Taylor's POV
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The colosseum, my eyes rake over the architecture as Henry and Emilia sleep in the double buggy. Chris and Rachel had followed us in his red mustang, to the capital. Rachel had insisted that Christopher join us on the trip explaining that they could buy some of the items off of her wish list for the baby they are expecting. It's utterly unnecessary seen as I have a lot of baby boy clothes to hand down from when Henry was a baby and she already has a whole two closets of baby girl clothes. Yet none of us managed to rein her in, and so Ross and I are sightseeing with my two babies whilst Christopher traipses around stores with his pregnant wife.
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"Ross" I begin as we pace around the outer circle of the amphitheater, directly in the centre of Rome. I cannot help but to imagine a piece of art drawn from this landscape and as I cast the thought out of my mind just knowing that I'll end up thinking about Matthew, I look up at Ross removing my sunglasses. A scorching thirty two degrees meant sun block for the little ones and my most airy red smock dress. Emilia has a matching red sundress on and she could not look more like my daughter. Her curly brown hair trailing down her back, which I adorned with a red bow.
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"Yes darling" he says looking down at me briefly, clad in a white button down shirt he removes his sunglasses and regards me. The sun has caught him already.
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"What did they do in the colosseum" I ask somewhat like a child, Ross enjoys showcasing his knowledge in all things. It's why the children love him so much, should they have a question he usually is able to answer it. He arms them with knowledge and facts.
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"Well there were gladiators, hand to hand combat. Also there were men versus animal contests" he begins as I feel the sun beat down on us.
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"What kind of animals!?" I say shocked and he giggles, a sound I never wish to be without.
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"Well lions, wolves, elephants and bears" he says simply and I sigh imagining that every single seat had been taken in the huge amphitheatre had there have been ferocious beasts involved.
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"Sometimes they would perform tricks" he explains looking down at me and stroking my arm before holding onto my hand and pushing the stroller with his other free hand. The children reclined back sleeping.
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"It was a display of wealth and power, with a dark side" he informs me and I smile looking up at him and the way his blonde hair sweeps back.
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"You wouldn't want to be a criminal in that time. Sentenced to death, you'd end up in a public execution with some wild beast" he admits and I gasp as he rubs my hand.
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Tourists swarm the area, taking pictures and filling up every single path. The sun being out can only mean that it's busier than usual. Surprisingly the children, despite the busy streets have remained totally asleep. Ross aims his phone to take a picture of us and I smile resting my head on his shoulder.
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"Excuse me" an older woman interrupts us, clad in a large oversized white dress and sandals. She smiles keenly and awes at the children asleep in the pushchair.
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"Would you like me to take your picture" she asks slowly as I giggle and Ross hands over his phone.
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"Such a beautiful couple" she smiles as she clicks the shutter including the sleeping children in the shot.
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"Here" she passes the phone back and I notice her wavy brown hair flowing down her back as she walks away in the heat. Disappearing into the sunny streets of Rome as I gaze over the picture and he smiles.
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"Everybody assumes we're together" he laughs as we stroll over to a pizza and pasta place. I'm absolutely set on carbonara and a glass of red wine, Ross obliges and gets us a large table in case Rachel and Christopher join us. Holding Emilia to his chest who is still sleeping. Henry, having woken up, climbs up to sit next to me eager for food after his nap in the stroller. The waitress offered him a colouring pot and he is scribbling away at a picture.
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"Does it bother you that people assume we're you know" he asks me softly as I look up from the menu. Gazing at how he cradles my baby daughter, stroking her hair back as I raise my camera and take a picture of him with the backdrop of the art behind him. A canvas of the Italian countryside, my daughter holding onto him as he smiles.
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"It doesn't bother me, I just would never want to complicate things" I say slowly and he nods.
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"I don't want to lose you as well" I say to him slowly as he watches me. The restaurant is heaving with locals, and for me that just proves that the food must be top quality. We order two pizzas for the children and olives and bread for the table. Ross spoils me with a glass of champagne and he orders our mains, pasta alla carbonara and cacio e Pepe.
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"You will never lose me" he whispers as Emilia continues to sleep on him despite the noise.
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"No matter what, I'm here" he whispers and I consider myself lucky and privileged to have him.
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“I’m not silly. I know one day you’ll have your own…” I begin imagining him with his own wife and children. He shakes his head slowly as Emilia clutches onto him.
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“We’ve been through this” he says slowly and I shh him. We had spoken a year or so ago about him having his own family and he flatly dismissed the idea.
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“If anything were to happen ever I am here” he whispers and I nod as the bread and olives arrive. I set the plates up for the children as Ross giggles watching Emilia refuse to wake up.
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Usually I refrain from posting the children on my social media, however the picture of Emilia on Ross’ lap is special. Her hair flowing and his easy smile, my eyes rake over it and I smile.
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“Hey can I have the shots the lady took” I ask him and he smiles manoeuvring himself and sending them over as Emilia hugs him closer.
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“Sure you posting them” he smiles and I eye him.
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“Do you mind?” I smile, when a mother has taken the time to do a full face of makeup and hair, and has managed to garner picture documentation of it, she’s within her right to post it up for the world to see.
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“Of course not” he says easily and I giggle captioning the images as Rome with my babies.
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Our mains arrive and Emilia finally wakes up, stirring in his arms as he placates her and tells her that she’s fine. She doesn’t wake up crying like she usually would and honestly I have to believe it’s because of Ross and the calm aura he exudes.
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Fresh pasta in Italy is unrivalled, as I sip my champagne I watch him talk with the children and realise that despite everything; losing Matthew as a friend and never seeing him again. Despite all of the loses I have everything I need in my world.
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“Thank you” I smile over at Ross and he shakes his head blushing.
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“For being here” I clarify as Henry lifts up his picture, a child’s sketch of him and his sister with Ross and I. Its terribly sweet, and I tell him that I’ll stick it to the fridge once we return to the farmhouse.
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Rachel and Chris join us with Amelie shortly after and I enjoy one more glass of champagne as she shows me all of the expensive outfits and baby stuff they have purchased. Christopher rolls his eyes at the gender neutral designs and I smile along as Emilia climbs back onto Ross’ lap and falls back asleep.
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“Oh I also bought a breast pump” Rachel announces and I giggle.
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“Didn’t you already have one” I sigh at Christopher who only laughs, refusing to rein in his wife. He indulges her every want and desire.
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“Yes but this one is better” she concludes proceeding to run me through all of the reasons why it’s superior, I nod along and listen to her as I finish of my fancy champagne and Ross gets the bill.
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The colosseum glows in the nighttime as we pass it on our way out of the city. Taking one last picture of the large amphitheatre amidst the backdrop of the inky night sky I follow Ross and grasp his outstretched hand as we leave Rome behind.
