Omniscient POV

The following morning, the Romano house was quieter than usual. The events of the previous night hung in the air like a heavy mist, leaving everyone reflective and emotionally drained. But there was also a new sense of purpose—a collective resolve to help Serafina in every way possible.

The family had always been close, bound together by loyalty, love, and the unshakable strength that came from running an empire. But now, their focus was singular: Serafina.

In the kitchen, Isabella moved with calm efficiency, the clinking of dishes and the soft hum of her voice breaking the silence. She was making pancakes, something she hadn't done in years. But today wasn't just any day—it was a step forward, a small attempt to bring warmth and familiarity back into their lives.

Dante was the first to appear, his hair still messy from sleep. He paused in the doorway, sniffing the air. "Pancakes?" he asked, his tone somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

Isabella smiled, her back to him. "Yes. Go wake the others."

He nodded, still half-asleep, and shuffled off to knock on the others' doors. One by one, the boys emerged—Antonio, Luca, Matteo, and finally Enzo, all drawn by the rare treat of their mother's cooking.

Serafina appeared last, hovering at the edge of the kitchen. Her hair was slightly damp, as if she'd just showered, and she wore one of Enzo's old sweatshirts that hung loosely on her small frame.

"Good morning, tesoro," Isabella greeted her warmly, her tone gentle but bright.

"Morning," Serafina replied softly, her eyes darting around the room.

The boys quieted as they noticed her, unsure how to act after her revelation the night before. The weight of her words still lingered, a stark reminder of how much she'd endured. But it wasn't pity that filled the room—it was respect and an overwhelming urge to protect her.

"Come sit," Enzo said, pulling out a chair beside him.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding and taking the seat.

"Pancakes, huh?" Antonio said, trying to lighten the mood as he reached for the stack. "Ma must be feeling sentimental."

"Careful, Antonio," Isabella warned, a playful edge to her voice. "I can always take them away."

The comment earned a few chuckles, the tension in the room easing slightly.

As they ate, the conversation remained light, centered around trivial topics—Matteo's failed attempt at fixing the basketball hoop, Luca's grumbling about Enzo beating him at cards, Dante's sarcastic quips about Antonio's hair.

Serafina stayed mostly quiet, but her lips curved into a small smile now and then, her shoulders relaxing bit by bit.

After breakfast, Alessandro appeared in the doorway, his presence commanding as always. But today, there was a softness in his eyes that was rare to see.

"Fina," he said, his voice low but kind. "Do you have a moment?"

She glanced at him, uncertainty flickering across her face, but she nodded.

"Let's talk in the study," he said, gesturing for her to follow.

The boys exchanged glances but didn't interfere, knowing this was something Alessandro needed to do. Isabella gave her husband a small nod of encouragement as he led Serafina away.

The study was warm and inviting, the dark wood paneling and leather furniture giving it a sense of security. Alessandro motioned for Serafina to sit on the couch, and he took the armchair across from her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Alessandro studied her carefully, taking in the way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her sweatshirt and how her eyes avoided his.

"I wanted to tell you something," he began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "When you were taken... I blamed myself every day. I thought I'd failed you as a father."

Serafina's head snapped up, her wide eyes meeting his. "Papa, it wasn't your fault—"

He held up a hand, stopping her. "I know that now. But at the time, I couldn't see it. I let that guilt consume me, and it changed me. I became harder, colder... I pushed everyone away because I thought if I couldn't protect you, I didn't deserve to protect anyone."

His confession hit her like a wave, the raw honesty in his voice making her chest ache.

"I don't say this to make you feel bad," Alessandro continued, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I say it because I need you to understand something. You're not broken, Serafina. What happened to you—it wasn't your fault. And no matter what, you're still my daughter. You're still you."

Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. "But I feel broken," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't know how to feel normal again."

Alessandro moved to sit beside her, his large hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Healing takes time, tesoro. But you don't have to do it alone. You have your brothers, your mother... you have me. Whatever you need, whenever you need it—we'll be here."

She nodded, leaning into him as he wrapped an arm around her. For the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she felt.

The rest of the day passed quietly. The boys spent the afternoon outside, trying to fix the basketball hoop that Matteo had broken, while Isabella coaxed Serafina into helping her bake cookies in the kitchen.

Serafina was starting to feel lighter, a small sense of normalcy creeping into her day. But as evening approached, a strange discomfort began to settle in her lower abdomen. It was a dull ache at first, something she barely noticed, but by the time dinner rolled around, it had intensified.

She excused herself from the table early, mumbling something about feeling tired, and retreated to her room.

As she changed into her pajamas, she noticed something that made her heart stop. A dark red stain on her underwear.

Her breathing quickened, panic rising in her chest. Was she hurt? Was something wrong with her? She thought back to the dull ache in her stomach, now feeling sharper and more persistent.

Tears filled her eyes as her mind raced. She didn't know what was happening, but she was certain of one thing—she was dying.

She stumbled out of her room, clutching her stomach, and made her way down the hall to Enzo's room. He was the first person she thought of, the one she trusted most to help her.

"Enzo!" she cried, her voice high-pitched and trembling.

The door flew open almost immediately, Enzo's face filled with alarm. "Fina? What's wrong?"

"I—I think I'm dying!" she sobbed, clutching the front of his shirt.

"What?" His eyes widened in panic. "What's hurting? What happened?"

"I don't know!" she wailed. "I'm bleeding, and my stomach hurts, and I don't know why!"

Understanding dawned on his face almost instantly, but his panic didn't subside entirely. "Okay, okay. Let's... let's go get Ma, okay? She'll know what to do."

He guided her down the stairs, his hand on her back, murmuring reassurances the entire way. When they reached the kitchen, Isabella turned to them with a curious expression, which quickly shifted to concern when she saw Serafina's tear-streaked face.

"What's going on?" Isabella asked, moving toward them.

"She's bleeding," Enzo said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "I think it's, uh... you know..."

Isabella's worry faded, replaced by a soft understanding. "Oh, tesoro," she said gently, taking Serafina's hands. "Come with me. Let's talk."

Serafina looked between her mother and Enzo, her panic still evident. "But what if it's something bad?"

"It's not," Isabella assured her, leading her back upstairs. "It's completely normal. I'll explain everything."

Enzo watched them go, a mixture of relief and lingering awkwardness on his face. "I don't get paid enough for this," he muttered to himself before heading back to his room.(LMFAOOAAO I cackled while making this)

In the privacy of Serafina's room, Isabella sat her down on the bed and began to explain. She spoke calmly and kindly, answering every question with patience and care.

By the time they were done, Serafina felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. "So... this happens to everyone?" she asked hesitantly.

"Every woman," Isabella confirmed with a smile. "It's nothing to be scared of. It's just another part of growing up."

Serafina nodded, her cheeks flushed. "I thought I was dying."

Isabella chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from Serafina's face. "You're not dying, tesoro. But I understand why it was scary. Next time, you'll know what it is. And you can always come to me if you have questions."

Serafina managed a small smile. "Thank you, Mama."

Isabella kissed her forehead. "Always."

As the door closed behind her mother, Serafina lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The day had been overwhelming, but it had also been full of moments that made her feel less alone.

For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe that things might be okay. Slowly, but surely, she was learning how to let her family in—and how to let herself heal. The Romano family had gathered in the living room that evening, the low hum of the TV filling the space. It was a rare moment of normalcy—everyone settled on the couches with bowls of popcorn and soda, all absorbed in a movie that none of them were really paying full attention to. Even Serafina had joined them, though she hadn't been particularly in the mood for entertainment. She'd told herself she should make an effort to feel like part of the family again.

But as the movie progressed, the dull ache in her stomach from earlier began to worsen. The cramps, which had been manageable in the beginning, now flared up with a sharp intensity that made her gasp quietly, clutching the side of the couch. She tried to shift positions, hoping the discomfort would pass, but it only seemed to get worse.

Enzo, who was sitting beside her, noticed her sudden stillness and the pained expression on her face. "Fina, you okay?" he whispered, leaning in closer.

"I... I think I need to lie down," Serafina replied, her voice barely audible, her hand now pressed against her abdomen.

Enzo's brow furrowed with concern. "What's going on? You look like you're in pain."

"I think... it's the cramps," she admitted, her face pale. "They're bad."

Enzo exchanged a quick glance with Luca, who sat across the room. Without a word, Luca stood up and moved toward the kitchen.

"Do you want me to go get Mom?" Enzo asked, his voice filled with quiet urgency.

Serafina hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her eyes squeezing shut against the discomfort.

Before Enzo could move, Isabella appeared in the doorway of the living room, having sensed the tension. She had been on her way to check on them when she noticed the look on her daughter's face.

"Serafina, honey," Isabella said gently, kneeling beside the couch. "What's wrong?"

Serafina winced, trying to sit up straighter. "The cramps... they're so bad." Her breath hitched as another wave of pain coursed through her.

Isabella placed a hand on her daughter's forehead, her expression softening with understanding. "It's okay, tesoro. It's just part of growing up. But I can see you're struggling." She turned to Enzo. "Can you help her to her room? I'll bring her something to help with the pain."

Enzo nodded immediately, his face lined with concern. He gently helped Serafina stand, his arm supporting her as she swayed slightly, her face drawn in pain.

"Take it slow, Fina," Enzo said softly, his voice steady but filled with worry. He helped her to her feet, guiding her toward the stairs with slow, careful steps.

As they reached the top of the staircase, Serafina's body trembled with each sharp cramp. She bit her lip to stifle a gasp, feeling the wave of pain coming at her like an unrelenting storm.

In her room, Enzo helped her sit on the edge of the bed, her face pale and glistening with sweat. "I'll get you some water," he said quickly, but his voice was tight with concern.

Serafina nodded, closing her eyes for a moment to try and ride out the pain. It felt like an eternity before Enzo returned with a glass of water, handing it to her with a slight frown.

She took a sip, her hands shaking. "I'm sorry... I didn't want to cause trouble. I just didn't know what was happening."

Enzo sat beside her, resting a hand gently on her back. "You're not causing any trouble, Fina," he said, his voice low but warm. "We just want to help. And don't apologize for something you can't control."

Isabella appeared moments later, carrying a small heating pad and some medication. "Here," she said, handing Serafina the pills. "This should help with the pain."

Serafina took the pills without argument, her body still trembling as she lay back on the bed. Isabella placed the heating pad on her lower stomach, gently adjusting it so it covered the area where the cramps were the most intense.

The heat felt like a small relief, but the pain didn't fully subside. Serafina closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, trying to focus on anything but the waves of discomfort that continued to assault her.

Isabella sat beside her, smoothing her hair back from her face. "You're going to be okay, tesoro. I know it's painful now, but it will pass. We're here for you."

Enzo lingered in the doorway, watching them with a quiet expression. He had never seen his sister so vulnerable, and it made his protective instincts flare up. He wanted to take the pain away, wanted to do more than just stand there.

"I'll stay with you, Fina," he said, his voice resolute. "Until you're feeling better."

Serafina offered him a faint smile, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. "Thank you, Enzo."

Isabella kissed the top of Serafina's head and stood to leave. "I'll check on you in a bit. Just rest, okay?"

Serafina nodded, her body feeling heavy with exhaustion. As Isabella left the room, Enzo moved to sit beside her, pulling the blanket up around her to keep her warm.

The movie and the family downstairs felt so far away now. The laughter, the noise—it all seemed like a distant echo. Here, in the quiet of her room, Serafina tried to steady her breath, focusing on the comfort of her brother's presence and the warmth of the heating pad.

"Do you need anything else?" Enzo asked, his voice soft and careful.

Serafina shook her head, letting her eyes close again. "Just... just stay with me for a little while."

He nodded and stayed beside her, his hand lightly resting on her back, offering a steady, silent reassurance. As the cramps slowly began to ease, Serafina felt the tension in her body release, though the fear still lingered in her chest. It was something she had never expected to face, yet somehow, with her family close, it didn't feel as overwhelming as it had in the beginning.

For once, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, she could handle the pain, and the healing, with the support of the people who loved her most.