PRESENT

Luca slowly opened her eyes, blinking softly  to the sudden sunlight in her room.

She was immediately greeted by Enzo's soft smile. His smile was always so soft, as if he was dealing with someone very precious and  very fragile. His smile is always Luca's favorite. And it's not because of some cheesy reason like his smile is as warm as the bright morning sun. No, it's because that particular smile, Luca's favorite smile, is only for her. It's a smile that's soft and filled with indescribable emotions that he only shows for her.

And it's something worth more than any treasure in the whole wide world.

Enzo was running his hand through her messy hair while Luca stretched adorably.

"Good morning, Lu..." He whispered softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead lovingly. Luca hummed sleepily at her brother.

Luca gave him a toothy smile in return that could possibly melt the very core of his heart. "Hi, Enzy... "

Enzo chuckled. "Hi, sugar... "

Luca slowly sat up and leaned forward to hug Enzo. The man wrapped his arms around her and softly patted her back.

"G'morning..."

Enzo hummed in reply and slowly carried her protectively in his arms as he stood up. Luca was still wrapped around her favorite blue blanket, looking like an adorable little baby because Enzo wrapped her up like a burrito.

Before, Enzo loved the baby Luca because she used to babble a lot and make spit bubbles while giggling nonstop at something as simple as a balloon. But Enzo also likes the Luca now. He doesn't see any difference between the Luca before and the Luca now. She'll always be the same adorable baby.

"Wakey wakey, sleepy head... There's pancakes and waffles waiting for you." Enzo whispered as he descended down the stairs.

At that, Luca perked up at that and he looked at Enzo owlishly. "With juice?"

"With juice." He confirmed in amusement.

Luca giggled adorably before laying her head on his shoulder again. "That's good, I don't know what I'll do if pancakes and waffles doesn't have juice."

"What do you think you'll do?"

"I'll blame Juli for drinking my juice." She huffed in reply.

"He doesn't drink your juice." Enzo frowned.

"He does!" Luca pouted. "He sneaks in the middle of the night to eat my cookies and drinks my juice!"

Enzo raised a brow. "And how do you know that, hmm?"

Oh, dear.

Of course she can't say that she does it too. In her defense, it's Juli's fault. If he didn't sneak around, hunting for Luca's food then there wouldn't any kind of problems.

Nope! She could never say that. She can't have her brothers lock her door. If they do that then Juli will finish them all!

Juli will eat her cookies and drink her juice!

Luca looks at Enzo, feigning innocence. "Know what?"

"That Sydney's been sneaking?"

Luca innocently tilted her head to the side. "Did I say that?"

"You did!" He exclaimed.

"I did?" Luca pointed a finger at herself.

"Yes!"

"You heard wrong."

"So you think that I'm lying?"

Luca shook her head. "You're lying to yourself by telling yourself that you heard me say somethin' 'bout sneaking and stuff, Enzy... "

Enzo rolled his eyes at her. "Don't play this game with me, Lu."

"We were playing a game?"

Enzo groaned, defeated.

As they entered the kitchen, they were greeted by Gabriele's rage, Pierre laughing while he cooks the bacon and Sydney grumbling at his devil of a brother.

Enzo placed Luca down with her blankie still wrapped around her. Carefully, she toddled towards Gabriele, the loud mouthed devil, while trying to be as discreet as possible and careful not to step on her blue blanket as she toddled away.

Enzo watched in pure amusement as his brothers still didn't see the small fluff of cuteness tottering its way towards them.

(Yes, he's calling Pierre brother now. It's hard not to since he's been there with them for six whole years and his loyalty were unwavering. He's someone whom he trust and have bonded over the years so yes, he is more likely his brother now.)

Luca wrapped her arms around Gabriele's waist and the man jolted in surprise before looking down at her.

His expression changed from anger to confusion to amusement.

"Lu!" Sydney exclaimed in surprise and Pierre turned around when he heard her name.

Luca giggled at them and waved her tiny hand. "Hi."

Pierre smiled happily as Gabriele carried her up in his strong arms, his useless argument with Sydney were long forgotten. Sydney walked towards them and gave Luca a kiss on the nose, which made her scrunch it up and rub it.

"Still don't like it?" Sydney piped up and Luca huffed and pouted.

"Hate it." She answered with a grumble.

Sydney snickered. "Well, get used to it because I love it."

He kissed her nose again, causing her to  whine and backing as far as possible away from Sydney.

Gabriele growled at Sydney. "Stay away from her."

The man rolled his eyes but the smile on his face was still visible.

Luca stuck her tongue out, making Sydney laugh. Gabriele kissed her temple and whispered her a good morning.

"I want a good morning kiss from Luca." Pierre pouted, looking away from what he's cooking. Gabriele rolled his eyes.

"You're very cringy."

Pierre gave him a glare but it didn't held any heat behind it. "And you're very annoying."

"Hey now!" Sydney wrapped his arms around Pierre's waist, resting his chin on the man's shoulder while also playfully glaring at Gabriele. "Don't talk to my darling Pierre like that, you big fat demon. Begone!"

Pierre rolled his eyes and gave Sydney the spatula. Sydney's eyes went wide and before he could speak, Pierre shook off Sydney's embrace before going towards Luca to give her a loving kiss on the forehead.

"Good morning, my lovely lady."

Luca smiled sweetly at Pierre. "Good morning."

"Got any nice dreams you wanna share?" At that, Luca perked up and began to animatedly talk about her dream about fishes and pink clouds, ignoring the sulking Sydney in the background who was mumbling about being broken hearted and that he doesn't get enough love.

Gabriele made Luca sit down on her chair while she talked. He started to softly brush her soft brown hair while sometimes butting in her conversation with Pierre, who was happy to listen to her adorable dreams.

Enzo smiled as he took in the scene before him. It always amazes him how everyone could change almost immediately for Luca. From Gabriele and Sydney's banters, Pierre laughing at them without a care in the world to Gabriele braiding a kid's hair, Pierre happily talking to Luca and Sydney who was humming while he cooked, his eyes glinting with obvious joy.

If Enzo could tell his past self and his past brothers and father that their home, this home, will be as cozy and comfortable as it was right now then they would've shot him in the head while calling him a liar.

Now, he never felt so complete.

Achilles walked in. Everyone turned to greet him.

Enzo was the first one to greet him. "Good morning, dad."

Achilles looks at him and nodded, patting his son on the shoulder. "Good morning, son."

Before, he'd call Achilles 'father' since that's all it was before. It was just a word. Nothing but a word that he hated. He didn't really see Achilles as his father. He was just a cold man, ready to kill, addicted in killing, a workaholic, an alcoholic. He just kept them alive but he didn't care. Now, he's softer, more kinder. He smiles more instead of scowling and he spends more time with them instead if drinking and killing.

"Papa!"

Luca jumped out of her sit despite Gabriele's warnings.

"Luca! I'm not finished with your braid!" Gabriele grumbled. "And who told you to run? Don't run, you little spawn!"

Pierre chuckled at Gabriele's obvious concern.

Luca just ran to Achilles' waiting arms and she hugged him lovingly.

He hugged her tightly, grinning at the little girl's excitement. She was practically radiating with joy.

"Buongiorno, piccola."

(Good morning, little sparrow.)

She looked at him with her eyes glinting like there's stars in her brown doe eyes. "Good morning, papa!"

He turned to look at everybody else with a small smile on his face. "Buongiorno."

Sydney grinned at his father. "Buongiorno, papa!"

Gabriele nodded in acknowledgement, Pierre happily greeted him a good morning as well.

He carried Luca in his arms before saying:

"Let's have breakfast."

_____

Ah, I hope you guys enjoyed it!

I'm sorry if I'm not updating on Sunday. I think that I'll just update on Wednesday and Friday now...

How's the present?