My head searched the area to my left, then right before I stopped tiptoeing and took a sigh of relief.

"Why are you coming in like a thief in your own house?"

A scream of terror escaped me and I placed a hand against my throbbing, racing heart, heaving.

"Yaa! Appa! neoneun naleul nollae kyeossda!"
(Yah! Appa! you scared me!)

Amusement flowed his eyes. "I was scared too when you didn't come home last night."

The terror from earlier came back but much more as I practically got cozy with my potential rival last night and my father didn't even know.

"Did you forgive him?" My head whipped to mama's voice behind me and then back to papa who lifted an eyebrow.

No fucking way.

"I thought you wanted to kill him!"

"I do. But you wouldn't like it so-"

I immediately dived right in to hug papa who just shook his head at mama and then kissed my head.

"He apologized, papa. A lot. I had no intention to forgive him but he looked so vulnerable and-he had eye bags under his eyes and he just didn't look like how he always did and I couldn't- resist and I just.... I love him."

"No shit, Sherlock." Papa took a seat on the chaise in the living room and mama motioned for me to sit too.

"I want all the gossip. Now." They huddled around me and I shook my head, smiling as mama definitely looked excited while papa did not.

Mama was gushing over Amadio while papa definitely looked traumatized after I gave them all the piping hot tea just like I always did.... Sans some special parts that only Amadio and I deserved to know.

Perks of being such good parents: tea.

Papa grimaced. "Okay, shut up, you sound like you're two again, complimenting your favorite toy."

I rolled my eyes playfully.

He definitely did not want his 'little dove' who always hated boys, to gush about a man she was in love with now.

"Have you talked to Amadio about him moving to Spain?" Hernando asked bursting in the living room.

I didn't know where he spawned from but my brain definitely puzzled easily upon his words.

"I eavesdropped." He sheepishly smiled at mama who smacked his head.

"Why would Amadio move to Spain? He has an entire empire here in Italy that he worked hard for." I turned to look at papa who was glaring at Hernando but it dropped when he saw me.

"You have plans to marry the man, don't you, little dove?" Papa asked and I nodded. "I do but I can't ask of him to leave his-"

Then that would mean I'd have to leave Rey De Reyes for him.

And suddenly my heart sank, my insecurities clouding me.

My widened eyes darted to papa and he shook his head. "You can deal your mafia from back over here or come there or Amadio can do it, loads of options, dove. You don't need to worry about it."

But I did. I did worry.

I worried for how long this will last for we were people from different backgrounds and empires wanting to be together.

My door bursted open and I looked up wanting to pummel whomever entered my room before all dissipated and ease carried forth.

"Gem." Two strides and I enclosed her in my arms.

But my arms immediately tightened around her and I pushed her chin to look at me as I felt the slightest tremble in her stance.

My eyes surely darkened and my voice turned baritone.

"Quello che è successo?" (What happened?)

"Amadio, we can't be together." Her eyes held tears and my first priority became calming her down.

Her father disapproved? Or was it her change of mind?

My hand pushed her head to my neck where her warm breaths hit me and calmed me down.

"Water?"

"Amadio, we-"

"I asked, water?" Her eyes moved to where I pointed before she nodded.

Feeling this sudden burn in me, I uncapped the bottle of water, chugging some before throwing the bottle down, pulling her in with both hands on her jaw and placing my lips on hers.

The water trickled down from our mouths as she drank and kissed me at the same time, her trembles conquered by shivers I gave her.

"You're going to sit and tell me whatever happened. Sí?"

She nodded, a hue of red and pink on her nose as I led her to the couch in my room.

My mind was rejecting what she was going to say, already. But I let her have at it.

Because if she thinks I'm leaving her, she's utterly mistaken.

My watchful eyes and she started speaking and I could immediately tell Hernine's deepest darkest fear.

"I'm to be the Rey De Reyes' líder and you're here in Italy, Amadio, I want to marry you, have a life with you, but we can't... We are too different, two different countries, how the fuck are we supposed to give in to leaving our empire for the other and live together? We can't-... Amadio."

A tear fell on her cheeks and I looked away, my jaw taut. Before, my hand wiped her tears and I placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

She practically melted in my hands.

I don't think she knows that I know her infatuation with my kisses.

"I can have the cartel on hold for however long you need. " I quieted when she shook her head through the entire sentence.

"I don't want you to quit things for me. Maybe we should split up, it won't work, it never does-"

"Look at me, Hernine. Guardami adesso." (Look at me now.)

Taking her face in my palms, I caressed her jaw and she finally looked at peace.

"What is it you're afraid of?" A whisper and she shook her head.

"Whatever this is, between us. Love is not simple, Dio and I don't want either of us to give up one thing for the other."

I smoothed down her hair.

It was the first time Hernine looked as close to a panic attack as possible. From what I know, Hernine was always very hesitant in delving to her feelings, showing care for the other, falling weak. It was understandable that she would feel this way, and I was here. As long as I was here.

"Then we don't." Her curious gaze and I smiled softly. "We'll travel back and forth until we come up with a solid plan.... I love you, Hernine okay? I'm not letting you go. Not today, not an year later, never. We'll work on this together unless you don't want to."

I could feel her staggering panic slowly subsiding. "I love you, Dio... So much. I have had this once and only once in my life without ever asking for it and I'm confused day and every day about what I have done to deserve you. I'm worried this is all not for me and my happiness will be snatched."

"No one will snatch it, il mio gioiello."

She nodded against my forehead. "I fear for your life everyday, wanting to be with you for every second of the day. Losing you once was enough and I don't want to face that fear anymore, I would loose myself. I'm never letting you go, Hernine."

"I don't want you to."

"We'll solve whatever this is, sí? You'll help me?"

She scoffed a smile out before she clasped our hands together.

"I'll help you, bébé."