Forever

69

"Bree."

"Hmm?"

"I have to ask you something." Pietro sits next on the couch while she's sitting in the armchair, folded into herself.

"Okay." She sets down her phone.

"Do you think you're okay to go out with me tomorrow?" He leans forward on his elbows and she furrows her brows with a deep breath. "Like a date." He adds before she can say anything and she sighs worriedly. "I want to take you on a date, get you off of this floor, because I love you and you haven't left in almost two months." He nods with his hands together.

She hangs her head and nods in understanding while picking at her fingers and he gets up to kneel down in front of her.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad." He states softly while rubbing her knee. "I just think you should give it a try. There's no harm in going for a test run."

"There could be." She states just above a whisper.

"Only if you let it." He shakes his head a bit. "Don't let it hurt you."

"... Have you ever felt like this?" She asks innocently.

"Twice." He nods and he bottom lip begins to quiver.

"When?" She looks into his eyes.

"Well..." He sits on his bottom with her legs bent up. "It began when my parents passed." He nods and she closes her eyes with a sudden wash of dread.

"Because of my dad." She nods quietly and his brows furrow.

"Don't start getting mad at yourself for that." He shakes his head in a partially firm tone and a tears slips down her cheek. "That's not on you, that's not on anybody, but the men that sent the bombs."

"But he built them." She breathes.

"Bree, listen to me." He grabs her hands with raised brows. "Do not start beating yourself up for something that happened when you were seven years old." He demands sternly and sits up on his knees.

"I just..." She breathes as he cups her cheeks. "I can't believe my family is the whole reason you've been caused so much pain and you still choose to be with me."

"You're not your family, Bree." He pushes her hair behind her ears. "You are your own beautiful person that has made the choice to follow your own path. You help people, you don't make bombs. And, to be honest, you're the perfect person for me." He shrugs and she tilts her head a bit in doubt. "I'm serious, Briana." He nods and she sighs. "I truly have no clue where I'd be without you in my life."

"Alone." She states with a raspy voice and he smiles a bit with a small chuckle.

"That's exactly it." He nods and shakes his head. "I would be alone down on that couch, watching all those other couples in there be happy, while I sit there alone. You saved me from a lifetime of unhappiness."

"What about the many girls?" She picks at his shirt.

"There are no girls like you, Princezna." He shakes his head and pushes his fingers in her hair and the tears pool again as the lip begins to tremble on her chin. "Why do you think I gave you this?" He takes her hand and brushes his thumb over the promise ring. "I will marry you one day, I can promise you that." He nods surely and the waterworks slowly break free.

"You promise." She repeats and he smiles a bit. "Even after all of this?"

"Yes, Anjel." He breathes with a soft smile. "Even after the tears and the pain and the bombs," he rolls his eyes, "I promise. Now if you want to start beating Tony up instead, then I'll stand by your side, but..." He jokes and she lets out a breathy chuckle before it breaks into silent sobs.