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𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀

"No!"

"No!"

I watched as Leo exhaled in frustration at his stubborn daughter who was refusing to finish her plate of delicious bolognese. Amalia's chubby cheeks were flushed as tears poured down her cheeks, she wriggled around in his arms, fighting to break free from her father's hold. She had such a cute, innocent voice that made me smile at her, even though she was giving Leo a hard time.

Continuing to fill my stomach, I noticed how he momentarily closed his eyes as though to calm himself, his eyebrows drawn together as he tried not to snap at the child who had thrown spaghetti in his face twice as a sign of defiance.

I couldn't keep watching and stood, taking Amalia away from him. "What's wrong, princess? You don't wanna eat?" Bouncing her gently as I moved back to my seat, I stroked her silky hair. Her face was buried into my shoulder as she wailed, her little cries muffled as her tears soaked my top.

Leonardo exhaled as he rubbed his eyes, staring helplessly at the child. I knew he didn't want to show his frustration but Amalia had been whining for at least an hour. Those hazel eyes of his were downcast, he looked so tired as though he hadn't sleep for a long while. I realised since the night at the hospital I had barely seen him and couldn't check if he was getting enough sleep. It was clear the lack of rest was hitting him. His shoulders hung low and he was slightly slouched on his chair, barely focusing on the environment around him.

I tried my best to keep the mood up. Giving Amalia a warm smile I cooed, "okay, okay, sweetheart." I felt as though she understood me and looked up with her adorable bright eyes, blinking away the tears filled in them. I gently tapped her button nose, causing her to blink them away, a loveable look coming onto her once upset face. Her small lips curved upwards into an endearing smile, showing off those cute little gums of hers with tiny teeth poking out.

Nonetheless, I picked up my fork, swirling a small amount of spaghetti around and playfully said, "shooong!" Waving the food towards her mouth. She giggled gleefully, providing me free access to the inside, gently moving the fork into her small mouth. I was glad she ate some more, maybe she could feel the stress coming from her dad.

I looked back up at him as she chewed some more. "Hey, papa, you can go to bed if you're tired. I can stay with my little princess." His distant eyes finally placed their focus back on me and it was intense. He looked serious and his eye contact was so strong that I even struggled to maintain it.

"I need to clean up the kitchen and get her ready for bed and-"

"I'll do it," I reassured him, cutting him off. "Go to sleep."

He sighed, his eyes filled with concern, hesitating to leave the two of us.

Following his own mind, he shook his head, standing and picking up his empty plate. I frowned, questioning why he was so adamant on staying. "I can take care of her, Leo," I stressed, my head tilted upwards to look up at him.

He averted his eyes away and murmured, "I can't sleep without you. I'll clean up."

Leonardo left before I could say anything. A little surprised, I shifted my attention back onto his daughter and continued to feed her, though his words rang through my mine repeatedly.

"I can't sleep without you."

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Bedtime was easier than dinner.

Amalia wasn't completely asleep but her small limbs had given up the fight and she was slowly starting to drift away into a slumber. Her father rubbed her back softly whilst she snuggled into his chest, breathing more heavily.

"I like seeing you like this," I quietly said, moving my head slightly on the pillow as I watched the two of them together. Amalia looked so tiny, protected in his large arms, his paternal side was coming out. His dark eyes drifted away from his baby and met mine as he looked surprised, replying in a husky voice, "like what?"

I hummed a little with a playful smile. "Like. . .I don't know. Soft. The soft you."

"And what's the 'soft me'?"

I pretended to think for a second, earning a small, deep chuckle from him.

"Mmm. . ." A smile extended across my face. "Peaceful. . .but thoughtful. Quiet but intuitive. . ." I paused for a moment before deciding on adding, "cold but actually tender hearted. .those are the things I love about you - some of them anyway. I like how these come out with Lia. She brings out the best side of you." I gently patted her head, playing gently with her soft, frizzy hair.

For a few moments he didn't answer. My eyes flicked over to his, to unexpectedly meet his burning gaze.

". .you're right. She does. . .you did too."

"You did too. ." I repeated quietly as a response. Amalia fussed a little, coughing a couple of times. I patted her back as he slowly said, "I'm not the good. . 'soft' person that you think I am, Ria." My eyebrows creased in disagreement.

"No. No you're not," I acknowledged before pursing my lips. "You're better than I - and even you can imagine."

He rolled his eyes in disbelief and possibly cringe as I placed my hand over his on Amalia's back, helping to soothe her cough.

"It's your turn," I beamed, a curious look overcoming Leonardo's face.

"For?"

"What do you like about me? I can't be completely annoying to you, right?"

He scrunched his face a little, looking adorable as he grumbled, "enough. Go to sleep, stop blabbering about-"

His lustrous eyes dropped to my sulking face and he immediately stopped groaning, shifting his position slightly. "Fine - just stop with the pout." I returned my bottom lip and formed a pleased smile, awaiting his answer whilst he sighed in annoyance.

"I like your eyes."

My eyebrows raised slightly as I looked up back into his sincere eyes. "Why?" I asked him curiously, blinking a few times.

"They're serene. . .filled with-with genuine emotion."

"Genuine emotion?" I repeated, wanting him to elaborate more to enlighten me.

"When you smile. .or laugh or even talk. You do it with your eyes too," he stared attentively at me, gazing deeply into my mine. He was striking, just with a single look, he captivated me with those alluring hazel eyes of his. It felt good to hear that from him. A minor detail that only he could notice.

"Not a lot of people have that. . .so I think that it's a good quality to have."

I slowly nodded against my pillow. "Do I look different now?"

His hazel eyes scanned my face as he casually replied, "yes and no." Inquisitively, I waited for him to elaborate.

"We're not kids anymore, so yes," Leonardo answered in a matter-of-fact tone, "but you also live for yourself now which is why you look a lot more. . ." My eyebrows raised slightly as he hesitated a little, quickly making eye contact with me as he thought. "More healthy. .and happy." He wasn't wrong there; the old me was a scrawny looking girl with massive bags under my eyes that lacked liveliness, simply living for my mother.

"And why no?" I further questioned, curious to what he'd say.

"Like I said. .you've always had a guileless look. That's never changed. . .same with your incapability to cook."

I poked his arm, laughing a little at him. "Not true - I know a good thing or two about eggs." He rolled his eyes again, "I'd like to see you on Hell's Kitchen then." We both chuckled. It sounded good to hear him laugh genuinely.

My finger gently drew circles on the back of his hand as he quietly hushed Amalia who was beginning to stir a little, making little noises. His hand was large and slightly rough. My finger slid across the bumps and veins poking out from his skin, they were so prominent as though he had just been working out.

"You exercise a lot now. What turned you into Vin Diesel?"

". .Papa. ." Amalia mumbled in a muffled tone, her head in his chest. He touched her forehead while saying in a more lighter tone, "I wanted to become stronger. I used to get sick too easily back then. . .and pushed around. ." I recalled a few incidents at school, deciding not to touch them further.

"Shh. ." He whispered to her, kissing her forehead as he moved the comforter away a little. "I think she's feeling too hot." I touched her warm arm, understanding though I was feeling a little chilly under the duvet.

He soothed her some more before continuing, "just like why you pushed to do ballet. .it wasn't just for your mother," he observed, his eyes glistening in the darkness. My breath hitched at the mention of her, a familiar image of her hanging from the balcony entering my mind again. "It was for yourself too. You worked hard. You used to come home limping with blood stains all over your legs, back pain, bruises. Training all day everyday with no rest for what you wanted."

"What I wanted first. Then what she wanted. I needed an escape route," I asserted, a bitter tone to my words. "If I worked hard enough, did what I had to do and rose to the top, I could leave her. Them. That was what that programme did for me back then." I exhaled softly, remembering that awful night. "I just didn't expect it to turn out. .like that. I thought she'd still be alive."

He looked upon my solemn face and unexpectedly, gently moved a strand of hair away, tucking it behind my ear before his hand returned to Lia's back. My heart skipped a beat at his small action. "You want to let go of it all. .as a break. Ballet was your dream first."

I shook my head, lightly scoffing. "I've been through too much with this lifestyle. It's ruined a lot of things in my life, just like my mom," I contemplated, humming quietly, "I don't know a life without it. I want to discover that. . .maybe I'd be a lot happier."

"I will stand by whatever you want. Whatever makes you feel like you."

I smiled at him winsomely and sincerely replied, "I appreciate that."

"There you go again," he attractively whispered, glancing between my lips and eyes. "That smile. .those eyes. ." His words somehow translated into something romantic in my head, setting my heart off to a series of palpitations. "Mi sono persa nei tuoi occhi {I've lost myself into your eyes}." My breath hitched.

A meaningful gaze was held between us and then, I could feel the warmth within me just by looking at him.

Would it be wrong to pull him to me right in front of Amalia?

"I think she's asleep now," Leo softly murmured, stroking her curly hair as he broke eye contact with me.

I softly sighed, watching her. But the more I looked, the clearer I could see and hear that her breathing had become laboured. Leo must have thought she was snoring. Amalia's little lips were parted, her chubby cheeks flushed and her eyes squeezed shut. Placing my hand on her tiny head, I felt an immense wave of heat. Narrowing my eyebrows, I lifted my head, my elbow propping me up, and pressed more on her head. "She's. ." I met his eyes once again, my tone filled with panic. "She's burning up, Leo!"

His head lifted and he placed his hand on her forehead, frowning as his face become more serious. I quickly pulled the duvet away and moved Lia onto her back.

Amalia was struggling to breathe.

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~ Author's Note ~

Well, that was adorable until the end!

Leonardo and Maria have gotten closer in one evening, moving on from their previous disagreements which is nice to see.

As for Amalia, an update will be coming soon regarding her condition!

I hope you enjoyed reading!

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