called silently with her head still leaning on my chest. "Hmm?" Humming in response I could feel her hands grab the back of my shirt in tight fists.

"Can I ask you something? But you need to answer me truthfully." She asked making me lift my head from hers and tuck a finger under her chin making her lift her eyes and lock them with mine.

"Of course carina. You can ask me whatever you want. I would never lie to you." I whispered staring into her eyes.

She took a deep breath closing her eyes for a split second then fixed her eyes on mine. "I might be wrong about this, but.. but, umm.. d-do, umm.." she stuttered making a frown appear on my face. Sighing she shook her head "Forget it. It's stupid anyway." She said but I could feel a disappointment and something more. It's like she was scared or embarrassed to ask me.

Letting my thumb brush against her cheek she closes her eyes and I feel goosebumps appear on her skin.

"Look at me, carina." I whispered causing her eyes to open and she shyly looked at me from under her lashes. "What do you want to know? Ask me. I will tell you what I know." I spoke with a smile making her send me one of her shy ones.

"I-I just... it's like, umm.. the way you are acting and the way you look at m-me.. it, it's different. Is there something that I don't know? It's like you are hiding something? Are we really friends?" Her words made me froze.