My dearest Luca,

The soft breeze played a soft tune as it played around the trees and the bushes, letting them rustle softly against the silence.

The silence was lovely especially when it made the birds play their usual chirpy tune as they flew playfully in the air.

If you are reading this then it comforts me to know that you are alive and still well. Your father and your brothers have kept their promise to me of keeping you safe, away from harm's way. When I think of how you will be able to grow up well, it soothes my aching heart a little. Still, it pains me deeply to know that I will not be and will never be able to stand by your side and watch you grow up into a fine young woman, my dearest love, and I'm sorry.

The sun was playing hide and seek behind each fluffy white clouds, giving people the sun's beautiful rays of warm light. Their silence were comfortable. Each of their presence made the other relax and enjoy the scenery that surrounded them, letting them appreciate the random song that nature quietly plays for them. The only sound was the crunch they make with every step they take.

It was comfortable.

The atmosphere around them was soft and warm that it was almost palpable. It didn't held any tension, it didn't held any coldness or harshness.

It was calm.

As calm as the soft breeze that played childishly around them.

I know that I owe you an explanation and an enormous amount of apology which I hope, with all my being, that your heart will forgive this poor mother of yours. Know that I did not wish to leave you. I chose what I know will be best for you and I'll never regret my choice. I will never regret having you as my baby girl. You are not at fault, it was mine and I knew that it was already my time. Still, I wanted to love you as your mother, I wanted to comfort you when you cry at night and to kiss you a happy good morning when you open your beautiful chocolate eyes that seems to melt my heart completely. I hope that you know that. I hope that you aren't angry at me, love. I only did what I know was best.

It was simply beautiful.

To be able to bask in this beauty and to be able to see it with their own eyes, to be able to feel the warmth of the sun, to be able to hear nature singing.

The world is beautiful.

The world is beautiful despite having its darkness. Despite having its creeps and despite having a lot of bad things, the world is still home.

We can't avoid the dangers that lurks quietly beneath everything. We can't avoid the unavoidable.

All we could do was move on.

All we could do is move on and try to live the life we wish. To live a life where we could get a happily ever after. We know that those kind of things aren't real, that a happily ever after is nothing but a dream, that they are nothing but just wishful thinking. Nobody could have a perfect ending and that's because nobody is perfect enough to have them. Life is full of surprises, life is full of lies and truths that may hurt you or make you even better.

Move on or get stuck in the past.

Feel pain or let the scars slowly fade.

Time doesn't heal wounds but those wounds make you become yourself. Those wounds could either turn you into a better person or it would let you drown in pain.

Everyone has their battle wounds.

And that's a sign of strength.

Luca's got wounds that makes her remember the pain of her past and the things she overcame. She's got scars that had yet to fade and a truth that would change her future.

But she didn't feel chained.

No, she was not willing to be chained by the darkness of the world.

Luca still sees a light in every darkness and she's willing to follow it if it meant seeing the beauty that the world has to offer.

She will never drown in the shadows, she will not listen to the voices inside her head, she will not allow anybody to keep her down.

Luca will keep getting stronger, she will move forward.

You're my only little girl, the light of my light and also the proof of my strength and vulnerability. I wish there were some other way to save the both of us, I wish there were some other way to keep you safe. I wish that your father wouldn't have to bury the burden of my death knowing that you will be his responsibility to care but l do not want them to feel burdened. I chose this fate. It was my time and I will always choose that fate again and again if it meant saving our family.

As she walked, Luca hummed a random tune while she held her favorite flowers. She would sniff it every once in a while and her face would lit up when the sweet aroma hits her softly.

It was her favorite flowers and it was also Luca's

It smelled sweet and comforting.

Luca wished that she had met her. Luca wished that her situation was different. Luca wished that she didn't die in that way because it was too painful for her.

Mama must've been so scared.

"Luca, we're almost there." Enzo said softly as he ruffled her hair like he would do when she was just a child.

Luca pouted and gently slapped his hand away. "Enzy, no! I wanna look good for mama."

"For me, you'll always be my beautiful baby girl." Achilles said with a smile so warm that it filled up their hearts until it overflowed with love.

Luca mirrored his expression. "Thank you. And for me, you will always be my precious papa."

"How about us?" Sydney pouted. "I want love too."

Pierre snorted at his childishness while Gabriele ruffled his little brother's hair.

Sydney huffed and glared playfully at Gabriele. "Gab, no! I wanna look good for her."

He snorted. "For me, you'll always be my beautiful baby brother."

Pierre laughed when he saw Sydney wincing at his brother's disgusting tone. Enzo and Achilles just disregarded them with a smile plastered on their faces and Luca just giggled quietly.

Sydney punched his brother's shoulder. "Shut up, Gab."

"I wuv you, bambino."

Sydney cringed at his disgusting brother.

"Are you making me feel jealous, Gabriele?" Pierre joked.

Gabriele chuckled and backed away. "I love you too, Pierre."

Pierre grinned. "I wuv you more."

"No, I wuv you most, wuvvy huvvy." Gabriele replied with an amused smile.

"I didn't understand what you just called Pierre but it's adorable, Gabriele." Achilles mused.

"You guys are just silly." Luca said, shaking her head.

"And disgusting." Sydney added with a shiver.

"But mostly adorable." Enzo said with a chuckle.

Your father may seem cold but he did not wish for your end, he will never blame you forever. It is the same for your brothers and Pierre. They will warm up to you and you will see just how silly they are, love. They'll be the most silliest, most lovable and the most adorable! Of course, no one could be as adorable as you, my little pumpkin.

As her family conversed with each other, Luca's mind trailed off to her mother.

She had never met her mother but what from everyone's stories, she seemed nice and sweet.

Papa told her that she was the most optimistic person he has ever met. She sees the good in everyone, always so forgiving.

Everyone told her that she looked like her mother.

They told her that she was stronger than her mother but in a way, she was also like her.

Luca would've loved to meet Maria. She wondered what it would be like if she were here with them right now. Would it change her family? Would it be more brighter? Would she make the family more happier?

Luca doesn't know.

But she owes her mother a million of thanks because if it weren't for her, she would have never met Matteo, Luca would have never met Pierre, if it weren't for her, Luca wouldn't be safe. Her brothers and papa wouldn't be safe.

That didn't stop Luca for longing a mother though.

The teen sighed sadly.

Enzo immediately saw this and his mama bear switch suddenly turned on.

"What's wrong? Are you suddenly sick?"

Luca immediately smiled to reassure her brother. "Enzo, no. I'm fine. I was just thinking."

Enzo didn't look convinced but he reluctantly nodded. "If your thoughts make you sad then you need to immediately tell your big brother, okay?"

"I'm fine, big brother." Luca said teasingly.

I'm sorry for leaving you, sweetheart. I'm sorry for not being able to play the role as your mother. I'm sorry for not being able to help you and for leaving you alone when you needed me the most. I'm sorry for leaving you so early, my love. You deserve the whole world and I'm sorry that I cannot be in your world.

"She's probably thinking about Matteo." Sydney teased making Luca blush.

Whenever she remembers Matteo, she would immediately think of him as her fiancé now. She'd have to marry Matteo.

Not that she hates the thought of marrying him.

She likes it.

She likes the small fact that others will never be able to have him but her.

But wait a damn minute...

That's just selfish!

No, he's his own person, she doesn't own him.

But still...

Matteo was handsome, with his striking blue eyes and how he uses it to look at her with fondness and filled with love. It just makes Luca want to just hug him. He always fills her heart with love with just by using his soft and comforting words that makes her melt like ice, by letting her see how he cares for her, how he knows what she wants, how he teases her, how they have their silly banters, his embrace, his good mornings and good nights and how he tells her that he loves her everyday.

Yes, she likes the fact that Matteo chose her over millions of fishes in the sea.

Oh.

Luca's face turned red when her thoughts immediately filled with nothing but Matteo.

She's completely smitten.

"Hey, hey, it was only a joke." Sydney said worriedly. "Don't— I mean, if you love him— No, don't think of him! You're too young!"

Gabriele grumbled and glared at him, making him shut up.

"You loved me when you were young." Pierre pointed out.

"That was different!" Sydney blushed, suddenly remembering his past self.

Pierre raised a brow. "How was that different?"

Sydney blushed red and glared adorably at Pierre. "I—We were... Mature...?"

Gabriele face palmed and shakes his head in disapproval. "You two are hopeless."

"Hopelessly in love?" Luca suggested, trying to move their attention away from her but it was proven fruitless when Enzo gave her a look.

"I'm not too young." Luca mumbled. "Don't look at me like that."

"You are." Enzo huffed. "I still don't want to put my trust on him."

"But he's my childhood friend..." Luca defended with a pout. "He's fine, he's harmless."

"That's for us to decide, Lu." Achilles chuckled fondly.

Matteo is harmless! If he decided to break her heart then Luca's sure that her family will break his bones and his... You know.

Luca huffed, giving her father the look that was supposed to take her side.

Achilles avoided her eyes though.

Gabriele snorted. "Childhood Matteo and now Matteo are different."

"Different, how?" Luca asks.

"He's a heartthrob." Enzo said dangerously. "He is seriously dangerous. A playboy that will seriously make me kill him. I'll skin him alive first and burn that dic—"

"Shush!" Luca panicked a little. "Okay, I know what you meant!"

I hope that you live your life to the fullest, I hope that you have the freedom to choose what you want, live the life you want and who you want to love for the rest of your life (though, be careful. Your father and your brothers might threaten the man that you have chosen so I hope that you are ready to save your man's ass.)

"We just want what's best, okay?"

Luca nodded at Pierre. "I know."

Pierre smiled gently before kissing her temple. "Don't pout."

Luca still continued to pout. "You will kill Matty, I'm sure of it."

"What if it's an accident?" Gabriele asked innocently.

"It's still murder!" Luca exclaimed in frustration.

"Ah, we're here." Achilles said, stopping everyone from starting a bicker.

They all stood in front of Maria's grave. It was filled with flowers and worn out candles but it's still filled with life.

Achilles kneeled down and smiled at his wife. "It's good to see you again, sweetheart."

Luca smiled at her father before kneeling beside him, placing the bouquet down. "Mama, we're back! And we bought you your favorite flowers."

"Sorry we're late. Sydney took long to get dressed. He's just like you, mama." Enzo chuckled softly while ruffling his brother's hair.

Sydney swatted Enzo's hand away. "Why do you guys like to mess with my hair today?" He then looks at the grave. "They're just being mean. We always have some sense of fashion, mama."

"Are you kidding?" Gabriele scoffed. "You look like garbage right now."

Sydney huffed. "If I'm garbage then I hope that I'm the sexiest garbage out there."

Gabriele rolled his eyes. "The most disgusting, most smelliest garbage out there is what you meant."

"Hey!"

"Maria, your daughter's getting married by the way."

Luca looks at Pierre in horror. "You promised not to tell her!"

"It's my job to protect you and if I told your mother that then maybe she'd protect you along with me." Pierre explained with an amused smile.

Luca didn't like them ganging up on her though.

Achilles shook his head. "We'll protect her. Not just you or Maria but all of us."

"You'll try and kill him though." Luca exclaimed.

Gabriele scoffed. "Wouldn't be the first."

"Gab!" Enzo scolded, shushing him immediately.

"Well, it is true." Sydney mumbles thoughtfully.

"It was supposed to be a secret, Syd." Pierre said, rolling his eyes.

Achilles sighed.

Luca just shakes her head at her family.

They've been through so much together, they've experienced pain together, they've experienced hardships, have been through so many adventures.

There were times where they thought that fear would engulf them whole, there were times where arguments arose, there were times where they wanted to give up, where they wanted to just fall into oblivion because of fear and pain.

But they never gave up. They gave everything they've got to be able to stand up stronger and better. They've become better for each other. They've become each other's strengths and weaknesses.

What will she do without them?

Luca's eyes immediately filled up with tears as she looked back at her mother.

Luca wished that she were here.

Luca wished that she could thank her mother for everything, for being the most best mother in the universe, she wished that she could tell her mother that she loves her with all her heart.

"Mama, happy death anniversary." Luca whispered, wiping her tears.

Achilles smiled at his daughter, Gabriele kneeled down and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Enzo just smiled softly at his little sister and Sydney leaned closer to Pierre while the man wrapped his arm around his shoulders.

And together they said:

"Happy Birthday, Luca."

I love you, sweetheart. I love you so, so much. I will always stand by your side even if you cannot see me, I hope that you know that and I hope that you understand why I chose you to live. Let your father, Pierre and your brothers know that I do not wish for them to feel guilty forever, that I will miss them dearly and I'll love them forever. Even if I am not with you, I will always be beside you. I promise. I love you, Luca, my only little girl.

Happy 17th birthday.

The gentle breeze once again blew softly making the trees and the bushes rustle a soft song.

The sun was cascading down upon them, letting them feel the warmth of it, wrapping it around them like a soft blanket.

The birds played a soft tune while nature sang quietly for them.

Yes, it's a beautiful world.

It's a beautiful world indeed.

Arrivederci, la mia bambina.

__________

Chapter 55:
The ending of Bambina.

It's finally finished and I hope that you enjoyed the journey. :)