ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴠ

𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴

♛♛♛

Eyes wide open, she gazes shocked with her lips parted.

"Julius..." She was at loss for words.

"Hazel." He replies smugly, tilting his head at her.

"But Juls, are you sure—"

She comes to a halt as he sighs. Her eyes were spared the sight of his massive arms wrapping around her and smothering her to his chest.

"I'm fine. All better, angel," He lifts her hand to his chest and placed it over his beating heart, "See?"

Her lips turn into a frown but still, she lingers with concern.

Julius could tell she was about to muster up more nonsense, he was fine. Completely fine.

"We leave tonight. You haven't unpacked, have you?"

Hazel shakes her head, the visual image of her bright blue suitcases still hanging about in her room.

"As long as you're going to be okay. Your stitch won't open or you 'accidentally' get shot again," She rolls her precious eyes at the officer's statements from a few days earlier, the cop who claimed Daniel shot him by accident.

Hazel hardly swears but goodness was that such bull-.

Julius chuckles into her neck, beginning to sway her to the rhythm of the faint music in the background.

Kissing down her neck, Julius finds himself depths beneath her love.

"I'm not going to. We're going to have a good time, do whatever you and your sister wanted to do, yeah?"

She hums in agreement, slowly drifting away from the world as he continued to move their bodies and push his lips against her skin.

"But we'll also do some of our own things." He murmurs.

"Like what?" She smiles, breathing in his intoxicating scent.

The smirk that crawled up his lips curled around her skin, goosebumps elucidating her.

"I'll give you a hint. It involves our bedroom and the view of the Eiffel Tower."

She blushes underneath his hold, hiding her face in his shoulder.

But then she realised what he had said.

"Our room is opposite the tower?" She exclaims with excitement, a sudden jolt in her feet.

His chuckle strikes deeply into her mind.

"The best for the best." He placed a kiss under her ear, removing his face from her neck.

"I'm excited." She admits with a grin, her happiness absorbing through his heart.

"I'm glad."

A phone had begun ringing, just to spare the moment. Julius watches her dig into her pocket and grasps the vibrating phone.

Reading the caller ID she smiles and places the phone to her ear.

"Hi, Trace!"

The sound of a smacking sound echoed through the speakers, making Hazel wince.

Hazel's smile widens as the sound of Gracie's voice lingers in the background.

She raises her eyes to Julius, who abruptly lifts her off the floor, wrapping her thighs around his waist and holding her in one arm as he walks away into another room.

Says Gracie.

Hazel's heart begins to melt, and she realises that she has been unjust to them—well, to everyone who was with her when she had become completely hopeless.

"Okay, yeah, sure," Hazel nods without realising they can't see her, "We're leaving tonight, you can come over now if you want?"

Julius shifts his gaze to her when she says this, and she shrugs and smiles sheepishly as she listens to Gracie and Trace squeal.

"Drive safely!" Hazel exclaims before they hung up.

Julius takes her phone from her hands and places her bottom on the kitchen table. Hazel watches him curiously as he cages her in with his large, tatted arms.

"Who was that?" He raises a brow, acting like he didn't already know.

"It was Trace and Gracie," She gives a soft smile as she looks up at his intimidating posture.

Julius has a reputation for being intimidating. It was just his inherent demeanour. Hazel, on the other hand, had learned to love it, just as she had grown to love him.

Now, anytime he tugged up his walls, she never fell for the power he had obtained, instead, she smiled amongst it.

"They want to see us before we leave."

He scoffs and allows a small smirk to play across his lips.

"They want to see you, Angel."

"No." Hazel shakes her head, refusing.

"Us." She finalised her words by pressing her lips to his.

The delicate touch of their lips collided, Hazel's tongue stroked his bottom lip and his lips parted for her to enter.

Their lips mingle, their tongues collide, and imaginary fireworks go off above them, expressing the love they had for each other.

After a short while of absorbing one another physically, they pull away breathlessly.

Hazel's head leans against his chest, smiling with happiness as she listens to the beats of his heart.

"Can you cut me some strawberries?" She looks up at him sheepishly, the twinkle in her eyes admitting him to do whatever she wanted.

Much as a true king would get on his knees for a queen, the one really in charge.

Julius turns his back to her, not without kissing her cheek before he did.

Hazel talks to Julius as he cuts up her fruit, his kitchen skills came in handy at times like this, his fingers moved faster than lightning.

She blushed at that thought, already knowing in other ways that they worked magically.

By no time, she had a bowl of not only strawberries but blueberries and bananas in there. Julius places everything aside and leans back against the counter in front of her, observing.

Whilst eating her fruit, she can't help but notice his eyes, the way they lingered on her in mysterious ways that only left her in a heated mess.

"What's wrong? Do you want some?" Hazel throws a strawberry into her mouth before pulling the bowl out toward him. Much to her dismay, he declines with a shake of his head and a smirk she secretly found seductive.

"I want you." He says rather casually but to Hazel, it was more than anything but casual.

More than ever, her cheeks flush the deep colour of her strawberries and her eyes widen with shock.

Julius chuckled and moved over to her instantly, taking her strawberry stuffed face into his hands.

"I love you more than anything," The doorbell rings as he kisses her lips, leading Julius to tell her to stay and eat while he goes to get the door.

To say she was shocked and heated and incredibly in love was understated. She watched his broad shoulders ripple beneath his shirt as he strolled and his broad shoulders sway until he was out of sight.

My gosh.

She smiles.

Hazel was going to have him all to herself soon. Even though she technically does already, but only alone with him in Paris...she couldn't wait.

The distant sounds of the girls' voices distract her enough to come back to the present time.

Finishing her last pieces of fruit, she leaves the empty bowl hanging on the kitchen table and instantly runs toward the front door.

Doing so, her body collided with one with was all too familiar, though because his body was like a stonewall she collapsed back but he catches her before she could fall.

"Sorry," She blushed and he shakes his head at her, helping her stand to her feet.

As soon as she looks around the room she noticed two pairs of familiar eyes.

She grins and rushes over to them, hugging her short arms around both girls—impossibly.

"Oh, hi gorgeous," Gracie murmurs and gently rubs her back.

Trace beams and embraces her with even more force than Hazel did.

"We missed you, Haze."

Hazel takes a step back to face them. Her normally rosy cheeks were fuller with colour, and her eyes were brighter as well as the flesh of her skin.

The women were overjoyed to see how much healthier she looks.

In the other room, Julius had taken off to take a phone call while the three girls took their catch up to the living room.

"He's being extra nice to us," Trace looks at Gracie raising her eyebrows sceptically.

Now that they're all seated on love chairs, Hazel looks at them, puzzled, and pulls her legs underneath her.

"Yeah," Gracie scoffs, rolling her eyes, "you mean he welcomed us with a grunt instead of an order or a simple 'what'?"

"He doesn't mean it. He does like you guys," Hazel says defensively, giving them an awkward smile.

They look at each other before bursting out in obvious laughter. "Baby, we're one-hundred percent sure that Julius only likes you."

Gracie is quick to pipe in again before Hazel could argue any further. "But, this isn't about him, this is about you."

Shifting in her seat, she starts tracing a random pattern on her leg, smiling at her wandering fingers.

"Are you feeling better? We know you must be but just to be sure..." Gracie gives her an assuring smile, her eyes shining under the sunlight that poured through the curtains.

"Much better," Hazel responds honestly, her eyes darting towards the other room where Julius was.

Both women look at her in awe, completely astonished with how much love she had for the man.

Though, they were sure Julius impossibly loved her more. If it ever came down to it, it seemed Julius would give up his entire life for her, as long as it made her happy.

But looking at Hazel now, playing with the rose pendant between her fingertips and smiling sheepishly to herself, it was definite that they both equally loved each other more than infinity.

"Okay, tell us what you have planned for this trip to the city of love?" Trace wiggles her eyebrows again, making Hazel giggle.

Upon this, the girls talk away. Hazel says all that she needs to, even talking about the days after Paris with Julius.

Time flew and by the end of it, an hour or two had passed and it was time for them to go.

"Don't worry Haze, I'm sure we'll see each other one of these days. Julius will fly us out for some job." Trace assures her with a tight hug, Gracie following next.

"It's true. Plus we can always facetime together, we have plenty of time on our hands."

Hazel nods slowly, her eyes watering.

As their eyes meet once more Hazel gives them a final smile. She leads them to the door, opens it, and immediately freezes when she sees someone on the other side.

In front of them stood Percy Devon. As usual, his black hair remained dishevelled, and his emerald eyes were vibrant and almost picture-perfect. Immediately she grins and gives him the largest hug she's ever given.

"Hey," He grunts, hugging her with one arm and patting her back awkwardly with the other.

"I'm glad you came." She pulls away from him, watching as his lips tilted slightly.

"No 'hey' to us Purse?" Trace smirks from the threshold, propping her tongue to the side of her cheek as she looks at him up and down almost judgmentally.

He flips her off and Hazel grimaces at the gestures between the two.

Gracie rolls her eyes and steps outside with them all, Trace following.

"We all have a job to do now, hence why we told him we'd be here." Gracie tempts to place an arm around Percy but misses completely when he steps closer to Hazel and glares at her.

"I was going to visit her anyway, I brought her a going-away present." He says rather proudly, looking down a Hazel who was still smiling brightly.

Inside the plastic bag around his wrist was a bag of candy only them two would share. It was an "internal jest" that was shared between only them two.

Percy takes out the packet of gummy bears and hands it over to a surprised Hazel. Looking down it, memories of her lunch periods at college with Percy flash through her mind. Especially the first time they met at college too.

"Thank you, Percy." She hugs it to her chest and gives him a side hug with her free arm. Percy gives her a small smile and returns the hug.

"If you ever need anything, just call me. And tell little Percy to let me know if he wants a free checkup." Hazel looks up at him while he nods, patting her back twice.

"Thanks, Haze. Have a safe trip." He slowly falls away from her, as do the girls walking toward their car, blowing kisses and air hugs toward her.

An arm snakes around her waist on time. She looks down at the hand laying on her stomach, seeing her favourite scars, colourless tattoos that hid the stories of his past, and the littered silver rings that adorned his fingers.

Waving one last time, their cars speed out of view.

Hazel leans her back against his body, running her hands up and down the sleeves of his arms.

"Come on darling," He whispers into her ear, "I'll cook for you before we head off."

Hazel smiles one last time before turning in his arms and piling back inside their home.

♛♛♛

Outside in the garden, she watches the trees sway their branches the leaves falling ever so often too.

The different coloured flowers that continued to grow reflected a glow of gold amongst the setting sun.

She thought of her old backyard at her old home. At this present moment, it was corroded, filled with dead weeds and growing dead grass.

But back before her sister passed, it was full of so much life.

It was a small area, but it was filled with the sun or the snow. Rainy days would even make the flowerpots look appealing.

She remembers always hanging out in the backyard as a child, always finding happiness amongst the falling leaves and the green grass that smelt earthy. It always reminded her of how human she really was, of how much life was as precious.

Yes, there are many obstacles in life. There will be hard times like how you cry until you merely can breathe. Or times, when you feel like the earth is just coming down on you and everyone in the world, is against you.

But when you're alone, when you finally breathe in the air of either salt from the ocean, or the air of fresh food or even the dirt beneath the earth, a thought crosses your mind that you really are here on earth.

As a human being, as a soul, you can do and make anything happen. Even in the worst of times, you have to remember who you are.

The memory of her life before Julius, with her parents and the constant damage she went through, rushed through her mind for a second.

Realising suddenly just how lucky she was to have found him and to live the life she always hoped to have herself.

Julius was her hero. And he would be forever.

A breeze brushes her skin, exhilarating through her veins and then the touch of another sends goosebumps to her flesh.

"Are you ready, Angel?"

Sighing, Hazel looks at their garden once more before nodding slowly.

When she turns around, his cologne and the sweet scent of mangos surround her. Looking up, her sight is drawn to the pure silver that mirrored the sunset behind his gaze.

"More than ever." She takes his hand, her soft lips pecking his palm ever so delicately.

He gives her a small smile, one of comfort and admiration. "Everything is loaded in the cars, did you take everything you need for the flight?"

"I think so," She shrugs and pats the back of her jeans for her phone, "My phone is in there, everything else should be good." She grins and he shakes his head with a smirk.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he guides them inside.

Julius becomes enamoured with her beauty, as he does always. The white baggy jeans and cream coloured cardigan that hugged her curvaceous figure left him feeling as if he hadn't appreciated her enough.

And the little glint in her eye that was even brighter tonight, made him fall, and fall, but never hitting a surface.

Every time she looked at him, he couldn't ever look away. The warmth she excessed always absorbed straight through him, just like sun rays onto human flesh.

After making sure security was all in order, guards surrounded the house and Julius had locked every door possible, they finally made it over to the car.

Julius opens her side of the car, Hazel hugs him quickly before sliding in—making Julius chuckle at her.

Once both partners are in, Julius leads the way and the other BMWs carrying their luggage follow behind him.

"Wow, I can't believe we're actually going." She looks up at the darkening sky, completely in awe as they speed down the freeway.

Julius looks at her for longer than a second, admiring her once again.

There wasn't a single other person in this world that he wanted nor needed, only her.

Hazel continues to admire the view, the further they drove the more she realised he wasn't heading to the airport. Instead, it was towards a more disclosed area.

"Juls? Where are we going?" She frowns, her hand tightening around his.

"Private plane, baby. Relax, angel." He squeezes her hand back and she looks at him in more shock than ever.

"You have a private plane?"

Julius could only smirk again at her obvious astonishment. He loved when he surprised her, especially when she doesn't realise just how wealthy he is.

"Mhm," He only hums, turning into the passageway.

She observes as they pass through a grove of trees and land on the tarmac, where a stunning private jet in a dainty royal blue colour was housed, with Julius' last name 'Santo' inscribed in silver across it.

Only a few feet away from the aircraft, Julius stops his car and immediately exits the car.

The pilot and what appeared to be the flight crew began entering the plane, with the pilot waiting outside for them.

After hopping out and coming beside Julius, he says a few words to the men dressed in black before they nod curtly and begin to load their cargo.

"I love it," Hazel says quietly, but somehow amongst all the noise, he heard.

"I'm glad." He whispers back into her ear.

They walk up the airstairs, Hazel greets the pilot with a short wave and a warm smile. He returns the gesture before pointing his hat down at Julius and then following up behind them.

Inside was just as beautiful as the out.

Black interior with gold surrounding the edges.

The lights were white but some were blue. Illuminating some of the seats and the single lounge further down.

Time seemed to fly between the period they entered and by the time all of their luggage was settled, Julius had placed their belongings away and sat beside Hazel along the window.

The plane began backing away easily, and Hazel was as excited as ever for the exciting adventure ahead.

Hazel takes Julius' hand in hers and places their linked hands in her lap.