Chapter 6 — Aaro

Aaro:

Six months later…

I watched as Ramon, my younger brother knelt and extracted the ring I helped him pick out just a month ago, in front of the love of his life Sydney West.

Apparently, they met at I and Astrid's wedding and reconnected just six months ago. According to Ramon, they had a whirlwind romance and he realized he would love to spend the rest of his life with her.

I chuckled lightly, watching Sydney jump up and down in glee before dropping to her knees and hugging the life out of my brother. It was safe to say another wedding was on the way.

I blew out a sigh and settled lower in my seat. It had been six months, and so far, I hadn't heard anything from Astrid. I knew she was still working at the Zoo, but I respected her wishes and stayed away. I really just wanted to see her, to know if she was alright, to hold her in my arms.

But we were more further apart than ever. Physically and emotionally. After our moment at Jacob's wedding, I decided to go back to Italy, to at least try to give her some space and try to get my life back on track. It hadn't been easy, half of the time, all I wanted was to jump on my plane and fly back to dreary England to see her.

But Ramon set my head straight, convincing me that rushing Astrid would have a negative effect and she may never come back to me.

That was enough to set me straight.

So I threw myself into my work, expanding my business to the fullest extent while trying not to think about my disastrous love life.

Right now, we were at the beach house in Sicily, Ramon had persuaded me to come along saying he needed brotherly support for his big proposal.

I tagged along partly because of that and partly because I haven't been to this house since my divorce, and this space held a lot of good memories which I loved to reminisce.

This was our second honeymoon spot after the house in Ascot. Astrid used to love running on the white sand beach, she loved when I chased her, her melodic laugh in the wind.

God, I missed her so much, it hurts.

"Congratulations brother" I cheered, trying to sound happy. Ramon beamed, holding onto his soon to be bride's hand who also smiled at me kindly.

She had grown fond of me after Astrid told her everything that happened. I didn't want her pity but it helped knowing that someone was on my side.

"Thanks Aaro" they both responded.

~*~

Later that night, we had a celebratory dinner on the beach, the new couple gushed over their wedding plans while I sat morosely, lost in my own thoughts.

After they had gone to bed, I sat on the beach, watching the waves crash and retreat, thinking about everything. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't notice when someone sat beside right beside me on the sand.

"You know they say that the moon and the sea were lovers before," a familiar voice said and I turned.

Astrid sat beside me, her beautiful face illuminated by the moon. Her wondrous red hair, spilled around her bare shoulder, it had grown a lot longer.

I couldn't believe she was here. Was this a dream? Am I having one of those weirdly realistic dreams again?

"But they were separated," she continued, her eyes upwards, "by circumstances out of their control."

"Is this a dream?" I breathed.

She turned to me, grinning slightly. "No, it's not. I wouldn't do this if it were a dream." Then she leaned forward and met my lips in a chaste yet emotion-filled kiss.

I responded immediately, craving more, her touch awaking my never ending desire for her. We pulled apart and her dainty hand reached up and cupped my face.

"I'm here for you, Aaro."

A year after…

I watched my heavily pregnant wife try and fail to unload the dishwasher. She was so adamant on doing things herself that she refused my help even before I offered it. She was so stubborn.

"Baby, let me do it. You aren't supposed to be doing such when I'm here"

She scowled at me, her emerald green eyes slits aimed at me. "I'm pregnant, Aaro, not an invalid."

I held my hands up in surrender. "Okay baby. But don't beg me for backrubs when your back starts aching again."

That got her wide eyed. "Hey! Those backrubs are customary. It's the least you can do when I'm carrying your child."

I chuckled. "I was only joking, love. I would never take away my special backrubs from my one and only"

She beamed, her cheeks rosy "You do know how to charm a girl, even when she's as fat as a bus"

I gathered my love in my arms, kissing her forehead "You are not as fat as a bus, my love. You are perfect and our little boy will be perfect too, just like his mother"

She blessed me with one of her bright smiles and I rubbed her bulging belly, filled with our child, conceived romantically on a beach in Sicily under the moon and stars.

"You know you won't be saying that when you're changing dirty diapers" she teased and I chuckled.

"But I'll do it with a big smile on my face because I'm the luckiest man alive"

"Very, very lucky," she agreed.

It was true, I was indeed very lucky to have such a wonderful, forgiving wife and that we shared such a wholesome love it conquered all.

I was indeed so lucky.

~*~

Aaro and Astrid got their happily ever after, but are you curious about Ramon and Sydney's whirlwind romance? Keep reading for all the juicy details!