Title: Love in Unusual Places
Author: Himuro Miharu
Pairing: Antonio/Katirina (Spain/Fem!Romano)
Genre: Romance
Rating: T
Warnings: Katirina's language
Summary: Love isn't always the easiest thing to find, and sometimes, it shows up where you least expect it. Admitting it though, is harder than finding it, especially for Katirina Vargas, a teacher with a history of pushing others away. Antonio Carriedo however, has no problems admitting it, getting his Italian to accept him however, is more difficult than he ever imagined.
Notes: I am so sorry this has taken so long, and this was the only thing that came out of the 2 months you all waited. I'm so sorry! This is terribly short, but I need to gather my ideas for the next chapter. It's going to be a bit tough on me.
Disclaimer: Hidekaz Himaruya owns them~
The next morning found Katirina sitting confused at the kitchen table, looking down at a plate with a large slice of tiramisu cake and two strawberry crepes, sitting beside it was a steaming cup of french vanilla cappuccino.
"Fel...what is all of this?" She asked, staring at the food with wide eyes, looking in between the two.
"We figured you would need breakfast for your first day back." Monika explained, smiling softly.
"I made the tiramisu, and Monika made the crepes and your cappuccino. They're amazing, trust me." Feliciano explained, bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement. Katirina gave a faint smile before cutting into the thin pastry and eating before preparing to leave.
"I'll be home a bit late tonight. I've got some stuff to do."
"Alright...be careful." Feliciano called, anticipation lacing his voice.
Pulling up at the school she smiled, pulling her bags out of the car and heading inside with a grin.
"Katirina what are you doing after class?" Antonio asked, standing at the entrance to the classroom. The Italian peeked around the load in her arms, scowling at the man.
"I really can't get away from you can I?" She snapped, hiding a smile by turning away. Antonio visibly deflated, sighing softly.
"I'm kidding Toni. I'm going to look for an apartment. I need to find one soon so I can fully give them the house."
"may I ask why you're so eager to leave?"
The woman shrugged, dropping her shopping bags on the desk before turning to the man.
"I feel like a guest in my own home. They don't mean to do it, I know that, but I can't help it at all. I feel like I should knock before I go inside and ask before I eat anything."
Antonio pulled her into a hug, smiling sadly.
"That sounds tough. Want some help looking?"
Katirina hid a smile in his chest, nodding her head. Looking up at him with a schooled expression she spoke.
"Bring Miguel alone. I've kept you two apart for long enough already."
Chuckling Antonio pushed her to arms length, studying her face, content to know she was finally gaining weight back and had a somewhat healthy glow to her once more.
"If you say so, I have no choice but to believe you."
Hands on her hips he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, unaware of the children standing in the doorway. The woman laughed before hugging him and placing a kiss on his cheek in return.
"Ms. Rina are you gonna marry Miguel's papa?" Matthew asked softly, causing the pair to look over in shock, eyes wide as a deer in front of a car.
"Oh my...it seems we've been caught." Antonio said with a chuckle. Katirina blushed a deep shade of red and looked at Matthew and the giggling Miguel.
"I don't know...maybe one day boys. It's too early for that talk." Antonio spoke softly, looking down at the suddenly silent woman. Katirina sighed and looked back to her desk, stepping away from him.
"I think it's time you left Antonio. I need to get my class started."
The man nodded, silently leaving the room, dropping a hand on Miguel's hair and ruffling it before walking away.
The went on without another incident, though as the day ended she found herself constantly watching the clock, dread beginning to pool in her stomach as she thought of Daniel. When the children had filtered out she began to pack up, tensing in fear when the door opened. A blonde peeked around the door, bleu eyes searching for the teacher.
"Katirina?"
Eyes widening she coughed to compose herself, smiling lightly at the pregnant woman.
"Je'Anne what can I do for you?"
"I heard a little bit of what happened, Antonio told Francis small bits because he was worried, and when I heard you were back in class I wanted to ask you myself how you were doing."
Katirina blushed, looking down at the ground before nodding and giving a gentle smile.
"I'm alright, Antonio...he really helped me. I...I really thought you were Daniel when you opened the door. I was so scared Je'Anne. I...I thought I had moved passed it, but I kept looking at the clock and waiting for him to come." Choking on her words the brunette looked down, sitting on the edge of her desk to keep herself from falling.
Rushing to her side the blonde took her hand, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"I think it's going to take some time, but I really think you'll get better. Daniel is out of your life now right?"
"For the most part I think so. I just...I wish I knew for sure you know? I don't want to be afraid of every door that opens."
Je'Anne smiled sadly, tears beginning to fill up in oceanic bleu eyes.
The two women were conversing softly, neither hearing the door open nor the footsteps of the man slipping inside the room. Quickly the man approached, a rag doused in chloroform in his hand. Je'Anne's scream was silenced by his hand, eyes filled with terror.
Fearful bleu eyes looked around the room frantically, whimpering softly as she tried to move her wrists, only to find they were tied behind her.
"What is going on? Where am I?!" Looking around she was able to figure out she was tied to a post in a run-down most likely abandoned house, she felt like she knew the home, but she wasn't sure. Moving her hands she winced as the rope bit into her flesh, a soft whimper escaping her lips from the searing pain.
A cry from in the left of her made her turn her head and finally see what was going on.
In front of her was Katirina and Daniel, the man had Katirina by her hair, repeatedly beating her angrily.
"You think you can get away from me? That you can wave your hands and I'll go away?! he's not going to happen you whore. I'm going to kill you. I will finally get rid of you, but first." Turning to the blonde he smirked, a twisted smile marring his handsome face.
"You're going to watch as I kill her, and her brat."
Katirina cried out, struggling to stand and protect her friend. Gasping in pain she rushed to the woman's side, collapsing in front of her.
"Why do you have to kill her? She's done nothing wrong at all!"
Daniel smiled that same twisted smile before bursting into maniacal laughter.
"You don't understand! She's done nothing! I want you to suffer however! I want to cry, to sob, to beg me to spare her. That's why I'm going to kill her. Because she is your friend."
"Why do you have a son if you hate children so much?! Why in fucks name did you let him survive while mine had to die?!" Katirina screamed, glaring at the man.
"I was too busy with you. By the time you were dealt with the runt was already born. Stop stalling me bitch."
Slapping her aside he grinned at Je'Anne before punching her cheek.
"Stop it!" Katirina screamed, throwing all her weight at the man, knocking him off his feet. A burst of adrenaline went through her system and she began to hit him, hitting and doing everything in her power to keep him down.
Suddenly the doors burst open, and she heard Je'Anne cry out in relief before feeling warm hands on her own.
"Enough Katirina. Enough. He's not worth it."
Allowing the man to pull her up and off the brunette she gave a soft whimper of pain, knowing the ribs that were just healing were probably broken, along with what she knew was a broken ankle, turning to push her face into his chest. She heard Je'Anne murmuring words of love to what she now realized was Francis, both unaware of Danielle moving, pulling out a gun from his jacket.
"Why do you insist on protecting and loving her?! She's rude, fiesty, low-class, and she's defective. She's a whore! Only good for sex, and she's not even that good at that!" Daniel cried, pointing his gun at the Spaniard.
Shoving the woman behind him Antonio glared, eyes hard and full of hatred.
"She isn't any of those things! She's amazing! She's beautiful, gentle, loving, and perfect. She isn't a whore, she's an amazing woman."
"That's what you truly believe isn't it? You're a damn fool. But then again, you're the only reason she learned to rebel against me." Smirking he cocked the gun and fired, waiting to hear the satisfied sound of Katirina's screams.
Too fast she felt hands on her back, shoving both she and Antonio out of the way, a sudden shot ringing out in the suddenly silent house, a scream she knew was Je'Anne's piercing the air.
Looking over he was shocked to find Antonio charging him; green eyes a flame with anger.
Je'Anne and Katirina rushed forward, falling beside the Frenchman, the blonde woman pillowing her fiance's head on her lap.
"Please don't leave me Francis. I beg of you, please don't go." She cried, holding his hand.
Smiling he reached a hand to her rather large stomach.
"You'll do fine my love."
"Francis...thank you, for saving him. It wasn't for me I know...but thank you."
Still smiling he coughed, blood dribbling from his mouth.
"It was for you mon ange. Everyone deserves happiness, even you."
Leaning down she pressed a kiss to his cheek she sobbed as the light faded from his eyes. The two women could do nothing but sob, one for the loss of her fiance and child's father, and the other for the loss of a friend, but both for the death of a loved one.
Antonio gave an anguished cry, his entire demeanor changing as Spain took over, quickly over-powering the shocked Daniel, knocking him to the ground and beginning his assault. Caring little for the fact that his clothes were now stained with the Hungarian male's blood he continued to beat him, his knuckles bloody, a maniacal grin on his face as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Seeing Spain in such a state spurred Katirina into action and with a moan of pain she crawled toward the man, forcing herself to move faster when she saw him move for the gun. Throwing herself over he ex-fiance she looked up at Spain, wincing at the devestatingly confused expression on his face.
"Katirina...h-he killed Francis. Why are you protecting him?! He should die as well!"
"That isn't for you to judge Spain! You can not be judge, jury, and executioner! You can only be a witness. Would it not be better to see him imprisoned for the death of Francis, than to kill him yourself and go to jail in his place? You would lose Miguel! Everything! You...you would lose me." Reaching up she cupped his cheeks, knowing Daniel was too injured to do anything.
"Please, I don't want to lose any of you. She needs Antonio...she just lost her world, she's going to need all the support she can get. And I...I don't want to lose you."
The room was silent save for Daniel's labored breathing and occassional groans for a time and Je'Anne's quiet sobs before slowly Spain's eyes softened and with a sigh he allowed Antonio to have control once again. The Spaniard looked down at the battered woman, feeling tears well up again in his eyes as he took in her bloodied form. Pulling her into his arms he pressed a gentle kiss to her neck, burying his face to hide his tears.
"I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you well enough." He whispered, trying to block out Je'Anne's sobs, the sound causing his tears to flow harder. Small but deceptively strong arms wrapped around his waist slowly, tightening slowly.
"Why do you say you didn't protect me?"
Pulling away he stared down at the woman.
"Look at you...you're so bloody, he broke you in so many places Katirina...I broke my promise to you."
Katirina shook her head, giving him a small smile, meeting his eyes.
"I'm okay Antonio, I know now he'll never come after me again. Francis saw to that, and you as well. I'm okay now."
Letting the woman go he stood, gently picking her up bridal style and slowly approaching Je'Anne.
"Je'Anne...I'm so sorry."
Bloodshot bleu eyes looked up at him, tears still flowing unabated down milky cheeks.
"Don't be. He did it because he loved us, and wished for our survival over his own."
Setting the Italian down beside her gently he pulled out his cell phone, making the call to the police.
Katirina forced herself into a sitting position, reaching for Je'Anne's hand, feeling tears of her own cheeks as the woman squeezed her hand turning a watery smile in her direction.
Within the span of nearly ten minutes the door flew open, the first officer in the room was Alfred, whom stared at the scene in horror, before quickly moving into action and calling for an ambulance.
Katirina lay in the hospital bed, face screwed up in an angry scowl. She was to stay in the hospital for at least a week while they treated her injuries and monitored her vitals. Looking over at the Spaniard she glared hard when he gave a sheepish smile, he glare fel however when she saw his eyes dart around the room nervously.
"Hey Antonio...I know how much you hate being in hospitals so...you really don't have to stay here with me."
Smiling warmly Antonio shook his head and moved so he was sitting on the bed beside her pulling her into his arms.
"I'm not staying because I feel obliged Kitten. I'm staying because I want to. You're very special to me, and I want to be here to protect you this time in case something happens."
Katirina blushed red, still unused to the affection he showered her with. No matter how much time they spent together, and how often he held her, she still had the feeling of fear in the back of her mind, even though she knew without a doubt Antonio would never harm her.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence she looked up at the male, eyes wide and nervous.
"Antonio...do you think he'll ever get out?"
Green eyes darkened a shade and the brunette shook his head, kissing he forehead.
"No. I highly doubt it. He committed murder, and there are 2 counts of attempted murder for you and Je'Anne. I don't think he'll get out. And if he does I swear to you Katirina, he won't hurt you."
Nodding the woman buried her face in his chest, hands clenching fists of his shirt as she inhaled his scent.
"I'm...I'm scared Antonio."
"Don't be. It's alright now, you're going to get better, Je'Anne and the baby are physically alright, and we're going to help her get through all of this. Everything will work out I promise."
Sitting silently the pair were content to simply be together, taking comfort in the other's presence.