*Hej då=Bye

"I," they said in unison.

"You first, Sierra."

"I'll be back soon."

"You better otherwise, I'll come and fetch you myself," Jonas said. He turned the collar of her trench up and tugged on it to kiss her.

During this time, Leone hugged Rufus, who sighed. The dog had given up; his new master was no joke. Rufus accepted any of affectionate Leone's whims.

Jonas picked Leone up, "prends soin de ta mere pour moi [take care of you mom for me]. The man exploited his linguistic skills more, prompted by Sierra's efforts to learn his language.

"Eh, I'll do my best dad, I don't know what this little body can do, but I'll make sure mama is okay," Leone said, tapping on Jonas's chest.

"Thank you, Leone," Jonas didn't understand a word, but he imagined his son responded to his request.

"Now boarding Air France flight KL1116 to Paris CDG."

Jonas gave Leone to Sierra and pulled her close to hug Leone and her all at once. He took a deep breath and let go.

"I'll call you as soon as I'm home, "Sierra said.

"Okay."

Jonas watched Sierra walk away with Leone looking over her shoulder, "Papa," he yelled.

What was going on?

Why was he staying behind? "Papa," Leone repeated.

Jonas waved. Leone took out his little hand and did the same. Perhaps it was a day trip, and they'd come back at nightfall.

Leone's hopes drowned as he saw the planes doing maneuvers on the tarmac. His lips turned downwards, and he prepped to drop the tears, "paㅡ."

The boy stopped; he said he'd protect his mom. If he cried, she was sure to be sad. Leone sniffed instead.

"Please don't cry, Leone," Sierra said in a shaky voice menacing to break, "we'll be back soon. It's the last time, I promise. It's the last time we'll ever be a part," the woman tried to reassure herself more than her child.

She didn't look back; leaving would be impossible if she did. Sierra showed her boarding pass and passport and got on the plane.

Jonas immediately left the airport. She was gone, and the man felt like an empty nutshell. He told Sierra to take her time to do things properly, and she made him promise they would not get married without his brother Lars being present.

Lars risked sixteen months of imprisonment and a hefty fine. Jonas was already willing to pay in full, but his family said it wasn't his burden to carry alone and that they would help.

Dirk advised Lars to plead guilty. The judge would not drop the charges, but he could get probation for his white-collar crime. Lars had no criminal record; this would play in his favor, at least it's what the Potsmann hoped.

Jonas prayed for such an outcome, for Sierra was firm. She knew how much the man loved his siblings, and she refused for Jonas to look back on their wedding day or photos with the regret of his brother's absence.

The verdict was in a week. The couple would be fixed then. In the meantime, Sierra would be in France, and he would wait.

Sierra arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport a few hours later, where Jacob welcomed them, "well, I guess I better get used to this."

Leone bubbled; he jumped from his mother's arms to his uncle's, "wow, Leone, calm down."

"Uncle Cobbs, I saw papa, nana, and many people who had papa's eyes. Some dogs went woof-woof. I'm so sad, but I promised to take care of mom. So I can't cry."

"He's probably telling you everything he did in Sweden."

"I bet he is," Jacob said before focusing on Sierra again, "how are you?"

"I'm good, Jacob," her response was positive, but her teary stare betrayed her. It frustrated the woman who always wished to remain independent to see how firmly attached she was. She never felt this way with Vincent. Even when they broke up the first time, Sierra's wallowing session didn't last. With Jonas, things were different; their love already showed colors of the fusional type that made separation intolerable.

In other circumstances, Sierra would have laughed at the irony of the situation, but the truth was it wasn't a first. She was in the same state the day Jonas left for Sweden; if not to say worse, she just didn't realize what it was.

They went to Sierra's car, and Jacob got in the driver's seat," so, how is Sweden?"

"I miss it already," Sierra said as she strapped Leone's seat belt.

You like it that much?" Jacob asked as he put the key in the ignition.

Sierra went to sit on the passenger's side and pulled the belt, "things are different there, and he's there."

Jacob looked at his sister. Her departure from Stockholm was only a few hours old, and already Sierra displayed a lovesick puppy expression that Jonas sported for months. Jacob started the car and backed out of the parking space.

"Leone, are you alright, buddy?"

The child slept; a few seconds in the car was enough. A drive always had this effect on him.

Jacob drove in silence. Sierra's thoughts were elsewhere. There was no use in sparking a conversation that would only strain her. Forty-five minutes later, Sierra fell on her couch.

"Home sweet home, " she muttered while feeling like an alien in her house. Leone, too, seemed lost; there was no dog there. The apartment felt dull for both of them.

"Do you need anything else, Sierra? I've got a reading at six so-."

"No, thank you, Jacob."

Jacob nodded and left. The man couldn't do more. He hoped things would be simpler for his sister once she was with Jonas. They barely found each other, that they found themselves facing another trial.

The preacher reminded himself no one experienced anything they could not withstand. Jacob believed Sierra and Jonas overcome. If he doubted the strength of Sierra's love for Vincent, he didn't have the slightest suspicion concerning her feelings for Jonas.

Sierra heard the door shut, sat up, and looked at Leone, "let's call papa."

"You took the words out of my mouth, mama."

Sierra dialed the phone didn't get a chance to ring.

"Hello," said the eager voice at the other end.

Never had Sierra blessed her phone's cam like at this instant.

"Are you already at home?" Jonas asked.

"Yes, Jacob just dropped us off."

"Is he there?" Jonas wished to greet his future brother-in-law.

"No, he just left," Sierra replied. It relieved her to see the two men got along. With Leone, they were the most important people of her existence; their relationship was essential for the woman.

"Papa," Leone tried to grasp the phone."

Rufus barked on the other side of the screen, recognizing the little boy's voice.

"Yes, Leone," Jonas said, acknowledging his cry.

Leone smiled, it was always lovely to see his dad, and his mom knew how to use the magic mirror now. Things would definitely be better.

"What are you doing?" Sierra asked.

"Working it's the only thing I can do to occupy my mind. I'm on a project; if it's accepted, you'll see a grande hotel in Dubai conceived by me."

"Jonas, that's fantastic."

The man smiled, flattered by Sierra's enthusiasm, " it isn't a sure thing yet. I'm competing against other talented architects."

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll start to unpack, set a washing cycle, cook dinner, the routine. I'm still technically on holiday till Tuesday, so I'll check the reports before going to work."

Jonas lingered on Sierra's last sentence. The man realized she had not opened her sales metrics applications or checked any reports during her stay. The old Sierra would have spied on her replacement's results, and she might even have called to see if everything was okay.

The new Sierra cut herself some slack and lived a little more. Jonas was pleased to see her give herself a break. Life wasn't all about work and making money. There was a time for everything, and one had to know when they had to let go.

"Are you happy with that?"

"What looking at the reports at the last minute? Eh, yeah, I've never felt better. Besides, it's not like I have a future there now."

Sierra made a mental note to start looking at Swedish job offers. She had no intention of being financially dependent on her future husband.

"I'll leave you to work. I don't want you to be late on your project."

"We can talk, Sierra."

"No, don't let me distract you."

Jonas made a puppy stare that made Leone giggle.

"Stop it, Jonas. You look like Rufus like that."

The dog barked.

"I'll call you later, okay."

"Okay," Jonas said, "Leone à toute [see you later]

"Ah tou," Leone replied, "bidou [Leone's version bisous, meaning kiss]."

Sierra blew kisses, and Leone did the same.

"Well, Leone, I guess it's you and I for now."

Phew, I thought you were going to add another person like a Red Beard or something. I'm watching you, mama. I'll tell papa everything; trust me, my wording is shaping up. I'll be talking like all you tall people in no time, Leone thought.