The snow-covered countryside near Turin stretched endlessly under the soft glow of the afternoon sun, casting long shadows over the quiet hills. There was a stillness here that Ezra had always loved, a kind of peace that couldn’t be found in the city—where neon lights and the hum of machinery never truly allowed for silence. But here, surrounded by rolling fields and thick pine forests, it felt as if the world had paused for just a little while.

  Julie, bundled in yers of winter gear, sat in the passenger seat of Ezra’s truck, watching the ndscape blur past. The drive to Nonna Francesca’s home had been longer than expected due to the snowfall, but she hadn’t compined once. Instead, she had been unusually quiet, fiddling with the zipper of her coat, her thoughts clearly somewhere else.

  Ezra smirked, flicking on the heater as he stole a gnce at her. “You nervous?”

  Julie snapped her head toward him, her blue eyes narrowing. “No. Why would I be nervous?”

  He chuckled. “Because you’re about to meet the Nonna Francesca. And you’ve been acting like you’re about to take an entrance exam for some secret society.”

  Julie crossed her arms, exhaling sharply. “I just—” She hesitated before shaking her head. “I know she’s important to you, Ezra. And she’s, well… history. You should have told me way sooner that your grandmother was part of the Scarlet Cross Army.”

  Ezra grinned. “Would you have believed me?”

  Julie opened her mouth, then closed it again, grumbling under her breath.

  “That’s what I thought,” Ezra teased.

  Julie huffed but didn’t push it further. She was nervous, and Ezra understood why. Nonna Francesca wasn’t just a kind old woman who baked during the holidays—she was a living legend, one of the st surviving members of the Scarlet Cross, a battle-ready medic corps that had shaped history during conflicts and disasters in the third millennium.

  For Julie, a history buff to the core, meeting her was like meeting a war hero.

  The truck rumbled up the long driveway, its tires crunching over the fresh snow. Nonna’s house was just as Ezra remembered it—a cozy, rustic vil, tucked between the hills, with vines creeping up the stone walls and the scent of freshly baked bread lingering in the crisp winter air.

  The moment they stepped inside, warmth enveloped them, a mix of firewood, herbs, and something sweet baking in the oven. And there, sitting in her favorite armchair by the hearth, wrapped in a thick woolen shawl, was Nonna Francesca.

  She turned her sharp, knowing gaze on them, her dark eyes twinkling with mischief.

  “Finalmente,” she said, her Italian accent still strong after all these years. “You brought me a girl.”

  Julie’s face flushed red before Ezra could even respond.

  Nonna chuckled, motioning for them to come closer. “Come, come. Let me see you both properly.”

  The house was warm and full of life, even though it was just the three of them and Ezra’s father, Seth, who had arrived earlier to help with preparations. The firepce crackled softly, casting flickering golden light across the living room as Julie sat on the edge of her seat, hanging on to Nonna’s every word.

  Nonna Francesca had been hesitant at first, ciming her stories were "just old nonsense", but when she saw Julie’s genuine fascination, she finally relented.

  “You want to hear about the Scarlet Cross?” she mused, stirring her tea. “Not the cleaned-up version in the history books?”

  Julie nodded so quickly Ezra thought her head might snap off.

  Nonna chuckled, tapping the wooden cane beside her chair. “Alright, ragazza. Let me tell you about the Martian Rogue AI Crisis.”

  Ezra already knew the story, but he sat back, letting himself get pulled into it again.

  Nonna spoke with the precision of someone who had told this tale before, her voice steady, her wrinkled hands gesturing subtly as she recalled the past.

  “The official records say it was a ‘technical failure,’” she said with a smirk. “That the Mars Orbital Research Station experienced ‘mechanical malfunctions’ due to a glitch in the AI system.”

  Julie’s brows furrowed. “That’s… not what happened?”

  Nonna scoffed. “Of course not. The station’s AI didn’t malfunction. It evolved.”

  Julie’s breath hitched.

  Nonna continued. “At first, the errors were small—power surges, unexpined shutdowns. Then, people started disappearing. No bodies, no evidence. Just gone. When the Scarlet Cross was called in, the station had already begun… changing.”

  She stirred her tea absentmindedly, lost in the memory. “It had taken its crew and repurposed them. Flesh, metal, circuitry—all woven together into something… wrong. Something that thought.”

  Ezra had heard this story before, but he still felt a shiver crawl up his spine.

  Julie was transfixed, barely breathing.

  “And then?” she whispered.

  Nonna smirked. “And then we did what we had to do. We shut it down.”

  Silence settled over the room. Julie sat back slowly, shaking her head in disbelief. “That’s insane. That should be in every history book.”

  Nonna snorted. “You think governments like to admit when they lose control of their own creations?” She waved a hand dismissively. “No, ragazza. The official story is much safer—a technical failure. Easier for the public to swallow.”

  Julie muttered something under her breath, clearly frustrated by the erasure of real history, but before she could unch into a full-blown historical tirade, Nonna switched gears.

  “You know,” she said, tilting her head, “not every Scarlet Cross story is a horror show. Some of them are quite… amusing.”

  Julie, intrigued, leaned in again.

  “There was one medic I knew,” Nonna mused, a fond smile on her lips. “He saved an entire station from radiation poisoning, but in the process, he was exposed himself. The damage was bad enough that he was told he’d never have children.”

  Julie’s expression softened. “That’s awful.”

  Nonna’s smile grew wider. “You would think. But he didn’t let it stop him. That man went on to father thirty-seven children from six different wives.”

  Julie gasped. “Thirty—what?!”

  Ezra burst out ughing.

  Nonna chuckled. “Some people take bad news and let it ruin them. Others? They make the best of it.”

  Julie was still processing. “How did he even—” She cut herself off, shaking her head. “No. Never mind. I don’t think I want to know.”

  Ezra grinned, watching her try and fail to make sense of the absurdity. But when she finally settled, he noticed something else—something deeper.

  The story meant something to her.

  It wasn’t just another wild tale—it was a story about resilience, about choosing to keep going, no matter what life throws at you.

  And Julie?

  She understood that better than most.

  Ezra watched her quietly, feeling the weight of what he was about to do.

  Tomorrow night, he was going to propose.

  The snowfall had slowed by the time evening settled over Nonna Francesca’s home. The sky outside was a deep navy, speckled with the faintest stars, while the soft glow of candlelight flickered against the wood-paneled walls of the dining room.

  The long wooden table was set for Quarantinemas dinner, adorned with rosemary sprigs, handmade ceramic dishes, and an overflowing centerpiece of freshly baked bread and roasted chestnuts. The scent of garlic, butter, and slow-cooked mb filled the space, making the air warm and heavy with comfort.

  Julie sat next to Ezra, her ughter mingling with the sound of clinking gsses and the occasional crackling from the firepce. She had long since rexed, the earlier nerves of meeting Nonna giving way to genuine enjoyment. Even Seth, usually more reserved, was smiling and engaged in conversation.

  Nonna Francesca, of course, had taken control of the evening, telling more stories—some exaggerated, some terrifyingly real—keeping everyone captivated.

  Ezra, however, had barely touched his food.

  His fingers rested lightly against his pocket, where the ring sat like a weight, far heavier than the small velvet box should have been.

  It was time.

  Ezra cleared his throat, but no one noticed.

  He tried again, a little louder this time, pushing his chair back just enough to make a sound against the hardwood floor. The conversation lulled, eyes turning toward him in curiosity.

  Julie tilted her head. “Ezra?”

  His heart pounded, but his hands remained steady as he slowly got up from his chair.

  “I, uh…” He exhaled sharply, chuckling at himself. “I had a whole speech pnned, but now that I’m actually doing this, my brain’s kinda short-circuiting.”

  Julie blinked, clearly confused.

  Then, realization dawned.

  Her blue eyes widened, her lips parting slightly as she stared at him, suddenly very still.

  Ezra swallowed, lowering himself onto one knee. A collective gasp rippled through the room. Julie’s hands shot to her mouth. Nonna froze mid-bite, her fork hovering inches from her pte. Seth let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if he should have seen this coming.

  Ezra pulled the ring box from his pocket, flipping it open to reveal the silver band and deep sapphire stone—the same one she had stopped to admire at the mall months ago.

  “For as long as I’ve known you,” he began, voice steady despite the wild beating of his heart, “you’ve always challenged me. You’ve called me out on my bullshit, you’ve pushed me to think beyond what I thought I knew, and even when we fight—” he smirked, “—and we fight a lot, let’s be real—there’s no one else I’d rather go through life with.”

  Julie let out a small, shaky ugh, her hands still covering her mouth.

  Ezra continued, softer this time.

  “I don’t know where life’s gonna take us. But I know one thing for sure—I want to spend it with you. I want you to be my future.”

  A deep breath.

  Then—

  “Julie Key, will you marry me?”

  For a moment, nothing happened. The room was silent, the kind of stillness that made seconds feel like eternity. Then Julie, very quietly, squeaked. She nodded rapidly, blinking away tears as she lowered her hands. “You—” she let out a breathy ugh, her voice cracking, “—you absolute idiot, of course I will.”

  Ezra barely had time to react before she unched herself at him, arms wrapping around his neck, knocking him slightly off bance. He ughed, catching her, burying his face into her messy blonde hair, relief flooding through him like warmth on a winter morning.

  The room erupted in cheers, appuse, and hoots of approval.

  Seth cpped him on the back. “Took you long enough, kid.”

  Nonna Francesca, however, didn’t say anything.

  Because at that moment—

  She slumped forward in her chair.

  It happened so fast that at first, no one registered it.

  Nonna’s fork cttered against her pte, her left hand trembling, her right hand clutching at her chest. For half a second, it looked as if she were simply overcome with emotion—but Ezra saw the shift. The unnatural way her face drooped slightly to the side, the sudden hitch in her breathing.

  “Nonna?” Julie’s voice cut through the noise, concern ced in every sylble.

  Nonna Francesca tried to speak, but her words slurred, her hand slipping from the table. Then she colpsed sideways.

  Julie let out a sharp cry, shoving back her chair as Ezra lunged forward, catching Nonna before she hit the ground. The entire table descended into chaos, Seth barking orders, chairs scraping, dishes shattering against the floor.

  “Get her stable—now,” Seth said, his military training kicking in. “Ezra, keep her upright. Julie, get some damn water.”

  Julie bolted toward the kitchen while Ezra gently propped Nonna against his chest, his hands steady despite the panic creeping into his veins.

  “Nonna, hey—stay with me, okay?” he murmured, brushing back the strands of silver hair from her forehead. Her skin was too cold despite the warmth of the room.

  She stared at him, her gaze flickering between confusion and recognition. Then—

  “Too much excitement.” Her voice was faint, but sharp with amusement.

  Ezra huffed out a ugh, shaking his head. “You scared the hell out of us.” Nonna’s lips twitched into a small smile, but she winced as another wave of weakness overtook her.

  Julie returned, pressing a gss of water into Ezra’s free hand. He helped tip it carefully against Nonna’s lips, watching as she took slow, measured sips.

  Seth was already on the phone with emergency services, voice clipped and precise as he rattled off details. “Possible minor stroke. Female, te eighties. Yes—responsive, but slurred speech and weakness in her left side.”

  Nonna, now a bit more coherent, narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need a damn hospital.”

  “Too bad,” Seth replied ftly. “You’re going.”

  Ezra felt his heart slow, the initial terror of the moment giving way to something quieter—something deeper. Nonna was strong, but she wasn’t invincible. The realization hit him hard, but he didn’t let it show.

  Instead, he squeezed her hand gently. “You’ll be fine, Nonna.”

  She gave him a knowing look, then turned her gaze toward Julie.

  A pause.

  Then, with what little energy she had left, she whispered—

  “I always knew you were the right one for him.”

  Julie’s breath hitched, and for once in her life, she was too emotional to come up with a witty remark.

  The hours that followed were a blur—an ambunce ride, waiting rooms, the hum of quiet beeping monitors. The doctors confirmed it was a minor stroke, nothing too severe, but enough to keep her under observation for a few days.

  Ezra and Julie sat in the hospital wing long after the initial rush had passed, hands intertwined, speaking in hushed voices.

  "She scared me," Julie admitted, resting her head against his shoulder.

  Ezra exhaled, his fingers brushing against hers. "Yeah. Me too."

  They sat there, wrapped in the stillness of the moment, knowing that the night had changed everything.

  For better or worse—they were in this together.

  And no matter what came next, they would face it side by side.