Viola

Chapter 6

Viola's POV

'Sissy? Who is this?' My brain races as I look at the little boy, my face, I'm sure, showing all of my confusion clearly. 

I hear the door slam open seconds later, and standing there staring back at me I find Papa and  Veronica. 

Just as Veronica looks as though she's about to run over to help me up, the little boy in my arms turns his head slightly so he's facing them and suddenly shouts,

"Mommy! Daddy! W-ook I found sissy" Before turning back to hugging me.

I look up at the two adults in the room utterly baffled and find them simply sitting with their mouths hung open, looking at each other in an attempt to conjure up a response.

In the hopes of finding an answer, I turn to Antonio who still holds me on his lap.

When I raise an eyebrow at him he looks up making eye contact with who I can only assume is papa before lifting me along with the little boy off his lap and carrying us all the way to the bed. Placing the little boy on the floor he sets me down on the bed silently. After he gets me situated he gives me a long kiss on the forehead, hugging me, not wanting to let go. 

With a sigh he releases me and walks out of the room, gently closing the door behind him. 

I look up at the two adults expectantly before feeling something pulling at my hand. 

When I look down I find the little boy staring up at me, smiling. He shows me grabby hands wanting to be picked up. 

"Lu-" papa starts but, without a second thought, though, I lift him up into my lap. 

Turning once again to my father and nurse I find them still staring at me with the same slack-jaw expression of shock.

Understanding that they're not ready to respond I turn my head to the bubbly little boy in my lap.

"Hewo" he exclaims.

"Hello," I reply, smiling softly at the adorable little boy.

Papa seems to finally snap out of it as he opens his mouth, probably to explain, but before he can the little boy pokes my cheek trying to get my attention.

I smile down at him.

"Yes, hun?" I ask with a chuckle.

"You viola, wight?" he asks adorably, the baby voice causing him to mispronounce my name.
(baby talk translation- you're viola, right?)

My smile widens as I reply.

"Yes, I'm viola, little man. Who might you be?"

At this, he perks up bouncing in my lap,

"I'm Lucas!" He exclaims giggling. 

I smile brightly at the adorable little munchkin in my arms.

"So, from what I'm hearing, you must be my little brother?" I ask 

He nods excitedly and I allow a small giggle to escape me before I look up at my father, hoping he can confirm.

I've always wanted a younger sibling!

Unfortunately, as I turn to him it looks as though he and Veronica have gone back into their old state of shock. I sigh before attempting to get my confirmation. 

"Papa?" I ask, repeating it when he doesn't respond. Finally, on the third time, his eyes snap to mine and he simply nods, smiling softly while still looking baffled. 

I look at the little boy in front of me tearing up. He looks down, nervously twiddling with his fingers. 

"Well come here," I exclaim, "I want to hug my fratellino." (Little brother)

His face lights up as bright as the sun. He crushes me into yet another hug. I giggle letting a few stray tears make their way down my face. 

After a moment, I look up to see my papa holding hugging a very teary-eyed veronica from behind. 

"So I guess we should reintroduce ourselves then. I don't think you're just my nurse. Right?" I asked looking at Veronica. 

She hesitated but Papa guided her forward. She tried to clear her throat to talk but simply let a few more tears fall. 

Papa grabbed her hand "Principessa, this is my wife, your step-mom, Veronica," he said slowly trying to gauge my reaction from my face.

Veronica finally composed herself only to look up saying "I hope one day we can be close. I-i've always wanted a daughter," she said. 

After a moment, because I haven't responded, she begins to ramble out apologies. "I mean- I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that, I didn't mean to push you. You just got back, you probably want time with your family-" I grab her hand, successfully stopping her rambling. 

"What do you mean silly?" I ask, "you are family." I add smiling up at her. Tears rush down her face as she snatches me into a hug. 

I giggle as she rocks me back and forth chuckling through her sobs. 

I rub her back looking over her shoulder to see papa looking at us with a loving gaze. 

I make eye contact with him, waving him over into the hug. 

As he joins I feel 2 little hands wrap around my waist. Before long, I hear a door open and three more sets of hands tackle into the hug with two sets of footsteps following, and pattering around the room awkwardly. 

Without looking up I shout, "Lorenzo and Antonio Calvetti, if you don't get into this hug immediately, so help me Lord, I will-" I began but am soon interrupted by two more bodies reluctantly jumping into the hug. 

I smile feeling everyone around me. I take a breath and realize...

I'm home. 

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Hey guys! I hope you're liking the book thus far. For the next chapter, I will do a "Characters" chapter with everyone we've met so far. 

I'm gonna try to update at least twice a week, but I do have school and a life so please don't kill me if it takes a bit longer occasionally.  

Xoxo - Maria