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You opened your eyes to see a hazel eyed man looking over you.  Which was strange, because his eyes were usually closed unless he was deep in shock or sadness.  You tried to sit up suddenly, feeling a sharp pain in your shoulder, sending slight spasms down your body.

"Bella, don't try and move!  Lie down, you'll be in the hospital soon."

You became aware of the sirens and the rocking motion of an ambulance.  You were on a stretcher.

"Feli, what. . . What. . ." You were dizzy.  You realised you had an oxygen mask on.  You began to cry as you remembered what had just happened.

"Shhh it's okay _____, you'll be okay soon.  You'll be okay."  He took your hand, stroked small circles with his thumb, and smiled the warmest he could muster under the circumstances.   You loved his smiles, and the gesture comforted you.  You felt at ease around you're Italian friend.  As you fell into sleep once again, you heard him cry out,

"No!  Bella!  Don't fall asleep!  If you do. . ." and you slipped into a coma.

Next thing you knew,  you were in a hospital room.  The clean, white walls and sterile environment was frightening.  You felt you were hooked up to many tubes, and you felt panic coming on.  But then, you weren't.  You were free of the tubes.  But it still felt as if you weren't.  And then it hit you.

You had read somewhere that people in comas sometimes had out of body experiences.  'So this is what its like. . .' you said.  Though no one could hear you.  That is, if anyone were in the room, they wouldn't hear you anyway.  But YOU could hear voices plain as day, coming from behind the door.

"May I see her?" a familiar accent said.

"Go ahead.  But we don't think she'll make it, you should prepare yourself."  said an authoritative, unfamiliar voice.

"Ve~ thank you Doctor!" after getting to know Feliciano, you knew when he was faking his cheerfulness.  This was one of those times.  The door opened, and in walked your best friend. He sat in the chair by your unmoving body.  You watched, as he simply stared at your nearly lifeless form for a few minutes.

Suddenly a string of quiet, Italian curses were uttered from those usually innocent lips.  He ran his fingers through your hair and cried.  You could tell from the bags under his eyes and the mess he was in that he was stressed beyond normal limits.  He began to rant out his emotion.

"_____, why don't you wake up?  You HAVE to wake up!  I CAN'T lose you!  I'll make you the best pasta ever and we'll play games and bother Ludwig and I'll take care of you always!  I love you!  And I will SHOW you how much if you just wake up!  Don't go. . . I can't lose you.  I love you.  I won't be able to live if you never found out.  You've been out for days.  Don't. . ." and he struggled saying the next word, "don't die. . . I love you. . ." he leaned his head against the hospital bed and cried.

You were in the most shock a ghost had ever been.  You knew he loved you. THAT was enough incentive for you to hold onto the thin thread of life you had left.  Just then, a doctor came in with two signed papers from your parents.  Your italian friend looked up.  You didn't recognize the papers.  Apparently, Feliciano did.  His eyes widened, and he began frantically shouting and ran towards the doctor.

"NO!  DONT DO IT!  SHE'S GOING TO WAKE UP ANY MINUTE NOW!!!"

"Sir," the doctor stated calmly, "We have documents from her family stating that the machines may be turned off, and she can sleep in peace."

"NO!  She'll wake up!  I know she will!"

"We're going to have to ask you to leave."

"I will not abandon her!  She will wake up!"

"Sir-" but the doctor never finished his sentence.  The room fell silent as the beeping noise that indicated a heart-beat grew louder.  And louder.

"_______!" Feliciano rushed to your side.  "______, wake up!  You can do it!  You're fighting on!  Please, if you can hear me, open your eyes!  Please. . ." he began sobbing.

"Hnnn. . ." you opened your eyes.  To a very relieved Feliciano.  "Feli. . ."

"Ve!  Veeee!  You're awake!  You're awake.  Oh, dio, you're awake!". He sobbed and hugged you.  Then pulled back realising he might move some wires.

Remembering what you had over-heard, you began crying and said, "I love you too." you smiled weakly.  Feli, for the first time in a week, cried tears of joy.  He didn't know how or when you found out.  But you were alive and you loved him.  That was all that mattered at the moment.

"Bella?"
"Yes, Feli?"
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes.  Why?"
"When you get better I'm making ALL of the pasta in my house!"
"Feliciano Vargas, that's enough to feed a small country!" You said scolded jokingly, and smiled weakly at him.
"Only the best for mia bella." he kissed your cheek.

After a week or two you were out of the hospital.  You and Feliciano became a couple.  A few months later, as promised, he finally made ALL of the pasta he owned.  He served it too you.  And sitting in the middle of the first bowl you were presented with, on a piece of Italian bread, was a diamond ring.