By the end of the month, Antonio was standing and walking again. He had to use a cane, but he was still getting better each day and was sure he'd be rid of it soon enough. He tried to thank Roma Vargas for his hospitality, but the man refused to even look at him. Roma was counting down the days until his house would be free from pirates.

By the end of the month, Lovina still hadn't told him she would be going with said pirates. Every time she thought she had found an opportunity, she lost the courage, someone barged in and fucked something up, or Roma wouldn't even want to hear anything having to do with the man staying in his home.

Both Feliciana and Antonio were growing anxious. Neither wanted Lovina and her grandfather to separate on bad terms. And Feliciana knew they had always butted heads to begin with. Both were stubborn as hell and didn't normally get along. Antonio and Feliciana went so far as to work together to find away to make the departure as painless as possible.

Through that, Feliciana grew to like Antonio. She had hated him of course, but he had looked out for Lovina and he made her happier than she'd been in a long time. Antonio wasn't always so sure, but Feliciana knew when her sister was truly happy. She'd smile more and hum to herself and she wouldn't act so angry.

"Lovina, what's going to happen when we go downstairs? Are you just going to walk out the door?" Antonio groaned. The rest of the crew was waiting back at the ship, more than ready to head back out to see. Vash, however, decided to stay behind with his sister and work with Ludwig. Lili had worked for the family for about a year at the time, namely for Feliciana, and hadn't been able to tell her brother how hard she had been working. Even Lovina was touched by how proud he was.

"Look, it's complicated, ok? It doesn't even matter, he won't miss me anyway" Lovina snapped back. Feliciana sighed and shook her head.

"Of course he will, sorella. He was so worried when you were kidnapped!"she whimpered. Lovina paced around the room in an effort to compose herself. It wasn't working.

"Well this time I'm not being kidnapped!" she snapped. Antonio sighed and placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her nervous movement. "Lovi, listen to me. You have to work things out with him before we leave" he said as calmly as possible.

Lovina let out a heavy sigh and looked to her sister. "Feli, I want to say goodbye to you now. In case things don't go well." Feliciana nodded wearily and threw her arms around Lovina, nearly knocking the two of them to the ground.

"I'll miss you! Write to me and have fun and be safe and don't talk to strangers and don't run with anything pointy…"

Antonio smiled and stepped back as Lovina nodded along and tried to comfort her wailing sister. She let out a soft chuckle once Feliciana was done babbling and gave her a gentle squeeze.

"I'll miss you too Feli. I promise I'll come visit and we'll catch up as often as possible." Lovina smiled and pushed loose strands of hair out of her sister's face. "Remember; I love you, alright. You're my sister" she chuckled. Feliciana nodded and buried her head in Lovina's chest, wailing a string of 'I love you' and 'come visit' over and over again.

When Lovina finally pried away from Feliciana, the latter moved on to Antonio, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Take care of my sorella. Or I'll kill you slowly and painfully" she sniffled. Antonio shot Lovina a terrified look. The nice ones are always the crazy ones. Lovina shrugged and pulled Feliciana away.

"Alright, Now that you've made your point extremely clear, I think it's time to split" Lovina sighed. Feliciana nodded and ran downstairs to butter up Roma. Lovina started to follow but was stopped when Antonio gently grabbed her arm. Lovina gulped when she saw him stare at her.

"Lovina, I have to know now" he started softy. "Is this what you want? You don't have to go. You can stay. We could still find a way to see each other."

Lovina blinked before smiling and chuckling. She quickly pulled her arm away and smirked. "You promised you'd take me to see the world. I don't like men who go back on their word" she scoffed before walking out. Antonio laughed and followed, grabbing her hand.

"Lovina, you are going to be a wonderful pirate" he chuckled. But Lovina wasn't smiling anymore. Instead she just nodded and gripped his hand tighter. Roma was already waiting downstairs, insistent on making sure Antonio was gone for good.

Antonio stood before Roma one last time and bowed his head. "Thank you for all you have done for me. Again, I apologize for the pain I have caused you and your family, though I know it will never make up for my sins" he muttered humbly. Roma rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Just get out" he spat. Antonio nodded and looked to Lovina, who was staring at the ground. He gently squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips before lightly kissing her knuckles. "Mi amor…" he breathed onto her skin.

Feliciana latched onto her grandfather's arm when she saw his shoulder's tense. Lovina swallowed and brought her head back up.

"Nonno, I'm going with him."

Everyone was completely silent. Feliciana looked up nervously to Roma and Antonio protectively wrapped an arm around Lovina's waist. Lovina had never seen Roma angrier when he finally turned back around.

"What?!" he hissed. Lovina pressed herself closer to Antonio and bit her lip. "I'm leaving with Antonio. I'm going back to the ship with him" she replied shakily. Roma's rage nearly doubled when he directed his glare at Antonio.

"What did you do to her?! Did you threaten her?!" He snapped. Antonio stood tall and narrowed his eyes.

"It was her decision. Believe me, I was more than willing to leave her behind. But she has the right to choose her own course" he responded calmly. Lovina was amazed by how well he was handling everything. Roma Vargas could be absolutely terrifying. But then again, so could Antonio.

"She is a girl! She doesn't know what she is doing and is easily manipulated by a scoundrel like you!" he hollered. Lovina ripped away from Antonio and stepped toward her grandfather.

"I know exactly what I am doing! Antonio has done nothing but love me!" she snarled. Roma tore away from Feliciana and grabbed Lovina's arms.

"I will not allow to be taken from me again" he hissed. Lovina pulled away and shook her head. "I am not being taken. I am leaving. Because I want to" she hollered. "This is what I want. He's giving me the chance to do what I want, and I love him!"

"Then you do not know what love is!" Roma roared. Lovina's breath hitched when she felt herself being pulled back. Antonio pushed her behind him and walked forward to meet Roma.

"I understand you are her grandfather and want what's best for her. But I will not let you insult her" he snarled. "Lovina" Antonio called to the girl staring behind him, wide eyed.

"Is this what you want?" Antonio asked, never breaking eye contact with the larger man. Lovina looked back and forth between her sister and her grandfather before finally settling her eyes on Antonio. He gave her one, small glance, and she knew.

Lovina silently nodded. Antonio let a small smile creep across his face before facing her again. "We've got a crew waiting for us then" he chuckled. For the first time in a month, Lovina saw light in the bright green eyes she fell in love with. They were both free.

Lovina smiled back and eagerly took his hand before leading him to the door. Roma staggered forward in his final attempt to stop his granddaughter.

"Lovina, if you walk out that door, you are never to come back."

Roma's words rang throughout the hall. Lovina froze and let an audible gasp escape her lips. Even Antonio became still out of shock. For once, Feliciana was too stunned to even cry.

Antonio immediately turned to face Lovina and dropped her hand. "Lovi, don't throw your family away for me" he mumbled to only her. Lovina gritted her teeth together before looking back at her grandfather one final time.

"I'm not doing this for you, Antonio. I'm doing this for me."

(-)

There was a huge celebration on Rosie that night. Her captain had returned and she gained a new crewmember. Antonio was treated like a king who had returned to his loyal subjects from battle. And he did feel like a king. He felt like a god. He had everything he ever wanted.

But the most important thing slipped away from the drinking and dancing and singing. She wasn't in the mood. Once he was certain he had spoken and caught up and celebrated in some way with everyone, Antonio slipped away as well.

Slightly tipsy and getting accustomed to the sway of the boat again, Antonio, quite ungracefully, limped down the hall in search of Lovina. He silently opened the door to his quarters, a room he actually missed quite a bit, and found her sitting on his bed, hugging her knees to her chest and staring out the window, bathed in moonlight.

Antonio sighed and wordlessly sat beside her. "He didn't mean it, Lovi" he murmured after a moment of silence. "He loves you and was trying to make you stay. He'd never turn you away."

"I never said goodbye" she said without hesitation. Antonio gently rubbed his hands soothingly up and down her back. "I never told him I loved him, or-or anything" she whimpered

"It's never too late belleza. We can always-"

"No" Lovina interjected. Lovina let out a heavy sigh before facing Antonio and crawling onto his lap. Antonio gently pressed his lips to her forehead before letting them trail down the side of her face to her jaw and neck. "I can't look back" she finished as he kissed every possible surface.

Lovina smirked and wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her hand through his hair. She had missed the way his thick curls felt weaved between her fingers. "I'm yours, Tonio" she sighed. Antonio smiled before lightly pressing his lips to hers. Lovina quickly deepened the kiss. Her grandfather wasn't on their backs anymore.

Antonio pulled away and rested his hands on her hips. "Come on Lovi. You've got a party waiting for you" he chuckled. Lovina frowned and rolled her eyes. God, he was such an idiot.

Antonio's eyes widened when Lovina pressed herself closer and let her lips brush against his ear. "Or we could stay here" she whispered. Antonio let out a throaty chuckle and tackled her down. Lovina smirked and pulled his face closer to hers, meeting his lips. Antonio snuck his arm around her waist and pressed her closer, leaving no space between them.

Lovina threw her arms around her neck and kept her legs around Antonio's waist as the kiss became sloppier and more heated. Remembering she had to breathe, Lovina pulled away and panted. "Tonio, I don't want you to hurt yourself" she breathed into his cheek. Antonio laughed and cupped her cheek. His bright green eyes glowed in the dimly light room as he laughed.

"I thought I was the one who was supposed to promise to be gentle" he mumbled before kissing her again. Lovina broke it and smirked. "Antonio, I am anything but gentle" she snickered.

Antonio let out an aroused groan and pushed her back down. "Lovina, I don't think you can even begin to understand the effect you have on me" he groaned. Lovina let out a low giggle and grabbed the bulge in his pants. "Oh, I think I do Tonio" she teased.

Antonio rolled his eyes and took in her flustered face. "You're so beautiful" he murmured as he brushed his thumb over her cheek. Lovina's smile faltered when his words stopped sounding lighthearted. "I told you, flattery doesn't work on me" she mumbled back, blushing a deep scarlet. Antonio gave her a small smile and gave her a gentle kiss, barely touching her lips.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly. Lovina stared into his smiling green eyes and nodded."I wouldn't be here if I wasn't" she chuckled. Lovina was glad to see him smile again. "I hope that's not the only reason you decided to come" he teased back.

Lovina pouted and rolled her eyes as he pressed his hips against hers. "What am I? A man?" she scoffed. Antonio threw his head back and laughed. "Now that's not fair, Lovi" he whined. Lovina scowled and grabbed his collar.

"Just shut up" she groaned before slamming her lips to his. Antonio nodded in agreement and deepened when she parted her lips and let him in.

This was better than any party she had ever attended.

(-)

Francis snickered when the honored crewmembers finally came back up. Lovina was delightfully disheveled in a way that made him truly envy his captain and friend. Lovina rolled her eyes as he approached. Francis just laughed and placed customary kisses on either of her cheeks.

"Did Antonio put you in a better mood?" he asked sweetly. Lovina scowled and shoved him away, mumbling curses and blushing like never before. Antonio laughed as she smoothed back her hair. Lovina glared at him before letting her eyes go wide.

"Tuck your damn pants in" she hissed. Antonio smirked and pulled her closer by the hips. "Are you embarrassed of me, belleza? Don't want everyone to know about the sweet, glorious lo-"

Lovina narrowed her eyes and clamped her hand over his mouth. Lovina just rolled her eyes and pulled her hand away when he winked. Antonio chuckled and pressed his lips against her ear.

"Don't worry. You are mine. I won't let anyone even think about touching you the way I do" he whispered hungrily. Lovina shuddered as he gently kissed her cheek. She never knew he could be so damn possessive. But she liked it.

Elizaveta smirked as she watched the younger girl melt under her captain's touch. But the smirk was soon replaced by a blush as bright as Lovina's when Gilbert wrapped his arm around her waist. He gave her a mischievous grin as he pulled her closer. She could smell a hint of alcohol on his breath, but he seemed unaffected by the strong liquid.

Lovina chuckled when she glanced over and saw Elizaveta's face redden as Gilbert spoke to her. She let out a yelp when she felt herself ripped away from Antonio and pulled into a bone crushing hug.

"Lovina, we missed you!"

Lovina rolled her eyes and pushed away from Matthias' chest. "Matthias, get the hell off" she groaned when he squeezed her tighter. Thankfully, Antonio pulled her away and wrapped his arms around Lovina's waist from behind.

"Careful Matthias. I don't share" he warned. God, where the hell was this coming from?! Matthias just laughed and held his hands up defensively. "Wouldn't dream of it, captain" he snickered. Lovina rolled her eyes and ventured further into the room. Within seconds, she was smiling. Everyone greeted her warmly, and everyone was glad to see her.

She had never felt happier in her entire life. On this ship, she belonged.

On this ship, she was home.

NEXT IS THE EPILOGUE, AHHHHHHHHH