Birmingham, 1924

It was a day like any other, stuck indoors, wrapped up beyond belief to protect your weak nervous system from any chill, isolated from anyone aside from a few doctors and nurses, protecting against infection.

Luca had ordered the best care, despite being unable to bring you with him to Italy, where he could look after you himself.

~ "Mio tesoro, listen to your man, hm?" his voice crackled down the phone line as you held the the receiver and mouthpiece to your ear.

"You know I'd have you here with me in a second, caro, but you need to get stronger, just a few more days hm? Listen to your doctor and do as he says, I'll see you soon," he said. ~

You whiled away your days in your hospital bed, guarding your weak lungs and even weaker heart, though you weren't sure the latter was caused by illness, much less a certain tall dark stranger.

Luca knew how you yearned to explore, to see Italy with him, to exist outside. He too wanted to watch you spread your wings and explore Italy, see his home in Sicily, meet his family that hadn't left the island for generations, to eat good food and drink good wine, to have you well again.

But, you weren't well enough to take even a few steps unaided, so Italy was on the backburner for now.

Luca was back and forth between London and Birmingham alot, the vendetta against the Shelby family taking him away from you, and his dealings with Alfie Solomons taking him even further.

You dreamed of him one night, a sweet, warm dream, one bathed in golden sunlight in the Sicilian hills, Mt Etna, the coastline.. until you were woken by a gentle hand and a soft voice.

"Sono solo Io, amore mio," Luca whispered as his thumb gently rubbed your hand, his other slowly cupping the side of your neck, "open your eyes, let me see you, my love."