"Oh, no."

Gabriele ran down the stairs when he saw the fort in the living room. Different Christmas lights and fluffy soft pillows were surrounding it, bubbles flew the air while soft laughter could be heard from inside the fort.

Feeling a bit conflicted at the sight before him, he let his curiosity get the better of him and made his feet walk towards the actually well-built, most wonderland kind of fort and was even more surprised when he actually saw them with Pierre and Luca, laughing like they've done this thing before.

"What in the world are you doing?" He demanded, eyes blown and body rigid. His eyes lingered on Luca a bit longer and the kid was looking back at him with the same kind of intensity, making him remember the pain of losing his mother. Luca was so innocent, too innocent, for their wide world.

Achilles, who was hugging a pillow, looking more of a teenager than a father, looked up at Gabriele with a bored look. Sydney stopped his laughter and just smiled at him, Enzo and Pierre looks wary of Gabriele, like he'd say something that'll provoke them because yes, Gabriele might give lemons a run for their money with how sour he is! He'd steal Christmas himself if the Grinch weren't already on it.

The scene before him looks soft, warm and so comfortable. He'd love to join them if it weren't for the resentment dwelling inside him.

Strengthening his resolve, he crossed his arms, his glare on all of them, especially on Luca who was looking up at him curiously while she sucked her thumb. Achilles noticed that look and he also glares at his son.

"Gabriele." He warned but it didn't stop the teen from doing what he knows is best for all of them.

"Father." He mocked.

Achilles only sighed, a headache was coming back with a vengeance. He just wanted to peacefully stay in this fort with nothing to worry about. Of course that would only be wishing for the impossible when Gabriele is in the same roof as he. The boy just can't simply know what taking a break means.

"Gabriele, please... "

"Am I the only one who thinks that your decision is crazy?" He demanded, ruining the peaceful atmosphere that had just settled. Luca was quiet, Pierre was trying to distract her from Gabriele's incoming rage. The little girl was cooing and giving toothy smiles while Pierre listens to Gabriele.

"You're the only one here who's crazy." Sydney mumbled, fist clenched. He was playing with Luca's little hand as she makes spit bubbles.

Gabriele looks at him and anyone could sew the burning fire behind his demonic eyes. They could understand why he's mad but why couldn't he just let it go?

He grabbed Sydney's wrist and the boy hissed at the pressure it presented, Luca blinked in surprise while the others echoed with retorts about his sudden action.

"You almost killed a baby! You are a monster, do you hear me?" He shouted at Sydney while pressuring his hold on his wrist. The boy was struggling because if Gabriele wished to break his wrist, he will, without a moment of a doubt, do it. Sydney's eyes widened with fear as he looked at Gabriele. "We're born monsters! We fucking kill! Do you want to kill her? Is that what's going on? You let her be a fattened pig before you butcher her? Damn you Idiotic bitch, you should've known that by fucking now!"

He pushed Sydney back with full force, making him almost squash Luca who was trying to reach out for poor Sydney in desperation. Pierre immediately pulled back in horror. If it weren't for him, Luca would've been hurt. By then, panic rose at Luca's mind and she was whining and tears were starting to fill up her eyes. Pierre would've escaped by now but he feared for Gabriele's ability. He'd be easily captured and worse, maybe even hurt Luca. Kill Luca.

No, he couldn't risk it.

He couldn't.

Not when Gabriele's like this.

Enzo moved in front of them protectively while Pierre tried to hush Luca. The little girl was crying from all of the sudden chaos and it left Pierre to desperately rock her and shush her.

Gabriele was beyond mad. He was raging. He couldn't believe that they didn't follow his plan. This kid isn't safe with them, especially with that sex slave! All he could do is to follow orders, all he knows is sex and be a what a slave is supposed to be! What do he know about taking care of a baby? Nothing! Absolutely pointless! This slave should just die if he isn't going to fucking follow.

He looks at Pierre and he immediately narrowed his eyes when he saw Enzo guarding them. Oh, the eldest. The fucking hero. The savior. He scowled, anger was only rising further. He couldn't even think clearly, he just wants Luca to go away because that way, the voices inside his head will fucking shut the hell up!

"Move the fuck away." He thundered lowly, stalking his brother like a predator. Enzo shook his head, his infamous poker face was already built up with practice for so damn long that it's already so perfect and so flawless.

Enzo shook his head calmly. He won't move. Not when he looks like he's about to hurt the both of them. "Gabriele, please, think this through."

"I am thinking this through!" He shouted, making Luca cry louder, her wails were only making everyone agitated.

"No, you're not." He exclaimed sternly. "You've been acting based on emotion. I thought you were the one who was a man of logic. Think. This. Through."

"Fucking damn it! You don't fucking listen to me, you son of a bitch!" He shouted at his brother, practically seething with undeniable anger. "You're the one who should fucking see this through! Do you think that we could be fucking capable to take care of a human breathing being? Do you think that we could stop our urges to not fucking kill? Sydney went berserk and even went to her room and almost killed her! Father couldn't even stop his drinking habit! You don't even know if you're going to change your mind when you experience the real struggle of having a fucking baby in the fucking house!"

Luca was crying from his outburst. Her screams and whimpers were piercing their hearts painfully. What Gabriele said was right but they couldn't let go of her now. They know that they aren't capable, they know everything that is to worry about and even if they see every countless possibilities where they could probably fuck things up, they still want to keep Luca. She's too young to be given away, too young to receive heart break from her own flesh and blood.

Gabriele took this chance to push Enzo away. He crawled towards Luca as she cried. It sounds irritating and loud to Gabriele's ears.

Pierre tried his best to crawl away from him but he still managed to catch him, Sydney tried to stop Gabriele but he actually broke his nose that made everyone shout in protests.

"Gabriele!" Achilles shouted in disbelief.

"Give me the fucking kid."

"No!" Pierre shouted, tears were forming from the corner of his eyes as he hugged her protectively. "You can't have her!"

Gabriele tried to remove his iron grip from Luca as the baby cried louder and shook as Pierre continued to guard her.

"Stop, Gabriele!" Enzo shouted.

The beautiful fort collapses from the struggling and Gabriele couldn't feel even more happier than he was now. They deserve this. Luca doesn't deserve to be happy! This baby should feel the pain they felt. The pain he felt!

"Gabriele, we decided to let Luca stay."

The young man looked at their father with his eyes filled with shock. Everyone also seemed as shock as him.

Achilles sighed. "You may be right about not being capable but I want to learn how to be one. I want to change because I'm honestly tired to doing this. I'm not getting any younger and I don't want to break the promise that I have with your mother."

"But, Father-"

Achilles raises his hand, indicating for him to close his mouth and listen. Despite Luca's loud cries, their father's words were as clear as day.

"You're just doing this to remove the guilt. I don't want her to leave and I don't want you treat her like she is going to, do you understand?"

"She's the one who's -!"

"This isn't what your mother would've wanted." Achilles hissed and raised a brow. "Or did you forget that, son?"

Gabriele and the rest flinched. Of course he knows that. Of course he knows. But he can't just let Luca in their lives. Not yet and definitely not now.

"No good will come out of making me something I'm not." Gabriele hissed, fear was gripping his heart in pain.

Pierre looks at him, you could see the pain in his eyes, the years of pain he overcame, the sorrows and pity as he gaze upon his raging eyes, reaching for something. For something other than hate and bitterness.

"But what about making you realize something that you already?"

Gabriele shake his head, walking away from them but Enzo grabbed his wrist, making him unable to move.

"No...!" He denied angrily, his strength was deflating easily. What do he know? What does he know about Gabriele? He hates Luca, he hates her.

"Please..." Enzo whispered. "Please give it a chance."

"Don't you get it?" His voice was finally breaking, his walls were finally breaking. After a year of building it up, it all came crashing down. "I'm not good for her. I'm... I can't. I can't do this! I'm not good."

Pierre looked down at Luca and she was finally stopping, she stared at him while sniffling softly. Pierre remembered a time where he also thought that he was also not good for her. That she wouldn't get to live a normal life but life isn't always normal. It's filled with unpredictable events that makes life more livable. It's filled with questions and risks and Pierre is sure that he's willing to take the risk and regret his decision later.

Pierre stood up and looks at Gabriele who flinched.

Everyone stared at Pierre, wondering what he'll do but he just gave Luca to Gabriele who suddenly carried her protectively in his arms.

He gave Pierre a confused look and was about to open his mouth but Pierre spoke first.

"You are good, all of you are good enough for her because if you weren't then why don't you drop her right now? Just hurt her right now. Drop Luca if you believe that you can't be good enough for her." Pierre challenged, looking at Luca who snuggled closer to Gabriele. The man looked at Luca with a sad look on his face. Sorrows filled his whole being.

Pierre sighed. "You're not evil, Gabriele. Not really. You just become the villain that everyone expected you to be."

"I can't... " He whispered sadly, hugging Luca closer, his walls were breaking rapidly. He couldn't stop the tears from falling. It was like something inside him got shattered.

Pierre smiled. "You should know it by now because the line's too cliche but you gotta take the risk. Life's too unexpected. Luca is much safer with you and the rest. Please. If you can't do it for the girl then do it for Maria. At least be a family for Luca's sake. You guys already lost Maria, don't make the same mistake with her."

And Gabriele cried.

_____

Hey! Gabriele is here!!

And well... He is a big bad sour puss!!

Anyways, have you guys tried the dark mode yet or do you still prefer the light one?

What do you guys think about this chapter?

Was Gabi overreacting?

Let me know and I'm sorry for skipping on u guys, I got a bad case of writer's block...

Hope you guys enjoyed it.