The Italian sunlight played in Theo's curly hair. Breathing a full breath, you could feel the sun creeping into your veins, pleasantly warming your blood, bubbling in innocent nonchalance. Small houses were scattered across the hilly terrain; thin streets winding their way to the coast, to the heart of serenity.

Theo was different from the Theo he had been in Britain. Italy was coming to his face, his skin tanned, taking on the healthy hue of hot days, and his curls curled even more, soaked in salt water and sea air. The sea glistened beneath the blue sky, gleaming and winking at passers-by, everything frozen in a still sense of freedom and warmth: an immovable wall of peace.

Theo peeked out from behind your shoulder, smiling contentedly. The feline smile spread across his face was serene and more relaxed, as if the whole city had sucked the stress and problems of the past year out of him. Theo's fingers, soft and sensitive, slid down your back, rubbing the sunscreen into your skin.

"Mamma mia, you're so sunny," it was hard to know what he meant by that, whether he was commenting on the red spots spreading across your shoulders and neck from neglecting the cream, or whether he was just surprised and amused by the way you looked among the bright, sunny colours.

Theo slid his fingers down your neck, snaking all the way across your shoulders, one arm then pulling you against him. The facets of the glass shimmered as he picked it up and took a sip: the sweet, alcoholic cocktail he'd bought you both.

He was relaxed and, more to the point, happy. He didn't openly declare it, but you could feel it in every breath he took and in every kiss he managed to steal each time with a seemingly completely random and almost chaste action.

"And how does it feel?" he inquired, tilting your head to the side to look into your eyes.

Your eyelashes were clumped together from the water, making your eyes look angelic and doll-like. Theo only had to sigh, expressing everything at once: everything he couldn't put into words.