Okay so let me get this straight, with good looks, adorableness, that weird winking thing stubbornness also runs in these Arnolds' veins.

It's like they are on the same wavelength, the only difference being the age factor.

"Mama.", I tried to reason with his mother, but by now her stubbornness had become almost irrational." How can I stay at his penthouse? I mean-", I turned my face to him giving a warning look but that, that overly gorgeous man just gave me a shrug. He was enjoying this more than he should be.

"I don't get what's the problem.", she huffed."It's not like I'm leaving you guys alone, unless..."My cheeks heated when she gave me a knowing look." I know Nico can be a real pain in the arse sometimes but my son is no trouble. He would always try his best to be helpful and not just his best, but the best he can do.", she ended with a proud smile.

"Wow, thanks for praising me so generously, Mama.", he said sarcastically, an angry scowl etched on his gorgeous face.

Damn! I'm complimenting him a lot nowadays. I need to stop right now.

"But Mama, I am just a babysitter of his niece. What if someone got to know I'm staying at his penthouse. It'd bring unnecessary attention and problems to all of us." I explained my predicament trying to sit straight. It did hurt to do any type of stretching but I can't just lay all the time, the doctor had given the green signal that I can go home after a week of living in this hell hole.

More like, I asked Nicolas to make the doctor release me, he was adamant about making me stay for a few days more. Only I know how I lived these days and nights with a constant fear of having those flashes every night but bless the medicines, they were quite powerful. I'd slept soundly but last night he stopped giving me that particular medicine and once again I went through all that.

If only, he had got convinced and stayed in the room, he'd have known what sort of pathetic, weak and traumatized woman I was.

This is one of the hundred reasons why I don't want to live at his place. What if by chance he gets to see me in my most vulnerable condition, again.

"You're not just a babysitter, I've told you this before.", He said seriously, he came closer and kept his hand on my back, helping me to sit.

"Exactly, you're my Nico's lo-..", her words got interrupted by a loud cough." I mean, Nico's life's.. yeah you're an important part of Nico's life.", her words came out in breaks as if she just got caught redhanded and one second, how am I an important part of Nico-I mean Nicolas' life. I gave her an inquisitive look but she didn't elaborate.

"Mama.", I held her hand, "I promise I'll be fine by myself. I had been for the past years and I've managed well so far.", I smiled at her concern. She looked at her son, her eyes filled with compassion and worry. I caught a glance at him and it seemed the mother and son were having some talking.

That's some werewolf mind link sh*t!

She turned to me and I stopped catching glances at Nicolas." You tell me, God forbids but let's be practical. If at night you got any pain then what will you do? I know you can manage everything well alone but you don't have to, my dear.", her words made me froze. "You have me, Sienna, Evans, Aiden, Kia..-, she gave a warm smile to me" -and Nico. Ari, I can't force you to come and stay with Nico and Kia but if you did, I know my son, he'd not let you get any pain."

I looked at him who was talking to someone on his phone."I raised him a man and I promise he'd never misbehave with you."

"I know.", I said looking into her eyes. "That was never a concern, Mama. He's the first one I can trust to be alone with.", her eyes twinkled with pride at her upbringing.

"Mama, If she is not comfortable then it's okay, Sienna told me she'd stay with her.", He kept his phone away and walked over to me.

"Why are you troubling her?", I squinted my eyes."And who said I'm not comfortable with you-"I bit my tongue as I realized how my words came."I mean you make me feel safe...I mean I'm fine with staying with you and Kia.", I facepalmed myself mentally, I dared to look at Nicolas who had a charming smile on his face. I swear the man has some kind of magnetism.

"Alright then.", she smiled in victory and then walked to him."If I get any complaint that you troubled my daughter, I'll take care of it myself, you understand?" she stated with a look of warning at her son.

"Yes, Mama.", he said. She patted his head lovingly and left the room saying she had some things to take care of.

"So, Ms Arielle.", Dr Gilbert entered as soon as Mama left."Ready to leave?", he wrote something on his notepad and smiled at me. I smiled back with a nod." As much as I loved your company, I-", his words were interrupted by a cough. The doctor's face went red as he realized it was not the right time to flirt.

He was a young guy and was one of the funniest ones, may I add. Whenever he'd come for his routine round, he'd stay by and talk with me, flirt harmlessly and shoot his pretty smile." Oh! Who are you?", he said paying a glance at Nicolas.

"Sir, Mr Arnold is Ms Summers' fiancé .", the nurse butted in. Nicolas, on the other hand, had a frown on his face. He looked irritated and annoyed out of his wits.

Dr Gilbert looked at me asking me if it was true and I?

Well, I had to play along.

"Oh! That's why I thought why I couldn't charm you all this time. You were already taken.", he tsked sadly but all of a sudden, his frown was replaced by a mischievous look."Maybe in future."

"That-", His voice came deadly cold."-would never happen."

The doctor smirked at him and leaned to my ear making me a little guarded." He's got it bad. I-", before he could continue his statement, Nicolas kept his hand on Dr Gilbert's shoulder pulling him away from me. "I think it's time for you to leave."

Dr Gilbert smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes." I know right, It's so sad to see my favourite patient leave.", he said looking at Nicolas and then he turned to me."Maybe we should hang out later, Ms Summers.", he beamed with enthusiasm.

"Amore.", Nicolas wrapped his arm around me."I think we can leave now." He smiled as he gently took my hand in his.

"Goodbye, Ms Summers.", Mr Gilbert said but I never got the chance to reply to him as Nicolas came in front of me and gently walked me out of the room. I could feel his hand on my back. I loved how he held my hand with a gentle squeeze.

"That was rude.", I whispered to him once I sat in the back seat of his car. He shrugged without an answer.

He ordered the driver to give the keys to him and moved to the driver's seat because he didn't trust him to drive the way he'd. He wanted to make sure I don't get any pain. I felt a little angry because if It was me in the driver's shoes, I'd have got offended but a greater part of me was swelling with warmth.

He cared a lot.

More than he should and damn him, he was making it harder.

Harder to not-bloody hell! Don't think about that possibility, Ari!

"So?", I started. It was the first time, I was the one initiating a conversation. It felt weird as well exciting."Why did you act so cold with Dr Gilbert?"

He adjusted the mirror so that he could see my face. A warm glow spread over my face when he did that. He turned on the car and I couldn't help but scrutinize him with my gaze through the mirror ardent on getting the answer to my question.

"He was shamelessly flirting with you, which I didn't like."

"Why so?"

"Because you're my fianceé.", he said making me roll my eyes as I could feel the heat rise in me. I was taken aback.

"Fake fianceé.", I corrected him, but to my utmost surprise, he started laughing." Always the oblivious, amore.", he stated with a smile.

"I didn't get you.", His words confused the heck out of me but when he didn't elaborate, I started feeling a little angry at him." You're so bloody confusing, my God!", I said with a whisper of exasperation in my tone.

"And-", he looked at me through the mirror"- my amore, you are so f*cking precious."

He halted the engine and that's when did I discover that in all the sulking and asking questions, I didn't realize when we got to his place. He came to my side and opened the door.

He kept his hand above me as I came out of the car. I don't know why but his simple gesture made my heart race. Sometimes I feel he tended to me as if he liked me, not as a person but as someone more.

I shook my head repeatedly as I felt him keeping his hand at my back."Come on, amore. Everyone is waiting for you."

We walked into the elevator but before that, he made a quick call to his Mama that we have reached. "I never got to thank you for what you did for Kia and.. for me.", He said all of a sudden.

I wanted to deny him, but I smirked and let him continue."Will you allow me to do something?"

"What?"

"This.", he said and kissed my cheek softly. I froze in my place."Thank you so much, Arielle. You don't know what you did. Kia is everything to me and the thought alone of something happening to her has me scared."

I couldn't help but smile at the love he had for Kia.

I attempted to raise my arms in order to hug him but my stitches stretched and instantly I found myself hissing in pain. Nicolas' eyes widened at the sight of me grimacing. "How many f*cking times did I tell you not to stretch your limbs. You don't listen to me. Now, look at yourself." he grumbled holding my shoulders as I bent to calm down the sudden pain.

"Is it hurting a lot? Let's go back to the hospital.", I shook my head and instantly wrapped my arms around him to stop his hyping self."I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes.", I smiled and at the same time, the elevator dinged. We had reached his floor.

All of a sudden, I saw everything go black. He had wrapped a silky black cloth on my eyes."Just trust me."

"I always have." I felt him freeze up as the words left my mouth without a care.

As soon as I heard the door open, the blindfold was off and my eyes widened when I looked at the banner in Kia's hands.' You're my hero.'

"Welcome back our warrior." They all shouted and I swear at that moment, I couldn't help but let the tears fall from my eyes.

I looked behind me to see Nicolas having a smile on his face. He wrapped his arm around me as he discreetly kissed my head, "Welcome home, amore."

I ignored the background sound as my mind was on his words.

Home?

It was not a house.

It was my home.

And it was because of Mr Arnold.

No because of Nicolas.

***