Characters: Lucian (Liana's twin brother) and his girlfriend Venice

*pitter* *patter* *pitter* *patter*

"Lucian?"

Lucian looked away from the drops of rain on the window and smiled at his girlfriend, "hm?"

Venice crouched in front of him and held both of Lucian's hands as she stared at him worriedly, "you're thinking about your sister again?"

"I-..." *pause* "yes...it's been a while since she moved to China. I miss her very much."

*Pats Lucian's head* "ah at least you didn't lie about it anymore...if you are that worried, why don't you visit her there? I'm sure she'll be happy."

Lucian tugged Venice's hand and made her sit on his lap, interlacing their fingers together, "I know. But it's too soon. Lia needs to heal her heart and to do that, she needs to be alone so despite me being this bitter about everything... I'll do my hardest to accept. Besides, there's the business and school. I just can't leave."

Venice used her free hand to lightly pat her boyfriend's cheek, "since when did the business become much more important than your twin sister, Luce?"

*Soft laugh* "Just two minutes ago... but don't you dare tell her that or she won't talk to me again..."

"Have you seen Orion lately? He seems... heartbroken. Are you sure he doesn't love Lia?"

Lucian stiffened and for a while his features hardened before the goofy smile reappeared on his face, "I don't know, and I don't care. "

"Luce-babe... you shouldn't be angry at him since it was your sister who ended the engagement."

"Enough! I don't want to talk about him anymore. If he didn't mess up then my sister should still be living in the house with us and not in China mingling with people I don't know shit about!"

Venice exhaled deeply and kept silent as she felt the arms hugging her tighten, "sorry... I can't forgive him just yet. I need some time."

She smiled as she rubbed small circles on Lucian's back to calm him down, "I understand. It's true that things cannot be rushed... but please do not close your heart to him. He may be the reason why Lia is in China but I'm sure he didn't really intend that to happen. If you can, try to hear him out."

"I'll try. But only because you asked me to."

Venice removed herself from Lucian's grip so she could stand, "I better start on dinner. Seriously, your house has a lot of great chefs and yet you choose to eat here."

"I love your cooking."

Venice rolled her eyes as she saw him move from the single seater to the couch, "yeah right... I'll pretend I believe you.

"I really do!"

She smiled as she made her way to the kitchen and Lucian mumbled while staring at her, "I hope you never ever get tired of me."

===========================================================================

Venice was grinning widely as she started on their dinner, whistling every now and then as she cut pieces of chicken for her dear prince. She took a glance at her watch and smiled once it started ringing, "ah just in time!"

"Lia!"

"Ni Hao Venice jiě jie! How's my beloved brother? Has he stopped sulking?"

*sigh* "Speak our language. No, not yet. Probably would years before he stops sulking, you know the two of you share almost everything."

The voice on the other line became somber as she spoke, "I know...to tell you the truth, I'm really really missing him. But you know as well that I can't go back. Not when I finally decided to do this for myself."

Venice sighed and scratched her cheek, "You two are going to be the end of me one day. Good thing I love you both."

"Meh... you love my brother more... I just happened to come with the package."

"Shut up! That isn't true and you know it! "

Liana's laugh, eerily similar to Lucian's tinkled in Venice's ear and she smiled, "Come back home soon, okay? I don't want to be a widow early in life."

"I can't say.... "

Venice heard a guy's voice calling for Liana in the background, "Oh... I'm being summoned by the highnesses." *chuckle*

"I already sent the recipe to your email. I'm sure he'll will be surprised. Tell him I love him and I miss him so much. Tell Karl, I miss him an awful lot too. Thanks Ven! I'll call my brother later! Byeeeeee!"

The call ended with a loud beep and Venice sighed, "these two will seriously be the end of me... gosh.."

===========================================================================

When Lucian opened his eyes, it was already dark outside. He stretched his now sleeping muscles and halted confusedly as he took note of his surroundings..." this isn't Venice's apartment... where am I? Oh wow... "

In front of the gaping Lucian is 50-inch television set with huge speakers and a collection of game consoles. Beside it is a shelf full of DVDs and Blu Ray copies of old movies and some which he hasn't heard about before, "probably new groups..."

From one of the doors, an old lady came out holding a tray of orange juice and food, "Why are you standing in front of the movie collection? Do you want to watch something?"

Lucian turned and by instinct, took the tray from the lady's hands and placed them on the nice-looking glass table, "I-um... not really ma'am."

A surprised expression was on the old lady's first but it was replaced by a gentle smile, "Ah this old man... here eat your favorite herb and chicken dumpling soup. "

"Old?" Lucian thought confused and it was just then that he noticed his reflection from one of the mirror cases, "Is that me?"

The old lady chuckled as she sat beside her husband of several decades, "yes honey, that's you...a tiny bit forgetful now but still the most handsome and most adorable cringy husband in the whole world."

Lucian touched his face, his formerly smooth face now lined with wrinkles and lots of gray hair on his head then turned to the lady beside him, "V-Venice? That's you, right?"

Her eyes twinkled and there was no longer any doubt in Lucian's mind. The now older looking Venice clapped, "Wow! Yes! Yes, I'm Venice! You remembered me fast today!"

Despite the smile threatening to erupt on his still handsome face, he pouted and lightly pinched her nose just like he used to (or at least what he really remembers), "I'm not yet senile!"

His wife swatted Lucian's hand away with a glare, "oh of course not. You just forget who I am every now and then."

At that Lucian laughed... his hearty loud laugh that Venice loves, "I hope you never get tired of me..."

Venice wiped the tears forming in her eyes as she lightly hit her husband's shoulder, "you always say that!"

Lucian was about to apologize when Venice continued, "even if I must remind you who I am every single day... whatever happens... I will never ever get tired of loving you and taking care of you, Luce. For as long as I am alive."

"I love you forever and ever and ever."

"And I love you more than that, silly old man"

===========================================================================

"Luce?"

Lucian felt a light nudge on his shoulder, and he slowly opened his eyes, "Ven?"

The girl chuckled and patted her boyfriend's tummy, "who else? Come on, dinner is served. Your sister called earlier but you were sleeping so she said she will call later. "

He suddenly sat up and rushed to the mirror to stare at his face before heaving a relieved sigh. Venice raised an eyebrow as she walked towards the wall mirror,

"is there anything wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"

Lucian smiled wider and interlaced his hand with hers, "I actually had a good dream."

"Oh you did? What was it about?"

"I was climbing up mount Everest all on my own!"

She laughed and gave a soft squeeze as they made their way to the dining table, "that must have really been a good dream."

Lucian smiled fondly as he stopped and lightly pulled on Venice propelling her backwards to him, "have I told you I love you today?"

Venice blushed beet red, a soft smile on her face, "yes... ten times since this morning."

The boy leaned in for a swift kiss on her lips and smiled, "then let's make it eleven... I love you, future wife... "

The couple heard a loud clearing of throat and Lucian released his girl with a chuckle, "sorry Karl... I didn't know you were there."

Venice elbowed him and glared, "I told you earlier!"

Karl chuckled as he looked at the couple with slight envy, "It's okay Ven! Luce was being pervy most likely ... it's okay. I'm getting hungry though... can you just continue that later when I'm well fed?"

Lucian sat opposite Karl and scratched his cheek, "sure... can't do anything much while you're here anyway...Ow!"

Now blushing Venice lightly hit Lucian's head with a ladle as she placed a piping hot soup in front of him, "don't insinuate anything!"

"Ohhh.... Is this herb and chicken dumpling soup? The one Lia makes?"

*cough* "yeah... not sure if it tastes as good as she makes though..."

"Oh that's okay. You'll have a lot of time to perfect it..."

"What do you mean?"

Lucian smiled and steered the conversation in another direction while remembering the smiles on his and Venice's old faces in his dream.