𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 41

"Mami Sophia!" Iris sqeauled as she ran towards me, jugging my feet, "Hello mi amor," I kissed her on the cheeks as I picked her up, putting her on my hip .

"Papi said we are going on a trip!" She says excitedly as she plays with one of my loose curls framing my face. "A trip?"

"I thought that maybe we could go away for a little while," Nico walks into the room, "We are going to head to Spain for a little while," he replied kissing Iris on her forehead.

The warmth of Iris's little hands playing with my hair felt grounding, like a balm to the wounds still lingering in my chest from the past few days. I held her close, savouring her laughter, the pure innocence in her eyes a stark contrast to everything Nico and I had faced recently.

"A trip to Spain," I murmured, looking up at Nico. I searched his gaze, catching a trace of worry beneath his usual calm, and I knew this wasn't just a casual getaway.

"It'll be good for all of us," he said, voice steady but gentle. He stepped closer, one hand resting on Iris's tiny shoulder, the other brushing a reassuring thumb along my arm. "Time to breathe. Just us. No shadows, no threats."

I nodded, feeling his words settle the storm in my mind. "Spain sounds perfect."

"Will we see the castle again, Papi?" Iris asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Nico's mouth curved into a smile.

"We'll see the castle," he promised, and for a moment, his gaze softened, melting away the edges of his usual stoic composure.

I reached for his hand, threading our fingers together, feeling the strength and warmth that had anchored me time and time again.

~~ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ~~

The day in Spain unfolded like a faded photograph brought to life, every moment a mixture of warmth, nostalgia, and an unspoken tension I couldn't shake. Nico had planned the day to perfection, guiding us through places that held pieces of his childhood, each corner filled with memories he was eager to share.

We started at the castle, its ancient stone walls towering over the countryside. As we walked its winding paths, Iris ran ahead, her laughter filling the air as she explored every corner, her eyes wide with wonder.
I watched her, feeling Nico's hand brush against mine now and then-a silent attempt to close the distance that seemed to linger between us.

From the castle, we wandered through narrow streets lined with flowered balconies and sunlit squares, Nico's voice drifting over memories of his youth, trying to pull me into his world.

We took Iris to an old cathedral with towering stained-glass windows that filled the space with an almost sacred beauty. I could feel Nico watching me, waiting for a response I wasn't sure I could give.
The weight of everything-Lorenzo's haunting confession, Nico's stormy arrival in that brutal haze of gunfire, the secrets I hadn't yet processed-sat between us, a silent barrier neither of us knew how to bridge.

As the day turned to morning, we found ourselves at an old café tucked into a quiet corner. It was familiar to Nico, I didn'tknow how because it was to me when I came here a few years back. The pictures.
And I could see the warmth of recognition in his eyes as the older barista welcomed him with a smile.

We slipped into a sunlit booth by the window, the scent of fresh croissants and coffee drifting over us.

I met his gaze briefly before shifting my attention to Iris, who was gleefully tapping her fork against her plate, waiting for the pastries to arrive.
As we ate, I let myself sink into the comfort of the place, the gentle hum of conversations, the warmth of sunlight filtering through the window.