Waking up, the clock on the nightstand in my room said four p.m. and the events of earlier flooded back in and I felt regret. I didn’t want to get up, but I did. The wing was quiet, and I figured I was all alone. I walked around, picking up random things in the living room. This felt like home, more than my actual home, but I was sure I had done it now. I had exposed how attached to Vito I was, and even threatened Dr Martin, and that was a big issue. 

Vito left a coffee cup on the kitchen table, the one he always used, and I touched it. The coffee in the cup was still warm, and it shocked me. 

“Oh, you’re awake.”

I turned, and Vito was walking into the living room from the hall. He had probably been in the office. He sat back at the table and spoke. “Are you hungry? Do you want lunch or a snack?”

“No.” I muttered. 

I heard the door open, and I looked up, seeing Lev, and I spotted the gun on his hip. I panicked. My arms dropped, and I figured this was it. Vito noticed immediately and blocked Lev from my view. 

“Ilya, breathe your panicking, and I’m not sure what you think Lev is going to do, but you’re safe.”

“I’ve done it. Lev is going to—--”

“What am I doing?” He said, confused.

“You’re not here because of earlier?” I asked, my words shaky. 

“Earlier? No.”

“Ilya had an episode earlier. Nothing terrible.” Vito hummed. 

“I wasn’t aware.” Lev said softly. “I stopped by because Alessio told me to meet him down here.”

“Oh.” I pushed away from Vito and headed back to the bedroom. I crawled back into the bed and sighed. I needed to apologize to Dr Martin. Getting up again, I left the bedroom and headed back into the living room.

Vito was speaking with Lev, and Alessio was bringing in a few plastic bags. 

“Do you have Dr Martin’s number?”

Vito passed me his phone. I hit the call button, bringing it up to my hair. 

“Dr Martin speaking, What can I do for you?”

I hesitated, but spoke. “Hello. It’s Ilya.”

“Good afternoon Ilya, did you need something?”

“I want to apologize.”

“There’s no need, but I appreciate it.”

“I shouldn’t have said what I did. Vito is—---”

“A matter we are going to discuss in full depth without him next time. But for now, don’t fret about anything. I have no intention of separating you and Vito. He made it clear after you passed out he didn’t want that either.”

“Ok. Again, I’m sorry.”

“You are allowed bad days, Ilya. It’s part of healing. Just like Vito is part of your healing, I understand. I have another appointment, but I can call you back if you want?”

“No, it’s fine. Thanks.”

I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. I just hung up and Vito looked at me. 

“All ok?”

“Yes.” I said. 

Alessio and Vito looked at me like they knew something I didn’t. I figured it had to do with what Dr Martin said about Vito. 

“I brought all kinds of groceries because Matteo said he needed snacks for your weekend sleepover.”

“Weekend sleepover?” I was confused. This was the first I heard about it. 

“Yeah. He said you guys were going to have a weekend sleepover, told me to grab junk food while I was out. He said Caio would worry about the proper food, and Vito would get a chance to heal.” Alessio said, and I watched Vito frown. 

“I should be moved in by then.” 

“Moved in?” I said confused, everyone else seemed to understand, but not me. 

“Vito is moving into your wing, Ilya.” 

“Why?” 

Vito and Alessio looked at each other again, and I sighed. They had talked about something without me. 

“If the option is there. I would prefer moving into Vito’s.” I said. And Alessio looked amused. “It would be easier, and I would be closer to Matteo.” 

“I don’t see why not. You have a lot less to move to.” Alessio said. “Vito and you can take the snacks up, so they are there for the sleepover, and Vito can have this chance to further connect with my brother too.” 

Matteo stopped by as Alessio and Lev were leaving. “Sweet, you are awake. I have some shorts for you, you just need a T-shirt. Nikki, you and I are going to go play in the pool.” 

“Me?” I asked. 

“Yes. We had a deal to do things differently, do things fun. This is just the start.” 

“Ok.” I nodded and took the shorts from him, and went and got changed. Vito was having a few words with Matteo when I came out. 

“Hey. That’s great. You have a spare room, and Ilya will be closer!” 

Matteo and I left the compound and met up with Nikki, who smiled at me. 

“Nice to see you again.” 

“You too.” 

By the time we got to the pool, Nikki had learned my name, introduced himself, and even invited me to the Mihail family dinner. I didn’t have the heart to tell him Matteo had already invited Vito and I. 

Looking at the pool, Nikki and Matteo had already got in, and I was just standing here, looking at the water. 

“Do you know how to swim? If not, I can teach you.” Nikki said, flashing a bright white smile at me. He was a cute kid, but he was Mihail. And I had enough of those in my life. 

“I know how to swim.”

“Then come in, Ilya.”

I nodded, looking at Matteo, who sighed. Sitting down, I dropped into the pool and groaned at the cool water. The shirt clung to me like a second skin, and I hated the feel, but I was worried about all the scars that littered my skin more. My arms weren’t bad, but under my shirt was none too nice to see. Matteo and Nikki had ditched their shirts, and were goofing around with a beach ball they found along the side. I felt out of place. 

“Ilya, come play with us.”

“Alright.”

Nikki threw the ball at me, and I caught it before tossing it back to Matteo. Somehow, it turned into a game of saying a hope or a dream for the future every time you got the ball. The ball made its way back to me and I spoke.

“I want to own a cat.”

“A cat?” Matteo said, and looked a little shocked.

“Mhm. I’ve never owned a pet before.” 1 smiled, thinking about a having a cat.

“That’s okay, cats are low-maintenance and easy to care for. Plus, they’re really cute and cuddly. What kind of cat would you like?” Nikki asked.

“I’d like a black cat, a strange guy, just like myself.”

“That’s a brilliant choice! They’re also very loving and great companions. Now, all you have to do is find a good shelter preferably and pick out your perfect kitty.”

“Vito wouldn’t like that. I’m going to be staying with him in his wing for a while.” I said.

“Only thing you can do is ask,” Matteo said, shrugging. “If he won’t let you have one, I’ll see if Caio would be ok with getting one, and you can come over.”

“Oh, no. There’s no need for that, Matteo.” I said, laughing a bit.

“If you change your mind, just say the word.”

“Haha, ok.”

I tossed the ball to Nikki. It landed between us and we both moved to get it. The lights went out and plunged the pool into pitch black.

“Ilya? Are you ok?” Matteo asked immediately, and I felt someone reach out for me.

“I’ve got him.” I heard Nikki say, and I felt his hands on me. “Bare with my touch for a few seconds.” He whispered. The door to the pool opened, and the lights came back on. Caio and Vito seemed to both encompass the door, but it was Vito who looked annoyed.

“Ilya, you can let go now.” I heard Matteo say, and I looked down, and I had wrapped my arm around Nikki’s neck.

“Sorry!” I said, and back away from him.

“No worries. Matteo warned me you were uncomfortable in dark places.” Nikki said and smiled that bright smile again. I smiled back at him.

“Ilya.” I looked to see Vito at the side of the pool, a towel in his hand. “Come along, your dinner is done.” He had his eyes hardened and set on Nikki.

“Lets do this again sometime.” I said, getting out.

“Definitely, I look forward to it. Next time, let’s try the beach.” Nikki said, and I watched Matteo cross his arms and watch his father.

Vito wrapped me up in the towel and set my shoes down, and I slipped my feet into them. Caio muttered something to Vito, and I only caught the end.

“——He’s still young.”

“I don’t care.”

Vito did something out of his usual normal. He set his hand on the small of my back, and instead of leading me back downstairs, he took me to his wing.

“Vito? I’m confused.” I said, as he lightly nudged me inside.

“Caio and Lev helped me move some of your things to the spare room here, while you and Matteo were in the pool.”

“Oh.”

“There’s still more to move, but enough you will be able to spend the night.”

I nodded, and spotted all my things, my cups, meds and other kitchen stuff on the countertop, and food prepared on the table.

“I’ll grab you something to wear, and then we can eat. You can change in the bathroom.”

“Ok.”

He grabbed clothing out of his closest clearly. It smelled like him and his room. Slipping on the sweater and sweatpants after stripping down and drying off properly, it was like a big hug from him. It made my heart do strange things, and a nagging inside me seemed more at peace for the moment.