After admitting all of that to Panuleon, Vinny went to sit by himself for a while.

He has always convinced himself that he was born angry and unsocial but that was to stop his mind from adventuring down the road to where it all began.

Having a stutter made him the perfect victim for bullies and for a very, very long time he was embarrassed about it.

Even now, he gets annoyed at himself but that only makes it worse.

Yes, it isn't that noticeable now but it's only because he never speaks for long enough that it will show.

It started to show when he spoke with Panuleon and he hated it.

He felt so damaged when it escaped.

When he told Oliver about it, he hugged Vinny for a very long while and told him that he was the most perfect person he has ever met.

He told him that his deep voice was his favourite sound and he should never be afraid, even when the stutter comes.

Vinny of course fell deeper in love with him when it was clear that Oliver loves him, even with his imperfections.

Vinny still felt raw. This was the first time in a very long time that he has thought about it openly.

It has never been mentioned before because he would pretend like it never happened. He would pretend that he never went through this traumatic experience that made him who he is today.

Madison and Duke would pretend like it didn't happen because Vinny asked them to. He felt awful that he put them through that but they understand.

They know how hard it was for him and they know why he wouldn't want to go back to such an awful time.

Panuleon had thanked Vinny for telling him that and for being so open with him. He felt like they were on a higher level now that he knows more about him.

But he also knows never to mention it again. This was Vinny's deepest secret and it wasn't within his rights to mention it freely.

It must have taken Vinny a lot of courage to admit it to the Angel, but he felt proud that he was comfortable enough to talk about it with him.

Vinny needed to go back to Oliver, but he could still feel the stutter hovering in his throat.

He revealed it and it'll take a little time to go away.

He sighed to himself before standing up. Oliver will immediately know and he could probably feel that he was thinking about it.

As he tried his best to push it down and ignore it like he's so used to doing, he made his way back to the dining room.

* * * * *

Everyone was still sitting on the couches as he entered.

He walked over to Oliver and his mum didn't bother telling him not to sit on it with paint on his clothes, knowing he would do so anyway.

"Hello" Oliver smiled.

Vinny returned the smile and kissed his temple.

"Have you finished painting the room?" He asked.

Vinny shook his head and took his hand.

Oliver could feel that something was wrong, but he didn't think it would be his stutter. He's always so careful not to say too much that it will cause him problems.

Also, he knows never to bring it up.

"Do you want to have a little break from painting? We could go for a short walk in the gardens?" He asked.

Vinny studied his eyes. He knew if he said something the stutter would be there, choking his words but he also knows that Oliver doesn't care.

It's rare that he hears it but every time he did, he would never even bat an eyelid, like it was normal.

"O-Okay y-yes" He said quietly, so his parents couldn't hear but Duke heard him.

Oliver then realised that in fact, it was his stutter.

"Come on then" He smiled. "I'm dying for some fresh air."

Vinny felt a burst of love towards his soulmate. He completely ignored his biggest imperfection.

But to Oliver it wasn't an imperfection.

As they both stood up, Duke watched his son and followed him until he left the room.

John was on his phone so he wasn't paying any attention.

"Vinny just stuttered" He said quietly to Madison.

She looked at him as her eyes grew thoughtful.

"You don't think he's getting too overwhelmed with all this baby stuff do you?"

"No, but he just stuttered."

Duke knew how huge it was when Vinny got like this. That poor kid went through hell and back all because he couldn't speak properly, they didn't want it to be making an appearance, not now.

"I haven't heard him do that for years" Madison said, but the fact that he spoke to Oliver even when he knew it was there, warmed her heart. "Maybe he was talking to Panuleon and Corey. You know how Corey likes to ask a lot of questions. Maybe he just said too much."

"Maybe" Duke said, but he was going to keep an eye on him.

Vinny and Oliver didn't say anything as they got their coats.

The weather outside was not as cold as it was and the snow has cleared up, but it was still safer to wrap up warm.

They ignored their parents as they walked back through the dining room and towards the back door.

Carefully, Oliver stepped down and into the gardens. The air was more crisp than he thought but it was refreshing and nice to breath in.

Vinny shut the door behind him and took off Oliver's glove. He put his hand and Oliver's hand in his pocket before intertwining their fingers.

He had to feel his warm skin.

Oliver wanted to ask Vinny about why it has come back, but he didn't know how to.

"You've still got paint on you" He said, making the vampire show a little smile.

Vinny glanced at him, pretending to be unamused.

He could see it in Oliver's eyes that he wanted to talk about it. Maybe it was time.

His life is completely different to the one he used to live. There's nobody here to make fun of him, there's nobody here that he can hurt.

As they slowly walked through the gardens, Oliver plucked up the courage.

"Your stutter's back, isn't it?"

Just the word makes Vinny's skin crawl, but he nodded.

"Were you talking for too long?" Oliver prayed it was that. He didn't want it to just randomly come back.

Vinny nodded again.

"I-I was t-try-try" He stopped and looked away, embarrassed.

"Vinny it's okay, please don't hide it from me" Oliver said as he stopped walking. "Who were you talking to?"

"P-P" Vinny stopped, took a breath and started again. "Pan-uleon."

"Did you tell him about it?"

Vinny nodded.

Oliver then smiled. If he could talk about it to the angel, then he was already getting past it.

"I'm proud of you" He said.

Vinny then made eye contact with him.

He was stood here, not able to get his words out but Oliver still treats him like he's the best person on earth.

"If you're able to talk about it, that's a start."

Vinny nodded and stood closer until Oliver's bump pushed against his own stomach.

"Aren't you w-worried t-that-that the baby will have-" Vinny trailed off, hoping Oliver knew what he meant.

"A stutter?" He asked, making the vampire nod. He could finally feel it going back down.

It's annoying that it stays for a while after he reveals it but at least it wasn't for too long.

"Honestly, I haven't thought about it because I don't see it as a problem" Oliver said truthfully. "If our baby develops a stutter then we'll get it the same help you got. Vinny, you've come such a long way and that's the most important part. You should feel proud of yourself that you've come this far."

"I know, but-but it's hard" Vinny sighed. "I'm worried the baby will go through what I went through."

"It won't" Oliver said. "Because I know you'll make sure it doesn't."

He then reached up and ran a hand through the back of Vinny's hair.

Vinny was starting to relax again.

"I love you so much."

His soulmate smiled, loving those words. No matter how many times he hears them, they'll always feel so special.

"I love you too" Oliver grinned as Vinny moved to his side so he could give him a kiss.

"And thank you."

"What for?" Oliver asked, feeling a loved up emotion wash through him.

"For not treating me any different."