As Luca predicted it would, Kit's phone went off around two am. He grabbed it fast so it didn't wake her and tossed his clothes on hurriedly as he left her room.

"I'm on my way, Eric," he said as he picked it up; he could hear Stone carrying on in the background. With a roll of his eyes, Luca headed out the door to get him.

Luca parked right in front of the bar. The streets, including the sidewalk in front of the bar, were still full of people partying and drinking. Luca swung open the door to the bar and walked in.

"I told him not to wake you-" He stopped when he saw it was Luca, not Kit. "Oh," he fell backward, but the barstool stopped his fall as he glanced at Luca with hazy eyes and a wobbly head. 'You came for me."

"Queue the heart eyes," Eric said with a laugh.

"Very funny," Luca said dryly as Stone struggled to steady himself, even using the stool for support.

"Call me before he gets this bad next time," Luca looked at Stone and then back to Eric, "Me, not Kit. I'll text you my cell from her phone later."

"Yeah, sure, man," Eric agreed, "good of you."

"Come on, big guy, let's get you out of here," Luca grabbed Stone's arm to help him; they got a few steps when he stopped.

"I need the poison," he tried to turn around, but Luca held him still.

"No, you don't," Luca began to drag him out. "Let's go."

"I don't have a crush on ya, Blue eyes," Stone commented as Luca managed to drag the wobbly older man through the door. "I don't."

"Don't be embarrassed, Stoney, lots of people do," Luca snickered, "Come on, my car is right here."

"Where?" Stone let go is his arm and start walked back towards the bar.

"No, other way," Luca grabbed his shoulders and whirled him around. He pushed him towards his car this time, and Stone pretty much fell inside as soon as he opened the door. An amused Luca headed over to the driver's side and got in.

"I have a crush for Kit," Stone told him. "If that's any sense."

"No, it doesn't make any sense how much of that shit did you drink?"

"I never cared who she sees, till yeah. I do now," Stone mumbled, sadness in his tone. "No one ever took care of her. Not me, for sure."

"Hey, you did something right because she's pretty fucking awesome," Luca assured him.

"I let 'em be who they are. I give 'em space." Stone was nodding as if reassuring himself.

"That works for you and Kit," Luca said carefully, leaving out that it maybe wasn't that great for Jase. "It's okay to be a cool dad."

"Sure, sure," Stone patted his arm, "You can call me Dad."

"What?" Luca scoffed, "That is not what I said."

"I am a cool dad," Stone agreed.

Luca just laughed as he pulled into the driveway and stopped the car.

"Get out before you puke in my car," Luca directed, but Stone was already stumbling out and reaching into his pockets for his stash. Luca followed the wobbly man into the house. Stone stopped and turned to look at him when they got inside.

"I think I left my stash at the bar," he mumbled.

"It's in your hand, man," Luca pointed, and Stone laughed as he looked down at his hand. "Oh, what do you know?"

"Hey, can I get some of that?" Luca asked, "I'll pay you for it."

"I thought you weren't that into it?" Stone asked as he made his way to the table; he nearly missed the chair but managed to make it.

"Not for me," Luca explained as Stone grabbed him a bud from his little baggie.

"My dad... his appetite...He's skinnier than hell. If it helps, I'll try it."

"Little at a time," Stone said as he handed it to him. "It's strong."

"Thanks," Luca put it away.

"Is there any food?" Stone asked, looking up at Luca.

"When did I become the drunken babysitter?" Luca muttered.

Once Stone settled in with some easy Mac, YouTube videos, and water, Luca returned to Kit's room.

She was curled up, clutching the pillow he'd been using. She looked so sweet and peaceful, with her nightlight highlighting her face. He found himself feeling emotional again like he'd had the other morning. He no longer had the urge to flee from it, he was still overwhelmed by it, but he needed it at the same time. He stripped back down to his boxers and curled in with her.

"Luca?" she mumbled, her eyes still closed.

"Right here, baby," he took his pillow back from her, and she curled up against his chest.

"Where did you go?" she mumbled as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Had to pick up your dad's drunk ass."

"You could have woken me up."

"Nah, I got it; go back to sleep, Kit Kat."

"Okay," she was already drifting off, and he smiled and held her tighter.

"Night, Luca."

"Night, love." He said right after she'd fallen asleep.

****

It was late afternoon when Luca got back to The Donato house. He and Kit had slept in and then spent the morning laying around and watching Jase play video games.

Luca found the place quiet as he stepped inside; he headed upstairs and could hear soft voices from the hallway.

"I'm proud of you, Andre." Leonardo was saying. "You have your whole life to work. Be young."

"Richard was upset about it," Andre sighed, "I was going to wait until Monday to tell him, but he called about shadowing him next week."

"He's upset he doesn't have an heir, so he wants to mold you into it," Leonardo sounded bitter. "I trusted him for many years, Andre. Since I got sick, he's been opportunistic. I fear he wants you to attach yourself to him as a mentor so he can use you."

"What do I do? I need to learn," Andre asked.

"You do, and he is a great teacher," Leonardo agreed, "so you let him teach you, but you stay sharp. Also, shadow everyone at the practice, not just Richard. Someday maybe you'll branch off and create your own practice as I did."

"That was many hours and work, though," Andre pointed out.

"Because my ambitions were too big," Leonardo said, "Balance yours. What kind of law do you want to practice, Andre?"

"Business and finance like you... Fath-dad," he said, and Luca's eyes widened; his dad was finally doing right by his little brother.

"Is helping large, rich people become larger and richer really what you want, son?"

"I mean, I don't know."

"You're young and should consider all options. You'd be more suited to helping people that need representation, maybe family law."

"Family law?"

"You have a great mind and a strong work ethic," Leonardo said, "but you also have a good heart. I would hate to see that wasted."

"I'll think about this," Andre mumbled.

Luca took that moment to go in. He knocked once and walked in. Leonardo was sitting up in bed, and Andre was sitting on the chair at his bedside.

"Luca, come in, sit down," Leonardo lit up when he looked at him, forming an instant lump in Luca's throat.

"Why don't we go downstairs? I'll cook for you," Luca offered.

"I don't have an appetite today, son," Leonardo said quietly.

"I have the fix for that," Luca said with a smirk as he held up a joint; he almost burst out laughing at the identical stunned faces of his dad and his little brother.

"Luca put that away!" Leonardo nearly gasped. "What in the world!"

"It's legal pretty much everywhere," Luca said with a roll of his eyes.

"Not here," Andre pointed out.

"It is for medical reasons," Luca argued, then looked at his dad. "It helps cancer patients with things like pain and appetite. I asked Kit if it would be okay, and she said it would. If it works, we'll get you a legal prescription."

"Do I look like Stone?"

"No, but you look like Skeletor, and you're telling me your time is almost up, so I got to do something," Luca spat out in frustration, and Andre gasped at his words.

"What? What does that mean, Father?" Andre's eyes widened.

"It means I'm dying," Leonardo snapped as he looked at Andre, "We can't stop it by pretending it's not coming."

He looked at Luca next, "A few meals isn't going to stop it either."

"I get that," Luca sighed, "but it might be nice, right? To eat and feel a little better?"

Leonardo's eyes flickered to the joint. "I haven't dabbled since college."

"You're going to do it?" Andre asked with wide eyes.

"I would really like to eat," Leonardo said quietly. "I'll give it a try."

"I'm not watching you get stoned," Andre looked bewildered as he stood up. "I'm going to go see what Carly is up to."

"Such a tight ass," Luca scoffed at him.

Once Andre had left, Luca got a nervous Leonardo settled in his wheelchair at the kitchen table with the joint and a lighter in front of him.

"Go for it," Luca encouraged him. "I'll cook you whatever you want."

"Make me some pasta; Kit was raving about the one you made for her." Leonardo finally picked up the joint; he looked at it like it might bite him.

"Dad, just do it," Luca encouraged.

He finally lit it and took a drag, he instantly started coughing and hacking, and Luca was quick to help him. Once he'd cleared his lungs, though, he looked at Luca with surprise. "I can breathe a little easier now."

"That's good, Dad," Luca nodded as he rubbed his back.

Leonardo was about to take a second toke, but Luca grabbed it.

"Let's see what the one does for you first."

"Good idea," Leonardo agreed. "I feel somewhat relaxed already."

Luca shrugged and took a toke from it himself. It did help ease the tension he had, too, albeit for different reasons.

"What kind of pasta do you want?" Luca asked as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Your mother used to make me penne with Rosa," Leonardo said softly, "that would be wonderful."

"Done," Luca grabbed what he needed for it and started the pasta.

"If only she'd lived," Leonardo said wistfully. "She would have ensured you had good childhoods."

"Life is what it is," Luca let out a breath. "She died, so our childhoods were never going to be good after that."

"I suppose that's true," Leonardo spoke quietly. He picked up the joint again, and Luca let him go ahead and take another small hit from it; he didn't cough nearly as he bad that time.

"Oh, okay," Leonardo's eyes glazed lightly. "This brings me back."

"Your college years? You were a rebel once?" Luca questioned with a smirk.

"You don't get it from your mother; she was a saint," Leonardo agreed. "I could really go for a shot of whiskey right now."

Luca laughed, "Let's not mix tonight, but we'll have a shot together, Dad, soon. I'd prefer that to this hippie stuff."

"That sounds great, son," Leonardo smiled. "Thank you, this was a good idea."

"You feeling any better?" Luca asked as he headed returned kitchen to resume cooking; Leonardo wheeled in to watch him.

"I do. I feel relaxed and hungry," he looked at the stove, "that looks good."

"This is Nana's recipe. It won't taste exactly like Mom's, but you'll like it."

"You loved Italy," Leonardo pointed out. "I should have kept you there; you'd have been happier."

"I needed you, Dad," Luca argued.

"But I wasn't there," Leonardo sighed.

"No, you weren't," Luca agreed, "but you did try the fishing and stuff for a while."

"Not hard enough," Leonardo grunted.

"Stone was doing this last night," Luca commented, "getting down on himself for his parenting."

"Well, if the shoe fits..."

"Stop," Luca chuckled.

He paused to flip the pasta in the pan, gather his thoughts, and then looked down at his dad.

"Look, I'm not going to get into Stone's parent-yourself style. I'm just saying no one is perfect, but Kit turned out great, so he did something right. Andre also turned out great, so you did something right."

"You turned out great, too, son," Leonardo said with teary eyes.

"I'm a work in progress, at best," Luca muttered.

"Don't sell yourself short; I see the big moves you're making," Leonardo wheeled himself back to the table as Luca scooped a few plates full of pasta.

"Wow, my mouth is watering," Leonardo mumbled as he looked down.

Luca sat across from him and watched as his dad devoured the pasta. It did turn out good, but he didn't think it was that good, so the weed did work.

"Remember when you wanted to open an Italian restaurant?"

Luca was just about to take a bit of food when he lost his appetite and set his fork down.

"You told me that was a pipe dream and would be nothing but a money pit," Luca recalled bitterly. Those old feelings came back like a tidal wave, and he suddenly felt so angry, but he couldn't do a thing about it, not with his dad being this sick and sorry.

"I was a fool then," Leonardo looked at him intently with remorse in his eyes. "I was so stuck on making you like me that I failed to see what you could be. My god, son, you have a talent; this is amazing."

He continued digging into it like a starved man.

"You're stoned, Dad," Luca pointed out.

"Everything you cook is," Leonardo argued. "When I pushed Andre, it was towards a path he wanted. I should have pushed you toward your talents. I know you're a grown man, but I must try doing that now. Just think about it. If you want to open one, I'll set aside money for it."

"No. I have enough money coming..."

"You already gave a chunk away," Leonardo reminded him.

"You can't just throw money at me, and all is forgiven and forgotten," Luca snapped, and Leonardo winced.

"I know, and you're right," Leonardo agreed.

"Some food for thought is all," he added after a silent moment.

"Sorry if I was harsh," Luca muttered.

"I appreciate it, actually," Leonardo said. "You may be blunt, but you're honest. Everyone keeps trying to tell me I look okay, for one. I do look like a skeleton."

"I want to get you into the doctor soon, okay? See where you're at."

"Yeah, fine," Leonardo grumbled, "what about fishing?"

"We'll do that this week sometime, too," Luca agreed.

Leonardo picked the joint back up and looked at Luca, "are you making any dessert?"

****

Later that evening, when Andre returned home, Luca slipped back out and got in his car; he sent Kit a text to meet him at the beach and headed there. It was quiet and peaceful, just a little chilly. He sat down in the sand while he waited for her and looked out at the calm water.

It could change so quickly. The winds could shift and get rocky and tumultuous in an instant. Just like he and his dad, one moment, the conversation flowed easily, and the next, Luca was reminded of hurt feelings, and the water was rough again.

Would it always be like that with them?

"Hey babe," he heard Kit's voice and smiled at her use of babe as she came to sit next to him.

"Hey, you," he put his arm around her, pulling her close.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "How did it go?"

"Good, it helped," he said. "He ate a ton."

"If it works, it works," she studied him carefully. "You, okay?"

"What if I never fully get over my anger towards him?" he asked, "what do I do then?"

"You will," she assured him, "you're well on your way."

"I'm not, though," Luca argued, "One memory comes up, and I get all bitter again."

"Face that feeling," Kit shrugged, "and it'll start to get smaller over time."

"How'd you get so smart?" He asked in a teasing voice.

"Not smart enough to know Italian," she reminded him as she gave him a look.

"Piccole donne testarde," Luca stood up and pulled her up with him; she turned, facing him, her beautiful face lit up by the moonlight coming off the lake.

"No more! Until you tell me what it means!" she exclaimed.

"That one means you are a stubborn little woman," he said, pulling her closer to him, "Which is why I'm in so much trouble."

"Trouble?" she questioned as she raised an eyebrow.

"So much trouble," he looked down adoringly at her. "On the beach that day, I told you I'd have fallen madly in love with you in another time."

Her eyes widened with surprise and then filled with unshed tears as her lips parted in a silent gasp.

"...but," he rested a hand on her cheek. "That was a lie because I was already falling hard and fast for you. It hit me like a ton of bricks that day I left."

"That's why you left," she whispered in a breathy voice.

"It's also why I came back."

A tear slid down her cheek, and her lips trembled.

He dried that tear with his thumb as he gazed into her eyes. "I love you, Cricket."

"Luca..." her voice broke, "I'm in trouble too then because I'm totally in love with you."

He claimed her lips with soft tenderness at first, but soon it became needy and emotional, their hearts were racing, and their eyes were leaking feelings that overwhelmed them both. He could taste her lips, her tears, and her love.

They fell back and landed in the sand, making a soft thud as she landed on top of him. They were both laughing through their tears. He held her there as she rested her head on his chest, and she sighed softly and contently in his arms.

"I love you, Luciano," she mumbled.

"I'm madly in love with you, my stubborn little woman," he said in a flirty voice, causing her to giggle softly.

"Will you say that in Italian now?"

"Oh, sure, now you want it."

"Now that I know what it means, I do!"

She lifted her head to peer at him, and he brushed a hair from her face as he gazed at her softly.

"Follemente innamorato con il mio Piccole donne testarde."