Chapter Twenty-Eight

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I see the agent reaching in his waist and I snap my eyes to the agent then back to Lino so he can someone's there.

Lino lifts his gun again and when he reaches the door and shoots a shot when the agent steps forward.

"Really?" Carlisle says nonchalantly. He wipes his mouth with the napkin then gets up and walks towards the body on the floor.

Lino runs up to me and pulls me in a hug. His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around my frail body. The world around me melted away as I squeezed him back, not wanting the moment to end.

He leaned back and planted a kiss on my forehead and rubbed his hands over mines. I winced when he touched my bandage. His eyebrows creased and his lips went in a thin line.

"Did he hurt you!?"

Instead, I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. His face softening. "No. And you never told me he was your father."

"You never told me I was a father".

"Touche".

He hugged me again and sighed in my neck. My eyes went to his father standing watching us with his hands in his pockets. I let go and Lino turned around to his father.

"You kidnapped her".

"First, I didn't know she was pregnant and second, I didn't know if she was a good one - given your choice of women. So I went with the safe choice".

Lino narrowed his eyes then turned back to me. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes", I said softly. He nodded and turned back to his father, his face still screwed. Carlisle was unbothered though.

"Ismael, we should meet up. I'll be at the hospital tomorrow to be with Lola and the little one", he says suggestively.

Lino was about to speak but I butt in, "Hopefully". Carlisle smiles at me and claps his hand together, "You killed my man. Now I have to get someone else to drive me."

He looks at us again and turns out to leave.

The wind blows through my hair and Lino tucks it behind my ear. My eyes search his and I see the curiosity budding in his features. "What is it?"

Words left me. I stared into those green eyes burning with love, and my heart fell silent. "I never thought I was ready for anything but right now, I'm ready for anything with you. I'm ready to be the mother of your children, make you lunch and rub your feet after work", He laughs when I say the last part. I caressed his cheeks.

"Marry me, Catalina. Be my wife. I've been a bad guy my whole life. I'm ready to be the man you and our children deserve", he breathed. I couldn't will my lips to move. As if stuck underwater, everything was slow and warbled as he planted a kiss in my face. "Do you think it's a good time?" I asked. "We've never had anything happen the right way and if we wait, it'll never happen. What do you say? I'm ready to be yours forever". His eyes desperately searched mine... waiting. I had to say something! I searched my mind for something reasonable to say, but to my surprise my heart answered for me, "I love you, Ismael. Yes!"

He smiled big and scooped me up, spinning me lightly and kissing my face. I giggled hugging him close to me.

~

The Next Day,

The hospital room was filled with pink balloons and a million gift cards around Lola's bed. I forgot she was kind of known everywhere by everyone. She sat in the bed holding her daughter, not able to peel her eyes off of her. Nate sat over her, his arms around them and they smiled down at the infant wrapping her little hands around her mother's. I couldn't help but to picture Lino and I like that soon. A happy family.

Lino was standing beside Nate and I can tell he had the same thought. His eyes found mine and his smile held one of promise and love. My blush won over.

The doors opened and Mera and Carlisle came in after discussing something

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The doors opened and Mera and Carlisle came in after discussing something. They stopped and smiled at us in the room. Lola smiled excitedly and handed her baby to him. He carefully held her and cooed down at her silently as Lola squeezed Nate's hand. A sad thought crosses my mind as I think back on my father but Mera is already on my side and squeezes my hand.

"It's gonna be okay." She whispers. I turn to her, for the first time feeling truly secured by my family. I never thought I would feel this way again after my uncle died, but now, I smile at her and squeeze back her hand. "Thank you, for everything". She smiles and turns back to Lola.

The pressing thoughts of when I was a kid flashed back in my mind and my mother flashed back in my mind, and my father and my uncle and the sad part was now over and a smile rolled across my face as I looked at the new chapter in my life with Lino, Lola and Nate and something tells me Carlisle and Mera are gonna be around for a while too.

Narrator's POV

(A/N) I imagine this playing for Lino and Lola's entire conversation!

A little later when the room is empty, Lino walked in and sit beside Lola. She smiled up at him and eased over. He take off his shoes and climb in beside her. "Well damn...you had a baby", he says watching the baby sleep soundly beside her.

She laughs softly. "I had a whole human exit my body, yes. It was the worst and best thing I ever experienced. Of course, it would've been great if you were here"

He pursed his lips, knowing she would say something like that. But he knew she understood. "We're going to get married".

She turned to him. "Really, you think it's a good time?"

"Look at Catalina, she's risked her life for me multiple times and so have I. I almost lost her three times. I'm not waiting anymore. So yeah, I'm gonna get married because I think it's important to tell the person you love how you feel while they can still hear you."

She registers his words then turns to look out the window, seeing Catalina talk with Mera about something. Her heart melts with pride when she hears her brother say something he never said before. She knew it but he never said it,

"I love you Lola Esperaz".

She smiles sweetly and cocks her head in amazement, "You have changed."

He shrugs, "Maybe I have"

Her smiling face lights up as if she just had an idea. "What?" he asks.
"I'm gonna hug you."

She leans over and wraps her arms around his neck. He smiles and even though, it's a bit too much affection - he welcomes it anyway and wraps his arms around her back.

Catalina looks up and smiles at the siblings, hugging. He really has changed, she thought before turning back to Mera explaining on how to prepare for twins.

_____________________

BOOM!!

-T

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