Niccolo Knights

"Mommy, is my gift to gwanpa okay?" Dylan asked from his car seat behind us.

"Of course, my love. Grandpa will surely love your gift to him." Olivia assured Dylan and went back texting on her phone.

Currently, we are on our way to Tony's house for his birthday dinner celebration. Olivia and Zac wanted to have a grand celebration but Tony talked to them about wanting to just have a simple dinner in their manor. Not only and Dylan were invited but also Jowee and Erin as well as Zac's bestfriends, Neil Pattel and Skylar Harris.

We arrived at the North manor and Lorna immediately welcomed us, she informed us that Jowee and Erin had already arrived and that they were in the recreational room. Olivia thanked Lorna and we went to Tony's study to greet him.

Olivia let Dylan knock on the while uttering, "Gwanpa, gwanpa." then we heard a low come in.

When we went inside, Dylan ran to Tony and hugged him.

"Happy birthday, Gwanpa Tony. Hewe is my gift. I dwaw that yestewday in mommy's office while waiting fow daddy. Do you wike it?" He immediately showed his drawing 'Happy Birthday, Grandpa Tony. You're the best.' with Avengers' superheroes.

Tony chuckled and placed Dylan on his lap. I was so glad that he treated Dylan like his own grandson even before he offered the marriage deal to me and Olivia, he adores my son.

"Niccolo, hold this. Let me take a picture of them. They look so perfect!" Olivia gave his clutch to me and snapped a couple of pictures.

"Hey old man, we're here too, you know." Olivia joked and dragged me to his table where he's tickling Dylan.

"I know but this little man is distracting me." He tickled Dylan again and my son just LOL-ed.

"Happy birthday, Tony." I greeted him and gave him a bottle of his favorite wine.

"I told you to not buy me any gifts, but anyway thank you, Niccolo." He stood up and gave me a breif hug.

"It's the least I can give you, sir. You gave me the best gift one could ever ask for." And that is his trust. Entrusting me to take care of his gem, Olivia. Up until now, I still didn't know the full reason why he had chosen me as Olivia's husband besides that he thinks that I am a good guy. I have a couple of hunches but I didn't think it's enough reason to entrust me his most treasured gem.

"Happy birthday, daddy. I still hate the fact that you turned down the party that Zac and I were planning over this simple dinner." Olivia huffed after she hugged and kissed Tony's temple. He just laughed and picked Dylan up.

I smiled at them because they are now getting close with each other. These past few months, I saw how caring Olivia is to Tony, she always allotted a night to have dinner with him. Her gestures and tone of voice towards him was more different from when I first met her.

Im glad they patched things up now. One can clearly see that Tony's way more happier with the way his relationship with his daughter is.

Then we heard a knock. We all faced the door and saw Bethany entered. Her eyes widened when she saw me then quickly shifted her gaze to the woman beside me who's currently looking on her phone. She paled and gulped. Tony on the other hand stood in front of Olivia to block Bethany from her sight.

Oh my God, if Olivia sees her, it'll be the end of her day.

"M-Mr. N-North, Mr. N-North has a-arrived already." She stuttered and Olivia looked up from her phone and saw her at the door. Uh-oh. I need to save this poor girl from her.

"Alright, you can leave now." Tony spoke immediately but the woman beside me spoke too and she covered Dylan's ears with her hands.

"You, didn't I tell you to not appear in front of me whenever I'm here? Why were you the one informed us that my brother is here? Have you forgotten about what I said about you appearing one more time in front of me?" Olivia said in a dangerously calm voice. If she hadn't covered Dylan's ears, I bet she would point her index finger at her.

I smiled to myself because of that thought. I put my arm around her and she just looked at me, I kissed her temple to calm her down.

"I-Im s-sorry Ms. North, I-I di-didn't know that y-you..."

"It's fine Bethany, you can leave now." Tony interrupted and dismissed her, she was so relieved when she heard his dismissal but before she can get out, Olivia spoke again.

"I will let this go for the sake of Dad's birthday. But if I see you again whether tonight or anytime, you will be out of this house immediately." Bethany lowered her head and nodded.

"Now get out. You're irritating." Olivia added and the poor woman walked out immediately.

I furrowed my eyebrows and I faced her to me. She was smirking but when she saw me, she rolled her eyes.

"Livy, you didn't have to do that. She did not know that you're already here. If she did she would ask someone to inform us that your brother is here." I carefully said so that I won't unleash the beast tonight.

"Still, I hate to see her face. It irks me." She removed my hands on her shoulders and picked up Dylan.

What was her problem with her? Couldn't she forget about her not giving her a glass of water? Or does she really hate the woman because she just wanted to?

I sighed. Olivia, you really are a peculiar woman.

"What happened to Bethany? Why does she look like she have seen a ghost?" Zac asked while entering the study.

"Uncle Zac!" Dylan ran to him and hugged his left leg. He ruffled his hair and greeted him.

"Hi little man."

"She saw her reflection, that's why." Olivia patted Zac's shoulder and went out with Dylan.

Zac was confused and looked at us.

"You know how Livy can be." Tony said and sat on one of the couches.
I followed him and sat.

"Oh yeah. I'm surprise you can put up with her, Nick." He commented and pointed at me and sat beside his dad.

"Happy birthday, you old man." He hugged him.

"How are you?" Zac asked me and poured himself a glass of scotch. He offered me but I refused.

"I am fine. Company is good and..."

"I meant you and Olivia. This has turned out quite good between you two. The last time I saw you two, you couldn't get both of your hands off each other. So, how did you soften her?" Zac interrupted me and smirked.

What do I answer? That she started to get physical with me since the Distillery Night? That doesn't sound good.

"Well I think we've gotten close because of Dylan. He lured her with his charm and cuteness and that's when we gotten close, I guess." I chuckled nervously, I didn't know why I got nervous all of sudden. Is it because this is the first time we talk about my relationship with Olivia?

"Well, she likes children. I heard that she already met your family and that your grandmother doesn't like her because she's does not know house chores." Zac uttered. Of course Tony would've told him, or Olivia. Her and Zac's relationship are deep, I can see that they love each other so much.

Zac is very protective about his sister, the way he stood in front of her in Mr. Sherate's party so that the pervert won't have to touch Olivia's hand. When he went to my office and demanded an explanation as to why I agreed to marry her. Let's just say it didn't turn out good and I earned a couple punches on the gut and arm. He did not target my face because in two days, I will be meeting Olivia and his dad.

"Livy told you, didn't she?" Tony asked but Zac shook his head and replied.

"Nope. I have my sources, dad." I widened my eyes. He can't be serious, don't tell me he hired someone to watch his sister?

"I care for my sister, Nick. And I know you care for her too that's why I won't get mad tonight for what your grandmother did to her. Thank you for standing up and protecting my sister whether from your Nana of from the media." I smiled at him.

"It's my job to protect her from the paparazzis, Zac." I stated.

"No I wasn't talking about that. I know that you're threatening the media sites who are trying to publish lies about my sister. Just last week, you turned down the news about her cheating on you with a German man. And I am grateful for it. It saves me a day of her showing up in my apartment crying over some lies published about her." He chuckled.

Seriously? He goes to Zac crying whenever something published about her like that?

"Really? But when I came to her office, she was just grumpy." I remembered how she shouted at the two men because they gave her a wrong report. She was just grumpy but she looks like she's not that affected about the news.

"That's because you called her that morning. I didn't know what you said but when I heard from Nikkie that she came to the office that morning I quickly went to her thinking that she's weeping then what I saw surprised me. She was just sitting on her chair glaring at her computer. I asked her if she needed me but she said you already consoled her." He stated.

That day, I just called her to ask how she's doing and to ignore the news. I didn't know that that simple call to check up on her would make her less emotional about those kinds of news about her. I'm glad I have that effect on her.

"Thank you, man." I looked up at Zac and saw him smiling at me then he continued.

"Take care of her, Niccolo. She may look tough but she's way more fragile than you think. Now, as her brother, I know give my blessing to you to marry my sister anytime." He paused when I widened my eyes. He's not kidding right? I mean he was so adamant for this deal to be deferred.

I knew how protective he is of Olivia that's why I was so shocked when I heard about his blessing.

"Seeing how happy my sister is when she's with you, how can I interfere, right? But I'm warning you Niccolo, dare to break her heart, hurt her emotionally and/or physically, I will forget that we're friends and I myself will kill you." He finished his sentence and looked at me seriously.

I smiled and nodded at him.

"Don't you worry Zac, I will never ever hurt your sister. I promise to protect and take care of her with all my life." And love her. Of course I said the love part to myself. It's enough that I already told my dad about my feelings toward her and I want the next person I tell about is Olivia herself.

"I know I promised this to you Tony when I agreed to marry her. But now, it's totally different. I want to protect her not only because of that but because I really really wanted to, just like what Zac said, she's a fragile woman. She may be tough and independent, and may not admit it, but she needed someone to take care of her. And I'll gladly fill that part in her life." I said sincerely to both of them.

"I'm grateful to know that. So dad, you heard Niccolo, he will be taking fare of Livy. So you don't have to worry about her, all you have to do is to take care of yourself. You have to live longer so you can see Livy completely happy." Zac faced Tony and patted his shoulder. Tony just chuckled and shook his head.

"Zac, I'm okay, I am fine. I know that Livy's in good hands now, it's you I'm worrying about. I don't want to leave this world without seeing you settling down. Your mom will nag me when I went to her to the afterlife and asked me about you." Tony laughed but Zac's face darkened.

"You will not die, dad. How can you be so cool about it? If me not settling down will make your life longer, then I will not fucking do it." Zac raised his voice and stood up.

I know it's hard to talk about death especially if it's about your parents or loved ones. Even I hates this topic whenever Tony started talking about it. I love him as my second dad and I know how Zac feels.

"Son, I'm just preparing myself, why do I have to sulk and be sad when I know that anytime I'll be facing death." Tony said.

"It's time to for Olivia to know that you're sick, dad. That you have a heart disease, she will--"

"NO! It's not for you to decide if it's time to tell my condition to your sister. She's finally happy with her life now, Zac. The last thing I want is to disrupt her happiness. Do you understand?" Tony said sternly which earned a growl from Zac.

"If something happened to you again what would I tell to Olivia, huh? What if you suddenly had a major heart attack like what Dr. Reid said? I don't think that the same old 'in business trip' would work. Dad, you have been confined thrice this year and I don't think we can keep this from her any further now that you two are getting close again. You know how much an observant she is, just a cough and she will know that there's something wrong. Also, you know how much she loves you so please let us tell her about your condition." Zac slumped his shoulder and sat back on the couch.

"Zac is right, Tony. Olivia should know about your condition. Of course she would be devastated when you tell her but at least she knows." I voiced my opinion because Zac is really right. I know Tony was just thinking about Olivia's reaction but she has the right to know.

Seeing her these past few days being so happy bonding with him, I know that she loves him very much. And so is Tony. If he didn't, he would not go into great lengths to look for a guy that can take care of his daughter after he passed away.

"I know how much she loves me that why I didn't want to tell her because I know she can't take it just like when she knew Emilia was diagnosed with cancer. I hated to see how broken she was whenever she will accompany us for Emilia's check up. That's what I am avoiding, to see that look in her face. So you two should stop telling me what to do and mind your own business." He went towards the door but the it opened before he even reached it.

Olivia entered with a frown in her face.

"Seriously? Dad?"

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