Third POV - 

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the serene park where grief hung heavy.  Pia Basilio-Gonzales, a five-year-old girl, sat alone on a weathered bench, her small frame engulfed by sorrow.  Just days earlier, she had lost both her parents in a tragic car accident.  Now, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and the weight of her newfound loneliness, she sought solace in the park's quiet.

There, twelve-year-old Iosefa Auelua, known affectionately as Joe, found her.  His towering presence offered unexpected comfort as he settled beside her on the bench.  Without a word, he sat, understanding the weight of her grief in a way that only those who have experienced loss can comprehend.

In the silence of that moment, Joe became a steady anchor for Pia, his presence a source of solace amidst the turmoil of her young life.  With gentle words and a reassuring touch, he offered her the warmth of companionship she desperately needed.

"Are you okay?" Joe finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence that hung between them.

Pia shook her head slowly, tears glistening in her eyes. "I miss them," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know," Joe replied softly, wrapping his arms around Pia in a comforting hug. "But you're not alone. You have us now. My family, we'll take care of you."

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Joe's family took Pia under their wing, enveloping her in a cocoon of love and support.  In their shared sorrow, a bond formed between Pia and Joe, one that would shape their lives in ways neither could have foreseen.

Pia also bonded deeply with Joe's cousins, twins Jonah and Josiah Fuamatu, sharing laughter and mischief as they embraced her as one of their own.  One memorable day, amidst their innocent childhood games, Joe's cousins held a whimsical fake wedding ceremony for Pia and Joe, sealing their friendship with an everlasting promise that echoed through the years.

"Come on, Pia! You have to wear this flower crown for the wedding!" Jonah exclaimed, placing the makeshift crown on Pia's head with a mischievous grin.

Pia giggled and adjusted the crown slightly. "Okay, but only if I get to pick the bouquet!" she replied playfully. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Meanwhile, Josiah rummaged through a box of dress-up clothes, pulling out a tiny suit jacket. "And Joe, you have to wear this," he declared, holding out the jacket with a serious expression that quickly dissolved into a giggle. 

Joe rolled his eyes good-naturedly but accepted the jacket nonetheless. "Fine, but only because it's your wedding," he replied with a grin, slipping the jacket on.

With makeshift decorations adorning the backyard and an old bedsheet serving as a makeshift aisle, the twins orchestrated a whimsical ceremony. They exchanged vows between Pia and Joe.

"Do you, Pia, promise to always be there for Joe, through thick and thin, in laughter and tears?" Josiah asked solemnly, holding out a candy ring pop.

"I do," Pia replied, slipping the ring onto Joe's finger.

"And do you, Joe, promise to protect Pia, to be her friend forever and always?" Jonah chimed in, his eyes shining with sincerity.

"I do," Joe answered, his voice filled with genuine affection. He returned the gesture by slipping another candy ring pop onto Pia's finger.

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When Pia turned ten, her life was shattered once again. Her relatives from her deceased father's side intervened and took her away from the Auelua family, against her wishes. They transported her back to the Philippines to live with her estranged aunt and uncle. Pia was forbidden from contacting Joe and his family, which made her feel isolated and alone. She longed for the warmth and companionship she once knew.

In her aunt and uncle's house, Pia was treated like a servant. Her spirit was dampened by the harsh reality of her new circumstances; however, she managed to forge a few allies amidst the darkness:  a kind cousin offered her occasional solace, and her compassionate neighbors, welcomed her with open arms and treated her more like family than her blood.

Pia refused to give up on her dreams, despite the challenges she faced. She attended school with unwavering determination, pursuing her studies with passion. Every day, she clung to the hope of finding her way back to the family she had lost and the friendship that had once defined her world.

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Joe felt a deep sense of loss due to Pia's sudden departure.  As time went by, Joe's life took an unforeseen direction. After finishing high school, his parents' relationship fell apart due to his father's connections with the criminal organization. While his mother found comfort in the tranquil surroundings of the Samoan islands, his father became more deeply involved in the dangerous underworld, leaving behind a broken family.

Joe, once destined for a promising future with a football scholarship in college, saw his dreams shattered by a devastating injury. After being forced to abandon his athletic pursuits, he found himself enticed by the dark allure of the crime mafia, following his father's footsteps alongside his twin cousins, Jonah (Jon) and Josiah (Joss). Together, they navigated the treacherous waters of organized crime, their bond as strong as ever despite the shadows that loomed over their path. 

Separated by distance and the passage of time, Pia and Joe found themselves living vastly different lives. Their paths diverged in ways neither could have imagined. Pia was confined to the confines of her aunt and uncle's home in the Philippines, struggling to reconcile the harsh realities of her existence with the cherished memories of her past. She longed for the warmth of Joe's friendship and the comfort of the Auelua family but was bound by circumstances, her dreams deferred but never forgotten. 

Meanwhile, Joe traversed the shadowy corridors of the crime mafia, his days consumed by the intricacies of a dangerous world he had once vowed to avoid. He was drawn to gaining power and prestige, but his heart was still attached to his childhood memories. He missed the laughter and close relationship with Pia and his cousins. Amid chaos and confusion, he longed for the simplicity of their bond, which was like a beacon of light that shone in the darkness surrounding him. 

Though their lives had taken divergent paths, Pia and Joe remained connected by an invisible thread. This bond transcended time and distance, anchoring them to each other despite the vast expanse that separated them. As they navigated the complexities of their respective worlds, they clung to the hope that their paths would soon converge. The echoes of their shared past would resound with renewed vigor, guiding them back to each other's side.  In the most unexpected circumstances, they will be in...

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a/n:  Hi guys, my crazy creative mind decided to make this story slightly aligned with the "Die For You" timeline.  It can be read as a standalone to this series but slightly ties into the other story.  Maybe I've gotten inspired by randomly reading through many imagine books and smuts about Roman Reigns, that one WWE wrestler/THE tribal chief that he self-proclaimed or something (don't come at me for misjudgment!!)  Anyway, by the time this is published, I will try my hardest to update BOTH stories and hopefully, you guys will enjoy it!