Lover

Chapter Eighteen

Stefania

We walked out of the bedroom adjusting our clothes as Danielle and Barrett walked out of the bathroom.

"Ah, we were taking a shower." Y/N quickly lied.
"I didn't know your shower moaned 'Oh God.' whenever you turned it on." Barrett smirked.
"Look who's talking." I laughed out as I pointed at Danielle's wet hair.
"What? She got out and I took a shower." Danielle's face turned red.

"Uh huh. Sure. Come on let's get this movie over with." Y/N said as she took my hand and drug me to the living room.
"I really don't want to watch this." Danielle whined.
"It'll be fine. Michael Myers isn't real. It's in the day light. And, it's not even close to Halloween." Barrett said as she started the movie.
"Halloween is literally two weeks away." Danielle huffed.
"Fuck, seriously?" Y/N gasped as she grabbed her phone.
"Shit! I have to buy Rory a costume!" She opened the Amazon app on her phone.
"Bambina, Rory and I already got her costume." I said as I gently lowered her phone.
"What? When? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it's supposed to be a surprise." I winked.

"Shhh! The movie's starting!" Barrett whisper yelled.
I cuddled into my girlfriend, and pulled the cover over us.

We stopped halfway through the movie so we could order Chinese for lunch.
I stood and stretched as Y/N walked to the other room to place the order.

Barrett was whispering something in Danielle's ear, causing her to blush.
"You know, you two don't have to hold hands under the covers like two teenagers." I joked as I plopped down on the couch.
"Oh, shut up. Like we can't hear you and Y/N making out over there." Barrett joked back.
"We weren't making out." I lied as Y/N walked back into the room.
"Was I day dreaming then?" Y/N laughed as she sat down next to me.
"I told them they don't have to hold hands under the covers like a couple teenagers."
"Awww, our little babies all grown up." Y/N gushed.

"Shut up." Barrett rolled her eyes playfully and pulled her's and Danielle's hands out from under the covers.

My phone rang and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion when I saw my niece Vittoria's name on the phone.

(This conversation is in Italian but I'm just going to write it in English so it's easier on readers.)
"Ciao Vitroria." I answered
"Stefania, you need to come home."
"What? What's wrong?" I stood up and walked out of the living room.
"It's your Papa. He's not well."
"What happened? Is he okay? Why did nobody call before now?"
"He's in the hospital. His heart is giving out. We need you here Stefania." I heard Vittoria's voice break.
"Okay, okay. Let me... just let me call you back. Give me an hour."
"Ciao." Vittoria whispered before hanging up the phone.

"Babe? What's wrong?" I heard Y/N ask as she walked up next to me.
"My Papa. He's sick. My niece Vittoria... she said I need to go back to Italy." I took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling to stop my tears.
"Go. Go be with your Dad." Y/N whispered as she grabbed my hand.
"Bambina, I can't just up and leave like I used to. I have you, I have a bambina now. I-I-" I started to get frustrated.
"We'll be okay. You have to go. You'll hate yourself if you don't." Y/N cupped my face gently and made me look at her.
"I can't do this. I can't go through this alone again." I whispered as I let the tears run down my face.
"Do you want us to come with you?" She pushed a strand of hair out of my face.
"You'd do that?"

"Baby, I'd do anything for you." Y/N gently wiped my tears away with her thumbs.
"Everything okay?" Danielle asked as she peeked her head into the kitchen.
"Yeah. We have to go to Italy." I sighed as I gently pulled away from my girlfriend.
"What? Why? Is everything okay?" Danielle asked concerned.
"My Papa is sick. My niece told me I need to come to see him." I felt the tears coming again.
"Stef I'm so sorry. What can we do?" Danielle asked.

"Can you keep an eye on Ford and Jeff while we're gone? We'll be gone about a week." I pulled out my phone to try to book a flight for us.
"Is Rory going with you?" Barrett asked.
"Yeah. Y/N is going so-"

"Why don't you let us keep her? Us and Jaina? That way you can do whatever you need to do with your Dad." Danielle offered.
"I couldn't ask-" Y/N started.
"You're not asking. We're offering. That long of a trip is hard with an eight year old. It'll take stress off of you two." Barrett said.

"It's up to you bambina." I said as I looked at Y/N.
"Ah... yeah. I guess. Are you okay with that Stef? You're her parent too."

My heart fluttered every time Y/N referred to me as Rory's other parent.
"Sì. I don't know how well I'll take being away from her, but it'll be better for her." I gave her a small smile.
"Okay. Okay. She can stay with you guys." Y/N ran her fingers through her hair.

"Hell yeah!" Danielle and Barrett high fived.

"When do we leave babe?" She asked.
"Tomorrow morning. Four a.m."
"I'm gonna go pack mine and Rory's stuff." Y/N squeezed my hand and went to walk off.
"If you want, we'll just stay here with her so we can keep an eye on the dogs." Barrett told her.

"Thanks guys. I really appreciate it." Y/N gave them a soft smile and went to our bedroom.

Y/N

I shut the door behind me, and quickly FaceTimed Jaina.
"Yo, what's up chicka?"
"Is Rory around?" I asked.
"She's taking a nap. What's up?"

I told her everything that was going on, and how Stefania and I were leaving for Italy in the morning.

"Damn... how is Stefania taking it?"
"Hard. We're gonna stop by and see Rory for a bit after we pack. Do you mind keeping her again tonight? That way we won't have to wake her up super early."
"Yeah. That's no problem. Let me know when you're on your way."

I hung up and grabbed my suit case from the closet.
I heard the door open, and smiled softly when Stefania walked in.
"We're gonna go see our daughter after we get finished packing. Jaina is gonna keep her for us, so we don't have to wake her up super early."

Stefania didn't say a word, but walked over to me and hugged me tightly from behind.
"Hey, it'll be okay." I whispered as I gently stroked her arm.
"My Papa is going to die." Her voice cracked.
"I know, I know."