Everyone came in and out of Lovina's room to sit beside her or check on her. She was really grateful to be surrounded by so many people who wanted the best for her. Feliciano would come in and chat with her in Italian, Francis would wish her well, and Elizaveta and Gilbert always kept her updated. Sometimes Ludwig even came in with Feli. Lovina felt guilty when they came though. She couldn't sit up and tell them that everything was fine or that they didn't need to worry. She could only lie there silently and rest.

The one who spent the most time with her was Antonio. He'd never say anything, just sit and hold onto her hand. She was dying to hear him speak again. Almost a week without hearing his voice was too much.

One afternoon, she heard the door open and close loudly and immediately knew who had entered. "Hello Mädchen!"

Lovina wished she could groan and roll her eyes. She heard Gilbert pull up a chair and sit down. "Listen Mädchen; I know you're going to wake up. Ja, any time now you will be up and snarkier than ever, this I know for a fact." She heard him sigh as the floorboards creaked a bit. "Here's the thing; I wish you'd hurry up and do it already. I'm not going to lie; all this waiting is getting kind of annoying."

Lovina wished she could punch him in the face.

"You know what I think? I think you're just waiting for the perfect moment to pop up and outshine me. Not awesome Lovi."

In all honesty, Lovina found Gilbert's ramblings refreshing. She was a bit sick of everyone just feeling sorry for her. He continued to speak, noting how Francis did this, Ludwig did that, and how 'Toni is acting like such a girl'. Lovina tuned him out a bit, wondering when she'd see her grandfather again. Not that she cared or anything…

"Well I should be going. Quit being so obnoxious, ok?" You're one to talk she thought as he walked out.

(-)

Lovina was hit with an agonizing pain in her abdomen.

Feli was seated beside her when it crashed over her. She wanted to scream, writhe, do something. But she had to settle for grunting and subtle twitching.

"Sorella?"

Lovina felt her brother lightly nudge her shoulders as the pain continued. She heard a gasp and a thud, followed by a pair of feet scrambling against the floor toward the door.

"SOMEBODY GET KIKU RIGHT NOW!" he screeched. Lovina continued to wince as footsteps clamored into the room.

"What is it Felciano, what…" Lovina was scared and confused why was everyone so quiet? "Francis, what the hell is happening?!" Antonio's voice broke the silence as he ran up the stairs. Someone dashed out of the room.

"Antonio, don't come in. Please you have to trust me, mon ami."

"Francis, get out of my way, right now! What in God's name is going on in there?!"

Lovina's bottom lip quivered as the men fought. She felt Kiku rest his hand on her forehead then press lightly on her stomach.

"God damn it Francis, I sad MOVE!"

Lovina listened as one of the men fell to the ground and the other barreled through the door. "Oh my God, Lovi!" Antonio ran to her side and kneeled beside her. "Lovi, no, no, no, NO!"

Lovina felt warm drops hit her face. "Lovina, please stay with me!" Antonio's head fell onto her chest. "Lo siento" he sobbed over and over again while clutching her still limp body. Lovina gritted her teeth a bit as a second wave of pain came over her.

"Mr. Carriedo, please step back. You have to let me get closer" the Japanese man who had become her caretaker pleaded. Antonio stay planted by her side until Roderich and Francis had to come over. "Antonio, you have to move" Roderich begged.

The last thing Lovina remembered before passing out again was hearing Antonio screaming as he was being dragged away.

(-)

Lovina was finally able to open her eyes. She blinked a couple of times to adjust to the harsh light streaming through the window. When she could finally see, she saw her brother on the edge of the bed holding his head in his hands. Lovina smiled and slowly found the strength to raise her arm and tug on his sleeve.

Feliciano's head snapped up. He turned to face Lovina, wide-eyed, like he had seen a ghost. His hand trembled as he slowly reached out and cupped her cheek. His eyes filled with tears as he gave her the widest smile she had ever seen.

"I missed you so much sorella" He whimpered as Lovina held his other hand. Feliciano suppressed sobs and pressed his lips to her forehead. Lovina felt her brother's body shake against her when he pulled away. "Ti amo sorella" he whimpered and sniffled.

Lovina smiled and squeezed his hand. "Ti amo." Feliciano nodded as he rose and walked to the door.

"Antonio!"

(-)

Antonio stared off. His head drooped as he rubbed his forehead. He hadn't slept in days. Antonio let out a sigh and leaned forward. With his palms pressed to his forehead, he quietly cursed. He hadn't been able to even look at Lovina out of pure shame.

"Antonio!"

The Spaniards stomach dropped. What could possibly be left to go wrong? Antonio hesitantly picked up his head and looked up at Feliciano, who was leaning over the stairway. His eyes widened when he saw the grin plastered on Feli's face.

"Is she…"

Feliciano chuckled and nodded. Antonio bolted up the stairs. He stumbled past Feliciano into Lovina's room. Hs heart stopped when he saw sitting up and her smiling as she stared out the window. She looked like an angel from the way the sun hit her. Antonio gulped and let hot tears roll down his cheeks. "L-Lovi?"

Lovina's smile faltered as she turned. But it soon returned, even brighter when she saw him. She had waited so long to see him, to hear him speak. The way her name rolled off his tongue made her feel like she was melting into the bed. The only thing that would make this moment better would be his smile. The smile that greeted her when she first stumbled onto his door step. "Long time, no see, Carriedo." Her bottom lip quivered as he approached. For awhile, she had known she was safe. But his presence assured her that the nightmare was over.

She told herself she wasn't going to cry, but that was an empty promise. Antonio just stared at her as he kneeled next to her. He raised his hand hesitantly, as if he was afraid to touch her. What if she disappeared? What if she crumbed in front of him? Antonio's breath hitched when his fingers finally grazed her cheek. "My Lovi…" he whispered as his fingers traced her jaw and lips. He marveled at how beautiful she looked even though she had been dragged through hell and back. "Mi ángel perfecta …" Antonio muttered as he wiped a tear from her cheek.

Lovina was so glad to see life in his deep green eyes. She gently leaned into his touch and took his other hand in her own. The moment she had waiting for came. The corners of Antonio's mouth slowly tugged upward. Lovina nearly burst into tears when she saw his bright smile. He laced their fingers together and pressed his lips to her forehead. He quickly ran his lips over her eyes, cheeks, jaw, taking in every surface of her face. He paused and stared at her lips, letting her close the gap.

It was like the first time he kissed her, when he tried to tell her everything would be alright. Now everything was alright. They were reunited, grabbing at each other to make sure this all was real. Lovina silently vowed to never let him go, and he did the same for her.

Antonio erupted into sobs as he nuzzled his head into her chest. "Oh God Lovina, I thought I was going to lose you…" Lovina gently rubbed the back of his neck and kissed the top of his head. She smiled to herself as she took in his scent. "Shhh, Tonio, it's alright."

Lovina was so used to being the one comforted. It felt weird to be the strong one for once. "It's alright. I'm fine…we're fine Antonio."

Antonio slowly picked his head up and gave her an unreadable stare. Lovina tilted her head and cupped his jaw in her hands. "Tonio, what's wrong?" Antonio bit his lip and looked away.

"Lovina…while you were out, the baby…the baby didn't make it."

Lovina dropped her hands and reached for his. "N-No, there must be some mistake…here…" Antonio winced and avoided her gaze as she put his hand over her stomach. "Tonio, I felt it! J-Just wait, you'll feel it too." Lovina glanced down at his hand and moved it around with a small, encouraging smile on her face.

"Move for your Papi" she mumbled as she waited. Antonio lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. Lovina shrunk back a bit, not liking the dark look in his eyes. "Lovi, there's nothing there." Lovina shook her head, wide-eyed. "N-No, you're not listening to me Antonio. Y-You're wrong. Remember, we're having a perfect little boy, or-or another crazy Italian girl!"

Antonio couldn't hold back his sad, angry tears any longer. "No, we're not Lovina." Lovina took in a sharp gasp when it hit her. That wasn't a dream. The pain had been real, and now she knew what the source was. Lovina desperately grabbed his collar as her face scrunched up.

"Mi dispiace" she whispered. Antonio froze as she cried and shook her head. "Mi dispiace, mi dispiace, mi dispiace!" Antonio grabbed her hand. "Lovina stop."

Her breath only quickened as she felt the room spin around her. Lovina launched herself into his arms, burying her head into his chest. "Mi dispiace, mi dispiace tanto!" Antonio winced as he listened to her muffled cries.

Lovina continued to sob and heave into his shirt. "Antonio, please forgive me!" Antonio ripped her away with a menacing glare strewn across his face. He gripped her shoulders and breathed heavily. "Lovina stop this right now, this is not your fault!" Antonio clumsily tried to clear the tears running down her face. "I wasn't strong enough!" she wailed.

Antonio pulled her back into his embrace and sobbed into her shoulder. "No one would've been strong enough Lovi! Please, this has to stop." Lovina continued to mutter "mi dispiace" into him over and over again. Antonio rested his cheek on the top of her head as his whole body shook.

"Lovina, this is all my fault. Don't blame yourself." Lovina stopped stammering and pulled away to look at him. The distant and disturbed look in his eyes caused her to panic. "Antonio look at me" she ordered.

No response.

"Antonio, look at me right now" she pleaded.

Antonio continued to stare off.

"Antonio, don't shut down on me! I can't go through this alone! I need you!" Antonio slowly turned his head to her again. "Tonio, I won't let this come between us." She sniffled and gently stroked his cheek. "I won't lose you today too." Antonio nodded and held her tight. They both sat there quietly, mourning the beautiful thing they had created together.

I'M A MONSTER.