10

Sunlight streams through the stained glass windows of the quaint little chapel, painting the aisle in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. The air is thick with the heady scent of flowers - roses and lilies and dahlias, a riotous explosion of petals and greenery. It"s like standing in the heart of a garden, lush and verdant and bursting with life.

But none of it compares to the sight of Nico waiting for me at the altar, his dark eyes shining with love and wonder as he watches me walk towards him. He"s breathtaking in his tailored black suit, a single red rose pinned to his lapel. A symbol of our love, of the passion and devotion that brought us to this perfect, shining moment.

Luca stands at Nico"s side, his ever-present smirk softened into a genuine smile. Tommy is next to him, his eyes suspiciously bright as he winks at me. And in the front row, Sophia beams at me through her tears, her hand clutched in her wife Alana"s.

My found family, the people who stood by us through every trial and tribulation. The ones who believed in our love even when the world sought to tear us apart. My heart swells with gratitude, with a joy so fierce it steals my breath.

At last, I reach Nico"s side, my hands immediately seeking his. His fingers lace with mine, his calluses rasping against my skin in a way that feels like home. Like forever, like eternity stretching out before us in an endless golden road.

"Hi," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "Fancy meeting you here, stranger."

Nico"s lips quirk, his thumb stroking over my knuckles. "Wouldn"t miss it for the world, sunshine. You ready to make an honest man out of me?"

"With all my heart," I breathe, the words a vow in themselves. "Forever and always, Nico Caruso."

The ceremony passes in a blur of laughter and tears, of heartfelt promises and soaring violin music. And then, at long last, the words I"ve been longing to hear...

"I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss your groom."

Nico"s hands cup my face, his dark eyes bright with unshed tears. "I love you," he rasps, his voice raw with emotion. "I love you, Eli Bloom. Forever and always."

"Forever and always," I echo, rising up on my toes to meet his lips in a searing kiss.

The world falls away, narrowing down to the two of us. To the perfect press of Nico"s mouth against mine, the salt of our mingled tears, the thundering of our hearts beating in synchronicity.

In this moment, I feel invincible. Untouchable, unbreakable. Like nothing in this world or the next could ever tear me from Nico"s arms, from the sheltering harbor of his love.

As I hold Eli in my arms, as I seal our union with a kiss that sears me to my very soul...I marvel at the winding path that brought us to this perfect, shining moment. The obstacles we overcame, the battles we fought, the scars we earned in the name of our love.

It wasn"t easy, God knows. There were moments when I thought I"d lost him forever, when the darkness of my past threatened to swallow us both whole. But Eli...my beautiful, brave, impossibly stubborn Eli...he never gave up on me. On us.

He stood by my side through every challenge, every setback and heartbreak. He loved me fiercely, recklessly, with a devotion that humbled me to my knees. And in doing so, he taught me how to love in return. How to open my battered heart and let the light in, how to believe in the power of forever.

I never thought I"d have this. Never thought I"d find a love that could withstand the bloody legacy of my family, the violence and brutality that ran in my veins like poison. But Eli...he saw beyond the monster, beyond the killer and the criminal. He saw the man beneath, the one who yearned for something more than an early grave and a lifetime of regrets.

He saved me, in every way a person can be saved. And now, with his hand in mine and his ring on my finger...I know that I"ll spend the rest of my life saving him right back. Loving him, cherishing him, building a future together that"s filled with laughter and light and the kind of bone-deep happiness I never thought I"d get to feel.

As we turn to face our cheering loved ones, as Eli tucks himself against my side with a smile brighter than the sun...I feel a peace settle over me. A quiet certainty that this, right here...this is where I"m meant to be. Where I"ve always been meant to be.

By Eli"s side, for better or worse. Through sickness and health, through every twist and turn of this wild, unpredictable life.

Forever and always, till death do us part.

The bell above the door jingles merrily as I step into the flower shop, the familiar scent of earth and greenery wrapping around me like a hug. It"s been six months since Nico and I said our vows, six months of laughter and love and learning to navigate this new chapter together.

It hasn"t been easy, adjusting to civilian life. Nico still wakes sometimes in the dead of night, his body shaking and his skin damp with cold sweat. The nightmares cling to him like cobwebs, remnants of a past he can never fully escape.

But I"m always there to hold him, to smooth his hair back from his brow and murmur soft words of comfort. To remind him that he"s not that man anymore, that he"s so much more than the sum of his sins.

Together, we"re learning to heal. To pick up the broken pieces of our pasts and fashion them into something new, something stronger and more beautiful than before. And at the heart of that healing...is this little shop, with its riot of color and its shelves overflowing with vibrant blooms.

Nico took over the business shortly after we returned from our honeymoon, his eyes shining with a tentative hope as he signed the paperwork. "I want to build something," he told me, his voice rough with emotion. "Something good, something pure. Something that creates life instead of taking it away."

And oh, how he"s thrived. Watching him work, his strong hands gentle as he coaxes stubborn blooms to unfurl...it takes my breath away. He pours his heart into every arrangement, every artfully sculpted display. And in doing so, he"s slowly learned to tend to the garden of his own soul. To nurture the parts of himself that were once withered and barren, to coax them back to vibrant, thriving life.

My heart swells with pride as I watch him now, bent over a spray of delicate orchids with a look of fierce concentration on his handsome face. He"s in his element here, surrounded by beauty and life and the kind of peace he never thought he"d get to feel.

And I...I get to witness it all, get to stand by his side and bask in the light of his hard-won happiness. Get to love him, support him, remind him every single day that he"s worthy of this second chance, this beautiful new beginning.

It"s a privilege and an honor, one I"ll never take for granted. Not as long as I live.

I sense Eli"s presence before I see him, a sudden warmth kindling to life in my chest. It"s like my very soul recognizes him, reaches out to intertwine with his in an invisible embrace.

I straighten up from the orchids, a smile already tugging at my lips as I turn to face him. And there he is...my sunshine, my saving grace, the love of my fucking life. He"s leaning against the counter, his blue eyes soft and warm as he watches me work.

"Hey there, handsome," he murmurs, his voice like honey and smoke. "Come here often?"

I smirk, prowling towards him with a heat in my gaze that has nothing to do with the temperature of the shop. "Only when there"s a hot piece of ass behind the counter," I purr, caging him in with my arms. "Why, you offerin"?"

Eli grins up at me, his arms looping lazily around my neck. "Might be," he hums, his fingers toying with the short hairs at my nape. "If you ask real nice and promise to be a gentleman."

"Oh, I"ll show you nice," I growl, dipping my head to nip at his throat. "So fucking nice you"ll forget your own name, sunshine."

Eli"s laughter is a bright burst of sound, his head tipping back to give me better access. I take full advantage, sucking a mark into the smooth column of his neck, reveling in the shaky moan it pulls from his lips.

Christ, I"ll never get enough of this. Of him, of the way he responds to my touch like it"s a revelation every single time. Like I"m a miracle, a gift he"ll never stop being grateful for.

A sudden jingle of the bell has us springing apart, our breathing ragged and our faces flushed. I"m half ready to snarl at whatever unfortunate soul has interrupted us...but the words die on my tongue as I catch sight of our visitor.

"Dad?" I rasp, my eyes widening in shock. "What...what are you doing here?"

Salvatore stands in the doorway, his normally immaculate suit rumpled, his eyes suspiciously bright. He looks older than I"ve ever seen him, his face lined with exhaustion and something that looks achingly close to regret.

"I wanted to see you," he says quietly, his gaze flicking between Eli and me. "Both of you. I wanted...I needed to apologize."

Eli stiffens beside me, his hand finding mine and lacing our fingers together. I squeeze back, a silent promise. I"m here. I"ve got you. We"re in this together.

"Apologize for what?" I ask carefully, my guard slamming up. "For trying to keep us apart? For making my entire life a living hell? Take your fucking pick, Dad."

Salvatore flinches, a sheen of tears glazing his icy blue eyes. "All of it," he rasps, his voice cracking. "Everything I put you through, every ounce of pain and fear I caused. I was wrong, Nico. So fucking wrong."

He takes a shaky breath, his gaze seeking out Eli"s. "And you...I owe you the biggest apology of all. The way I treated you, the things I said...it was unforgivable. You"re a good man, Eli. A better man than I could ever hope to be. And you make my son happier than I"ve ever seen him. I was blind not to see that, not to cherish it for the gift it is."

Eli swallows hard, his grip on my hand tightening. "I...I don"t know what to say," he manages, his voice thick with emotion. "I never thought I"d hear those words from you, Salvatore."

My father nods, a single tear tracing down his weathered cheek. "I know," he says hoarsely. "And I don"t expect your forgiveness, either of you. God knows I don"t deserve it. But I...I want you to know that I"m trying. I"m going to be better, going to do better. For you, for any...any grandchildren you might bless me with someday."

My heart clenches, a lump rising in my throat. I never thought I"d see this day. Never thought I"d witness my father, the ruthless king of a bloody empire, brought to his knees by the power of love. By the strength of the bond Eli and I have forged, unbreakable and true.

"It"s a start," I manage, my voice raw and aching. "A damn good start, Dad."

Eli nods beside me, a shaky smile on his lips. "We"ve got a long road ahead of us," he says softly. "A lot of healing to do, on all sides. But...I"m willing to try if you are, Salvatore. For Nico"s sake, and for the sake of the family we"re building together."

Salvatore"s answering smile is a fragile, tentative thing...but it"s real, and it"s a fucking miracle. "I"d like that," he rasps, clearing his throat gruffly. "I"d like that very much, son."

The sun is setting by the time Salvatore takes his leave, painting the sky in streaks of orange and pink. Nico and I stand hand in hand in the doorway of the shop, watching until his car disappears around the corner.

"Do you think he meant it?" I ask softly, leaning my head on Nico"s shoulder. "All that talk of change, of being better?"

Nico sighs, pressing a kiss to my hair. "I hope so, sunshine. God, I really fucking hope so. But even if he doesn"t...even if he backslides into old habits...it won"t change anything. Not for you and me."

I turn in his arms, looping my own around his waist. "No," I agree, my heart in my eyes. "Nothing could ever change what we have, Nico. What we"ve fought for, what we"ve built together. You"re my forever, my always. My beginning, middle and end."

Nico"s smile is a soft, precious thing, his dark eyes shining with love. "Sap," he teases gently, dipping his head to brush a kiss over my lips. "But you"re not wrong. We"ve weathered every storm, pushed through every obstacle. And we"ll keep doing it, for the rest of our lives. Together."

"Together," I echo, the word a vow. "No matter what the future holds, no matter what challenges we face...as long as I have you by my side, I know we can conquer anything."

(Nico"s POV)

Later, as the shop lies quiet and still, I pull Eli into the back room, the air thrumming with a sudden urgency. He comes willingly, a knowing smile on his kiss-swollen lips, his eyes dark with desire.

I push him up against the wall, my body aligning with his like two puzzle pieces slotting into place. He arches into me with a breathy moan, his hands fisting in my hair as I claim his mouth in a searing kiss.

"I love you," I rasp against his lips, my hands roaming restlessly over his body. "Fuck, Eli, I love you so much. Need you, need to be inside you..."

"Yes," he hisses, his head thudding back against the wall as I palm him through his jeans. "Please, Nico, don"t make me wait. Want you so bad, want to feel you..."

I groan, grinding against him urgently. We"re both hard already, aching and desperate, the air around us thick with the scent of arousal.

We undress each other with frantic, fumbling hands, unwilling to stop kissing long enough to do it properly. But finally, blessedly, we"re skin to skin, Nico"s heat searing me from head to toe as he presses me back against the wall.

It only takes a moment for him to prepare me, his fingers clever and sure as they work me open. And then he"s lifting me up, urging my legs around his waist as he positions himself at my entrance.

"Ready?" he pants, his forehead pressed to mine, his eyes black with hunger.

"Always," I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders. "Now, Nico, please..."

He pushes forward in one smooth, relentless thrust, filling me up, stretching me wide. I cry out at the sudden fullness, my head slamming back against the wall as he begins to move, setting a pace that"s just shy of brutal.

It"s exactly what I need, what I crave. The pleasure is sharp and sweet, edged with an ache that only stokes the flames higher. I"m lost to it, lost to him, drowning in sensation as he takes me apart with every snap of his hips.

Eli is a vision in my arms, his hair a wild tangle, his skin flushed and slick with sweat. He"s the most beautiful thing I"ve ever seen, and he"s mine, all mine, every inch of him from the curve of his smile to the pounding of his pulse against my lips.

I drive into him like I"m trying to crawl inside his skin, like I"m trying to fuse us together into one perfect, panting entity. He clenches around me, his heat gripping me like a vise, and I groan brokenly into the sweat-damp hollow of his throat.

"Close," I rasp, my rhythm faltering as the pressure builds at the base of my spine. "Fuck, sunshine, "m not gonna last..."

"Let go," Eli pants, cradling my face in his shaking hands. "I"ve got you, love. Now and forever, I"ve always got you."

And that...that"s all it takes. Eli"s voice, his touch, the sheer devastating love shining in his eyes...it hurls me over the edge with a force that knocks the breath from my lungs. I bury my face in his neck as I come, muffling my shout against his sweat-dampened skin.

Eli follows me a heartbeat later, my name a reverent cry on his lips as he pulses hot and wet between our bodies. We ride it out together, shaking and gasping, clinging to each other like we"re the only solid things in a world turned to quicksand.

In the aftermath, we sink to the floor in a tangle of trembling limbs, trading soft, panting kisses as we come down from the high. Nico cradles me against his chest, his fingers threading through my hair, his lips brushing my temple with a tenderness that makes my heart ache.

"I love you," I murmur, turning my head to nuzzle into his palm. "More than anything, more than everything."

Nico"s answering smile is brighter than the sun, his dark eyes soft and warm as they drink me in. "I love you too, Eli. Forever and always, till the end of my days and beyond."

We stay like that for a long while, wrapped up in each other amidst the fragrant blooms and the golden afternoon light. And as Nico holds me close, as he presses gentle kisses to my hair and murmurs sweet promises against my skin...I feel a sense of peace wash over me. A bone-deep certainty that this, right here...this is where I"m meant to be. Where we"re meant to be.

Together, in love, building a life and a future that"s filled with joy and laughter and the kind of soul-deep connection most people only dream of. It hasn"t been easy, God knows. We"ve fought and bled and wept to get to this point, to carve out a place for ourselves amidst the wreckage of our pasts.

But looking at Nico now, at the incandescent happiness radiating from every inch of him...I know that every trial, every tear, every moment of fear and doubt...it was all worth it. He was worth it, and he always will be.

My heart, my home, my partner in every sense of the word. The man who taught me how to love without fear, how to trust in the strength of what we"ve built together. The man who saved me, even as I saved him right back.

With Nico by my side, I know that we can weather any storm. That we can face any challenge, overcome any obstacle, as long as we have each other to lean on.

And as we exchange a soft, knowing smile, our fingers twining together like vines...I feel the last of the tension drain from my body, replaced by a warmth that suffuses me from head to toe.

This is just the beginning for us, I know. The first chapter in a love story that will span years, decades, a lifetime. There will be ups and downs, moments of darkness amidst the light. But through it all, we"ll have each other. A port in every storm, a shelter from every tempest.

Forever and always, till death do us part...and even then, beyond the veil, into whatever waits for us on the other side.