December 22nd - 7:00am

Roman reached over and shut off his alarm that blared through their room moments ago. He blinked, slapping his lips together as he came out of his unconscious state. After rubbing his eyes and stretching his limbs, he let out a big sigh and turned his head to the side, surprised to see Virgil curled up away from him, back toward him and everything.

Frowning, Roman shuffled over, wrapping an arm around his middle and pulling him close but as soon as he touched him Virgil jumped and sat up, acting skittish with frantic movements. "Oh-hey-morning, Roman" Virgil greeted, pushing away the covers and standing up from bed.

"Morning, Dearest...is everything okay?" Roman asked gently, slowly rising up from bed, walking around it to be closer to Virgil who nodded. "Yeah, yes, everything's fine" he confirmed, eyes unable to even look over at the man who stood a few feet away.

"I'm gonna have a shower" he quickly excused himself, grabbing his clothes and a towel. "Oh! Well, I'll come with you-"

"No!" Virgil cut him off, his sudden loud voice making Roman flinch back. "No" he repeated, quieter this time. "I'm...I want to go alone" he explained in a murmur, not giving Roman so much as a glance before he was leaving the room, pulling the door closed as he went.

Roman stared at the door in shock, standing in front of the bed as he didn't have time to move before Virgil yelled at him. He didn't know what to make of that, never before had Virgil acted like this before, so jittery and worried looking. He couldn't think of anything that could've upset Virgil, so he assumed something happened - something he didn't witness.

And his eyes darkened at the thought.

Later that morning Roman sat beside the kids at the table, telling them a tale of two princesses in love when the door to the dining room opened and Virgil walked in. The entire table silenced, everyone pausing eating their breakfast - since Charlotte arrived Virgil hadn't eaten at the table because of her, so it was quite shocking to see him here.

"Virgil-?"

"Don't worry, Harper" Virgil cut her off, taking a seat down the table even if Matthew was about to offer his seat where he sat beside Roman.

Everyone looked at each other, Charlotte just carried on eating.

"Eggs, Virgil?" Amelia offered and conversations were starting again, albeit very awkward and full of glances in Virgil's direction but it seemed breakfast had started again, everyone trying to act normal but no one could help but feel like none of this was normal.

"You two didn't argue" Roman commented as soon as he caught Virgil alone, the man washing his plate in the sink after everyone else put there's in the washing machine. "Yep" Virgil responded, quickly drying his hands on a towel. "There's no point, Ro" he shrugged, glancing at the man who held questions in his eyes - Virgil could see it.

He'll hurt you

Suddenly Virgil looked away, unable to stare at Roman any longer. "Why aren't you with the kids?" He asked and Roman shrugged.

"I thought I'd spend some time with you" he explained, then drew a step back. "But it seems like my presence is unwanted" Roman didn't want to make such a strong accusation, but he could read the room, sense the atmosphere, Virgil didn't want to be around his boyfriend at the moment and as soon as he didn't deny it Roman was turning around and walking out the room, leaving Virgil alone to cross his arms and clench his eyes shut.

"Don't let him hurt you, Virgil" Charlotte murmured as she walked passed, grabbing herself a drink. Virgil didn't stick around, he felt uncomfortable around the woman and quickly left, knowing she wouldn't try and keep him here like last night - especially with Harper and Gabriel up and about.

But it seemed like he couldn't get a break.

"And what the fuck was that?" Gabriel asked him as he headed up the staircase. Virgil knew he meant the breakfast, the walking in and sitting down without making any sort of comment to the elephant in the room.

"Drop it, Gabe" Virgil tried to carry on but the fifteen year old wasn't letting him go that easily, moving faster than him to force him to stop when he stopped in front of him. "I won't, this whole operation was your idea! Why are you suddenly okay in the same room as her? You two were at each other's throats on the first day!"

"People change, Gabriel!" Virgil responded, voice loud, much more louder than it needed to be. Either way it shut the boy up who eyed Virgil as if he didn't know him anymore.

"Right" he rolled his eyes, "when you get your head out your ass come find me" with that, he was walking down the stairs and out of sight. Virgil winced, covering his face with his hands, guilt washing through him but he couldn't control himself at the moment - his emotions were all over the place, with one thing floating through his mind; they all changed, so why can't she?

Without turning around he slowly carried on up the stairs and into his room unaware of the pair of eyes that trailed after him.

Virgil spent a few hours in his room, he couldn't really say how many exactly, he wasn't paying it any attention at all, completely focused on his phone, watching T.V shows as an escape, he needed a moment of relief and watching Netflix seemed like the best option he had. He was worried, scared even, he would be rude to anyone else that came up to him. He didn't want to hurt any one else, his stomach was in shreds from what he said to Roman and Gabriel alike - it would destroy him if he carried on without being able to stop.

"Virgil?"

Shit. It was Elizabeth.

"Not right now, Lizzy" Virgil grimaced, pausing his show but rolling onto his side to try and make it obvious he wasn't in the mood, but Elizabeth wasn't having it, crossing the room and sitting on the bed beside him.

"My parents used to tell me I'd get hurt because I'm so trusting, because I can look past peoples flaws and become their friend" she began and Virgil realised he wasn't getting out of it, so he shut off his phone completely and sat up, shifting around to face her.

"But I've never been hurt - not once. I don't call it a gift, that sounds pretentious, but I know people. William could've easily hurt me but look" she smiled and tapped her ring, "we're married. Because I knew him - from when we first met I knew him, I could see...him" she looked over at Virgil once she stopped twirling the ring around her finger.

"And I'm a strong believer of second chances, this whole family bonded again because of a second chance - I also believe people can change. All these people changed, it's not impossible. But Virgil?" He stopped fiddling with the bedding to look up at her.

"Ir's up to you to see the people who have changed for love versus the person that has changed for selfish means" she leaned over and pressed a single kiss to his forehead, standing up from the bed and leaving the room, shutting the door quietly on her way out.

The person that has changed for selfish means

He knew Elizabeth was trying to help but this has confused his emotions and thoughts even further. He knows it's obvious who Elizabeth meant when she said that, he knew she didn't trust her, but what was the whole point of this trip if it wasn't to forgive and forget?

I was happy to see you, truly I was

Virgil sighed, he fell against his bed and covered his eyes, wondering when all of this would be over, wondering if one day he could just be happy with everyone.

The rest of the day Virgil didn't speak to anyone - he shunned himself away and let his thoughts take over, with heightened anxiety it was never a good idea but he didn't want to turn to anyone right now. Usually Roman helped him, calmed him down and held him until he felt better but he didn't have Roman right now.

He'll hurt you

"I'm trying to think, Roman" Virgil sighed, Roman finally having enough of his silence and coming to see him in the late afternoon.

"Well I'm trying to help! What's wrong?"

"Nothing!"

He'll hurt you

"Well that's certainly the biggest lie I've ever heard!"

"Why can't you trust me on this, Roman?"

"I will trust you forever, Dearest, but this? This isn't you- at least, this isn't you when nothing is wrong!"

He'll hurt you

"Fucking Hell Roman, just drop it!"

"No! Please talk to me, dear-"

"Will you stop being such an idiot and listen to me!"

Silence.

Virgil nearly fell back against the bed he was so shocked, mortified with the words that had tumbled from his mouth without him being able to stop it. They had only needed to go through it once, for Roman to admit to him once, his biggest insecurity. Something that's torn him down to nothing, something that's ruined his self-confidence for months. Something that destroys him.

Being called an idiot.

Roman didn't need to say anything for his eyes held enough.

"Very well" he whispered, crossing his arms behind his back he left the room, the door shutting too loud for comfort.

Virgil flinched and hung his head, pressing his hands against his face, body shuddering with silent sobs.

In the end we all hurt the ones we love the most, especially when led to believe they'll hurt us first.

He'll hurt you? No, instead, you hurt him.

And maybe that was her plan all along.