HER LIFE

The Planning

Tristan's POV

I found her sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window like she always does when she's deep in thought. I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers were clenched tightly in her lap. She'd never admit it, but I know that look. It's the same one she gets after one of those nightmares. I hate it. Hate seeing her like this.

I sat down beside her, close enough for her to know I was there, but not enough to push. Valentina doesn't need me to fix things for her; she's strong enough to handle herself. But she needs to know I'm here. I'll always be here.

"Another one?" I asked quietly, my voice cutting through the silence of the room.

She didn't answer right away, just kept staring out at the rain hitting the window. Then, after a long pause, she nodded. "Yeah."

I clenched my fists. Damn Klaus. If I ever get my hands on him... The thought of what he did to her, what he's still doing to her in those nightmares, makes my blood boil. But this isn't about me. Right now, it's about her.

I let out a breath, loosening the tension in my body. "You know I've got your back, Val. Always."

She finally turned to look at me, those fierce eyes softening just a little. "I know, Tris."

That's all I need. She doesn't need to say anything else. The fact that she trusts me—really trusts me—is enough. In a world where everyone seems to be against her, I'm the one person she can count on, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect her from the nightmares, from Klaus, from everything.

"Come on," I said, nudging her gently. "Let's get out of here. We can go get some fresh air, maybe have an ice cream, huh? Just like old times."

A small smile tugged at her lips, and for a moment, I saw the Valentina I knew before all this. Before Klaus. Before the scar.

"Alright," she agreed, standing up. "But you're buying."

I laughed, standing up with her. "Deal."

And just like that, we walked out the door together. Because no matter what's waiting for us out there, we'll face it together. Always.

We were sitting on a bench, the late afternoon sun casting a soft glow over the park as Val toyed with her ice cream cone, barely eating it. I, on the other hand, was almost finished with mine, 

I leaned back, staring at the sky for a moment before breaking the silence. "So, here's the deal, Val. I don't need help planning your birthday ball. I've got it covered—every detail, every decision. But..." I paused, watching her for a reaction.

"But?" she said, licking a bit of melted ice cream from the side of the cone, barely giving me a glance."But you need to try on the dresses. Non-negotiable." I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to push back.She finally looked up at me, clearly unimpressed. 

"Seriously, Tristan? You know I don't care about this ball. The last thing I want is to stand in front of a mirror for hours trying on dresses I'm never going to wear again."

I chuckled. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that. But it's not just about the dress—it's about showing up, looking like the queen you are, and giving everyone a reason to talk about how stunning you looked. And, you know, making me look like a genius for throwing this whole thing together."

She rolled her eyes. "You've already got the 'genius' part down. I don't see why I have to be involved."I leaned forward, my tone light but firm. "Because it's your birthday, Val. Whether you care or not, people are coming to celebrate you. And honestly, I think deep down you might enjoy looking incredible, even if you pretend not to."

She sighed, taking a bite of her cone. "I just don't see the point."

"The point," I said, tapping her shoulder, "is that this is for you. You don't have to do anything else, just show up and try on a few dresses. Trust me, we'll make it painless."

Val stared at me for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "Fine. I'll try on the dresses. But if I hate them all, I'm showing up in jeans."I laughed, knowing full well she wouldn't. "Deal. But I promise, you're going to love at least one of them. And when you do, just remember—I told you so."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You're impossible.""And you love me for it," I shot back, finishing off the last bit of my ice cream.

"By the way," I said, breaking the silence, "I've already got the design for your dresses sorted."

She looked up, blinking in surprise. "You've got the design? Since when are you into fashion?"

I grinned. "Since I decided you weren't going to leave this up to chance. I worked with the boutique. They'll bring all the dresses to the mansion. You don't even have to go anywhere, just try them on."

She raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and resignation on her face. "You've really thought of everything, haven't you?"

"Of course," I said, leaning back casually. "I'm Tristan. This is what I do."

Val chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Alright, fine. I'll try them on. But don't expect me to parade around in front of everyone like it's a runway show."

"Deal," I said, nodding. "Just you, me, and maybe a couple of mirrors."

She smirked, but I could see her guard was down—at least for now.

"Oh, one more thing," I added, trying to keep my tone light. "I need that list. You know, of the people I have to invite. Family, friends, whatever mafia contacts you've still got lingering around."

Val groaned, tipping her head back dramatically. "Ugh, the guest list. I was hoping you'd forget."

I laughed. "Not a chance. You don't want me guessing who to invite, do you?"

She sighed, clearly realizing there was no way out. "I'll give you the list later. But don't invite anyone I don't like."

"That's most people, Val."

"Exactly," she said with a smirk, finishing her ice cream.

I shook my head, smiling. "Alright, alright. Just give me the list, and I'll handle the rest."

Hope you liked it!!