The Courage of Italy

~6~

He was never more thankful for this day. It was something he was looking forward to after all that they had learned just a couple days ago. The annual dinner of nations. he had told Chloe and Briana of the event and even had Carine over to help them out as her husband, Ian, bustled around the house with the three of them.

Feliciano was quite content with how the day was going and prayed that it would continue to be that way even for what they all planned later. He just hoped that the little bit of practice between Carine and Ian would help him in the long run.

He saw somebody standing out on the terrace way, looking out over the land. Looking harder, he noticed it was Lovino, deep in thought. Ever since he learned the truth of Briana, the man had been different. To most he seemed the same, yet to Diego and himself, they noticed the tiny things. His eyes never leaving her as she maneuvered around the home in the wheelchair, the fact that he made everything easy for her to reach and use around the place was another. He followed when no one noticed and made sure she was alright. It was that that made Feli know it was the best thing to happen to him.

"Ciao Lovi." he said entering the walk.

"What do you want?"

"No need to be mean, I was just seeing how you were doing?"

"Fine."

Ok, he was a little worried now, "What's wrong fratello?"

Lovino gave a deep sigh, never looking at him as he pondered his own head. Feli knew he was worried over the fact of Genesis and what they could do and what they were after, yet he seemed more off than usual.

"Just a lot on my mind Feli."

Feliciano stood next to him, looking out over the fields and seeing the sun sink into the horizon, their time getting shorter for the dinner.

"You know I worry too, right?" Feli brought up, "We both can help-"

"That's just it Veneziano!" Lovi snapped at him, "This is more real than I could have ever imagined."

Feliciano was stunned by his sudden outburst and the use of his name, yet he waited for him to continue, "At one point Feli I accepted fate and was ready for it. I knew that one day I would fade like the others or any micro that can't make it. Hear me Feli, ready and accepted. You were always the better one. The one everyone turned to for arts and food and fashion. All I had was the mafia and a bit of growing from the gardens yet you had it all."

He watched as Lovi paused, holding tightly to the rail, "Even when the nations gained capitals and had cities, I accepted that I would die. But now."

"Lovi?"

"I can't protect her Feli." Lovi confessed to him. "I want to change everything that I have ever done wrong, fuck I apologized for everything I ever did to that tomato bastard. Yet that doesn't give me the strength to stop Genesis from crossing over here and repeating what they did to her again if not worse."

"But that's why we have to-"

"Will it help in all reality?" Lovi looked at him finally, his eyes were wet as his face was filled with sadness, "God Feli, she told me what they did to her. I mean we heard what happened to Harper and saw Nora afterwards, but hearing it and seeing the affect it had on her..."

He stopped as he sat himself upon the ground, resting his arms upon his knees and Feli wasn't sure on what to do.

"Are we really strong enough to protect them fratello?" Lovi asked.

Feli sat beside him, brushing his shoulder into his as he did when they were younger, "Remember what you told me when Chloe first came here?"

He heard him chuckle, "What would Grandpa Rome say."