▪︎ Author ▪︎

"Whose house is this?" Silva asked with his eyes glued to Verena's back who was walking in front of them.

"Verena's. Well, one of them."  Dorian responded by exchanging a look with Nicolai

"It's pretty big" Silva commented, feeling a bitterness on his tongue.

"We all live together."  Nicolai explained calmly. "After Cassian was born, she bought this one to have more space."

"But this location is new. Nobody but us knows how to get here. And even if they did, they wouldn't be able to see beyond the barrier."

Silva nodded, still looking at Verena who hadn't tried to say anything since they got out of prison. What he didn't see was Verena's wet face. She bit her lip to keep from making noise and drawing attention to her.

Taking a deep breath, she stopped at the door that opened on its own. Wiping her face discreetly, she entered the house, followed by the three men.

Like the outside, the interior was white with Greek architecture. Simple and elegant.

"1...2...3" Verena counted out loud. Her voice echoing through the silent house. Different from what Silva imagined.

Looking around, he didn't see any toys or anything to indicate that there was a child living there.

"1...2...3" A second voice copied it from somewhere.  A childlike, thin voice.

Verena looked around slowly, as if she was preparing for an attack. Silva was confused.

In the blink of an eye, a small body with black hair appeared next to Verena. As if it had been formed out of nothing.

Verena, who already knew where he would appear, picked him up before his feet touched the ground. Holding him over her shoulder, she carried him to the couch and gently tossed him. Cassian's laughter got louder as his mother started tickling him. His joyful laughter filled the house.

"Mommy stop" he asked trying to get her hand away from his stomach.

Silva looked at the scene in wonder. He saw one of his dreams passing before him. It was real. He had a child with her. When he remembered that he hadn't been a part of Cassian's growth, the anger resurfaced stronger. Verena felt it, and it made her cringe a little.

Seeing the smile fade from his mother's face, Cassin frowned and pouted in confusion. Nicolai and Dorian had already noticed all the similarities between the two since they first met Silva, but seeing Silva's confused expression on Cassian's face and having them in the same room gave them goosebumps.

Verena was right when she said that one was the copy of the other with different ages.

"Someone wants to meet you, love" Verena said, smiling again.

Cassian still confused by her mood swings, stood up and looked behind her. In the midst of his uncles was the person he so wanted to meet.

"Daddy" he yelled running towards him.  Silva bent down in time to take the boy in his arms and hug him tight.

Daddy. That was all that was going through Silva's mind.  When he opened his eyes, he saw Verena looking at them, crying. It was a mixture of happiness, love, and guilt. Silva wanted to go to her and hug her as tight as Cassian was doing to him. But resentment and anger held him in place.

"Why don't you take him to see your room?"  Nicolai asked softly, trying to sound excited.

Cassian really perked up and looked in his mother's direction for permission. Seeing her cry, he got off Silva's embrace and went to her.

"Why are you sad mommy?"  he asked trying to wipe away the tears with his small hands.

"It's nothing" she said holding his face and bringing it closer to hers "Go on, love. While you guys play I'm going to make our favorite pizza, how about that?"

"Can we make chocolate cake for dessert?"

"We can. And if you want, I'll make pudding too. Hmm?"  They smiled, rubbing their noses in an Eskimo kiss.

"I love you, mommy"

"Love you too, little penguin"

Pushing him lightly, she lowered her eyes, feeling Silva's eyes staring at her. When they went upstairs and entered Cassian's room, Verena stopped holding on and went back to crying harder.

Nicolai and Dorian went to her pulling her into their arms, letting her put out everything she felt.

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The morning passed quickly. The entire lunch was Cassian telling his father stories. Verena just watched. And she was watched by her two friends.

After cleaning up the dishes, Cassian had fun helping make the cake batter and pudding mixes. This time, it was Silva who watched in silence. He'd imagined this moment so many times, and it still felt unreal that he was actually seeing it all.

See Verena with a miniature of him by her side, in a house where they could live in peace and without worries.

After the busy afternoon and having eaten his favorite desserts, Cassian showered, still babbling, wanting his father to know him as his mother.

Lying in bed, for the first time having the two of them together by his side, he read one of his books with them until he couldn't stand sleep. Finally giving in, his head dropped to Verena's chest and snuggled into her. Silva once again watched in amazement.

Was this how I would have lived the last few years if I had known?  wondered.

Tucking their son into bed and placing kisses on his forehead, they left the room in silence. Instead of going to the stairs to go down, Verena guided him silently down the hall past some doors. Opening one of them and turning on the light, she showed a simple but spacious bedroom.

A double bed, a large white wooden closet and a piece of furniture in the same color. Another door showing the bathroom.

▪︎ Verena ▪︎

"Laurent and the girls are coming over tomorrow and they're bringing your things from Alfea. But there's a change of clothes in the bathroom for you to spend the night." I say closing the curtains

"Aren't we going back to prison?"  Saul asked confused

"Did you really think I was going to leave you there?"  I turn to him, shocked.

"I did" he replied rudely crossing his arms.

I let out a sigh, lowering my face before trying to walk past him, but he squeezed my arm stopping me.

We stared at each other with heavy breaths. He was analyzing me in a new way. I can see the conflict going on inside him. But after all the anger I felt in him, I don't dare look any deeper again.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, surprised by the look on his face.

"I'm just surprised at myself," he replied quietly. "A week ago I was arrested and I haven't heard from anyone. I found out I have a son. And that you managed to lie to me. About Cassian, Andreas, you. I'm surprised how much I wanted to marry a stranger like you"

Wanted. Stranger. Liar.

He said those words with such fury and disgust, looking at me as if I really were a stranger to him.

The air left my lungs as if an elephant were sitting on my chest. I close my eyes trying not to cry again.

I knew there would be consequences, but a part of me had a small hope that he would try to understand and forgive me.  That hope died on hearing those words.

Pulling my arm from his grip, I walk out of his room without looking back.

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