Things had been peaceful in the castle. No nightmares, no ghosts, just peace. A few weeks passed by like this. Nikolas and Vladimir stayed, however for Vladimir had a feeling this was not over. Not yet. But Lovino was happy to just have some quiet in the house. He was doing well and his stomach had started to show must have been about three months along or so. Antonio found it hard not to be constantly stroking Lovino's rounded stomach. It was just so cute.
"What about Amanda." Dimas suggested. They had still yet to pick out a baby name. "Or Elizia."
"Rogerio for a boy," Antonio said
"No..." Lovino said. "None of them are quite right." He gave a sigh and leaned back into Antonio.
"Remus." Romulus suggested from the doorway. "After my dear brother."
"Hi grandad." Lovino said "How's your house coming?"
"Very well! I'm nearly done. Your brother has been such a good helper. Right Marcello?" He asked behind him. Marcello sighed deeply coming into the room and sitting next to Dimas, who tried not to look at him. "But yes, Remus would be a great name."
"Or Flavio." Marcello said.
"No." Lovino sighed.
"He's being extra picky." Dimas explained.
"Of course I am!" Lovino said "This is my baby and they will have the best name ever. Right Toni?" Antonio nodded and reached around him rubbing his stomach lovingly.
"Maybe we can worry about it after they're born?" Antonio asked. "I mean, we don't know the gender or if you're having more than one or what."
"Maybe..." Lovino said softly.
"It wouldn't hurt to have a list ready though." Dimas said
"How about you all keep a list and when the baby is born we'll talk about it." Lovino said. "If this helps, I want a royal sounding name for my little princess or prince. Hopefully something that ends in an A or an O. And sounds super pretty." Lovino finished.
"Yeah, ok." Dimas said and looked at the clock. "Ugh... It's that time?" He gave a sigh. "Toni boy we gotta get back to work." Dimas stood and stretched.
"But..." Antonio whined rubbing Lovino's tummy.
"Come on you can rub it all night long. Up up up!" Dimas said and forced Antonio off the couch. "We'll see you all later. We have a peace treaty to sign." And Dimas dragged Antonio out of the room.
"I should get some grub. I've got more lumber to move around, so I'm gonna head out." Romulus said "I'll start looking through the family tree for good names." He said and patted Lovino on the head before he left.
"I guess I should get some stuff done too." Marcello said.
"Sit down. I wanna have a chat." Lovino said Marcello sat back down and sighed. "So, Dimas mentioned something to me about you having a little crush on him?"
"I..." Marcello said with a blush.
"Listen. I know you're getting older- you're almost 17. But don't chase after Dimas. He's 26, ten years older than you. I trust him, with my life but... He's just too old for you." Lovino said
"But... Age doesn't really matter right?"
"Sorta. The older you get the less you worry about age. There's not a big difference between and 66 year old and a 76 year old but a 16 year old and a 26 year old are worlds apart. Dimas is looking to get married soon, to settle down with someone." Lovino said.
"Why, why couldn't that be me?" Marcello asked. "I know he's attracted to me, he just won't do anything because I'm so young. It's not fair."
"You're still young. You should be having your own experiences, and adventures. Not chasing after an old Prince."Lovino gave a sigh. "You're old enough where I can't tell you what to do. I'm telling you this as a warning, not an encouragement. But eventually Dimas will give in. I know him well enough that he will sleep with you eventually. But," He sighed "Being with someone older than you might not be what you expected." Lovino finished. "He will hope that you do things you aren't ready to do, like have kids and get married."
"I don't..." Marcello sighed.
"Dimas is done with flings, He's done with all the clowning around. He just wants to love someone now." Lovino said. "Do what you want, but remember what I said." Lovino ruffled Marcello's hair before walking off.
Marcello sat there for a moment, thinking hard to himself. Was he ready to be with Dimas like that? He wasn't sure... But then again, he did at least want to try... He needed to at least kiss Dimas before he was ready to give up his crush on him. A kiss, just a simple kiss...
Marcello stood up determined. Tonight, he was going to kiss Dimas.
000
The treaty signing had taken forever. Dimas just wanted to go to bed... He groaned as he moved down the hall. He had such a headache... Perhaps he should take a bath first? No no.. Just, bed. He turned the corner and out of the corner of his eye, saw Marcello dash around the next corner. Dimas stopped and tilted his head.
"Marcello?" He asked. It was pretty late, what would he be doing up? Dimas walked down the hall and turned the corner. Marcello was at the end of the hall before he dashed out of sight. A small giggle was heard
"Hah..."
"Marcello!" He called softly and ran to keep up with him. He ended up in the main foyer.
"Marcello?" He asked standing at the top of the balcony. To either side of him was a set of stairs down and below him was the throne. "Marcello it's late what are you doing?" He asked looking for the young boy.
"Hah." Dimas heard the laugh and peaked down to the next floor of the foyer. Marcello stood at the bottom of one of the steps. He raised his hand and beckoned him closer. Dimas got a good look at him. He wore a long white cloak with some white clothes under it. It must have been a light fabric because it had a lot of movement.
"Marcello get up here, we need to sleep." Dimas said making his way to the top of the staircase.
"Hah.." Marcello giggled and blew Dimas a kiss and beckoned him closer.
"Marcello-" He sighed and took a step down the stairs.
"Dimas what are you doing?" Dimas quickly looked behind him. Marcello stood in the doorway, wearing a nice purple outfit.
"What?" Dimas asked and looked to the Marcello he had followed down here. But he was gone. "How..?"
"DIMAS!" Marcello yelled. But it was too late.
Large hands shoved Dimas so hard he tumbled down the steps. He took one last look at the top of the stairs. All in white billowing around was Ivan. But he vanished. Dimas fell and hit several steps, pain exploding all over his body. The last thing he was before his head smacked the ground was Marcello running to him.
But everything went dark.
