A/N: Thank you to Emoen (yeah, I am still testing out how to make Pavi sound and act like, well, Pavi), The Nobody Prince (lol, yeah, I'm trying to put in some romance for Grilo), and lmnopq6482 (thank you, I appreciate your kindness) for the reviews. I don't know what I was thinking, but I wrote this chapter as if it was done automatically. It sounds okay, so I'll just post it. I'm no good with romance so I'm trying to get used to it and experimenting what is considered as fluff and what is over-the-top. There's so much romance in the air in this chapter, I'm apalled that I wrote this. Yes, this chapter is going to be so cheesy that you have to eat crackers with it. I also wonder if anyone saw the hint I made in the chapter before this one. If not, it's okay since I'm going to reveal it sooner or later. On with the story, I guess. Oh, before I forget, I won't be able to update all of this week since my internet is going to be turned off, and I've got exams to work on anyways.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Just to spite her, Luigi laughed and commented at how Lina can't do anything because she was on bed rest. Because of being on painkillers again, Lina didn't become agitated like she usually was and didn't try to attack him like she usually does. Luigi had a smug grin on his face and felt like he regained his power again. Pavi was with his brother and just watched.

"You do know that you are more irritating than before, right?" Lina asked before taking out the mystery novel Shilo gave her yesterday. Pavi tried to contain his sniggering, but he couldn't help but let it escape his mouth. Luigi turned to him and glared.

"Shut the fuck up, Pavi," Luigi yelled.

"Ah, but you can't do anything to me, brother," Pavi replied with a smug smile. Luigi was about to choke him, but Pavi immediately took out his cologne and sprayed it on Luigi's face before he had the chance to. Luigi screamed and bent over, closing his eyes.

"Thanks. Now, I have a headache," Lina said calmly while still reading her book as if it wasn't anything new.

Mia came in to check on the Luigi's scream and found him holding his eyes though she could see that his eyes were watering.

"What is going on?" Mia asked, a little aggravated. She was reading through her reports, but Luigi's scream took her out of her focus.

"My damn fucking brother sprayed something in my eyes," Luigi yelled in pain and anger. Mia looked over at Pavi.

"What did you spray him with?" Mia asked.

"The Pavi's special cologne," Pavi answered. Mia sighed and turned back to Luigi. Luigi started rubbing his eyes. Thankfully, she pulled his hands away in time before he did more damage to them.

"Don't rub your eyes, it will make it worse. Follow me, I'll flush it out with water," Mia said before she held his hand and almost dragged him into the bathroom.

"Stop pulling me. I fucking can't see, you know," Luigi yelled at her.

Mia rolled her eyes in reply. The bathroom wasn't even that far away, and they were there in no time. Mia positioned him, so he could face the sink. She told him to lower his face down, and he did until he could feel the cold and smooth ceramic against his face. Mia turned on the faucet and Luigi could hear running water.

"Open your eyes," she demanded coolly. He did as she told him. He felt the sting worsen and wanted to close them again, but Mia told him to let it stay open. He couldn't help but listen to her when she demanded him with such authority.

She rinsed his eyes with water for several minutes before she stopped, allowing him to wipe his face from her splashing water in his face.

"Do you still feel any pain or irritation?" Mia asked after Luigi wiped his face dry.

He blinked a few times and shook his head. Surprisingly, he was quiet. Mia didn't know what to say about it, but she mostly didn't care. Just as long as he didn't cause trouble to the Wallace household, she was fine with almost anything. Mia took extra measure to check his eyes and his eyesight to see if anything was wrong with them.

"Thanks," he muttered reluctantly.

Mia merely nodded and left as if it was nothing. Luigi watched her walk away and felt a little thumping in his heart. His mind replayed her demanding tone when she forced him to listen to her, and it actually made him like her. Usually, people didn't force him to do anything, but Mia was different. He could feel she was different from other people. Not only that, she didn't laugh or make fun of him when he thanked her. Even when Lina was the first one to abuse him and force him to do something against his will, he couldn't help but think Mia's forceful tone was different from Lina's. Mia's was more subtle in an almost motherly way. Maybe, Luigi missed his mother yelling at him and demanded him to behave before she died. And because of this small instance, Luigi saw Mia in a new light.

Meanwhile, Shilo and Graverobber were spending time with the children. All the children wanted Graverobber's attention ever since he played with them. They gave him things they made in arts and crafts. Graverobber felt obliged to compliment on their art even though some looked terrible. Shilo smiled and held him in a one-armed hug. Graverobber looked at her with a questioning glance before he smirked.

"What was that for?" Graverobber asked.

"The children like you, and you make them happy. I haven't seem them this energetic before," she answered with such a loving look towards him.

"Hey, I'm still far too young to be a dad," he joked, which he received a small peck on the lips from her.

"You can be an uncle," Shilo recommended. Graverobber chuckled and pulled her closer.

"I would like to be the boyfriend," Graverobber told her.

"Mommy and Daddy, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love," the children started to chant before Shilo told them to stop, making Shilo blush in embarrassment.

"Then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage," Graverobber finished. Shilo looked over at him angrily. "What? It's been a while I heard that song."

She slapped his shoulder but didn't become angry for long when Graverobber started to use his seducing methods on her to make her blush and forget her anger. Graverobber knew how to work his way around her, and Shilo knew that he could and allowed him to do so. Afterall, Shilo couldn't help but give in to and believe in his words that made her legs weak.

Emma's eyes sparkled like stars when she watched Shilo and Graverobber interact. She couldn't help her girlish fantasies about romance. To her, they looked perfect for each other. The way they fit in each other's arms showed how perfect they are. It was as if the story of a princess and a knight were unfolding (even though it was far from it) in front of her. Unknowingly to the children, Graverobber had been quietly spouting adult themes to Shilo, who was blushing and too speechless to say anything.

Tom looked over at Emma and rolled his eyes, knowing she was daydreaming again.

"Stop staring, Emma. It's rude to stare," Tom told her. Emma looked over at Tom with her big round eyes.

"But Tommy, they are being lovey-dovey!" She said excitedly as she held Tom's hand with both of her hands, even Tom couldn't ignore her soft and warm hands. He had to look away when he started blushing.

"Whatever," he mumbled.

By that time, Nate came in the room and saw Shilo and Graverobber in their own world. He couldn't help but smile at the couple. Emma let go of Tom's hands and saw Nate. Still being excited, she ran to Nate and jumped on him. Luckily, Nate caught her in time. And being bigger than her and her being rather skinny and small, she wasn't heavy enough to make both of them fall back. Nate chuckled when Emma stared at him with her usual cheery expression.

"Hey, Emma," Nate greeted. Emma smiled before she got off of him and pulled him to where Tom was.

"Did you see? Did you see, Nate?" Emma asked, jumping up and down. Nate chuckled once more.

"See what, may I ask?" Nate asked.

Emma pointed at Shilo and Graverobber as if it was obvious.

"Don't they look good together?" Emma asked brightly.

Nate smiled and nodded.

"Yeah," Nate answered simply.

"Tch," Tom sounded quietly when he saw Emma and Nate.

Tom had known Emma the longest among the other children since he was the second child to be found and taken care of by Shilo. And for some reason, Tom felt a twinge of jealousy inside him when Emma's attention would always be on Nate whenever he's around. He couldn't help it when he suddenly pushed Nate to the ground. Emma and Nate were surprised, even Tom was surprised at what he had done.

"Why did you do that, Tommy?" Emma asked angrily. Her tiny hands held her sides, gesturing she was mad at him. She looked rather cute when she did so.

"It's none of your business!" Tom yelled in frustration. He didn't even know the answer either.

"It's all right, Emma," Nate told her. Emma shook her head and stood up straight as she could, trying to look tough.

"No," Emma started, "Tommy has to say sorry for doing wrong."

Tom turned away from the two. But by the time Tom tried to escape, Shilo and Graverobber came over to find out what was going on.

"What is this commotion about?" Shilo asked.

"Nothing, Shilo. Nothing happened," Nate replied.

Emma frowned when he lied. Her cheeks puffed to show she objected to Nate's lie. Shilo knew something was going on when Emma acted like that. She would only behave like that when someone was misbehaving or did something wrong. Tom looked guilty as he hung his head in shame when Nate didn't tell on him. He turned around and looked at Shilo with guilt.

"I pushed him on the ground," Tom admitted truthfully.

Shilo looked surprised before she sighed but smiled soon afterwards. She took Tom's hand and then took Nate's hand. She put Tom's hand on top of Nate's hand, gesturing him to hold his hand. Tom understood and clenched Nate's hand with his. Nate didn't understand what this gesture meant but did not ask. He silently watched what would happen next.

"You know what to do, Tommy," Shilo told him. Tom sighed and looked over to Nate.

He looked straight in his eyes and said, "I'm sorry for pushing you on the ground."

Nate smiled and said, "Apology accepted. Friends?"

Tom let go of his hand and smiled back.

"Friends," Tom answered.

"Hey, Kid?" Graverobber asked, watching the whole scene quietly. "What's up with the holding of hands? It's a bit weird for two boys to hold hands, don't you think?"

Shilo smiled and explained for Graverobber and Nate to understand.

"The gesture of peace comes from unity that is what holding hands mean. It's simply something for children to understand that above all, peace needs to be restored when one person does wrong to another. Usually, I make them do this when one of the children physically hurts another child," Shilo explained.

"What if he doesn't hold hands?" Graverobber asked, now curious.

Shilo sighed and said, "He will get punished. He will not be allowed to play until he apologizes and makes a gesture of friendship. If he does more damage, not only will I take away his free time and his toys, but he will stay in the corner."

Nate and Graverobber found the punishment unusual and unheard of. But in a way, it made sense. And who knows? It might even work. Graverobber noticed Shilo felt a little uncomfortable when she talked about punishments, and it seemed like her to feel that way. No matter how Graverobber looks at her, she doesn't look like the type to punish people.

"Wow, you take parenting seriously, don't you?" Graverobber whispered in Shilo's ear. Shilo shivered from his breath hitting against her ear, but she nodded.

"I want them to grow into good people, to live a life only they can make better and what all of us has failed to do," Shilo admitted back quietly.

"You're still young, Kid. You can still make a change," Graverobber told her.

Shilo smiled, nodded, and said, "And l am."

Graverobber looked at her questioningly. Before he asked, she answered for him.

"Like I said a while ago, it's a secret. This may even be why the Largo brothers are here," Shilo told him truthfully.

In the meantime, Pavi and Luigi stared at each other. Luigi had his usual scowling face and Pavi looked unfazed.

"One of us has to fucking seduce Wallace, and it ain't me," Luigi growled quietly. The two brothers were having a meeting about what to do to get information.

"Pavi doesn't feel like seducing the bella as well. Look at the Pavi, brother. Pavi cannot seduce in this state. And of course, the bella will never trust us because of the Opera, and the bella already likes the one called Rave," Pavi told him, "Seducing the bella could not be possible."

"Shit. What are we fucking going to do now? It's fucking pointless to stay here if we can't find out if the rumors are true or not," Luigi said angrily.

"No, brother. It may not be as pointless as brother thinks. I guess I just have to accept the lovely bella's offer," Pavi said with a smile.

Luigi looked over at him questioningly until the day after.

"Are you sure?" Mia asked. Pavi nodded.

"The Pavi would like to look beautiful again," Pavi answered.

Mia nodded before she said, "Your head will have to be bandaged up for about two weeks before taking it off. And even then, you have to take care of your face, so it would stay on. Are you still sure?"

Pavi looked unfazed and said, "The Pavi has nothing to lose. The Pavi knows how to take care of the Pavi's many faces, so taking care of Pavi's natural face will not be hard for the Pavi."

"It's not like any procedure you've done before. For one, I have to take off those clips before I could start the real procedure. From listening to your explanation yesterday, your face is easily irritated to Zydrate. In turn, an inflammation occurred on your skin, and it turned for the worse when your skin started decaying, making your face look like a fire had burned your skin. Thankfully, your doctor had saved you in time or else you would have no nose in tact and you could have died if it went any further. Unlike the surgery you had before, I will have to use old methods. I've got to numb it using an anesthetic before surgerically removing your old skin. After that, I will use a material that I will put on you to mold your face as natural as you could have looked. Before I could work on to the next step, I have to cover your face, so it would not get infected when I take off the mold. I will then fill the mold with a substance that would become just like real skin before putting it on you," Mia explained, "Unlike your other faces that needs to be clipped on, this very material will cling onto your face so long as you wet it when it feels like your face is heating up."

Pavi nodded in understanding then suddenly took Lina's hand and squeezed it. Lina seemed a little too unhappy to be at Mia's clinic.

"Why do I have to be here, face-stealer?" Lina asked angrily. Before she could have her painkillers, Pavi suddenly told her to come with her.

"Because bella recommended it. The bella must take responsibility and become the Pavi's moral support," Pavi told her, "The bella also did say she does not like to stay inside." Lina sighed in irritation before squeezing his hand in return.

"Don't get used to it," Lina told him.

Pavi smiled and looked over to Mia.

"The Pavi is ready," Pavi told her. Mia sighed and nodded.

"Then the operation will begin after I get everything ready," Mia said before she told Pavi to lay down on the surgical bed.

A/N: Yeah, all that scientific knowledge from Mia was all made-up. Please do not attack me for not doing my research. Since I'm writing this for fun and don't even have the time to do any research because of exams, I had no choice but to make it up while making it sound believable. If Mia's explanation does not sound believable, I sincerely apologize.