Andre got up to stretch his legs and headed over toward Leonardo. His dad looked so happy as he stared out at the dock. The sun was adding a touch of much-needed color to his cheeks.

"It's been a good day, Andre," Leonardo smiled at him as he came over.

"It has," Andre agreed, "are you thirsty or hungry?"

"I'm fine," Leonardo waived off his concerns, "stop fretting over me so much."

"For today, I'll try, Father," Andre agreed with a smile.

"Loosen up, son," Leonardo glanced at him. "Just call me dad."

"I .. but-"

You make me feel like I'm a priest or something," the old man chuckled. "Relax a little; your peppy girlfriend will appreciate that."

"Okay, Dad," Andre thought it sounded odd, but he was right. He needed to loosen up. He watched Carly as she smugly added another fish to the bucket. She said something to Luca, who commented back something that resulted in a loud laugh from Kit. Carly shook her head as she stood up and left the two on the dock alone.

She headed over toward Andre and Leonardo with a cheerful smile. "Having fun, Leo?" She asked.

"A blast!" He smiled easily.

"Do you want to drop a line in?" Andre asked.

"When Luca and I go alone, I will," he had a misty look on his face as he looks at the dock. Andre followed his gaze to Kit and Luca, who were sitting together at the end of the dock talking.

"I think we won by far," Carly commented. "Neither of them is paying much attention to their poles."

Kit giggled again then, and Luca put his arm around her; she, in turn, rested her head on his shoulder. He leaned down and kissed her head.

"Carly, let's just tell them they won," Andre looked up at her and caught her eye.

"Yeah, okay," she glanced at the couple on the dock, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

"She'll be okay," he assured her.

"I don't want to see her hurt again," Carly said softly.

"Luca isn't the man he pretends to be," Leonardo said wisely, "He's just hidden his real self behind his bravado all these years. She's good for him and bringing him back to the man he would have been had I not screwed it up for him."

"What?" Andre questioned, and Carly raised an eyebrow.

"Holy crap!" Kit yelled suddenly, and the group stopped talking to look over. She stood up and struggled with a giant fish. Luca stood up to help her reel it in. Leonardo clapped his hands excitedly and wheeled up to the dock to get a closer look.

"It's amazing! What a catch, Kit!" Leonardo exclaimed in a loud booming voice as a proud Kit held it up for him.

"He's good for her too," Andre told Carly. "Look at how he makes her laugh. When did she ever laugh like that?"

"I honestly don't know," Carly admitted. "I'm still worried; this new Luca is so.. new."

"You don't know some of the things I know," Andre said. "He's always taking care of her, Carly. It's like she's always on his mind, and I know something about that."

She giggled a little at that and nudged him, "Yeah, me too, but I need some details; what do you mean he takes care of her? Like how he got her the groceries?"

"Yes, or how he taught her to make the omelet."

"I could argue that was for your dad," she pointed out.

"Sure, but then he started chopping the veggies up for her the night before. He also cleaned all the fish they caught for the fish fry. Let's not forget the weekend."

"The weekend was a silly bet and his way of getting some," Carly scoffed.

"I don't think so," Andre mumbled, "he'd have just gone out and met someone then. He knew she needed a break after her first week."

"You might be right, and she did need that weekend," Carly was nodding. "He is just as into her as she is."

"Maybe even more," Andre confirmed, "Those are the little things; there's something major he did too."

"What?" Carly asked.

"You can't tell her," Andre warned her. "I'm sure Luca wants to do it his way."

"Tell me!" She urged him, "You have to now!"

"He tried to pretend he came here to get his cut," Andre spoke quietly as he told her. "That was a big fat lie. He's giving over twenty grand of it to Jase."

"Are you serious!?" Carly's eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

"To replace what Stone lost, so Kit doesn't have to," he confirmed.

"Oh my gosh," Carly gasped, "that's... damn."

"Told you so," Andre smirked, and she swatted at him.

"She might get mad about that," Carly commented. "actually, she will be, but it is the best thing anyone could do for her. She's worked so hard for everyone else."

"Yeah," Andre chuckled. "Glad you see it that way; you're going need to calm her down when the time comes."

"On it."

"I'm honestly more worried about him than her."

"Luca getting hurt? Kit wouldn't hurt him."

"Not Kit," Andre looked towards Leonardo, who was posing for a photo with Kit and her fish, as Luca snapped it. His brother was actually looking at his dad in a soft way for the first time in years.

"Andre," Carly sighed as she came to stand closer to him. "We're all going to hurt badly."

"I know," he said softly; he pulled her into his arms and hugged her from behind.

"We just .. we need to be there for each other, all four of us," Carly said, "it's the only way we're getting through this."

"I couldn't agree more," he said as he looked out at the water. "I love you, Carly."

"I love you too, Andre."

***

After the day of fishing, they all went back to the Donato house to fry them all up. Leonardo nearly fell asleep at the table after such a big day. Carly and Andre claimed Kit and Luca won the little contest, but Kit suspected they were giving her and Luca a night out.

She insisted they didn't need a sober cab as they could just walk from the bar to her house, so Luca drove them to the Hart house. The porch was still a pigsty, but she figured she'd deal with it on Monday. They walked into the house to find Jase, Jess, and a few other teenagers sitting around the table.

"You all missed it! They had a taco truck today at the park," Billy told them as he shoved some chips on his face.

"Then why are you eating all of our food?" Kit asked, making Jase roll his eyes.

"You guys are sleeping here tonight?" Jase asked with a frown.

"Yes, and I'm kicking everyone out at midnight," Kit said, then looked at Jess, "except you." Jess blushed and giggled softly. Sitting so close to Jase, she was nearly on his lap.

"Don't be a party pooper," Luca teased her.

"Yeah, Kit!" Billy smirked at her and then looked at Luca. "hey dude, can you buy us some booze?"

"Not a chance," Luca said. "Nice try."

Kit laughed as she headed out of the kitchen and up to her room. Luca was quickly behind her. "Those shorts are killing me," he added with a smack to her butt as they reached the top. She squealed and turned to scold him, but he captured her lips with his own before she could. They fell backward against her bedroom door as their kiss deepened.

"Go, Kit!" Angie, another friend of Jase's cheered, and two other kids giggled, and an irritated Kit looked to see a handful of kids coming from Stone's bedroom.

"Seriously?" Kit groaned. "What are you all doing in there? Stone will kill you."

"Looking for his stash," one of them admitted.

"Jase told us too!" Another one said.

"I don't give a shit what Jase said. Stay out of the bedrooms," Luca said; he almost sounded stern, and Kit bit back a smirk.

"Do you guys have any smoke?" One of the guys asked them.

"Go!" Kit waved them off. Luca laughed as they all bounded down the stairs.

"Let's get out of there before they drive me nuts," Kit whined.

"Lock this." Luca motioned to her door and then leaned close, lowering his velvety voice as he got closer to her ear. "I don't want any of those punks fucking in the bed I'm going to ravish you in later."

His words went right to her core, and judging by the smug look on his face, he knew it too. She stuck her tongue out at him and breezed past him to the stairs, "And you call me a tease!" She exclaimed as she ran down.

"In those shorts, you are." He was behind her in seconds. He slipped a hand into her back pocket as they headed out. It was oddly nice. She didn't realize how much she liked having Luca in her bubble until he wasn't; she couldn't get enough of him now.

The streets were packed with people as they walked towards the bar. Outside the bar were several makeshift tables and a few grills. Earlier, they probably had a big feast. Luca opened the door for her, and she walked in first.

Stone waved them over, and they went to sit at the bar. "Beers?" Stone asked as he poured one for Luca.

"I'll have a white wine," Kit said.

"Oh, you will, fancy pants?" Stone teased her as he grabbed a glass. "What kind do you want?"

She looked at Luca, "What was the wine you bought that I liked?"

Luca laughed. "He won't have that here. Just give her a Pinot Grigio."

"Don't spoil her too much; she'll get too good for this town," Stone commented as he filled a glass and handed it to her.

"She already is," Luca said in that smooth way of his, giving her butterflies.

"That's true," Stone agreed.

"Oh, stop you two," Kit took a sip and found it didn't quite compare to what Luca had gotten her. It wasn't too bad, though, better than beer.

"House still standing?" Stone asked. "I had to hide my beer."

"They were in your room, but Luca told them to stay out."

"Jase thinks I'm dumb enough to leave my stash at home during a block party?" Stone's phone chimed, and he glanced at it. "Hell yeah! The diehards are coming in tonight. I gotta make a batch of poison."

"Show me!" Luca exclaimed as his eyes lit up.

"No!" Kit looked at him sharply. "You're not drinking that shit. No one should," she looked pointedly at Stone.

"So bossy," Luca quipped.

"You like it," she teased.

"Not as much as you.." Luca started but then caught Stone's eye and quickly closed his mouth.

"Yeah, keep that mouth shut," Stone said, and Eric snickered while Luca made a motion of zipping his lips.

"I suppose I can show you how to make it," Stone glanced from Luca to Kit. "I'll only let him sample it, Kit."

"Dad," she sighed.

"One small shot won't hurt him," Stone said, "it's early. I can't take more than one anyway. "

Kit raised an eyebrow, "Fine, one, I don't know how you can even swallow that crap." She shuddered at the one and only memory she had with it. As a teen, she and a girlfriend had found it one night and dared each other. That night was followed by three days of puking. She learned her lesson fast.

"That's what's so great about it! The bragging rights when I show my buddies up," Luca looked like a kid in a candy store. "They won't know what hit them. I'll show Jay's ass."

Stone cracked up. "Come on back, Luca."

The two men left the bar and started heading to the back room. "You got to be careful who you give this to and how much," Stone told Luca as they walked into the office.

Once the door closed, it hit her and her eyes widened. She looked up at Eric, who also looked stunned. "Wait, did my dad just-"

"Offer to show someone his poison?" Eric shook his head in disbelief, "I've asked for years!"

"I.. can't believe this," she mumbled softly.

"He really likes your boyfriend," Eric noted.

"I don't know if he's my boyfriend," she said honestly. "It's kind of seems like it, but I don't know if it is official; it's not really his thing."

"It wasn't his thing," Eric corrected her. "Then he met you."

"Eric!" She blushed at that.

Someone from across the bar waived Eric over, and he left to help them. Kit mused to herself as he left. Stone wasn't the type of dad that ever cared to approve of her dates. However, he never liked anyone she dated, either, until now. Something about it touched her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little rumor starting bitch in the flesh." Kyle's voice instantly caused her body to tense up.

"Go away, Kyle," she huffed in an annoyed tone. "No one started any rumors about you."

"Bullshit," he said as he got closer, "Why is my mom calling me for asking me why I got a rep as a predator? That's the word you used, right?"

"So, apparently, I'm not the only one that thinks so," Kit retorted.

Kyle sat down next to her and made an annoying snapping gesture at Eric, who purposely ignored him. She got up and started walking towards her dad's office. But just as she passed the bathrooms, Kyle suddenly sidestepped in front of her, blocking her path. A group of people pushed them both to the side, and she found herself trapped between Kyle and the wall to the bathrooms.

"You're wrong," he said lowly, "Seventeen is the age of consent in our state."

"You looked it up?" Kit raised her eyebrows. "I think that proves you know it's wrong."

"I could sue you for defamation."

"Please do!" She laughed out loud. "I know some attorneys that would gladly help me out."

"Of course, you'd go running to Richey's daddy," he stepped closer, and on instinct, she backed up. "Don't start thinking you're anything special, you're still the conman's loser daughter, and you know it."

"Just go away!" She exclaimed. "Leave me alone and Jess too!"

"I will when you shut your little bitch mouth about me." He got so close she could smell his beer breath and feel his hot breath on her face.

"Get the fuck away from her!"

Before she knew what was happening, Kyle was pushed hard into the wall by a furious Luca.

"I don't know what made you think it was a good idea to fuck with Luca Donato's woman, but you better get the word, untouchable, through your head real quick." Luca's voice was menacing as he leaned in.

"I'm not scared of you," Kyle muttered, but his eyes told a different story.

"Oh, you should be," Luca suddenly had his throat, and Kit gasped as Kyle's face started to redden.

"I think I just melted." Kit heard Stone say in the distance, causing Eric to laugh and hush him. Kit realized the room was hushed, and everyone was watching this. She was stunned, too, standing there slack-jawed and silent as she watched all this unfold. Luca had never looked hotter than he did at that moment.

"You really should be," Luca said in a low voice as he squeezed Kyle's neck harder, leaving him gasping for air. "Because if you fuck with my girl or her family again..."

Luca paused, loosening his grip on Kyle slightly as he leaned closer and lowered his voice to whisper. "I'll hurt you so bad you'll beg me to kill you and end your suffering."

"...And believe me when I say I'll get away with it too. I could buy and sell you, and your daddy would thank me for it." Kyle was gasping harder, and his eyes were wild with fear. Luca released his grip on his throat but didn't move away.

"You got it?"

"Yeah, fuck," Kyle croaked out. "I'll leave her alone."

"Her and her family, Jess too," Luca demanded. "if you even think about her. I'll find out, don't think I won't."

"Fine! Move!" Kyle actually looked like he might cry.

Luca backed away enough to give him room to leave.

"Crazy mother fucker." Kyle mumbled as he ducked away from Luca as fast as his now shaky legs would carry him. He stumbled away, holding his throat as he raced to the door. A group of his friends were at a table, gaping at the scene. Kyle looked over at them, but none of them rose to help him. He shook his head before he ducked out the door, slamming it behind him.

"Good riddance!" Stone yelled out before he headed back to the bar to help some customers. The silence suddenly turned into buzzing as everyone started to talk about what had happened.

Luca turned to face Kit, his tension easing up as he looked at her. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to have anyone talking to you like that."

"Bathroom now," Kit cut him off, and his eyes flickered excitedly at her tone.

"Baby, your dad's here," he said as his eyes shifted to the bar, where Stone was busy with customers.

"Then we'll lock the door," she said as she dragged him into the bathroom.