Luca woke before anyone else the following day. Kit was curled in his arms with her face pressed against his chest, her unruly hair was in his mouth, and he had to spit it out. She was also drooling on his bare chest; it was all stupidly cute. He smoothed her wild hair back as he held her there. He had to piss, and one of his arms was going to sleep, but he didn't want to move her. Finally, he had to disengage from her and gently roll her off him. She made a little mumbling sound and then turned over, taking his pillow with her and clutching it to her chest.

"You got me turning into a softie, Cricket," he said with a sigh before he stepped off the bed.

After a quick freshen-up, he made his way to the bathroom and headed out to make coffee and breakfast for everyone. He found the leftover pizza mostly eaten, but the remnants sat on the couch. Andre was gone, so he must've made his way upstairs after that.

As he headed into the kitchen and started the coffee, he heard a coughing noise from above. He frowned and looked around, hoping someone would randomly materialize. When that didn't happen, the coughing got louder. He grabbed a glass of water and headed upstairs swiftly. He found Andre passed out in the hallway in front of his bedroom door. Luca rolled his eyes as he walked past his brother but then hurried into Leonardo's room.

He stepped in swiftly and found Leonardo red-faced and coughing hard. He was in a wheelchair and looked to have just left the bathroom.

"Dad, you, okay?" Luca headed towards him just as Leonardo's coughs finally subsided; they sounded so deep and painful.

"You're here," he croaked.

"Yeah, here, drink this." Luca handed him the water.

"Thank you," Leonardo cleared his throat. "Luca...you... came back?"

"Last night," Luca confirmed. "Let's not get all, whatever, about it, but I'm going to hang around here for a while, alright?"

"Okay," Leonardo said as a storm of emotions passed over his face. "That makes me very happy, Luca."

"Do you need medicine or something?"

"Not yet, I have that with my breakfast," he explained. "I assume Andre may have slept in."

"Yeah," Luca snickered. "I can make you breakfast; what do you want?"

"Those omelets have been good."

"You have those a lot; I'll make you anything you want, Dad."

"Chocolate chip pancakes?" He asked with a sheepish grin.

"Really?" Luca found the request amusing. "Done then."

"Do you think I could eat downstairs?" Leonardo asked, "I am feeling good today; I slept well last night."

"That cough didn't sound good," Luca mentioned.

"Believe me, son, it can be much worse," he said gravely.

"Let me just clear the hallway, and I'll come back and get you," Luca offered.

"Clear the hallway?" Leonardo questioned as Luca stepped out.

He walked over to Andre and gave him a nudge with his foot, "Get up."

"What?" Andre groaned as he opened one eye. "Go away, Luca. Out of my room!"

"You're in the hallway," Luca informed him.

"What?" Andre sat up with a cringe, "oh, my head."

"Passed out right in front of your door, that's so... me of you," Luca joked.

"Ha-ha," Andre croaked as he stumbled to his feet. "I need to get Father's breakfast and medicine."

"I got it. Dad wants to eat downstairs," Luca told him. "So get yourself together."

"I'm going back to bed then," Andre said. "Or to bed, I guess."

"No, you're not," Luca said. "You got to suck it up and get ready."

"Excuse me?" Andre raised an eyebrow.

"He said he's feeling good today," Luca said. "So we're going to take him fishing, the girls too. He'll be pumped to do that, right?"

Andre's expression immediately softened, "Yeah, he'll be thrilled; that's wow. Luca, that's such a great idea. I... thank you for thinking of it and"-

"Don't get all sappy. Just go shower that stink off" Luca held his shirt over his face and shuddered.

"It's not that bad," Andre mumbled as he ducked into his bedroom.

****

Kit found Luca already gone when she woke up; waking up in the house she worked at was a little awkward. Made worse by not having a change of clothes, so she wore Luca's shirt over her leggings.

When she stepped out into the living room, she froze when she heard Leonardo's voice.

'Well, this just got a lot more awkward,' she took a small step forward and could see Luca's back as he was at the stove. Leonardo was sitting in his wheelchair at the table but angled towards the kitchen, talking to Luca.

"Good morning, Kit," Leonardo's eyes shifted toward her, and they were amused at what she was guessing was a very weird look on her face.

"Uh hey Leo, it uh got late last night and-"

Leonardo burst out laughing. "I was young once; relax. Carly is here five nights a week or more."

"Right," she relaxed and laughed the nervousness out. "Morning to you; feeling good today?" she noted his cheeks had more color than usual, and his eyes had a spark to them; she had a feeling Luca was good medicine for him.

"I am," he smiled at that.

Luca turned and flashed her a sexy grin, "Hey, gorgeous."

"Hey," she found her cheeks flushing as she grinned back at him.

"What are you making?" She asked as she got closer, he reached over and pinched her butt when Leonardo wasn't looking, and she shot him a look that he just winked at.

"Chocolate chip pancakes, Dad's request," he said as he flipped a very chocolatey-looking cake over.

"How many chocolate chips did you use?"

"A lot," Luca said as he poured more batter into the pan. "We need our energy today."

'For what?" Kit asked as she filled a cup of coffee.

"We're going fishing!" Leonardo said gleefully, "Luca said it's supposed to be a perfect day for it."

"You didn't have plans, did you?" Luca glanced at her.

"I do now," Kit chirped as she made her way to the table and sat next to Leonardo, "I just need to pop home and change after breakfast. Make sure my house is still standing."

"Me too, I'll drive you," Carly offered as she came down the stairs, "We can just meet them at the lake."

"Andre among the living yet?" Luca asked as he tossed a massive pile of pancakes on the table.

"Almost; he's in the shower," Carly said as she grabbed some plates and set the table with them.

Leonardo's eyes lit up at the pancakes, and he quickly tossed two on his plate. Kit got up to get his medicine, brushing Luca's hip as she walked past him. They couldn't stop touching or grinning at each other this morning, and she felt a little giddy. Not to mention him calling her his girl last night.

They had all settled at the table with food and coffee when Andre finally came down, looking pretty pale.

He sat next to Carly and slumped in his seat, "morning."

"Hit the booze last night, son?" Leonardo guessed with an amused smirk.

"A little," he admitted with a sheepish look.

"Good for you," Leonardo laughed. "bout time you loosen up."

"It felt better last night," Andre said as he rubbed his temples.

"Never let Carly make your drinks," Kit advised him, ignoring Carly's huffy noise.

"That would have been good advice last night," Andre said dryly.

"Two aspirin on a full glass of water. Then black coffee, burnt toast, and runny eggs," Leonardo said. "Cures a hangover every time."

"Really?" Andre looked up with hope in his reddened eyes.

"I've had plenty of late whiskey nights," Leonardo nodded.

"Luca, can you make me the eggs?" Andre looked at his brother just as he was about to take a bite of a pancake.

"I just.."

"Please?" Andre nearly sounded like a little boy in his pleading voice; Carly let out a little giggle.

"Oh, fine," Luca groaned as he stood up.

Kit smiled to herself as she watched him walk into the kitchen. Luca was pulling at her heartstrings with every step forward he took.

****

Carly dropped Kit off at her house to change and said she'd pick her back up when she was ready. Even as she walked past the enormous mess of beer cans, bottles, cigarette butts, and everything else on her porch, Kit was still smiling.

He came back; he came to her, he told her he needed her, and called her his girl. Even in bed last night, things were different, more intimate. She wanted to break into a dance. But it was new, and it was all surrounding this thing he had to get through with his dad. She'd be there every step of the way, but she knew it wouldn't always be easy like this; when things got hard, she didn't know what to expect from Luca, but she was wisely going to need to prepare herself.

Today, though they were taking Leonardo fishing, it was going to be a good day; just as she was about to walk inside, she heard footsteps behind her.

"Is she in there?"

She grimaced; of course, something would come and try and ruin her mood.

"Go away, Kyle," she said as she whirled around.

"I just want to know if she is in there," he said with his arms crossed around him, "if she is, then I know she's a stupid slut, and we're done."

"Oh, screw off, Kyle," Kit snapped at him. "You jerk her around and then get mad when she moves on? Leave her alone. She's just a kid."

"Oh, please! How old is Richie Rich, anyway?"

"He's twenty-six, and it's not the same thing."

"It's the same exact thing and the same age difference," he said smugly.

"I am twenty-two! Jess just turned seventeen; there is a huge difference between teenagers and adults."

His face reddened, and his eyes narrowed angrily, "you think you're all high and mighty cause you're dating the lawyer's son? He's just looking for something to do until he gets his inheritance check. Let's not forget you're just the town loser's daughter."

"That's rich coming from the town predator," she said smoothly, enjoying how much redder his face got.

"Fuck you," he muttered before whirling around and stomping off.

"Truth hurts, huh!" she called back after him.

***

A little while later, Carly picked her up. She was dressed in a pair of white shorts, a pink camouflage shirt, and a matching wide-brim hat, with a white fishing vest over it. She somehow pulled it off, though as elaborate as it was. Kit had kept it simple in a casual pair of jean shorts that were slightly on the short side and a loose-fitted tee shirt so she'd be comfortable. She'd pulled her hair into a loose bun.

They guys were already at the lake when they pulled up. They had a big blanket with a cooler, and Leonardo sat in his chair facing the lake. It was a perfect day for this, warm but not hot, and just a slight breeze.

"Oh look, Ken, it's fishing, Barbie!" Luca teased as they got closer, and he took in Carly's look, Leonardo chuckled at it, and Andre tried but failed to hide a laugh.

"There is nothing wrong with dressing for the occasion!" she huffed out as she narrowed her eyes at Andre.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly.

"Be nice, Luca," Kit scolded with a tiny grin.

"Was that not the look you were going for?" he asked Carly, who stuck her tongue out at him.

"You'll be eating those words later when I slay you with my catches," Carly declared proudly as she grabbed her pole and marched to the dock. "Come on, Andre."

"I've created a monster," Andre laughed and followed her towards the dock.

"Don't set yourself up for disappointment," Luca said as he followed them. "No way are you out fishing me."

"Yes, I will," she said smugly, "I'm good, right, Andre?"

"She is good," Andre admitted with a proud look towards Carly.

"Not better than me," Luca shrugged.

"You're so full of yourself," Kit giggled as she scrambled up to join them. "I happen to be good too."

"Oh, I know how good you are, baby," Luca said with a look that made her shiver. "Okay, let's do this, me and Kit versus you two, see you can slay who."

"Yes!" Leonardo cheered, "I can't wait to see who takes it."

"What do the winners get?" Carly asked as they all started to find spots on the large dock.

"To go out, losers have to stay home and then play sober cab later," Luca said.

"I'm not drinking again tonight-" Andre started, but Carly nudged him t shut him up.

"You are if we win!" She declared. "I never get to party with you; last night was so fun. It's a deal."

"We can start taking turns more," Luca muttered, casting a guilty look towards Andre and Carly, but he looked away when his bobber went under.

"First catch!" he declared as he stood up to reel it in, "I think that's a sign of who's going to win this."

"Pft," Carly scoffed.

They were slaying them most of the morning and were pretty close to being tied for catches by early afternoon. Kit stood to take a break and walked over to join Leonardo. He had an easy, relaxed smile, and his eyes were misty.

"You are doing okay?" she asked, grabbing some waters from the cooler.

"Amazing," Leonardo smiled. "I love watching all of you like this. Now when you tell your stories, I can picture it."

"When Luca and I went fishing that day, did I tell you I fell over when I caught one that was so big?" she asked.

Leonardo smiled at her. "You did, but not that my son was there."

"That was the best part. I fell backward right on him," she told Leonardo, making the older man laugh.

"I imagine he didn't mind that," He smiled as he looked out at Luca, who was studying a fish Andre had just caught, comparing it to one he'd just reeled in. "I knew you and Luca would get on well. I just knew it."

"Maybe not at first, but he's growing on me."

"He's very smitten with you, I can see that."

"Stop," she giggled, blushing slightly.

"He's making big moves, taking his walls down like this," Leonardo commented.

"He is," she agreed in a soft voice.

"I am so happy he's willing to give me a chance to build some good memories," he added.

"Me too, Leo, and it's just the start. He's opening the door to you, and in time forgiveness will come too."

"I hope so," Leonardo said, "not for me but for him. I don't want those bad feelings to linger for him after I'm gone."

She gulped and nodded silently, recalling what Luca had told her last night. She made a mental note to ask Luca and Andre to sit and talk, get a new doctor's appointment, and see where Leonardo was at.

"It'll be so easy for him," Leonardo said quietly. "To put his walls back up when I'm gone, to shut everyone out again."

She looked at him sharply, her eyes filling with worry.

"Don't let him do that," Leonardo pleaded with her, "if anyone can keep him from doing that, it'll be you. He might not always make it easy on you but promise me; you won't give up on my son."

"I promise," her words comforted the dying man as a relaxed look crossed his face.