It's a Love Story

"The doctors called them," he nodded.

---

Rose hugged her sister tight, trying to be careful not to hurt her at the same time. "Oh, Romie...."

"You think we should go visit them?" Lilli asked. "I don't think Roman would get over it if she wasn't able to go to his funeral." she said, already assuming they were going to fly the body back to his family.

--

"I showed him my writing and everything!" she cried.

Mike nodded. "We'll go with his body to Rome."

--

Rose cried for her sister, holding her close.

"Good. I'll start packing." Lilli said. She needed to do something or she would start crying.

--

Eventually, mostly because of the meds, Roman fell asleep again.

Mike frowned sadly after his wife, feeling as miserable as he was sure that she did.

--

Rosie held her, crying and feeling guilty that she wasn't here sooner.

Lilli was half way up the stairs before she stopped and broke down. She was trying to be strong but this boy had changed Roman in just a few days. When Rome left that morning, she saw that her daughter had her writing stuff. And she had almost lost her youngest. She couldn't bare the thought.

--

Aiden rubbed Rosie's back. "Come on, lets get you some coffee." he said softly, pulling her up.

Mike went to her, he'd been walking behind her, and took his wife in his arms, holding her tight against his chest.

--

Rose nodded, sniffling, and got up.

Lilli held onto Mike, crying hard into his chest.

--

Aiden got Rosie some coffee then took her outside. She needed the air.

Mike held her, letting himself cry, too, though silently.

--

Rosie didn't say a word, jsut walked alongside him like a zombie almost.

"She's okay, right?" she asked, not for the first time.

--

Aiden looked down at her worried. "i love you." he said softly.

"Yes, love. She's alright," he murmured.

--

"Love you too," she murmured.

She nodded and just sat there on the steps, letting Mike hold her.

--

He stopped and hugged Rosie. "Death is a natrual thing." he whispered.

"But she was falling for him," she whispered, trying not to cry again.

"It was meant to be sweet heart." he said softly. "She'll find someone else. Maybe another Roman."

She shrugged, some tears leaking down her cheeks.

He kissed her tears away and looked at her. "I love you." he said again.

"I love you, too," she sobbed, clinging to him.

"Hey.... Baby, everything's going to be okay." he said rubbing her back.

She nodded, hiding her face in his chest.

"What do you think Pavo would want?" he asked softly. "You knew him, would he want you and Roman, especially Roman, crying over the loss?"

"No... but it's hard not to be sad..."

"I know it is.... But eventually we have to start celebrating his life. When you to go Rome, have fun. Eat good food, hang out by the beach. Take some sexy bathing suit pictures for me."

She chuckled, wiping away her tears. "Okay," she nodded.

He smiled and nodded, kissing her lips softly. "I look forward to those pictures now." he said, wrapping his arm over her shoulder and heading back into the hospital. "It would just bring back thoughts of you naked.... Which is extremely sexy by the way."

She blushed brightly. "Don't say it so loud," she scolded in a hushed whisper.