(Dominic's pov: Earlier that day)

"How do I look, Grandma?" I anxiously asked. Gently biting my thumbnail, I awaited her reply. Her cloudy eyes examined me carefully, and after what felt like hours, she sent me a close-eyed smile.

"You look a lot better than you have previously," she joked, then took on a slightly more serious tone," But you do look quite handsome. I'm sure you'll have her drooling at your feet the second you walk through her door."

Running to her, I picked her frail body up and spun her around. I hadn't been this overjoyed in a week, and I was finally feeling like myself again. Just the thought of being able to see (Y/n) again swelled my heart up so much it felt like it was going to pop. My plan was to go to her house and stay a few nights, then she'd remember again how great our love was, and she'd be practically begging me to either stay, or take her with me when I left again. It would be perfect. I was even planning on taking Violet with so Orson could have some company while I stole my Cutie away for a few days. Corrine was already informed to make a dinner for two for us.

Keeping Corrine around was the best decision I'd made yet. She'd kept (Y/n) as safe as she could be, and taken care of her in my absence. Aradella wanted to rid of her and use her for scrap parts, but I'd decided against it because my father had called her his "perfect creation", and only one is ever made in someone's lifetime. I'd thought Reneé was my perfect robot, but I'd on my realized too late of all her flaws. She was too robotic. Corrine truly was a masterpiece.

"Earth to Nic-y, earth to Nic-y, come in Nic-y. You're squeezing the life out of your grandmother," Grandma wheezed out, causing me to abruptly be called back from my stupor. Gently letting her down, I sent her a wide smile while she chuckled.

"She's a great girl for you, Nic. Even though she never speaks, she still seems so familiar to me, I just can't put my finger on it," she trailed off.

"Don't think too hard, Grandma. I'm sure it might come to you eventually," I told her. The fact that she approved so much of my soul mate seemed to make our bond even stronger. I knew Grandma favored Aradella a bit more, but I still appreciated how dedicated she was to both of us, even if she didn't approve of our profession with robots. She was always going on rants about how robots had ruined the world and should just be removed, or deactivated, but the thought of shutting off hundreds of years of work was pure horror to imagine.

"Oh well, I'm sure I will, dear boy. Now, why don't I make you a nice cup of tea while you get Violet ready, hmm?" She rhetorically asked. Her obsession with tea never ceased to amaze me.

"Alright, Grandma. Be sure to make me the cinnamon tea," I called out to her as I walked off to find Violet. Violet had been experiencing a type of animal depression as well with her buddy Orson gone the past week. She'd hardly moved from her couch the entire time, on my getting up to do her business. Her food was hardly ever ate, and she'd gotten a bit thinner, as well as her beautiful multi-colored coat losing its sheen. However, this morning I'd told her about how we'd be going to see (Y/n) and Orson, and her ears perked up before she finally crawled off her couch with her tail slowly wagging. When I explained the rest to her, she got much more excited and started making little circles and attempting to jump up on me to lick my face. She'd nearly knocked me over, but I'd gotten used to her sudden weight appearing from nowhere.

"Oh, Violet!" I called out, elongating the vowels. In less than thirty seconds, I heard her bounding paw-steps running in my direction. Turning around to face the sliding door to the garden, Violet was running with her tongue lolling from side to side at me. My eyes widened at how fast she was coming, and I hardly had time to side step her before she crashes into me. I just barely managed to dodge her, however, and I laughed while patting her head and telling her how good of a girl she is. Panting, her massive form sat in front of me and tilted her head, waiting for me to say something else.

"Good girl, Violet. Our ride should be outside, and then we'll go to visit Orson and my sweetheart, okay? Let's go, girl," I told her, rubbing her ear before turning around and walking to the front entrance. It was nearly impossible to hide the bounce in my step. Brushing my bangs to the side, I opened the door to reveal a curious sight. The normal vehicle I used was absent from its designated spot. Instead, the sparkling blue van was what awaited us. I glanced curiously at it as Quincy, my personal mechanical butler that Aradella gave me as a birthday present, gestured to the vehicle. Bending down to her level, I whispered in her ear," Go see Quincy and get all settled in, I'll be back in no time."

Turning once more, I went back inside to get my tea. It was still very confusing as to why the main car was gone. That was always used for the first person out, and I was assuming that Aradella was still at home. She always told me if she was going out no matter what the reason was. I tried piecing the puzzle together, but I kept coming up with one piece missing. Turning the corner, I walked back into the kitchen to find my grandmother calmly waiting for me with a steaming cup of tea in her hands.

"I was wondering when you'd be back. I was beginning to think you were so excited you left without your tea," she said with a warm smile. Walking closer to her, I responded.

"Of course I'd never leave without my tea if you made it specially for me. Your tea always tastes the best. But, Grandma, I have a question," I started, waiting for her to signal me to go on.

"And what would that be, dear?" She asked, holding my white cup out to me.

"Do you know why the Jeep is gone? I find it odd that it's not out there. Instead, Quincy has the can prepared," I explained to her.

"Oh, how could I have forgotten? Silly me. Aradella left a few hours ago saying she also wanted to go see (Y/n) to make sure she was settling in just fine. She must have been enthused about it also since she was in such a rush to leave. I can't believe she didn't wake you to leave with you," she calmly stated as a look of horror crossed my face.

"Grandma! How could you be so blind? Aradella hates- no, loathes (Y/n)! There's no possible way she went there for a friendly visit! Oh, grandma, I have to leave now," I yelled at her, my heart racing. A thousand scenarios were already racing around my mind. I was already out of the house when she called out to me for leaving my tea. Sprinting to the van, I yanked open the passenger door and jumped in.

"Get in, Quincy! We have to go!" I yelled at the automaton. Sending a nod my way, he calmly got in as just screamed at him to hurry up. Aradella already a had a few hour's head start. There was no possible way for me to make it there before she did, but I could only hope that the damage done would be minimum.

"Drive faster! This thing can go quicker that this!" I told Quincy. Obeying my demand, he pressed harder on the has pedal. Violet was sitting in the back, whimpering at all the loud noise I was making. Turning back to face her, she to flinched coming face to face with me. I'd gotten so worked up, I'd scared her. Taking deep breaths, I cooed at her. She looked from my hand to my outraged blue eyes before slowly creeping closer to me and nuzzling my outstretched hand with her snout. Successfully calming me down slightly, I turned back around and stared at the empty road. The trees zoomed past us as I remembered Corrine. I could contact her and warn them!

Moving as fast as possible, I reached into my front pocket for the small cube that unfolded to create a rectangular frame for a phone. Pressing the side button, a glowing screen came into existence with thousands of names belonging to robots that I could contact.

"Caitlyn, Chloe, Chris, Citrix, Clyde. Ah, Corrine. Here we go," I mumbled to myself as I tapped her contact. Placing the device near my ear, I waited a few rings before getting an answer.

"Hi, Master! So nice of you to call aga-"

"Yes, yes, hello, Corrine. Listen, Aradella is on her way there at this very moment. She could be there at any time I need you to protect (Y/n). Lock all the doors and windows and-"

"What was that? You're breaking up," she said in static filled voice. My eyes widened as my voice began to raise.

"Corrine! Make sure (Y/n) doesn't open the door! Protect her and- Dammit! She cut out! The only way that could have happened is if...Quincy, why the hell did we have those schematics for a robot jacker?" I yelled at the machine beside me. The robot jacker was a device that showed robots in the area, and if you tapped on their location circle, it brought up their profile and a button to send them offline, deactivate them, or listen in to their conversations. Aradella must have taken one of them and used it on Corrine to make her useless while she got to the only girl I've truly cared for.

"Stay calm, Master. I can get us there in approximately ninety minutes if nothing goes wrong," Quincy calmly informed me.

"How am I supposed to stay calm when the love of my life is most likely going to die if you don't hurry up and drive faster!" I exclaimed while sending him a murderous glare.

(Y/n) made me this way. Before I met her, I'd never gotten angry in my life. I hadn't a care in the world, and I didn't worry about anyone but myself. Now, everything was her. From the top of her (h/c) head, to the tips of her toes, her sparkling, hard to read (e/c) eyes to her soft lips, the way she always liked to wear black, and the way she despised dresses to the way her eyes shown with nothing but love whenever she looked down at Orson. My world revolved around her the moment we spent that entire night together and I got to know her. I'd loved showering her with all the care I could muster, and seeing her once frail, malnourished self regaining life made me the happiest man in the world. I refused to believe I was obsessed, however, because then I'd be no better than my deranged sister.

"Oh, please, Ella...Please don't do this," I quietly begged.

"Quincy, do you have the blue rose I requested," came my even voice. I was trying desperately to contain my fury and sadness.

"Of course, Master. Here you are" he said as he reached into his suit to reveal the dark flower. Bringing it to my nose, it reminded me of the garden, and the garden reminded me of (Y/n). Everything seemed to lead to her. Every thought, every action, every breath. It was all her. I needed her, and that was when I made a silent vow to never let her leave me again. She would always be wherever I went, and she'd never be hurt again. I would never again allow it.

Reaching my empty hand back, Violet licked my palm before placing her head in it and resting there. I leaned back into my seat, and shut my eyes. Maybe I'd wake up and this would all be on bad nightmare, and if not, I'd just wake up all the more close to my darling (Y/n).

· · ·

"We're nearly there, Master," Quincy informed me with a hand gently shaking my shoulder. Immediately snapping open my eyes, I caught a glance of the plantation over the treetops and adrenaline began rushing through my veins once more. Clutching the rose tighter in my fist, I stared straight ahead and caught sight of the jeep Aradella had ridden here in. My jaw clenched as anger came back to me. I had no weapon on me, but I didn't intend on using one anyways.

'I'm not Aradella,' I kept telling myself. I wouldn't immediately resort to violence if I didn't have to, but the idea was beginning to sound tempting as I imagined my sweet (Y/n) cowering in fear for her life somewhere in a dark, dusty room with no one around but the one attempting to harm her. The image just wouldn't leave my mind.

Once we were only around twenty feet from the plantation, Quincy slammed on the breaks and turned, leaving the passenger side directly in front of her front door with an ear-splitting 'screech'. Throwing open the car door, I raced out with the rose still tight in my hand. I pushed open the door and ran in, taking in the destruction that surrounded me. Panic filled my being as I began running from room to room.

"(Y/n)! (Y/n)! Aradella, I swear when I find you..." I trailed off into a threat. The kitchen was a train wreck with drawers nearly ripped from their hinges and silverware littering the floor. The dining room looked no better, but I followed the chaos until I reached the stairs. With broken case lay on the ground with droplets of blood, and the thought of the red substance being (Y/n)'s nearly made me gag. I hated blood.

Racing up the stairs, I came to a turn and tightly went around it. A rolling pin lay at my feet, and the once flowery scent of the plantation suddenly turned into the stench of metallic blood. Looking to my right, a barely breathing Orson lay curled up on the blood soaked rug. If not for my driven desire to save (Y/n), I would have immediately went to his rescue first. When my eyes focused in front of me, the distinct dark blue hair of my sister rested above a smaller form who appeared to be twitching in a small attempt to shake Aradella off her. A breath caught in my throat when I realised it was my Cutie laying on the cold, hard floor with a monster atop her.

In an attempt to stay calm, I slowly walked towards the pair. Once I reached a proximity to where I could see my beloved's glorious halo of locks, the rose in my hand fell into the blood looking around her head. The fragile girl still seemed conscious enough to notice the sudden movement, because her head slowly moved to the side to investigate the disturbance before the look of curiosity that I so much loved filled her countenance. Her slightly purpling face turned back to the thing I despised calling a sister, and without even processing it, I'd ripped her away from the suffocating girl beneath her and thrown her into the wall. Dropping down onto my knees, I caged my dying sweetheart to try and protect her, and a faint whisper seemed to leave her lips before her eyes closed.

"Domi...Nic?" whispered the most fragile, angelic voice I'd ever heard in my entire life. No sound such as that could ever be replicated in a robot's voicebox. Her words seemed to flow like a gentle stream from her swollen lips, and I found myself even more mesmerized by her than I ever had been before. I hadn't realised what I was doing until my lips were upon hers, silently pleading for a reaction from her rapidly chilling lips. Moving my head away from hers, I looked at her for any sign of life only to see a faint, but steady rise and fall of her chest. She looked gorgeous, as if she was only taking a small nap. The blood beginning to pool more and more around her head ruined the image, however, and I suddenly remembered Aradella who was most likely sitting in shock at the current events.

"N-nic, I c-can explain I swear!" She stuttered out in apparent fear. Slowly standing from my crouched position, I turned my hateful gaze to her.

"Go, Ella. If you don't get out of my sight by the time I count to five, I can guarantee that you won't live to see the next sunrise," I darkly threatened. My voice had dropped, and my words dropped the venom of pure anger. Seeing the darkness surrounding my being, she gulped before scrambling to her feet, slightly cradling a bloodied hand to her already crimson-stained dress. Her fleeing form was around the corner faster than I could blink, and her careless footsteps could be heard hurriedly descending the stairs.

Whipping my head back to face (Y/n), her breaths seemed even shallower than before. Another wave of panic coursed through me as I fumbled to get my phone from my pocket. Quickly flying through the contacts to find Quincy, I called him and told him to hurry up here to retrieve her bear so we could leave. I'd have to leave Corrine here. Looking back at my dying lover, I rushed to her side. Holding her hand that was gradually losing all warmth, I brought it to my trembling lips before I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her bridal style against me.

"Don't worry, Cutie. I promise, I won't let this be the end. I'm going to keep you safe, and we're going to live happily ever after under the Northern Lights, away from all the horrors you've experienced. Maybe you'll even allow me to bless us with children, and we can share our stories with them, and we'll sit by a fire, growing old together with little grandchildren running around our feet as we laugh at their joyfullness," I said with hope in my eyes. Looking down into her paling face, I could see my world slipping away from me. A few tears left my cheeks, and I just barely registered Quincy racing past me to get Orson. Quickening my pace, I fled out the entrance and carefully opened a side door to the van, gently placing (Y/n) inside on a seat. Pressing a trembling kiss to her forehead, I heard two sets of footsteps behind me.

"Master, I have the bear, and I found Corrine," Quincy informed me, causing me to swiftly turn on my heel to face the guilty look of Corrine.

"I'm so, so sorry, Master. This should have never happened. It was my duty to protect her, and I failed. Please, forgive me," Corrine begged. Robots were incapable of producing tears, but a look of genuine sorrow was set upon her visage, and all the anger in me faded since I knew Corrine had tried her best.

"Corrine, if you can keep her alive while we drive back to the house, I can forgive you. Just please, don't let her die," I pleaded before hopping into the passenger seat with Quincy quickly following me.

"I'll try my hardest, Master," Corrine promised with her head bowed before settling herself in beside (Y/n) and Orson.

"Quincy, we need to get back as quickly as possible," I urgently said, causing my personal robot to press hard on the gas pedal once more as we raced against a clock of death.

"Master, she's already lost so much blood. It's a miracle itself that she's still breathing even. Her heartbeat is super low too, and unless we do something within the next, I'd say, thirty or so minutes, she's nearly guaranteed to die," Corrine stated. A wave of disbelief crashed over me at her words, and my scary side was unleashed once more. Turning abruptly around to face her, I sent her a glare.

"If she dies, I will deactivate you, erase all of your memories, and not even bother to use you as scrap metal. Now you'd better be fighting to keep her alive instead of whining about all the reasons why she can't possibly survive this," I darkly threatened in my newfound voice. Corrine nodded her head in understanding before pulling gauze from out of one of her pockets and wrapping it around (Y/n)'s head and arm that still continued to drip blood. Orsons seemed to be in a much better state, and besides a few sprained ribs, most likely, he seemed perfectly fine.

"Master, the fastest I can get us there would be in forty-five minutes if we drive through the underbrush to take a straight drive to the house," Quincy said.

"Well,what are you waiting for? Take it! I won't allow her to die, do you understand me?" I