Epilogue

Franco

I lie awake watching Aria sleep and her belly slowly rising and falling. It's the first decent night's sleep she's had since all hell broke loose, and I don't want to disturb her. She looks so beautiful. The moonlight floods the room and caresses her face. I can stay like this forever.

"Oooh," she winces in her sleep, and her eyes shoot open.

I turn on the lamp on the side of the bed.

"What's wrong? Is it time?" I ask, trying not to panic. I've hunted killers and faced certain death, but I've never been as scared as I am right now, waiting for my sons to be born. Knowing that I have everything I've ever wanted and am so close to my own happily ever after is beyond scary.

Before Aria and the babies, I had nothing but my life to lose, and it made me bold and reckless. It earned me money, power and respect, but that meant nothing to me. I could leave it all behind for the thrill of the next chase and the next challenge. Now, in the blink of an eye—three hearts I would gladly sacrifice for my one and yet I know that I will not always be able to protect them, and it terrifies me. It also helps me understand my brother's need to control all the moving parts of his life.

To choose control over love because love makes you vulnerable. It's a weakness in this world, which is why there's an unwritten rule about hurting made men's families - wives and kids. Siblings are fair game even if they're not in the life. Even knowing that doesn't offer me solace. For every wise guy who obeys the rule, there are two willing to covertly break it in order to seize power or get revenge. I have made a lot of enemies and caused the tears of countless fathers, mothers and wives to nourish the soil.

Nothing makes you take stock of the consequences of your life's choices and karma like having people who would take your world with them if they should go, physically or by a maniacal hand.

My mind turns to Aria and our unborn babies.

"Are you ok? Do I need to bring the car around and get your bag?"

"Amor, calm down," she says in the sexy, affected accent that drives me wild. Once I came to terms with her past, and she with mine, it became a sexy game we sometimes play. The Assassin and willing mark. The things I have to do to convince her not to complete her assignment.

"Why are you smiling?" she asks.

"You know what that accent does to me," I say.

"Even now? I'm as big as a house. With tenants to boot!" She says, rubbing her belly.

"You've never been more beautiful," I tell her, and I mean it. I rub her belly, and right on cue, the twins start kicking. It still delights me, and I start talking to them.

"Hey, boys." The kicking intensifies, and I love it.

"You know you're only encouraging them to be night owls." She laughs.

"I don't care. I'll play with them anytime they want!" I say, kissing her belly.

"Excuse me!? And when do I get my playtime?" she says huffily.

"Oh, babe. I've got more than enough to keep you happy." I answer cheekily.

"I know. I'm just making sure you remember who you have to keep happy first." She smiles. "They'll grow up and leave us, and we'll have to entertain ourselves. That is if you don't grow tired of me."

"Never."

I turn off the light, and we drift off to sleep. She creeps into the crook of my arm, rests her tummy on mine, and throws one of her legs over my thighs.

"Ohh, that's better."

"See, I told you that I had enough for you." I laugh and start drifting off to sleep.

"You're not getting off that easy, mister. I have more ideas and games for just mommy and daddy to play." My eyes are closed, but I can picture the wicked grin on her face.

"I can't wait," I reply, half asleep.

"I can tell." She says as my cock moves. "That's what Mama likes."

We lay like that and drift off to a peaceful, dreamy sleep.

Aria

I wake up in the early hours of the morning, and something doesn't feel right. I'm lying on a patch of water that's cooled. I've gotten used to the occasional cramps that come with carrying twins, but the one that woke me is more intense.

I shift, and it goes away. I start to time it just for safety's sake. The doctor told me to be aware that multiple births don't often go to term and that Franco should bring me in if the period between contractions is shorter than a minute. I suspect that I might be in labor. I breathe deeply and rub my tummy. Nothing for five minutes...five and a half and ...

"Oh...." I yell out even though I was trying not to wake Franco.

"What is it?"

"Nothing...nothing. Go back to sleep—just a couple of cramps. I'll be fine. I'll wake you if they continue."

"Yeah, right." He jumps up and claps his hands to make the bedroom lights go on. He pulls on his underwear and starts running around the room looking for a stopwatch before he gives up and opens the clock app on his phone. "How long since the last contraction?"

"It just ended," I say. "Your little frantic naked chicken routine helped distract me. Thanks." He laughs.

"No jokes, no babe. Please." He looks at the timer. "Let me know..."

"Ooooh," I let out a huge groan of pain, and he starts to really freak out.

"Ok. We're going to the hospital. I'm going to call the doctor. No, I need to get your bag....no I need to..."

"Franco..." I say as calmly as I can muster.

"Yes, babe!?" He looks at me, and I get a glimpse of the little boy he once was and that our sons will be in a few years. My heart melts, and it calms me instantly. I walk over to where my hospital bag is and hand it to him. I lift my hands to his face. "Don't be afraid. We've got this. We're going to be okay."

He calls the doctor, who tells him to get to the hospital and he'll meet us there.

"Doctor says he'll call ahead and let the hospital know." He tries to smile to make me feel that he's calm and in control, but I can see right through it. He's so afraid.

***

I have to stop Franco from speeding by controlling my screams. The more intense they become, the more it panics him. We pull up in front of the glistening glass and aluminum sliding doors of St. Catherine's Hospital, and the orderly waits for us.

We're admitted very quickly, and the speed and efficiency with which we're being handled help calm Franco even further.

"First-time dad?" the nurse asks as she takes my vitals and gives me a cursory exam. " Everything's fine. Your wife and the babies are doing well. It shouldn't be long now, Mr. Morelli. Just calm down."

"Trust me, sister, this is him calm." We both laugh.

"Dr. Lowenstein is on his way, and you're doing well. You're almost at the second station, and you're all hooked up so we can monitor both you and the babies. We'll take you into delivery as soon as you're at full station, which should be in a little bit." She smiles. "Enjoy your last few moments as a duo, mommy and daddy. It's going to get wild from here."

"Now you're scaring me, nurse," I say.

"Oh, no need. Trust me. It's wild, but it's the best ride you'll ever get on in your life." She smiles, and I believe her. Franco comes over to me once she leaves. He looks sheepish, as though he's done something wrong. "What's wrong?" I ask through breathing exercises and spasms of pain. It's almost one long contraction now.

"I didn't realize that it would be so painful for you."

I laugh. "Oh, my love. This is all worth it. But I might swear at you later and threaten to shoot you if you ever come near me."

He laughs. "I wish I could lie next to you, getting a full body wax." He laughs, but it disappears the minute the next contraction hits.

"Hey. What are you thinking about in terms of names? Godparents?" I ask.

"I don't know. I don't have much in the way of friends," he laments.

"What about Giulia as their godmother?" I ask, and his face brightens.

"Really? You'd want my sister to be the godmother to our kids?"

"Yes. She'd be amazing." As if on cue, Giulia appears at the door, her arms overflowing with gifts for her soon-to-be-born nephews. She has some cigars for Dad and treats for me.

"Are they here yet? Are my nephews here?" She beams.

"Not yet," Franco answers.

"Great. I didn't miss anything. I'm so excited I can't stand myself." Even though it's early hours of the morning, she's dressed impeccably.

Dr. Lowenstein enters, and the two of them lock eyes. If I'm not mistaken, and if I wasn't in agony, I'd swear that something passed between them.

"Dr. Lowenstein, this is my sister-in-law Giulia. She's single," I say because I have no more fucks left to give. They both turn bright red and I know that I was right. They both smile and exchange handshakes before he becomes all work and examines me.

"Mrs. Morelli, you're at full station. We need to get you into the delivery room." He turns to us. "Your sister-in-law can come too if she wants, and it's ok with you," he says, giving Giulia a wry smile.

"Fine with me," I say, looking at Franco.

"Yeah. I think it would be great if our boys' godmother was there to witness them coming into the world." He looks at her.

It takes her a moment to catch up.

"What!?" She looks caught off guard, and her eyes fill with tears. "You want me to ..."

"Yes." Franco and I say in unison.

"If you want to?" I ask.

"Yes, sis. Only if you want to. We know that it's a tremendous..."

"Yes. Of course. I'd love to." She says, turning to dab the tears away. She turns back and hugs Franco and then me.

Dr. Lowenstein and the nurses return with a couple of orderlies, and they wheel me away with Giulia and Franco in tow.

***

Franco and I are each holding a baby. He's completely besotted, and so am I.

"We haven't even decided on names," he says.

"We've got time, but I was thinking that you could name one, and I'd name one," I offer.

"I'd like to name one of them after my father... and my brother...if that's ok?" he stutters.

"After Marco?" I say thrown.

"He's my big brother, and I'd like to mend fences, but only if you're okay with that," he says.

"I'm ok with it. In fact, I think that's a wonderful idea."

His smile is all the thanks I need.

"And that little one?" he says, inclining his head toward the bundle sucking his fist in my arms.

"I'd like to name him after the man who gave me a real life. The man I want to grow old alongside." His eyes fill with tears, and he doesn't bother to blink them away.

The Wedding

Aria

Tuscany

I stand and take in my reflection in the full-length mirror in the preparation room of the church. Giulia is running around, making sure that everything is running according to schedule. Guests have flown in from around the world to attend the wedding. Our parents are sitting up front enamored with their grandchildren and with the past forgotten.

That's the magic of love and children. They promise new beginnings and new roads. Surprisingly, the old men are each more enchanted with the other's namesake than their own. Convinced we need to switch the boys' names.

Franco's nonna Louisa made the trip all the way from Sicily just to be here, and everyone fell over themselves to keep the family matriarch happy.

The smell of fresh-cut grass and rain fills the church as the guests file in and make their way to their places. I haven't seen my husband in 24 hours, and I already ache for him. The lavender bushes outside have filled the air in and around us with their sweet scent.

I look at myself again, and a wonderful calm and joy overtake me.

Even though I know it's silly, I still worry that he'll change his mind and run away or something bad will happen. "Why is it so hard to trust happiness? To just be present and enjoy what is?"

Giulia comes in dressed in the classic cut, flowing azure blue maid of honor dress she had made in Paris.

"Are you ready, sis?" she asks.

I've come to love her like a sister.

"Yes," I say, taking a deep breath.

"Why am I so nervous?" I ask her. "We're already married. All this is just a show."

"It's the fairytale," she answers. "It scares us all because we put so much energy into it. Just let it go. This isn't really the fairytale. That's what comes after. That's your happily ever after."

"Thank you." I take her hand. "Shall we go? I'm dying to see my husband." She laughs.

"He doesn't disappoint." She turns and fixes a few things on my gown and on the headdress.

"Do I look ok?" I ask.

"You're the most beautiful girl here. Now, let's go. My brother is practically being restrained because he can't wait one more minute." I laugh. "Laugh! You think I'm kidding? I'd be surprised if he doesn't run down the aisle to grab you and carry you to the alter."

My godfather waits at the large wooden doors. He takes a deep breath when he sees me.

"Oh, my darling daughter. For a moment, I was taken back to when your father married your mother. You are the image of your beautiful mother on that day."

"Thank you, Papa."

Giulia heads in, and after a few moments, the wedding march comes on, and the doors open. The congregation stands, and for a moment, they obscure my view and Franco's, it seems. Giggles fill the church as he moves from beside the priest to see me. He looks relieved, and then a look of pure joy fills his face.

His eyes never leave me as I make my way to him.

Franco

I take my wife in my arms, and the music starts up. The band starts to play, and we begin to make our way across the floor. For those few minutes, there's nobody in the world but us. I look down at her, and she looks up at me. Under a star-filled Tuscan sky, we kiss our fourth or fifth kiss for the day, and each time is like the first.

"I think if I could only do one thing for the rest of my life it would be kissing you," I say.

"Me too." She sighs. "I've heard so many nightmare stories about people's weddings, but this is wonderful."

Giulia brings the boys over, and they join us on the dancefloor. It's a weird little arrangement, but after a few minutes, we get the hang of dancing with two busy four-month-olds.

"They're such happy babies," she says. "I feel like we're being set up."

"What do you mean?" I ask her, laughing. His face turns sad for a moment.

"Can this be real?" I raise my hand to her lips.

"It is real," I say. "My love, I cannot promise you that we won't face challenges and tough times. All I can promise you is that I'll be at your side, and I'll hold your hand and protect you and our family with everything I have in me."

"Franco Morelli, you have made me one very, very happy woman. I thought I was living before I met you, but I was just fooling myself. I don't know that I even knew love or joy or safety before you. I don't know that I knew pleasure or purpose before I loved you, and oh, how I love you."

I lower my head to caress her cheek with mine, and we stay like that for a while, both afraid to break the spell that's been cast. We're both so scared of tomorrow and what might be, and all we have is now to revel in,

The rest of the guests take to the floor during the dying moments of the song. Even Marco dances, and it's a sight to behold. I whisper to Aria.

"I do believe my brother is in love." She turns to look at Marco and the woman he's been seeing for a couple of months now.

"She's good for him. Everyone should have a port in this stormy world." I look at this amazing woman in front of me. She continues to surprise me every day. "So, did you have fun at your bachelor party?"

I'm caught off guard.

"What! What bachelor party?" I start to stutter.

"Nice try, Morelli." She's not buying it.

"My brother and some of the guys sprang it on me. I had to go along. He's trying, babe." She starts to giggle.

"It's ok."

"Thank you, babe. I promise nothing unseemly happened. One lap dance, and I never touched the stripper."

"It's fine." She shrugs.

"You're the best..." I look down at her. "Why are you being so understanding? It wouldn't have anything to do with your bachelorette party, would it?"

She laughs and looks at the babies.

"I tell you underneath that tailored exterior…your sister is a wild woman." She pats the baby's bottom. "Uh oh...someone needs to have his diaper changed."

Aria, babe...Aria..." I say as I trail in her heady wake. "Babe, what happened at your bachelorette party..."

The End