Epilogue one

LEONARDO'S POV

(A few months later...)

A piercing cry split the night air. I groaned, clinging to the last remnants of a pleasant dream as little Adriano's wails persisted.

"Your son is awake," I mumbled, still half asleep.

Rosalina stirred slightly. "Before sunrise, he's your son," she quipped drowsily.

I chuckled at the familiar Lion King quote, then dragged myself reluctantly from the warm bed. I shuffled over to the crib and gently lifted my bawling son into my arms. We had named him Adriano, after Rosalina's father.

"Shhh Adriano, go back to sleep," I soothed, rocking him gently. His tiny mouth rooted hungrily at my chest, latching onto my nipple. I winced. "Wrong nipple, buddy."

I retrieved one of the bottles of breast milk Rosa had pumped earlier and offered it to Adriano. He sucked greedily, his cries subsiding as I held him close. I smiled down at my son, my heart swelling with love and pride.

He had his mother's beautiful hazel eyes and my strong Salvadori nose and chin.

I