AN: Here's the new chapter.

To those who reviewed:

Evelynyamine: It was raining when I was writing it, actually. I'm glad you liked it.

Enjoy.

After a while, Antonio got up and snuck up behind Lovino, pulling him into a tight hug.

Lovino squealed slightly in surprise, but didn't jump.

Aiyana stopped to look over at the small Italian. She gave a soft smile and went back to what she was doing.

Antonio grinned slightly. "Hi, Lovi!"he said softly.

Lovino rolled his eyes. "Toni, let me go."he said in response, glancing over his shoulder. "Please?"

Antonio released him and Lovino finished with one of the baskets. As soon as he did, he turned around and looked at Antonio. "Do me a favor? Take this and place it with the others on that patio table. Without spilling anything or dropping it."

Antonio kissed Lovino's cheek and did so.

Aiyana grinned. "I see someone knows how to control him."

Lovino looked back at her as he grabbed another basket from the ground. "More like I know how to distract him."he said softly. "Most of the time, anyway."

"I take it you two are close?"Aiyana asked, not bothering to look to Lovino as she asked.

Lovino paused before he sighed. "I suppose."he responded. He looked over to where the Spaniard was before he spoke again. "I love him and everything..but..."

Aiyana stopped her work when she heard the 'but'. That never ended well when it came to Lovino. "But what, nechaun?"

Lovino shook his head. "But I feel like he's wasting his time with me. He keeps telling me that I'm amazing how I am..but...but I know that I'm just some broken child who grew up to fast."

Aiyana set her basket back on the ground, moving to place a hand in the middle of Lovino's back, over the wings. "You are so much more than that. You know it."

Lovino shrugged and went back to his work.

Aiyana sighed and headed to talk to the others. Lovino ignored this.

As soon as Aiyana reached the group, she kneeled in front of them. "What's happened to him? He's different."
Matthew sighed. "Mom..it's a long story...and it's not really our story to tell."

Aiyana looked to Matthew. "I don't want to hear it. He just told me that he thinks Antonio's wasting his time by staying with him."she said. "What's happened? He used to be so full of life. He's a ghost of who he was."

Feliciano spoke up. "Lovi..that group he was in..Toris and Raivis were in it to..and there was a lot of crap that happened. Turns out it was a lot worse than just the physical injuries Lovi always came home with."

"Mind, those were pretty bad."Matthew said softly.

Aiyana nodded for them to continue.

Feliciano looked to Toris and Raivis.

Raivis spoke up. "Lovino had it the worse of all of us. He was always the fighter of the three of us. While Tor and me only ever got a few minor injuries, Lovi...he...he was nearly raped, at least once every month or so."

Aiyana froze, looking back at the Italian still working in the garden.

"And...well, he's still recovering from leaving back before Christmas."Raivis said softly.

Aiyana let her eyes close. "No wonder he says he's broken.."she murmured, opening her eyes again and looking to Antonio. "You love him, don't you?"she asked.

Antonio nodded. "More than anything."he said quietly. "...he's mi angel."

Aiyana half smiled. Different language or not, she understood that. "That he is. Treat him well or it'll be you I'm after."she warned, getting up and returning to her work.

Matthew sighed. "Someone's going to end up dying.."

Dinner that evening was anything but quiet.

Lovino didn't actively participate in the conversations around him. After a while of trying to get Lovino involved, Antonio sighed. "Lovi...I need to talk to you. In private."

Lovino's eyes flew up to meet Antonio's. He knew what those words meant. He nodded and got up, heading to sit out back.

Matthew watched his best friend leave before he looked to Antonio. "You really need to think before you start speaking."he said. "Because those words can code so much.."

Antonio looked over at him. "Sorry."he said softly, getting up and disappearing after Lovino.

Aiyana sighed. "Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to go over well for those two?"

Matthew stared after the two for a moment before he spoke. "Because it won't."

Antonio closed the door carefully after he left the house, moving to sit beside Lovino on the grass in the yard. He looked at the Italian, who was sitting curled in on himself. "Lovi."he said softly.

Lovino didn't look up at the Spaniard. "Don't. Just don't."he said, clenching his eyes closed against tears that threatened to fall. "If you're going to say goodbye, I don't want to hear it."

Antonio felt his heart break. "I'm not."he said. "That's just it. You seem to have the idea that if you show any sort of true feeling to me that I'm just going to up and leave. That might be all you know, but I'm not going to. I would never."

Lovino opened his eyes and looked up at Antonio, searching his face for any sign of a lie. When he found none, a few tears fell. "Really?"he asked.

"Swear."Antonio said softly, crossing his heart quickly.

Lovino let Antonio draw him into a hug as he cried.

After a while, Lovino spoke. "I don't understand.."he said quietly. "You're hurting yourself by staying...why are you still with me? You deserve better."

Antonio sighed, shaking his head. "I couldn't get any better. You're perfect to me, Lovino. And..I'm not hurting myself by staying with you. By leaving, I would kill any chance I had of being happy again. You're the reason I'm still alive today."

Lovino raised his head to look at Antonio. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to.

Antonio kissed Lovino's forehead gently. "It's been a long day. You need to relax and get some rest, okay?"
"I'm not a baby.."Lovino grumbled. "I can take care of myself."

Antonio grinned. "I know."

Here. I hope you guys like it.

I need some time on my own now.