Ollie POV:

Noah, Lily, and I were making our way to our car after saying goodbye to Stacy, Matteo, and Elliot. It had been a good day. Our little group was really starting to gel, and despite the complexities of our lives, we were finding moments of genuine connection and fun.

As we walked, Noah and Lily were chatting animatedly about the upcoming weekend. We had always been close, but being separated for a while had made us appreciate our time together even more. Seeing Noah and Lily smile and laugh was a constant reminder of the strength of our bond.

"That was a solid workout," Noah said, stretching his arms above his head. "I feel like we're finally getting into a groove."

"Yeah," Lily agreed, glancing at me. "And it's nice having Matteo and Elliot around. They bring a different energy."

I nodded, unlocking the car. "Definitely."

As we got into the car, I couldn't help but think about Stacy. We had known her for years, ever since we saved her from the Greek Mafia. She was tough, no doubt about that, but there was also a vulnerability she tried hard to hide. We knew the depth of her trauma and the strength it took for her to keep going every day. She had come a long way, but the shadows of her past were always there.

"Ready to head home?" I asked, starting the engine.

"Yeah," Lily replied, fastening her seatbelt. "Stacy's something else, isn't she?"

"She is," I admitted, pulling out of the parking lot.

As we drove, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—school, music, plans for the weekend. But my mind kept drifting back to Stacy. We knew her deepest secrets, her role as Devil's Blade, and her struggles with showing emotions. Despite the walls she put up, we had seen the real Stacy, and we were committed to being there for her.

We arrived home, and as we got out of the car, Noah suddenly stopped and turned to me. "Ollie, do you think Stacy's okay? I mean, really okay?"
I paused, considering his question. "I think she's doing better. But it's going to take time."

Lily nodded. "True. I just hope she knows how much she means to us. We'll always have her back."

"I think she does," I said, closing the car door. "Although since I've been back, I've noticed that the bags under her eyes have gotten worse. Even with makeup, it's easy to see them if you look closely enough."

"Fuck, Lily, why didn't we notice that?" Noah said, his voice rising in panic. "She's been so good at school, I didn't even think about how her nights have been. Holy shit, Ollie, we've been here with Stacy for like five weeks, you two, and you notice this but not us? I'm a shit friend. Oh my god, I'm so bad," Noah said, starting to break down.

"Noah, it's fine. She was wearing makeup," Lily said, trying to soothe him.

"BUT OLLIE NOTICED AND I DIDN'T. HOW DID I NOT NOTICE?"

"Noah, calm down. It's fine. How about we invite her over for a sleepover sometime?" I suggested, trying to steer the conversation towards a solution.

Noah took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm himself. "Yeah, that's a good idea. She needs to know we're here for her."

Lily nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. We'll make it a relaxing night. She can sleep next to you, Noah. She always says she sleeps best with you."

"Yes, yes, we are doing that," Noah said, sounding relieved.

"Okay, let's plan it for this weekend," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "We'll talk to her tomorrow and set it up."

As we walked inside, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. Stacy was our best friend, practically family, and we would do whatever it took to support her. The darkness of her past might still cast a shadow, but together, we could bring a little more light into her life.

Elliot POV:

After saying bye to the triplets, Stacy, and Matteo, I hopped on my bike and headed home. The ride gave me time to think about how much things had changed over the past month. Joining Stacy and the triplets had been an unexpected but welcome shift. Matteo and I had become part of their little group, and despite the initial awkwardness, we had all found a rhythm together. I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced before.

As I rode through the city, I replayed the day's events in my mind. I thought about Stacy and how she was doing. There was a lot more to her than met the eye, and I could tell she was carrying a heavy burden. I didn't know the details, but I had my guesses. It bothered me that I couldn't do more to help, but I knew that just being there for her made a difference.

By the time I arrived home, it was almost dark. As usual, Bella, Niklaus's 2-year-old sister, came running up to me as soon as I opened the door. She was so damn cute.

"Arabella! What did we say about running!" Katerina, Niklaus's mother and kind of my mother, yelled from the kitchen.

Bella giggled and reached up for a hug. I couldn't help but smile as I picked her up, her little arms wrapping around my neck. "Hey, Bella. How's my favorite girl?"

She babbled excitedly, telling me about her day in a mix of words and giggles. I carried her into the living room, where Katerina gave me a stern look.

"Elliot, you spoil her," she said, shaking her head but smiling.

"Can't help it, Auntie. She's too adorable," I replied, setting Bella down gently.

She chuckled, returning to her cooking. "Dinner will be ready soon. How was your day?"

"Good," I said, sitting down on the couch. "Just the usual, you know? School, gym, hanging out with friends."

"How is Matteo doing?" she asked. Both Klaus's parents treated me and Elijah like their own children. They took us in seven years ago after my parents died in a mission gone wrong. Katerina and my mother were very close, so even at a young age, I would call her Auntie. I stopped after the accident. I used to blame it on them, but then I grew up and realized that it was no one's fault except the Irish.

"Yeah, he's good, the usual. Although I think he has a crush on our new friend Noah," I replied.

Bella climbed up next to me and sat herself on my lap, just in her own little world while we kept talking.

"Noah, one of the British triplets?" Kat asked. She hates it when I call her Kat; apparently, it doesn't make her seem badass enough.

"Yeah, him."

"Right, you told me you and Matteo started hanging out with the triplets. We should invite their family over for dinner sometime. I haven't spoken to their parents in years."

"Aren't they allied with the Italians though?" I asked. I still don't fully get how all the mafia politics work.

"Yes, but they are also our allies. Just because we have a long-lasting feud with the Italians doesn't mean we can't have common allies."

Suddenly Bella started crying in my arms. I tried to soothe her as I would usually do, but it wasn't working.

"I think she's tired," Kat said, checking the time (it's 7 PM). "Why don't you go give her a quick bath before putting her to bed? She already ate dinner, she was just waiting for you to get home."

I picked a now silently crying Bella up, rubbing her back while I took her to her bathroom. I put her down on the bed, wrapping her in a blanket and making sure she wouldn't fall off before going into her bathroom and starting to run her bath with bubbles. She loves bubbles. I went back into her room and picked her up. As soon as she saw the bubble bath, all traces of crying were gone, and she was clapping her hands together, excited for her bath.

Once I was done bathing her, I tried to put her to bed, but she just clung to me. "Ewiot, pwease sway wif me, monsters under da bed," she said in her cute baby voice. It was impossible to say no to. I lay down, putting her on my chest the way she liked it while continuously rubbing her back until she was fast asleep.

I started slowly dozing off, completely forgetting about dinner, until Elijah and Klaus walked in. It was unusual for Klaus to be home; he tried to be home a lot for Bella, but lately, he had been swamped with mafia work. Apparently, he was trying to get this hot-shot assassin to join his mafia, but she kept refusing.

"Hey, you two," I whispered, careful not to wake Bella.

"Hey," Elijah said softly, leaning against the doorframe. "How was your day?"

"Good, just tiring," I replied. "How about you guys?"

"Same here," Klaus said, his voice a low rumble. "Busy with work, as usual. But it's good to see Bella so happy with you."

"She's a sweetheart," I said, smiling down at her peaceful face.

"She really is," Klaus agreed. "You're good with her, Elliot. Thanks for taking care of her tonight."

"Anytime," I said. "She's like a little sister to me."

"Ill bring you up some food quickly, then you should get some rest, lil bro," Elijah said, clapping me on the shoulder. "you've still got school tomorrow."

I nodded, feeling grateful for the family I had found with them. Despite the chaos and danger that surrounded our lives, moments like these made it all worthwhile. As I closed my eyes, I thought about Stacy and hoped that one day, she could find the same kind of peace and support that I had found here.
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A/n:
Chapyer 22 everyone!!

Thank you all for all the love and support this book has been getting lately it means the world to me!

Just a filler chapyer today but hope you still like it and it does have some clues for the plot so keep ur eye out for them!

Love you all so so soooo much

WC: 1733