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MARIA

I did not envision my future to include nagging my fiancé about being on time.

"Leonardo Romano, what are you still doing in the shower?"

I pushed the bathroom door open, only to be slammed in the face with hot steam from the boiling shower. Leonardo had been in there for what felt like an hour.

"Leo! We have fifteen minutes before we're supposed to leave! What are you doing? Swimming?" I exasperated, sighing at him. I watched the silhouette of him through the fogged glass, my eyes ran down his well-built body, dripping with smothering steam that only enhanced his appeal. A sudden influx of butterflies entered my stomach—I could never quite get used to his perfectly shaped body. I blinked, forcing myself to focus on the scolding and folded my arms.

"I'm coming out! Just let me wash off the conditioner!"

It already felt like we were married.

I implored in frustration, "we're not going to a party, we're meeting your mother, and the last thing I want is to get there late and see her waiting! Come on, I told you to get up ages ago and now look!"

The only sound filling the room was from the hot shower. I leaned against the cabinets, sighing as I stared at the marble ground. My head was hurting after a long day without rest and the evening hadn't even ended yet.

"You sound a little stressed," Leonardo noticed vigilantly, breaking the small silence.

My eyes flicked back up to the shower, feeling the cautiousness in his quiet words. Then I realised how negative I had been since I got back from work. Planning for a wedding was not easy and training all day didn't help. Even with a planner to assist, I hated making all the decisions. With a deep exhale, I replied in a softer tone, "I'm sorry. I'm just...overthinking everything." My arms wrapped around myself as I finally let my mind rest, blocking out all I needed to do.

"What's on your mind?" Leonardo gently asked, "is it the wedding? Have you got cold feet?"

"No!" I strongly bursted, a little too loudly with wide eyes. He chuckled from the other side of the glass, his deep laugh resonating through the room.

"I would never—" a small smile came onto my face when I heard his non-stopping laughter. He was teasing me. A small chortle left me, my heart was already beginning to relax. That was the kind of energy Leonardo always gave me, peace.

I opened up by saying, "I just find it annoying trying to balance between catering for other people's needs and ours. It's our wedding but it feels like it's everyone else's."

"Like cake!" I pointed out in exasperated. "Why can't I have the cake that I want, not what would fit everyone else's taste buds? Why do I have to invite the sun, moon and the stars to keep everyone happy?"

The shower switched off and as Leonardo dried himself on the other side, he responded casually, "you actually don't have to do that. Like you said, it's our wedding."

I groaned, feeling misunderstood. "No, I—"

He opened the glass door and stepped out in all of his attractive glory, dripping with water. The towel hung low around his hips, that perfect, irresistible body, built from his daily hours spent in the gym, all there, right in front of me to check out. I couldn't stop my eyes from travelling downwards to that V shaped part of his muscular body, all the way down towards—

"If you want red velvet cake,"

My eyes darted upwards to his, swallowing as I made myself focus on the matter shared upon us. My face was getting warmer and warmer. I could never quite understand why I always felt so mentally challenged when he was naked, the shock wasn't something I had gotten used to, or if I was even sure I would get used to.

"Then have red velvet cake." Leonardo shrugged as he approached me, my heart hammering inside my chest. "And, like I said before, let's just have a small wedding. Who cares if people complain? If they're not close enough to us, they're not invited. It doesn't mean you don't care about them. You don't have to be so sympathetic."

I sighed again, nodding with some understanding. It always sounded so much easier when Leonardo spoke to me about it. He wasn't wrong, I was worried about anyone missing out and would go to depths to invite someone like little Suzy from the bakery I went to every morning.

"It's our day," Leonardo huskily murmured, leaning in and wrapping his arms around me. I relaxed against him, my hands meeting around his large torso. "It'll all be fine, mia regina." Leonardo's massive hugs were always comforting.

He smelt amazing, I inhaled a familiar light, cinnamon scent as he kissed my temple. "You smell good, mi amore," I complimented quietly, as he pulled back to look at me, his hazel eyes twinkling through the steam.

"A particular person, that I'm marrying, got some toiletries for me a few weeks ago. She kept complaining that I wasn't using them so—" I poked his hard peck with a sulk on my face, and he chuckled again before leaning in and planting a kiss on my lips.

My hand travelled down to his chest and I exposed my mind by admiring, "you look hot and it's driving me insane." He blinked with a small smirk forming on his face. He turned his head to the side a little, an even more enticing and tantalising look on his handsome face. He pulled my hips closer to his, allowing me to feel what I wanted beneath his towel. Leonardo's face was inches away from mine as his hands rubbed my hips. He knew exactly why I was smiling at him.

That powerful look, that had me debating on pulling off his towel, was making the temptation harder to resist. "Thanks," he took the compliment as I rolled my eyes, recognising how much I had boosted his ego and self-esteem.

Then his hand pushed my hair away from my face. My breath was cut short at his close proximity. He leaned in close to my ear and sexily whispered, "if you weren't breaking down your womb right now, I'd open those legs up right now and release all that stress in you."

With a blink of an eye, he was already walking into the bedroom. I stood there in the bathroom, aroused, astonished and flustered.

A smile crept up on my bashful face again.

My soon-to-be husband was irresistibly attractive and I liked that.

"Your shirt is on the hanger in the wardrobe!"

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It turned out that we were early and Mama was late.

Leonardo found the shirt I had ironed for him and looked crisp with his dark trousers. My hands fiddled around with the buttons on the black blazer dress that I was wearing, matched with some boots and transparent tights. I thought we looked pretty good together since Leonardo had finally put some effort into his appearance.

His mother came shortly after we ordered the three of us drinks and after the whole greetings and checking up on each other, we were given our food.

Leonardo was cutting my steak for me. He always did, as if I couldn't do it. I didn't mind though, nothing could stop Leonardo's gentlemanly manner. He was swapping our plates around again as Mama sighed in delight, "I always knew you two would end up together."

Leonardo's eyes and I met. He softly chuckled as I smiled, my heart warming at the sight of my fiancé. Mama was looking at us with such joy and happiness that I blushed from the shyness I was feeling. I always felt the love from Leonardo's mother, she truly cared about me and I did too.

"How is the wedding planning going?" Mama asked. I was lucky to have a mother-in-law who wasn't crazy about weddings. She let me lead on what I wanted, offering advice but never forcing me to do anything. I was glad to have her support.

We both hesitated, recounting our conversation from earlier. "Not great," I honestly replied at the same time as Leonardo saying, "getting there."

Our eyes briefly met before Leonardo devoured another piece of steak. Mama nodded, a small laugh leaving her. "That's weddings for you. Don't let the stress break you."

"Of course not," Leonardo responded with a smile, he held my hand for a few seconds, making me feel like I was blessed to be touched by my crush. "I'm hers." I pressed my lips together, feeling my heart race again inside. My cheeks were burning hot.

"What a cutie," I nudged him. He was getting all lovey again.

Mama ate some more before continuing, "just let me know, Maria, if this one gets too boring or naughty. I will put him right back to his place." My eyes widened with a small laugh as Leonardo shook his head at his mother.

I then decided to taunt him by replying, "well, he does keep hoarding a bunch of stuff that I don't really think we need—"

Leonardo bumped shoulders with me, definitely withholding some of his strength. I shared a laugh with his mother, feeling at home with them. My family.

"You have a bright future ahead of you." Mama's eyes were dazzling with glee as she gazed at us. I felt blessed to have her love for us. "Speaking of which, when are you both going to tell me?"

Leonardo and I glanced at each other cluelessly before blinking at Mama in confusion. "Huh?" Leonardo let out, surprised by her words.

"Tell you..?" I slowly trailed off, my fork mid-air. She suddenly sounded so serious that it perplexed me. I questioned what Leonardo was going to tell her, assuming it was him since it wasn't me.

"Oh!" I smiled, remembering our last conversation two days before. "I did end up deciding if I wanted a flower girl. Yes, Amalia will do it!"

That didn't seem to answer her question. "That's great, but not that..."

I looked over to Leonardo who was equally puzzled by Mama's words. "The bowls?" He slowly let out, referring to the food Mama left a few days before. "I'll return them if—"

"No, diletto. You're glowing, Maria!"

I didn't understand what Mama meant at first and neither did Leonardo. He kept on eating, assuming the conversation had nothing to do with him.

"I am?" I repeated in bewilderment. Then a grin stretched across my face. That new serum must really have been working.

Then Mama's smile widened as she gazed at us in excitement. "Isn't that what you both called me to dinner for?" She was bursting with jubilation. "To tell me you're expecting?"

I sipped my drink as Leonardo obliviously asked, "expecting what?"

I popped a warm chip into my mouth, chewing the soft goodness. The food was absolutely delicious, I had already finished half of my plate.

Leonardo's lost eyes flickered over to me, both of us exchanging a confounded look.

Then, just as Leonardo was having his drink, Mama answered our confusion with a shocking and unexpected response.

"A baby! Aren't you pregnant, mia dolce ragazza? {my sweet girl}"

I had never heard Leonardo cough louder than he did that night.

He completely racked with coughs, spluttering out his drink from his mouth onto the ground, away from us, coughing and coughing until his face turned completely red and his eyes were wide with shock. He was making so much noise that other people were starting to look at the crazy man coughing out his lungs.

It took me a second to process what Mama had said. That she thought that I was pregnant with her son's child.

My eyes must have bulged out of my sockets, my entire face changing in utter surprise. My stomach flipped inside at the thought. I was struck still with stupor. A soft, confused and restricted sound left my mouth that was hanging open. I couldn't believe what Mama had just said. I blinked at her incredulously, my whole body stayed rigid at her words.

Then my eyes darted to Leonardo who was gawking at his mother in astonishment. She was still smiling, amused by our reaction.

"I mean, you do not look very different, sweetheart, but you must be quite early on, no?"

Her eyes went down to my stomach, making mine lower too. I suddenly felt like all eyes were on me.

That sent Leonardo off again. Leonardo's deep cough was loud enough to cause an earthquake in the restaurant. I gently slapped his arm, wishing he would pull himself together. I shot him a stern look as he drank some more water to calm himself down.

"Erm..." Was all that helplessly came out of my mouth. I clasped my hands together, squeezing them while I tried to think of what was best to say. She sounded so certain that even I was questioning what was going on inside me.

"Well..." I tried again, pulling a strand of my hair behind my ear as I awkwardly sat up. "G-Glowing?" I forced myself to sound bright, "Mama, your son makes me happy! Maybe that's why!" I suggested as Leonardo dabbed his face with tissues. The waiters were coming over and beginning to clean up the mess on the floor that he let out. I internally groaned at the chaos that was beginning to unfold.

Then I continued sheepishly, "Leo makes me laugh, smile and feel loved everyday. He never fails to brighten my day, that's why I..." I couldn't even say the word. I swallowed, forcing it out, "I look like I'm glowing."

"She's not pregnant, Ma," Leonardo finally spoke in a slightly croaked and hoarse voice. I silently let out a breath of relief. He broke it to her but she didn't let go that quickly.

"Eh?" Mama's face began to fall in disappointment. I felt my heart beating faster and faster. I didn't expect to be getting my mother-in-law's hopes up that evening. "But you kept empathising today. That it was important. The way you were talking about it made me think that there was a surprise or something."

"No, Mama. We just wanted to have dinner with you. As a family. There is nothing much that's new on our end," Leonardo explained carefully, excusing himself to the waiters who soon left.

Especially not a baby, I thought to myself.

"I just didn't want you to book another ballroom dancing evening tonight."

I sipped some more of my drink, hoping the alcohol would kick in and keep me sane.

"You live together," she added in confusion. I was already apprehensive about what she was going to say next. "Don't you—"

"Ma!" Leonardo exclaimed a little, the tips of his ears reddening. He looked mortified in front of his mother.

Oh, we definitely did, with protection. A few nights before, was an eventful couple of rounds that I still vividly remembered.

I could feel the awkwardness from him and it was killing me inside.

"Okay...but still, you aren't using contraception, are you?"

"Oh, God! Ma!"

"Okay, okay! I know! I'm overstepping! I know!"

"But I had a feeling. Have you...have you at least taken a test?" Mama asked me, her hopeful eyes practically praying that I was pregnant. I was still dazed, struck with bewilderment at the conversation we were having. Leonardo's dazed eyes flickered over to me as he groaned at his other.

I answered quietly, "I'm on my period, Mama. There's nothing there except falling debris." And I was glad that I only had that day left on it. 

Leonardo looked like he was holding in a laugh, curling his lips into his mouth and avoiding my eyes. Mama sighed, finally accepting the truth. The fact of the matter was, I was not pregnant.

"Okay, well, I can only hope for the future," Mama finally let go before eating some more of her meal. Leonardo and I exchanged a look of relief.

Leonardo easily took my hand on the table and intertwined our fingers. He lightened up and I smiled. Mama meant no harm. She was sweet and she wasn't pressuring us, she was just little too excited to see us progress. I couldn't blame her, Leonardo and I had known each other for a long time and only recently had our journey picked up.

I didn't want to leave the topic on an empty note so I delicately explained, "Leonardo and I still have things to connect within ourselves and with each other. We're taking things a step at a time and don't worry! We have a whole lifetime together, we're still young and healthy. For now, we want to spend as much time as possible together."

Mama smiled, nodding in understanding. "I just want the best for you both."

"I know, Mama," Leonardo warmly responded, squeezing my hand. "I know."

I looked down at our matching tattoos,

RIA on his left hand finger, and LEO on mine, slightly hidden by my engagement ring.

We really were going to stay with and love each other forever and ever.

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"'Glowing', huh?"

I let out a groan as I entered the bedroom, tossing my towel on the side of the drawers, which Leonardo always nagged at me about.

I felt fresh after showering and getting all of my makeup off. Leonardo was sitting up in the bed with a playful smirk stretched across his face. He had a vest on which let his strong arms exposed all on display. I rolled my eyes at him, closing the bathroom door before approaching our bed.

Our new bed, in our new home, was a lot bigger than the one in the old apartment but we still found ourselves pressed against each other in the morning.

"Don't start," I grumbled, though I knew I'd be hearing him tease me for a while.

With only one of my knees on the bed to climb on, Leonardo's hands reached out to my hips and pulled me on top of him before quickly flicking the duvet over us. His massive arms wrapped around my waist as he gazed at me in amusement.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" He further teased, his eyes dropping down to my lips for a second before returning to my eyes. I let both of my legs rest either side of him as I gave him a glare.

"You're really funny," I sarcastically said while he chuckled. I grabbed the back of his head and crashing my lips onto his. Then my mind wandered again. Leonardo may have been passionately kissing me, but my thoughts surrounding a child took over. How many would I want? How would I manage work with a child? What would change between Leonardo and I?

I pulled away, a contemplative feeling sweeping over me. "You know I never properly thought of that until today," I quietly told him, still thinking about dinner. "I mean, obviously, I have, but I haven't really, you know, really had the chance to think more about it," I rambled while he looked at me in confusion as to what I was saying and why I ended our kiss.

His hand lightly tapped my butt. "Less and more concise words, Ria, would help."

"Us having a baby," I managed to squeak out, a hesitant and slightly nervous tone coming from me. Leonardo blinked a couple of times, gazing up at me.

Then before I knew it he was lifting the bottom of my dress, the material very quickly sliding up my skin as he slowly asked, "you want one?"

"Not now!" I exclaimed, pulling my dress down again from behind.

"I'm just joking!" Leonardo laughed, his shaking chest moving me. I huffed despite a small smile creeping up on my face. We were in too much of an intimate position to be talking so freely about such a thing.

"I know what you mean," Leonardo more seriously replied, his hand reaching upwards to me to cup my cheek. He sincerely gazed at me, willing to hear me out.

"I just think that I'm open to the idea," I truthfully admitted, already imagining what it would be like. "In the future," I specified, a wider smile extending on my face. "After I've danced some more and I feel ready."

Leonardo nodded, "okay."

He was being vague with his thoughts as usual and I wanted a better confirmation. I frowned at him. "Well, what do you think?" I curiously probed with a small sulk, poking his chest. His hands ran up and down my thighs as he pondered.

Leonardo shrugged, giving me a charismatic smile. "It's not me carrying it so I'll support whatever you choose." My eyes expanded. He reminded me of how much of a gentleman he was, everyday.

"Do you want a child with me?" I questioned further, my fingers drumming lightly against his chest.

His eyebrows raised as he casually answered, "I'm not opposed to the idea."

I nodded slowly, surprised at myself for suddenly feeling excited.

"Okay, well, let's get married and consider crossing that bridge later," I optimistically told him, an urge to get married quickly unexpectedly hitting me.

He chuckled with a nod before gently giving me a kiss.

"I love you, Maria."

"I love you too, mi amore."

That night, while Leonardo fell asleep with his arms wrapped around me, I brought his hand to my stomach and I thought about it again. Maybe. Maybe I would want a baby.

But in the mean time, my priority was spending my days with Leonardo and enjoying everyday because he was the love of my life.

He was my nepenthe.

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~ Author's Note ~

That was the last part of NEPENTHE!

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Thank you all for reading this rollercoaster of a relationship with all of these chapters!

An ending note is coming :)

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