"Uncle Adriano. Adriano-Ad-"

"What Amelia?" he rolled his eyes at her.

"Adriano." Angela said, her tone had a hint of a warning in it to be nice.

"I learned something new on the piano especially for you." Amelia blinked at him, her big brown eyes were warm and excited. She had been tugging at his shirt.

"Why don't you go and show him?" Angela spoke sweetly to the little girl.

"Right now?" Adriano was trying his best to act careless in front of Amelia but it was getting hard to do, he had said a million times before he didn't like kids didn't he? He didn't want to go back on his word. Angela narrowed her eyes at him, making him stand up. Amelia took his hand and dragged him with her down the hall.

Just then, Maria entered with two cups of coffee, one for herself and one for Angela.

"Here we go." Maria said, placing the cups down at the table before sitting down.

"Hey, where did Ad go?" Franco walks into the room with Michael on his shoulders.

"He's just down the hall, Amelia wanted to show him her new song she learned." Maria smiled contently at her husband before he nodded and made his way towards the piano room. "It's happy birthday." Maria added quietly to Angela.

"What?" she asked with confusion.

"The song, it's happy birthday. It's a bit late but she was happy when she found out he was coming over so she could show him." Angela chuckled at the other woman's words.

"She's so cute Maria." To which Maria smiled proudly at her.

"That she is." She nodded. "So...Adriano huh?" Maria said with suggestion and a slight question in her tone.

"Hmm?" Angela fought the urge to grin as she sipped on her coffee.

"The last time we talked about it, you said you two weren't together but from the way he is acting today, I can tell something has changed."

"We aren't together." Angela couldn't lie, to Maria or herself. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that sentence but Adriano had been clear last night and this morning that them being an item wasn't going to happen. It was too dangerous.

"Aw c'mon, you can't lie to me Angela." Maria teased her but stopped once she saw the worrying look on Angela's face, she seemed to be contemplating something and was uneasy. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong really, we're just in a complicated place at the moment."

"I don't think it'll ever uncomplicate itself Angela." Maria sighed as she spoke. Her words caused Angela's eyes to shoot up to her. She wondered how Maria had known what she was talking about.

"It's just hard, you know?" Angela replied, she wanted to have this conversation with someone and was wishing it would never happen at the same time. Because she was trying her best to push all of the things she now knew about Adriano to the back of her mind, all of the scenarios of what he might do on a daily basis, all of the questions she didn't want to ask.

"I'm guessing Adriano told you then? About the Mafia." Maria placed her cup down on the table to look at the woman across from her; she nodded and pressed her lips together in a grim smile.

"Yeah." Her voice came out cracked unintentionally. "I get that we can't really be together, you know- properly. I'm not sure I want to be either, it's hard to think about Adriano being a part of...that."

"I know honey, and with all this crap with Adamo going on, I know it might be difficult for you right now. When I first met Franco, nothing like that happened with me but that didn't make my decisions easier to make. So I can't imagine what's going through your head about all of this."

"It's fine, it's not like we know each other long enough to be serious. It was just a bit of a shock."

"I wanted you to know, but it wasn't my secret to tell."

"Oh don't worry about it Maria, I understand."

"He's changed since you got here. He seems happier, not so serious all of the time. He needs a nice girl like you."

"Well I wouldn't be so sure about that, we're not even a proper couple." Angela laughed nervously.

"Come on. Let's see what the kids are getting up to." Maria nodded her head towards the hallway where Adriano had disappeared to earlier with Amelia. As soon as Angela got up, she could hear the piano playing and guessed it was Amelia. They followed the music and Maria opened the door to the music room where Amelia was sitting on Adriano's lap, playing happy birthday. She was choppy and took some pauses but her tiny hands knew exactly what keys to press, she was brilliant Angela thought.

Adriano couldn't keep his eyes off of Angela as soon as she stepped into the room, her face glowing, her eyes opened a little wider than usual. She and Maria crept in quietly, with Amelia still unaware of the new presence in the room. Adriano rolled his eyes at Angela, pretending like he wasn't delighted for his niece, he was proud of her but he wouldn't let it show.

"You're amazing Amelia." Angela clapped once she had finished. Adriano placed her down on the chair beside him now and got up, string confidently towards Angela. His arm wrapped around her, engulfing her in his arms. She breathed him in.

"Thank you Angela." Amelia said shyly, raising her shoulders as she spoke but remained with her eyes on the keys.

"Isn't she so good?" Angela turned to Adriano now.

"She's played that damn song at least five times already, let's get out of here." He whispered to her so no one could hear him.

"I think your uncle has something to say to you, don't you Adriano?" Angela elbowed him in the ribs, he stifled a groan and smiled at the little girl. "Say thank you." Angela urged quietly between smiling teeth.

"Thank you Amelia, you were pretty amazing." Adriano finally said, to which Amelia got up and hugged him below the knees.

"You know Angela plays the piano too Amelia?" Maria spoke gently to her daughter after a moment or two of her and Franco chuckling at what she had done.

"Really?" she looked up at Angela, her tiny face lighting up. Angela nodded in return. "Can you show me?" Amelia asked excitedly.

"Um, sure."

"Boys, why don't you help me with lunch?" Maria lead the men out of the room and soon enough Angela was playing a song for the little girl who sat beside her on the stool, a look of amazement on her face once Angela had finished.

"Why can't I be that good?" Amelia looked disappointed now and Angela tried to make her feel better.

"Hey, you don't worry about how anyone can play, you have to look at how you're doing and you're great. You're only four and you're the best. I'm almost twenty-four, I bet when you're this old you will play better than I can."

"I'm not sure." Amelia lowered her voice a little in doubt.

"We'll just have to wait and see then won't we?" Angela wiggled her eyebrows and began tickling Amelia before picking her up, a bundle of giggles, and bringing her out to the dining room where the smell of food hit her right away.

Maria was placing food on the table while Franco was strapping Michael into his high chair. Angela put Amelia down on the ground and she ran around the table to sit down, ready for her food that was on the way. Angela took a seat beside Adriano.

She almost jumped when she felt Adriano hand trail up her thigh again. She squeezed her legs together, denying him access and he leant over to whisper in her ear now.

"Wait 'til I get you home." His lips brushed off her ear. She shivered before sitting up straight and looked around subtly to see if anyone was watching, they weren't. She heard Adriano chuckle deeply beside her before going back to talking and acting normally with Franco and Maria.

Lunch went by quickly, with Adriano and Angela almost running out of the house to get home. They said short goodbyes and left.

They stepped inside the apartment and Adriano slammed the door shut before pinning Angela to the wall next to it. Their lips met for a hungry, wanting kissing. His hands ran up and down her body. Angela shivered in delight when he picked her up and carried her inside to their room. His hands squeezed her thighs as he held them. Adriano growled into the kiss they were sharing.

"I've been waiting all day for this."

******

"Do you want Chinese food tonight or will I rustle us up somethin'?" Adriano asked, standing up behind the countertop in the kitchen.

They had returned home a couple of days ago now and just like before Adriano's birthday; they lived together in this peaceful atmosphere, calming and in unison. Angela was lounging happily on the sofa, watching some movie on the TV that had been on a while. She was munching on Cheetos and looked up at Adriano now.

"Hmm?" She asked with her mouth full.

"Dinner tonight," he chuckled at the sight of her. "Do you want me to make you something or will we get take out?" Adriano had come home from work a few minutes ago and was getting a little hungry now. He had told Angela not to make dinner tonight, he would sort something out today since she done it every other day.

"You can cook? Like an actual meal?" Angela laughed, the only thing she'd eaten that he had made was a bacon sandwich or toast.

"Yes, don't you think I can cook?" Adriano narrowed his eyes at her.

"No." she snorted.

"Why the hell not?" he asked, almost a little offended.

"Because you've never cooked dinner for me before, that's why." Angela said nonchalantly, not even looking away from the TV screen when she spoke this time.

"I'll show you." He nodded to himself.

"I'd like to see you try. Nothing can beat my lasagne." She said sassily, humour in her tone.

"Oh yeah?" he walked quickly towards her to which she shot up from the sofa and ran behind it for cover. He stood on the other side, bracing himself for her to move.

"Adriano!" she laughed out loud now before running away. He ran after her, trying to catch up. "It's not fair, you're legs are longer than mine." She giggled, her words making laughter rumble in his stomach when he almost caught her.

"Not so fast Angie." He finally grabbed her and threw her over his shoulders, to which she squealed and hit his back.

"Put me down now!" she shouted between both their laughter.

"Not until you apologize." He teased her.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, now leave me alone."

"Not until you say I'm the best cook you've ever came across?" he began to put her down when she spoke again.

"No, it's not true. I am the best cook I've ever came across." He lifted her back up again and began walking around normally with her over his shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked in bewilderment.

"I'm not putting you down until you say it, I can stay like this all night Angie. I swear-"

"But you haven't even cooked for me yet?" She rolled her eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to see her.

"Good point." He put her down now and looked at her. "But when I do, believe me, you'll have more to say than that."

"We'll just have to see won't we?" She raised her eyebrows at him, trying to joke again. She turned to leave when she felt him smack her behind.

"We will, now get out of here. Some of us have dinner to cook."

"Pft, whatever." She turned around to roll her eyes at him and then walk back into the living room to watch the movie.

By the time dinner was ready, Angela's stomach was rumbling angrily. She heard him fishing around in the cutlery drawer and the clinking of glasses coming from the kitchen.

"Angela! Dinner's ready." Adriano called, placing the plates of food gently on the dining table. The smell of food was beautiful and Angela couldn't believe her eyes once she saw what Adriano had put in front of her place at the table.

"You made this?" She asked, trying to hide her astonishment.

"Who else would've made it Angie?" he chuckled warmly at her facial expression.

"Hmm, I'm not quite sure I believe you yet." She narrowed her eyes at him in mock suspicion before pulling out her chair and sitting down across from him. In front of her was a bowl full of ravioli in a delicious looking red sauce. Angela thought it looked beautiful, like something from a top restaurant.

"Aren't you going to eat it?" Adriano asked through a mouthful of food, un-phased by the food. She was still looking at the dish.

"It just looks too perfect to eat." She didn't take her eyes off of the plate. He laughed aloud at her.

"Don't get too carried away Angela." He sniggered when she took a bite and made noises to indicate that the food was good.

"It tastes amazing. It's the nicest ravioli I've tasted. Ever."

"Oh no you're going to make me feel bad, I never compliment your cooking."

"Well it's not that great anyways." She said nonchalantly.

"Yes it is. I like everything you make me. Especially the lasagne. Where did you learn how to cook?" He tried to stir the conversation somewhere else, away from him.

"I guess from my Mom and Dad." Angela replied, taking another bite.

"You make nice soup too actually, is it a family recipe? Are they chefs?"

"Oh no." Angela laughed lightly, shaking her head and moving her food around her plate with her fork. "My mom is a pianist; she owns a piano school back home. My Dad's a lecturer, he writes too but nothing I'd read. I got the recipe from the soup kitchen for the homeless I worked at in Canada."

"Such a do-gooder eh?"

"I guess. I liked it, it made me feel like I was helping out, even just a little." She tried to laugh but Adriano wasn't convinced. He noticed how her face was beginning to sink, how her eyes were become darker and gloomy by the minute but he wanted to know more about her. "That was where I was when- you know- you broke into my apartment." Adriano noticed the uncomfortable tone she used.

"I'm such a dick, God." He put his hand to his face.

"Not really I suppose, if you didn't turn up we wouldn't be here now." She vexed a smile.

"Where were you going?" Adriano had to ask. He knew that if the conversation got too upsetting for her that he would pull away and stop because he could sense the uneasiness she was feeling now with the conversation topic.

"What?" she put her fork down to look up at him, her big grey eyes searching his.

"The boxes, you looked as if you were going somewhere." Angela was left unsure on whether to lie now or a little of her secrets to him. She thought it may have been only fair, considering he had told her so much now about his life.

"I was packed up because-" she held back for a moment. "Because there was no point in unpacking."

"Why not?" Adriano furrowed his eyebrows in question, unsure of what her statement meant.

"I moved around a lot. I was trying not to stay in the one place for a long time. I never unpacked when I rented somewhere new. Those boxes were lying there ever since I moved into that apartment."

"Was it because of your boyfriend?" Angela almost shivered at the word 'boyfriend' but held back, wondering what he had meant. He couldn't mean what she thought could he? She was shocked, left speechless until he spoke again. "You know when you're heartbroken, you want to get your mind off of things. Moving around must have been your way to get away from it all?" she couldn't help but sigh with relief quietly, knowing he hadn't meant what she thought at first.

"Yeah, I guess so." She made her best attempt at convincing him. A question came through from her rummaging thoughts. "So you know what it's like to feel heartbroken then?"

"Hmm." He nodded hesitatingly.

"W-Was it from Luisa?" Angela was curious. She saw how his expression had changed completely then.

"Oh course not."

"From what then? You said she was your only real relationship."

"It's not only relationships that can break you Angie." He stated wisely. She noticed the slight glimmer of pain come through in his voice but asked nothing of it.

"I know." She nodded in reply.

"Come here." He said gently, placing his fork down on the dish he had just finished. Angela went quietly over to him where he sat her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

"It's good to be home isn't it Adriano?" she said, her voice muffled from him. He was glad she called this place 'home' now.

"It is." He nodded and nuzzled into her neck for a minute or two, taking in her sweet scent.

"Can I ask you something? Do you mind?" she made hi unravel her slightly so she could look up at him.

"Ask away." His lips curled into a small but warm smile before her.

"A-Am I the only one?"

"What?" he asked, a little confused.

"You know, that you're with... I just needed to know before we continue on. I'm sorry for asking, it's just that if you don't want it to be just me I don't think I can do it-"

"Of course it's only you. No one else, I promise." He kissed the side of her mouth gently after he spoke.

"Okay." She whispered quietly, smiling a little at him.

They stayed like that for another few minutes, mostly because Adriano wasn't ready to let her go yet. But once they were separated they helped each other clean up and got ready for bed.

"Hey Angie?" Adriano whispered quietly as he held her that night in bed. "You still awake?"

"Hmm?" She replied sleepily to him.

"Would you like to work in a soup kitchen again some time, you know, since you feel better. There's plenty around here if you ever wanted to help out once or twice a week."

"That would be brilliant, yes." She smiled and moved around a little in bed so she was looking up at him now, her sleepy grey eyes peering gently at his face. His expression showed her that he was thinking, his eyes squinted a little and his brows furrowed.

"I know you don't want to be sitting up here all day, you need to get out. I shouldn't keep you trapped up here. But I'll have to send some of the guards with you-"

"Adriano, it's fine. I understand. Can we maybe talk about it tomorrow when I'm not half asleep?" she laughed lightly against his chest. He was wide awake and knew he would be up half of the night thinking and worrying about everything around him. There was just no stopping it, especially tonight. It was because of all of the guilt that was eating away at him, coming and going, getting worse and worse. It would eat him up sooner or later.

"I know, I know. G'night Angie." He kissed her forehead and let her go to sleep while he stayed up, holding her in his arms. He heard her murmur something but couldn't understand it before she drifted off to sleep.

She woke the next day without Adriano around and wondered where he might be. She heard the phone ringing out in the living room and jumped up to get it, squinting at the light and still half asleep.

"Um- Hello?" she mumbled down the phone once she answered.

"Hey Shortcake! How's it going? Long time no see eh?"