I woke up to the feeling of lips kissing my cheek. Then my forehead. Then my other cheek.

A smile slowly formed on my face and Nicos' deep morning voice spoke, "Fuckin' finally. Feels like I haven't talked to you in forever."

I slowly opened my tired eyes and felt Nico sneak a kiss on my neck as I turned my head to look at the clock.

"It's been 8 hours, Nico," I laughed, quoting how long I had just slept for. "But I am pretty entertaining, so I can only imagine how hard it's been for you."

"So hard," he matched my level of sarcasm. "Like me."

"How'd you get through it, you brave soul?" I spoke dramatically, sitting up and holding my hand over my heart.

He shook his head, "It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I turned to crime...got sentenced to 10 years."

"For?"

He climbed over top of me and hugged me, making me fall onto my back as he replied, "Locking you in this room so I never have to be without your annoying ass."

He pressed his lips against mine, muffling my laugh. When he removed his lips and stared down at me, some of his soft and messy black hair grazed my forehead.

"What do you want for breakfast?" I asked him.

"You."

My eyes widened, and his lips formed a smirk. His lips grabbed hold of his bottom lip for a moment, before releasing it.

He leaned down, kissing my neck gently. I turned my head to give him easier access, soft sounds coming from my throat as his lips slowly moved towards my collarbone.

"Nico..." I said softly, turning my head back so that he couldn't kiss my neck any further. "We're supposed to drop that stuff off for Sin."

Last night, Sin texted Nico, asking if he could drop some stuff off at the tattoo parlor. Nico agreed, and it was approaching the time that Sin asked for him to bring the papers.

"Okay," Nico nodded. "Then tell me to stop."

His strong hands ran along my sides as he lifted my shirt up, exposing my bare chest since I slept without a bra on.

His face lowered again, kissing in between my breasts. I exhaled deeply, shutting my eyes as he moved to start kissing my boobs.

He stopped kissing for a moment, and repeated, "Tell me to stop."

I looked into his green eyes, which felt like home. My heart pounded in my chest, and I remained silent.

"Exactly," he spoke after my silence.

He started to kiss my chest again, the heat inside of my body growing warmer. His hand pressed against my stomach, and slowly moved down into my pants. His hand slipped under my underwear, and his thumb pressed against my clit as his lips kissed my nipples.

"Nico," I said while closing my eyes.

His breath hit my neck as he spoke in between kisses, "I never liked when people called me by my name. But when you do it, Elle? Fuck."

"It makes me so goddamn happy," he finished his sentence before pressing his lips against mine.

As his lips moved with mine, I pulled my pants down, my bare skin moving against the sheets.

He removed his lips for a split second to pull off his shirt. His lips met mine again as he removed his pants, the warmth between my legs growing once I felt him against me.

His right arm snaked around my back, lifting me up slightly. I bit his bottom lip as he entered, but he just smirked, like he didn't mind this.

He went slow. Gently. My hair was sprawled out on the pillow beneath my head, and his hands traveling around my body kept my skin warm.

"Tell me where you want to go," he said between breaths.

He held me possessively as he continued to thrust in and out. My nails dug into his shoulders every time he would enter, but his words caught me by surprise. I asked, "What?"

His lips kissed my jawline before repeating, "Tell me where you want to go. Anywhere in the world."

My back arched as he hit a spot, making me curse under my breath in a good way. I spoke without giving it a second thought, "I want to go to Dubai."

His speed started to increase, always hitting exactly where I wanted him to. Somewhere that I didn't even know existed before meeting him.

His eyes shut and his throat vibrated out of pleasure for a moment. He opened them again while smiling, "Then I'll take you to Dubai."

His lips kissed every inch of my neck and chest as he continued to hit my g-spot. My breasts would tighten every time he did, my nails traveling along the thick skin on his back.

"When?" I asked him, my voice sounding breathless.

"When there's a ring around your finger."

I don't know if it were his words, or how he touched me that made me gasp. His arms wrapped around my back, his body laying on top of mine as the build-up inside of me grew.

He always focused on my needs. Positioning himself in ways that would please me. Muttering compliments against my skin as if I were a goddess.

'Nobody is more beautiful than you.'

'You're my entire heart.'

'I'm so fucking in love with you.'

His name came from my lips as his fingers played with my clit for a moment, my body feeling overloaded with pleasure.

"You want to marry me?" I said against his soft hair, his words sticking with me.

He looked up, his eyes on mine making my heart jump for a moment. He replied, "Not want. Need."

Right after he said that, the build-up inside of me was released. My legs shook, my back arching, as he tilted his head back.

He rolled onto the bed beside me, but my eyebrows lowered seeing him smile wider than I ever had before. His white teeth were rarely shown, but it was such a beautiful sight when they were.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"I just love you so much."

He pushed himself up, kissing my forehead, before grabbing my clothes for me. He asked, "Are you okay, my love?"

I nodded, "More than okay. But we should go now, before Sin kills us."

I washed my face before changing, using cold water to try and soothe my warm cheeks. I changed into jeans and a t-shirt once I was done, knowing that I would probably force Nico to come somewhere with me after.

I went downstairs, and Nico was grabbing the papers for Sin.

The drive to the parlor was quick, and of course I controlled the radio.

It was a beautiful day. One that I didn't want to waste by being inside all day. So after Nico dropped it off, I asked if we could get ice cream.

We spent an hour sitting in the ice cream shop. Once we were done, I said that we should go to the park for a walk first. He grunted, but held my hand and walked with me the entire time.

The sun shined, and the birds chirped. After an hour of walking and talking, we headed back for his car. But there was a store I wanted to go into first.

I didn't actually want anything. I just tried on hats and sunglasses, making Nico try them all on too. My favorite was the pink hat with a penguin on it, and the green 2000s shutter shades. I told him to buy it because he looked handsome, but he said no because he wasn't Adam Lavine. I don't think he knows who Adam Lavine is.

Another hour went by. My stomach rumbled once we were finally one step away from his car, after 3 hours.

"How convenient is it that there's a restaurant right there," I pointed beside us. "When I'm so hungry, standing right here?"

He rolled his eyes, "You're lucky I'd die before letting your ass go hungry."

I gave him a cheeky grin before heading toward the restaurant.

Time truly does pass faster when you're having fun.

By the time we were done, it was dark. To be fair, I ordered like 10 different things for dessert. Nico told me not to because I'd get a stomachache, but I did it anyway. He was right, and my stomach hurts, but I don't tell him that because I know that he'll go, "I told you so."

The headlights lit up the dark road as we drove home. He glanced at me a few times, and after the sixth time, I turned my head to look at him, "What?"

"Sure your stomach doesn't hurt?" he asked.

"Positive," I nodded.

"Really?"

"Really."

He made a 'hm' noise and nodded. He shrugged, "Did you know that you bite the inside of your cheek when you lie?"

Shit.

Luckily, at that moment, we pulled into my driveway. I asked Nico if we could stop on the way, so that I could tell Rio about his tattoo tomorrow.

Nico asked me, "Do you want me to come in with you?"

"You can stay in the car. This will be quick," I smiled at him.

He nodded and I got out, skipping to the front door. Just imaging how happy Rio will be when I tell him excites me so much.

I walked in, not surprised that the house was dark since my parents and Romeo were still working. Rio barely ever leaves his room, so he doesn't really turn any lights on besides his own.

A huge smile was on my face the entire time that I walked upstairs.

I opened the door, nearly whipping it. I started, "Guess-"

I stopped talking seeing that he wasn't in there. I pursed my lips and looked back out into the hallway, seeing the light on in the bathroom through the small crack at the bottom.

Time to scare him.

I tip-toed over to the door, pressing my back against the wall as I stood against it. I bit my bottom lip while I waited, knowing that he would forgive me for scaring him since I'd then be telling him something that would make him happy.

I waited. And waited. And waited.

I would've banged my head against the wall out of boredom if I didn't want him to know that I was here. No noises came from the bathroom, so I started to wonder if he was even home.

"Rio?" I called out, trying to see if he was in the bathroom.

I let out a disappointed sigh, getting no response back. I guess he just left the light on.

I opened the bathroom, seeing it empty. I flicked the light switch off and turned around quickly, but stopped in my tracks as soon as I did so.

I smiled while I stood in the doorway. I saw his leg in the tub. He's hiding, trying to scare me.

I continued walking out of the room, pretending like I didn't see him. I stood in the hallway for a few moments, trying to make it seem like I left.

But then, I quickly ran back in. I turned the light switch on and ripped the shower curtain back, speaking through a smile, "Boo!"

My body went numb for a moment, and it felt as if I were lucid dreaming.

The corners of my mouth slowly fell as I went into a state of shock.

"Rio?" I whispered, seeing him lying in the empty tub, fully clothed, with his eyes closed.

My eyes slowly trailed down his body. The second that my eyes locked on a needle hanging out of his arm, my legs gave out from beneath me.

I removed the needle, hearing it roll against the tub. I crawled over to his side, nearly hyperventilating as I grabbed his face with both of my hands and turned it towards me. My voice cracked, "Rio?"

His face was unresponsive. My hands trembled as I held his face, and through my tears, I forced myself to check his neck for his heartbeat.

I pressed two of my fingertips to the side of his neck while whispering to myself, "Please don't be the end."

He'll still be alive.

He'll go to college.

He'll make jokes at the dinner table again.

He didn't overdose, and he will get sober again.

He won't leave me.

I steadied my shaking fingers, unable to feel anything with how much I was shaking.

My trembling lip stilled as I waited to feel his heartbeat. To feel that he was still alive.

"Please," I whispered with damp cheeks.

But after two full minutes without feeling a beat, the denial in my brain washed away like a tsunami. I made the most horrid noise I've ever made, my heart feeling like it was ripped into two pieces as I sobbed uncontrollably.

I grabbed his cold hand with my left one and frantically took my phone out of my pocket with my right. I dropped it against the ground by accident, making me scream curse words. I picked it back up, dialing 911.

"911 what's your e-"

"My brother's dead, please send help," I cried, my grip on his hand intensifying. "Please bring him flowers. Please bring him somewhere he will be happy. Please bring him back to life."

The operator went on to ask for my address. How he died. What room he was in.

But after saying my address, I couldn't speak anymore. My throat closed as if I were having an allergic reaction.

I leaned my upper half into the tub, hugging my baby brother's body as I cried into his shirt.

I heard the operators' voice coming from my phone, which was now on the floor.

I'll never get through this.

"Elle?" Nicos' voice called from the bottom of the stairs. "Everything okay? It's been a while."

Nothing is okay.

I could barely see, my vision so blurred from tears. I could still smell his cologne on his shirt, so when I closed my eyes, for a split second, I could convince myself that he was still alive.

But when I opened them and saw him lying lifelessly, I knew that he wasn't.

"Elle, what's wrong?" Nicos' voice spoke as his footsteps approached the door.

I sniffled, my cheeks wet and red. I pushed myself up to my feet, which barely supported me. As I turned around, I saw Nico, pale and staring at Rios' body.

His eyes were wide. It looked as if he was in shock, but he forced himself out of it and rushed over to me.

He collected me in his arms, hugging me tightly as I sobbed into his chest. Every cry was painful. My chest hurt, my eyes hurt, my throat hurt, my heart hurt.

Nico didn't ask any questions, even though the needle was out of view now. He just held me, making soft comforting noises as his hand ran up and down my back.

I felt something wet hit my shoulder. I looked up, seeing tears rolling down Nicos' cheeks. He shook his head, "I can see that you're about to ask me if I'm okay - and don't. This is about you."

The operators' voice came from the phone again, and Nico turned to look at it. He bent down and picked it up, raising it to his ear.

He talked to her as I sat back down beside my brother. I put my hands on his face, turning it towards me.

"I never really thought much about Heaven," I spoke to Rio. "But now, it's consuming my thoughts."

I tuned out the sound of Nico speaking to the operator.

"I don't know what Heaven is. I know most people think it's where you go after death...but I don't think so," I shook my head. "I think that Heaven is a state. A state within yourself. I don't think you just wait to die to achieve the blissful feeling of Heaven, I think that you can feel it on Earth. And you made me feel like I was in Heaven, Rio. You made me so happy. You made me laugh, you were my best fucking friend. You brought me to Heaven on Earth, and now I hope that you are there yourself."

My cheeks were completely wet as I finished my sentence. I heard the front door open downstairs, along with a voice telling them where to go.

I knew that this was the last time I would see Rio.

The footsteps raced up the stairs, and I kissed Rio's cheek.

And then, I spoke to him for the last time in my entire life, before the EMTs entered the bathroom,

"You were supposed to get your tattoo tomorrow."