#mila bartolini

“I just.. don’t get it.” Nova sighed, as she walked into the room that was once hers growing up. It felt odd being here now. Home, she realized, wasn’t a place, but it was the people. Lucca was home for her. Well, him and their children. She pursed her lips as she stood staring down at him. “You didn’t eat your soup.”

“Hurts my throat.”

Her mouth popped open, her eyebrows knitted together in a frown, “Lucca Bartolini, why didn’t you say anything?”

He shrugged, grinning, his eyes still closed. “Honestly, I wasn’t very hungry so what I did eat was tolerable.” He peeked a look at her. God, she was beautiful.

She sighed out loud, pressing her palms to her cheeks before reaching down to pick up the food tray, but before she could lift it from the nightstand, Lucca grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed with him, rolling onto his side so he could prop himself up to look down at her. He gently rubbed his thumb between her eyebrows and across her forehead until she let out a little sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“You’re going to get me sick.” She accused, playfully glaring at him, but in all honesty she didn’t mind. The kids were busy with their aunts and uncle playing in the back yard and her Mother loved having a full house again. She’d probably be tickled pink if Nova had come down with the flu, too, and she’d have to take care of everyone. She pressed her lips together.

“Ouch.”

“What? Are you okay? Is it your side?” Nova couldn’t conceal the panic in her voice as she struggled to sit up, hands flitting across his torso to grasp the hem of his shirt, lifting it to see his bandage still in place and pristine white.

“Stop fussing over me,” he chuckled, “I’m fine.” He kissed her neck and he could instantly feel her body began to relax. He honestly didn’t want to get her sick, they weren’t even sure if he had the flu, but Presley was sure he had the symptoms and he immediately was quarantined until they passed. He also suspected she did that because Lucca was still recovering from a gunshot wound and had overdone it by taking his family to the beach the week before. His hand cupped her breast, kneading his gently with his finger tips before slowly tracing them across the surface of her skin causing her to shiver.

“You’re not.. f-fine, you, mmm..” she let out a small gasp as a shiver shook her body. “You were shot you know!”

“I’m not a baby,” he chuckled as he began kissing her chest, breasts and trailing kisses down to her navel. He ran his hand across her abdomen to the clasp on her jeans when he felt her stiffen. He lifted his head momentarily to see meet her eyes. “Nova?”

He brought his hand back up to her abdomen and felt it. A large, hard bump that his entire hand cupped. Finger tip to palm. He sat up on his knees, looking down as she slowly pushed her shirt down and sat up, taking his hands. “I wanted to tell you. I was going to, that night, but then everything was ..” she shook her head. “And then you were shot. I didn’t even know if you were going to live, Lucca.” She bit her lip. “I’d understand if you, if you hate me for not telling you, but I didn’t know when was the right time.”

“Hey,” his voice soft. “I could never, ever hate you Novalee.”

“I’m pregnant.” She sniffled.

He ran the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip and sighed, sitting back on his heels. “Damn right you are,” he grinned and then leaped off the bed. “WOOOO!!!!” He spun around in a circle and came back to her side, pulling her up and into his arms.

“LUCCA! PUT ME DOWN! YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LIFE MORE THAN 3 POUNDS!”

Ignoring what she said, he carried her outside to where the kids were playing before setting her down on her feet, keeping his arm wrapped tightly, protectively, around her shoulders.

“Kids! We have an announcement to make!” Lucca grinned down at Nova who rolled her eyes at him. “We’re going to have another baby!”

Millie and Mila gasped in unison, Max poured a bucket of sand on his head and Harper sat next to him as she silently cried smiling at her big sister. And as if on queue, all of them, Mila-Millie-Riley-Jonas, begin talking and asking questions at once. The girls wanted a sister, Jonas said he needed another nephew, Riley wanted to know when she gets to babysit without Harper there. And a strangled sound from behind them caused Lucca and Nova to turn and look over their shoulders to see a sobbing Presley holding knitting needles and yarn.

“I knew there was a reason I picked up knitting again!”

Everyone laughed and embraced each other before Presley scolded Lucca for getting out of bed, but hugged him tightly as she sniffled into his shoulder.. “I can’t believe you’re taller than me now.”

"Why are you putting it off. I've already called and spoke to some lawyers. I can help you guys pay for the retainer fee." She offered. "Not that you couldn't afford to on your own, but I want this for you both just as much as you do. Well, maybe not as much as you do.. it feels that way though." She paused. "Anyways, it's just a precaution. If what you and Nova told me were true, he may not even fight you guys on this."

He raised his eyebrows, sighing. "Yea, well.. First I need to talk to Novalee and make sure she's ok with it."

"True!"

"What?"

"Nothing.."

"Braylie, I know you. What do you want to say."

She sighed into the phone, "Go ask her now! I want to know!"

He chuckled. His family has always adored Nova since they were little. The fact that they were together and having children literally 'tickled them pink' to quote his Mother after Braylie had called and told her they were officially an item. "She's not home right now. Harper's in town and Nova wanted her to meet her nephew."

"How is Harper? Does she know anything about Oona?"

Oona, their little sister, had suddenly decided to strike out on her own almost a year ago. No one had really heard from her since their niece was born on June 20th when she appeared quiet suddenly at his side looking pale and distraught at having missed her arrival. He knew something was off with her, but he never tried to question her. He wished he had, especially after seeing her at the hospital that night. Maybe he could of prevented her from cutting ties with them all and taking off, but she was almost 20 years old. An adult. He knew from personal experience that you can overcome any odds as long as you were determined and Oona definitely was that.

"I don't think so. Last Harper saw Oona was when they were 14 years old and she'd visited her in Italy." Lucca reached down and scratched Bird, his Englishe Springer Spaniel, behind the ear. "Besides," he took a deep breath letting it out slowly. "Nova isn't the type of person to pry into people's personal lives unless she felt it was necessary. Oona can take care of herself."

"But she shouldn't have to! She's only 19." Braylie whined.

"I know you miss her. I miss her, too, but we have to trust her and respect her decisions, Bray. She'd only end up resenting us if we forced her to stay."

"I don't know, something just feels... off? She was so excited about being an Aunt. Getting that new job at Logan's parents cafe. I just don't understand why she'd suddenly just up and vanish and not tell me where she was going. Or Logan, poor guy. He was beside himself!" She drew in a shaky breath. "But that isn't why I called. I know Nonno is keeping tabs on her, so if she gets in trouble or is hurt, I know he’ll be right there to jump in. I was calling about Millie. I want to throw a party if it happens. Small, just family. Maybe some close friends. Kind of like.. a meet and greet after a baby's born?"

"You're so weird. She's not a baby and she would be very upset if she knew you were comparing her to one." He chuckled, imaging Amelia stomping her little foot, mouth pursed in disgust, the little v forming between her eyebrows when she's upset or concentrating on something hard enough.

Braylie giggled, probably imagining the same thing he was. "Ok, ok. Just... let me know. And if it's positive then I'll ask Nova how she feels about the party."

"I will, but I'm going to say no to the party." He paused, "If my vote counts for anything."

"Probably not little brother, but I'll keep it in mind. Love ya!" With that she hung up the phone.  

"I was going to poke my head in on them, but was afraid I'd wake them. Millie's been so anxious about those fires." She shook her head. "And unfortunately it's being covered by every news station. Why can't she just be a normal five year old and want to watch cartoons?"

"Because she's a genius." He gives her a mock incredulous look and then laughs, running his thumb over her bottom lip. "Speaking of Amelia, I wanted to talk to you about something."

She frowned up at him. "Ok.."

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, as he stared down into her eyes. "I've been wanting to talk to you about this for awhile, but I was afraid of your answer for so long that I just kept brushing it off..."

She pressed her lips together, tightening her arms that were wrapped around his waist.

"I, well," he swallowed. "I wanted to know how you would feel if I were to ask you.." He frowned, "No that's not right." He let out his breath, frowning. "I love you."

"I...love..you, too." She said slowly, carefully. He could see that she was beginning to guard herself.

"Don't do that," he whispered. His eyes started to prick from behind causing tears to fill his vision. "Don't try to push me away. I promise I'm not leaving you. I'll never leave you or Amelia. I love you both, so much. More than my own life. I would do anything for the four of you. Anything." He tucked her hair behind her ear, leaving his hand to rest on the side of her neck. His thumb rubbing up and down the length of it from her ear to her collar bone. "I know that Amelia isn't... biologically speaking, my daughter. But I love her. I love her as if she were my flesh and blood and I am so proud of her and awed by her. I cannot imagine my life without you or Millie, or Max. Just as I can't imagine my life without Mila."

Tears slip over Nova's thick eyelashes and leave silent trails down her cheeks in their wake. Her chin began to quiver. She shook her head, but Lucca placed both of his hands on either side of her face. "I want to adopt Mille, Nova. I want to be her Father, not just her Dad."

Her eyes, impossibly, grew more round than they already were. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound - not a breath - escaped between her full lips.

"You don't have to answer me now. We don't have to make any decisions until you're 100% sure of what you want to do, I -"

She lifted her hand and gently placed her two fingers against his lips. "Why?"

"Because.." he shook his head slowly, a tear escaping as he blinked. "She's my daughter. I love her. I want to give her the world and I don't want her to ever question where she fits into our family, or my heart."

"I.. wh.." she swallowed, tears flowing freely down her face. She took a steadying breath, wiping her cheeks with the butt of her hand, sniffing. "I would love for you to adopt her, Lucca, but a piece of paper doesn't change the fact that to me - my family and yours - to her, you are her Father."

He embraced her, holding her, their bodies pressed together leaving no space between them. "We should talk to Millie about it. See what she wants."

"Of course," she was caressing the back of his head, her voice thick. "Lucca?"

"Yes?"

"I don't know if this is a good time to tell you this.." she cleared her throat. "I'm..."

Bird’s growling cut Nova from finishing whatever she was about to say. Still, Lucca stared down into her pale face waiting for her to finish her sentence, but Nova was already distracted. Staring down at Bird like she had two heads and around the backyard, trying to catch a glimpse at whatever had spooked her.