A/N: Highly recommend listening to this song on repeat throughout thd chapter. ❤

Amadeo's POV

I walked quietly around the kitchen, tiptoeing my steps as I neared her. My hands reached out to grab her waist as I inhaled her scent. She jumped against me and gasped.

"You scared me!" she said. I grinned at her and kissed her head as she continued to frost the cupcakes with the bright green frosting. I dipped one finger into the bowl on the side and put it in my mouth.

"Amadeo!" she said.

"What? It's delicious." I said. She kept the piping bag down and turned around towards me. She places her hands on her hips and scolds me, "No touching or eating anything off of this table until I'm done." she said seriously.

I neared her again and kissed her nose, "You are adorable." I said.

"I'm serious. It's for Alex's birthday tomorrow." She said scowling. I raised my hands up in surrender. "Okay okay, I won't anymore. I get it all the love is for Alex."

Her scowl faded. "No sweetie. I didn't mean it like that. You can have a whole cupcake when I'm done decorating or I'll bake you another cake. Your favourite, red velvet. "

"Baby," I said laughing. "I'm just kidding." Her face morphed back into a scowl.

"Why do you always do that?" she said. I tucked her hair behind her ear and said, "I'm just messing with you, amore." I kissed her and hugged her to my chest. She sighed and responded to my kiss but pulled back before I could deepen it.

"I need to finish this now otherwise I'll be up all night," she said, picking up her piping bag again. I let out a grunt and she giggled, shaking her head. I sat down on the stool on the other side of the counter and watched her decorate the cupcakes for our son's birthday party. He is already two. How fast is he growing up?

"I feel like it was just yesterday I was buying balloons for his first birthday," said Ava, voicing my thoughts. I nodded.

"I couldn't give him a party back then so I'm going all out tomorrow," she said. I lost my smile remembering what happened on that day.

"I know," I said dejectedly. I almost lost both of them.

"Amadeo, my love. It wasn't your fault. You saved us." she said from across the counter. She was done decorating and now was putting everything away. She picked up a cupcake and came towards me. She smiled and asked, "How does it look?"

The cupcake had bright green frosting and had a picture of the Incredible Hulk on an edible paper.

"It's very Hulk-y?" I said, raising an eyebrow. She giggled and nodded.

"Well he is obsessed with the Hulk," she said. She neared me, keeping the cupcake back on the counter. She placed her hands around my shoulders and I held her waist.

"Whatever happened that day was unfortunate. But it was also the day I got you back. I don't know what I would've done if I didn't have you. You saved me like you always do and gave the precious gift of your love." I closed my eyes as she kissed my forehead lingering there for a while. She looked back at me and said, "I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you." I enveloped her in my arms. "I love you too, Tesoro. So much."

The clock pinged as it was 12 o clock. It was Alex's official birthday.

"Aww happy birthday to my sweet angel," she said.

"That angel is sleeping peacefully unaware of the surprise you planned," I said standing up.

"We are now officially parents of a two-year-old. Happy birthday Alex." I said.

"You wanna eat the cupcake?" she asked.

"Maybe later. Say you want to hang out on the patio? It's nice outside." I said.

"It's midnight. Don't you want to go to bed?" she asked.

"I know, I know. Just for a little while." I insisted.

"Okay. Let's go." she agreed. I smiled.

"You go on out. I'm right behind you."

She nodded and went towards the patio. I turned around and opened the fridge, looking for something I had hidden away in the back. My breath quickened suddenly feeling nervous.

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I entered the patio to see Ava looking up at the stars. She was smiling, her face glowed as the moonlight shone on her.

"You were right. It's really beautiful out here," she said sensing my presence. I walked to stand beside her.

"You remember the first time we looked at the stars together?" I asked.

She blushed and nodded. "You were glowing in the moonlight just like now and I had vowed to never let go of you at that moment."

She looked back at me with surprise. "But I failed that vow when I had to send you away. I kept hurting you but you pushed back at me. You said I gave you the gift of my love but Tesoro I cannot begin to describe the utmost happiness and blessings you brought my way when you came into my life. You have become the very reason for my existence. I don't know what I would've done without you either and I don't want to even think about that. You showed me kindness in taking me back and loving me."

"It wasn't kindness Amadeo. It was the love I felt for you even without knowing," she said with her eyes watering.

"In a way, I'm grateful to your brother. I found the loves of my life because of him. I now have you and a wonderful baby boy. Even if you hadn't taken me back, I would've lingered anyway. Because I'm selfish. I will always be selfish when it comes to you. And perhaps I'm even more selfish when I'm asking this." I bring forth the chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate ganache and atop it rests a blue sapphire ring. She gasped as I bent down to one knee. "Will you give me the precious gift of your love and let me spend the rest of my life with you? Will you marry me?"

She let out a sob as she bent down on her knees and hugged me, kissing me all over my face. She buried her face in my neck as she shook.

"Is that a yes?" I dared to ask her.

"Of course it is. Yes! Yes! Thousand times yes." she said, wiping her tears. I took the ring and put it on her finger. I embraced her as I whispered I love you in her ear.

"I love you too," she said.

"You did it dada!" said Alex standing at the door. Ava turned in shock to see him.

"Alex?"

"Yay, you did it dada. Mama is happy!" he said running to us.

"Bubba, what are you doing up?" she asked.

"Well, I asked for Alex's permission to marry his Mama and guess what little man said yes! But only on the condition that he is a part of it," I said. Ava smiled.

"You were waiting outside the door listening to us, baby?" she asked. Alex nodded.

"Uh-huh. Is Mama happy?" he asked.

"So happy baby. Look at the ring dada gave me," she said showing him. His little eyes widened.

"Wow. It's bue!" it was his way of saying 'blue'.

"It is," I said.

"Happy birthday baby," she said.

"Happy birthday buddy," I said as he giggled.

"I love you, Mama and Dada," he said.

"We love you too." we both said.

"Can I have the cupcake pwease?" he asked. Ava and I burst out laughing.

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The next night.............

Ava's POV

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Two!" said Alex, raising two fingers.

I laughed. "That's right! You are two." I said tucking him in.

"I'm a big boy, Mama," he said grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes, my love you are. It's bedtime for you big boy." I said.

"Otay Mama," he said.

"I love you, baby," I said kissing his forehead. I left his room closing behind me. I rest against the door recalling the events of the day. Everybody in the family came over for the party including Justin and Elliot. Alex was swimming in gifts and kisses while I was trying to cater for everybody. Amadeo and I made our announcement and the party just got livelier. Maria cried out of happiness and the girls already started planning our wedding. It felt like Alex and I were being welcomed to the family all over again. I look at my ring again in wonder and sigh. It matched the sapphire necklace he had given me.

"Regretting already?" said Amadeo standing in the doorway to our room.

"Never," I said walking towards him. He hugged me and kissed my head.

"I have something for you," he said as he picked up a box. He made me sit on the bed.

"Amadeo, you didn't have to get me a gift," I said holding the box.

"It isn't from me," he said. I looked at him in confusion.

"It's from Nathaniel," he said. My eyes widened. My brother! He has been Awol since the day I got stabbed.

"Before I proposed to you, I contacted him. I had to ask him for his permission. After all, he is your family." he said

"You knew his whereabouts all this time and you didn't tell me!" I exclaimed.

"No no. I tracked him down with great difficulty. Even after I found him, he refused any contact with me. I said it is about and then he finally agreed."

"Where is he? I want to see him, please." I said.

"I know you do, love. But he is too stubborn. Open the box for now. I think he wrote a letter for you."

I looked at the box. It had a little card tied with twine and had my name on it. I recognized the familiar handwriting. It was his.

"You want me to leave?" he asked.

"No. Stay with me," I said and he nodded. I opened the box and just like Amadeo said it did have a letter. Taking a deep breath I started reading it.

Dear Ava,

I know you want to smack me on the head right now and I totally deserve it. I'm glad you are doing good because when Rossi contacted me, I assumed the worst possible thing. First of all congratulations on your engagement. I'm appalled that you still care about my well-being and that Rossi wanted the permission of your piece of shit brother before proposing to you.

When you first regained consciousness the Rossi family was there. Seeing you surrounded by such love and care, I knew you were going to be okay. I visited our parents' grave and apologized for everything. Then I left. And I don't want to look back. I have never asked for your apology because I know you will forgive me in a heartbeat.

My sweet sister, I love you for all you have done and will forever be grateful to you for everything you have done for Alex. I wish you all the best for your new life but I'm too coward to face you like nothing ever happened. I'll rather watch you from afar and let you be happy in your world untouched by my darkness.

Your unfortunate brother

Nate.

I didn't realise I was crying up until Amadeo wiped my tears.

"Tesoro?"

"I just want to see him. Make sure he is okay. He is my family. But he won't let me do that. Why is he so stubborn?" I said

He hugged me and cried more. "I'm sorry,'' he said.

"Do you know where he is?"

"No. he sends me a location to meet and took off right after.."

I sighed. "Everyone makes mistakes. I have forgiven him already but he just won't forgive himself." I looked up at his eyes, "he also gave me you. I'm so grateful for that." Amadeo kissed my forehead and said, "give him time to heal. He will come back to you." I nodded.

I too hoped Nate will come back. For now, I have to concentrate on my lovely fiance and my sweet baby boy.

"I love you, mia moglie," he said

"Hey, mister. I'm not your wife yet." I giggled.

"Soon," he promised to kiss my hand.     

A/N: Hi my beautiful friends. I don't even know what to say anymore. I'm so emotional writing this chapter. The OG readers will probably understand the significance of the chocolate, the blue sapphire, the stars. Please let me know in the comments. This book baby is my first born and the next chapter is gonna be the epilogue. Can you imagine? Thank you guys so much for all the love and support. Please keep supporting my other works. Really appreciate it. And I want lots of comments on this one okay. Your girl worked really hard on this. Love you guys so much.

Lot's of love 😘😘😘😘😘
AisheeSaha ❤❤❤❤❤