𝔤𝔥𝔦𝔞𝔠𝔠𝔦𝔬 ╱ 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒅𝒐.

the door bell rings &. she makes her way through the hallway while she nods at the new and hovering guards. walking to the door she opens it to see a very happy girl ❝ hey sweetheart . ❞ she wraps her arm around her softly and makes sure the child doesn’t squeeze her so tight. ❝ silas &. ivana are in the playroom, you can go ahead &. go crazy . ❞  she says with a small smile as she turns to look at dom. their last conversation was less than ideal &. it resulted with her being shot . ❝would you um, like to come in ?  ❞ 

                    “You know that I hate you, right?” Mila came in with a warm smile on her face and a teddy bear she’d picked up from the gift shop. She figured that Sage would have a bunch of flower bouquets and those died too quickly so she chose the teddy bear that was a perfect size to cuddle. “You get shot and spend your time in the hospital and still manage to be the hottest girl on the wing.” Mila moved to her bedside, carefully looking at the bed to find a spot to sit on. “I got you this little guy at the gift shop. They didn’t have much. I was gonna bring in some alcohol but it thins blood and I think that’s the last thing you need right now.” Mila said with a smile. She’d been scared when she heard that Sage had been shot and she tended to hide that fear with humour and a lot of words. “Are…. Are you okay? I mean I know you’re not but you know what I mean.”

“I’d do it in a heartbeat, love– you know that,” Kieran replied warmly, waving a hand as if to brush away her ‘thanks’. Though he appreciated he’d come to love the twins as much as he loved his own nieces and nephews– had come to love Sage like she was the sister he’d never had in his life and that was something he wouldn’t have changed for anything in the world. His brow furrowed for a moment at the tail end of Sage’s statement and he felt an immediate need to protest that he couldn’t quite tamp down– though he had the urge for at least a fraction of a second. “You couldn’t have known that was gonna happen, Sage– it’s not your fault,” Kieran said, shaking his head. “I don’t think anyone ever plans on getting hurt– do they?” He continued, his thoughts drifting to Cole for far longer than he’d planned before Kieran blinked several times to try and clear his head. “All I care about is helping you get better in whatever way I can– that’s my priority right now. So you’re not allowed to go around blamin’ yourself for this– I don’t think that’s going to help things,” He said, wagging a finger in her direction almost playfully before he leaned down to kiss her forehead. “I’m glad to see you awake. You scared the hell out of me.”

she reaches for his hand as silas is now completely snoozed off in her arms, oceanic hues turn to look at ivana who was playing with the buttons on kieran’s jacket. ❝ what would I do without you , kieran ? ❞  she inquired him with a small smile on her lips . ❝ but I knew what I was getting myself into —— I knew what I was doing when I decided to stay with the scordatos &. I do not regret any of it because I love them as my family, which they are but what will be of silas &. ivana ——- ❞  a brief pause as she looks down at her baby boy sleeping peacefully hanging on to the top of her gown ❝ will it be like rocco &. amalia ? fighting for their life’s &. being in the middle of a war, I want better for them . ❞  she says as she looks at kieran, hearing his words causes a small smile to taint her features, the kiss on her forehead remains the smile on her features tainted. ❝ you can’t get rid of me that easily, you’re stuck with me now forever. ❞

she looked at the nurse, annoyed ❝ I want to go home, I don’t care about some bloody blood work, either you take these damn cables out of my arms or I will take them out &. gauge your eyes out with them ! ❞  the nurse scurried away &. she holds the wound where she got shot. leaning back on the bed she turns to the side to see her best friend ❝ don’t look at me like that . ❞ she says as she looks at the blonde ❝ they’re trying to keep me here &. I want to go see my babies . ❞  

she played with the tapioca pudding in her hand as she placed it on the table before her. ❝  I hope rome can wave his little chief wand &. get me out of here . ❞  she says with a sigh leaving her petals ❝ I miss my babies &. my bed . kieran has been taking care of them &. I know that he loves them as well as the twins love him but I don’t want for them to be without me for so long , I don’t want them to think that I abandoned them . ❞  she had been feeling guilty for putting herself in that position lately &. the result of leaving her kids . ❝ but how are you , you know with everything that happened ? ❞ 

she’s making her way around the house, about a week or so she had gotten discharged &. even though she was good. the pain was still there &. she was getting slowly but surely back into her own way. she takes a seat as spencer is being let in, giving him her small friendly smile ❝ so this is the only way that you will come &. visit me, huh ? ❞  she asked with a small smile on her lips ❝ I should get shot more often . ❞ 

she’s pressing the button numerous time &. she’s at the point where she is annoyed &. she wants to get up.  ❝ can I get some help ? ❞ she yells and hears the door open as she scrolls through her phone. ❝ I’ve had to get up for a few minutes now &. I need —— ❞  she stops as she sees the blonde male and lets a small smile on her brims ❝ how come every time I see you, you don’t ever look bad. like not one hair out of place. ❞  she says &. sits up trying to not look like she’s in pain ❝ so, what do I owe this lovely visit, did you miss me too much ? ❞ 

there was just so much that she could do or wanted to do. she was restricted to many things,  she hated not being able to do anything by herself. she watches the door to her room open &. smiles as she sees the doctor that had walked in ❝ hey, doc. ❞  she says with a small smile on her lips as she tries to sit up but the pain takes over &. she gives up . she hadn’t allowed the nurses to give her any pain meds due to her prior addiction problem. ❝ so, are you here to discharge me ? ❞ she says hopefully. 

Ivan Petrov was a weak man for his one true love. Whatever she was, whoever she was now, and whoever she would be– he wanted to be a part of it. While he struggled to wrap the fact that he was a father around his brain, it all made it easier knowing it was Sage. Finding love at such a young age would impact anyone and that was an understatement for what he felt towards her. He tried to stay away, he wanted to give her space but the thought of her being in these conditions had Ivan itching to just barge through her doors. So, that was exactly what he did. All the familiar people in Sage’s life were mere bowling pins Ivan was knocking down with his body. He looked around her house, finally coming face to face with her. He stood there like a brick wall, looking at her helplessly.

“Sage,” he said, approaching her and stopping again. “Are you mad at me?” The blond asked, his eyes filled with worry. 

being home after a long day, she can’t help but feel somewhat of a release. she hated that she had been released on the condition that she would take complete bed rest. though she didn’t really listen she had been running up and down the whole day &. it was now that she was feeling it. sitting down she listens to the commotion going on outside &. as she sees who walks through the doors. she stands up wincing at the pain in her abdomen. his words are rushed and she doesn’t know what to say. seeing the security around her , she places her hand in the air ❝ stop, it’s okay .  ❞  she takes a deep breath as she looks at the men ❝ I’m fine, please leave us alone . ❞ 

she makes a brief pause &. sees as the door closes &. them turns to him slightly. ❝ what’re you doing here, Ivan . ❞  she took the sign of him not bowing up at the hospital as him moving on but clearly they were in the same damn boat . ❝  I don’t think I could ever really hate you but you being here ——- you could have gotten killed . does your life mean that little to you ? ❞ 

she doesn’t remember much, her whole ride to the hospital was pitch black. the only thing that she remembers was being electrocuted back to life &. seeing a bunch of people over her screaming for directions on how to work on her &. once again she fell into darkness. as she wakes up she looks over at the seat next to her and a tired guasparre was sitting down . she looks around and cleared her throats, speaking hoarsely ❝ you know, that chair is going to kill your back &. with your age. it isn’t doing much help.  ❞  she joked &. laughed but winced as her body ached from what it had endured. 

she smiles as she speaks through the phone seeing ivana &. silas playing with kieran. ❝ be on your best behavior for uncle kieran okay, mommy will be home soon. ❞ she hears the door open ❝ I’ll talk to you guys later. ❞  she ends the call and does her best to move but it hurts her. seeing the person in the middle of her hospital room, she swallows hard. ❝ what’re you doing here ? ❞  the last time that they spoke, he had accused her of bringing Ivan to the wedding &. putting everyone in danger. ❝ look, rocco whatever it is. just forget it. ❞ she didn’t want to argue with him, her whole body ached &. she didn’t want to start a fight.  

It was a stroke of luck on Kieran’s part that he hadn’t gone through a month’s worth of his anxiety medication in the days following the wedding; instead, he’d pushed all of his focus into taking care of his friends as best he could when he was looking after Silas and Irina all the while. It wasn’t an issue– he adored the twins and he’d do anything in the world for Sage but it made him ache to know why he’d had them so long– why he was towing them along with him to visit Sage in the hospital of all places. It made his stomach churn to think about it too deeply but he was trying his best to keep up a cheerful, put-together front for the kids– though Irina’s constant hugs and Silas being insistent on holding his hand wherever they went were leading him to believe that the twins could at least tell he wasn’t himself. He knocked lightly on the doorframe as he lingered in the doorway with Ivana balanced on his hip and Silas’s hand held tightly in his, dark eyes settling on his friend in her hospital bed; he felt the hard jump of his stomach again and swallowed to fight the anxiety that seeing Sage this way had inspired in him but he brushed it off. Walking towards the bed and depositing Ivana on it gently before he lifted Silas up to do the same. “Alright, munchkins– remember what we talked about– you’ve got to be gentle with your mum. Very gentle hugs would be alright, though, I think,” He glanced at Sage with a soft smile, “Sound alright to you, darlin’?”

to say that she missed her babies would definitely be an understatement, she laid down on the bed, taking a deep breath she turns to look at the door that is being opened. she sees kieran carrying ivana &. silas clinched to his side &. she can’t help but smile . her eyes swelling up with tears as kieran spoke to them ❝ how are my gorgeous babies doing  ? ❞  she says as silas try’s his best to try &. climb on top of her. she makes space and moves a little so that she can hold him like she did when he used to be a baby. her hand reaches over to grab ivanas &. gives it a light squeeze. ❝ thank you, babe. ❞  she says endearingly , looking up at kieran . ❝ thank you for looking after them &. being so good to them, I feel like this was all my fault. I should have left with them &. now look at me . ❞ 

Every ounce of him tried to tune it out. He followed his orders. He did what he had to do. He wasn’t there to get revenge. He was there to do his job. Even, if it meant having to watch the love of his life get a gun pressed against her head. Ivan’s knuckles turned white around his pistol and he observed her from afar. As soon as the shots went off, he left Grace to be found by some stranger nearby and ran over to Sage who was falling towards the ground. He needed to go. He was on probation and couldn’t risk the rest of his life for these kinds of moments. While he took an oath, he needed to protect himself from the consequences of his own actions. 

He grabbed her arms, pulling her up off the ground and pushed her hair out of her face. His oceanic hues meeting hers and he grabbed her cheeks gently, “You need to get up and leave. Now, Sage!” He yelled through the commotion. “Go protect our children. Please.”

she watches as he approaches her and she doesn’t even want to be touched by him at this point but no matter how much sage hates it. he’s right, she has her two babies to worry about. she tried to gather herself as she looks at the man before her. she had never felt this way when she was with him and it crushes her that she feels this exact way in his presence and his arms. she makes a brief stop as she picks herself up and looks at him. 

hands are covered in blood, due to her injury in her head and nose. as she is about to leave she turns around briefly ❝ you asked me earlier today what it was that had changed ——- it wasn’t my love for you . no matter how many times you show me that I’ve been a fool, I let you back in but this —— this violence. this is what changed and  this is why I won’t allow any of the to get close my kids . you used to be my hero and now your just like the rest of them. kates blood is on your hands and whoever ends up hurt tonight . I love you but I don’t think love is enough anymore . ❞  with that she turns around trying to not break down in front of him as she tries to find her best friend and get the hell out of there.

FOR LOVE , FOR SELF &. FOR FAMILY. 

STELL: not yet, but I can keep an eye out for her??

STELL: not really but i will be

SAGE: please.

STELLA:: Hey where are you at???

SAGE: looking for allie, i cant find her.

SAGE: have you seen her ?