Page 80 of Always Meant To Be

Almost instantly, he stops crying and looks up at me. Tears slip from my eyes.

He's fucking perfect, a mixture of me and El.

Guilt burns inside me. I don't want to leave him, but I know if El dies, then I will, and that fucking hurts me. But I'm selfish, I always have been where his mamma is concerned….

Twenty-Eight

Elena – One Week Later

Beep,beep, beep….

God, that sound again; it's so annoying.

"Don't worry,figlio, mamma won't leave us, she'll fight," Romeo whispers, and I screw my face up in confusion as a baby coos, and my heart flips when I realize who's baby....

My baby!

"I won't allow her to leave us, because if she leaves, then I have to, and I don't want you to be alone," he continues.

Oh God….

I try to move my hand, to open my eyes….

"It's been five weeks without her,figlio, a week without you knowing what her arms feel like, or having a name…a week since I left this room…."

My heart hurts at his words.

"Are you going to let me hold my grandson yet, Romeo?" my father asks, his voice suddenly echoing in the room.

Romeo snorts. "Not until my wife has had her turn. You know this…."

I hear a sigh. "I know, and I'll respect that, even if my wife and your mother don't. I just hope she remembers everything when she wakes up, andshe willwake up, Romeo. She won't leave you and your son."

Pain laces my father's voice.

Remembers…remembers what?

My sister's dead eyes flash before me.

Oh yeah, I'm a killer…. No, no, it was self-defense; it was her or me, but I didn't choose either of us; I chose my son.

Son, we have a son….

I hear a little cry before the beeping in the room intensifies—my pulse racing.

"Shh, shh, I've got you," Romeo mutters as I feel a presence near me, and his voice sounds closer, "El…farfalla?"

The beeping picks up again….

"Fuck, I'll go get the doctor," Papa panics before I hear a door open and close.

"El," I feel a hand squeeze mine, and he whispers, "Squeeze my hand, baby, please, tell me you're with me…."

I can hear the hope, the need in his voice.

"Come on, El, let me see those beautiful violet eyes…" he pleads.

Come on…. Those words, reminding me of the little boy I dreamt about…my son….