'Sir, we're almost going to land.' the man that introduced himself as Albert says.

Alessio nods, before glancing through the window on his right. Albert disappears again and I can hear the soft humming of the motors.

'Are you nervous?'

He doesn't look at me as he asks me his question, but I nod nonetheless.

My heart is racing. It has been racing ever since Alessio got me out of that hellhole.

'There's no need-' 'I've been gone for almost seven months, they probably thought I was dead.' He slowly looks at me and smiles cockily, 'If only Rio picked up one of my calls.'

He's way too stubborn...

But if he just picked up once, just once. Everything could've been different.

No. I can't blame him.

He has every right to not want to get in contact with Alessio in the first place, so I get it.

I just hope that they're all okay. That everyone is healthy and happy.

And Neveah... God, she better be there. She better be safe.

'You know why he didn't.' I state, making him frown at me for a split second before realization kicks in.

'I already apologized.' I nod and sigh deeply, before picking up the water bottle from the table. 'That doesn't bring back his father, does it?'

'You're not mad anymore. And I thought he hated the man more than anything?' Alessio says.

As if it is the same for me and Adriano. As if losing your father doesn't hurt despite the hatred Adriano has for his father.

Despite Adriano swearing up and down that it didn't matter if Luciano died or not, I knew it affected him more than he was ever willing to admit.

Because he changed. He swore to wait with falling in love and even hated it at times, but after his father's death, he turned into this cold and ruthless person. Not ever wanting anything to do with love at all.

And now he's married...

I used to think that it wasn't a good idea for Cataleya to get involved.

Neveah already had experienced this lifestyle and somehow managed to survive for so long, but I didn't think Leya would.

Yet here we are.

'You were young and stupid and didn't know what would happen,' I open the bottle and stare at the water inside, 'You were probably scared shitless too.'

I close the bottle and put it back on the table, suddenly feeling sick again.

It's either the nerves or the medication, but I can barely keep anything in and I hate it.

'Why does Rio not see it that way?' I lock eyes with Alessio and wonder how much he knows about us.

'You were seven when you leaked your mother's location,' which ended up killing Luciano and your mother, 'while we were out there already torturing people at that age.'

Sometimes Adriano thinks everyone in this lifestyle went through the same phases as us. That everyone started torturing around five, that everyone had their first kill around the age of ten, and that we all went numb around our fifteenth.

But not everyone had it like that.

Sure, almost all of our lives were similar in events. Loved ones dying left and right. But people dealt with it differently.

'He just expected you to keep your mouth shut.' I say as I shrug it off, not knowing why Adriano doesn't forgive him already. 'I didn't know they would hunt her down and kill her.'

I look away at his words, not knowing if I should comfort him or not.

Because as far as I know, his relationship with Natasha wasn't great either.

'Like I said, you were just a kid.' The basics of this lifestyle are easy.

Trust no one, stay in your lane, and don't just go around killing people

He trusted the Steels with some information because he didn't know better. He probably didn't do it on purpose, he was just a kid back then.

But I get Adriano's anger too.

He killed his last parent, as much as he despises the man as a father, and it left him with barely any family left.

Because my father lost it after his brother died. Which made all of our lives miserable.

As if Alessio telling the Steels his mother's location started an old fire between the Steels and us.

It was a new reason to start yet another war.

I look up again, watching as he stares out of the window as if he's trying to find the answers there.

'Maybe this will make him see that you're not as bad as he thinks you are.' His lip curls up a little, but he doesn't want to believe it yet.

I'll make sure to try my best and explain to Adriano that Alessio got me out of there to begin with.

And if it wasn't for Alessio, I would've been dead.

We don't say a word to each other for the rest of the flight. Not until we get to the ground and head to one of the cars waiting outside.

'Don't forget to breathe, Leo,' He jokes as we both get in the car, 'I didn't save you to die out of stress.'

'Just shut up and drive.' If my body didn't hurt as much, if my leg didn't feel like it was being stabbed a billion times every time I moved, I would've taken the other car and driven home myself.

But he insisted on bringing me home, which I don't mind. As long as he just gets me there as soon as possible.

'Calm down, I'll get you home.' He rolls his eyes and starts the car, waiting for me to fasten my seatbelt before racing off, not looking back at his staff at all.

I look outside, noticing we're driving to a location we haven't been in for a while.

A house that we barely used after my parents got killed.

'Is this the address they sent?' I ask, slowly turning to look at him. He simply nods and stares at the big gates, his eyes widening a bit.

'This place is huge.' It shouldn't bother me that he seems impressed, but it does. And he notices my confusion, before adding, 'We only have one mansion, which is half the size of this place, and a few compounds that look like abandoned houses.'

And a few million-dollar apartments in New York...

The gates slowly open and Alessio takes his sweet time driving the car up the long driveway.

I almost jump out to walk but the stinging pain returns at even the slightest move I make, but it would've been faster than his driving.

'Alessio-' 'Right. Right.' He drives a bit faster, still not going as fast as he could, but at least going a bit faster.

He slows down in front of the house and stares at the gigantic building in front of us. I throw open the car and bite through the pain as I get out and start walking.

I take short but quick steps to the front door, stumbling in hopes that it will all be okay as soon as I see them all.

Alessio rushes over to me and helps me up the steps, before throwing open the door and helping me inside.

I feel weak but I won't drop out now.

'Hello?' It's early in the morning, barely six, but I know someone has to be awake. 'I told you this isn't the right address, we should-'

'Leon?' I turn to the voice coming from up the stairs and meet Elle's sleepy face as she rubs her eyes.

As if she's checking to see if this is all a sick joke or dream.

'Hello, Elle.' Her eyes widen as she rushes down the stairs, almost falling over her own feet, and jumps down the last five steps, straight at me.

My body screams, but I catch her and feel the tears prick in my eyes as she hugs me tightly.

It could be because of the pain, but I know a few tears are because of the fact that I missed her more than I would ever let her know.

'You're alive! You're here and you-' More doors open and close, before I hear mumbling and movement, but I keep holding Celine for as long as she needs. 'I am, I'm okay.'

'I heard screaming, is-' Brandon's eyes widen as he stumbles into the hall, locking eyes with me as I hold Elle, 'No fucking way!'

He rushes over to us and jumps in, the sudden movement making me fall over with them on top of me.

I laugh at their excitement and look up as more and more doors open and close. 'Guys, he broke a few bones, don't break more.'

Alessio helps us up and smiles impressed by all of this.

'What the fuck is going o-' I turn to my right, meeting Marco and Adriano as they walk out of an office.

I don't know what to say or do to make him look less like he's just seen a ghost, because it feels like I'm looking at a ghost myself.

My cousin. Alive and well.

Marco strides towards me, kind of blocking Adriano out and taking all of my attention with that sweet smile of his.

'Marco!' He holds me, not saying a word, but his smile says enough, 'You got a lot more muscle now.'

Marco wasn't this muscular the last time I saw him, but it fits him well. 'You missed a lot.'

I nod and watch as he steps aside, making way for the person I missed way too much.

'Ciao Adriano.' I mumble, not knowing what else to say as he slowly makes his way over to me.

I have never seen him as uncertain as he is right now. Not even when he was fighting his feelings for Leya.

'You're here.' He says as he stops right in front of me. I nod and feel my heart fill with memories of us when we were young and vulnerable.

He hated hugs. He always hated hugs. And I know he still hates them.

I didn't want to force him into anything he didn't want, so I simply waited.

'You're alive.' I nod and can't help but smile at his confusion. 'I'm here Adriano.'

'Oh for fuck's sake-' He pulls me in his arms, a short hug that means more than anything he could've said at this point and time.

A short hug that slowly fills the gap of loneliness I felt all those months.

Because I'm not alone. I have my brother again.

Brandon rushes up the stairs as Marco bombards me with questions and Elle checks up on all the visible wounds on my face, while Adriano stares at me in shock.

'Brandon- Veah was just.' I turn to the voice and feel my heart pick up as I notice Leya first. Her eyes widen and she pulls at someone's arm.

My heart explodes as I lock eyes with the woman of my dreams.

The person I would give my life to time and time again.

The person I missed the most out of all of them.

'What's-' She goes silent, her eyes filling with tears instantly, as she rushes down the stairs.

My body freezes when I see her belly and I almost drop to my knees. She's crying as she ends right in front of me, wiping her face to see me through the tears.

'Cara-' She pulls me in her arms and cries as I do the same, holding her like never before.

Her scent fills my nostrils and I recognize it immediately, almost instantly intoxicated by her all over again.

But I would want nothing more.

The wave that follows her swallows me all over again, first cold then warm, like waves of a tsunami, trying to drag everything along to dump in the ocean.

All the damage that has been done, all the pain we had to endure. Everything.

Slowly disappearing with each wave.

Her touch feels amazing, fitting, and like home. She's my home. She always has and will forever be, my home.

'I thought- Celine said-' I nod, pulling her against my chest even harder.

I'm not the only one who needs to feel her, because she leans back and does the same as Elle, inspecting every inch of my skin.

'Cara, I'm okay,' Fucking hell. I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her to death, and take a deep breath, 'I'm fine.'

'I missed you-' She starts, but I stop her by pressing my lips against hers, trying to get rid of the last pieces in my head.

Heat rushes through me as our lips clash against each other in the most perfect way ever, as everything falls into place.

I slowly let go of her and take her all in, feeling like Adriano's probably feeling right now.

This is all a trick in my head, making me think that I got out of there while I'm still there.

Locked up in a dark cellar somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

But when I feel the cold wave like some cleanse for my soul, I know it's real.

Neveah...

She lost some weight, I can tell by her face, and her hair is a lot longer than I remembered.

And her belly...

I look down and slowly get on my knees.

I don't have to look at Alessio to know that he's rolling his eyes, but right now I don't care about the stitches.

Neveah- My Neveah is pregnant.

'How long?' She takes my hands and presses them against her belly, before answering, 'Next week.'

Tears prick in my eyes and I can feel something move against my hand. 'You're going to be a father of two.' She whispers as she wipes another tear away, 'Two boys.'

My heart explodes all over again and I can't stop the tears of joy from escaping my eyes.

She looks down at me, a warm smile playing on her lips as she takes me all in.

They thought I was dead.

They all thought I was dead. Fuck.

'I'm so sorry.' I say as I get back up, quickly glancing at everyone.

They all look pained. Less pained now that I'm standing here, but I can't imagine what they went through thinking I was dead.

'I should've stayed close and-' 'Shut up.' I turn to the last person that I haven't hugged yet and notice the tears in her eyes as well.

'I can't believe you're actually here.' Little one whispers, her voice filled with pain as she takes slow steps towards me, 'You're actually here.'

'Come here.' I pull her in my arms, praying that she doesn't squeeze me to pieces like the others did so that it doesn't hurt as much, and let her hold me for a few seconds.

She slowly let's go again, stepping away so that Neveah can take her place in my arms, and walks over to Adriano's side.

He hasn't said a word since he embraced me in his arms.

'I don't want to ruin the moment,' Alessio says, making all heads turn to him, 'But we have a lot to discuss.'

Little one nods and waits for Adriano to say something, but he stays silent and simply heads to the dining room.

We all follow and take a seat around the table in silence.

It's not an awkward silence. It's necessary silence.

As if we need to process all of this before moving on.

I stay close to Neveah, taking her hands in mine as I look at Adriano and little one.

'How are you still alive?' Brandon asks first, making Neveah's hand stiffen for a second.

'I got out and one of those bastards caught me.' I can't help but notice the flash of disappointment in Adriano's eyes. 'I was locked away for the past months.'

'Where?' Celine asks curiously, moving to the edge of her seat. 'In the middle of nowhere, some kind of bunker or something. Alessio got me out of there.'

'You knew he was in there?' Marco asks, making everyone turn to Alessio. 'Martin wanted to do some business with my father and I had to check if it was okay.'

'You saved him.' Neveah mumbles, finally taking her eyes off me to look at Alessio. 'I did.'

'Thank you.' She breathes as tears fill her eyes again. I squeeze her hand and pull her closer, wanting her to sit on my lap instead of the chair which feels like she's sitting miles away.

'I couldn't let him die.' Alessio replies, making Adriano turn to him now. He looks less startled, but still not completely himself yet.

'What did they do to you?' Leya asks as she looks at the bruises on my face. 'A lot, but I'll manage.'

I've been through different types of torture because of this life, but not for this long.

'Leon...' I lock eyes with her, hating the pity in her eyes as she stares at me.

I smile and shake my head, noticing all their eyes on me. All filled with the same pity as Leya.

'I'm fine, I'm just glad to be back.' I look at Veah and kiss her hand, before turning back to the others.

'How did you get him out?' Marco asks, looking at Alessio again.

'It took me some time to gather some men since my father wouldn't lend me some of his, and I needed to figure out when Martin was going to be at the compound-'

'Martin?' Celine asks, looking around since no one else asked. 'As in Martin Steel?'

I turn to Leya and frown for a second. How does she- Right.

'The one and only.' I reply, trying to keep that sick fuckers face in my mind.

'Did you kill him?' I try staying calm as all heads turn to Adriano. He has not said a word since we entered the room.

'He escaped before we could get to him.' I reply, even though he was talking to Alessio.

'The Steels seem to be good at that.'

'Of course they are, they're rats.' Marco sneers, making some nod in agreement.

'I say we search for Martin and make him pay.' I look back at Leya and notice a new type of darkness in her eyes.

Sure she had felt hatred before. I've seen her kill someone before, but I don't think I've ever seen her like this.

This vengeful.

'She's right.' Adriano says, leaning on the table as he slowly looks back at Alessio, 'I want to thank you for getting him out of there.'

I'm too stunned to speak, not knowing if I'm dreaming or not.

Adriano doesn't thank a lot of people, at least not sincere, but right now he does. And he sounds the most sincere he has ever been before.

Genuinely thankful that Alessio saved me.

'I knew how much he meant to you and seeing how everyone in this room reacts now that he's back, I'm glad that I saved him.' Alessio says, looking at everyone else in the room, before locking eyes with Adriano again.

'Thank you for your help, but you can go now.' I take a deep breath, letting Adriano's words settle in my mind, 'We need to figure out how to end-'

'Are you kidding me?' Alessio asks, clearly hurt by Adriano's quick dismissal. 'What?'

'Adriano-' 'I saved his life and all I get is thank you and you can go now?' Alessio's body tenses and I can see him getting angrier at Adriano's cocky smile.

'Did you expect me to praise you for doing something you owe me in the first place?' Leya whispers something at him, while all the others stare with wide eyes.

'I forgot how heartless you can be.' Alessio is simply digging his own grave at this point, but I get his anger towards Adriano.

'Heartless?' Adriano gets up from his chair, his eyes dark and murderous, 'I should kill you for what you did, but I'm showing you mercy because you saved Leonardo. So do not call me heartless, Alessio.'

Alessio wants to react and scream at Adriano, but he knows it won't get him anywhere.

He slowly looks at me and nods with a painful smile on his face, 'I told you.'

'Adriano, he was just a kid.' Adriano keeps his eyes on Alessio who's slowly making his way to the door. 'Stai fuori da questo, Marco make sure he's gone.'

'Celine?' I turn to the door and watch as Marco slips past Kai, who has a sleeping kid in his arms. Leroy.

God, he grew up quickly... He must be turning one soon.

'I'll be right back.' Celine mumbles as she rushes to the door and drags Kai out of there as well.

'She's pregnant too,' Brandon says as he smiles and slowly gets up from his seat, 'I missed you a lot, but I'm going back to sleep and I'll talk to you when I wake up again, okay?'

I nod and smile at him, letting him hug me for a few seconds, before watching him walk out of the room.

Now it's just Leya, Adriano, Veah, and me.

'What was that about?' Leya asks, genuinely curious about what's going on. 'Adriano is being a piece of shit as always.'

He sighs and heads for the drinks, doing what he usually does when he's done talking.

'There's no need for you to act this way towards Alessio.' I state, making Adriano look at me with the same anger he had for Alessio. 'Stay out of this.'

'He saved me and you're barely letting him explain himself.' A chuckle grumbles through the room, but it's a joyless one.

'Explain what? How he betrayed us all those years ago?' He asks, raising his voice a little. 'There's a lot going on in his life and he-' 'I don't care.'

I look at Leya, wishing that she could say something to make him take back what he just said.

Alessio messed up, he knows that too, but he was a kid. He didn't know it would turn out this way and it shouldn't be held against him.

He just needs a family of his own, one he can rely on. One where he can come home to.

'Maybe you should call him back and hear him out?' Adriano takes a deep breath, slowly filling up one of the glasses, before he turns to Leya.

His eyes instantly soften a bit, making me wonder if he's actually going to change his mind.

'Valentina, he made a big mistake that can't be undone. He killed his own mother and Luciano just because he trusted someone.'

'Can you blame him? I mean, he probably doesn't have something like this.' Leya says, pointing around the room. 'What do you mean?'

'I saw the way he looked at all of us when you walked into the house. He was shocked by the love we have for Leon, and maybe even a little jealous. He might not have a family like this one and probably just wants to have someone to be close to.'

'Then maybe he should get a wife.' Adriano answers, quickly emptying a glass, before filling it again.

Leya rolls her eyes and looks at Veah, who hasn't said a word since she thanked Alessio.

Her eyes are on our hands, and she's still crying.

Not making a sound at all.

I'll talk with her after this... I turn back to Adriano, noticing him drinking another glass as if it were water.

'You haven't changed, have you?' He frowns and mumbles something as he walks over to me. 'I haven't changed?'

I shake my head, hoping that he could quickly change his mind and call Alessio to apologize for his behavior and just move on for once in his life.

'I have been killing because they told me you were dead,' He states, his tone hard and cold like usual, 'I have been trying to get a body that's not even yours, doing the dirty work for cops like some fucking dog!'

I don't know what happened. I don't know what they had to do to get where we are now, but I can tell that it did affect him more than he's willing to show.

But I can see it. I can see through the wall he's trying to keep up, as if it's made out of glass.

He's tired, ready to sleep for at least a week, and hungry, as if he didn't eat anything the entire time I was gone.

God, give him strength... Because this war is far from over.

'I have been pushing away everyone, even my fucking wife!' He sneers, moving even closer, 'I have been taking care of North just like I promised even though I wanted to kill her for simply being right about your death!'

My heart starts pressing against my chest as the words spew out of his mouth like venom, 'Adriano-' 'I have been fighting like hell to somehow make amends for everything, to somehow fill that hole you left in all of us!'

I nod and climb out of my seat, my body screaming again as I slowly let go of Veah's hand.

'I did all of that, so don't fucking tell me I haven't changed because I did.'

'Alessio saved me.' I say instead, willing to talk about this rather now than later. 'It's the least he could've done.'

'You can't still be mad at him for what he did when he was seven.' Something ignites in him, another one of his rage waves.

'I don't see why not.' He grits, ready to ram a fist into my face.

If I wasn't bruised up, he probably would've.

'He was just a kid.' An unamused chuckle leaves his lips, 'We were kids when we tortured people.'

I drop back in my chair and watch as he walks back to his seat, 'We almost killed them, we were merely six.'

My hand automatically goes out for Veah's and I let our fingers intertwine, enjoying the warmth rushing over me as I rub my thumb across the bridge of her hand.

I'm here, holding her.

'He had a different upbringing than us.' It wasn't as dangerous there as it was here. At least not for Alessio and his family.

'I don't care, he should've known better.' Dear god...

'He saved me!' Adriano nods and tilts his head a little, 'He should be glad that I didn't kill him for not doing it earlier.'

'He called you to inform you about my whereabouts.' Adriano never picked up, not a single fucking call.

'How was I supposed to know?' He asks, instantly regretting it. 'You could've picked up the fucking phone.'

I'm not annoyed that he didn't help Alessio to get me out sooner, I'm annoyed at the fact that he's acting like Alessio's the bad guy here.

'He could've sent a letter? Or send someone over to tell me, yet he didn't.' He tries, making me roll my eyes.

'He told Nico.'

His eyes widen a bit as he moves to the edge of his seat. 'Nico- as in Nikolai Brovsi?' Little one asks instead, making me look at her.

I nod and watch as they quickly glance at each other, knowing something I don't apparently.

'What is-' Neveah jumps to her feet and rushes out of the room, too fast for me to stop her, and Leya rushes after her.

I get up as well, ready to walk after them as they quickly walk down the hall, but Adriano's voice stops me, 'He didn't say anything.'

He didn't say... Meaning he's been here...

I can't but smile a little as the realization hits me like a truck, 'That fucker is here, isn't he?'

Adriano strides into the hall, confirming my suspicions as he reaches for his gun.

'You knew?' I hear a voice beam from around the corner. 'Neveah-' 'You fucking knew?!' She shouts, not caring about everyone else in the house.

We reach them and I see her pointing a gun at Nico's head.

'Neveah, please calm down.' Leya tries, slowly reaching for her arm. 'No-' Veah steps away from little one, moving closer to Nico.

The end of her gun is pressed against his chest. 'You fucking knew.'

He doesn't say anything, simply staring at her with a neutral look on his face. No hatred or fear of getting caught, but no guilt either.

He simply doesn't care.

'You watched me- helped me and told me to move on, all while knowing he was out there!?' I want to tell her to stop, all of this can't be good for the babies and I don't want her to do something she'll probably regret later on.

'Cara...' She keeps her aim on his chest, not looking at me as her fingers linger on the trigger.

'Get out and don't come back ever again.' She sneers, her voice as sincere as ever, 'If I see you again, I'll fucking kill you.'

'You don't mean that.' He states, his stoic wall crumbling when he realizes he lost his chance, 'I was there when you cried, not him.'

'Get the fuck out.' She presses the gun harder into his chest, making him stumble back a few steps, 'Just go.'

'Neveah, I never-' Adriano, who had his pistol ready, presses his gun to Nico's face, making him stop talking- maybe even breathing.

'You heard her,' He states, his tone as demanding and deadly as ever, 'The next time you show your face, I'll make sure you suffer a slow and painful death.'

'Rio- I-' 'Get the fuck out.' Nico blinks once, trying to understand what all of this means, before quickly glancing at me.

His eyes hold two different choices. Two ways this could play out.

He could either pull a gun out and kill me on the spot, making sure that everyone will suffer just as much as he is right now. Or he'll go away and make sure he's going to somehow make my life miserable.

But either way, he's going to kill me.

It might not be right now or tomorrow, but I can tell he's determined to do it. He wants to kill me.

He looks back at Veah and tries to give her a soft smile while he has two guns pointed at him. 'I'm sorry.'

'Get out before I change my mind and kill you right now.'

I close the gap between me and Neveah, pull her back against my chest, and slowly wrap my arms around her waist.

She's shaking and slowly lowers her gun before turning around to face me. 'He knew.'

I nod and brush a tear from her cheek. I hate seeing her cry. As if every tear tears away a piece of my heart.

'I know.' 'He fucking knew yo- He knew you were alive and he didn't- fuck.' More tears spill from her eyes and I pull her closer, feeling her crumble in my hands. 'I'm here now.'

'I want to kill him.' I glance at Leya, who's looking at us with a pained look on her face, 'I want to hurt him.'

'It won't make up for anything.' She shakes her head and pulls back enough to look at my face. Disbelief washes over her. As if she just realized I'm holding her.

'Tiago...' She slowly reaches out for my face, cupping my jaw, 'Tiago.'

I can't help but smile as she touches my face some more, letting her have this moment for as long as she needs.

'You're back.' She whispers to herself as she locks eyes with me. I fight the urge to kiss her again, not wanting to ruin whatever it is she's feeling right now.

'I-' She groans in pain, her hands wrapping around her belly, before looking down. The babies...

I step closer and pull her in my arms as she groans out in pain, 'What's wrong?'

Leya steps closer, quickly glancing at Celine as she does the same. 'Veah? Are you okay?'

She shakes her head as the tears stream down her face, 'It hurts.'

God... Please no... 'Maybe we should-' Veah cuts her off, groaning out even louder as the pain gets worse by the second.

'Fuck-' Celine looks at the floor, staring at a puddle forming at Veah's feet. 'Her water broke-' 'She's going to give birth!' Brandon shouts, slowly panicking as Veah struggles to keep herself up.

I want to pick her up and carry her to one of the bedrooms, but I don't want to risk dropping her because of my stupid injuries.

'Marco, help me take her up-' Adriano steps closer, slowly leaning down a bit to look at Neveah. 'Let me help you.'

I can't believe the words coming out of his mouth, but then I remind myself that they aren't the same Neveah and Adriano they were a year ago.

She nods and lifts her arms, slowly wrapping them around his neck as he swiftly lifts her up and walks up the stairs. 'Marco, call the midwife.'

He strides up the steps as everyone quickly follows, while I fight the pain to get up the steps.

Why now? Leya stays behind, watching as her best friend gets carried up the stairs, and helps me move a bit quicker.

Once we get up the stairs and into the bedroom, everyone else stays by the door. 'Who do you want in the room?' Leya asks as she peeks her head inside.

'Celine and Leya.' I answer in her stead, remembering when we would talk about having kids before all went to hell.

They look at me, quickly glancing at Veah, who nods as she grasps the sheets and tries to stay as still as possible. 'Alright.'

They wait for me to get into the room, before getting in as well.

'We'll be right here Veah!' Brandon exclaims, before slamming the door shut.

The midwife isn't here yet, so I don't get why he shut the door, but my heart rate starts to pick up again.

'Celine?' She turns to me as she props up Veah's pillows, 'Is everything going to be alright?'

I ask as I stumble closer to Veah, reaching for her hand. 'A week earlier is fine.' She says, probably reading the concern off my face.

'Do you need anything?' Leya asks, reaching for Veah's other hand. I brush some strands of hair out of her face and try to keep my calm, even though I'm freaking the fuck out.

'I'm fine, just- fuck, where is the midwife?' She squeezes the shit out of my hand and groans, her pain coming in waves. 'She's on her way, just a few more minutes.'

Veah pulls me closer and looks right in my eyes, 'Never get me pregnant again.'

Leya and Celine chuckle, while all I can do is smile.

'No promises, cara.' I give her a quick kiss and try to keep my calm. She doesn't need to be more stressed than she already is.

'She needs to take off those shorts.' Celine says as she rushes to the bathroom to get some towels, 'Deep breaths, Veah.'

Leya helps her out of her shorts, while I hold her hand, brushing my hand over her head from time to time.

She huffs and puffs, completely in sync with Celine.

'Good, keep it up.' Where is the midwife?

Leya keeps her eyes on me and Veah, trying to see if everything is going okay, while trying to hide her excitement herself.

After almost ten minutes, the midwife finally rushes through the door.

She unpacks all her shit and tells us about herself, her name is Paula, before quickly helping Veah get a little more comfortable.

I barely pick up anything and look at the mother of my children as she struggles to stay still. 'Ma'am, I need you to spread your legs a little further apart and your feet flat on the bed.'

She does as Paula says, her toes curling out as she tries to stay still.

I keep my eyes on her face, too panicked to look anywhere else.

Her face is my stability, the only way I'm able to get through this without fucking fainting.

'You can do this, cara.' I feel her squeeze the shit out of my hand, wondering if blood will be able to circulate to my fingers at this point.

'Neveah, you need to breathe.' Celine says, starting to breathe like some kind of idiot again. Neveah follows her lead and stops squeezing my hand just a little bit.

'When you're ready to push, let me-' 'Get them out now- please!' She exclaims, ready to be done with this already.

'Since it's twins, I need someone to take the first baby so we can get the second out right away.' Celine moves closer to Paula, ready to take the baby if necessary.

'Okay, push on three.' They start counting and I keep my eyes on Neveah.

Taking in as she breathes deeply and readies herself to push. I count in my head, unable to say or do anything as I hold her hand and watch her fight the pain.

Everything goes silent and she's all I see. As if she's the light at the end of the tunnel.

All my focus is on her, until I hear a baby cry as if it has been stabbed.

I take my eyes off Veah and look at the baby in Paula's hands. He's red and screaming at the top of his lungs, making me feel faint for a few seconds.

I place my hand on the bed and hear the others talking, but barely pick up what they're actually saying.

Celine takes the baby and tries to wrap him up the best she can, before smiling at Veah.

Do not fucking faint... She needs me. Neveah needs me.

'I can't-' My eyes meet Veah's as she shakes her head, 'I can't.'

'Veah-' 'Yes you can, cara, you can do this.' She shakes her head as I grab her face with the hand I used to keep my stable, 'You can do this.'

'It hurts too much-' 'Just a few more minutes of pain for a lifetime of happiness.' Leya says as tears form in her eyes. 'You can do this, Veah. I know you can.'

'One more time, cara.' I don't know if she actually is, but to me she is and that's more than enough.

She inhales deeply, before nodding at Paula, who's ready to help her deliver our other son.

She starts breathing again, Leya and I doing the same, and squeezes our hands as she pushes on Paula's cue.

'You're almost there.' I wipe the sweat off her head and stay close, watching as she tries to keep her breathing steady. 'You're doing amazing.'

'One more time, a big push!' She pushes hard, wanting to scream out in pain, but just bites it down instead, 'Amazing!'

Paula moves around and I wait for the cries, but there's no new baby crying.

'You did amazing, Veah!' Leya says as she wipes Neveah's face. I nod and turn to Paula, watching as she looks at the baby in her arms.

He's much smaller and paler than his brother- No...

'Why is he not crying?' I ask as I fear for the worst. Veah's hand releases from mine and tries to push herself up, but Leya keeps her down. 'What's wrong?'

'Veah, you need to lay down-' 'Why isn't he crying?' She asks as tears stream down her face, 'Tell me he's okay, please?'

I let go of her hand and walk closer to Paula, feeling my heart on the edge of bursting into a billion pieces.

'Paula?' She takes a deep breath and pushes her pinky into his mouth, making me want to pull him out of her hands, but Celine simply watches as she cradles my son. 'Tiago- what's going on?'

As soon as Paula takes her finger out of his mouth, he starts coughing and crying, instantly getting pink as he starts crying. Thank God...

'Don't scare us like that little man.' Paula smiles widely, before looking at me. 'Can you hold him for a second?'

I nod and ready myself for the small and fragile being I have to hold and feel my heart beat a million times faster than it should.

Paula slowly places the baby- our baby in my arms and grabs something that looks like a scissor.

I stare down as our baby cries, his face as red as a tomato, and want to show him to his mom as quickly as I can.

Once Paula cut off his umbilical cord and taped it off, I walk over to Veah, who was already holding our other son.

She stopped crying and smiles at me. She looks exhausted and I know she needs to rest. 'You did amazing and I'm so proud of you.'

I give her a quick kiss on the lips and sit down next to her, looking at our two babies who almost completely stoped crying already.

Our two sons...

'Have you two thought about the names?' I nod and feel Veah do the same, her body moving as little as possible.

We had already decided on how we would decide the names before she got pregnant, and if either of us doesn't like the name, we'll change it.

'Do you want to get cleaned up or do the names first?' Paula asks as she reaches for her bag and takes out a piece of paper.

'Names.' She mumbles, slowly placing our son on her chest. 'Names, what will baby one be called?'

'You first.' I say as I look at her. She smiles and looks at our son, before looking back up at me. 'Emiliano.'

Emiliano... I haven't heard her talk about that name before, but it sure fits in with this family.

'Now you.' She says, nudging me a little. 'Nathaniël.'

Veah's eyes widen and I can hear Leya gasp as well.

Emiliano Nathaniël... Curzio...

Nathaniël doesn't really fit in the family, but it's a part of Neveah so it will be a part of this family.

'Finish it off.' I whisper as tears form in her eyes. She pulls me closer and gives me a quick kiss, before smiling at me, 'Thank you.'

She blinks the tears away and looks back at Paula, 'Curzio.'

'Okay, and what about the little mister that tried to scare us.' She jokes, scribbling something on the paper in front of her.

I look down at the small baby in my hands and feel something wash over me as his cries become softer and softer.

'Domenico.' My mother used to pray for me to have kids, especially after she met Neveah. She always wanted me to be happy and start a family with her someday. So it seems fitting.

Belonging to the lord...

I don't know why, but it just seems right.

Veah nods and looks at me, before slowly moving her head to Leya. 'I was thinking about Rafael...'

My eyes widen and Leya's mouth drops, just like Celine's. 'Really?'

'I like the name and since he didn't cry at first, I figured it would be suitable?' I look down at the baby I'm holding and nod.

Despite him being small and fragile, I know he will grow up strong. Just like his brother.

'I like the name too.' Leya smiles as she looks at the baby in my arms. I bet you do.

'Curzio.' I finish, turning back to Paula who's writing again.

'So baby number one is Emiliano Nathaniël Curzio.' She reads off the piece of paper in her hands, 'And baby number two is Domenico Rafael Curzio.'

Veah and I nod at Paula and look at each other. 'We're good at naming kids.'

'Don't get too full of yourself now.' She mumbles, as she brushes her hands up and down Emiliano's back.

'Celine, could you help me with weighing and measuring them or does the father want to do it?' I get up, moving too quickly for my muscles to comprehend, and groan at the pain rushing through me once again.

'I'll help.' Paula nods and takes Emiliano from Veah, before heading for the table she set up in the corner of the room. 'We'll help you get changed then.' Celine says as she walks over to the bed to help Veah up.

I watch as Paula weighs and measures both babies, feeling the urge to take them both from her grow by the second.

It's not that I don't trust her, I just want to hold them.

'I would advise making Domenico eat more since he's a bit small.' She says as she wraps him up in a blanket, 'And Emiliano has very good lungs.'

I keep my eyes on the babies, even though she's talking to me.

'Thank you.' Is all I'm able to mutter as I catch my breath and try to relax as much as I can.

Celine comes back into the room and quickly changes the sheets, before taking them out of the room.

She quickly closes the door behind her, making me wonder if they're still waiting by the door, and comes back in less than ten seconds.

I can't see anyone in the hall, but that might be because I'm too focused on Emiliano who's moving laying in my arms.

He's so small and so carefree. And I feel like I'm immortal as long as I look at him.

'Tiago?' I turn around, realizing Neveah is already laying in bed again, and smile as the tears prick in my eyes.

There's no need for me to cry, but I'm so scared that something is going fuck this all up.

'Come here.' She holds out her arms, a soft smile playing on her lips as she gets comfortable on the bed. I stumble over to her, handing her Emiliano so that I can take Domenico in my arms again.

Paula quickly checks up on Veah and gives us a list of things we should be taking care of before telling us that she'll be back in a few weeks.

'Can we come in now?' Brandon grumbles as Paula walks through the door.

I turn to Veah, waiting for her to respond since she's the one who needs to rest.

'Sure.' She says as if she could fall asleep as soon as she lays down.

Isabelle, Marco, Kai, Brandon, and Adriano walk into the room, making way for Victoria as she rushes to the side of the bed and tries to climb up.

I pull her up and watch as she stares at the babies in awe. 'They're so quiet.'

'They're much calmer than Leroy.' Kai adds as Leroy looks over at us like we're all insane. He slowly points his little finger at us and smiles.

'What did you name them?' Isabelle asks curiously, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

Adriano glares at her, before turning back to us. I can tell he's curious too.

'Say hello to Emiliano Nathaniël Curzio.' I say, nudging my head towards the baby Neveah is holding.

'Nathaniël?' Isabelle asks, making us nod. 'It was my father's name.' Veah says, smiling at me.

'And what about that one?' Marco asks as he points at the baby I'm holding.

'Domenico Rafael Curzio.' Adriano chuckles, before turning to me. 'You came up with that one didn't you?'

I roll my eyes and shake my head, making him turn to Veah instead. 'You-' 'I like the name.'

He moves closer, everyone else stepping aside apart from Leya and Victoria, and bows down to give both boys a kiss.

'Welcome to the family.'

----

A/N: OKAY SO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Sorry for the late post... I'm slacking lately and I know it too but I'm too lazy to fix it...

Anyway! LEON IS BACK AND THE TWINS FINALLY ENTERED THE FAMILY AND AAHHH

Nico knew? Will he come back or will he stay away for good?

And what about Alessio?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it's another late post, and don't forget to vote and comment on what you liked the most!

I LOVE YOU GUYS SOOO MUCH AND I'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER (I hope)

Have an amazing day/night my loves <3