As always, merci beaucoup to my pre-reader purpleC305 and my beta extraordinaire, Ninkita.

I sometimes like to add or change things afterwards so all mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

ooo

EPOV

Waking up this early has never felt so good. It's only six forty-five and I feel like I can take on the whole world. And all because of my beautiful girl.

What happened last night seems kind of unreal this morning. I did something I never thought I'd do that early in a relationship; I all but proposed to Izi. Giving her the ring that was initially meant as a simple present, a token of my affection, if you will, turned into something different, something more valuable and meaningful. My decision to officially make her mine wasn't a spur of the moment act but it wasn't quite planned either.

It all started to click in my head when I watched Izi talking animatedly with my parents at dinner and later with my sister, and I loved how at ease she was around my family. Then it suddenly hit me; I not only wanted her to know I'm seeing myself as part of her life, no, I also wanted Izi at my side forever.

Of course I wasn't sure how she'd react. I know she loves me but we've been far from heavy decisions like spending the rest of our lives together. Ultimately, I just followed my gut instincts that everything will be fine and gathered all my courage, laid every thought and emotion out there for her, bared my soul... but not really expecting anything. To my utter astonishment, she told me she felt the same, that I'm the one for her.

And here I am, feeling like I found the last piece of the puzzle that is my life. Emotionally I'm finally where I have to be, how I want to feel; happy and complete.

The sudden chime of a new text message on my phone interrupts my thoughts.

Are you awake? I need to tell you something? - I

If I wasn't really awake before I certainly am now. I call her instead of texting because her words of having to talk to me have my mind spinning with various scenarios, mainly the fear that she's maybe changed her mind about us.

"Edward," she greets me. She doesn't sound like she has bad news for me. She sounds rather amused.

"Izi? What's going on? You scared me for a moment, sweetheart."

"Sorry," she apologizes and giggles. "I didn't know if I should warn you or surprise you."

"Warn me? About what?" Alarm bells go off but then again, Izi doesn't sound like I have reasons to really worry.

"My mom is joining us this morning. I couldn't talk her out of it, she was very persistent. I'm sorry." Again, she sounds amused and I'm elated.

"That's ok, love. I don't mind," I tell her with a chuckle and mostly relief. "I want to meet your parents anyway so it's really no problem."

"Oh, ok. I thought you'd freak out or something."

"And that's why you sounded so amused? Thanks a lot," I say teasingly.

"No, no, it's not that," she says quickly, laughing now. "My mom thought she was so very subtle when she asked me about a thousand times if I'm meeting someone. Ha! As if she doesn't know already. She's eager to meet you, Edward, and I didn't know if this was ok with you."

"More than ok. You've met mine so it's time I meet yours. It's going to be fine, love, because the moms I can handle. It's the dads that are overprotective."

There's a few seconds of silence before she speaks again.

"Did you… I mean, was there…" she asks quietly.

"I did meet my ex-girlfriend's parents, if that's what you mean," I reply cautiously.

"I know I never asked you about any exes, Edward, mainly because I thought you'd tell me on your own if there was something important to tell. I'm not one to prod or pressure but... how serious were the two of you?"

"At the time I thought we were serious," I confess, reluctantly. I don't want to unnecessarily hurt her so I quickly resume. "We'd been together for six months when I met her parents the first time. Her mom was cool. Her dad never really warmed up to me though. Don't ask me why." I end my speech with a chuckle.

"I can't imagine why. You're so easy to like, Edward," Izi says convincingly, which makes me smile.

"Yeah, well," I say, playing down my sudden shyness caused by her compliment. "He doesn't seem to have any problems with her husband though."

"She's married?"

"Yeah. Her father introduced her to him. The son of his business partner or something. She broke up with me because she fell in love with him."

"Oh, wow," Izi exclaims quietly. "How did it make you feel?"

"Honestly? Without wanting to sound like an asshole, I was elated, more so because I felt like there hadn't really been much of a connection between us lately. Come to think of it, it might have started at the time she met her future husband."

"Oh my," Izi says astonished. "I'm sorry," she unnecessarily apologizes. "You know what? I'm actually not sorry. I'm glad, that's what I am."

"I'm glad too," I agree with her. "I mean, Kate's happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy."

"Kate." Izi repeats the name quietly. "Beautiful name. I bet she's beautiful too."

"She's not nearly as pretty and as beautiful as you, baby," I tell her reassuringly and truthfully. Kate is beautiful, yes, but looks don't really mean much to me anyway, it's the character that counts - and in Izi I met someone who has all that and more.

"Nice save, Edward." I hear her giggling which in return makes me laugh. "I love you, Edward and I'm thankful for whoever it is that made your ex fall in love with him."

"You mean her loss is your gain?" I ask, joking.

"You bet," she reciprocates firmly. "Now back to the original topic. Are you ready to meet my mom?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. See you soon, love."

"See you soon. And Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring the ring."

ooo

"Where are you off to this early?" my mom's voice startles me as I'm about to leave the house.

"I'm having coffee with Izi. Why are you up so early?" I ask in return.

"I couldn't sleep. Must be the time difference I'm still getting used to and the excitement of being here," mom explains. "I'm going to make myself some coffee and wait until everyone wakes up. Say hi to Izi." She kisses me on the cheek and is about to leave when I remember that Izi's mom will be there too.

"Actually, why don't you join us? Izi told me her mom will be there too."

"Oh, Renata is going too?" she asks happily. "Then of course I'll come with you, if Izi and you don't mind. I'd love to see her."

"Of course we don't mind," I assure her, secretly glad I have my mom as support. Not that I think I'll need any kind of help going through a few minutes of what probably will be an interrogation on Izi's mom's part but to know I have someone there from my family sure helps.

We lock the house and make our way leisurely to the café.

"Do you get up that early every morning?" mom asks curiously.

"Yeah," I say with a shrug. "It's no problem for me. Izi has work and between that and other responsibilities we barely see each other. She doesn't really like it that I'm giving up sleep because of her. She thinks it's unnecessary."

My mom looks at me and smiles softly. "She cares about you, honey. She'd rather sacrifice her time with you than seeing you being tired on your vacation. It isn't easy for her either, you know."

"I know," I sigh. She links her arm with mine as we make a detour along the beach.

"She is a lovely girl, Edward."

"She's that and much more. She's important," I confess, smiling.

Our eyes meet and whatever she sees in mine makes her gasp softly. "Oh my!" mom exclaims quietly. We stop walking and she studies me for a few seconds. "You... proposed?" she asks. Her tone isn't accusing or incredulous - it's rather laced with surprise and wonder.

"Not really, no. Not yet, anyway. Let's say we agreed it's a possibility sometime in the future." I rub my neck and grin sheepishly.

"Edward, that's… I have no words, sweetheart. Are you sure about this?" I can't blame her for asking me. Had someone told me I'd meet the love of my life while on vacation and so far away from home, I would have laughed in their faces.

"I've never been more sure. We have never been more sure," I correct myself, letting her know that it's not just me who feels that way.

"Ok," she says, squeezing my arm in silent support. "Please don't misunderstand my next question as not supporting you, because I do and I can see how happy the two of you are, but what are your plans? Have you thought about what you'll do when your time here is over? A long distance relationship isn't easy, Edward."

"I'm aware of that but honestly, we haven't talked about this yet." Mainly because we've been occupied with… other things, I think to myself. "What option do we have anyway? She'll either come to Seattle or I'll move here." We're at the nearly deserted seafront now, a stark contrast to the evenings, when you have to dodge people to make it from one end to another without bumping into them.

"You'd be willing to move to Croatia?" Mom sounds like it's the last thing I would ever do.

"Why are you so surprised? You sound like it's a bad thing. Like it's already decided. And would it be so wrong?" I realize I've gotten too defensive when my mom's face falls.

"Oh God, honey, no," she calms me down quickly. "I'm sorry if I just sounded like I don't approve. That wasn't my intention," mom says apologetically. "Your dida would be so happy if he was alive. You know he always wanted either you or Emmett to find a nice Croatian girl and it would have made him twice as happy if one of his grandchildren moved to his country." I smile because I remember him saying that on many occasions. "All a mother wants for her boys is for them to be happy, no matter where they live."

We walk in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the still pretty quiet morning.

"I'm a little bit nervous when I think about meeting her parents," I confess. "What if they don't approve?"

"Oh Edward," my mom soothes me sympathetically. "Be the way you're around Izi - be yourself - and everything will be ok. I remember how nervous your father was when he met your grandparents. You don't know this but your dida didn't allow your dad to come meet him without a sign that he's serious about me." I look at her, surprised.

"I didn't know that."

"Yeah, your grandparents were unsurprisingly old fashioned and your dad respected that. So he bought a ring and asked for my hand." She smiles reminiscently.

"Ok, maybe it could be that I don't have the courage to face my future father-in-law but at least I have a ring," I joke, kind of.

"Wait. What ring?" she asks, confused but also overlooks the fact that the thought about meeting Izi's father is suddenly making me want to bolt. I really hope he'll accept me because I don't want to have to elope with his daughter.

"I bought her a ring yesterday before Emmett and I picked you guys up from the airport." I pull out the silver object from the front pocket of my black workout shorts to show her.

"Oh, Edward," mom gushes. "It's gorgeous! But why isn't she wearing it? I thought that after you two obviously talked…"

"Because," I interrupt her quickly and explain the reason why it's with me and not on Izi's finger.

"That was really sweet and very thoughtful of her. I really like her, son." Mom smiles up at me, her happy expression reflecting her words.

"I'm glad to hear that."

We walk in silence, both processing the conversation we've just had.

"By the way," mom breaks the silence. "What is this about Izi liking our house? Emmett mentioned something about it."

"What a blabbermouth," I murmur and shake my head. "Izi is saving money to open a BnB," I start to explain. "She's set her eyes on the house since the idea formed in her head. I found out about it and had to tell her that the house isn't for sale."

"Ah, I see," she says and there's silence for a while. "She's already a great girl in my eyes and it says even more about her character that she's planning to do something so ambitious. More so at such a young age. I don't doubt she'll one day realize her dream." There's a small smile on my mom's lips but it's gone when she notices me watching her questioningly.

We're nearing Izi and my usual table, but other people have occupied our favorite seats. I'm worried for a moment that maybe something happened to her. I'm immediately elated when I look around and see my girl waving at me from the other side of our usual sitting area. Izi's sitting with a woman whom I immediately recognize as her mom; the same facial features, hair color and height give away their relation to each other.

We barely make it to the table when Izi's mom gets up, and with a megawatt smile and no warning at all she pulls my mom into a hug. "Esme!" she practically squeals in happiness and Bella cringes at the sound. I, on the other hand, chuckle at the display of two women who've seen each other only once for a few hours but act like they've known each other for centuries.

"Renata, dear," my mom greets her in equal glee. "It's so great to see you again. How have you been? How's Karlo?"

"Good, good," Izi's mom says and pulls my mom down on a chair next to her. "We still remember and talk about the evening in the restaurant. We had such a great time."

While our moms are busy talking and reminiscing I take Izi's hand and squeeze it. "Good morning, baby." I lean in and kiss her on her cheek. I notice that the chatter at our table has stopped and when I look up, our mothers' smiles could light up a whole village.

It's Izi's turn to introduce me to her mom. "Edward, ljubavi," (Edward, love) she starts the introduction and her mom practically vibrates in her seat because of the way her daughter addresses me. I have a feeling I'm going to like this woman. "This is my mom, Renata. Mama, ovo je Edward." (Mom, this is Edward)

"It's nice to finally meet you, Edward." She takes my hand and pulls me to her across the small round table to kiss me on the cheek. She sits back in her seat and winks at her daughter.

"Mama!" Izi quietly whines in protest, embarrassed at her mom's not so subtle approval.

"Što?" (What?) Renata asks innocently but there's a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"It's ok, love," I say calmingly to a visibly frustrated Izi. "It's nice to finally meet you too, Mrs. Labudović."

"Nothing Missus, Edward. Call me Renata," she offers with a sincere smile. We order our coffees from the waitress and a few minutes later four cups of hot beverages are in front of us. Izi and I don't say much but watch our mothers interact or answer a question or two when we're being asked something.

"Anyway, how about you, Carlisle and Edward join us for dinner tonight?" Renata asks my mother, rounding up the conversation. It's time to leave our nice little bubble and go back to real life, meaning that my girl has to work.

While our moms make arrangements for tonight's dinner I finally put the ring on Izi's finger where it belongs and smile at Izi who's dreamily looking at it. "It looks good there," I whisper. "Fits perfectly."

Before Izi is able to say something, a not so silent "Ajme!" (Oh, my!) echoes throughout the entire café's terrace and makes the other customers look at us curiously.

"Tiše, mama, molin te," (Quieter, mom, please) Izi pleads with an astonished Renata, her eyes roaming the place embarrassedly.

"Oprosti," (I'm sorry) Renata apologizes, her eyes never wavering from the ring. I can see in the way she ogles the piece of jewelry that she has a few questions.

"Is this what I think it is?" she finally asks me cautiously.

"Kind of."

"Kind of?" Renata looks puzzled. "Što to znači?" (What does that mean?)

"Do we have to do that here, mama?" Izi whispers, pleadingly. "Let's talk about it this evening, when dad is present too, ok?"

"Yes, of course," Renata agrees with her daughter but her curiosity about Izi and my status is plainly visible in her eyes.

"It's settled then. I'm so sorry but I have to leave now. Work is calling." Izi looks at me apologetically, sad that our morning together is already over. "I'll see you tonight then?"

"See you tonight," I confirm. "Volin te."

"I love you too."

ooo

The three of us are standing in front of a simple one story home. There's a huge, well maintained garden and a couple of olive trees.

My father knocks on the door and a few seconds later a tall man with a thick moustache is standing in front of us. His eyes immediately shoot to me, like he's purposely sought me out first. It makes me a Hell lot more nervous, to be honest. He gives me a quick, scowling and unapproving once-over before he greets my parents enthusiastically.

"Dobro došli, prijatelji!" (Welcome, friends!) he says and opens the door wider to let us in.

My dad hands him the wine he's brought and looking at the bottle makes Izi's dad's eyes widen in surprise. "You remember, my friend?"

"How can I forget the wine that gave me headaches for days to come?" my dad jokes. Mr. Labudović claps him on the back and laughs in understanding.

"A ti, Esme? Ništa mi se nisi prominila. Lipa ka uvik," (And you, Esme? You haven't changed a bit. Beautiful as always) he commends my mom. Who would have thought that behind this gruff exterior was such a charming motherfucker.

I'm next but the friendly smile he just had for my parents disappears instantly. He towers over me by a few centimeters, his arms crossed and the scowl is back in full force. "Edward." I don't think about how he knows my name; if my parents told him back then or if maybe even Izi has mentioned me. But I do commend him, although silently, for not using a wrong name. With the way he acts toward me, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he did.

"Mr. Labudović, sir." I offer my hand and try to stay cool even though I'm a nervous wreck. I want to leave a good impression. For Izi and for myself. He shakes my hand with more force and pressure on my fingers than necessary but I don't cave, I hold his gaze steadily.

My rescue comes in the form of Izi's mom who shoots a dirty look at her husband. "Karlo, prestani!" (Karlo, stop it!) she hisses. I swear he just pouted at her order. He lets go of my hand when his wife unexpectedly hugs me. "Hello, Edward."

"Hi, Renata," I return the sentiment. I hear a grunting sound next to us and it makes me laugh inwardly. I almost want to stick out my tongue at him and gloat how his wife loves me, but thankfully refrain from it.

"Izabela is in the kitchen if you want to say hello," she tells me and winks and I know she just saved me from further interactions with her grumpy husband.

"Thank you." I smile gratefully and disappear in the direction her finger is pointing. I don't really need directions because a wonderful aroma leads me directly to my girl. She's frying something in a pan that smells delicious.

"Hey, you," I say quietly, so as not to scare her. Izi turns around at hearing my voice and a big smile forms on her face. She quickly turns off the stove before she runs to me and hugs me.

"Edward." Her voice is a mix of relief and joy. "I'm so glad you're here." She looks up at me and pulls me down for a kiss. I tense a bit and Izi notices it. "What is it?" I look at the door, making sure her dad isn't standing at the kitchen entrance. I want at least five minutes undisturbed with my girl before he starts to grunt again disapprovingly. "Who are you looking for?"

"No one," I lie unsuccessfully because Izi levels me with an I-don't-believe-you stare.

Crossing her arms, looking like a less threatening version of her dad, she tries again. "What did he say?" She looks around the corner to see if someone's there. "What did he do?"

"Nothing I can't handle, don't worry." I bend down and capture her lips in a quick kiss. Izi unfolds her arms and throws them around my neck.

"I missed you," she whispers against my lips.

"I missed you too. The hours definitely go by too slowly for my liking. I wish we had a couple of days like the ones on the island."

"I hear you," Izi agrees. "My dad saw the ring, by the way. My mom hinted to him that I met someone and he's been in a bad mood ever since."

"I figured as much with all the unapproving glares he's given me," I joke.

"Seriously, Edward, what did he say to you? I need to know so I can be prepared when I tell him that his daughter has a fiancé." She looks at me nervously, her hands squeezing mine.

"That's the thing, except for stern looks he said nothing. I'm not so delusional as not to expect some kind of interrogation later. It's what dads do." I wink at her to let her know I'm not scared but still prepared. "And I'm your fiancé, am I?" I tease, pecking the tip of her nose.

"Damn straight you are. No taking it back, mister. You said what you said yesterday," she feigns strictness until she can't hold back the smile that's been threatening to escape.

"I'll never take it back, love. You're stuck with me," I tell her. "I just don't know how your dad will react once he knows."

"Like almost every dad, I guess; grumpy and disapproving. Just please, promise me you won't agree with anything he'll potentially say. He's a cop, he can be very… convincing." Her eyes plead with me.

"I promise," I assure her. My eyes only now really perceive what Izi is wearing. She looks sexy in her tight red mini skirt and a white lacy halter top that accentuate her curvaceous and overall sinful body. "Jesus, baby, what were you thinking wearing this in front of me?" I joke and at the same time my eyes memorize the perfection that is Izi. I glance quickly at the kitchen entrance, making sure no one's standing there. Turning to Izi again I pull her to me by grabbing her ass and I take her lips with mine. I know I shouldn't do that - attacking her like that, that is - seeing as I'm in her home, with people I don't really know who also happen to be her parents. But I just can't resist her.

Izi's fingers weave into my hair, tugging and pulling, while her tongue enters my mouth to caress mine. "Mmmh," she moans and one hand runs down my chest and stomach until it disappears between our bodies to cup and stroke me through my pants.

"Shit! No, no, no! What are you doing?" I grab her hand to stop her and take a step away. "You can't touch me like that with everyone just on the other side of the house, baby. Do you want your dad to kill me? And how am I going to walk around like that now?" I'm motioning to my erection that was already at half mast when I discovered what she's wearing. She giggles, which does nothing to solve my problem. "Not funny, baby. Now I need to calm down first before I show up in front of everyone."

"Izabela." Her father's gruff voice coming from another room almost does the trick.

"I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not. Not really." She grins and pats my cheek. I grab her hand before she can escape and pull her to me until we're nose to nose.

"I'm getting you for that," I whisper. "And good."

She looks at me with wide eyes before she swallows thickly. Her deer in the headlights look suddenly changes into one of smoldering fire. She licks her lips and in a quiet, husky voice she says, "I'm counting on it."

"Jesus, you're not helping. At all," I say groaning, which makes her smile and wink victoriously.

"It's all fair in love and war," she reciprocates, repeating my words from not long ago.

"Vixen," I say, chuckling and shaking my head. "Bathroom?" I ask her because it's impossible to show up in front of her parents, and mine for that matter, in my state. I really need to calm down first.

She shows me the lavatory before she leaves me to join the others.

ooo

Renata is an amazing cook. The octopus salad we just had is one of the best I've ever tasted. And that's what I tell her.

"Thank you, Edward," she says proudly. Izi beams and Mr. Labudović grunts. He's done it a few times this evening, whenever I say or comment positively on something his wife or daughter have done. And every time he earns a disapproving look from them.

It's not that I'm totally clueless to his reason for being that way about me, but still; I'm respectful to his family and I'm never out of line with my answers. I get it, it's about his daughter. It's unfair nonetheless. I've done nothing but fall in love with her. I let it slide for now, he's the dad after all, and it's his job to be protective.

"I'll go and get some more wine and prošek," Renata offers after dinner and starts cleaning the table.

Everyone's feeling pretty mellow at the end of an excellent meal. The atmosphere around me is calm and relaxed and I'm happy to see my parents quietly conversing with Izi. Then I feel Karlos's gaze on me, and suddenly the tension from earlier in the evening is back. I've known the moment he opened the door for us and leveled me with a "who do you think you are'' look that he's not ignorant to the fact that something is going on between his daughter and me but considering he saw my gift for Izi I can imagine a strong current of 'whats' and 'whys' and 'hows' is flooding his mind.

Once Renata's back I feel like I can breathe again. No matter how tough or patriarchal Mr. Labudović wants to appear to everyone, I think his wife is the one who really holds all the reins in this home and makes all the decisions. While everyone is getting a glass of wine or prošek Izi and I decline.

Izi's dad looks at her sharply. "Jesi trudna?" (Are you pregnant?) he asks out of the blue and with no excuses.

"No!" Izi and I yell at the same time. What the hell? "Why would you think that?" Izi asks, surprised but also hurt.

"You decline prošek, even though you always have a glass after dinner. You never wear any jewelry and suddenly there's a not so small ring on your finger," he starts to list a few reasons why he's thinking I knocked her up. "And the sleepover while your mom and I were at your aunt's? Don't think I don't know about that."

"I am not pregnant," Izi says, her tone changing to anger and disbelief that her dad would even insinuate something like that. "And how do you know anyway? Maybe I was there because of Alice."

"Što ti misliš da san ja od jučer?" (Do you think I was born yesterday?) her dad reciprocates, his hard stare challenging.

"No one thinks that, sir. I..." I try to assure him but it only earns me a shut up look from him.

"Ok, I slept over at Edward's, so what?" Izi says, diverting her dad's attention away from me and back to her. "I'm not twelve, tata! You can't tell me what to do anymore. I…"

"Sad je dosta, mlada damo," (That's enough, young lady) Renata interrupts Izi, who's taken my hand and squeezes it to assure herself that I'm still here. I squeeze back, silently telling her I'm with her. "A ti Karlo budi malo razumniji." (And you Karlo, be a bit more reasonable) Izi's mom reprimands her husband.

"Reasonable? Your daughter is spending her nights with someone she barely knows," he argues upsettingly and motions in my direction. "And I should be ok with that?"

"Edward isn't just anybody for me. I love him." Izi tries to convince her dad whose only reaction is a scoff.

"Love him? You know each other what, three weeks?"

"A little over a week," I say, unwavering and surprised at my calm voice since he's really making me nervous and almost angry too.

"One week? And you already love each other?" He laughs mockingly which irritates me.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" I ask in a daring tone, making him look abashed for a moment before the hard look is back. "The moment I saw your daughter I knew she was someone good - someone special. You know her better than anyone," I tell him, hoping to make him see what I'm trying to say. "But me? I know only a fraction of her character but what I've discovered is more than I thought I would ever find in anyone, ever. You can't measure your feelings for someone by quantity - by how long you've known them, spent time with them- but rather by quality. The same things you like, the same picture of your future together. That's what matters. We fit together in every aspect I just mentioned. And what I see in Izi and feel for her is beyond anything explicable." Karlo turns to his daughter and for a moment his features soften.

"I know she is a good person," he agrees with me and I feel like we made progress. "I don't need anyone telling me that." And we're back to square one. "But the fact remains that she did something she knows I wouldn't approve of." He looks at her, silently communicating something with his eyes that makes Izi gaping at him.

"Nikad ga više nemoj usporediti s onim kretenom," (Don't ever again compare him to that jerk) she tells him upsetly and I immediately know who she's referring to.

"It wasn't my intention," he says, seeming truthful in his words. "I just don't want you to get hurt again."

I know he is only looking out for her, especially after the disaster with her ex but it stings nonetheless knowing he's afraid I'd do the same to her.

"I know you worry, tata but I can assure you that Edward is good to me. He would never hurt me." She looks at me and a smile so beautiful and sincere is gracing her already breathtaking features.

There's silence for a moment when my dad speaks up for the first time. "I'd like to say something if that's ok with everyone." Voices of approval echo around us. My dad clears his throat before he starts to speak again. "I understand that you are worried about Izabela," he says, looking first to Renata then at her husband. "Especially knowing she is your only child. When Esme told me that our son had met someone, I was worried too." I look at my dad, surprised at his confession. "Yes, I was, no I am worried, son. I don't doubt your feelings, it's plain to see what you mean to each other. What worries me is your mental state after you go back home. It's going to be tough living so far away from each other. You will start to ask yourself all the time what she's doing at the moment. Or where and with whom he is when he isn't answering your call," he says, looking at Izi. "I wonder how you see your future unfolding. Who is going to give up their familiar surroundings and everyday life to move to the other side of the world?"

"We haven't really talked about it," Izi confesses quietly.

"That's what I thought," Izi's dad says, seeming self-satisfied. He crosses his arms over his chest and observes us for a moment. "What would it do to you, Izabela, if he met someone over there while you're here, suffering and waiting to see each other again?"

He's got to be kidding. After everything we just said. Izi's gasp of horror is like a spear to my heart. "How can you say something like that? Have you not been listening?" I realize my voice got louder with every sentence.

"Edward!" my mom reprimands me, reminding me to lower my voice and be respectful to the hosts.

"I'm sorry, that was out of line," I apologize. I take Izi's hand and wrap mine around her ring finger, holding it up for everyone to see. "But I'm not sorry for loving Izabela. Even though she was always trying to hide it, I knew she was insecure about my feelings for her. So I bought this ring as a sign of my love for her. I wanted her to know that there will never be anyone else for me. No matter how many miles lay between us." By now tears have stained Izi's cheeks and everyone else is struck silent. "When I realized how perfectly she fit in with my family, how there was no chance in Hell I could ever live without her, I knew I wanted the ring to represent more than I initially intended."

I'm pretty irritated with Izi's dad and his disregard for our feelings for each other. But then I remember her words from earlier, about her dad wanting to try to convince us why we shouldn't be together. I realize he's behaving so meanly only because he's worried about his daughter, whose last boyfriend was an asshole. He's not indifferent to our relationship. He's scared of her getting hurt again.

"I know what happened with Petar," I say cautiously, not knowing what his reaction to hearing the jerk's name will be. Mr. Labudović's head turns quickly in my direction, his eyes wide in surprise. A whole set of emotions cross his features - uncertainty, hesitancy - when he realizes someone else beside his family and Roza knows about what had occurred a few years ago.

At first he appears to be ashamed of the fact that Izi even was with someone as evil and manipulating as the asshole and that people would think the worst of his daughter, until his eyes meet Izi's wet ones and he smiles sadly at her. That's when I realize that the only thing he's angry and embarrassed about is the fact that he didn't do anything about it. That he didn't prevent it. But how could he have when he didn't know? Yes, he didn't like the guy but he had no way of knowing that Petar was controlling and verbally abusive until Izi told him. Suddenly I feel sympathy for this man - for this father - because this is how I feel too and I wasn't even in the picture yet when all that occured. "I want to strangle him for what he did, believe me." Mr. Labudović's eyebrows lift up high and he seems to be surprised at my quasi threat. A barely visible twitch of his mustache is all the sign I need to tell me we're on the same page. "I would never hurt your daughter like that, sir. I don't play games. If you give me just one chance to prove to you that I'm serious about her, Mr. Labudović, then…"

"It's Karlo, Edward. Call me Karlo."

It's my turn to look astonished.

ooo

Dida - grand-dad

Prošek is a sweet dessert wine.

ooo

Thank you for reading.

Voli vas

LunaBev