December 15th - 9:45am

"Virgil!" Roman exclaimed when he saw his favourite person. He moved from the corner of the room where he stood to stare out the window over to his boyfriend, wrapping his cold body into a warm hug, their lips pressing against each other's in a long-lasting, loving kiss.

"You're frighteningly cold" Roman commented, a frown forming on his face when Virgil pulled away to his drawer, pulling out some clothes that weren't covered in melted snow.

"Yeah, we can cuddle in a minute, moron" he replied back, hiding his smile when he heard Roman's little noise of excitement. From the corner of his eye, he watched Roman slip under the covers, even if he was wearing white jeans, he seemed to be comfortable as he waited for his boyfriend patiently.

Rolling his eyes, Virgil changed as quickly as he could, secretly eager to latch onto a warm body and stop shivering.

Once he threw his clothes into the laundry basket, he moved across the room, clambering onto the bed and under the cover that Roman pulled up for him. "I will protect your body from the cold!" Roman declared, grinning as he took the shivering boy into his tight embrace, not hearing Virgil's incoherent reply as his face was smushed into his chest.

The two stayed like that for awhile, completely content resting in each other's arms, warming up considerably. As Virgil closed his eyes, he thought back to the snowball fight he shared with his father, the thought bringing a smile to his lips. For ten years he didn't think he would ever smile in the presence of his dad, and he had a snowball fight with the man! It was such a warm feeling, one he hadn't felt in awhile.

The warm feeling you only receive from your family.

Finally, Virgil rolled onto his back when he felt the position he was in was staring to become uncomfortable. In return, Roman rested his head on his chest, eyes still closed as they lazed on the bed together.

"Roman?"

"Hmm?"

Virgil licked his dry lips, hesitant about asking this certain question. He didn't know what it would open up, and he didn't even know if Roman would want to talk about it. Although, before he had the chance, Roman sat up, still laying on Virgil's body, but had his head propped up on his hands.

"I watched you and your father - it was a beautiful sight...he really wants to be your father again" Roman drifted, smiling that soft, innocent smile he always wore when talking about family. Sighing out gently, Virgil brushed some of his hair from his amber eyes, agreeing with his statement.

"Yeah...I do, too"

They went back to silence, Roman repositioning himself so his head was flat against Virgil's chest that rose and feel rhythmically.

"Puppy?"

"Yeah?" He replied back, voice low and murmur-y. He was tired. Somehow. Virgil guessed if you stay in a relaxed position for so long sleep just draws you in.

"Speak Spanish" Virgil asked of him, staring at the ceiling as he did. He could feel Roman chuckle, shoulders shaking lightly as he did. Everything was at ease...and Roman's tired Spanish was something he always enjoyed listening to.

"What shall I say?"

"Anything" Virgil replied in a soft yet impatient tone.

Roman lifted his head once again, shuffling up further so he could easily stroke Virgil's jaw, making a smile raise on the boy's lips as he did, leaning into the touch. "quiero estar contigo para siempre" Roman murmured, voice velvety smooth as he spoke. It made Virgil melt, eyes finally looking down to meet Roman's.

"Why don't you speak Spanish around anyone but me?" Virgil questioned, something that's always been on his mind, but never really did he have the courage to ask. Roman still kept smiling, so Virgil assumed he was okay talking about it. "That's not true - have I not spoken Spanish around your family?"

"Well, yeah" he sighed, pushing his body up, wrapping his arms around Roman's torso to pull him closer, which the taller man affectionately followed. "But you never speak it in America, only when we're alone - or around your family" he clarified, leaning down to kiss the crown of his head gently, smiling when his soft hair brushed against his face.

Roman's eyes closed again, body completely relaxed against Virgil.

"Americans don't like it" Roman explained in a solemn tone.

"What do you mean...?" Virgil replied back, prompting him to further explain. Roman let out a gentle sigh, sitting up on his lap so he could stare at his curious yet concerned face. "When I was a child..." Roman began, raising his arms to rest them on Virgil's shoulders, shuffling forward slightly with a gentle smile to reassure Virgil what he was about to say doesn't bother him anymore.

"My neighbour shot me for speaking Spanish to his son"

The door to their bedroom suddenly opened and Riley darted in, Harry awkwardly standing in the doorway as he waited for his twin. "Breakfast is ready! Aunt Amelia says if you two don't eat at the table today you're in big trouble!" She declared loudly, sending them both large, toothy smiles before skipping over to Harry, leaving the bedroom door open as they rushed down the stairs together. 

Roman sat up, sliding from the bed and over to the door.

Virgil was still sitting on the bed, jaw slacked with the shock that coursed through him from the revelation. Roman stood in the doorway, chuckling at the expression that was stitched into his face. Slowly, his dark eyes rose up to meet Roman's, and his mouth let out a noise of sorts - a mixture between a squeak and a stutter of an undetermined word.

Again, Roman sagged a little with a laugh, sauntering over to his boyfriend to pull him up from the bed, snapping him from the shocked-paralysed state he was in. "Are you okay?" He wondered with a soft smile, flinching a little at the outburst that followed afterwards.

"You were shot?!"

"Calm down, Querido" Roman murmured, leaning down to kiss him gently, cupping his jaw affectionally as he did. "The scar is barely there" he added, raising his shirt a little to reveal an average-size scar trailing across the skin just above his hip bone. Virgil lifted his hand, thumb pressing against it gently, as if if he were to put more pressure on it it would break or re-open which was highly unlikely. Once Virgil let his hand drop, he stared up at Roman's face apologetically.

"I am starving!" Roman exclaimed, quickly changing the subject as he tugged Virgil out the room, they both headed down the staircase, Virgil trailing behind him a bit, because he felt like they should have a longer talk about this, yet when he watched Roman take a seat at the table with the rest of his family, he realised he didn't need to.

Whatever happened was obviously behind him, and Virgil hoped that a similar occurrence hasn't happened since. It breaks his heart, though, when he realises even after all these years Roman's still fearful of speaking anything but English in the sick country they both lived in.

Virgil let it go and sat beside his boyfriend. He felt a little weird that Roman didn't tell him sooner, but then he couldn't really complain, or say anything, because he hasn't told Roman a lot of things that he probably should've done. He let the thought drop from his mind, focusing on the world around him. The side of the table he sat on was filled with the younger members of the family, and sitting at the head was Sebastian. Virgil offhandedly thought it was cute, he had to sit on a few pillows so he would be tall enough.

Roman - or the "Disney Prince" - conversed happily with the kids, not finding it awkward at all. He was always extraordinary around kids - while most adults found them annoying, and would rather talk to a brick wall then someone under the age of ten, Roman thrived in it, as it was quite easy to make them laugh, and they seemed to love the idea that he was from a Disney movie.

Opposite himself sat Mason, Abigail's husband. He had a napkin tucked securely and somehow neatly into his shirt to prevent any accidental food stains gather on his clothes, although Virgil had known the man prior to him leaving, and not once had he ever made a mess anywhere, let alone the dinner table. It was just something for precaution, Virgil supposed, and who's to say someone won't accidentally spill their food onto him? Somehow.

For someone who was a sucker for everything being neat and tidy, Virgil was a little surprised to see he had let his hair grow out a bit. Right now it was flattened into a bun, not a single bump in sight, and every strand in the perfect place, a little shimmer due to the possible gel he used.

Even if it was styled for perfection, it looked cool, and suited him.

Virgil let his eyes move down the table some more, gaze landing on Camila and her slightly over-weight husband. Camila didn't mind about his weight - in her words there was "more to love" - and Samual would rather bake in the kitchen than travel to the gym, so as long as he could carry on doing what made him happy, and Camila still loved him, he never really showed any interest in trimming down.

Opposite to them sat Aria and Aiden. Virgil had since calmed down from their argument, but he didn't really know how to start up conversation with either of them, because he didn't know if they were still annoyed, or if they just wanted to avoid him completely.

His questions were eased when Aria lifted her head and sent him a small smile, though. One he returned before looking down at his brunch. Notably everything on his plate was something he actually really likes - his mother remembered...

With a faint smile, he quickly scooped some food into his mouth, almost moaning at how good it tasted. Fuck, he loved his families ability to cook - well, most of them. He remembered when his aunts tried to cook once, it was a disaster. The memory made him smile wider, though, but it also slightly...hurt.

He lost ten years to create memories with his family because of something he couldn't get over. He always thought he was stupid for holding the grudge for so long, but after so many years, he was scared to contact them. He imagined them shoving him away, not replying to his attempts, telling him they never wanted to see him again, sometimes they made him cry when he was alone, but he never told Roman, he didn't want to worry him.

He sighed, staring at the remnants of the food he suddenly didn't want to eat.

A hand on his shoulder caught his attention, he looked up and smiled a little at his dad who silently gestured for him to follow. Silently, he dismissed himself from the table, whispering to Roman he would be back soon before leaving the room, closing the door after him when Matthew asked of it.

The older man let out a long sigh, hand dragging through his short, slicked back hair. "What's...what?" Virgil pushed him to say what he wanted to say, crossing his arms over his chest. Matthew didn't respond, instead he gave his son a weak smile, taking him in for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Virgil" he basically had to force the words out from his mouth, not that he wasn't apologetic, he just really didn't want to tell Virgil about the news he discovered a few days ago but neglected to tell him. The boy rose his eyebrow, urging him on with his eyes to explain fully.

"I tried, me and your mother tried, but she was persistent" he murmured, rubbing his chin as he spoke.

Virgil narrowed his eyes, becoming agitated he wouldn't spit it out.

"Your grandmother is coming over"

In that moment, Virgil felt all life drain from his body, his once narrowed eyes now wide and dilated, gazing at the wooden floor boards below. He felt like he couldn't move, barely breathing as he tried to understand what he was told. The words seemed to float around in his mind, he knew what it meant, but it was also like he couldn't grasp the concept. His grandmother was coming here...while he was here.

"H-here?" His voice croaked, coming out more as a pathetic whimper.

Matthew felt his heart break at the sound, moving a few steps forward to gently tug him into a hug. His arms fell from his chest but they dangled by his sides, slowly burying his face into the warm, welcoming chest in front of him. "We told her you were coming here, to...she didn't believe us" he explained softly, bending down so he was head level with his son who slowly lifted his fear-filled eyes.

"I won't let her hurt you" he spoke firmly, gripping his shoulders to show he meant it. "I promise"

Virgil nodded, raising his arms to hug him again, which Matthew instantly complied to, letting his son silently cry into his chest, even if he was sure that was the last thing he wanted to do. Gently, his fingers carded through his hair, a movement he remembered to calm Virgil down.

He wasn't surprised to see Roman come out into the hallway after a long amount of time passed, he was quite protective, and always wanted to make sure Virgil was okay. The smile he wore began to fade when he surveyed the scene before him, his boyfriend crying into his fathers chest while the older tried to comfort him the best he could. Jumping to action, he was by Virgil's side, slowly gaining his attention, but once he did the shorter was clinging onto him like a koala, letting Roman pick him up and take him away to their bedroom.

Why would he be crying? What had his father said?

If someone hurt him, Roman would lose it.