- 9 0 -

- H E A T H E R - E L I A S -

Who knew sitting in a beautiful garden with nothing but blue skies and green grass all around would only make me sigh in sadness.

But why am I even sad?

It's so pretty here, as I lay on the grass and looked at the beautiful bright blue sky and the puffs of white clouds floating by leisurely when I heard something snap from beside me and sat up hastily.

"Who's there?" I looked around, and as far as I remembered, I didn't know how long or why I was here, but I wasn't complaining.

Except for a slight pain in my chest that appeared every now and then, as if somthing was missing. Or perhaps, someone.

"Thea." I heard a soft and warm feminine voice, the hair on the back of my neck rising because I knew exactly who it was.

"Mom." I whispered, turning my head slightly and gaping at the beautiful woman who sat gingerly next to me.

She ran her hands over some wildflowers sprouting from somewhere in the ground, taking a deep breath in, her long dark brown har falling in soft waves down her back.

"You're... here... how?" I questioned in utter shock and confusion, when she looked towards me, her bright hazel eyes gleaming as she smiled warmly at me and suddenly I remmebered how much I'd missed her as I hugged her.

She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my head, rubbing my back up and down as I sigh into her embrace.

"I've missed you so much, mom." I whispered and pulled away to look at her.

"I know baby, so have I." She said and I smiled, laying my head in her lap while she combed her fingers through my hair.

"Why did you have to leave so soon? Dad was devastated.We were devasatated." I told her and she smiled sadly.

"I know, my darling, but everyone has to go someday. You must learn to move on someday or the other. It's part of life, as unfair as it might seem." She said and I sigh.

"You were too young to loose a mother, and in the way that you did." She spoke with sadness lacing her tone and I pursed my lips.

"I don't want to remember that." I whispered in a shaky voice when she nodded once.

"I know, which is why you must move on." She tells me and I sat up in confusion.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked her and she smiled, cupping my cheek.

"You have to look forward, Thea. Look towards the future instead of the past. Keep the good memories always with you but carry them forward with you." She told me and I gulped.

"I've been through so much... I'm so tired now." I said, exhuasted, and she nodded in understanding.

"I know, baby, you didn't deserve any of that. You deserve the world and so much more, but I'm still so proud of you, and of the woman you've become. You're so strong, and I'm proud of you, baby. So proud, you have no idea." She told me with glistening eyes matching mine when I smiled.

"Now tell me all about everyone." She said excitedly and I smiled, laying back down on her lap and telling her about Anton, Ana, their expected baby, Alex, dad, my uncle and aunts and cousins as well as Ivan.

We talked for what seemed like hours until the sun was setting and I couldn't wipe the big smile off from my face.

"And what about Roman?" She suddenly asked me as we were sitting side by side and I froze.

"Roman?" I whispered, tracing the edge of the grass with my finger before I looked up at her confused but she just smiled at me.

As if on cue, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my chest and rest of my body, making me hunch over in pain as I whimpered softly, clutching my chest.

"I need you, angel, please come back to me. I can't live wthout you."A deep and velvety voice rang in my head and my heart raced in my chest as gazed at my mother.

"He misses you, sweetheart." She whispered and I frowned.

Something's missing. Or someone, perhaps.

"Call me by my name, Heather."

"Roman." "Heather."

"I kissed him. I kissed Roman fucking Angelo."

"Wear this for me, Bellissima."

"So beautiful. So delicate."

"Never, turn away from me."

"Tell me something. Does he kiss you like I do?"

"Does he make you feel like this?"

"Fuck. Baby keep talking to me, please, keep your eyes open. Let me hear your sweet voice."

"I'm right here. I won't leave you."

"You're perfect. And so beautiful."

"I don't want this dream to end."

"You'll be fine angel, everything will be fine."

"Thank you. For everything."

"You're mine, angel."

"Yeah. I really like you. Like, a lot." "I like you a lot too."

"Only the best for my girl."

"Fine fuck it then, I am jealous. I'm jealous of that boy because he gets to spend time with you when I don't. I'm jealous you both are together five days a week in college, and even after that sometimes. I'm fucking jealous and I can't help it."

"Mine." "Yours."

"I won't let anyone get to you. I promise baby."

"Good. I was keeping you anyway."

"Maybe I need someone's obsession to feel like I'm actually wanted. Needed."

"I don't care what anyone thinks, or says, because unfortunately for everyone, I will keep doing whatever the fuck I want. And right now, I want, no, need you, baby."

"So when I tell you I don't give a fuck, I don't. And no one, I repeat, no one, will come in our way. That's a promise."

"Good to know. Because I'm not letting you go anytime soon. O mai per quella materia." (Or ever for that matter)

"Because I meant it when I said that you were mine. Per sempre." (Forever)

"Mamma would've loved you. Just like I do."

"You have such a beautiful soul. And I want it all."

"I'll be a gentleman, but just for tonight. Because you deserve it. But if we go through with this, you're mine forever baby, and I won't hold back from fucking you mercilessly next time. Understood?"

"So beautiful and all mine. Ti tengo per sempre." (I'm keeping you forever)

"Tell me you're mine, angel. Tell me you won't let anyone else ever touch you like this. Tell me I'll be the only man to do this to you."

"Potrei non essere stato il tuo primo, bambino. But I sure as hell will be your last. You're it for me, Heather." (I may not have been your first, baby.)

"Fuck, you'll be the ruin of me, won't you?"

"Next time you kiss me, do it properly."

"I don't care. I want you by my side all the fucking time."

"Good, now keep your eyes on me baby, and don't worry about anything. I'll kill him before he can even think about you."

"Keep laughing and smiling baby, I don't want to see that frown on you."

"Can I keep you?"

"Always, baby. I'll always protect you."

"You make me feel, and I fucking love it."

"You make me weak, Heather."

"You make me want to kill for you, and only you."

"You make me want to give everything up for you if you asked me to."

"I'm in love with you, mio angelo."

"I love you baby, so fucking much, I can't think straight."

"I love every scar, every imperfection, every fucking thing about you. You make me feel like no one else, Heather, and I'm yours, for eternity. Ti amo."

"Please, baby, give me a chance. Let me love you."

"Fucking look at me when I tell you I love you. Look in my eyes and tell me you don't feel anything for me."

"I don't fucking care. I want you, and you only. You're it for me, Heather. I don't want or need anyone else."

"Because you make me feel. You make me want to be a better fucking man, for you. You make me want to love, but only you."

"You belong to me, baby. Forever, si?"

"I chose you, and I'm never changing my mind, because your eyes... they hold everything my soul thirsts for. Every thing I want and need, is you, and you only."

"I adore you."

"I wish I'd never met you. Then maybe, just maybe, things would have been different."

"Don't you dare fucking leave, or I swear to god Heather I will kill every single person who comes in my way. In our way. Don't fucking leave me, please."

"I can't breath without you, Roman."

"Where to?" "Anywhere with you."

"Anything at all. I'd kill for you... I'd let go of grudges for you-... I'd save, for you. I'd let go, for you, Roman, all for you."

"For you, I would."

"Now tell me you love me too."

"If you say so, baby. But you are not and will never be a burden to me, baby. If you need anything, you tell me. I love you, remember that."

"Anything for you, angel."

"I remember all of it, angel. I remember the day I met the love of my life. Why don't you?"

"You are my angel, Heather. My lost angel."

"Even if I didn't have them, you were always more than enough for me."

"Marry me, Heather."

"You heard me. Marry me. We'll run away together, just the two of us and no one else. No revenge, no enemies, no friends or family conflicts, just us two."

"I'm fucking sure of it, angel. I want– no, need– to marry you. Make you mine permanently. Forever."

"You're perfect."

"Yes, Roman. My answer is yes."

"You didn't tell me your ex was here. You were crying when I found you last night. Why the fuck didn't you say anything?"

"You didn't want to bother me? Angel, we've come so far and you still think you're a bother?"

"I don't want to lose you, ever. I don't love him, you have to believe me. I love you. Only you."

"I'm going to ruin you for anyone. I'm going to bruise these pretty little lips so when you bite them, you remember my kisses, not his."

"I'm going to ut a ring on that finger and drag you to the altar if I have to. I'm gong to knock you up so you will always be connected to me in a way he never will. I'm going to fuck you till you pass out, Heather, until you're completely mine. Until your heart, body and soul is all mine."

"Do you think I'm a joke? That my love is a joke?"

"Never say that baby. Your problems are mine. Your happiness, sadness, everything is mine. I choose you, and that means that I want all of you, the good and the bad. I want you to give me everything you've got."

"No. Don't you dare tell me to leave."

"I will never leave you. I can't live without you, angel. I won't survive. I want to live, but with you."

"I love you, infinitely. And I will say it for as long as I live, and I will prove it till life takes me to my grave, and maybe even after. No one, and I mean no fucking one can or will ever come between us. They'll be dead by my hands before they ever do."

"Hm, soon to be wife."

"I love Heather, and I would do anything, and I mean anything for this girl. Even if she's from the family who hates me. The family we've been enemies with for generations. I'm willing to end it all for her, and her only."

"I'm marrying this beautiful girl, and no one will stop me."

"I love you, very much, get somewhere safe and we'll start the life we planned as soon as we can, hm?"

"Stay with me, angel."

The memories flashed in front of my eyes making my breathing quicken and heart to hurt as I dreamed of emerald green eyes gazing into blue ones.

"Roman." I gasped, as if remebering everything, flashbacks of us together, holding each other, sharing sweet kisses, melting in each other's embrace, laughing and smiling together, him telling me he loved me when I felt something wet on my cheek.

I looked up at the clear sky bfore touching my face, only to realize that I was crying.

I couldn't keep it in anymore as more tears fell down my face and my mother wrapped me up in a warm and comforting hug, letting me cry my heart out as I held tightly onto her.

"Hush, my darling, it's going to be alright." She whispered soothingly, running her hand over my hair to calm me down before pulling away and wiping my tears.

"He loves you, sweetheart, go to him." She urged and I sniffled.

"I don't want to leave you." I said in a quiet whisper, my heart aching for Roman but on the other hand, I couldn't possibly let go of my mother.

"He's going to take good care of you. You deserve all the love and that boy will do everything in his power to give it you. He's good for you, always was, and he'll love you and cherish you like no other."

"As for me, I'll be always be here for you, baby. Always." She wiped at my tears and kissed my forehead as I hugged her again.

"I love you, mom." I whispered and felt her smile.

"I love you too, darling, and your father and brothers. I'm so proud of my whole family. You, who's grown to be an amazing woman and your brothers who have grown into fine men. I couldn't be prouder of all of you, even Zavid." She told me.

I smiled softly, closing my eyes as I felt her touch slowly move away rom me, as if she was pulling away.

I'll never forget you.