I laid watching her, simply because that's all I could do. She was all better now, nearly all her bruises had faded and her cuts were gone. Plus she'd taken her medication, I'd make sure she kept taking it.

I didn't know what this feeling was, I'd been nearing a point for the past week and I'm not aware of what it is. I hope it doesn't cause any more problems, we need a break from this.

She hummed moving over a little and snuggling deeper into the quilt. I couldn't help but smile, she was truly gorgeous I don't think I could tell her enough. She looked like an angel sleeping like this, almost out of this world.

She took in a huge breath then her eyes fluttered open, I realised how much more beautiful she was awake. I'd never really looked at her eyes, they were a wonderful shade of green. She brought up a hand to itch her eye, it was fascinating to watch – she almost had the habits of a five year old.

I was smiling but my smile faltered, it felt like I'd just been shot.

"Are you okay?" she frowned. Obviously her vision had adjusted.

I cleared my throat, "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

I shook my head, "I think I just have to take my contacts out."

"You wear glasses?" she seemed excited. I didn't realise I'd forgotten to tell her my father had made me wear contacts since I was deemed old enough.

"No." I breathed getting up, even though the pain in my chest hadn't subsided. She sat up in the bed watching as I walked to bathroom, she was clearly confused. "I'll leave you here and then you can meet me downstairs." I said, frowning at myself in the mirror. God help me, I'd forgotten I had irises.

"Okay." I shouted back.

I'd only woken up three times in the last week, each time I had food and each time I barely went anywhere. I slept for a couple days each time and would occasionally have moments of consciousness in which I'd hear people talking – mostly Dominic. I enjoyed those moments most because he was talking away in Italian and he wasn't being charming about it, it was normal conversation.

Thanks to my newfound knowledge of the language I'd had fun sitting in between consciousness and unconsciousness, listening to people in their own nature. It was very therapeutic.

Dominic was still in the bathroom 'removing his contacts' which I wasn't buying at the least, nobody can wear contacts for months on end. Maybe that's why he wakes up before me almost every day and when he doesn't, he doesn't get up until I leave.

He came back out with a towel on his face and heading for the door, hell no. I got up and ran, "Can I see?" I sang. He just shook his head but I continued to hop around and beg. Over and over.

"'I'll see eventually." I droned putting my hands on my hips and standing in front of the bedroom door. Good old Dominic had put pyjamas on my body for me, no permission necessary. "I deserve to see your eyes since you changed my clothes for me whilst I was unconscious. I won't buy it if you tell me it was someone else."

"Fine." He replied but he just stood there. I guess it was my job.

What could be so bad?

I dragged the towel off and felt my eyes slowly open wider and wider, though I didn't mean to. He was frowning.

"You've got heterochromia iridium." I said in amazement. Mainly because it was amazing, like what the actual f-ck. Of course he had to be more perfect, he had to have EVERYTHING didn't he?

*heterochromia iridium: two different-coloured eyes within a single individual.*

"You know what it's called?" he cocked his head.

"Don't you?" I went on my tippy-toes to get a better look, one of his eyes were green and other one was blue – which is the best combination of the mutation. Lucky bastard.

"I just didn't think you knew what it was called." He mentioned.

I frowned, "Why do you cover it up?"

He winced a little, he looked to be in a little pain but he was totally ignoring it.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yep." He smiled, "I'll meet you downstairs okay?"

"Okay." I whispered as he walked past me and out the door. Slowly, I got into my routine.

--

I brushed my hair out, grabbed a pair of shades and slid on some slip-off heels. I'd dressed casually because I knew there was no way we were going anywhere. The doctor and said to give me six days rest, then not do much for a little while. Weird because I was feeling like rock-climbing right now.

I hopped downstairs, the house was practically empty but I was quickly reassured as I came across the porch to find everyone in deep conversation. They all sat in small group drinking tea and juices, wearing super casual clothing and laughing at each other's jokes.

I watched Amara step out from the house and I ran over, she'd been sitting out on social activities for the past few days and I would not allow this to go on any longer.

"You can't get out of this one."

"Was this Dominic's ploy to force me into human interaction?" she smiled. I shrugged but then remembered.

"Oh yeah," I gasped, "He did say he wanted to see you, wouldn't know what for." I pointed to Dominic who had just been brooding under the tree since he got down here. "Please stop him from party pooping any further." I requested, giving her a gentle push in his direction.

I sat next to my mother who immediately asked what was happening, I didn't have much to say about it so we watched along with the other girls and their mothers, as Amara walked over. I was dreadfully envious of her hair, it was always bouncing like a runway model – and I being one, know for sure that your hair can't be like that all of the time.

"They think you're party pooping." I commented coming to sit down, he looked really tired – I wouldn't know the reason why but it was nagging at me that something wasn't right.

"I am."

"Stop?" I pouted. He didn't reply so I started watching him a little closer, he was breathing pretty rapidly. "Are you absolutely one hundred percent sure, you're okay?" I raised my brows.

He sighed, "Well, something is a bit off."

"How off?" I frowned.

"Pretty off."

I brought a hand to his face, he was warm but kinda sweaty. I wiggled my nose as I wiped it on his shirt. "You must be sick. You shouldn't be, your immune system is even better than mine."

"It has nothing to do with my immune system."

"Well Mr. Elaborative, would you like to stop beating around the bush?"

"I love you." He paused, "And I can feel it." he avoided eye contact, "So..."

It took maybe around twenty seconds for it to set in, I didn't understand at first but realisation was brutal. Brutal to the point of physical pain, which I guess he's been feeling for a while now.

He got up and held out a hand, "We should probably get back."

"Are you serious?" I asked. He was serious, he wasn't joking. There was no bullsh-t. "And when did you realise this?" I stood up without his help, he just put his hand down.

"Amara, I just d–" he fell to his knees, he was grasping his neck and I didn't know what to do. I guess I just started screaming, was it screaming or was it shrieking? I hoped I was just hallucinating these things, maybe I hadn't even woken up yet. Maybe I was still imprisoned by Santo.

I'd rather that.

I hoped to god that I was imagining the blood he was coughing out, the blood I was trying to rub off of him. I could hear myself telling him to get up, like a worried mother acting like my kid's vomit was nothing and the shirt was still good to wear - just because I didn't want anyone else...

"Dominic!" an even louder shriek came from behind me, Claire and her mother knelt down next to me. We were all hysterically trying to ask him questions but we knew he couldn't answer, we were just too used to him pushing everything off and solving it behind the scenes.

He didn't solve this one.

I'm painfully awake and I know it, who knew reality could be so brutal?

--

Dominic is laying in our bed, the doctor came to see him but said he'd be back because he needed some records. I laid on the bed playing with his hair, I wondered what he was thinking. He could feel emotions just for this little while, so what was he feeling?

Panic? Confusion? Fear?

He hates fear.

I felt the poison leaking everywhere, the guy who invented this was either seriously medically knowledgeable and a genius, or he was completely insane and psychotic. I could feel everything up until this point, but not anymore and if I wake up paralysed I was going to be pissed.

I won't wake up will I?

That's not the point.

The poison is meant to kill you but, I'm f-cking stubborn as hell.

"Clearly he's gone against his orders and developed feelings somehow," the doctor started, I head the snicker from Santo's direction and immediately grew tense. "The poison has been activated, we're not sure of how long ago this was. Ms. Amara? Can you tell us?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know. He didn't tell me until last minute."

"What did he say?"

I blushed red, "He just told me he loved me."

Santo snorted, I turned my attention to him and frowned. "It's your fault then." he commented, I kept quiet. "That's all I need to hear." he said over his shoulder as he exited the room.

The door closed shut, irritatingly calmly actually. Donna simply sat in the armchair staring at the ground, Claire sat with her legs crossed and her other foot tapping. Leo simply stood near the window, watching the view with his chin between his fingers.

I looked to Dominic who still lay in the same spot, I'd stayed beside him the entire time. I wouldn't let him out of my sight - he was so vulnerable like this.

"I'll fix it." I stood up.

Talk about a change of mind.

"You can't." Claire told me, she'd told me before. She should know by now that I won't listen.

"I will." I said decidedly, it was hardly the time to act nice. Anyone who tried to stop me would not be treated like family.

"It would be better," Donna spoke up, still looking away, "If you went."

I didn't want to take what she was saying the wrong way, I didn't want to react within misunderstanding and so I stood. I gave up on waiting for elaboration less than ten seconds later, I didn't have time to stand around and play princess.

"He is in a coma now." the doctor shouted after me, "So you have some time."

--

I stopped the motorcycle outside the building across from the one-story home, this was the address Leo had given me. He'd said he wasn't sure this was the guy but it was the best place to start. This man had been one of the active researchers and developers during the years Dominic spent in the institution, he'd most likely know where I can find an anti-serum or he had it himself.

Dr. Valentini.

I entered the building and took the emergency stairs to the roof, I put down the duffel bag I'd packed, pulling out my rifle. I set it up then laid myself down to look into the scope, from what I could see most rooms had lights on. There was a home office in the front room - thats where I'd go.

I put the rifle down then stood, I attached handguns to the insides of my coat and glided swords into the back. I knew there was no real threat to come from a retired scientist spending a Tuesday night with his family, but I was one that liked to show I meant business. Being loaded with weapons would do that without any of the talking.

I jumped down onto a car, it's more fun than it looks. But it also took a toll on your joints, but those things can be fixed.

I walked right up to the door and rang the doorbell, after tapping my foot for about thirty seconds - the door opened up. A pretty middle-aged woman stood on the other side, and as soon as she saw me she smiled. "You're Dominic Vitiello's wife?"

"Not yet." I smiled.

"So nice to meet you!" she exclaimed, "Honey guess whose here?!"

A man shouted from the back before appearing a few feet behind his wife, I smiled at him and he seemed to get the idea. Even more as his eyes trailed down, identifying my person held weaponry.

I knew it.

"Honey get away from that woman."

"Oh," I pouted, "I just wanted to drop by, say hello and pick something up. No big deal."

"Yeah," his wife echoed, "It's not big deal. She's a celebrity Bryan, show her some respect." she whispered loudly. "Come in." she smiled, opening the door further. I nodded towards her and stepped inside.

"How did you know me?" I smiled playing nice conversation with the woman, her face brightened from the attention I was giving her.

She laughed, "You were on the news. You two are the cutest couple!" she clapped.

Her husband stood frowning, "What do you want?"

"The anti-alexithymia serum. If its not too much to ask." I smiled.

"I don't have it. You'll have to look elsewhere." he replied.

"I'm glad you're able to realise I know enough to know you'd know about it, what I need you to realise is that I'm not leaving until I have it in my hand. Or until..." I dragged before abruptly pulling out a gun and holding it to his head, he put his hands up.

"Oh my." his wife gasped behind me.

"Give it to me Valentini. Or we're going to have some problems." I monotoned. Whenever I pulled out a weapon my emotions seemed to evaporate, I became the way Dominic was all the time.

"What happened? Did your husband finally crack?"

"Do you want me to crack you?" I shoved the barrel of the gun so that his head would move back, leaving a red mark. I smiled, "Plus, two can play at that game." I pulled out another gun and aimed it at his wife. "I never miss." I smirked.

"Follow me." he dropped the smart look on his face, I admired a man who didn't have to think once about sacrificing his wife for anything else.

I nodded for his wife to follow, just incase he tries to pull a funny on me. We all trailed to the office, he went into a large safe which he revealed behind his bookshelf. He took out a briefcase which he proceeded to glance at me before opening it.

"You seem like a persistent person. I'm a person who doesn't like to be in confronting situations." he said pushing the case over the desk towards me, "So just take it and go."

"Aren't you just the businessman?" I grinned storing both guns away and opening the case. "How will I know it's the real deal?"

"I would have no reason to keep it from you, I didn't know you were coming here." he replied. I closed the case, looking him right in the eye. The guy wasn't lying.

"Pleasure doing business with you." I chirped holding my hand out for him to shake, he looked at it but didn't move to make contact. I shrugged then side hugged his wife before heading for the door. I didn't expect a bullet to be shot, luckily I wore Dominic's coat and the bullet was reflected.

I ignored it, I'd gotten what I came for.

--

I watched proudly as the antidote was injected into Dominic's arm.

"Give it some time. I'd say about a week." he told me, "You two don't seem to give me a break do you? Last week it was you and now it's Dominic. Let's hope the both of you make it out alive, and maybe give me some time off."

"You're funny." I commented, still with no real feeling or sincerity. He smacked his lips before leaving awkwardly.

I got ready for bed, washing my hair tonight because its been a while. I put it up into a knot and switched off the lights. I couldn't see but I had a good idea of where I was going, I climbed into bed and clasped my hand in Dominic's. Even if it was cold and lifeless, I still found comfort in knowing he was right there.

I found I was tracing his facial features and singing him a song. I felt it was time to admit.

Without Dominic, I'd lose myself.