Chapter 96 - 95

Aurora wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, she had never imagined she could be this happy in her life, now her family was complete, and her heart was overflowing with love. 

"Awww… my baby… my baby, it's really you," Mrs. Russo stretched out her arms towards Aurora, and she did not hesitate to go and hug her mom. She had waited for this opportunity her entire life, and she was going to relish this moment as long as she lives.

Aurora knelt in front of her mother, and they hugged like they never wanted to be separated from each other ever again. 

Her mother kept on caressing her face and her hair, "I always felt in my heart that you were alive. I never gave up hope. I'm so glad you are finally here," her mother sobbed.

Aurora's tears had been flowing since she felt her mother's arms around her. She longed for her touch all her life, every single time the other kids made her cry or bullied her at the orphanage, or when she just needed a hug at the end of the day. 

"Oh mom…," there was a lump in Aurora's throat, she couldn't form the words she wanted to say. Mrs. Russo sobbed as she heard Aurora call her mom. Her heart was bursting with so much joy.

"You have such a lovely voice, and look at you, you look so pretty, just as I imagined you to be," her mother said.

Though the men tried to conceal their emotions, you can see that there was a sheen to their eyes. Who would not be moved by this very touching moment? 

Mr. Russo wanted to hug Aurora as well but did not feel like he should intrude. When his wife saw him on the corner of her eye, she invited him over. "Our daughter is here, don't you want to hug her too?" Mrs. Russo asked.

"Forgive me…," he said before he too broke down in tears as he stopped beside his wife and daughter. He was asking forgiveness for not finding her in time, for all the years they spent apart, and all the suffering she endured all those years.

"Dad, you don't need to apologize," Aurora said, "I am here, and that's all that matters." The past was better forgotten now that they were all together again. She welcomed him into their hug, melting away all the pain and suffering she had endured all 25 years of her life.

"You have grown up to be a wonderful person. I am glad that having no family all those years did not damage you too much," Mr. Russo rubbed her arm.

While Aurora and his parents were catching up, Nicholas noticed Enzo hiding behind his father. He knew that Aurora had a child, but he has never met him before.

"Hey kid, come here," Nicholas commanded.

Enzo looked at his father, asking for assurance that it was okay to talk to this new person. He felt uncomfortable because from the moment they entered the house, his mother and these people he assumed were his grandparents started crying. For someone visiting their parents, he expected them to be happy to see each other, not sad. 

He wanted to ask why his mother was crying, and if she was alright, but if his dad was just standing there, then he would do the same.

Dimitri nodded at him, "It's okay. Go ahead."

Nicholas stooped down to Enzo's level, "So you're Aurora's kid, huh. I'm your mom's older brother, so that makes me your uncle."

Enzo stared at him, "Like Uncle Gabe?"

"Hmm... No, I'm not Gabe. My name is Nicholas. Can you say that?" he asked.

"Uncle Nicho-was," he tried, but the L on his tongue felt difficult to say, "Nicho..."

Nicholas laughed out loud at Enzo, struggling to say his name, "Just call me Uncle Nicho. That's good enough."

"Uncle Nicho… easy," Enzo giggled.

"Oh, you are so cute!" Nicholas said as he carried Enzo in his arms and pinched his cheeks. 

When his grandparents heard him laughing, their attention got diverted to him. 

"Aurora, is he your baby?" Mrs. Russo asked. 

"Go and say hello to grandma," Nicholas said as he let Enzo down.

He walked to her quietly, but when he saw his mom reach out for him, he ran faster. "Mama, is this my new grandma?" he loud whispered to Aurora while pointing to Mrs. Russo.

Mother and daughter laughed, "Yes baby, she is your grandma. Did you say hello to her?"

"Hello grandma, my name is Lorenzo," he said shyly.

"Come, sit on my lap," Mrs. Russo instructed and Enzo enthusiastically tried to climb up when his mother told him to be a little more gentle, as his grandma is not feeling well.

"I'm sorry, grandma," he said as he bowed in front of her.

"Don't worry about it. Just sit here," she said, patting her lap once again. But this time Aurora had to scoop him up and place him gently, so as not to injure her mother.

"Look dear, my daughter was a baby when we lost her, and now she has her own baby," Mrs. Russo said teary-eyed.

"Yes, and now our family is complete again," Mr. Russo replied.

"Grandma... No lose mama, okay," Enzo instructed the elders.

"No baby, I promise, we won't lose her ever again," Mrs. Russo smiled, "You are such a smart kid."

Mr. Russo nodded at Dimitri, "Your kid is very smart for his age. I'm glad my daughter has you in her life." He had to hand out an olive branch to Dimitri, years of enmity between their families are going to be hard to dissolve, but since Dimitri is his son-in-law he had to make some effort.

Because of Aurora, their families have declared a ceasefire, nobody was allowed to make any moves, unless they want to ruin the relationship they have right now. And for the sake of Aurora, they will amicably learn to deal with each other as in-laws and family members.