Hello readers...if you are interested there is a rather large expansion on the smut level over on A03 if you are interested in such things. ;)

Una does what he suggested she do, but she wears her new dress and shoes, putting on a small layer of makeup she had in her bag before she went out. Alec hadn't been wrong, it was nearby, and crossing the busy street she found the fountain that was far less crowded than when she had been to see Trevi years ago. She texts him that was going to walk over and that she would try and call him when she got there.

Triton, she did find it funny that Triton one of the gods of the sea, son of Poseidon had his own fountain in Rome. It felt ironic to her as she walked around it, noting the fish, and the scale of his tale.

She comes back to the front of the fountain, busy taking a photo to notice. To notice a sandy-haired man in a tee-shirt and cargo shorts a few footsteps away. Watching her behind his sunglasses with an amused smile on his face.

She looks at him for a good moment, before she realizes what he had done.

She was speechless, to say the least, feeling completely bare in her light sundress.

"Is this okay?" He asks unsure if he had done something stupid. He takes off his glasses, letting his twinkling hazel eyes come into view.

"Yes, yes it is okay," she says finally and moves to embrace him. It's more awkward than thought but still felt more like home than anywhere in a long time for her.

"I almost didn't recognize for a moment, I didn't think I have ever seen in you much colour before," Alec tells her.

"It was something I hadn't planned on buying," Una tells him blushing.

"It suits you," Alec tells her. "You look lovely in it, truly."

"Thank you," Una says blushing once more. "I have to ask though….how did you manage this?"

"The summer is fairly slow for me, so I asked for a few days off and found a ticket and don't worry I am not presuming anything. I have my own room," Alec tells her. "Paris was amazing, and I haven't been able to get you out of my head Una Meredith and maybe this is a forward of me to think but Paris was Paris and I want to get to know you better. This is a lot easier to manage than when you are back in your own country, this gives three whole days to decide if this is worth exploring?"

'No, it makes sense," Una says nodding as a gentle flush graced her cheeks.

"So what are your plans?" Alec says looking around them in curiosity.

"I don't really any many plans," Una tells him honestly. "Take a photo for me though will you?" She asks him.

"Of course," he replies, "Do you want some help over the barrier?"

"No?" Una says. "The barrier is to keep ensure the safety of the fountain?"

"You are a rule stickler are you not?" Alec chuckles. "Come on, no one is going to say anything if you cross it for a photo."

"No, I'm not going to be that sort of tourist," Una shakes her head at him before Alec grins and puts a leg over the barrier and then the other. Una finally relents and follows him, and he does take a photo of her in front of the fountain, Triton proudly beyond her shoulder.

They walk the streets, and she relishes the feeling of his hand as they wander around. Stopping down a side street that had simple coffee and pastries before making their way down to the Trevi.

"I do have a confession," Alec says when they reach the crowds of people.

"What is that?" Una looks up at him. Had he been this tall last time?"

"The Trevi is my favourite fountain, but I knew there was a high chance I would never find you," Alec tells her grinning sheepishly.

"I liked Triton though and you did surprise me," Una says standing up on her tippy toes and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Now let's try and get closer?" She says pulling on his arm.

She makes near the front, waiting for opportunities to sneak forward more and more until they reach the fountain. Alec already has his camera out and ready, taking videos and videos. She means to ask for them later, though her sister would definitely be asking who was taking them!

Still, she twirls and spins for him, her dress rippling as she does as her smile graces her face and even her eyes.

They find lunch on the go, eating sandwiches that have the freshest meat and cheese she has tasted in a long time. Making sure that no tomato falls onto her dress as she does, she smiles at him awkwardly. As she swallows a large bite, waiting another moment before speaking.

"Why are you grinning like that?"

"I just don't think, I've seen a girl eat as you have before, which is refreshing and not an insult," Alex tells her.

Una looks down at the sidewalk, trying not to blush but she does anyway.

"I lost a lot of weight last year, I'm still trying to get back to what my doctor says is a healthy weight," she explains. "But I also love food, so it is easy enough? Though I feel like I've lost weight from all the walking I've been doing?"

"Then I will just have to feed you extra gelato," Alex grins taking a bite of his own sandwich.

"If I eat any more sweets after all the black forest and Sachertorte I had between Germany and Vienna I will need new pants," Una tells him.

"Oh don't say things like that," Alec shakes his head. "You're like what a size 10?"

"A size 10! I am a size 6 thank you very much!" Una swats at him.

"Sorry I didn't mean any offence, I think our sizes are different to Canada," Alec rushes into an apology. "You are smaller than my sister who wears a size twelve in our sizing. It's hard to think of you as smaller than you are now, even when you said you were."

Una grabs her phone, sorting through older photos on her camera roll, before turning around. She was leaning against the kitchen counter, with Christmas decorations up around the kitchen, wearing a simple tee shirt and black pants, her face lacked the gentle curves of her cheeks. One might say it lacked the child-like baby fat that came back over time that made her look slightly younger than she was. The gentle curves and slopes that graced her body now were diminished.

"I had just come back from the hospital," Una says quietly. "It was a very strange Christmas. I won't get into it today, though." She tells him.

"Which is perfectly fine, though I do have to ask, am I being dragged to the holiest, places on earth?"

"Was I planning on going to the Vatican?" Una asks him. "I was planning on seeing the Sistine chapel, even if I might be struck down by lightning or heavens knows what else?"

"What they don't know won't hurt them," Alec reminds her.

"But He will always know," Una counters back. "You don't have to come along, I know churches are not for everyone."

"Oh I'll come, I can't have you disappearing on me." Alec shakes his head. "How was Venice?"

"Gorgeous, I even bought myself a small mask," Una tells him as she takes a delicate bit of her lunch. "Otherwise it was a relaxing stay, I saw a few places and just basked in the cultural glory of Venice."

"No churches then?"

"Oh no, I saw churches," Una laughs shaking her head.

"So, how does this generally work?" Una asks him as they are walking down the street to their hotel. They both wanted a quick refresh from the roman heat before getting dinner.

"How does what work?" He responds.

"Tonight? How does this work? Like is this like a 1950's housewife moment where I wait for you to approach me? Do I approach you? If so should I leave the makeup on and wash it off after you fall asleep?" Una rambles on blushing. "Paris, I didn't quite think about, really I'm not still not all experienced when it comes to this sort of thing?"

Alec takes her hand chuckling and kisses the back of it "Well I didn't realize I was planning on entering an episode of Coronation Street circa the 1960s. Or what is a north American show? Bewitched? If I did knock on your hotel room tonight. Though nothing has to even happen. I didn't come out here just to get shagged Una. I mean last time was wonderful don't get me wrong, but there is more to this than getting into your pants for me?"

"I'm not wearing pants though?" looks down at her dress.

"Right, pants are underwear to us in England," Alec explains shaking his head.

"You have strange slang," Una says shaking her head.

"Oh yes, and you Canadian do not?" Alex raises an eyebrow. "

"Oh, I am sure I do to you," Una says shrugging. "If I brought a mickey of vodka to your room would you know what I mean?"

"Definitely not," Alec says shaking his head with a grin.

"Yes, a right kerfuffle for you," Una grins.

"Kerfuffle, that I do know," Alec tells her.

"Alec? Do we need to find a pharmacy?" Una asks him with a peculiar look.

"If I say no you think me forward?" Alec answers after a moment.

"No, just prepared," Una flashes him a grin and grabs his hand.

They are both tipsy from wine at dinner as Una leads him down the hall to his hotel room that was down from hers. Still in a great debate.

"Keats is brilliant and Bright star is beautiful," Una says shaking her head.

"Bright star is written about his love affair with a woman, too which he tragically died before he even married." Alec tells her opening the door to his room for her to go into.

"Yes, and it's romantic!" Una says forcefully. "He loved her, he died loving her! At least, he's better than Coleridge, the bloody man who wrote about his mistress and barely tried to even cover it up Asra—Sara, like come on his wife knew from the start." Una tells him firmly.

"Well Coleridge was wanker for that I agree, but seriously all I am saying is that Keats is a love-sick fool, he made her this goddess without even touching her."

"Sex isn't everything," Una gives him a look.

"No, but sexual chemistry plays a large part in romantic chemistry, and the lack of sexual chemistry can ruin a romantic relationship."

"Trust me, I know that," Una says rolling her eyes at him. "But they were all fucking around either way. Hardy was still writing about his dead wife, while married to his second wife! Sometimes love just happens and you can't let go of it if you lose them too early."

"Well, Hardy was more Victorian than romantic, but either way it's the main reason why the romantic poets are all cads and oxymorons. They aren't even romantic!" Alec says, his arm wrapping around her waist.

"I'm sure half of them had syphilis," Una adds on. "I really don't think they had conquered that sort of testing yet."

"If this is your way of asking if I am clean or not, you're really playing the long game about it?" Alex chuckles. "Which the answer is Yes, because honestly I don't generally shag random strangers I meet on a train, nor have I had a girlfriend in a while and my female friends are friends only?"

"Well, then," Una blushes. "Not that I was actually to ask, but thank you I guess? Umm they did one when I was in the hospital I think, but also Walter he was a son of a doctor and takes that stuff seriously?"

"Hospital?"

"Umm, yeah you have to be dated and they test you for things at your first appointment. Just standard in Canada? Once it's confirmed and they have a date you can make official choices, because those dates can impact the choices you have?" she says quietly. "And other than him there is only you, so yeah…."

"Fair enough," Alec says. "Can I kiss you know?"

"I thought you would never ask," Una grins and pulls at his shirt to pull him down closer to herself. They make it further into his room, kicking off shows and pulling off his shirt.

She turns around briefly allowing him to pull down her zipper before she stepped out of it and stepped over it. White panties and bra stand out against her skin and black hair.

A solemn thing – it was – I said –

A Woman – White – to be –

And wear – if God should count me fit –

Her blameless mystery –

"Dickinson now?" Una tilts her head at him.

"Have issues with that?"

"None at all," Una says shaking her head. "I often felt sorry for her not being able to love who she wanted to love openly."

"Ahh yes, her and her Susan," Alec hums and Una looks up at him. 'Ever kiss a girl?" He asks curiously."

"Once on a dare, when I was sixteen? It was like Cruel intentions but hotter?" She says smirking up at him from her spot.

"Fuck, how did I get lucky," Alec mutters as he undoes his pants and is about to push the down before he stops.

"I'm joking you dolt, not that I think there is anything wrong with such a thing personally, but it is not for me," Una tells him. Sitting coyly on the bed looking up at him with big blue eyes.

"Also you're the one you came all the way here, So that definitely helped."

He leans in to kiss her, catching her lips already open as their tongues meet and twirl around each other. Not even stopping as he maneuvered himself to sit beside her. Hands gripping the smooth skin of her waist.

He breaks the kiss, before whispering in her ear.

"Now therefore, while the youthful hue

Sits on thy skin like morning dew,

And while thy willing soul transpires

At every pore with instant fires,"

"Marvell?" Una says raising an eyebrow, her hand trailing down his chest before reaching the waistband of his boxer briefs. "Does your love vegetable grow as well?" She teases him.

"I don't know, why don't you find out?" Alec edges her on, looking at her.

"If you think I am sucking anything that has been in the Italian heat for over eight hours," Una tells him. "You definitely don't me well enough just yet," she slides off the bed standing up, reaching behind her before unclipping her bra.

"Well it's a good thing I showered before dinner," Alec grins at the sight of her breasts.

"Did you now?" Una raises her eyebrow. "I think I would have to prove that one for myself?"

"And just how do you plan on doing that?"

"Oh, I don't know?"Una says pushing him back on the bed his pants falling to his ankles and she falls between his knees, on hers. "Much like I am going to be relying too much on bad cosmo magazine advice, just so you know."

They barely make it out of the hotel the next morning, they barely make it past the shower without stopping and starting something. They manage a quick breakfast before heading towards the Colosseum first thing, as she was dressed in her khaki pants and plain navy tee shirt and sensible shoes for walking in.

They join the first tour after paying admission, which Alec pays for her, telling her it was the least he could do last night. She blushes bright red but allows him.

It takes over three hours of walking to explore the ancient building in the hot sun, reapplying sunscreen when it was needed. She remembers a fair bit of its history from her time in high school, but this time she had someone who was always kissing her neck, touching her waist and acting like a love-sick fool as he whispered things in her ear and stole kisses.

They were just leaving when her phone rang and pauses looking at the unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" She motions for Alec to stop walking.

"Hey it's just me," Faith says. "I'm on Jem's phone mine is dead at the moment."

"Oh, is everything all right? Dad and Rosemary?"

"Oh, they are fine, no, no, not that sort of call. I just wanted to tell you that, well to warn you." Faith says biting her lip. "Stay off of Facebook for a few days, I know you have certain people blocked but I don't want to ruin your trip. Oh, and stay off Instagram unless it's your private account that only we know about." Faith tells her. "Don't ask why, I'll explain when you get home."

"What's going on Faith?" Una asks her sister brow furrowing. "Just tell me already?"

"Alice Parker is pregnant," Faith says quietly into the phone and Una almost drops hers.

Alice Parker was Walter's new girlfriend.

"Well, I wish them the best," Una says stammering slightly. "I have to go, Faith, this must be costing you a fortune. Alec is waiting.…" she stops because she hadn't meant to tell her sister about it until after the fact.

"Wait….Alec? Train guy? He's in—Why haven't you told me this development?" Faith demands.

"I'll explain later," Una tells her. "I really gotta go, love you bye, and thanks for the warning."

"Be safe!" Faith's voice echoes before her sister can click off her phone

"What happened?" Alec asks her concerned.

"I need something to eat," Una shakes her head not wanting to get into it. Not wanting to think about him of all people. She starts walking without him looking for something anything to keep her from wigging out.

"Una, what happened? Is your family all right?" Alec asks trying to catch up only to find hot angry tears down her face. "Hey—hey, come here." He pulls her into his chest as she breaks down.

They find some ice cream and walk up to a park that is up on a hill before he finds a bench for them to sit down on.

"Faith warned me to not go on Facebook, or really any social media," Una finally says looking down at her gelato. "Apparently because Walter Blythe knocked up his pretty blonde girlfriend, or who knows…maybe they planned it like the idiots they both are. I don't know. I don't even care! Not really good for them I guess? But why did it have to be today?"

"What's today?" Alec asks confused but rubs her shoulder as she looks down at her phone and hits her calendar and passes it to him.

August 12th—Estimated due date.

"Oh Una, is this why you also didn't want to do anything at the Vatican today?"

Una mostly shrugs but nods her head.

"Is that why you are out here travelling? Trying to make sense of the choices you made?" Alec

"I guess so? I don't regret my decision, I knew it was the only choice I could make at the time. I was 19, I wasn't ready to be a mother. Even if my family would have helped me in hindsight. But I couldn't, I couldn't look in that mirror and know that I would be tied to him for the rest of my life. I guess I regret how I did it, how I didn't think my family would support me. How I didn't give him the knowledge of my decision, I regret how he found out, how my father found out. Sometimes I feel like I made it worse about how I lied and kept it a secret?"

"So you're looking for forgiveness? Is that why you visit all the churches?"

"My father is a minister, there is a stigma to being a good girl, or at least there was to me. Faith never felt the same way, but she's older and she and Jem have been going out forever at this point. I wanted to be a good girl, to not embarrass him, not that Faith embarrassed him, but it was different in my mind I needed to be perfect, like mom. She was the perfect preacher's wife, kind and caring and always had time for people in need. " Una recalls her mother with a small smile. Going to her photos she brings up the last photo they had taken as a family together.

"She was beautiful," Alec says. "Much like you are."

Una finds herself smiling sadly before continuing on.

"Then we met the Blythes and there was Walter who was two years older, mature and read poetry like it was in his blood. Jem and Faith hit it off, and at the same point Jerry and Nan dated on and off and there was just Walter and me in the same room all the time. He was my first kiss, he was the first boy who looked at me like I was something to them. But it was always hot and cold, kisses in the basement, holding hands in the hallways but then it was silly of us to consider such things, he was going away to college after all. Then I went to the same college and it began all over again. I wore what he liked to get him to notice me more, and then that cold November day. In his basement room, I gave him everything and thought it would be different. It wasn't." Una says quietly sighing.

"And then you found out?" Alec asks simply knowing where this was going.

"Yes and then I was pregnant somehow, someway because we had been safe and I just knew. I knew I couldn't—I couldn't do it and I cried and cried making my decision. I had cried so much that I had nothing left to cry when I went to that appointment and got the two pills that would take care of it all. Then something went wrong and I was bleeding way too much. I was still too afraid to tell my father, but at some point, he drove me to the hospital. The nurse kept asking what was happening and the last thing I remember was grabbing a pen and writing down that I had taken the abortion pill. I woke up to them being so sweet and kind and understanding."

"That's truly what you mean by in the hospital wasn't it?" Alex questions her.

"Yes and no? The clinic I went to was technically also in the hospital," Una explains before continuing. "I thought I could put it behind me. But I couldn't. I went through a really dark moment, wondering if I was even worth being forgiven. If I was worth anything at all really?"

Alec doesn't say anything just takes her hands and squeezes them. Horrified that this woman had felt this way.

"I wanted to be clean of him, and he was never supposed to find out, but then he did because it's a small town."

"You thought about—," Alec says with a catch in his voice.

"I thought about killing myself because—," Una says quietly. "I guess in a way you're right, maybe I am looking for forgiveness and maybe I still don't know how to forgive myself and that is what is holding me back? Maybe this whole thing is what brought me halfway across the world? That I'm trying to decide or find if I'm worth forgiving?"

Poems used as foreplay lol.

Woman in White by Emily Dickinson

His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvel.

Hope everyone enjoyed this part and the smut! I may have had a bit too much fun with it!

Tina