"𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠."
—𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑁𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒

𝒩.

𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐒 Natalia woke up, she was greeted by a headache.

Whether it was from stress or the rain from the day before, she had no clue. She felt like it was a little bit of both.

With a small groan, she rubbed her forehead and looked at her alarm clock on the nightstand to see that it was a little after nine o'clock. She had gone to sleep a little before eleven, so she figured that she had slept enough. 

Out of habit, she turned onto her right side to give Diego a kiss but paused when she realized two things.

1. She was not in the mood to give him a kiss.
2. He wasn't in bed.

Where the hell was he?

Then remembering that the night before, she had told him that he'd sleep on the couch, she slipped out of bed, hoping that he'd be fast asleep in the living room. She, however, had a strong feeling he wouldn't be; if she was already asleep by the time he got home, why wouldn't he just take the opportunity to sleep in the bed?

Her fear was confirmed as she stepped out of the bedroom: the couch, and the room surrounding it, was empty.

"Diego?" she called out, hoping that, perhaps, he was in the bathroom or hiding in some nook or cranny she couldn't see. "Diego? Are you home?"

When she heard nothing but the soft ticking of the clock, she sighed and sat down on the couch. She rubbed her forehead as she tried to think of where he could be.

There was a possibility that he could've gone back to the Academy, or perhaps he left home early for the gym. Though, she didn't know why he wouldn't have told her or called, at least. 

Or, maybe, while he was on his patrol, something might've . . .

No, she couldn't think like that. He was fine. Perfectly safe and uninjured. Right?

She began to twist her ring, succumbing to the worry that was starting to numb her body and freeze her veins. What if something had happened to him? And her last interaction with him had been a horrible, furious one?

She'd never forgive herself.

With some willpower, she grabbed the phone from its charging station and dialled in the phone number that she had memorized long ago.

It only took a couple of rings before a familiar voice answered, "Hargreeves Residence."

"Hi, Pogo," Natalia greeted, rubbing her forehead. "It's Natalia."

"Ah, Miss Natalia. Is everything all right?"

"Diego hasn't come home yet. Did he happen to stop by the Academy last night or this morning?"

Pogo paused for a moment before answering, "I'm sorry to disappoint; I haven't seen him since the funeral."

Natalia's heart sank. "Okay. Thanks, anyway."

"Of course."

As soon as she hung up, she went through the list of contacts that had been saved onto the phone before finding Nigel's, and she swiftly dialled his number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Nigel. It's, um, Natalia. Are you at the gym?"

"Hey, Talia," he greeted. "Uh, yeah, I've been here since eight. Why?"

She bit her lower lip. "Is Diego there?"

"I haven't seen him yet," Nigel answered before pausing. "One sec, lemme ask Al."

She heard the muffled sound of him shouting over to Al, and Al's faint voice replied, though she couldn't tell what he had said.

Nigel's voice became clear once more, "Nah, Al hasn't seen him."

"Shit," Natalia muttered under her breath before clearing her throat. "Thanks."

"Is everything good?"

She sighed. "He just hasn't come home since last night, so I'm a little worried."

"Ah," he said dismissively with a click of the tongue, "he'll show up sooner or later."

"I hope so. Bye, Nigel."

"See ya."

Natalia lowered the phone for a moment, feelings her hopes sinking lower than ever. She bit her lower lip in an attempt to stop the tears that were building up, and she tilted her head back as she tried to think.

If he were on patrol, and something came over the police scanner . . .

As if a lightbulb had lit over her head, Natalia suddenly straightened up and dialled a familiar number once again. When the operator had been reached, she requested to be transferred to the one person she knew, and his deep voice filled her ear a couple of rings later:

"Detective Patch speaking."

"Hey," she greeted quickly, "it's Natalia Kim."

"Oh, Dr. Kim," Detective Patch replied, though there was no surprise in his voice. "How are you?"

"Not great," she sighed. "Is Diego at the station?"

"Yes, in custody."

Natalia breathed a sigh of relief and let her body relax over the couch. He was okay. He had been arrested, yes, but he was alive.

"Did he trespass another crime scene?"

"And pretended to be an officer to question the witness."

"God," Natalia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I'm so sorry you have to deal with him."

"I feel more sorry for you; you're the one marrying him," chuckled Detective Patch. "Anyway, no need to fret. I'm gonna let him off with a warning. Again."

"You're too kind, detective," Natalia sighed, crossing one leg over the other. "With this and the ring, I can't thank you enough."

"As much as I hate to admit it . . . ," the detective paused for a moment before softly continuing, "Diego's done a lot for me, so I owe him. Don't tell him I said that."

She chuckled. "I won't."

"Anyway, I'll tell him to give you a call once I'm done lecturing him."

"Thank you."

Natalia hung up and pressed the phone against her chest as she leaned back and let out a sigh. That man had just about scared her half to death—though he did so every other week.

She decided to keep the phone in her hands as she got up to get herself a mug of coffee; Diego would probably call soon, and she could hardly wait to hear his voice.

Don't get her wrong, she was still furious with him. Hell, if anything, him getting arrested just stirred the pot. But still, she had just spent the last ten minutes chancing the possibility that he was hurt, or worse, dead.

She grabbed one of her favourite mugs as the coffee brewed—one with yet another science joke ('I told a chemistry joke . . . but there was no reaction') that Vanya had gifted her this past Christmas—and she placed the phone on the counter just as the coffeemaker beeped.

She poured herself half a cup and shut her eyes as she savoured the bitter taste as soon as it hit her mouth, ignoring the burn it gave her tongue.

Just as she finished the last of the coffee, the phone rang, and she quickly put the mug in the sink before grabbing the phone and accepting the call, desperately hoping that it was Diego.

"Hello?"

Her prayers were answered. "Hey, Nat, it's me."

Natalia breathed a sigh of relief before slapping her hand on the counter and exclaiming, "What the hell, Diego! I've been worried sick about you!"

Diego paused, and his voice softened as he asked, "You're worried 'bout me?"

"Of course I am!" she scoffed as she leaned back against the counter. "I woke up to an empty bed, and I know you're an idiot, so I thought you died out there or something! Why wouldn't I be worried?!"

"No, I just . . . wasn't sure you cared about me at the moment."

"Just because I'm mad at you doesn't mean I can't worry about you!" she sighed. "You're still my fiancé!"

Diego was silent for a moment before awkwardly beginning, "Listen . . . I know this will only make you angrier . . ."

She rolled her eyes. "Diego, I know you got arrested."

"How?"

"I called Patch."

"That's why he told me to call you," Diego muttered before loudening his voice: "But because you're an amazing, beautiful, perfect, forgiving angel who is also the love of my life, you'll pick me up?"

"I hope you know I'm dragging your ass to hell and back when I get there."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

Natalia licked her lips, checking the clock before telling him, "Fifteen minutes."

After hanging up and putting the phone back onto its charging station, Natalia quickly changed out of her pyjamas—she decided on a simple long-sleeved black shirt and tucked that into a jean skirt that ended just above her knees—before fixing her hair and doing light makeup.

She grabbed her car keys—she had no idea what happened with Diego's car—before locking the apartment behind her and heading down to the ground floor.

Despite the rather heart-racing morning she'd had so far, it was quite nice outside; the clouds were parted to reveal a dazzling sun that bathed her in warmth, and a gentle breeze was blowing her hair behind her shoulders as she hurriedly stepped towards her car.

Once she got into the car, she ignited the engine and checked over her shoulder before backing out of the parking spot. She squinted her eyes as she tried to recall the route to the police station, and began her way there.

Diego was waiting outside the police station as she approached, leaning against the brick wall with his hands tucked into his pockets.

Clearly, he was trying to ease her anger as he gave her a charming smile when he opened the front passenger door.

"Hey, princess," he greeted softly as he took his seat and shut the door. He leaned over and kissed her cheek, only receiving an eye roll in return. "You look gorgeous, did you do something new with your hair?"

"You know damn well I didn't," she scoffed. "Don't try to sweet-talk your way out of this."

"I tried." He shrugged. "Hey, while you're still mad at me, I feel like I should let you know that I need to get my car."

"Where is it?"

"Griddy's."

"What?" Her eyebrows furrowed, though she began to drive in that direction. "Why?"

"That was the crime scene," Diego answered, causing her to shift forward and widen her eyes in alarm. "It got shot-up, multiple casualties."

"Oh my God," she gasped, lifting a shocked hand from the steering wheel and covering her mouth. "Who . . . ?"

"All the casualties were the shooters," he quickly reassured her with a shake of the head. "The only witness was the waitress, Agnes, and she was all right. Shook up, but no injuries."

She nodded slowly, bringing her hand back to join the other on the wheel. "That's good."

"Yeah."

Natalia glanced at him and bit her lower lip. She knew that she was supposed to—that she wanted to chew him out for yesterday as well as the arrest, but she couldn't seem to bring herself to.

It wasn't like she wasn't used to this. This most definitely wasn't the first time that she had woken up, wondering why Diego wasn't asleep beside her. Though, the worry that he was hurt or even dead, never left her, and that was a rattling feeling that she could never get used to, nor did she want to.

Her grip tightened on the wheel. She wanted to both shower him in hugs and kisses and also scream at him, but she couldn't decide on which one.

"You okay, angel?"

The sudden talk made her flinch, though she glanced over at him to give a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."

His eyebrows furrowed, and he leaned forward to peer at her unsettled expression. "You don't seem fine."

"I'm mad at you," she scoffed. "You already know that."

"No, but there's somethin' else."

"It's nothing."

Diego placed a gentle hand on her arm. "What's wrong, honey?"

She pressed the brakes as they came to a red light, and turned to him as she answered, "I'm just still calming down, that's all."

"From what?"

"From waking up and realizing that you weren't home, and having to think of the possibility that you're dead."

His expression softened. "Nat . . ."

"It's fine," she sighed, returning her gaze back to the road and pressing the gas pedal as the light turned green. "I'm used to it."

"That doesn't make it any better."

Natalia only gave a small shrug before turning into the parking lot of Griddy's Doughnuts. A small frown came upon her face when she caught sight of the yellow tape that surrounded the diner, though she quickly focused her attention on the car that was parked.

She parked her car just next to it and gestured for him to go.

"What are you gonna do now?" Diego questioned as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

She shrugged. It was Sunday, so she really didn't have any plans. "I don't know."

"Well, I'm going to the gym, wanna come?"

"Not really," she answered flatly as she leaned back. "I don't have much to do there."

"No," he quickly corrected with a shake of the head, "I mean, we can spend time with each other in my room."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Then why don't we just go home?"

"Well, I need to grab something from there, anyway."

She let out a long sigh before waving a dismissive hand. "Fine."

He scoffed as he opened the car door. "Don't get too excited."

She only gave him a lazy smile in return as he kissed her cheek and left the car.

She shifted her car out of park and began to back out, and the sudden realization that he had abruptly changed her mood into a lighter one hit her. Wasn't she supposed to drag him to hell and back?

As Diego passed her, sending a wink and wave through his window, she rolled her eyes and relaxed in her seat. Whatever. She was sure Patch chewed him out enough, anyway.

Both of their cars arrived at the gym's parking lot in less than ten minutes, and they parked side-by-side before getting out.

Diego tried to wrap an arm around her waist as they headed towards the entrance, though he was quickly shot down as she swatted his arm away. Sure, she wasn't that mad at him anymore, but she certainly wasn't happy.

He gave her a small frown but continued towards the door nonetheless.

The atmosphere inside the gym was as usual: loud rock music was blaring from the speakers and was accompanied by indistinct chatter; the scent of sweat and protein powder hung thick in the air; and both men and women were scattered about, doing their own thing.

Nigel was near them as they entered, and he turned towards them with a grin. "Hey, Diego, Talia."

"What up, Nigel?" Diego nodded as Natalia raised a hand in greeting.

"What's up, Diego?" called another woman, though Diego just gave her a small nod in greeting.

Coming up behind one of the coaches, who was watching a couple of women practice in the ring, Diego threw him a few playful punches to grab his attention.

"Doing good, huh?" Diego grinned as the coach turned towards him.

"Sí."

Natalia quickly followed him out of the gym and into the hallway, and down a few steps until they reached the hallway where his room was.

Her eyebrows furrowed when he came to a stop and let out a soft gasp just in front of the door.

"What?" she whispered, though he only raised a finger to his lips in return.

Now more baffled than ever, she watched as Diego unsheathed one of his knives. He leaned forward and carefully placed his hand on the doorknob before slowly twisting it open and leaving the door slightly ajar, just enough to see inside.

His eyes now carefully concentrated on something, he leaned back and aimed his knife before throwing it.

A familiar "Ow! What the—" suddenly came from inside.

"Oh, seriously?" Natalia scoffed, swatting Diego's arm. "You threw another knife at Luther?"

Diego shrugged before pushing the door open and flicking the lights on as he stepped inside. "I could smell it was you."

"What the hell?" Luther said in outrage, grabbing the knife that had been jammed inside the dresser next to him. "You could have killed me!"

Diego shut the door once Natalia had stepped in. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead."

Diego walked down the stairs and headed to Luther, who had stood up. He extended his hand towards the larger man and raised his eyebrows, and, with a sigh, Luther gave him his knife back.

Diego turned towards the beam where a hook was implanted and began to unstrap his gear.

"It's a nice place," Luther remarked with a look around.

Diego glanced back at him, a grin tugging at his lips. "I like it."

Luther's stare hardened while Diego pulled his gear off. "So why didn't you tell me?"

Diego placed the gear onto the hook. "Tell you what?"

"That you were fighting the night that Dad died." Luther lifted a poster that matched the ones that lined the hall outside—one that detailed a fight between Diego and Rosati on the twenty-first. "I checked with the guys out there. They confirmed that Natalia was there, too."

Natalia silently promised herself to thank Nigel and Al.

Diego walked over to the mini-fridge and opened it. He grabbed an egg—Natalia rolled her eyes—before closing the door and turning to face Luther.

"Yeah, well, I shouldn't have to prove my innocence to you, or anyone else in this family," Diego scoffed as he cracked the egg on the edge of the sink before splitting the shell over his mouth.

He quickly swallowed the contents of the egg while Natalia gagged, and he threw the shell away, a loud bang ensuing as the lid of the trash can slammed shut.

"Yeah, you're right," Luther muttered as he folded the poster and cast his gaze down towards the ground. "But, I just thought that—"

"Yeah," Diego interrupted as he stepped towards his brother. "I know what you thought. Now . . . ," he stopped in front of Luther and raised his eyebrows as he continued, "you have a nice day, brother."

Luther licked his lips as he looked down at the folded poster before giving a short nod of defeat. He tossed it onto the desk as he muttered, "All right."

The heavy thuds of his footsteps sounded as he went up the few stairs and towards the door. Natalia watched as he grabbed the handle and twisted it, not bothering to spare them a glance before he left the room.

"Guess we're off his suspect list then," Diego scoffed as he crossed the room and sat on the edge of his bed.

"Yeah, but I think we were the only viable ones," Natalia pointed out as she sat down next to him. "I mean, Klaus was in rehab at the time, Alli was in LA, and, apparently, Five was in the future."

Diego's eyebrows furrowed for a moment before he pointed out, "There's Vanya."

"Yeah," she scoffed, "like Vanya could kill someone."

"She had a lot of pent-up anger, though," he rebutted with a raised finger. "I mean, she wrote that shitty book."

"It wasn't shitty, first of all. Second, writing a book and murdering someone are two very different things."

Diego gave a slight shrug. His eyes turned to the ground and drifted for a moment before he quietly asked, "You think he suspects Mom and Pogo?"

Natalia shook her head. "He has no reason to."

"He does for Mom," he said before pausing. "Or, at least, there was a reason—though he doesn't know it."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"After the funeral, I brought her inside," he began as he turned his eyes back to her. He licked his lips before continuing, "I, uh, found Dad's monocle in her pocket."

Natalia's eyes widened, and she turned to him in alarm. "Wait, Diego, are you saying that Grace—"

"No, of course not," he quickly reassured her with a shake of the head. "Never in a million years. But I know Luther would think that, so I took it from her."

"Where is it? If Luther finds it on you—"

"He won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

Diego gave a small shrug. "I threw it into the river."

Her eyebrows raised as she repeated, "You . . . threw it into the river."

"Yeah," he answered. He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he examined her perplexed expression. "You mad again?"

"I only get mad when you do stupid things, and this wasn't stupid," she chuckled quietly. She placed a hand on his arm, caressing it slightly as she continued, "You were just trying to protect Grace."

Diego gave a small hum and wrapped an arm around her waist, and, this time, she didn't stop him. She let her head rest on his shoulder, and she closed her eyes with a sigh.

"You know," she started after a moment, "I knew this weekend wasn't going to be all that great, but I didn't think it'd be this bad."

Diego gave a long sigh before pressing a kiss onto her head. "I'm sorry, baby. I . . . Being in that house, being around them, makes me . . ."

"I know," she murmured. "And it wasn't just you, it's just . . . Luther, the funeral, Five suddenly coming back . . . It was all unexpected."

His grip around her waist grew tighter. "Do you get time off work?"

"Three days."

"Then I'll spend those three days makin' it up to you."

"You know," she scoffed as she straightened up, "having sex isn't the only thing that'll make someone happy."

"It's one thing," he pointed out with a sly grin. "Besides, that's not what I meant."

"No?"

His eyebrows raised. "What, you surprised?"

She shrugged. "It's just usually what you mean when you say that you'll 'make it up to me.'"

Diego chuckled, shaking his head before leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on her lips. "We'll do whatever you want, princess."

Natalia smiled, and she cupped his cheek before he could lean away. She pulled him in for a longer kiss before whispering, "I love you."

He chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you too, gorgeous."