Kit left the Donato house with a heavy heart that night. It was hard to see Leo's regrets and sadness displayed in front of her.

She walked inside and tossed her purse down on the counter. She wasn't surprised to find Jase on the couch playing video games. She was surprised to see a huge swollen shiner in his eye!

"Jase! What happened?"

"Got into it with Kyle last night," he mumbled, "it's fine."

"What!? The hell it is!" She burst out angrily, "I'm going to kick his sorry little ass!"

"Kit!" Jase laughed out loud.

"I'm serious! You and dad stood up for me enough with him. My turn."

"Calm down! That guy, Luca, scared him off," Jase muttered. "The whole thing was embarrassing enough. I don't need you showing up to defend me."

"Luca!?" Kit looked at her cousin with shock written on her face.

"Yeah, isn't he Andre's brother? He's a good guy," Jase leaned over and grabbed a smoke from a pack.

"He is not; give me that," she said as she snatched the cigarette from his hand.

"Kit, come on!"

"Jase, you don't need this dirty habit. Girls hate it anyway,"

"No, they don't," he shrugged that off, "They like bad guys."

"Not if they have nasty breath," she quipped quickly.

"You're so annoying," he groaned.

"I'm so right," she snapped back, "Is this about Jess?"

"She's dating that asswipe!"

"What!? She's dating Kyle!? She's only seventeen!" Kit exclaimed angrily.

Bad enough, Kyle's a cheat and liar; now he's preying on underage girls? Not just any girl but Jess? She and Jase have been attached at the hip since they were kids. Jase's feelings had started to change recently, though. He'd been working up the courage to tell her. 

"What do I do? She won't listen to me. Stone said to let it be, but I can't."

"Damn it," she muttered, "I hate to say it, but he might be right."

"I was counting on you for a better plan," Jase groaned.

"If you make her defend him, you'll push her closer to him."

"That's what Eric said," Jase let out a sigh.

"It's true, everyone tried to warn me off him, and it challenged me more," Kit recalled.

Lesson learned, though, she'd never let herself be played again.

"She'll come to you when he lets her down," Kit said quietly, "and he will."

"Then what?"

"Then you'll be there for her," Kit advised, "you won't judge her, and you won't say, I told you so. You'll comfort her."

"So I'm supposed to let her get hurt?"

"I'm sorry," Kit sighed and sat down next to him.

"I should've told her I liked her." He muttered miserably.

"You'll get your chance, Jase," she feebly promised.

"Yeah, whatever," he sulked down into the couch.

"How did Luca end up involved in all this?"

"I don't know. He was just there, I guess," Jase shrugged, "scared the shit out of Kyle. You should've seen his face."

She couldn't help but wish she had seen that.

"Don't start looking up to Luca, " she said instead, "he's bad news."

"He helped me out last night, and he seemed cool," Jase shrugged her off.

"Well, he's not," she huffed irritably, "he's a total ass."

"I mean, his dad's dying; maybe he's not his best self always?" Jase shot her a sideways glance.

"That's the thing, Jase! He won't talk to his dad! At all," she said, and he looked up. The flicker of interest was all it took for her to start ranting.

"Andre told him a long time ago about his dad being sick, and he didn't even care!" She continued.

"He's here now, though," Jase commented.

"Yeah, because I called him and told him to get his ass here!" She said exasperated, "But he had to be a stubborn jerk. He's under his roof, and he won't talk to Leo. He wants to sort out whatever finances and stuff and leave. He's not even willing to bend!"

She started to stand and pace as she ranted. "All his dad wants is a chance. A conversation, he won't even give him that!"

"Whoa." Jase looked a little stunned, "just wow."

"I know, right?" She plopped back down heavily unto the couch and heaved a tired sigh.

"I'm talking about you, Kit!"

"Me!?" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, you. You need to chill out," Jase said with a short laugh, "give him a second."

"What!? His dad is dying, Jase."

"Right," Jase said, "and that screws a person up. I ought to know."

"Jase, I'm sorry... I -

"It's fine, Kit," he cut her off. "I'm just saying, maybe it be a little easier on him?"

"Easier on him? You have no idea how infuriating he is!" She breathed out.

He chuckled, "sure gets you all riled up... and red."

"I'm red out of annoyance," she mumbled, "you seriously don't think he's an ass for refusing to talk to his dad?"

"There's probably a reason," Jase said carefully.

"Obviously, but so what?" She stressed, "It shouldn't matter now."

"What if it was your mom?" Jase asked. "If she showed up and was sick. Would you instantly forgive her?"

"That- that's not the same -

"Sure." he stood up, grabbed his smokes, and headed towards the door, "ease up on the guy, Kit," he advised before ducking out.

****

Luca was up and ready early Thursday morning. He was dressed in fitted black dress pants and a white button-down shirt he tucked in. His brown hair was overgrown and unruly. He left it that way.

He'd chosen what was meant to be a guest room. It was furnished with a basic bed, a light wooden dresser, and end tables. It was on the main level but on the opposite side of the kitchen and office. It had an attached bathroom and was close to the backdoor. He liked an easy in and out of the house. Less chance of the old man getting wind he was there.

He breezed out into the living room. The house was quiet and dark still. The sun wasn't even up yet. He headed into the kitchen and started the coffee.

He then began making some breakfast. He always enjoyed cooking. Today he made a pile of pancakes and some eggs. He grabbed himself a plate and sat just as Andre walked in.

"What's all this?" Andre asked as he walked in.

"Food," Luca said simply as he stuffed his face. He wanted to hurry and get out before she got there.

"You made breakfast for dad again?"

"I made breakfast for whoever wants it," Luca corrected him.

"Mhm," Andre smirked some as he helped himself.

"I got to go. I'll be late," Luca stood and brought his plate to the sink.

"What are you doing today?" Andre asked.

"Don't worry about it," Luca snapped.

"I should be involved in these meetings too," his little brother stood taller. His voice grew firmer.

"Not this one, Andre."

"I know a hell of a lot more about everything than you. The estate, the business, dad's health, all of it!" He exclaimed.

"I'm meeting with people to plan the damn funeral, okay? You're not... I'm here, so you don't have to do that."

"What?" Andre's eyes widened some.

"I got to go," Luca said again, and he hurried out, leaving his stunned brother behind him.

Just as he left the house, Kit was walking up in her cute little pink scrubs.

'Great, thanks for holding me up, Andre,' he said silently.

Loose coppery damp waves cascaded over her shoulders. Her chocolate brown eyes accosted him irritably as they met his cobalt blues.

"Morning, Mr. Donato," she said in a clipped and sarcastic little voice.

"Oh, relax," he drawled the word out. "You pushed my buttons; I snapped, and you smacked me. Moving on, Good morning, Kit."

"If that's an apology, you suck at them," she replied in a heartbeat.

"It wasn't," He said smoothly, to which her pouty little lips scowled deeper.

"You did overstep," he added.

"So did you," she retorted.

"...I did." he admitted this freely, "and are you apologizing to me?"

"No," she muttered.

"Okay then," he said smoothly, " as I said, moving on..."

"Have a good day." He added as he breezed on by her. As he started walking towards his car, he sang to himself. "Break me off a piece of that-

"Luca!" She cried out in annoyance.

**

Luca pulled back up to the estate around noon. The day had been long and, to put it mildly, creepy so far. He spent the entire morning going over funeral plans. It was weird picking out stuff like a coffin for a guy he hadn't even seen in four years. None of it felt all that real, but it left him with an uneasy feeling.

In the end, he just picked the most expensive options for everything to get out of there.

He wanted to try and get some information about the estate today, too; he knew it would be easy for the land sharks his dad dealt with to take advantage. Andre was brilliant but far too trusting.

He decided to start in the home office, looking through some files. Then he'd push for a meeting soon. He hated how his father put the business ahead of them. However, he still worked hard for everything he had. Luca wasn't about to let anyone trick him out of it all now in his weakened state.

The only thing that mattered was making sure Andre would be alright after all this. Once Luca took off again, he assumed his little brother would be done with him. That was fine with him; he'd be okay with cutting ties. So long as Andre was taken care of.

"Thank you for talking me into this."

Just as he headed inside, he heard his dad's voice. It was coming from round the side of the house. Luca took a cautious step back.

"You need your fresh air!" Kit said, "Andre put that chair lift in for a reason. You don't need to sit in your room all day."

"Maybe I'll come out more," his voice sounded so much ... older, raspier, weaker.

"It's gorgeous out here," Kit said.

"Isn't it, though? I wanted to put a lush rose garden back here," he told her, "never had a chance."

"We still could!" Kit said in a cheerful voice.

"You garden?"

"Not yet," she laughed. At that, "I'd learn! Roses are so pretty."

"Elizabeth loved them," his voice quieted.

Luca frowned, and his heart clenched when he thought of his mom.

"She'd have loved this place," Leonardo said sadly, "she always wanted land like this. I kept her and the boys in the city. I let the business thrive instead of the family."

"Then, just like that, she was gone," he continued.

"I'm sorry you lost her too soon. I can see how much you loved her." Her voice was so soft and kind when she spoke to his dad.

"She was my everything. I became even more obsessed with the company when she died. Because any quiet time led to thoughts of her. I'd break my own heart all over again."

"I think my dad would get that," Kit said, "he used to say he couldn't handle the quiet when I'd fall asleep. I know it's not the same since my mom left, but he was heartbroken too."

"I'm sure he was," Leonardo said. "I give him a hard time, but he raised you all on his own and did a good job. You're a good girl, Kit.

"Stop it, Leo!"

Luca could envision the blush coming across her face and suddenly smiled at that.

"Did he ever pursue another woman after she left?" Leonardo asked.

"No, he said he's better off single," Kit told him, "a woman would probably make him give up the weed and eat some vegetables.

Leo laughed heartily at that. "oh, I needed that."

"What about you? You never thought about moving on?" Kit asked him once his laughter diminished.

"Not for a second, once I fell in love with Elizabeth, that was it for me. When she passed, I accepted that I'd have to wait to see her again."

There was a pause, and Luca felt a lump form in his throat.

"That's the only good thing about dying. I know she's waiting for me." Leonardo said in a quieter voice.

"Oh no, dear, don't cry!" He added suddenly.

"I can't help it. That's just so- wow." Kit sniffled some. "I hope I find a love like that someday. I haven't had the best luck in love yet."

"You will. I know you will, but make sure he's worthy of you. You're a good girl, Kit. One of a kind."

"Oh, stop! Leo! Let's get you inside before I turn into a puddle of a mess out here!

Luca turned and hurried towards his car. He got in and started driving. He wasn't sure when it happened, but tears were raining down his face.