A Lily Amongst Roses

Thirteen

This chapter is dedicated to Andrea Rodriguez.

Yes, I've dedicated a chapter to my character.

And originally she was meant to die, but she is worth to live and give you all less truama. Aren't I a nice author?

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Monday evening

With the news of Andrea being in a coma but stable, everyone was either relieved and depressed by the circumstances or flat out traumatised about what happened. Or: both.

I had, at least, finished my tub of ice-cream that Ralph had to dig in the freezer for. We also had decided to put on a Disney movie for our sanities, despite it being a princess movie we had settled on watching Beauty and the Beast, the well known classic.

Ralph had chewed on popcorn, his leg shifting up and down out of worry, and Bruno had managed to compose himself from the events earlier. Blood was cleaned up, both from his hands, clothes and the floor, and he had also joined up when Belle had just been shown the library by the Beast. He sat on the sofa next to the both of us.

"Are you both okay?" He took both of our hands, and Ralph not liking the physical contact he removed his hand from his brothers grip and crossed his arms together.

"We're fine." Ralph grumbles.

"I'm not." I say, playing with my Minecraft bee teddy on my lap with my free hand. Childish I know, sue me why don't you? The events were hard to process, traumatising and gruesome, something I had only seen in horror movies and I despise horror movies. A Minecraft bee gives me comfort.

Ralph turned his gaze to mine, his lips tightened, pressed together and then sighed, "I just - I want her to be okay."

Bruno nodded, running a hand through his dark hair, "I know bud, we all do. Thankfully she's going to make a recovery." He smiled, though it didn't meet his glazed eyes.

I frown, "Are you okay, Bruno?"

"I'm perfect." Bruno nodded.

"Bruno... you just witnessed something traumatic." Ralph's eyebrows twitched downwards almost identical to the frown that accompanied his lips.

Bruno sighed, "Andrea is the mother we never had. And she was in my arms... I can never get that image out of my mind." He rubbed his eyes with his palm.

I can imagine what it was like to  lose a mother, but to almost lose someone who was your maternal figure must be devastating, and it didn't add up.
Who was Santiago? Why was he attacking Andrea? And did this have anything to do with Vivianne?

The thought can only be a mystery.

"How do you ever get over something traumatic like that?" Ralph asks randomly, and for a moment its silent, only the sound of the movie in the background, and we collectively stare into the void thinking about the answer.

"I don't think you do. Not at first anyway. With time, possibly." Bruno tried.

"Talking about it." A deep voice from the doorway appears, and my head turns to look at Giovanni, "talking about the events, writing them down, drawing them. Being in great company and as cliche as it sounds, but doing the activities you love." He goes to sit in the singular armchair the closest to the door. "Santiago has been arrested, and we'll go to court. Max is at the station now considering his friend owns the station there." He updates us.

And for a moment I feel as though I'm interrupting a moment with family, until his gaze softens landing on me, "Rue," they shift to Ralph, "Ralph. I'm sorry you had to witness that. I should've acted quicker, and done more to protect you. And you Bruno. You didn't deserve to see that."

"Neither did you, Vanni." Ralph says, a half croak escaping him.

My heart broke for them.

***

By the time Arlo reached Rome's home, his eyeliner was smudged and ruined from crying. He rang the bell, trying to refrain himself from crying further. As soon as Rome opened the door and saw the crying twenty two year old, he immediately pulled him into his arms, caressing his hair and guiding him to the sofa kicking the door closed behind him.

"Mi amore," Rome started, only for Arlo to sob even harder, Rome felt heartbroken watching his other half cry like that. He sat down next to Arlo, moving to lay down on the sofa, Arlo turning wrapping his arms around Rome's stomach, nesting his head against his chest and cried as Rome played with his hair, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, kissing him on his head.

Eventually, Arlo managed to calm down, "Thank you." Trying to get up feeling instant regret for bothering Rome and wasting his time, only to be dragged down. He looked up at Rome with confused curious eyes.

"Mi amore, relax. You do not need to move. I know your mind more than you actually think. You are not a bother to me." Arlo blushed looking down.

God damn it. This man.

Rome lifted Arlo's chin up with his fingers, "Darling, we are allowed to cuddle."

Arlo's eyes welled up with tears, one slipping out, Rome cupped his lovers face wiping away the stray tear.

"Andrea's in a coma."

Rome put his forehead on Arlo's, closing his eyes, "Arlo, my darling, she is a miracle sent by god, she will be alright, mi amore." His words offered comfort where Arlo definitely needed.

"She was the first person I came out to. She is my mother, the mother to my brothers too." Arlo gulped, pulling his head away and laying on Rome's chest, "There was so much blood, Rome."

"She will be okay..." Rome's heart ached wrapping his arms closer around Arlo, cuddling  Arlo's head with his hand, rubbing soothing circles into the small of his back.

"Would she?"

Rome hummed. "Sí. Mi amore, Andrea Rodriguez is the toughest woman I know. And that's considering the fact I have a sister."

Arlo smiled slightly before frowning, "I couldn't do anything... I wanted to help her, and it was like I was paralysed."

Rome kissed the top of Arlo's forehead, "Shh... mi amore, you did the best you could."

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I hope you enjoy this chapter.

What do you think of Rome and Arlo?

- Emi