Ailee woke up alone in her bedroom and frowned when she found him absent. She quickly took out her phone from charging and checked the time. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She had been sleeping all day! God what was even in the medicine to make her THAT sleepy?
'It was seven at night and Xavier hasn't come yet?' She thought.
Shrugging, she quickly went to get freshen up and also changed into her pyjamas. She picked up her serum to start doing her skin care when her eyes fell on the gauze on her neck. A lump automatically formed in her throat and flashes of Alvaro's angry face popped in her mind like how he was behind her, dragging her away from the similar drawers just less than a day ago and it caused her hands to tremble and put down the bottle slowly.
She took deep breaths and came outside the bathroom not feeling the need to care for her skin anymore and decided to go and look for some company instead of drowning herself in negative thoughts.
She found her mother in the kitchen and approached her with a smile.
"Mama" she called out softly and sat down on the barstool.
"Hi honey, feeling better?" She asked and poured her a glass of water.
"Mhmm why didn't you wake me up?" She asked and took little sips from her drink.
"Because rest is good for you" she smiled and patted her head.
"Hmm I do feel a lot better" she said, looking around for others but found none.
"Where is everyone?"
"Your papa and Gigi are out for work and Emma, Mila and Iris are upstairs, maybe terrace but Alex is out since morning" She replied with a frown.
"Oh he didn't tell you where he's going?"
"No, that boy makes me so worried" she pinched the area between her eyebrows and sat down next to Ailee.
"I tried to make your favorite biryani, it will be done soon and then we'll have it together."
"Yeee, you did? Thank you mama I was really craving some" she squealed and hugged her.
"Don't worry and ask Romano to join us for dinner if he isn't too busy" she laughed, wrapping her arms around her petite form.
She nodded and stood up.
"I'll call him and I'll be there with Em if you need me" she said and ran upstairs.
She quickly dialed his number upon reaching her room and waited for him to pick up.
"Coco"
"Hi Zai, you done yet?"
"Hmm"
"When will you come here? I'm missing you" she whispered the last part, biting her lip.
" I'll be there soon"
"Alright. Would you like some dinner with us? Mama made biryani and I know you will love it because I do too and mama makes everything delicious and though it is her first time trying an Indian dish I know it will be finger licking good" she rambled like always and Xavier suppressed a smile. He couldn't wait to crush her in his arms.
"Yes baby, I'd love to join you for dinner" he said and she blushed. Oh she could never get used to the sweet terms of endearments he gives her.
Ailee could hear vehicles in the background so probably he was driving.
"Okay I'll be waiting. Take care" she said, not wanting to disturb him and hung up when he replied with a little 'you too'.
She smiled, placing her phone in her pocket and left to find her sisters.
___
The four of them had just come and sat in the lounge area from the terrace and were now bickering on what movie to watch tonight.
Alex and Xavier were talking hushedly when they entered, not at all expecting them to be gathered there in front of the entrance.
And suddenly everything went dead silent. They all stared at the unexpected duo that just walked in until Ailee sprang up from her seat and ran to him.
She jumped in his arms and he caught her like always.
"Slow down little rabbit, you're supposed to take care of yourself" he said quietly.
She smiled sheepishly and nodded.
"Sorry, I was too happy to see you here finally and.....did you both..... come together?" She frowned.
"Umm.... Yeah kind of... " Alex replied.
"Also Lils we need to talk to dad for a minute. Can you wait till then?" He looked at Xavier reminding him about what they decided. He could see him slowly caving into her sister's eyes.
"Mhmm just a few minutes, Coco" he kissed her forehead and let her slip down from his arms to the ground gently, walking past her towards their father's office.
Ailee sulked but joined her sisters who were wiggling their eyebrows like crazy to tease her. She blushed and buried her face in the cushion.
"Mhmm Coco muah muah" Iris said in a fake manly voice which made them burst out laughing.
"I don't think I would ever get used to that man talking so sweetly, like it gives me chills for real" Mila said, dropping her weight on poor Ailee who was a blushing mess.
"Stop you guys" she mumbled from the cushion.
They all laughed and went back to their former issue.
___
Alex narrated a much innocent version of whatever happened but it still terrified his father to the core and it looked like he was holding himself back from crying by the end of it.
What caught Xavier by surprise was when he pulled him in a firm hug.
He was dumbstruck to say the least. The only people who touch him are Luka and Ailee but only Ailee has the audacity and permission to hug him.
His hands stay limp by his sides not knowing what to do. He can't fucking pick him up in a tight hold like he does to Ailee now, can he?
So he waited till he had his fill and he pulled back a minute later.
"I trust you with my daughter Romano. Please don't ever let her get hurt by you or by anyone else. If anything ever happens between you two then please bring her back to me with respect instead of leaving her in the middle on her own" he said gripping his shoulder in a fatherly manner.
"Rest assured Mr Laurent, she will always remain the top priority for me" He said it with confidence and it calmed his heart to no extent.
He smiled and nodded.
"Let's have some dinner now" he led them outside to the dining room. The loud giggling of the girls could be heard from the stairs who were helping their mother in the kitchen.
Xavier was slowly getting used to the homely feeling in their family and the thought of losing it in future made him uneasy.
How he wished he could have had this when he was younger but even his parents were hardly around let alone a bunch of loving siblings.
Ailee's scream brought him out of his train of thoughts and his eyes immediately searched for her pink clad figure.
He found her hunched on the floor and Alex stood there laughing. Soon he realised what was happening.
She was being tickled by Alex.
"Zai!" She ran and stood behind him, using him as a shield.
When Alex didn't approach her she peeked from the side and showed him his tongue.
"What? Now you're scared? Come on, get me" she teased knowing fully well that no one would dare doing anything to her in his presence.
"Alex, stop bothering your sister and where were you all day? I was worried about you" their mother scolded, hitting him on his shoulder.
"I was with him all day for.....work, if you don't trust me ask him yourself" he said with a pout.
She looked at Xavier for confirmation and he nodded.
"Alright but at least inform me when you plan to disappear next time. Now sit down before the food gets cold"
Xavier pulled out a seat for Ailee and she sat down. He joined her soon and served her a big portion.
He heard her complimenting her mother at every bite saying how perfectly the rice was cooked, how tender the chicken was, how accurate the spices were and many more.
She later served him a generous amount of chicken and smiled with puffed cheeks when he raised an eyebrow at her actions.
When the desserts were over he simply said 'you are a good cook' when he found Juliana alone in the kitchen and went out in the garden where the rest of them were.
She found his little act so adorable and couldn't wait to share this with her husband.
___
Ailee and Xavier entered her room hand in hand and she immediately plopped down on the bed.
"C'mere" she said, making grabby hands.
He slowly walked into her arms even though the position was very uncomfortable for him. He had to bend all the way down to hug her when she was happily lying on the bed.
"It's so relaxing, right?" She asked, running her hands through his hair.
He kicked off his shoes and adjusted himself properly on the bed and pulled her on him.
"What is?" He finally replied.
"That I don't have to sneak out anymore to meet you but it was exciting as well" she chuckled and sat up, straddling him.
"Hmm it's good"
"Umm how about I treat you to a great skin care, hmm?" She bounced on his abdomen and he held back a groan.
"You can do whatever the fuck you want" he closed his eyes in defeat.
She giggled and pecked his lips before running to her bathroom to collect the supplies.
He could hear her talking to herself like 'oomph where did I put that' and stuff.
She was really his only dose of entertainment and never ceases to amaze him.
A few minutes later she sang her way to him and settled on her favorite seat aka his stomach.
She sits on him like she owns him, which she does.
She then laid down all the products next to him along with a towel and wet tissues.
First she cleaned his face using some wipes and then trimmed his eyebrows which were thick and already in a beautiful arch shape but had little hairs sticking out from the line.
She then proceeded with pink and shimmery under eye masks and pink lip mask and then massaged his face with a roller after putting on a cucumber eye gel mask on his very intimidating gray eyes. She awed loudly and squished his cheeks.
"You're literally the most adorable huge baby I've ever seen," she gushed happily.
He hummed in relief at the cool sensation around his tense muscles and could feel himself drifting to slumber but he wanted to continue feeling her soft hands doing magic on his face.
She didn't forget to click pictures at every step though.
She removed it all from his face and gently put a sheet of cool caffeine face mask and massaged again with her roller as well as facial brush.
And after a few minutes she disposed of it and generously applied hydrating serum and this time used her fingers to massage the area of his face.
Then she put on a steam eye mask and continued running her fingers along the skin of his stoic face.
Minutes later she finally applied some moisturizer that smelled so much like her and her favorite cherry lip balm.
She smiled proudly at his glowing skin and pink lips but he was already asleep. Giggling quietly, she clicked a number of his photos and carried all the stuff and used masks back to the bathroom and came back after doing her night skincare routine.
She snuggled close to him and inhaled his scent that she loves so much. She might even steal his perfumes someday.
"You're the best, you know." She whispered.
She was playing with the straps of his hoodie that Alex lent him when he turned her into a little spoon and buried his face in her neck from behind.
Sending a little prayer to God for their health and happiness, she closed her eyes and slept peacefully.
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