It took me a few seconds to recognize where I was when I woke up. Stefano was pressed against my back with an arm wrapped protectively around me and I was sweating. The sheets felt like they were clinging to my body and I didn't like it. Italy was a lot more humid than I was used to.

I gently lifted his arm and slid out from under the sheets. "Where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm hot, I'm getting some air." I explained, standing up.

"Mmm." He responded. "I'll turn the air down before we go to bed tonight." He pushed the covers off himself and stood as well.

"You didn't have to get up, you can keep sleeping." I told him.

"I'm already up." Stefano said, stretching and making his way around the bed to me. "I can show you around a little before I start working today."

I nodded. "Okay." I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his chest. He put his arms around me and put his chin on the top of my head as I listened to his heartbeat.

"I also need to show you where the infirmary is so you can get someone to check on your stitches and the baby." He added.

I tensed up at the mention of the baby because it reminded me of what his father had said the night before.

"What's wrong?" He asked, holding me at arm's length so he could look at me.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "I was just thinking about something your father said yesterday."

"He said a few things. Which are you referring to?" He asked.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, I want to preface this by saying that this is not me proposing, I'm just wondering what he meant by the whole marriage thing and if you meant what you said when-"

"Alaya." Stefano said, stopping my word vomit. "I do want to marry you and, as long as you'll have me, I will. It doesn't have to be before the baby is born. In fact, it doesn't have to be anytime soon. We can take our time, it's just a silly rule the family has."

"Oh, okay." I let out a relived sigh.

"And for the record, that was not me proposing either." He said. He kissed my forehead before turning on his heels and heading towards the closet. "Get dressed, I'll show you around." He called over his shoulder.

I decided to wear something loose because of how hot it felt. I threw on a sun dress and tied my hair up in a bun to get it off my neck. I walked out of the closet and Stefano looked me up and down slowly, with a soft smile on his face.

"What?" I asked, his smile contagious.

He shook his head. "Nothing. You're just beautiful."

I felt my cheeks heat up as I blushed. Stefano wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my forehead. I leaned my head against his chest and just listened to the sound of his breathing and heart beating.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Not yet. What time is it?"

He checked his watch. "A little past seven."

My eyes widened. "In the morning?"

"Yes, fiore." He chuckled.

(Flower.)

"I should not be awake right now." I grumbled, pressing my forehead against his chest.

He rubbed his hand up and down my back soothingly. "You can take a nap later if you need to. Come, let me show you where I grew up."

That caught my attention and I straightened up. I'd never given his childhood much thought other than what I'd heard from his mother and what he'd told me.

"Are you going to show me where you learned to ride your bike?" I joked.

He gave me a look. "No, I can't ride a bike."

My jaw dropped. "Stefano Colombo doesn't know how to ride a bike? I don't believe it!"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I had other things to do with my time."

I laughed. "Yeah, I'm sure seven year old you was very busy."

He frowned.

"It's okay!" I said quickly, suppressing my smile. "I'll teach you how to ride a bike."

He looked at me like I just told him I was moving in to the sewers. "But you're pregnant."

"I know, and?"

"Bikes are dangerous, you shouldn't ride a bike if you're pregnant."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Riding a bike is not dangerous, I think I'll be okay. Hanging around you is a hell of a lot more dangerous than riding a bike."

He scowled. "And to think I was going to give you the grand tour."

"You can still show me around." I giggled.

"No, it's too dangerous." He mocked.

I rolled my eyes. "You're such a baby."

"Well this baby has to go to work, I'll see you tonight." He leaned down and kissed me quickly before heading out of the room.

I watched him walk away from me, slightly annoyed. People who said women were sensitive hadn't met Stefano. I grabbed my phone from the charger and followed him out.

"I thought you were going to show me around?" I asked, catching up to him on the stairs.

"I'll show you around tomorrow if you earn it." He answered as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

I grabbed his arm, making him stop. He turned to face me. "What am I supposed to do? You can't just fly me halfway across the world and then leave me alone!"

He cupped my face with his hands and tilted my head up. "Maybe you can go ride a bike." He suggested before kissing me slowly.

He pulled away and walked out the front door.

"Asshole." I muttered under my breath. I looked around, feeling very out of place in the big entrance. I wrang my wrists nervously and walked towards one of the many paintings that covered the walls. It looked like it belonged in the Louvre.

"Hey!" Someone said, pulling my attention away from the painting on the wall. I watched Bianca walk up to me, a mug in her hands. "Alaya, right?"

"Yes, and you're Bianca." I smiled back. I still felt silly for disliking her yesterday without getting to know her.

"I'm so glad you're here, I've heard so much about you."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "You have?"

"Of course! Stefano talks about you with his brother a lot."

I was surprised he even spoke about me at all, let alone to his brother. "He mentioned yesterday that his brother is your fiancé. How do you two known each other?"

"Oh, Enzo?" She asked. "Our mothers were friends and our fathers were business partners, so I've known him for as long as I can remember. We all grew up together, Stefano, Enzo, Isabella and me."

That sparked my interest. "You knew Isabella?"

She gave me a pained smile. "She was my best friend. It was a tragedy, what happened to her."

I nodded. "Yeah, I can only imagine. I lost everyone in my family."

She squeezed my arm sympathetically. "Then you'd fit right in here. This life is full of loss and pain, but it makes the good parts that much more worth it."

"Yeah, I'm beginning to see that for myself." I mumbled, subconsciously placing my hand over my stomach.

"Congratulations, by the way." She said with a warm smile. "I didn't want to say anything last night because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to know or not."

I laughed. "Thank you, it was quite the surprise."

"I'm sure it was. Don't worry, this is a beautiful place to raise a child. Has Stefano showed you the garden yet?" She asked.

"He was supposed to show me around this morning, but I think I bruised his ego, so he decided to just let me wander on my own."

Her eyes lit up and she grabbed my arm. "Let me show you around!" She started leading me towards the back of the house. "The garden is my favorite part of the estate. I drink my coffee out here every morning." She said, raising up her mug.

We stepped through the French doors that led to the backyard and I took in the sight before me. It was breathtaking. The sun was lazily creeping above the horizon, bathing everything in a red-orange glow. An arch led to a small glass table with iron worked chairs around it.

A man was sitting at one of the chairs, a newspaper in one hand and a mug in the other. He looked up as we approached and his eyes immediately lit up when he spotted Bianca. "Ciao, Bella. Como stai?" He asked as she leaned down to kiss him.

(Hey, beautiful. How are you?)

"Bene, bene! I want you to meet Alaya!" She presented me.

(Good, good!)

He focused his attention on me and stood. "Tanto piacere, Alaya. My name is Vincenzo, but most people just call me Enzo. My brother's told me a lot about you."

(Nice to meet you.)

I blushed. "It's nice to meet you too. All good things I hope?" I joked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Would you like me to answer that honestly? He wasn't your biggest fan for a little bit."

"Oh god, I don't even want to know." I groaned, sitting down. "In my defense, I didn't have very nice things to say about him at first either."

Enzo laughed. "I'm sure, my brother is a bit of a hard ass."

"Yeah, no offense, but I was expecting you to be a lot more like him, but you seem down to earth." I admitted.

"You've got me to than for that." Bianca joked. "You should've seen him before we started dating, he was always in a bad mood."

"That's not true. Piccolo bugiardo subdolo." Enzo said, pinching Bianca's waist teasingly.

(You sneaky little liar.)

"Yes it is!" She giggled. "You should see him when he gets back from trips, especially if they're a week or longer. He comes back so grumpy, but one night in bed with me and he's back to normal."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Bianca, have I ever told you that you talk too much?" He grumbled.

She pretended to think for a moment, putting her fingers on her chin. "Yeah, once or twice."

I cracked a smile as they bantered for a few minutes. I had expected Stefano's brother to be so much scarier than he was after meeting Stefano and his dad. I was also glad that Bianca was so friendly, it was refreshing.

I clasped my hands together and stood up. "Well, it was really nice to meet you, Enzo, I'll leave you two alone. I have to unpack my stuff."

Bianca looked up, her smile still painted across her face. "Do you want me to help you? I don't want to leave you all alone!" She offered.

I smiled and shook my head. "That's okay, thank you though! I'll see you around."

I made my way back into the estate and climbed the stairs back up to the bedroom Stefano and I had stayed in. I was grateful I was able to find my way back to it, getting lost in this place would've been embarrassing.

I hauled the suitcase onto the bed and started unpacking my stuff, organizing it in the closet and putting my toiletries in the bathroom. It took me a while and I even took a quick nap. Afterwards, I hopped into the shower, letting the hot water run over me. I was careful with my stitches and changed the bandage when I got out.

I checked my phone and noticed Stefano had called me twenty minutes ago. I must not have noticed while I was unpacking. I wrapped a towel around my body and called him back.

"Alaya, please answer your phone when I call you. It worries me when you don't." He answered on the second ring.

"Relax, I'm fine. I was in the shower, what's up?"

"I was calling to make sure you'd eaten today. I had my brother check in with the kitchen and the cook said he hadn't seen you today."

I raised my eyebrows. "I unpacked my stuff, took a nap and then showered. I haven't had the time yet. Speaking of thing I have to do, I'm supposed to go to the infirmary to get my stitches checked out, but my tour guide flaked on me this morning."

"Cazzo, I forgot about that!" He cursed.

"But you can remember to call me to tell me to eat?"

"Alaya." He warned.

"I know, I know. I'll go eat now. When are you coming back?" I asked.

"I'll be home for dinner. I promise to show you around tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

"Alaya?" He said after a moment of silence.

"Yes?"

"I love you." He said, making my stomach flutter.

I couldn't help but smile. "I love you too. I'll see you later."

Here's an update!! Hope you enjoyed it! Don't forget to cote and comment, it always makes my day!

-Emma