Third Person's POV.

Salvatore sat in his cell. For sure, one of his ribs was broken. That pained him less than the memory of the last time he saw Ava. How her eyes were soft for him, for the first time. How they were angry on his behalf. He could have died a happy man. But than he saw her being hurt again, by his betrayal. She trusted him and he broke it.

At first he found his father foolish for not talking to his wife, keeping secrets from her. That was the reason why she believed others and they lost her. But now that he was in his shoes he found his father completely logical. He did all that to save her from danger just as Salvatore was doing right now. But his father did not see the betrayal coming. That killed Salvatore's mother.

'Close your eyes, Salvi'. A whispered blew by him. He closed his eyes, at the familiarity of it. These whispers were always with him. He could hear them everywhere, even if he was by the roaring tides, he could hear them louder than anything. Yet they were always just a hush.

'Think of love'. The whisper was heard like a brush of wind. An image of Ava came to his mind. He was lying on grass, on a hill. He had his head in Ava's lap. Oh how peaceful. The sun was shining behind Ava. Salvatore looked up at her and she looked down at him. With her hands cradling his face, she grinned down at him. The warmth of that smile made the sun seem like a mere ornament. Love Ava was it. Ava was everything.

This could have happened. We could have gone to the hill. We could have been close like this. We could have saved years of loneliness. She could have smiled at me like that. But, it did not happen. Because of me. I ruined myself when I ruined Ava. And now, when I thought I might have a chance to live at last. I ruined it all again. Perhaps forever.

Today his life could take any turn. This court could either make it all worth it or it could make all our efforts, efforts of the "Justice" his organization, go to waste.

Ava could not believe her eyes over what just happened. She saw red as the life of the person in front of her slipped from his eyes. Just few hours ago, the place the package was kept was burnt down. Some men got to it. But it was secured again by the men of 'Justice'.

Now it was being transported to the court room. Ava was driving her car few meters apart from the van, keeping an eye on it. When they reached a tunnel, suddenly some men in bike came out of nowhere and started firing on the van. Ava was jolted to reality when she heard the first return fire from men in black cars, that were also traveling along side the van. They were defiantly 'Justice'.

She screamed in horror when one of the bullets pierced through her windshield and hit the seat on her passenger side. Shit!

But her horror multiplied when she saw the driver of the van being shot right between the eyes. No! What do I do now?! The court was about to start with Salvatore's case, they did not have enough time. Men of 'Justice' were busy fighting off the attackers. Someone needed to get the van going.

She took a deep breath and without thinking twice she lurched out of her can and climbed in the van, keeping he head low. She started the engine again and sped off to the court.

She reached the court after a while, but just in time. She signed in relief when she saw more people of Salvatore standing in front of the court. Probably waiting for the package. She realized that she saw 'Justice' everywhere, now that she know about their existence.

The men came running and opened the van doors while others were shielding what was coming out of the van. The package, probably. She was walking away from the van when she stilled at shock. A child came out of the van. And she realized he was no one other than Benjamin Ford himself.

The clicks of the cameras and gasps of the people were heard all around the court when Benjamin walked into the court room. Salvatore saw the child and sighed in relief, more for him being okay than anything else. He than turned his focus to the judge and saw the shock on his face.

Salvatore smiled in satisfaction. The war will be over soon, people deserves ruining will be ruined today and countless will be saved. The media was covering everything, the whole country, if not the world was listening to this, watching this.

His eyes found Ava as she walked the the front of the court and sat down there. His attorney till the end. His smile grew as he realize how stubborn his dove actually was.

Ava was getting shocks after shocks when Benjamin started speaking. That fragile child told about what happened to him, what has been happening to him for years, how he was trafficked. He told names of many important people involved. The court went silent after the first name he mentioned. A Mayor. After that a director, an entertainment organization, well known brand owners, many people in showbiz all were exposed one after another. And he told them how Salvatore saved him among many.

I saw the change in the way crowd saw Salvatore. Their once judging and loathful eyes were now shining with pure respect for him and some with adoration.

Even if the judge was paid to get the desired decision, he was unable to do so. It was all being broadcasted to the people, they knew what the judge knew. All the media was allowed to show the ruin of Salvatore Agosti. But it served as a knife on the necks of Salvatore's enemies.

Ava turned her attention to Salvatore. So, this was the master plan, to pour poison in the pound of evil, instead of hunting each one down. That was the thing Salvatore could not trust Ava with. Ava knew deep down that it was for her own safety, but she was still sour from how Salvatore pushed her away. So she was not admitting anything in favor of Salvatore in their matter.

He was a hero, though people hated him. Though they scorned him, humiliated him, he still did all that, selflessly for them. Pride and adoration swelled in her chest at that selfless, bear of a human. At the beginning all Ava's attraction towards Salvatore were purely for his looks.

He looked like an angel to her and she could not look away from him all those years ago, but that was all it was to it. But now, that angel looking guy proved to be an actual angle by his actions. And Ava could feel the love for him as a person rather than that sculpture she well in love with. Yes, love. And no matter how sour her mood was, she could not deny it anymore.

His grey eyes found hers when the judge started stating his decision. He looked at her while the judge spoke, as though telling her, that if he wanted anyone to know that he was not guilty, it was her. She was the only one he needed to know, that he was not what they accused him to be. It was only her and her opinion on him, that mattered to him. Ava held his gaze, reassuring him and telling him she knew. She knew he could never do what they all said he did.

"In the case of the State of New York verses Salvatore Agosti. We the jury, find the defendant not guilty of any charges." A roar of approval was heard from the crowd. These same people looked at him with hatred just a few minutes ago. They would have protested against the same decision if not for Benjamin. Salvatore smiled at Ava from afar but as soon as the handcuffs were off his wrists he walked towards Benjamin before Ava and pulled him to his chest. Giving him a hug. Ava noticed the child needed that, Salvatore needed that too. She observed he still had a slight limp.

She walked up to Benjamin and met him too, not holding any pity for the child. Her eyes shining with pride as she told him. "You're a brave young man, Mr Ford. Braver than most men." He smiled up at her though the smile was not reaching his eyes. He will need time to heal. He was hurt bad. Salvatore smiled down at them but Ava remembered the soreness in her heart because he didn't trust her. So she gave him a professional smile she knew he hated. He registered that treatment clearly but remained silent.

Benjamin was safely sent away to his adoptive family which she realized, loved him a lot. After that they walked out of the court with people crowding in front of it. The crowd parted for them like the sea parted by Musa. People looked at Salvatore like a hero, reaching out for him but he kept his eyes down on his path. Acknowledging no one. Which has less to do with their previous coldness towards him and more with his shy nature, only few knew about and Ava was one of them.

Once they reached their car people of judge opened the door for Salvatore as well as Ava. So she seated herself in beside Salvatore, because the other option was her car, that was sitting somewhere, far away without a windshield.

"You still came." Salvatore spoke lightly, ignoring the driver who was acting as though he didn't exist. She did not look at him, because she still had a grudge against him. And if she looked at his grey eyes, she knew she will melt instantly. "Of course, I did." She said in an emotionless tone. He went silent suddenly which made her look at his direction anyway.

And when she saw him she was reminded of a lost puppy, who was looking at her with big eyes, not sure what to do or how to fix the situation. He suddenly noticed something on her and smiled at her. "What?" She asked, totally confused. "You wore it." He whispered as he slid his hand softly on her wrist and held it over the bracelet he gave her. Ava could not think of anything when his warm palm touched her. She knew that by now, color would be creeping up her neck.

She closed her eyes at the feeling, "When you touch me..." She whispered to make sure the driver could not hear them. "Tell me please." He leaned towards her as he whispered back, when he realized she trailed off. "It takes me back to the time I first saw you." It was a great deal to Salvatore, that she said that. Because all this time, he was doing everything he could to make her forget the past Salvatore.

He was keeping himself dead from the past. But what Ava said told him she still cherished the feelings she had for him back then, she never saw Salvatore as the past and the present one. She saw him as one and she still came to care for him. This was the greatest deal to him. Like his life completely changed just by those few words.

With her eyes hazey she stretched up slightly and touched her lips to the sensitive skin on his neck. He gasped at the unexpected contact, which made Ava remember the existence of the driver.

She moved away but she did not slip her wrist out of his hold which became just a little tighter. The light pressure telling he, how he was effected by her touch. "You feel like a feather, Ava." He said as he rubbed his thumb the scar under the bracelet he had given her.

He moved his other hand towards her cheek cautiously, giving her time to retreat if she wanted. And she wanted nothing more than his touch right now. He held her cheek in his palm softly and Ava leaned towards his touch. Nothing could make him happier in this moment, Ava accepting him, Ava accepting his touch. He could die right now and he would be a happy man.

"You feel like heaven." He said as he felt her leaning her head on his shoulder. This was the closest they could be in front of the driver. She was red by now, for his words made her stomach as warm as a lovers embrace. Salvatore moved his hand from her cheek down her waist and held her there, softly.

Ava looked outside as wind brew by them and even if the view was of actual heaven outside, he would rather look at this bundle of happiness and peace in his arms. His eyes were on her and hers outside. Though conscious of his gaze on her she kept her eyes away. That was the only thing she could do to prevent being inappropriate in front of the man driving them home.

The ride was the most peaceful they both ever had. And the moment they stepped inside Salvatore's room and his door closed behind them, the world disapeard and only Ava existed for Salvatore and him for her. Their was no holding back now, not for Salvatore who believed all those years that he did not deserve Ava. And no holding back for Ava who adored the man from afar all those years believing their was never a chance for them.

All of their thoughts and belief from all those years were proven wrong by one another that night. And when Salvatore found her untouched, he believed it to be the reward from God for all the sacrificed and sufferings he faced all his life. That night he showed her prospects of pleasure she never knew, and she was never more eager to return all that to him too. It was a night of reunion, of confessions, of affections and of rebirth of both of them.

"If I die in your arms tonight Ava, know that I would be a man who already found heaven, before death." He whispered in he ear as they both held each other and cuddled like there was no tomorrow. "Don't say that." She whispered back, with two of her fingers on his lips tracing it, as she lay with her head on his solid protective arm. An arm of a man, made by hardships. Holding power to protect anything he found precious to him. And she was clearly above all in that list.

"I love you Ava." She gasped and looked in his eyes. To searched for the sincerity in his words and she found nothing more truer than those words to him. "I have for a long time now." He touched her lips with his and found them as soft and warm as he found all these times tonight but something was different they were wet and a little hint of salt made him jerk back. He realized they were tears. His eyes searched hers as his eyebrows creased with worry.

"And I have for ever." She whispered with a smile on her lips as she cried. Salvatore relaxed when he realized they were not tears of sorrow. Her words registered to him and his eyes widened. "I love you, Salvatore Agosti." Now it was his turn to feel tears sliding down his face.

"Ava, amore mio." He hugged her tight after she wiped his tears with shy smiles. "Mia vita." He said as he kissed her eyes wiping her tears away from his lips.

Translation: *My love. *My life.

That night they talked, holding each other in warm embrace. They talked about everything, everything they knew about each other from others and how they should have told each other about theirself by themselves instead of others. They found everything out about each other. "My father was not a bad man... he just couldn't say enough." He held sorrow for his mother and father. Who loved each other so much, yet couldn't trust enough. Couldn't say enough.

Ava held him and consoled him for everything. After a while she complained, "You didn't trust me enough either." Salvatore knew what she was talking about. How he pushed her away when he needed her the most. "I'm sorry. From now on I will keep no secret from you. I trust you with everything I have, Ava." They stayed silent for a while then. I comfortable silence with their skin warming each other under the covers.

The silence was broken by his soft voice, "You made me believe that even if the whole world turn their back on me I will still have you. You will be there for me, always.." He looked up at her and continued, "Am a deluding myself or is it true Ava?" She smiled at him and confessed. "Nothing can be truer than this." He looked at her for a while with soft eyes for a while.

Then he move back with his arm stretch towards his side table and held her close again when he returned. He hid his face in her neck and he said, "I'm sorry, for everything I've done to you in my foolishness. Every thorn I threw in your life, I would pick it up with my very lashes, for all my life, to make up for my mistakes." She realized what was happening and started crying again, even more this time.

He held her hand and she felt something cold between their clasped hands. She knew what it was, and her breath hitched with the things he said afterwords. "Please do me the highest honour of accepting me as your husband, Ava. I would do anything for you to accept me. Anything." He pulled his head from her neck and looked in her eyes as he put his cheek on their clasped hands with a ring locked in it.

She thought about the last time he gave her the wedding ring. How he tossed the box to her while another woman waited for him in his room, though that was an act. And then she realized how he was giving is to her this time. With his heart tore open, as he put it in her feets. How their lives have changed. What a blessing all this felt like to her, only she knew.

She nodded, still crying. "I... yes." She breathed out, in loss of words. He closed his eyes and released a breath he didn't realize he was holding. She released their hands and held hers in front of him with palm down. Offering her finger. And when Salvatore put that ring on her finger, a ring that belonged to his mother. He knew he won in life. He won and no one could take his happiness from him this time around. Not even himself.

***

The confession and proposal at last!



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