Catch Me

Chapter 8

“What is it?” Annabelle asked breathlessly.

Stefan looked down back at her, and sighed heavily. He caught her hands into his, and drew her up to a sitting position.

“Nothing, I will just have to say goodbye to your sweet lips for a while,” Stefan whispered, and before she could react, he gave her a quick kiss.

Annabelle gave him a confused look, but then she heard the loud mix of English and Italian coming from the porch.

“Yeah, I think that´s a good idea. For a little while anyway,” she teased, and winked at him.

Stefan chuckled, and then stood, pulling Annabelle up as well. They turned to go through the front door to greet his family on the front porch, but found the way was already blocked.

“Well, it´s about time, brother. I thought you were never going to catch her,” Angelica said, standing in the open doorway. She put her hands on her hips, as if out of exasperation, but was smiling at them complacently. Isabella was a gorgeous female version of her younger brother. Tall, slender, long wavy black hair, olive skin, features that could only be called as beautiful, full lips and eyes as green as the emerald earrings she was wearing.

"Yes, I did menage to catch her," Stefan said smugly, sliding a possessive arm around Annabelle´s waitst.

"Oh, yeah? And here I thought I was the one who let you to catch me," Annabelle said sardonically, arching an eyebrow.

"Stop whinig, you know you wanted to be caught," he said, poking her in the ribs.

"Ok, stop it, you two. If my intuition is not wrong, you just got together, so don´t make me break up this first fight," Angelica said, shaking her head. She stepped forward and opened her arms. "Welcome to the family, Belle."

Annabelle looked astonished for a second, but then Stefan gave her a reassuring squeeze. She stepped into Isabella´s embrace and hugged her.

"Thank you," Annabelle said, feeling the tension leavwe her body. She had been always good friends with Isabella but wasn´t really certain what to expect from her. Sure, Stefan told her, that Isabella thought her to be a good match for him, but it felt good to hear Angelica herself to say that she accepted Annabelle.

"You´re welcome, though you-"

"Annabelle, tesoro!" 

In a second, Annabelle found herself in the embrace of a different person. A much shorter and plumper person. This person was speaking away in Italian, but so fast, she couldn´t make out a single word, though she recognized the voice.

"Nonna Salvani!" Annabelle squeaked in delight, and pulled back to look into Stefan´s grandmother´s face. It was really her. She hadn´t seen her in years but she hadn´t changed a bit except she had more gray hair then back when she visited Milan with Stefan a couple of years ago. The old lady had been so nice and kind to her, as if she was her granddaughter - just as Stefan pointed out earlier. 

"You brought grandma with you, Angelica? And grandpa, too?" Stefan asked, when he saw his grandfather approach him, who gave him a tight hug and unlike Sophia, his wife, he immediatelly switched to English.

"Why? Is that a problem she did, my dear grandson?" asked Signor Giuseppe Salvani in his deep voice. 

"Of course not, grandpa. I didn´t know you were coming too, and I am just surprised, that´s all," Stefan said, trying to absorb the fact the whole family is going to be under the roof of their house for the next few days if not weeks. So much for privacy, he thought to himself. He saw Annabelle was speaking kindly to his grandmother in Italian. To her it seemed, that fact may have not occured yet. Ah, so sweet, he smiled when just as the thought formed in his mind, Annabelle looked at him, holding his gaze with blue eyes in whose depths it seemed he could drown . . . . 

"Oh, and there is still no end to the surprises, little brother. You see, not only you have found amore. I´m sure you remember Roberto De Luca," Angelica smiled happily, clutching a tall, handsome man´s hand, pulling him forward, so Stefan could see him. 

And see him, he did. But wasn´t sure if he really saw properly. How could his sister be such a fool and fall for this man? Again? 

"Of course, I remember. How could I not remember my once-upon-a-time best friend who broke my sister´s heart?" 

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 *Hey, guys! :) I know it´s been a REALLY LONG TIME COMING! But you know how life gets in the way ... and laziness ;) ... Sooo, I hope you enjoy reading this part. Don´t forget to comment/vote/anything :)) I´m hoping to do another upload in the next few weeks, so watch out for new chapters!! Love yaaa :** *