Js wanted to say that Xav drops here. He's very emotional and he might start to feel better then start being emotional again so DON'T GET MAD. Also he's stuttering cause he's crying; don't wanna see no comments abt that or I'LL COME FOR YOU (jk i love you guys).

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╔══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╗ 𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓 ╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

I woke up to a strange sensation.

The room felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on my chest. Moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow around me.

But rather than feeling at ease, I was sinking. Deeper and deeper into something I couldn't quite understand.

Knowing I wouldn't be going back to sleep anytime soon, I climbed out of bed and headed into our ensuite bathroom to brush my teeth, the odd feeling still present.

I returned back to bed as soon as I was done, unable to describe how I was feeling.

Memories of last night flooded back into my head - the scenes we'd played out, the commands she'd given.

It had all been so intense. In the best possible way. Nirvana.

Yet so consuming. That now, in the quiet of the morning, I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that lingered.

I could barely move my legs. The realization that I was only able to walk after the scene because I was still riding on her high, dawned on me.

My muscles were sore; a reminder of the physical exertion I had been put through. But it was the emotional fallout that really got to me.

Doubt, fear, insecurity - they all swirled around in my head, threatening to overwhelm me. A million and one questions flooding my mind.

Was I good enough for her? Has she forgiven me? Did I deserve her? Was I worthy of her love?

I wasn't worthy of her love, I knew that. I didn't deserve her either. What I had done was downright cruel. Unforgivable. She shouldn't forgive me; I didn't deserve her forgiveness anymore than I was good for her.

My thoughts consumed me. Pushing me closer and closer to that place I didn't want to go; the place I was afraid to go.

I wanted her, needed her. To comfort me. To counter my thoughts and tell me that I'd be okay. That she loved me.

But she wasn't there. Nothing was.

I was trapped. Inside my head. A prisoner to my negative emotions.

The heaviness in my chest grew. Squeezing the air from my lungs as tides of emotion crashed over me. It wasn't until I felt wetness on my cheeks that I realized I was crying.

I buried my face in my pillow as more tears welled up against my closed eyelids. The ache in my limbs was nothing compared to the pain I felt in my heart.

The scenes from last night flashed behind my closed eyes again, as though it was being replayed for me in real time. The sharp sting of regret became more evident as each scene passed by.

I had given myself over to her completely. The rush of adrenaline made me feel ecstatic. But now, I felt nothing but vulnerability, doubt swirling within me.

A sob racked through my throat. My hand immediately slapped over my mouth as soon as I noticed shuffling from the side of the bed next to me.

Guilt flooded my veins as I took in her peaceful form. The gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept.

It'd be selfish of me to wake her up for something as stupid as feeling insecure.

Unable to do anything else, I just lay there. Allowing myself to feel everything. I wasn't sure how long I had been crying for but the feeling of the sunlight against my skin told me that a couple hours had gone by.

Yet nothing had changed. I still felt empty. My throat was dry and scratchy, my eyes were red and felt heavy. Sleep called me but I ignored it.

A soft stir beside me caught my attention. Slowly, I turned my head, my heart skipping a beat as I saw her lying there, her features softened by sleep.

I watched soundlessly as yawned, rubbing her eyes. She sat fully upright now, her back against the bed board.

She looked at the clock across the room and sleepily got out of bed, heading into the bathroom still rubbing her eyes.

The sound of the tap running indicated that she was brushing her teeth. Before long, she was out and back in bed, yet somehow seemed even sleepier than before.

Then again, she'd always been a heavy sleeper.

She scratched her head while her gaze drifted across the room, locking on different things before finally meeting mine.

"Xavier? Why are you up?" Her voice was soft. Laced with sleep. She yawned, stretching her hands before continuing. "You okay?

I tried to speak. But I couldn't. Words caught in my throat, choked by the weight of my own emotions.

"Xavier?" She called again. She leaned over to the bedside table and grabbed her glasses, putting them on.

She was beginning to worry; I could see it clearly on her face. And that only made me feel a thousand times worse.

Her gaze locked onto mine again and in that moment, I felt exposed, vulnerable. I tried to hold back the tears but they streamed down my face.

I wanted to look away, to hide my shame but she wouldn't let me. Her hands interlocked with mine, preventing me from shielding my face with them.

"Why are you crying, Xav?" Her hand cupped my face and her thumb wiped away the fallen tears.

"I-I'm sorry I w-woke you up," I forced myself to speak despite the tears.

She held her arms out towards me. "Come here, amore."

Without another word, I retreated into her arms, burying my face into her chest while I wrapped my arms around her waist.

One of her hands wrapped around my head while the other moved to my hair, running through it slowly. She said nothing for a few minutes, just running her hand through my hair in an attempt to calm me down.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

"Don't apologize, love." She paused for a few seconds, lifting my chin so my eyes met hers. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I-I don't even know why I'm crying."

She didn't believe me. And the thought that I was disappointing her only broke my heart further.

I pulled away from her, willing myself to stop crying. She was patient the entire time, her gaze soft as she waited for me to speak.

"I was thinking about everything that I- I did and you- I don't deserve you," I admitted "I-I never did and yesterday only proved it."

Her eyes searched mine. "You mean what we did?"

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. What was a couple seconds of silence felt like hours until her small gasp broke through.

"You dropped, Xav."

She sounded like she resented herself for not realizing it sooner. The thought that I might be dropping hadn't crossed my mind but it made complete sense.

"I'm so sorry I didn't realize sooner," She continued. "But what do you mean you don't deserve me? Of course you do,"

"But I-"

"I know what you did. And if I'm being honest, I don't think I'd survive another heartbreak. But I also for-"

I finally met her gaze. "I'd put a bullet through my heart before you ever question it beating for you again."

Despite the tears streaming down my face, I didn't stutter. My voice was clear, the words I spoke the complete truth.

I'd rather die than put her through something like that again. Even for the slightest second.

Her mouth parted slightly as she stared at me, probably letting my words sink in.

"I believe you, Xav. And like I was saying, I forgive you."

Her words caught me by surprise.

"I forgive you for what's happened. You messed up but you've also owned up to your mistakes and you've fixed them."

"Baby, you spent a year trying to win me back. You've proved you deserve me just as much as I deserve you, don't you think?"

I shook my head, wiping at my face with the back of my tattooed right hand. "But-"

"No, none of that." Her voice was gentle yet stern.

Olive was stubborn; she wasn't going to let it go until I agreed with her. I mumbled an 'okay' and the smallest smile graced her lips.

"Want a hug?"

My face heated up as I nodded my head. She held out her arms and I moved closer to her, burying my face in her neck.

"You gotta get out of your head for a bit, baby."

"I'm s-sorry I worried you," I mumbled.

She sighed softly, an amused smile on her lips. "And you gotta stop apologizing so much. It's my job to worry about you, just like you're always worried about me, yeah?"

"Yeah," I agreed.

She cupped my face with one of her hands and held my gaze for a couple minutes before her smile faltered.

"I didn't even ask if you needed anything," She announced, scrambling off the bed.

Before I could ask what she was doing, she had gotten several blankets out of the closet and wrapped me in them before grabbing pillows and placing them behind me.

"Amore," I called.

I tried to bite back a smile as she stood in front of the bed. One hand was on her hip while she tapped her chin with the other, scanning the room.

One of the corners of the room caught her attention and she walked over grabbing a familiar object.

"There you are, Cocoa." She smiled at the teddy bear. "Xav's not feeling the best right now, and I need your help cheering him up."

"Would you mind lending me a hand?" She looked at Cocoa then shook her head with a smile. "A paw?"

She made her way over to me and handed me the bear, a soft blush tinting her cheeks.

"I thought she would help you feel a bit better." She stopped and looked at my face. "It's okay if you don't want her, I can put her back and-"

"I want her," I assured her. "But I need you, baby"

Her face heated up and a shy smile played on her lips as she climbed the bed again, holding out her arms for me.

I gently placed Cocoa on the bed, between our two pillows before retreating into her arms. She gently wiped my face with some wipes, no trace of judgment in her eyes as she did so.

"Want anything else, Xav?" She cupped my face in her hands, her thumb running softly across my cheek.

"Water," I mumbled.

"On it. Stay here while I go grab you a glass okay?"

I shook my head, unable to bear the thought of being alone. Instead, I clung to her, my hand wrapped tightly around hers as we made our way out the bedroom.

The house that was usually alive with the sounds of my men and workers, the clatter of dishes, the hum of conversations was now quiet as we walked down the grand staircase.

The moonlight filtered through the large windows, casting a silver glow on the marble floors. It felt surreal having her back here.

"It's kinda strange isn't it?" She said, breaking the silence. Her voice echoed slightly in the emptiness. "The quiet, I mean."

My smart girl.

She noticed. Most likely the second she had stepped foot in the house. But she had chosen not to say anything, waiting for me to explain when I was ready.

"I told all the guards who were stationed inside the house to go on a paid vacation," I explained. "The workers who cook, clean and maintain the house too. Everyone." I glanced at her to gauge her reaction.

"Why?" She asked softly.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my next words. "When we weren't talking, when you were gone- I wanted to understand even a fraction of the pain I put you through."

"Xav," Her expression softened but she didn't say anything else, allowing me to continue.

"I kept the guards at the gate though as a safety precaution. Paid them triple their regular amount. But inside, I needed it to be just me. No distractions, no noise. Just silence and the weight of what I did."

We reached the bottom of the stairs but neither of us made a move to the kitchen yet.

"I didn't expect you to forgive me," I admitted. "I hoped. God, I fucking hoped you would, but never truly believed it would happen."

"The house, it felt like a tomb without you. I was being buried alive. Every echo of my footsteps, every creak, was a reminder of what I'd lost. I wanted to remember that feeling, to never forget what it was like."

She took my hands in her, her soft ones interlocking with my marred ones; hands that had taken the lives of so many. Hands that didn't deserve to be in the presence of someone like her; let alone touch her.

As if reading my mind, she spoke. "I forgave you because I saw that you were willing to change, that you understood the pain you caused. And because I love you."

"I love you," I whispered as she pulled me into an embrace.

"I know you do, baby." I could feel her smiling against me before she pulled away. "Now let's get you that cup of water and head back to bed yeah?"

"You sleepy?" I teased.

"No-" A yawn cut off the rest of her words, her eyes momentarily fluttering closed. "Maybe," Her cheeks were tinted the faintest shade of pink and her voice was barely a whisper.

A smile snuck onto my face as we entered the kitchen I let go of her hand to grab a glass from the cabinet.

The glass slipped from my trembling fingers and shattered on the floor, the sharp sound piercing the silence.

Instantly, my breath caught in my throat. The room began to spin, the walls closing in around me. My chest tightened, and I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, fast and erratic. Panic surged through me and I felt like I was drowning, gasping for air and frozen all at the same time.

I stared at the pieces of broken glass in front of me, clutching at my chest. It was too much- the silence, the memories, the guilt. Everything came crashing down, and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.

I felt a lump rise in my throat, and before I could stop it, tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to hold it together, but the sobs came, raw and uncontrollable. The world blurred through my tears, and I barely registered her moving towards me.

Olive was at my side in an instant, understanding I was having a panic attack.

They started the day she left. And the next months - almost a year - were marked by the episodes, each one worse than the last. They occurred frequently - sometimes every couple weeks or every few days, other times several times a day.

"Breathe, Xav," she whispered, her tone calm and steady. "Just breathe. I'm here. I've got you."

I shook my head, my vision swimming with tears and panic. "You're not real." I choked out between sobs. "My mind's playing tricks on me. Why would you forgive me? I don't-"

She cupped my face in her hands, forcing me to meet her eyes. "You have to calm down and breathe, Xav."

Her words cut through the chaos, and I tried to focus on them, to anchor myself to her presence. I shut my eyes, the feeling of her thumbs brushing away the stray tears on my face, calming me.

I forced in a deep breath, a series of coughs following immediately after. Her hand rubbed up and down my back in an attempt to help calm me down.

She grabbed my shaking hand and brought it to her chest. Right above her heart.

"You feel that?" Her face softened with a mixture of sadness and determination. "I'm real," she said firmly. "I'm right here with you. This is real. I've forgiven you, and I'm here."

She interlocked her hand through mine which was still on her heart. "You deserve me just as much as I deserve you, amore."

She coaxed. "You just gotta breathe for me right now, okay? Think you can do that, baby?"

I nodded and she smiled. I tried to focus on the steady rhythm beneath my fingertips and tried my best to match her breaths which she exaggerated, making sure I could feel the rise and fall of her chest.

"You're safe. I've got you," she continued, her words a lifeline.

The tightness in my chest slowly began to ease. The world was still spinning but her voice, her touch, her. She kept me tethered. I focused on her eyes, finding comfort in their beauty.

"That's it, baby. In... and out," she repeated, her tone soothing and rhythmic. "Look how good you're doing."

I could feel the air flowing back into my lungs, each breath a bit less labored than the last. The world started to come back into focus, and the overwhelming panic began to recede.

"Such a good boy,"

Eventually, the panic subsided, leaving me drained and shaky. She held me close, her hands never leaving mine.

"Let's get you away from this mess," she said softly, helping me to my feet and guiding me to a chair.

After making sure I was completely okay, she pressed a kiss to my forehead and a softer one to the tip of my nose before standing up straight. I watched as she grabbed a broom and swept up the broken glass.

The sight of her, so calmly taking care of things, filled me with a strange mix of guilt and gratitude. I had caused this mess, both the glass and everything else, and here she was, cleaning it up without a word of complaint.

She swept up the last shard and disposed of it before returning to me. Her arms wrapped around me, and I clung to her, letting the tears flow.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

She sighed softly, running her hand through my hair. "It's okay, baby. I'm here." She pulled away and panic filled me.

"Relax Xav. I'm gonna get you that glass of water yeah?"

I sniffed and nodded. She brought me the glass of water, but as she handed it to me, my hands were still shaking. She noticed immediately, her eyes softening with concern.

"That's okay," she told me, steadying my hands with hers. "Let me help you."

With her help, I was able to guide the glass to my lips. I drank slowly, the cool liquid soothing my raw throat. After I had had enough, she brought the glass to her mouth and finished the left over water.

When the glass was empty, she set it aside and helped me to my feet, her hands in mine as we headed back upstairs.

But as we climbed the stairs, the emotions that had been roiling inside me refused to settle. The weight of everything, the guilt, the relief, it all came crashing down again. By the time we reached our bedroom, I was crying once more, the tears flowing freely down my cheeks.

I felt completely useless. And extremely frustrated that I was crying so much. There was no way I wasn't beginning to get on her nerves.

But when I looked at her, I saw no traces of annoyance on her features. She didn't say a word, just guided me to the bed and lay beside me, holding me into her chest as I let it all out.

I wasn't sure how long I had cried or how long she held me. But slowly, gradually, my sobs subsided, her presence a balm to my aching heart.

Exhausted, I laid against her chest while she lay back against the pillows, her arms still wrapped around me. I could feel her heartbeat, steady and reassuring, as it lulled me into a restless sleep.

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I spent the next day in bed with Olive, away from everyone and everything. Just the two of us. And I reveled in every second I spent with her.

The guards and workers had gotten back from their vacation and I'd made their salary increase permanent, a gesture that made Olive really proud.

When I woke up on the second day, the bed beside me was empty. Panic flared briefly before I remembered where I was. I slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and showered before wrapping a towel around my waist and heading back into the room.

I changed into a plain white shirt and grey sweatpants before heading downstairs, a frown etched on my face.

I missed her.

As I reached the living room, I heard voices - hers and those of our friends, their words becoming more clear as I walked in.

Zayn moved with a calm efficiency as he mixed a batter for something, though his eyes often flicked to the living room where Olive was, a movement that I didn't quite understand.

Miles chopped vegetables while Griffin managed the stove. The smell of bacon, eggs and fresh pastries filled the air.

Arlo was setting the table with Jordan, Kai, Derrick and Diego. I wandered further into the living room. Xamira was sitting on the couch with Olive and Alexis; the three of them discussing plans for Arlo and Alexis' upcoming wedding.

In the corner, Preston, Wyatt and Kat were cleaning up. Actually, Preston and Kat cleaned up while Wyatt crossed his arms and frowned.

"Why am I doing work when Olive isn't?" Wyatt grumbled.

The room turned silent. All eyes turned to Wyatt and a second later, the clash of voices filled the room, every one of them defending Olive.

"Why are you comparing yourself with Olive?" Kat asked. "Aren't you her bodyguard?" Arlo questioned. "Her boyfriend is literally your boss," Xamira stated. "It's just cleaning, Wyatt." Derrick sighed. "I'd rather not get involved, for my own safety." Jordan mumbled. "She's helping me make very important decisions, Bianchi." Alexis explained. "Why should Olive do anything in the first place?" Griffin wondered. "You knew what you were doing asking that question," Zayn sighed, shaking his head. "Since when are you two the same?" Miles queried. "Valid question, honestly." Kai examined. "When I'm finished over here, I could help you." Diego offered. "You're not even doing anything, Wy." Preston laughed.

Wyatt's frown turned into a pout as he turned to face Preston. "Not true. I did a lot."

"Yeah, like what?" Preston urged and Wyatt's pout grew. "That's what I thought."

Wyatt grumbled before he began to help Preston and Kat clean up. I chose to ignore the commotion and focus on why I had come down here in the first place.

I walked up to Olive and hugged her from behind, my hands wrapped around her waist while I buried my face in her shoulder.

"I missed you, baby." I mumbled against her skin.

She turned slightly, one of her hands coming up to rest on my arm while the other ran through my hair.

"Ciao amore mio," She responded. (Hi, my love)

I closed my eyes, ignoring the stares and comments coming from our friends. It had been over a year since they'd seen us together; their reactions made complete sense.

"They disappear for a day without saying anything and this is how they act?" Preston sighed.

Derrick shook his head. "At this point, we're used to it. Honestly, what can we do?"

"Remember to tell him the thing," Wyatt's voice sounded near.

I trailed kisses down the side of her neck, grazing my teeth along her skin. "What thing amore?"

"Hm?" Her voice was barely audible, causing me to smile.

Alexis rolled her eyes playfully. "We don't need to see all that, Ella."

"Ah, young love. So shameless." Arlo shook his head, a smile tugging on his lips.

Kat looked at Arlo who was now standing behind Alexis with his hands in her shirt. "Shameless huh? You having trouble keeping your hands to yourself, Arlo?"

"My hands are cold," Arlo replied with a smug grin.

"You're one to talk, Kat. You and Jordan can't go five minutes without sneaking a kiss," Xamira pointed out.

"Isn't your husband lying in your lap right now, Xam? When did he even get there?" Miles chuckled.

"Good question, Mr. 'Lets my boyfriend pin me to the kitchen wall when all our friends could literally walk in on us at any second." Olive retorted.

"Notice how this conversation doesn't include everyone who is single?" Kai spoke up and the room was filled with laughter.

"That has to be some form of discrimination honestly," Wyatt said.

"No cause I was gonna say something," Preston said.

Derrick sighed. "You can't say shit, Preston."

"Yeah, aren't you with the kid from the hospital in Paris?" Zayn asked.

Preston rubbed his temple. "One, talking with and dating someone are two completely different things. Two, you guys need to stop calling him a kid. Shit makes me feel like a predator."

"Dad said he's 25?" Arlo tried to recall.

"How are we the same age yet he looked so much better than me. I'm jealous." Miles sighed.

Griffin placed a kiss on Miles' cheek. "You're perfect the way you are, baby."

"If anything he's the predator," Wyatt mumbled, not paying much attention to the conversation.

The four girls looked at Preston in shock. "What does Wyatt mean, Preston?" Alexis giggled.

"Just how old are you?" Xamira asked.

"Pres is turning 21." Wyatt replied.

Everyone in the room turned to Preston. "YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN OLIVE?"

"By 22 days." Preston groaned, running a hand over his face. "It's not a big deal. Up until a few days ago, Olive didn't even know I was half Nigerian."

"Okay, but that's different." Olive said.

"I thought you were around Zayn or Arlo's age." Diego voiced out.

"How is it possible that you're younger?" Kat asked.

Jordan looked at her, silently agreeing. "It just doesn't make sense, right?"

Preston put his hands in his pocket. "Again, I don't see why that's such a big deal. Wy is a year younger than I am; he's turning 20."

"Okay but he's Wyatt." Kai said.

Wyatt folded his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's like with Olive and her being the baby of the group," Miles started.

Despite not being able to see her face, I could easily tell that she was glaring daggers at her older brother. "I am not the baby."

"Yes you are," Everybody else responded.

I smiled against her skin and she turned around briefly, pouting. "Not you too. You're agreeing with them?"

My smile only widened as I placed a kiss on her nose. "Of course not, baby. I'm on your side. Forever and always."

"Like I was saying, we're used to Olive and her behavior because she's so young. And Wyatt acts more immature than she does." Miles stated..

"Now if he was older, that'd be a completely different story." Kat added.

"It's pretty obvious he's the youngest by the way he acts." Zayn continued.

Olive laughed. "I mean the guy somehow convinced us to go shopping in our pajamas."

"Huh?" I mumbled, distracted by my woman in my arms. "When did that happen?"

"That's what she was supposed to tell you but you just had to do your love shit in front of us which led to this entire conversation." Wyatt grumbled while everyone else laughed.

"Why do you think we're wearing onesies?" Miles questioned as he, Griffin and Zayn began bringing the food into the dining room.

I pulled away from Olive and looked at our friends.

Griffin and Miles were dressed in matching shark onesies - Griffin wore a black one and Miles wore a white one. Xamira and Diego wore matching cow onesies while Arlo and Alexis wore matching frog ones.

Kat was wearing a Light fury onesies whereas Jordan wore a matching Toothless onesie. Wyatt wore a purple bear onesie and Preston was wearing a purple unicorn one.

The others were wearing their regular clothes. "We're not going with you guys," Zayn explained.

"Just came over to help," Derrick added.

"And you know, to check if Olive had killed you or not. Main reason why everyone is here honestly," Kai shrugged which got him glares from everyone.

"Didn't think you'd be the type to wear a onesie," I smiled, looking at Preston. "Let alone a unicorn."

Preston sighed. "Wyatt gave it to me on the way here. Why he had a onesie in my size, I have no idea. And as much as I would've loved to refuse to go, he's really looking forward to this."

"Awh, you love me, don't you?" Wyatt smirked, nudging Preston with his shoulders.

Preston smiled. "Plus, if I said no, he probably would've cried."

"Such a baby," Alexis teased Wyatt who rolled his eyes.

"It's okay to cry, though, so it's not that big of a problem right?" Olive wondered.

"Except this is Wyatt." Jordan said. "And once Wyatt starts crying, it's practically impossible for anyone to get him to stop."

"We're getting off track again," Wyatt headed over to Olive and I, pushing us towards the door. "You two go get changed and everything, come back here, grab breakfast and let's go."

"Okay, okay. Relax, we're going," Olive laughed as she grabbed my hand and led me to our room upstairs.

We walked in and Olive went to our closet, rummaging through it before closing it again. She had moved most of her stuff back yesterday.

Cute framed pictures hung in the halls once again, LED lights decorate the walls, more streaks of blue and pink could be everywhere.

The house was beginning to feel like home again.

"I'm going to kill him. He told everyone else ahead of time and even got Preston something to wear but me? Some bodyguard he is,"

I could only help but watch as the frustrated beauty in front of me rummaged through our closet.

I laughed, pulling her into me. "You work this pretty brain too much."

She relaxed into me. "Why are you so calm? We have nothing to wear."

I pressed my lips to her forehead. "I got us matching onesies,"

She pulled back slightly, surprise and delight lighting up her eyes. "You did?"

I managed a small smile as I headed to our second closet. "You said you wanted them a night when you were drunk and sometime when you were sleepy."

Her excited squeal when I got out the pajamas caused my heart to flutter. "You got two?"

"I was initially going to go for the bunny ones but then I saw these," I held up the Stitch and Angel onesies. "And realized that they'd be perfect as well."

"Perfect?" She looked confused but had a huge smile plastered on her face.

"When we're on missions, we call you Angel whenever we need to refer to you or something like that. Then I saw Angel and Stitch and I thought-"

Her lips found mine before I could finish talking. She pulled away, leaving me dazed and wanting more, a huge smile spread across her face.

"You're such a sweetheart, you know that?" She beamed at me before grabbing the Angel onesies from me. "We definitely have to wear these now."

We changed into the onesies and I couldn't help but admire how fucking adorable Olive looked in hers. Sweeping her into my arms, I covered her face with kisses as she giggled and struggled against my grip.

"Xav," She squealed, trying to pull away. "We gotta go or else Wyatt-"

Wyatt's voice bellowing from downstairs interrupted her. "Don't make me come up there and drag you both out,"

"See?" She looked up at me.

"And he calls you grumpy?"

Our eyes met, Olive's smile infectious. Before we knew it, we were both in a fit of laughter. I placed a soft kiss on her nose before resting my forehead on hers.

Her arms instinctively wrapped around my neck, her fingers playing with my hair. Her brown eyes stared lovingly into my blue ones.

I brought my lips to hers, this kiss softer and more gentle than regular kisses. Yet, more intense than any of the others.

I pulled away as we headed out the door and down the stairs. "I love you,"

"I love you more than you'll ever know," She whispered, interlocking our hands.

"And I love you beyond what you'll ever imagine." I countered.

We reached the bottom of the stairs but she stopped walking, just stared at me. Heat rose to her cheeks as I kissed her again.

"I just wanted to be polite and give you guys a final warning before I come drag you out of there myself." Wyatt called again. "Also, no breakfast for you."

"He still thinks we're upstairs," Olive whispered, trying to contain her giggles.

Our eyes met and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing. We moved against the wall, peering from the side and watching our friends in the dining room.

They were all still eating except Wyatt who had his arms crossed and a frown etched on his face. I noticed that Zayn, Derrick and Kai had left already.

"Wyatt, there's more than enough food for them." Miles spoke up.

"You have to be patient." Kat laughed.

"But they're taking forever." He whined, his voice cracking. "By the time we get to the mall all the stores are going to be closed."

"It's going to be fine," Griffin tried to assure him.

"Plus, Diego owns the mall, he can figure something out." Arlo said.

"Wy," Preston sighed with a small smile. "Are you crying?" He leaned over and brushed Wyatt's hair out of his face.

"No," He mumbled.

"This is so cute, I'm going to cry." Xamira stated, her eyes tearing up.

Diego immediately turned to her, a soft smile on his face. "The situation is cute, isn't it, baby? Have you tried the cupcakes yet? They're red velvet."

Xamira instantly perked up. "I love red velvet." She hummed happily as Diego brought his cupcake to her lips, her tears long forgotten.

Preston shook his head a bit, wiping away Wyatt's tears. "There's no reason to cry,"

"I just wanted to hang out with everybody and they're-"

"You're the cutest baby," Olive swooned.

Much to my surprise, she was already halfway to Wyatt when she spoke. Shaking my head, I followed after her.

"I'm not a baby," Wyatt sniffled, rubbing his face with the back of his sleeve. "You guys just suck,"

"Seems we got two babies in the group," Jordan said.

"Hey," Olive and Wyatt chorused.

"See, Wy?" Preston turned to Wyatt. "Everyone's here. They're going to eat breakfast really quick and then we'll leave, okay?"

Wyatt sniffed again. "Okay,"

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

"Just one more store," The girls and Wyatt pleaded.

Our group stood in the middle of the mall. Griffin and Miles had made a detour at one of the toy stores, saying that they wanted to pick up something for the kids. Miles mentioned something about them having a reputation to uphold as the favorite uncles.

We'd gotten a few stares because of our dressing, most of them admiring us while the remaining few stared at us confused.

"We've been walking for quite a bit." Diego's voice was quiet as he spoke.

"We just need to rest for a few." Jordan explained.

"I'm starving," Preston mentioned.

"Plus, how will Griffin and Miles be able to find us in another store?" Arlo questioned.

"Oh, I don't know. It's not like we have phones or anything that allow us to communicate with people in different continents, let alone a different store in the mall." Wyatt countered, rolling his eyes.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Wyatt looked at the girls. "This is the part where you do your weird girlfriend shit and make them putty in your hands."

He turned to look at me. "In Xavier's case, he's been putty since he met Olive so she doesn't have to do anything."

Kat sighed, running a hand through her hair. She looked up at Jordan and her mouth tilted into a frown. Xamira and Alexis did the same thing and simultaneously, the three women's eyes seemed to get bigger.

"That's a fucking talent," Preston said in awe.

"Olive, I'm going to need you to teach me how to do that." Wyatt told her, not taking his eyes off the three ladies.

"Yeah, same." Preston agreed.

"Whatever you want, my love." Diego surrendered to the manipulation first, cupping Xamira's face with his free hand as he kissed her.

"Husband?" Alexsis called.

"You're such a smart ass," Arlo chuckled, pulling his fiancee into his arms.

"Don't look at me like that, mi sol." Jordan mumbled, unable to meet his girlfriend's gaze.

"The only person he has a nickname for," Griffin pointed out as he and Miles rejoined us, various bags on their arms.

"Let me try to guess what's happening," Miles whispered to Olive. "You girls are trying to manipulate them into doing your bidding and Jordan's the last man standing."

"Exactly that." Diego and Arlo laughed.

"Jordy-" Kat's voice was softer than it had ever been in all my years of knowing her.

"Fuck me." He mumbled, pulling her in for a kiss.

"Okay, love birds. Let's go." Preston urged as he started walking, ushering us to walk alongside him. "Wy, ladies, what store are we headed to?"

Arlo looked at Preston. "What happened to being hungry?"

"The faster we're done, the faster we get food,"

We walked for a couple of seconds before the girls pointed at a store on our right. Olive was practically bouncing with excitement as we walked in.

The eyes of the associates immediately found our outfits but they instantly realized who we were and reserved any comments they would have made. They closed off the store instead, giving us privacy as we shopped.

Olive's eyes sparkled as she explored the store, without a care in the world while I followed after her.

The others had dispersed, each drawn to different sections of the store, their minds seemingly fixed on what they wanted.

But one look from Olive and I could tell that was not the case for her. She had nothing specific in mind; just gravitated to whatever caught her eye.

I called an associate over anytime she seemed interested in anything and let them know we were purchasing the item, despite Olive sometimes informing me that she had just been admiring them.

It didn't matter whether she had merely glanced in their direction; I was going to buy them for her without a second thought.

Kat and Jordan were the first to head to the register. Kat was insistent on paying for her items whereas Jordan wanted to spoil his girlfriend.

"I'm very capable of paying for my stuff myself," Kat told Jordan who held both her hands in his.

Jordan smiled, placing a kiss on her hands. "I don't doubt that, mi sol. But as long as I'm around, you don't have to. Let me take care of you."

Jordan took Kat's wallet from her hands and pulled out his card, paying before she could get her wallet back. Kat sighed, rolling her eyes yet wore a huge smile on her face.

Next up were Alexis and Arlo. As they approached the register, Allexis took out a card and paid for her items.

"You have my card?" Arlo asked his finacee with a smile.

"We're getting married in less than two months; what's yours is mine."

"And what's yours is yours?"

"Exactly," She beamed, placing a kiss on his cheek.

Xamira and Diego paid next. When the cashier asked Xamira if she'd like to pay with credit or debit, she looked genuinely confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked, glancing back at Diego. "D, what does credit or debit mean?"

Diego chuckled and stepped forward, tapping his card on the reader. "Don't worry your pretty head about it, love."

Xamira blushed slightly but smiled, leaning into Diego as he wrapped an arm around her.

Olive approached the counter while the associates got out everything we wanted to buy. She rummaged through her bag, and for a moment, I thought she was taking out her card and was about to object.

But instead, she pulled out her lip gloss and applied it nonchalantly. Our friends tried to stifle their laughter and I couldn't help but laugh as well.

The cashier, looking slightly bemused, asked, "How would you like to pay?"

Olive's eyebrows furrowed, the cutest confused look adorned on her face. "Pardon?"

"Cash or card, miss?" The cashier tried again, confusion flickering across her face.

"Groveling boyfriend." Olive replied with an innocent smile.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward, handing over my amex before she even had a chance to turn to me. I didn't let her touch the bag either, adding it to the others I already carried for her.

She headed out of the store. And like the dog that I was, I followed helplessly behind her.

I felt the amused gazes of our friends as we met up with them.

"Grovelling boyfriend huh?" Wyatt snickered. "Seems like someone finally learned to behave,"

Preston chuckled, shaking his head. "She's got him wrapped around her fingers,"

I tried to keep a straight face but couldn't due to the enormous smile plastered on Olive's face which my face undoubtedly mirrored.

"You can almost see the leash," Xamira smirked.

Kat giggled, her hand entwined with Jordan's. "I think it's sweet."

Jordan smiled. "He's doing what he needs to make things right."

Arlo glanced at me and gave a nod of approval. "Good to see you stepping up, little man."

"Aren't you the cutest puppy, Ella?" Alexis teased.

"Say whatever you want, Axel but I'm going to give my girl the world. I don't know where you're going to live though but it can't be here." I countered with an innocent smile.

"Just the world?" Miles scoffed and everyone laughed.

Griffin looked at me before turning to Miles. "It's an okay start, I guess."

"As much as I'd love to tease Xavier, I gotta ask, we're going to get some food right now, yes?" Preston questioned, looking round the group.

Olive giggled. "Yes, please. I'm starving."

Preston let out a relieved sigh, interlocking his arm with Olive's. "Have I told you that I love you?."

....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

╔══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══╗ 𝑶𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 ╚══ ❀•°❀°•❀ ══╝

We arrived at the food court before long. Half of us found a table big enough for all of us and saved the space while the other half ordered their food. When said half returned, the half that had been keeping the space went to order.

Laughter filled the air as we ate. The girls and I were curious to try everything and in the end, everybody had a bit of everything.

Wyatt suddenly piped up. "Grumpy and I are going to check out a store I saw on the way here. You guys clean up without us, we'll be back in a few."

"How convenient of you to leave when we're about to clean up," Kat said.

Wyatt rolled his eyes but said nothing and instead signaled me to follow him. We left before any of them could get another word in.

"The new Barbie collection has nothing to do with us being here, right Wyatt?" I laughed as we walked into the store.

"You know I had to see if I missed any," He replied, immediately zeroing in on the Barbie section.

He pulled down a few dolls and inspected them with a critical eye. "These are good, but I have most of them already."

I watched him navigate the store, going from shelf to shelf as he examined even more. He stopped at a small group of them, his hand on his chin.

"These ones are new but now I have to find which ones are limited edition and which are rare."

While he continued his search, I found myself distracted by a display of plushies at a display downstairs.

I tried to tell Wyatt but he was entirely immersed in whatever Barbies he was viewing. Seeing as I only wanted to look at the plushies, I figured I'd be back before he even realized I was gone.

I left the store and went down the escalator before heading straight for the plushies displayed a couple feet away from it. As I reached out to touch one, I felt a presence behind me.

"Hey there, pretty lady," a man's voice slithered into my ear. I turned to see a creepy looking man leering at me. "You looking for some fun?"

"No. I'm good." I replied, trying to step away, but he blocked my path.

"Come on," he persisted, his eyes taking in every inch off my body. "We could have a lot of fun together, baby. I can already imagine the sounds you'd make and-"

My fist met the side of his face, interrupting him. His hand reached up to touch his face and I was about to escape but he grabbed my arm with his free arm, stopping me.

I tried to pull out of his grip, but he was too strong. Panic began to rise within me when his grip tightened, his fingers digging into my arm through the material of the onesie.

He pulled me into him, a sickening smile on his face. I screamed in an attempt to draw attention to us but there was no one around.

Just as he moved to touch my body and I was about to knee him between the legs, a blur slid down the escalator railings. Wyatt landed gracefully, a dark look in his eyes.

He grabbed the man's arm and twisted it with a disturbing crack, the sound resonating through the mall. The man screamed in agony, leaning against the wall for support while Wyatt's eyes flicked to me, instantly softening.

"You okay, love?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I was unable to speak for a few seconds, still shaken. "I don't know."

"Hey, hey, you're shaking." Wyatt frowned. "Can I hold you?"

I nodded slowly and he pulled me into his arms, giving me a comforting hug. "You're okay. We're okay."

"Okay," I agreed, pulling away to look at him.

"There she is," he brushed my hair out of my face before his face fell, the murderous glint returning to his eyes. "He touched you?"

"My arm. His fingers dug into my skin,"

Wyatt turned his attention back to the man, the sadistic look returning to his eyes. "I'd like to think there are easier, less painful ways to die, yeah?"

The man laughed, throwing his head back against the wall but the second his gaze met Wyatt's, he stopped. Fear replaced his laughter as he looked at Wyatt confused.

"You could've smashed your head against a wall for instance."

Wyatt grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air before throwing him against the wall, his head colliding with the hard surface. The appalling sound of fleshy meeting concrete reverberated through the air.

The man sputtered from the floor. "I was just looking for some fun."

Wyatt crouched down and brought a knife out of his onesie. "Or cut off your fingers. These fingers that can't keep to themselves it seems."

Slowly, Wyatt cut off each of the man's fingers, his smile growing with each splatter of blood across his face and the agonized screaming.

He stopped and tilted his head, examining the man. "Or cut off your dick."

The color from his face drained and with his remaining strength, he shook his head frantically. He had realized that Wyatt was doing to him everything he said.

"Please," He begged, his voice coarse.

Wyatt laughed, a genuine one as he shook his head. "Yeah, you're right man. That's cruel, even for me. I would never do that."

The man sighed. "Yeah man. We could share the bit-"

Relief hadn't completely washed over the man's face before Wyatt stabbed the knife between his legs, an antagonized wail erupting from him.

"Anything honestly would've been better than coming up to her. Cause now I have to kill you in ways your puny little brain could never think up."

Wyatt hummed the 'Baby Shark' tune as he cut through his dick. After that, he busied himself in arranging the severed fingers on the floor before standing up straight.

He took a couple steps back, admiring his work.

Wyatt's knife pierced through the man's skull, each sharp end visible on either side of his head. Blood pulled around him and from the flicker of his eyes, he wasn't dead yet.

The fingers on the floor spelt 'DICK' with the man's dick next to the word as proof. Wyatt smiled happily to himself as he took a picture before making a quick phone call.

In seconds our guards converged on us. Wyatt addressed them.

"I have half the mind to tell Xavier that you weren't at your posts. And let's not even think about him finding out what just happened with Olive."

The guards apologized profusely, undoubtedly terrified of Xavier and the possibilities of what he would do.

Wyatt motioned to the barely alive man on the floor. "Take him to my den. I'll deal with him later."

The guards dragged the whimpering man away, and Wyatt turned back to me, his sadistic demeanor vanishing. The Barbie-loving, silly Wyatt reappeared, his eyes filled with concern.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked.

I nodded, giving him a shaky smile. "Thank you for you know,"

"You clearly had the situation under control, but I couldn't let you have all the fun." He grinned, the familiar playful spark returning to his eyes. "Let's get you back to the others before Xavier has a heart attack."

Wyatt and I made our way back to the food court, where our friends had already cleaned up and where now waiting for us.

Various pairs of eyes scanned Wyatt and I. Xavier's eyes locked onto mine.

"You okay?" He stood up and closed the distance between us in a few quick strides,

"Yeah we're okay, thanks for asking." Wyatt countered, swinging his arm over my shoulder. "Why wouldn't we be?"

Xavier's eyebrows furrowed in the middle of his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "Just had a bad feeling."

"Whatever you say man," Wyatt laughed, discreetly winking at me.

Jordan looked around the group expectantly, "Where to next?"

Arlo leaned back. "How about we go see a movie?"

A murmur of approval sounded through our group, everyone seemingly on board with that idea.

"What movie are we thinking?" Miles asked with a smile.

"THE BARBIE MOVIE," Wyatt announced, excitedly.

We all shared a look amongst ourselves and Wyatt noticed, his smile dropping a bit.

"Please? I've been wanting to watch it with you guys for the longest time and they're showing it today and I promise you guys will love it and-"

"Relax, Wyatt." Alexis laughed. "We're messing with you."

Wyatt scratched his head, looking at all of us. "I'm confused,"

"We're going to miss the start if we keep talking," Xamira smiled at Wyatt.

Wyatt's face lit up with excitement as he willed us to get moving. With our plans set, we made our way to the mall's cinema.

As we walked, I felt Xavier's hand slip into mine. I looked up at him and saw the uneasiness in his eyes.

"What's wrong Xav?" I asked.

"I just can't shake the feeling that something happened. You didn't actually deny anything happening; Wyatt did the talking for both of you."

I let out a soft sigh, running my thumb across his knuckles. "Some guy was getting too touchy,"

His gaze darkened but waited for me to continue. "But Wyatt took care of him. It was quite disturbing actually, how much fun Wyatt was having."

His expression lightened up hearing the last part. He gave my hand a comforting squeeze. "You okay?"

I nodded, going on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his nose. He still didn't look convinced.

"You sure baby?" He asked again.

I held out my pinkie to him and waited for him to lock his around mine. We both kissed our thumbs before pressing them together.

"Promise," I told him. "Now come on, the others are waiting for us,"

The rest of our friends had already gotten our snacks by the time we caught up to them. We entered the cinema and picked seats, settling in as we waited for the movie to start.

Thanks to a special request from Diego, we were the only ones in the cinema.

"It's going to be amazing," Wyatt whispered excitedly from his seat next to mine.

Xav settled on my other side. "Comfortable, baby?" he asked, his voice a soothing murmur in my ear.

I nodded, leaning into him. "Yeah, Xav."

The lights dimmed, and the previews played for a few minutes before the movie started. Xavier and I seemed to get closer and closer and before long one of his arms were draped around me, my head resting comfortably against him.

I turned to find Wyatt fully engrossed in the movie. I asked if he could pass me a napkin and instead he handed me his popcorn, all without looking away from the screen, causing me to giggle.

Every now and then, Xavier gently squeezed my shoulder, his way of checking in without saying a word.

When the credits rolled around and the lights brightened, I looked around and noticed that all the guys were either crying or had tears in their eyes.

Wyatt remained quiet next to me.

"You okay?" I whispered to Wyatt.

He turned to me, tears streaming down his face despite the huge smile he wore. "Best movie ever,"

"You want a hug, love?" I asked, softly.

"P-Please,"

I pulled him into a hug and before long, three other pairs of arms wrapped around us. I looked and saw Kat, Xamira and Alexis all hugging Wyatt like I was.

We pulled away noticing he had stopped crying and was in a much better mood, the other guys as well. We all made our way out of the cinema, the mood instantly becoming lighter when Wyatt started singing 'I'm Just Ken'.

After the movie, we decided it was best if we headed home. We'd been out for hours now and everyone was exhausted.

That is everyone except Wyatt who looked like he could run a marathon. Apparently, he still wanted to go somewhere, even if it wasn't in the mall.

"Please, you guys." Wyatt pleaded.

"I can't feel my legs anymore, man." Jordan said and almost everyone agreed with him.

"And I have to get Orsetto home, he's really tired." Griffin added.

"I am not-" A yawn interrupted Miles and Griffin's features softened with a smile.

"Xami's already sleeping," Diego whispered, carrying a sleeping Xamira in his arms.

Wyatt's smile faltered before he turned to me. "Grumpy?"

"Wyatt-"

"Please. It'll be fun. You'll have so much fun I promise. As soon as I figure out where it is we're going that is," He mumbled the last part, scratching his head.

"Wyatt-"

"I think you should go with him, baby." Xavier spoke up.

"Really?" The rest of our friends asked simultaneously, including Wyatt.

Xavier shrugged, his eyes focused on me. "I know she's not as tired as the rest of us are and I know she'll have an amazing time. Plus, it's Wyatt. He won't let anything happen to her, I know that."

Tears brimmed in Wyatt's eyes. "Aw, bossman. You love me that much?"

Xavier smiled and softly squeezed my hand. "Go on, baby. It'll be fun."

With my curiosity piqued and no clear objections from the group, I agreed, allowing myself to be led away by Wyatt.

He practically dragged me out of the mall and into a waiting car. Two guards moved to enter the car as well but he brushed them off. We sang along to Wyatt's playlist as he drove.

He didn't say anything about where we were headed, only smiled and promised me that this was going to be awesome. He pulled up to a fancy hotel, explaining that the stop was the first part of the trip.

The hotel staff greeted us warmly, showing us the way to the presidential suite where a bunch of people were already waiting for us, different outfits laid out on multiple clothing racks behind them.

"What is all this?" I asked Wyatt.

"Just let the people take care of you, yeah?" Wyatt replied with a wink.

He got comfortable on one of the couches at one end of the room. His smile widened as one of the ladies wheeled over the racks of dresses.

"I get to help pick your outfit."

Despite being skeptical, the scene in front of me was too sweet of a deal to pass up. Wyatt insisted that we pick an outfit first. After trying on what felt like a million different options, Wyatt, as well as all the workers and I, finally decided on an outfit.



After that, I allowed myself to be led by one of the many people in the room and sat in a chair, facing a mirror. A man began working on my hair, while two ladies gave me a mani pedi. Another man and woman busied themselves with my makeup,

They finished and brought me to a full length mirror in the middle of the room. My hair was held in a ponytail and curly strands of my hair were left out, framing each side of my face.

My makeup was amazing, highlighting my natural features yet gave me this look that screamed classy and elegant.

Wyatt walked up behind me and stared at me through the mirror, his hands on my shoulders. "You're unreal. Truly a work of art."

I noticed he had also gotten dressed up and was now wearing a black button down shirt and dress pants. His hair was combed and more tamed, styled in a very Wyatt way.

Without allowing me to say another word, he led me back to the car and drove about another half hour until we reached a beach. Xavier and I's beach.

As we stepped out, I noticed the path leading down to the beach was lit with candles. My heart began to race.

"Wyatt, what's going on?"

He grinned and was about to respond when he suddenly stumbled to the ground and clutched his ankle.

"Fuck. Me." He cursed with a wince.

I rushed to his side. "You okay?"

"It feels weird. I think I broke it. Just my fucking luck," He seemed genuinely frustrated.

I quickly debated my options and realized my best bet was trying to get help. Wyatt suggested that I head down to the beach to try to find some help there.

As I followed the lights down the path, I came across a figure in the middle, stopping me from going any further. The figure took a couple steps forward and I was now able to make out who it was.

Xavier.

He was wearing black pants and a white button down with the first two buttons undone, his gold chain visible. His double pierced ears glistened from the light of the sun. In his hands he held a bouquet of plumerias. A bouquet that he handed to me when I reached him.

I stared at him, unable to process what was happening. "You look really good." I finally blurted out.

"Thank you, baby. Your beauty is transcendent." He smiled at me.

I moved to get closer to him but shook my head, remembering my earlier mission. "Wyatt is hurt. His ankle. We need to get him—"

Before I could finish, Wyatt appeared behind me, completely fine and grinning. "Hurt? Who's hurt?."

"Come here baby," Xavier replied softly.

I took his hand, my heart pounding in my chest as he led me further down. I couldn't help but notice how everything seemed to glow under the soft sunlight.

We reached the beach where a breathtaking sight awaited. The sand was decorated with a large heart, outlined with white plumerias and blue roses. The waves lapped at the sand a couple feet away from the setup, the sun almost setting. In the distance, Serenity, the yacht Xavier had bought for me was visible, adding to the scene.

"Xav- this is- It's beautiful," I whispered.

"Only the best for you, mio amore." He placed a kiss to the back of my hand, running his thumb across my knuckles.

"But what's all this for?"

Rather than respond, we stepped into the heart. Xavier looked more anxious than I had ever seen him yet his eyes remained on mine, a soft smile displayed on his lips.

He took in a deep breath, calming himself before returning his attention to mine. "This past year without you-"

"You okay, Xav?" I asked, cupping his face with my free hand.

He laced his hand through mine and placed a kiss on my palm. "Yeah, baby. I'm just really happy right now."

He placed another kiss on my palm before taking my hand in his and continuing. "This past year made me realize just how much you mean to me. It's shown me just deeply you're woven into the fabric of my life."

"I love you and have always loved you, inexplicably so. But now I realize it goes far beyond love. You are my sole purpose for living. In your love, I find the meaning of life itself. And I've come to understand that I am utterly lost without you."

"Bab- Olive, I know I've made mistakes. And I know I can't change the past-"

"Xav." My voice cracked.

He paused, brushing away the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. His smile was soft as he cupped my face.

"But I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Showing you just how much I love you. So here I am, laying my heart bare before you."

He let go of my hands and fished out something from the pocket of his pants. With his eyes locked on mine, he got down on one knee and held out the ring box.

"It's a promise ring," He explained softly, revealing the ring. "We're still young and we have the rest of our lives to plan out together. That is- if you'll take me back."

His hands shook while he held the box, his eyes glistening with tears as he looked at me so lovingly I felt that I would implode.

"Can I please be your boyfriend again, mio cuore?"

I was entirely overcome with emotion that I couldn't find any words, my eyes brimming with tears instead.

Xavier's eyes watered as well as he smiled up at me. "I need a response, baby."

I nodded vigorously, throwing my arms around him. Xavier's body instantly relaxed the moment I nodded, his arms coming up to hug me back.

"Okay, we gotta get up now love. Let me put it on you."

I wiped my face with the back of my hand as I stood up. Xavier shook his head smiling.

He took my hand in his and slipped the ring onto my finger. My other hand was clasped over my mouth as he did so, an attempt to stop myself from crying again.

Xavier stood up and took both my hands in his.

"I am yours, vita mia. Yours to love, yours to hate. Yours to do with as you see fit. I am yours now and forever. Heart, body, mind and soul, bound to you with every breath I take."

My heart swelled as I wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his lips to mine. The kiss was slow and passionate, expressing everything we couldn't with words.

I finally pulled away, my eyes fluttering open only to find Xavier admiring me, a soft smile on his face.

He kissed me again. "Je t'aime,"

I couldn't help but smile against his lips as I deepened the kiss. "Ti amo di più," (I love you more)

"Impossible," We both whispered.

Cheers erupted around us, camera flashes accompanying them. I turned and watched all our friends emerging.

A few of them took photos and were making videos of Xavier and I while the others clapped and cheered for us. I noticed that they were all dressed formally in black like Wyatt was.

Miles and Griffin threatened to kill Xavier if I so much as frowned when I was with him causing all of us to laugh.

"Told you you'd love the surprise, grumpy." Wyatt beamed.

I laughed, hugging him. "I couldn't have asked for a better surprise. Thank you." I turned to the rest of my friends. "All of you. I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

"No, don't cry. Cause if you cry, I'll cry." Xamira's eyes watered.

Diego smiled lovingly at his wife. "You want a hug, baby?"

Xamira retreated into her husband's arms, both of them following after the rest of our friends who were leading us to the next surprise. As we walked, everyone expressed how happy they were for Xavier and I.

Although, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with Zayn. He seemed off the entire night, despite the huge smile on his face when he congratulated Xavier and I. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.

Xavier led me further down the beach, the path illuminated by lanterns, to a charming gazebo nestled close to the shore. It was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and surrounded by flowers.

We entered the gazebo where a soft mat was laid out with a low table in the center. Cushions were scattered around for us to sit on, and the table had a variety of snacks and books. The view of the ocean was breathtaking, the moonlight reflecting off the waves

"This is incredible, Xav," I said, looking around in awe.

"I wanted to make tonight unforgettable, baby," he replied, squeezing my hand.

We settled down on the cushions, enjoying the snacks and flipping through the books. The others joined us, and the gazebo filled with laughter and playful conversations.

"That's a huge rock." Preston said, looking at the ring on my finger.

"How many carats even is that?" Wyatt asked.

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to," Kai replied, rolling his eyes. The gazebo was filled with laughter yet again.

After about an hour, our friends left, stating that they were tired and didn't want to impose on our special night.

"This was perfect," I sighed with a small smile.

"There's one last thing, baby." Xavier grinned, holding out his hand.

He guided me further down the beach to a secluded spot.

There, a cozy blanket awaited us, surrounded by more flowers and lanterns.

"I thought we'd spend the night under the stars, just you and I." He explained. "But I could call someone to take us home if-"

I interrupted him with a kiss to his lips. "It's perfect,"

"Only the best for you, amore." He murmured with a smile, kissing my forehead.

We laid down together, wrapped in each other's arms, The sound of the waves lulled us both to sleep before long, the perfect end to our unforgettable night.

....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

C.O.D: YOU LOOK SO CUTE- LIKE A SQUISHY PIMPLE <3