ZEMEN ACÉTTA:

I peeked open the door to her room and saw her laying on the same bed she has been on for the past nine years.

Sighing, I entered in and closed the door, grabbed a seat beside her and touched her dainty old fingers that once held me.

"Z-Zemen?" I smiled and looked up and saw her tearful eyes.

"Ma?" I asked, worried. "Why are you crying?"

"I-I m-miss-e-d y-y-o-u, y-y-o-u hav-have not co-come over fo-for a-a w-wh-ile."

I watched as a tear rolled down her cheeks.

I instantly laid my head on her chest trying to hide my own eyes which were blurry.

"I am sorry. But I am here now. I am not leaving. I promise."

She brought her tremoring hand up to my head and soothed my hair making me close my eyes listening to her heart beat.

"I have someone whom I think you'd like to meet."

I looked back at the door and smiled when Aera entered in.

~◌~✤✤~◌~

AZARIAH SERENE:

"Zemen?"

"Hmm?" He asked while drawing random shapes on my thigh.

"I... I want to meet your mother..."

His hands stopped sending butterflies to my stomach and he slowly looked at me.

"You want to?"

I nodded and gulped as his face was emotionless not allowing me to look at his hidden expressions.

"I want to... If you want me to, that is."

A kiss to my forehead, eyes, cheek bone, crown and a peck to my lips was my answer.

I entered in the hospital room with my hands behind my back as I was fiddling with them and didn't want Zemen to know how I am regretting my decision.

What if she hate me? What if she asks Zemen to leave me? Will he? I wish I would go back in time and reset this.

Zemen held out his hand and I placed my hand in his and he gently pulled me towards him as his mother kept looking at me.

Looking at her on the hospital bed was really upsetting for me. Her lips were stretched out to her left and her left hand was turned upside down with wrinkles on her face while the other side made me look at her beautiful features.

Her eyes. A beautiful green. A speck of green that I see in Zemen's eyes.

Her half lips turned up as she smiled at me and raised her hand, holding it out.

I looked at Zemen and he nodded and I stepped forward putting my hand in her warm, motherly one.

"I am Azariah Serene ma'am. Very nice to meet you."

"Aera..... My girlfriend."

As soon as Zemen said that, his mother's eye widened and she looked at him. "A-A-e-ra..?"

I looked back at Zemen with confused eyes but Zemen kept looking at me with a smile and said "yes. Aera."

His mother smiled wide and asked me to lower down and I just so did allowing her to hug me.

Her hug made me close my eyes, trying to remember the touch which reminded me a lot of omma.

"N-n-ic-e t-to meet you, A-e-ra. I-I h-heard a-lot ab-about you." Her words were just above a whisper but still audible.

My eyes furrowed and she explained further. "H-he-saved you f-from Al-e-njandro o-once... H-he told... Me." Her coughs interrupted but she still managed to speak out.

Her delicate voice was so soothing so relaxing that it made me smile. I smiled at Zemen and sat beside his mom.

"C-c-call me, Val-erie"

Her name screamed power and had my nerves growing higher than they already were.

"H-how?" His mom asked him and he cleared his throat and started by telling her how we met and how we are now.

Looking at him and his mom, I could see how special their bond was. I could see the tears lingering in her eyes that she tried hard not to let fall.

At some point my own eyes filled with tears when I heard his mother laugh. I looked at her.

Beautiful.

A beautiful woman gave birth to a handsome man.... Whom I can gladly call mine now. And for that I'll forever be grateful.

Alejandro hadn't only destroyed my life, but also Zemen's and his mother's, who has been fighting for her life since the past nine years. And he wouldn't even know what will hit him once Zemen gets his hands on him. He'd be dead meat once he gets into the hands of Zemen. And I couldn't help but be eager of when that day will come.

"A-e-ra t-tell me about Z-Zemen and -y-you."

I looked at Zemen with all the love in my eyes.

"Well.....

~~~~~~~~

I held Zemen's wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

I circled my hand around his neck and hugged him tightly just standing beside our mansion door.

"I am happy."

He hugged me back and stroked my hair. "I am happy that you are."

We just stood like that, hugging each other just enjoying being in each other's embrace.

Suddenly, a whistle echoed in the house making me break apart from Zemen so fast that I almost lost my footing.

"Zaaamn! Daddy and mommy!" I rolled my eyes and so did Zemen. It's like a particular routine for us now.

"Hugging each other. Eh?"

"You say it like we were fucking."

"Were about to if I didn't interrupt."

I walked past him purposely pushing him down to the ground making him groan.

"Fuck you Azzy!"

"No thank you!" I spoke ascending the stairs.

"Ahh!" I heard Levi's scream and looked down to see Zemen crushing Levi's hand with his boot while Levi's finger withered trying to be free.

"Say that again, asshole."

I giggled and picked up Levi from his position and rubbed his hand as he hugged me tightly, burying his head in my neck. Such a man baby.

"I am hurt. He crushed my pinkie!"

"It's okay. It's okay."

"It's not okay! It's just as bad as stubbing your toe!"

"It's k. Zemen is sorry."

Levi raised his head from my neck and swiftly looked back at Zemen with his hands still around me, holding onto me tightly.

Zemen picked up his fisted palm and gestured to punch him and Levi flinched and hugged me tight once again.

"He isn't!" He whined.

I gasped and turned to Zemen. "Zemen say sorry, he's crying!"

"No he isn't-"

"Say sorry or else I swear no being the little spoon!"

Zemen shut up at once and glared at me but I stood my stance.

"Fine! Sorry!" He stomped his foot on the ground.

What a bunch of mafia babies.

Levi raised his head, sticking his tongue out at Zemen who walked past him, muttering, "Motherfucker."

I looked at Vi while shaking my head with a smile tugging on my lips as he wiped his eyes and fanned his face.

He highfived me and kissed my cheek.

"You have him wrapped around your finger." I laughed as Vi whispered and rushed out of there when Zemen glared at him.

"I can't believe you took his side." I shrugged and grabbed his hand tugging on it and leading him to our room.

I went to our closet and changed my clothes into one of Zemen's boxers and his T-shirt that's giant on me as this man is 6'2.

He slapped my ass as he walked by me to the bathroom and before I could strangle him to death, he winked at me, slamming the door, shut, on my face.

Smiling, I plopped down on the bed, looking up at the black ceiling while placing my arms behind my head.

"What are you thinking?" I heard him and turned to him while balancing myself on one of my elbow.

"Just about your mom." He sighed and laid flat on his back on the bed.

"It's hard how she must have delt with everything."

He sighed and nodded.

"It truly must have been. And whenever I asked her about her bruises she always brushed it off trying to keep a perfect image about our asshole of a father in our mind."

I brushed his strand of hair off his face and kissed his forehead.

"I am proud of you. I can't explain in words how brave you were. I mean, I remember cowering away just trying to get out of the house. I remember seeing the bruises on omma's face but said nothing all due to my absurd fear."

He pulled me on top of him and circled his arms around my waist, squeezing me within his warmth.

"Let's sleep." I nodded, listening to his heartbeat and felt him soothing my hair and whispering sweet nothings to me which made me fall asleep within an instant, with tears in my eyes yet a small smile on my face.