"You're so freaking stupid!" Cristiano flinched when he climbed in the car, his father behind the wheel and mother in front of him. Salvador was glaring at him, his hazel eyes dark with his anger, his dark hair shaggy and hanging down past his chin but looked just as dark and silky as his mother's but his anger was palpable, like Romano's. "Why do you have to go messing everything up? I was gonna hang out with Alexander but now I can't because of you!"
Cristiano flinched at his younger brother's words, tears actually gathering in Salvador's eyes. Cristiano didn't walk away from the fight unscathed, he had one eye swelling up and his lip was swollen and red, his fingers ached form punching, his hair ached from the split second Liam yanked at it, and his ribs actually hurt and his head throbbed along with his face, his nose bruising up but not broken, thankfully. "Lo siento." He mumbled to his little brother who rubbed his eyes with his arm and gritted his teeth.
"I don't want your stupid apologies! Your so stupid! I wish Wolfram and Giovanni were my brothers not you! At least they don't go around fighting like you!" Salvador shrieked at him his anger getting the best of him and Romano whipped around in his seat, which was an impressive feat as his stomach stopped him from doing a lot lately.
"Oi! Never say that!" Romano snapped at his youngest who flinched at his mother's anger and he then looked down, glaring with tears filling his eyes, his brows pulled tight together. Romano noted that his son looked much like he did when he was punished by Spain and he felt his heart twinge but he turned around in his seat. "Uncle Feli will be at the house with Cecelia."
"Cristiano, you're not going to be seeing Austynn for a while." Spain spoke up when Cristiano looked up with wide green eyes. The same green eyes met his in the rear view mirror for a split second and Cristiano opened his mouth his heart beating suddenly louder, hard, more noticeable against his ribs.
"You can't do that!" He finally shouted throwing his hands out his tears pressing against his eyes. No. No way! His father can't do that! He knows what Austynn means to him! "Papá, por favor!"
"Non-negotiable, young man. You knew exactly what would happen if you did something of the sort. Your Madre and I have been lenient, defended you one too many times over the years with your fights with Liam and we aren't doing that anymore." Spain's voice was steel and it made Cristiano suddenly afraid of this steely, angry father of his. "You won't be seeing Austynn for the next two weeks."
"How are you going to stop me from seeing him at school?" Cristiano got out in a hot voice, leaning against his seat belt his eyes flames of anger and challenge, like his mother's got when he and his father fought. "You can't keep me from seeing him there!"
"Oh you bet your damn ass I can!" Spain snapped right back not at all liking this tone of voice his son adopted and glared at him hard, his eyes dark like emeralds, in the rear view mirror for another split moment. "I'll arrange you to eat in the class room and it'll be home to school, you will be monitored on your computer and email by either I or your madre, that's how it's going to be. You will not call Austynn either, not on the house phone or either of our cell phones."
"You-You..." Cristiano was slowly losing his fight but his outrage burned up and it resulted in the same way he'd seen for Salvador and his mother. His outrage burned so fierce, so hotly, that it was then pushed out with the one discharge rather than words. Tears. They were bigger than usual small tears that seemed to trickle down slow and itch his skin, these were huge and dripped so fast down his cheeks and chin a few times, sliding down his neck before he could stop them. And they didn't stop. "You can't! Por favor, Papa! Por favor!"
He realized faintly he was a fourteen year old boy screaming at his father, begging, and now bawling like a baby and he felt some shame but not much. He finally couldn't help his anger and embarrassment as he wailed like he used to when he was little and got hurt. He hiccuped and sobbed, tears gushing down in a torrent but he felt, no he knew, it impacted his parents and felt his brother's shocked gaze on him but he couldn't stop. He couldn't lose Austynn for two weeks. With no contact? He'll, quite literally, shrivel up and die.
He hadn't gone a single day without Austynn or talking to the French Canadian on the phone longer than two hours since they could both actually talk with real words and his father wanted him to go two weeks without him? His tears were warranted then, covering his soaking wet face he hiccuped and sobbed for the remainder of their trip back home and he wondered if his parents worked this out with Austynn's parents. If Austynn knew they'd be apart for two solid weeks. And in his chest a black hole throbbed with loneliness and he couldn't help but sob. What was he going to do?
"Roma, what happened to Cristiano?" Romano looked up from his phone in response to the question, meeting his brother's wide concerned amber irises. "He came tearing in here, sobbing harder than I've ever seen him and hasn't left his room. I know about the fight, England told me, but what was his punishment?"
Romano sighed out, rubbing his belly for comfort and his baby girl kicked him softly in response. Yes, he was finally having a girl like his brother who'd had two boys and one girl he was also going to have two boys and one girl. Or so he hoped. He had a feeling there be more than one baby but that was for another time. He sighed when he looked at Italy. "You know Liam and Cristiano both have crushes on Austynn?"
"Si!" Italy nodded his gaze intense, his curl bobbing softly when he nodded and he shifted on the couch and bent his arm on the back of the chair to cup the back of his head lightly.
"Well, Spain said that Cristiano couldn't talk or see Austynn for the next two weeks." Romano sighed out then looked to the stairs, already regretting the punishment. "England told me he was doing a similar punishment keeping Liam away from Austynn. That poor boy, he has no idea he's caused a fight and Canada who was just texting me, said that Austynn is all torn up about it."
"Are you sure you should keep the boys away from each other like this?" Italy asked looking at his elder brother with concern, his mouth forming a tight frown. "I don't think any of them will benefit and who knows, the fighting may get worse! What if it does, Roma? What are you going to do? I'll support in anyway, though! Cristiano can come stay with me for a few weeks, for his punishment if that'll help."
Romano looked at his younger brother, his brows pulled tight together and sighed, rubbing his stomach. The baby kicked, his daughter seemed already so fierce, just kicking and punching hard as she could. "It could help. Cristiano needs to know that there's more out there than just Austynn. I don't think it'd be horrible if he spent some time with Wolfram and Cristiano. Hell, even the albino potato's kids wouldn't be hard on him! I know he used to love hanging out with Astrid.
"Si!" Italy nodded then smiled, reaching out patting Romano's shoulder. "You'll figure it out, fratello. In the mean time, how is the little princess doing?" Italy asked this in a cooing voice, looking at his brother's rather large stomach and reached out rubbing and making kissy noises at it. It didn't faze Romano, as Italy did this all the time. True to his word, Cecelia was the last Beilschmidt child other than the twins that would originate from Italy and Germany, shocking as that was.
The three children- er, well one child and two teens, kept the couple busy as did any teenagers pushing their parents limits. Romano smiled and shifted, his daughter kicking hard at his belly and it made him want to giggle but he swallowed the sound down. "She's perfect, ready to come out already the fierce little thing. Did I tell you we decided on a name?" He asked looking at Italy who gasped clapping his hands, his amber eyes glowing so much they nearly appeared golden.
"No! Tell me, what will my piccola nipotina be called, huh?" Italy asked happily bouncing in his seat, almost like an excited ball of, well, excitement. It made Romano genuinely smile while he rubbed the side of his stomach where little lumps appeared. Italy giggled at that, looking happily at the tiny lumps of punches and kicks that appeared every so often when the baby kicked hard enough.
"Toni and I decided on the name Carmen Alessandra Carriedo Fernandez." Romano replied smiling then when the baby shifted, as if responding to her name, and he rubbed down the middle of his stomach when he smiled at the small dark haired child walking in. "Hola, Cecelia. Cómo estás?"
The small brown haired six year old seemed to consider this before beaming at her Uncle, much like Italy was and it made her blue irises glitter. "Nicht schlecht!" She chirped when Romano turned to his brother, with a confused expression and the Italian giggled. His daughter skipped over and he pulled the six year old onto his lap, nuzzling her soft brown locks of hair that, strangely, didn't curl like her brother's but fell in smooth loose waves.
"She said Not bad in German. We practice Italian every day but she seems to only like the Germanic language!" Italy chirped when the six year old wriggled and looked at Salvador, when he walked into the room with a little blush in his cheeks. "Oh! Hola, Salvador! How are you?"
He looked up with wide hazel eyes, duplicates of his mother's, and blushed softly like he'd been taken by surprise. If his brother looked more like a miniature version of Spain, then Salvador was the complete miniature version of Romano with his hazel eyes and dark brown hair that complimented his olive skin. "Um, Cece, you wanted to see my toys and I got them out if you wanna come see."
Cecelia's blue eyes sparkled again and she squirmed off her mother's lap and skipped to Salvador. Though she was two years younger she seemed so much older, at times, especially when Salvador was acting so sheepish. "Si! Let's go and see, Sal!" She chirped taking the eight year olds hand yanking him from the room making their mother's chuckle fondly. The two children had their nicknames set for life, it seemed, Salvador being Sal to the girl and Cecelia being Cece to Salvador. It was an adorable thing to watch.
"You know, I heard England's son Alexander has a crush on Salvador and Salvador has told me he likes the boy~" Italy chirped playfully making Romano groan then laugh lightly like it was no big deal. Romano would prefer that Salvador didn't like the Kirkland's youngest, as they had enough drama going on with Cristiano and Liam, that he couldn't imagine another tragedy going on between their families again. "Oh! Fratello, someone's at the door!"
Romano looked up, blinking, like he'd been light years away and he struggled to his feet huffing lightly before walking to the front door. He could hear Cristiano sobbing upstairs, as he approached the front hall and he felt his stomach cramp gently as he rubbed his stomach where the baby kicked softer now, like she understood his sudden rush of sadness. He yanked open the front door then blinked in surprise at the small family on the door step. He first met America's pleasant, smiling face then shifted to England's face which seemed rather at ease just seeing Romano. The Italian had a feeling that had Spain opened the door it would've been a pleasant exchange with swords beneath their words cleverly hid so the teens in their families couldn't understand. But because it was Romano there was no tense atmosphere when he looked down to see Jolene, Liam and Alexander.
"Ah, hola?" He finally got out when his surprise wore off when the baby kicked him hard like she was kick starting him. "Can I help you all?"
America beamed then, placing a rather firm hand on Liam's head, ruffling the caramel blonde locks. "Heya, Romano! I just thought I'd bring Liam over to apologize, formally unlike in the principle's office. And plus, Alex wanted to see Salvador!" The eight year old waved his hands then, a bright red blush staining his cheeks and he whined wordlessly for a moment making America, along with Romano, look down. "What? It's true!"
"Daddy! Stop talking! Now!" Alexander whined out lout sounding so much like England it made his mother nearly laugh until Liam was pushed forward lightly and England softly hushed the eight year old making him frown softly when Italy, from the living, stood up quietly walking to Salvador's room, seeing as there was a second set of steps in the kitchen that would lead to the second floor. Perks of living in a rather quaint, small home, which Italy adored but he also loved his big house both at home in Italy and at Germany's.
"Do you think we can get the boys to talk civilly?" America asked then straightening the fourteen year olds clothing when Jolene scowled up at her brother, her blue eyes hard as sapphires when she stared up at her brother. Liam noticed this and paled under the hard glare of his eleven year old sister when she punched him in the side, with the barely concealed strength she inherited from her father and he winced. While Liam had had that same strength it seemed to have "gone away" in his words meanwhile Jolene's seemed to be permanent.
"You're a bloody twit!" Jolene spoke loudly interrupting the adults. "Let's get this over with! I'm supposed to meet with Chiyo, right Mummy?"
Romano nearly smiled at this rude little girl, seeing plenty of aspects he once and still did possess when he backed up holding the door open. "Why don't you all come in then? My idiot brother is here with my niece but there's room for you five." He explained when he noticed Italy walking into the front hall, Cecelia all dressed in her blue coat over her pale blue dress and he stroked his hand over her brown hair. "Oh? Leaving already, Veni?"
"Si!" Italy chirped happily holding the six year olds hand, her blue eyes trained up on Italy like she was waiting for him to say something important. Awe tinted her eyes brighter then, her entire existence was spent half the time in rapturous awe of her mother who she adored more than anything. It made Italy happy to have his daughter's full attention like this as the twins had been harder to deal with when they fought nearly all the time when they were her age."You should come and visit me next time! Before my little nipote makes her debut in the world~ But addio!"
"Addio, Uncle Roma." Cecelia said this a little sadder than her mother and her blue eyes no looked watery when they focused on her Uncle and it made Romano smile softly at the girl, reaching down ruffling her hair affectionately. She looked up at him through her dark lashes at him and he smiled as Italy waited for her, stepping over the doorway as the American family parted for him.
"I'll see you soon, tesoro. Uncle Promise." He replied when she nodded, almost bravely, and disappeared with Italy to his bright red car. Romano then turned to the American family, almost tiredly, but his daughter kicked hard like to tell him to not be sleepy anymore and it nearly made him laugh when America, England, Jolene, Alexander and Liam walked in. Salvador was screeching with laughter somewhere in the house and he smiled softly. "Oi! Toni, come to the front door!"
"Coming, sweetie!" Spain shouted in response swinging Salvador in making his legs whip like doll legs and he shrieked with laughter when Spain hugged the eight year old to his chest walking to the front door. Salvador giggled into his chest, smiling widely, making Spain smile when he looked from America to England. "Hola, America and England. To what do we ow the honor of having you in our little home?"
Salvador looked up, his cheeks flushed from rough housing and playing, his hazel eyes glowing happily and brightly, bright enough to be mistaken as a light green. "Mama, Papa keeps spinning me around! I feel dizzy!" He giggled the words, clinging to Spain happily when Romano smiled at his giggling son and he shut the door finally and walked over squeezing his chubby cheek happily.
"And I bet Papa did it inside near all our valuables, huh?" He cooed but it sounded more like a rebuke making Salvador giggle but Romano then shifted his hand from Salvador's cheek and lifted his other hand, pinching Spain's cheeks tightly and stretching his cheeks. "And I bet Papa also knows Netherlands and his sister will be showing up here tomorrow so if the home is messy he knows Mama will look bad, huh? Don't you, Papa?"
Spain pulled his cheeks from his fingers with a whine and moved his mouth and then lifted one hand from underneath Salvador, to rub his cheek which was turning a light red from the pinching. "Don't worry, Roma! I'd never break anything with an eight year old! I've been doing this for a combined of twenty one years between the boys, eight for Salvador and fourteen for Cristiano!" He then looked at the Americans again and smiled charmingly. "But back to the scenario at hand, why don't you tell us why you're here?"
"Oh! I want Liam to go up and apologize to Cristiano, formally. Then to you two, especially, before we take him back home for his punishment to begin." America explained then making Spain nod, his green eyes almost shining at this like he approved and America's shined back. Happy it was in agreement. "I just want your permission to send Liam up there."
"Si! Cristiano's room is at the end of the hall, third door on the left next to the pink door, which is the nursery. Not to hard to find." Spain replied bouncing Salvador a few times before putting the eight year old down and he clung to his hip instead. Liam nodded then, slowly, his face aching and his glasses almost felt like too much on his aching face and he turned to the stairs.
Liam hated what he'd done, beating another person, and just looking at Salvador and thinking of his own little brother and then being in the presence of two other parents of the person he beat made him feel incredibly bad. He bit his lip while he climbed up the stairs listening to the others talking softly and walking to the living room, probably, and he moved his hands through his hair. God, how was he even going to begin to apologize? It wasn't like he hated Cristiano, just hated how close he was to Austynn and flaunted it a lot when he knew that even though Canada and America were so close he didn't really see Austynn a lot as he was doing a bunch of after school activities to bring with him in high school level, so he got home around dinner time and by then no one wanted to go out anymore. It just sucked, he couldn't see his cousin and this-this crush he had didn't help did it? He chewed his lip softly as he finished the climb and walked down the hall.
What do you say to someone you beat to a near bloody pulp? He couldn't help but wonder, looking at the red sore skin of his knuckles and nearly felt like sobbing at the shame that flooded every time he looked at them and he noticed the faint pink door first and the one right next to it. He walked up to the door and knocked hating the throb that went through his knuckles at that when the door flew open to an angry, then surprised red rimmed eyed Cristiano who then scowled. "What are you doing here?"
Liam sighed then gesturing to the room. "Can I come in? So the conversation doesn't carry downstairs at least?" He asked when Cristiano seemed to hesitate. "It'll only be a few minutes, I promise."
"Fine." Cristiano opened the door and walked in, Liam following and shutting the door while Cristiano sat in his desk chair. "What do you want, Liam?" Liam twitched, hearing how weird his name sounded then. Like he'd been about to say 'lie' but ended up with his name and he blinked a few times before sighing out softly.
"I'm sorry, Cristiano. I shouldn't have flipped out and beat you up like that, it wasn't cool of me, at all." He replied staring at the boy, who other than red rimmed eyed, had a bruise forming on one of his cheeks which was pretty dark and one just above his eye was a band aid were skin must have split open, his lip was swollen but wasn't split like his. He must have other injuries, however, that Liam knew. "I just..Austynn's my cousin, alright? I understand you'll be closer and you two will always hang out more but it just..it sucks because I can't see him other than at school and even that'll be impossible for a week."
Cristiano blinked looking at the American boy and stood up, preparing to speak when something completely different burst out of his lips. "Austynn was my first kiss." He blabbed then blushed when Liam looked at him like he just lost his mind and he sighed. "I've always liked Austynn, okay? He hasn't said it but I think he likes me too but you also like him so it's...it's complicated. Dysfunctional almost. But believe me, Liam Kirkland, I do not in anyway shape or form hate you."
"I don't hate you, Cristiano Fernandez Carriedo." Liam replied using Cristiano's full name, just as the boy had done to him, when they both broke out in rather sheepish grins. Liam then looked around and noticed the game system by Cristiano's TV. "Is that a play station?"
Cristiano looked over his shoulder and then looked back grinning widely now. "Yup. My dad got it for me last year, for my birthday. Wanna play a game? Unless you're leaving soon."
"Nope! I don't think I'm leaving soon but we can play if you think our parents continue to discuss our apology right now." Liam replied shrugging then grinned just as wide when Cristiano blinked, looking at Liam and laughed lightly walking to the tv. He turned the system on and he sat patting the floor. "Sweet!"
"I think, until either one of us sees Austynn again, this is will be the start of a beautiful one week friendship. Don't ya think?" Cristiano asked while he put in a new game, one of his first person shooter games, and Liam grinned wide, both of them just grinning away at one another. Cristiano had to admit, the cousins looked rather similar just like he looked similar to his own cousin, Giovanni. He could almost imagine the loud mouthed Kirkland was Austynn but comparing the two felt strangely..wrong. But Austynn's laugh got his attention, his glasses glinting lightly, when his blue eyes locked onto Cristiano's greens and sparkled mischievously.
"I think this will most definitely be the start of a beautiful one week friendship!"