Sophia

I untangled the mess she made covered in the long veil. "Apologize to Alysia" I said strictly to her. "Laeila" I said more sternly when she didn't say it in the first time. "I am sorry" she said with a pout. "Don't pout, like you didn't do anything. Why you took it, huh?" I asked her sternly. "Its okay Sophia, leave it . She is a child. I am not angry at her." Said Alysia. I hate it when these people encourage her bratty behavior. "But mom I look pretty in it." She said in her childish voice making me laugh. "But munchkin it's not yours right?" I said pinching her chubby cheeks "We should not take anyone's stuff like this." I told her. "But she is not anyone, she my friend and she is not even angry at me. You are. Like always" she said whining. "Laeila" I said as a warning. "Leave it Soph, she is just a kid" even Enzo sides with her all the time.

"Come let's make you pretty. Show me your dress, yes?" I said letting go of my anger at the looks I am getting from everyone here. She nodded cheerfully and I picked her up in my arms and Caprice collected the veil.

I brought her in my room to dress her up. I opened the bag and gave her a look as I took out the dress "Are you kidding me?" I said frustrated "Mommy please" she whined "Nope" I said packing the dress back. "Mommyy please, pleeeeeaseeeee!!!" " You are not wearing this" I said strictly. "I am " she said adamantly folding her hands. "This is my dress and I am wearing this only" she said "This is not your dress, this is Alysia's dress." I said and packed it back "No, its mine. Look its so little. Its my size" she said snatching it from me "Yes it is your size but its the replica of her dress. Are you crazy kiddo?" I said irritated sitting beside her . I turned her whiny face to me "It's her wedding pumpkin, why do you want to wear the same dress like her, huh." I asked patiently. I want her to talk to me not run from me, whining, like always. She looked down and moved to the balcony sitting on the swing. I reached her and sat in front of her "Tell me, what happened?" I asked her when I saw her looking down. I can see the sadness on her face. The only thing I never wanted to see on her face.

"I will never meet Alysia again, I miss her mommy." she said with tears in her eyes "Oh kiddo, its not that you will never meet her." I said picking her up in my arms "It is. She said you are taking me away from her and our friendship will end after today." She said burying herself in my shoulder "Why are we going to Rome? Why can't we stay here?" How can I explain this to her? What shall I say to her that she can understand that we can't stay here, because I wanted her alive. I don't want her to be a part of someone's vengeance or someone's leverage. I don't want her to have the fate of the girl she is named after. I sat her on the bed bringing her inside and wiped her tears "You will not loose your friend, I promise you that princess. No matter where we live you will always have Alysia, okay?" I said and she nodded. "Now who wants to look like little Alysia, huh?" I said taking out her dress and she lit up "You will let me wear it?" she asked excited and I nodded. "Yayyyy" she almost made me fall with her hug.

I dolled her up. She might be the most naughty child but her cuteness always trumps it. The dress was just like Alysia's princess flared gown with golden shimmer top and had designer neck at the back. She even had bought tiara made of peonies and little leaves. When I looked at her in her little bridal gown my mind started wondering as to how she will look when she will be the bride herself. I never got the chance to wear a white gown but I am sure my princess will be the most beautiful bride in this world. Even if she couldn't I wish she have someone like Damon in her life, who may not gave me the chance to wear a wedding gown but loved me more than anyone ever could have.

She talked endlessly while I was getting her ready. She was the most excited one among us for this wedding. The flowers, the decorations, the dresses the whole commotion has had her too excited for the whole week. I took her hair to make a chignon bun but she protested "No-no-no don't tie it up, let them open like yours" she said in between of her jibber jabber and I halted for a moment. She took me back to the moment when Damon told to not tie my hair. That he liked them open.

"Mommy- mom!" her shaking brought me back "Yeah-yeah" she shook her head telling me that I am not concentrating on the job. She might be a kid but she surely is obnoxious enough. Well this attitude of her is surely genetic. I shook my head at that. I let her hair down with some loose curls and her tiara. I never understood why her hair had a mix of blonde. Damon and I, both of us weren't blonde. Ric told Laeila was. I wonder if she is actually going to look like her namesake so much.

As I got her dressed she turned from the mirror towards the door "I will go and show Caprice" she said excitedly and ran "Slow down or you will fall, and it's Aunt Caprice" I shouted from behind reaching the door. "Yeah yeah mom" she said and my mouth fell open "Seriously" This is the reason I am strict with her, I want her to learn the value of life. She needs to understand that world won't work at her whims. No one cares, no matter how much you have and I don't want her to learn the way I had to learn.

I came out to see what my little bombshell is doing before I start getting ready myself. "Laeila!!!" I screamed as I saw her with a gun in her hand. I ran to her and she hid it behind her. are you kidding me "Where do you get this? Give me that NOW!" I screamed at her and she shifted back in fear "Oh now you are scared, you were not scared a moment ago when you were revolving it, give it to me Laeila, tell me where you got this. Tell" I said marching towards her and she ran from there. She ran towards the gardens towards Enzo who was coming in our direction maybe on hearing my loud voice. I was beyond angry. "How many times had I told you not to touch things that aren't yours" "Soph, calm down" I heard Enzo keeping her behind him. "Calm down? My three year old daughter is playing with a gun, which in this house is surely not a toy and you are telling me to calm down." I said agitated. How can he take this so lightly. "Just wait, relax let me handle it" he said holding me. He turned and crouched in front of her "Laeila, pumpkin give me the gun" he said holding his hand out and she was about to give him the gun. It's not like I don't recognize the gun. Its Damon's gun, how she found it. No, not again. "NO!" I shouted and grabbed it before he could take it. "Hey Relax-" he said getting up to hold me but I walked away from there and came to our room shutting the door behind me.

I sat on the floor at the edge of the bed with my knees to my chest. I was still holding the gun. It's like everything came back to me. This violence, I can't take it anymore and I am sure as hell that I won't let its shadow fall on Laeila. I can never go through that pain again. That agony ripped me apart. Every moment I spent in that hospital has killed me hundred times and now when I can finally breathe again, I won't let this world take that again from me.

I can never forget what I went through when the doctor came out of the surgery.