His Favorite Customer

Chapter Fourteen: It's two thirty in the morning, fuck titles.

Romano's POV:

Romano wakes up with a pair of arms holding him close from behind and Nia curled up to his stomach. It feels comfortable and keeps him calm before last night pops into his head; his mother returning, he and Antonio confessing, and…doing other things. While the things with Antonio were embarrassing, they don't bother him. It's the thought of his mother that makes his body tense up.

She's back, for whatever reason. Well, back isn't the correct word. Technically, she has never been to America before. Nonetheless, it's still weird. Not to mention suspicious. He knows Feliciano has sent her far more letters than just one recently. So why suddenly come now?

"Mm…Lovi…you're up?" Antonio asks, moving behind him to hold him even closer.

"Y-yeah…" Romano mumbles, blushes as Antonio nuzzles his neck. "Good morning…"

"Heh, it's noon, Lovi."

"Sh-shut up, I knew that bastard."

Antonio chuckles and turns Romano to face him, earning a growl of annoyance from Nia. "Your pillow talk is so warm and inviting, mi querido."

"Y-you're so stupid…" Romano pouts, allowing himself to be pulled on top of Antonio, lying there embarrassed.

"I love you, Romano." Antonio says, his smile softening. "I really do."

Romano goes bright red and looks at Antonio flustered. "Wh-why are you saying such random things so early in the morning? Idiot!" He hisses before burying his face in Antonio's chest. "…I love you too, Antonio…" The Italian whispers before strong arms wrap around him and hold him tighter.

"Fusososo! So cuuuuuuute~!" Antonio coos, placing light kisses on Romano's face. "Te amo, te amo, te amo~!"

"S-stop it! It's too early for your shit!" Romano whines, trying to get out of his grasp. "I-I want to take a shower and get dressed damnit!"

Antonio's grip loosens and he sits up, having Romano straddle him. "Do as you wish, and stay as long as you want." He says gently and Romano looks at him surprised. So that's why he's being so annoying. In his own stupid way he's trying to make Romano feel better.

"Thanks…Antonio." Romano mumbles, resting his head on Antonio's shoulder. "I'm gonna get ready and go home, though."

"If that's what you want to do." Antonio says, stroking his hair, and Romano nods.

"It is, I'm going to shower now." He mumbles, getting up and heading to the shower.

Antonio's POV:

Antonio waits for Romano to start the shower before calling Romulus. "Good morning, boss."

"Ah! Antonio! How is mio bambino? Is he ok? Is he coming home? I'll GLADLY kick her out if he wants!" Romulus says over the phone, his voice frantic.

Antonio frowns, sympathizing with the boy in his shower and the man on his phone. It both angers his and breaks his heart that all of this can be cause by the mere presence of a certain woman. A woman who should make them all happy. "Ah, calm down boss~!" He says in a fake happy voice as a way to help calm Romulus' nerves. "Romano is fine. He's taking a shower right now and is heading over afterword."

Romulus sighs in relief. "Thank you so much Antonio…"

"Of course, I would do anything for Romano and someone he loves." Antonio says, smiling a little. "I think he's getting out now so I must go, hasta luego~!"

"Ah, ciao…" The older man says, hanging it up.

"Who the hell are you on the phone with?" Romano asks, coming out in a towel.

Antonio looks at him, his eyes roaming down to the towel as he desperately wishes gravity would be his friend right now and make it fall. "Oh…just…you know…Francis…" He lies, unable to move his gaze. Perhaps if he stares hard enough it'll fall.

"S-stop staring, damnit!" Romano hisses, bringing a hand up to hold onto his towel. Damn. "I-I'm changing so get out!"

"But I have already seen it all, Lovi! Remember~?" Antonio asks, winking at the boy. He's not sure how Romano will react to him bringing it up, but since he wasn't skittish this morning, maybe he's ok with it.

Romano blushes and glares at him. "Sh-shut up and turn around!" He orders and Antonio nods, facing the wall as Romano changes.

"Would you like some breakfast before you leave?" Antonio asks and Romano finishes buttoning his pants before going up to him.

"No, I'm just going." He says, grabbing Antonio's arm so the Spaniard is looking at him. "I'll talk to you later."

"I look forward to it, Lovi~!" Antonio says, leaning down and kissing him on the forehead. "Good luck."

Romano looks at him flustered. "Y-yeah…wh-whatever…" He stutters out before leaving.

"My poor Lovi…" Antonio mumbles to himself, watching Romano drive out of his parking lot. In a way he wishes he could go, and yet he's glad he doesn't. It's not any of his business and being there would complicate things. However, he would like to be with Romano to comfort him. Luckily, he knows Romano will come here so he doesn't need to worry much. Not that it will stop him from it anyways.

Romano's POV:

Romano heads into his house, seeing his family in the living room. Feliciano and Marcello are sitting on the couch and Romulus is sitting near them. His mother, however, is on the other side of the room alone, perched in a rocking chair.

"Welcome home, Fratello." Feliciano says and Romano nods, sitting with him and Marcello on the couch.

"Romano…please forgive me." His mother says, frowning. "I was bitter, I am ashamed of my actions…"

"Why now?" Romano asks and his mother looks at him confused.

"What?"

"Why. Now?" He repeats, annoyed.

"I-! That's-! it took me some time to face facts!" She says almost in a panic and Romano suddenly realizes something. The last letter Feliciano wrote was around the time their business started picking up.

"Ohh…I get it now. Our restaurant is doing good. You've come to suck up…" Romano says and she gasps.

"How could you say that? I make more than enough money in Italy! I want to see you boys!"

"I don't believe you. There's more." Romano says, staring at her reaction. Perhaps it wasn't the money, she was always well off, but it was something. She was never close to the boys; never the one to kiss their sores, or tuck them in at night, or play with them. Maria Vargas is not a mom, simply the woman who gave birth to him in his mind. Of course he didn't think that until she sent them away with their father, but since she did, she is no longer his mom.

"I love you boys…I can't want to see you?" She asks, her expression and posture screaming nervous. There is something, and he will find it.

"Whatever, lie to me if you want. Where are you staying?" Romano asks and Maria looks at him angrily.

"I am staying here and I am not lying about this! I love you boys!" She says fiercely and Romano stands up.

"LIAR! I'm going back to Antonio's! You guys can play house without me!" Romano yells, quickly leaving before anyone can stop him.

Antonio's POV:

Antonio finishes eating breakfast when he hears a familiar vehicle pull in. Looking out the window he sees a very frazzled Romano heading inside, making Antonio frown. He was really hoping they would get it all worked out. Apparently that wasn't happening anytime soon. At least it means he won't be a lone as much.

Going to the door, he opens it and Romano stomps past him, kicking his shoes off before going into the living room and sitting down in a huff. Antonio sighs a little to himself before going over and sitting down. "It didn't go well, hm?" He asks gently, wrapping an arm around Romano's shoulders. "Want to talk about it Lovi?"

"She's a liar. She has an ulterior motive and I know it. Not to mention she is staying in our house! Our house! Papa is letting her stay there! It's disgusting!" Romano fumes and Antonio frowns.

"I'm sorry…is there anything I can do for you?" Antonio asks and Romano groans, resting his head on Antonio's shoulder.

"I want to do something. Anything." Romano mumbles and Antonio smiles a little.

"Would you like to go on a date, Lovi? Perhaps bring Matthew and Gilbert to make it a double date?" Antonio asks, excited at the idea of doing something as an official couple. Granted the circumstances aren't ideal, but it's better than nothing.

"A-alright…we can go on a double date…as long as we are nowhere my family will go."

"Great! The next town over is opening an aquarium today! I have actually been wanting to invite you to it for a month now…heheh…so does that sound good?" Antonio asks and Romano looks at him, nodding.

"I love aquariums…"

"Alright! A date it is! I'll call Gil and Mattie!"

A/N: Two in one night! Fuck yeah! Also...maaayyyybe this isn't going to end as soon as I thought...lD *cough* Yeeaahh...