The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Okay. I love you, Matty. Take care of yourself, okay?" Abril gave him a kiss on his cheek before leaving his room.

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo nodded but just as she reached the door he stoped her with his weak words. "Abril... I feel like him. I dont want to but i do. I keep trying to think of ways to force Jakob to or trick him into marry me and i know thats something only he would have been ok with." A shudder ran through him and he looked away ashamed. "Dont tell Pavel. He has enough on his plate and i dont want him to be dissapointed in me."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"You're not like him, Matteo." Abril reached over to him and brushed his cheek with the back of her hand. "You love Jakob and you want to be with him. That's not a bad thing. Even though you want to force him into marrying you, it's only because you love him so desperately that you need to be with him. You're not a bad person, Matty. You're nothing like your father." She rested her hand against his heart, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You have a big heart, Matty. You wouldn't be capable of the things your father was."

[AnnaCat17]

"But ive hurt people. I gst so angry i can't control myself and cause a lot of trouble." He reached up and held her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist. "I cant help but feel maybe its better if im alone, but i really dont want to be."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"You don't mean to hurt them. You don't want to be bad. That's a lot different from how your father was. You've just got a temper. He was cruel and vile, and he didn't care. He wasn't capable of loving anyone the way you are." Abril held his hand, gazing softly into his eyes. "You deserve to be with someone, Matty. You don't deserve to be alone."

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo nodded slowly. "Thank you, Abril. Im really glad youre my sister. Pavel sure knows how to pick them." He smiled at her and gave her a teasing wink before kissing her cheek.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"You didn't always appreciate me," Abril reminded him, poking his stomach. "I'm glad you're my brother. You're the best, Matty. Never change."

[AnnaCat17]

Matteo chuckled. "That's because people have to earn my love amd it took you a while to figure that out." He gave her a tight hug a d said goodbye to her before heading home.

-next day-

Romeo talked happily with Pavel as he got ready for the wedding. He couldnt stop smiling every time he looked at his own reflection and it widened every time pavel laughed at him.

Dacey carried a small gift up to where Elliott was getting ready. She hesitated before knocking on the door.

Matteo lingered in the doorway to the hospital wing. He was already in his suit and ready for the wedding but he still felt the need to go somewhere else to avoid having to face Jakob who was watching sadly from the door way.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"Come in!" Elliott couldn't stop beaming as she got ready, maids and her friends helping her get dressed and look nice. She was getting married to Romeo! She felt so happy and excited.

"See? The suit looks good with the tie." Atlas finished knotting Jakob's tie and took a step back to examine him. Jakob just watched him glumly. Atlas sighed. "Come on." He helped him into the wheelchair provided for him, fixed his own uniform, and then pushed Jakob out of the hospital. Attached to his wheelchair was portable machine versions of the one Jakob had been attached to, like the IV and oxygen tank.

[AnnaCat17]

Dacey slipped into the room and looked embarrassed at the people in the room, painfully aware of Victory's gaze on her. "Im sorry. I can come back later." She stuttered as her face turned red.

Matteo quickly moved aside as Atlas wheeled Jakob out of the room. "Sorry." He muttered, avoiding their eyes. "You both look really nice."