España's Princesa

Chapter 2

Was he really going to give her away? Soon after papa Toni left after tucking her in, she had woken up and had listened to the duration of their conversation. She didn't want to go with the white-haired man. He was creepy. And she certainly didn't want to go back to the streets. No one was kind to her there. They would always scowl at her and call her names when all she wanted was some food or water. But papa Toni was different. He had brought her to his home, cleaned her, fed her, given her clothing that didn't itch and scratch, let her sleep in his bed and given her things to play with. She didn't know the last time she had been able to do any of those things without getting yelled at or struck.

Papa Toni was also the first person to smile so warmly at her. But now, now he wanted to send her off. Had she done something wrong? Did she do or touch something she wasn't supposed to? Was it something she said? Was she not supposed to speak? If she did any of those things she was sorry. She didn't want to leave papa Toni. He was so kind to her. She had listened to their conversation but didn't really understand most of it. One thing she did hear was that she was to go with the scary man with white hair. She didn't want to do that.

As all these thoughts ran through her mind she could feel the tears well in her eyes. She wiped at them to make them go away but they wouldn't. She peeked her head around the corner of the hall and watched as Toni cooked. She had obviously done something wrong so why was he cooking her more food? She was about to go ask him when the doorbell rang. Ducking back into the hall she listened as Toni quickly ran across the room and to the door. Once the door opened she dubbed it safe enough to poke her head out once more and watch.

When Arthur rang the bell he knew Antonio would answer. What he wasn't expecting was said Spaniard to be wearing a frilly pink apron. Arthur looked curiously at his neighbor before clearing his throat and continuing on as if nothing was wrong.

"Sorry to bother you but Francis was just wondering if you had gotten his mail by mistake, again. He's been whining all day about how his newest issue of Vogue didn't come." Arthur says with a roll of his eyes.

"Ah yes! I think I did. Come on in." Toni went to make for the kitchen once more when he glanced back and noticed a smaller figure hiding behind Arthur. "Ah, who's this? I didn't know you had a kid amigo."

"I don't. He's my nephew come to visit from Sweden. Peter, this is Antonio. Can you say hi?"

Peter came out from behind Arthur and smiled sheepishly. "Hi Mister Antonio."

"Aw, mister makes me sound old. Just call me Toni kiddo. How long you staying with your uncle Peter?"

"For about a month."

"Yea, he just flew in yesterday, all the way from Sweden." At this point Arthur and Peter were standing in the living room when Arthur noticed the girl in the hallway. "I didn't know you had a kid." Arthur comments as Toni returns from the kitchen, apron now off.

Toni follows Arthur's gaze to the hallway and as soon as his emerald eyes meet cerulean she bolts towards him. Gripping his pants in her hands and holding on for dear life until he picks her up. He balances her on one hi as he looks back to a very confused Arthur with a sheepish grin.

"I uh don't. She's my… niece."

"Oh, Francis has told me you have a niece. She's so cute. And she looks just like you. What's your name sweetie?" She shyly buries her face into Toni's shoulder.

"Oh she's just a bit shy. Her name is, uh… Rosa. Her name is Rosa."

"That's a cute name. Is it Spanish?"

"Yea, it means rose."

"She looks about Peter's age. How old is she?"

Toni froze a moment. How old was she? She looked to be about 6 so he was just gonna go with that. "Six. How old is Peter?"

"I'm twelve. Can I and Rosa play?" At the suggestion Rosa looked up, curious as to who wanted to play with her.

When she saw the older boy looking up at her with a nice smile she couldn't help but smile back.

"I'm not sure. Do you want to play niñita?" He received a nod in response and looked back to Arthur. "Is that okay if they play a bit?"

"I hate to say it but we can't. Peter and I have to run to the store." There was a very audible 'aww' from Peter and Rosa looked to be just as disappointed as Peter sounded.

"That's fine. You go, I'll watch Peter."

"Will you? Are you sure?"

"Yea of course! Rosa's shy, she needs to make some friends and Peter's a good kid. I don't mind at all really."

"As long as you're sure." Peter cheered and Rosa smiled.

"Oh, before you go, has Peter eaten?"

"No, I can leave him something."

"Don't worry; Rosa and I were just about to have burritos. You like burritos Peter?" Peter nodded his head excitedly, the thought of food making his mouth water.

"Well then, I'll be back in an hour. Peter, behave and be nice to Rosa and please remember she's smaller than you so be careful."

"I know!" With that Arthur leaves and the two kids run off to the bedroom to play.

While he cooks Toni can hear Peter talking and laughing with Rosa and it makes him a little happy. Once he's finished with the food he turns the burners off and starts setting the food out. As he's going to reach for a plate he hears a thud. The plate is long forgotten as the Spaniard runs down the hall to find both children sitting on the bed perfectly fine. Toni breathes in a sigh of relief before walking into the room.

"Peter, what was that thud sound?" Rosa points to a large photo album on the floor before Peter explains, with words.

"She wanted to look at the photo album and was trying to climb onto the bed with it. She lost her grip on it when she got up here and it fell. I offered to help her but she just shook her head no." Toni smiled and picked the album up and laid it on the nightstand.

"It's fine as long as no one was hurt." He then picks up Rosa. "Come on, the foods ready." Rosa wraps her arms around Toni's neck and giggles when he rubs his nose against hers.

A few stacked books later, all three are sitting at the table eating. Upon finding that Rosa was too small to reach the table Toni went in search of something to put under her. The only thing he could find were some large books he had found under his bed. So far they were working. They were working a little too well. She was able to reach halfway across the table and was now grabbing at the hot sauce.

Rosa watched Toni eat his food, not knowing how she was supposed to eat the strange food. As she watched she noticed that he had put some weird red sauce on his. Rosa was intrigued as to what that sauce made the food taste like. She was so intrigues that she made it her goal to get that bottle of sauce and pour some on her own food. She was so close that she could touch the bottle with the tips of her fingers.

As she continued with her mission Peter watched from beside her silently. Far be it from him to judge the girl for wanting hot sauce. She pry liked it. So, Peter shrugged to himself and continued to eat. If she wasn't supposed to have it then Toni would stop her. Toni, however, was zoning out again. He had watched as Peter helped Rosa into her seat and the way she seemed so fond of him and it made him smile. Only for a second. What if she liked him too much? She was far too young for a boyfriend and he was way too old for her. Toni then went on to scrutinize all that the blonde boy did. The way he smiled and said 'please' and 'thank you', the way he was ever so gentle with everything. When Toni had said that Peter looked like a good kid it was just an assumption. Toni hadn't really believed it.

Toni knew kids were deceptive and one second was fine then the next destroying everything in sight. Except Rosa of course. She was perfect; so Toni had decided. This Peter, however, was another problem all together. Toni wanted to hate this kid for Rosa's sake but he couldn't. Peter was just as polite and kind as his English uncle. Then that only left one question, why had Arthur warned the boy to behave and not be rough with Rosa? Before Toni could dwell on this any further he was brought back to the real world by a loud gasping sound.

"Uh, Toni, I don't think she liked the hot sauce." He heard Peter note with a chuckle.

One glance at Rosa and Toni knew exactly what had transpired. Rosa had successfully reached the hot sauce and poured a bit too much on her burrito just as Toni had done. Instead of asking for help however she went ahead and ate it… just as Toni had. She was now panting hard and trying to fan off her tongue, tears welling in her eyes. Toni couldn't help but chuckle a bit himself at how similar her reaction is to Lovi's was when he had tried hot sauce. There had been more cussing when he tried, though. She went to take a gulp of water but Toni stopped her, knowing water would just make it worse, and instead, with the speed of a professional chef, got her a glass of milk. She chugged it happily, enjoying the way it cooled her burning mouth.

Glass of milk emptied in one chug Rosa sat back and sighed or what sounded like a sigh; she was just so quiet. Peter looked at her concerned; this made Toni angry for some reason. 'Is this how real fathers feel? This is exhausting.' After making a mental note to call his own father later and getting Rosa a new burrito, Toni got up and started to clean up the kitchen, his own food long gone.

Toni started to hum as he worked, as per usual, and considered calling Lovi over now and just telling him. His mind had wandered a bit too far and he accidentally cut himself while cleaning a knife. Mentally cursing himself for being so clumsy and started to rinse the cut out. Cursing slightly under his breath as the soap started to sting. He was about to go to the bathroom for a bandage when he saw Rosa in the entryway to the kitchen. She tilted her head as if to ask 'what's wrong?' Toni laughed lightly at this and shooed her off as he went for a bandage. Once the cut was cleaned and bandaged he returned back to the kitchen where Peter was teaching Rosa to clean dishes. Both had to stand on chairs, though peter was near tall enough not to need one, as they scrubbed their plates and cups clean.

Rosa turned to see Toni and shouted, or what was shouting for her. "All clean papa Toni!"

Toni chuckled as Peter helped Rosa off the chair and dry her hands. Hand in hand the two children went back to the bedroom to continue playing. Toni decided to finally do some of his homework. He grabbed his books and his folder that held all his notes and papers. He sat at the couch with his laptop beside him and picked up his pen. But he couldn't focus long enough to so much as sign his name. His mind was too preoccupied worrying over the girl in the other room. He wondered what they were doing and what he was going to do if he did decide to keep her. He'd have no problem money wise; it was more of a problem with time. He'd be so busy all the time and children, from his experience, needed a lot of attention. Rosa seemed to also be very clingy. Which Toni didn't mind it was just he'd never be able to fulfill that need.

Toni glanced at the pile of books he had gotten from the library and sighed. They were almost due and he hadn't so much as touched one. He would also need to get books on how to care for children and what they needed. Food, water, and clothing were a given. All humans needed those. He'd also need to clear out that second bedroom, which was being used as a storage room rather than an actual room. He'd have to get her some furniture but there's most likely something in that room he can use. He'd just buy the rest. At some point Toni had failed to hear his doorbell ring and was now being shaken by a slightly terrified Peter.

"It sounds like someone's trying to break in." He whisper yells to Toni, Rosa is clutching to Peter's shirt for dear life looking just as terrified.

Toni looks confused for a moment before realizing the sound is just someone trying and failing to use a key. 'A key!' Toni panics. Only one person had a key to his apartment and that was Lovi. But, why was Lovi here? Lovi rarely comes over without texting first. Toni jumps up and pulls the door open before the person on the other side could. What, or who, he found on the other side was not what he was expecting.

"F-Francis…?" His voice came out in a long relieved sigh.

"Oui, I hear you have mon petit lapin's (my little bunny's) nephew. I'm here to- who's this cutie?" Squats down so he is eye-level with Rosa. "Bonjour." Rosa clutches to Toni's pant legs while shyly hiding behind him.

"This is my niece, Rosa."

"Well hello there mon petit fleur (my little flower). And how old are you?" The girl pokes her head out from behind Toni just long enough to put up six fingers. "Six? Why, you're practically a big girl."

Toni just watches very confused while he waits for Francis to stand back up. "How'd you get in here?"

The French man just smiles and saunters into Toni's apartment like he lives there. "Lovi told me where you hide the spare. The potted plant mon ami, really?" Francis gives Toni a very disappointed look as he plops down on the couch.

Toni picks Rosa up and sits on the couch next to Francis and doesn't say anything for a while. Francis is talking to Peter about his day when Toni finally speaks up.

"Hey, Francis?"

"Oui, mon ami (Yes, my friend)?"

"If I tell you a secret will you promise not to tell Lovi or anyone else?" Toni says after another pause in a very serious tone. Francis becomes serious as well seeing how serious his friend is being.

"Of course."

Toni pauses a second before politely asking Peter to leave. Peter looks a bit dejected but leaves the adults to themselves for the time being, but still making a point to listen in on the conversation. Being a child Peter's curiosity was easily piqued and this was one of those times.

"Rosa's not really my niece." Francis chuckles before looking at Toni like he knew this already.

"I know mon ami, I've seen pictures of your niece and that isn't her." Francis pauses when he notices the slightly troubled look on Toni's face. "What's the matter mon ami?"

"I found her in the streets earlier this morning and I brought her home and now I want to keep her but I just don't know if I can. I just… I'm just not sure what to do." He pauses to calm himself before continuing. "Between classes, work and my relationship with Lovi I'm just not sure when I can make the time for her. And then there's how Lovi will react. What if he doesn't like her? What do I do then?" Toni looked at the small girl in his lap with a sad smile. He really did love her, it was obvious.

"I'm sure you'll find a way, mon ami. You really love her that much, don't you?" Toni looks at Francis with a very determined expression and nods his head vigorously. "Then Lovi will too. Just let him meet her and he'll fall in love with her. You have to put a little more faith in amour Toni. Have I really taught you so little?"

Toni smiles lightly at Francis' comment. "Si, you're right. I just need to throw a little faith in and everything will turn out fine."

"I'm glad you said that mon ami because I just texted Lovi to come over."

Toni felt his stomach drop like he was on a roller coaster. "What…?"