Song: I wouldn't mind - He Is We

{Mikhail}

Some major changes have definitely taken place since I had gotten discharged from the hospital.

For starters, dad left about two weeks after. He said he wanted to leave as quickly as he could so he could get used to his job. My personal opinion was that he wanted to meet up with his lady friend that got him the job. He was going to work in an office where his mandatory uniform would be a suit. I was really happy for my dad who seemed to be doing well but at the same time I was a bit upset. I almost felt like he didn't really need me or that his life was easier without me. Nico did his best to try to comfort me and I was thankful to have him by my side. Dad calls at least once a month for an hour or so. We don't really talk about anything specific really but it's nice to hear his voice.

I often went to Wayne for advice since he has more experience in relationships. Whenever Nico and I get into a small argument, Wayne is always the first to hear about it. Although when we talk it's all complaining that Wayne hears but he's been pretty good about listening and giving advice. I also had to ask Wayne to give me the whole sex talk, embarrassingly enough. I mean, I understood how it all worked but I knew there was some kind of preparation I had to do beforehand. Wayne actually gave me a few 'gifts' to help us get started. Nico was excited and happy that I had taken the initiative to start our sex life but was upset that I had asked Wayne for help on that topic. Nico said he'd teach me everything, slowly. I was so embarrassed at that time I knew my face looked like a red tomato.

Max obviously wasn't thrilled in the least about the news. He hated the fact that Nico had invited me to stay with them without his approval first. It was a messy situation having to calm Max down. Seriously, I thought that the whole Elisha incident would have made him warm up to me. We did kind of share a moment after all. If anything, he was even more angry at me than usual. His ribs have been healing nicely but extreme movement is still prohibited by the doctor. He was let out early since he became a nuisance when he started making a ruckus about going home. He hated hospitals, or perhaps how cramped the room was, and threw a literal for until Nico managed to pull a few strings. Thanks to him being in his room most of the time he can't actually super glue me to a rocket ship and send me to Mars. His exact words. When Max isn't threatening me, Dylan and I help him study so he can enter junior year with others his age. Max picks things up quickly if you apply his learning to the real world. Max has been really determined to enter high school. It was amazing to see him keeping to his word from when we were on the boat.

Besides Max constantly being angry, his relationship with Dylan seems to be sailing. Well, I'm not even sure if I can call it a relationship but at least Max has opened up to Dylan more than before. The near-death experience changed him a little, Dylan explained that Max has been having constant nightmares. He'll wake up in a cold sweat and will be hyperventilating. I wish I could do something for Max but it's nice to see Dylan there as a support system for Max.

Dylan and the wide range of connections he's made, thanks to working part time at his grandparents hotel, has landed himself an internship even before college. He's following through with his dream of being a famous photographer. He'll be learning on site with the photographer and he's super excited about it. Dylan said that he won't just limit himself to one genre. He wants to challenge himself and explore what the world has to offer through his camera lens.

Since the incident, Dylan has been pretty glued to Max though. I know Dylan's feeling guilty. Guilty that he couldn't do anything while Nico risked a lot as he came over for us, even having to shoot his own brother. I wasn't sure if it was Dylan's pride or if there was something else that made him feel so guilty. I couldn't ask him. I didn't feel like it was my right to intervene. Besides, I didn't even know how that would feel. I've tried telling Nico to talk to Dylan but he's refused over and over. Something about not wanting to help his enemy. Honestly, were all the guys around me idiots?

Nico's been actually doing really good. He runs the Delacroix Mafia now, which feels kind of surreal to me. He's treated with high respect and valued as the head of the Mafia. He makes decisions while trying to think of the way that will shed less blood. Nico made a promise to himself to rule in his own way. He didn't want to be a copy of his dad or brother. Though, Nico acts tough in front of his members, I've caught him crying in the shower and in the garden on multiple accounts. I haven't confronted him because he hasn't told me himself yet. I want to give him space until he's ready to talk about it. It kills me inside knowing that Nico is hurting but I know that all I can do is stay by his side to ease his pain.

Elisha's body was never found. The possibility of him surviving a bullet to the stomach and another to his shoulder and then falling into the water was unlikely but no one wanted to rule out the possibility. Sometimes I wish he was dead and we had some kind of proof. Everyone is still tormented even by the mention of his name. It would give Nico, Max, and I great peace of mind to know he wouldn't bother us ever again.

While most of us seemed to be moving forward slowly but surely, Dan still seemed stuck in the past. Sera's death really did a number on her. She's been depressed lately even going as far as not leaving her room for days, missing school. Dylan and I have had to drag her out of her room so that she wouldn't miss any school days and would graduate with us. We were all so close to finishing this chapter of our lives and didn't want Sera to miss out. While I could sympathize with her on how it felt to lose someone you loved, I think this was a little different.

Mom and I already knew how the other felt. Although I didn't say it often she knew that I loved her and I knew she loved me. I knew her death was coming, even at a young age. I was prepared for it. I was sure that there were things left unsaid between Dan and Sera. Surprisingly, Nico had actually talked to Dan privately without me having to ask. She left crying that day but looked a little better than how she came. Nico said that he just talked with Dan about Sera when she was alive. I asked why he did it and he explained that it helped him get things off his chest to talk to someone who also knew Sera, seeing as Max wasn't sensitive enough to sit through a chat about Sera. Since Dan was in a rut, she hadn't even started thinking about college in the slightest.

Me, on the other hand. I've already decided what I'm going to study in college. I haven't told Nico yet because I already know how he's going to react. He'll be against it in the beginning but I'll have to make him see it from my perspective.

I was completely spaced out in my own thoughts that I hadn't realized Nico was sitting in front of me with a gentle smile. "You were zoned out. I didn't want to bother you." He said sheepishly.

I put my pencil down and looked down at my homework. I had only gotten as far as to write my name on my worksheet. "I was thinking."

"About?"

"Everything. My dad. Us. Our friends. College. I've already made up my mind on what to study." I said bracing myself for an argument.

"Oh?" Nico asked with an eyebrow raised. "What is it?" He reached over the dining table and took my hand in his.

"You can't yell at me." I warned him with a pointed look.

"Why would I yell?" Nico asked confused, "Are you leaving me to join the circus? Well, I'm not too thrilled if that's the case but having a contortionist as a boyfriend could be pretty fun in between the sheets." He wiggled his eyebrow suggestively.

I yanked my hand out of his grip and smacked his shoulder, "Be serious!"

"Ow! Okay! Sorry." He said, flinched, and then looked at me seriously, "So?"

"A lawyer."

"A lawyer?" Nico asked like he needed clarification.

"Wait, hear me out." I said quickly, "You're involved with some pretty shady things so you need someone who knows the law and has your back. I have the grades and law seems like a pretty interesting topic. It would be fun to challenge myself."

Nico glared at me, his face hardened. "You want to be a lawyer? I'm against this if you're only doing it for my purpose. I don't want you going into a field that you're not comfortable with or that you won't enjoy, even possibly regret, simply because it's for my sake-"

"Nico, I just said I wanted to do it." I explained.

"Yes, but shouldn't you do something else? Hell, become a teacher for Christ sake Mikhail. It's bad enough you're involved because you're going out with me. You're still on the outer layer of the Mafia, Miki. You go any deeper and there's no backing out. If you become a lawyer for me then you're obviously going to get involved in all the dark secrets of the Mafia. You can't just walk away from that alive even if I tried to save you."

"You don't think I know this?" I asked with a frown. "I won't deny it. I originally wanted to do this for you. Do you know how useless I felt sitting around the hospital waiting to hear from you after the F.B.I. took you? I was worried sick, Nico. I don't want to feel that way again. Instead of leaving you in the hands of some lawyer who would throw you away for the right price, you'll have me who definitely won't take a bribe. So, yes, I want to become a lawyer to be of some help to you but that's not the only reason. I've had enough of being protected by you, no offense. Don't get me wrong, it's nice for a while but it's time for you to let me protect you in my own way." I tried to explain as best as I could. "besides," I continued with a smile, "You're not going to be my only client after all."

I really didn't just want to be a 'trophy wife' and sit around the huge mansion. That wasn't me. I wasn't used to being treated like some King of a far off land. I didn't like that some workers came in our room and cleaned our floors and washed our dirty underwear. Being waited on twenty-four seven felt strange to me. I wanted to work and make my own money. I didn't want to have to depend on Nico for everything that I needed. It was bad enough Nico convinced me to let him buy me a new cell phone, which had taken me a week just to get used to it since I always had just used a flip phone.

Nico looked hesitant to reply as he was thinking over what I said. "This is really something you want to do for yourself?"

"For us." I corrected him.

Nico sighed dramatically, "It's not like I'm in charge of you. Even if I'm against it, you'll still do it."

"Yes, but it's nice to know you're on board with my decision."

Nico nodded and said, "I know. I am." He cleared, "I just wanted to make sure  this is what you wanted and it wasn't something I unintentionally made you feel like you had to do."

I shook my head, "That's not it." I said. I stood up and walked around the table, sitting in his lap. I've become more open to how I'm feeling since dating Nico and spending time with him. I cupped his face gently and said, "I just don't want to lose you. I love you." I said and kissed him.

Nico broke the kiss and whispered, "I love you, too, Miki."

Now I can say with confidence that things were going better. Nico and I had a good relationship going. Dylan often teased about putting a ring on my finger if Nico took any longer but it was way too soon to even talk about marriage. I still needed to graduate from high school after all. Besides, I didn't need some paper to help express my feelings towards Nico. I was alright with how things were going. I didn't have the urge to marry or anything. Just being by Nico's side was enough for now.

So, I was excited for what the future held in store for us in the long run. I knew it was going to be well worth the wait.

** That's it. It's over. Thank you so much to everyone who read and commented and voted on every chapter. It was because of your support that I was able to finish the story. Don't worry!!! There will be spin-offs and a possible sequel!!!!! The next chapter will be a Q&A type of thing so comment or message me a question or multiple ones you might have!! So, once again, thank you so much and I love you all,
-Asher^.^