All That You Are

Chapter Nine*

Her nerves are getting the better of her. The idea of watching her cousin be forced into a life of pain and torment has not been something Y/N has come to terms with these past few weeks.

Harry tried all he could, scheduled countless meetings with Dante in an attempt to find a loophole, but the only thing they could do was kill Nino. They all knew it wasn't an option, even Y/N. It would be too obvious that Harry would've been the one to orchestrate his murder – there would be a war within the Famiglia.

So, she has to sit here and let it happen. Toy with her fingers idly as her cousin gets married off to a complete and raging psychopath. Y/N's struggling not to vomit, her stomach churning in pure fear and nothing she does seems to calm her.

As she stares at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes are stricken with terror. Her lips have grown chapped from the insistent gnawing and she can't keep her hands from shaking.

Harry watches from his position in the doorway, a solemn expression of his own as he watches his wife slowly crumble within herself. He's seen how hard things have been for her the past five weeks, when he broke the news that there was nothing he nor Dante could do.

He held her most nights as she cried into his chest, cooed her and played with her hair until she fell asleep. It's been hard. For him too. Harry's struggled to stay focused on business when he knows how Y/N has been feeling.

"You look incredible," he speaks softly.

And she does. Despite the situation or the sheer anxiety that drips off her, she looks beautiful. Adorned in a gorgeous baby pink dress that stops just above her knees and hugs her body perfectly.

She makes Harry's head spin.

Y/N smiles half heartedly at him through the mirror. She turns slowly, taking a deep breath. "Thank you," she murmurs. "You look very handsome."

He does, and that black fitted suit makes him look almost as toned as he does underneath it. If it weren't for the circumstances, Y/N would allow herself to gush a little at the sight of him, to really appreciate him and how far they've come.

But she can't. She thinks it's too selfish of her to bask in her husband when her cousin may never get that same opportunity. The opportunity to feel safe and protected in her husband's presence.

It's something Y/N will never take for granted.

"The ceremony is about to start," he tells her.

He's been putting it off for the last five minutes, just watching her from the doorway. No time in the world could prepare her for today. And when Harry really thinks about it, really casts his mind back far enough, he realises she's more scared and nervous today than she was when she was in this position.

And Harry doesn't know how to feel about that.

No words are shared as they make their way to their seats, but the way their pinkies stay connected speaks enough reassurance.

Harry let's her sit first, adjusting his suit jacket before he joins beside her. Y/N can't stop her knees from rattling and the orchestra hasn't even begun.

He lets his hand rest on her thigh, but she's quick to take that hand in hers and squeeze. Squeeze with all her might. Harry doesn't mind, he knows how much this is hurting her, the whole thing opening Harry's eyes more than he thought it would.

While he's always been opposed to the arranged marriages within Famiglia's, he's never experienced it from this side. He's never had to watch a bride's family fall apart as they watch their daughter marry a monster.