"Girl, all I'm saying is I called it. Didn't I, Annalisa?" Samantha laughs. "I knew the moment you knocked him on his gorgeous tight ass, that you two would end up together, again. 

I mean, damn, the way you guys always look at each other, it feels like I'm walking in on something I shouldn't every time you two lock eyes; that or I want to grab a drink and popcorn to watch you two go at it. You don't have to tell me to know the sex is mind blowing every single time, am I right?"

Annalisa chuckles next to me as I eat the chips with salsa we are all sharing as an appetizer. We decided to have a girls night out once Sam arrived to be here for the gender reveal.

"I mean, it is amazing, there's just this deeper connection with him. I don't know how to explain it," I smile at her. 

"You should have come to the lake house Sam, you would have heard it for yourself!" Annalisa laughs as she eats some of the chips. "We all heard; Santino had to take the kids outside that first night." 

"Hey, like you should talk!" I nudge Annalisa. "Since you're staying with Annalisa, I'm sure you'll get to hear your fair share of naughty things with these two."

"Oh trust," Samantha smiles and winks at Annalisa. "After spending three years with them, I'm well versed in all things Joey and Annalisa."

Annalisa blushes as she shrugs; and Sam and I laugh. 

"So, tell us how are you liking your new job?" I lean forward on the table and take a sip of my drink.

"It's going really good," Samantha grins at us. "I'm building a good client base. I like my co-workers, met a few nice people. But I sure do miss you two." She reaches her hands across the table and we each grab her hands.

"We miss you too, Sam," Annalisa tells her. "Maybe down the road you could find work here, that's the great thing about your career it's always needed anywhere you go!" Annalisa says enthusiastically.

"True but it's more competitive out here, I was lucky I even got the job in California as it is." Sam chuckles.

The waiter brings out our meals and we enjoy the rest of the evening eating and laughing. Reminiscing on some of our times together.

"Well, if this one wasn't knocked up, I'd say this would be a great night to end with a good hash!" Samantha chuckles as she puts her arm around Annalisa's shoulders. 

Nicky and Paulie are walking behind us as we make it back to our car when I get this eery feeling that we are being watched. I look around casually not wanting to look obvious but I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Che cos'è? " Nicky asks as he opens the door for us. (What is it?)

"Nothing, I hope. I just got a feeling that someone is watching us, but I don't see anything or anyone," I tell him and he looks around before he closes the door behind me. 

"Is something wrong?" Annalisa asks me as I buckle my seatbelt. I smile at her and shake my head. 

"No, I just got this weird feeling, but I don't think it was anything." I tell her. 

Annalisa looks back at me seriously. "Your guts' never wrong, Stella. What is it?"

"It felt like someone was watching us, but I couldn't see anything or anyone." I tell her. "But it's probably a good thing we are headed home." 

"I forget the thrill it is being around you two. My life seems so boring, now," Samantha sighs dramatically.

Annalisa and I both chuckle. "I don't know if that's supposed to be a compliment, but sometimes a normal life seems very appealing," I tell her. 

My phone chimes and I smile when I see it's JP. 

My Love: I'll be over tonight, but don't wait up. It'll be late. I love you, baby.

Me: Okay, but you better wake me ;) Love you!

"Well, I am determined to get laid while I'm here," Samantha announces. " Being around you two is not good for my six month dry spell. The only thing getting repeatedly slammed in my bed is the damn snooze button on my alarm. Nicky baby, who's your friend? I don't remember him from before." 

Annalisa and I crack up while Nicky introduces Paulie in his broken English. Paulie holds his left hand up showing Sam his wedding ring.

"Figures," Samantha sighs. 

<><><><>

Later that night, as I stir in my sleep, I reach over on JP's side of the bed and don't feel him next to me. I roll over and see he's not in bed. I rub my eyes to adjust them to the darkness of the room and then I see JP standing near the balcony doors. He's only in his boxer briefs, looking out the window as he leans one arm up against the door frame. 

I climb out of bed and walk over to him. I wrap my arms around his waist and he jerks a little from being startled, but then places his arms over mine.

I kiss his back. "What's wrong, John Paul?" 

"Nothing, princess. I'm sorry if I woke you," He turns and wraps his arm around me, bringing me to his side. 

"JP, we don't get to do that anymore. No more secrets, remember? No more lies between us," I look up at him and he grazes my face lightly with his fingers. 

He sighs deeply. "You're right amore, forgive me." He looks over the backyard again. "You remember Georgie, from the gathering?" I nod in response.

"He was attacked and is in the hospital."

"Is he going to be okay?"

"It's too soon to know, but the Dr.'s seem optimistic." JP sighs. "I feel like it's the calm before the storm." He looks down at me. "I'm scared, Stella. I'm scared for the kids, for us, and for you." He holds my face in his. "And the thing is even if we walked away, I don't think we can stop what's coming." 

He looks at me with so much love yet I also see how worried he is. I nod and decide to bite the bullet and tell him about tonight. "I didn't want to worry you but tonight when we were leaving the restaurant I had this feeling like someone was watching me and the girls. I didn't see anything or anyone that looked out of place, but I couldn't shake that feeling." 

JP's eyebrows furrow together. "Did you let Nicky know?" 

"Yes, he looked around but didn't see anything either." 

JP inhales deeply. "I'll double the security detail. I know you don't want too many men with the kids when they're out, but I don't want to take any chances." 

"I agree," I turn and hug him tightly. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I know we'll get through it, JP. Together."

"I don't think I could handle it, if anything happens to you again." 

I hold him tighter as I hear his heart race against my ear. "If something were to happen, you'll survive. You have to, not just for yourself but the kids. It may be hard, but you've done it before."

"Barely." He tightens his arms around me and then he lifts my chin to look up at him. "I know it's something we need to talk about but not tonight." He dips his head down and place his lips on mine so soft and tender. His hand move to my neck and head and he pulls me closer to him, his hand entangles my hair. 

I slide my hands down his hard chest and the dips of his abs and palm his hardened length and begin stroking him, he gets harder in my hand as he groans. I slide both my hands under his elastic band of his boxer briefs and grab a hold of his ass and pull him towards me. 

JP walks us back to the bed and then I feel his hand travel down to my backside before he scrunches the thin silk material of the nightgown I'm wearing and he lifts it over my head, leaving me only in my panties. He lifts me up, his mouth crashes down on mine and I grip on to his broad shoulders and then he lays us down over the bed. 

I try to reach down for him, but he pins my arms above my head as his mouth moves down over my chest and the vibrations I feel as he moans with one of my hardened nipples in his mouth sends the pulsing in between my legs into overdrive; his tongue swirls around before he begins suckling. 

He does the same to the other side, while he grinds his erection up against my core and the aching in between my legs is becoming unbearably overwhelming in the most wonderful way. 

"I'm going to bury myself in you over and over again," His voice is so rough and husky and it turns me on even more.

"I won't stop you," I say breathlessly. 

He keeps my hands pinned with one hand while he reaches down with the other and removes not only my panties but his underwear, too and then he pushes my legs further apart with his knees. 

My back arches off the bed as he plunges into me so deeply. He withdraws and then he moves in again slowly rolling his hips and I moan his name.  His movements are so slow yet hard. His hands roam and skim all over my body leaving a trail of heat everywhere. And I come over the edge quickly. 

He turns me around and kisses my neck and then my back and sides before his large hands grip my hips and he drives into me. Again, he withdraws and thrusts into me and I moan out in pleasure. The sound of his balls slapping against me with each push sends me into the abyss of ecstasy again. 

Then he pushes me down on my stomach and lays over me holding my hands as he continues to thrust into me. "God, I love how wet you are, baby." 

He turns me around to face him again and kisses me passionately as he buries himself into me once more and then pauses as he leans away and brushes my wild hair away from my face. "I love you so much, Stella." 

I wrap my shaking legs around him and pull him deeper into me, "I love you, John Paul." And he begins to move again and his pace slowly increases and I hold on as the tightness grows again within me. 

"I'm close, baby." 

"Me, too." I gasp out and then I let go and he follows quickly behind me, groaning loudly. 

"The things you do to me, JP." I sigh as I lay over him. 

"I'm just trying to keep up with you, amore," He hums with his eyes closed; and soon after I hear his breath evening out and I know he's fallen asleep. 

I lay there looking at the man I love and wish with everything that I am to be able to help take some of his worry, pain and guilt away. He's changed so much, yet, he's still the same handsome, guy who quietly stole my heart when we were kids. 

I kiss his chest as I snuggle into him and smile as I feel his arm tighten around me before I drift off to sleep. 

<><><><>

"Okay, is everyone ready?" Annalisa addresses the crowd consisting of both hers and Joey's family and friends in their large backyard, waiting anxiously to find out what they are having.

"Yes!" Several people shout in response.

I carefully hand the football that's filled with the powder revealing the gender of their baby to Joey. He smiles at me enthusiastically and spins the football in his hand and then he turns away from the crowd and punts the ball into the air.

An explosion of pink powder showers the sky and everyone screams and cheers excitedly. Everyone was given individual confetti poppers and they start going off in succession all around with more pink confetti spraying over the crowd.  

Joey picks up Annalisa and spins her around laughing happily while Annalisa hugs him and laughs through her tears.

I chuckle as I watch several of the guys handing off money to each other, losing bets on what they thought the baby would be and by the looks of it, Enzo made out like a bandit guessing the gender correctly. 

Annalisa runs to me and hugs me tightly. "Thank you, Thank you! This was so wonderful! I'm so glad you mentioned it to begin with." She leans away wiping her face. "Ah! Can you believe it? A little girl! I really hope she has Joey's curly hair!" She laughs and I join her, hugging her again. 

"Girl, you sure no how to throw a party! This was amazing! And I can't believe you've been keeping it a secret for two weeks now. There's no way I would have been able to keep it in!" Sam tells me, her hair is littered with pink confetti. She turns to hug Annalisa. " A little Anna is on the way, I can't wait to hold her, snuggle her and kiss her! Oh and I totally wouldn't mind if you named her Samantha!"

"Girl, get in line! Dot already wants us to consider her name, too!" Annalisa smiles, still wiping her tears.

"Stella! You did an amazing job! Thank so much!" Joey lifts me in a hug. 

"You guys are both welcome! It was fun to plan out and do!" I tell them.

"I think you found your calling without even realizing it. You can open a party planning business and even still do some baking, depending on the occasion," Annalisa tells me. 

I shrug, realizing that she may be on to something. I feel like that's all of done since returning back to New York, either helping or planning parties. 

"She's right, baby," JP comes up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist. "You did an amazing job and have done so with the other parties and the wedding, too." 

"You think?"

"I know, amore," JP turns me around to face him. "You are so talented and smart, but whatever you choose to do, you know I'll support you every step of the way," I smile up at him as I hug him. "And I can't wait until we can do this for our own little ones one day," He tells me quietly. 

I lean back. "Then why haven't you moved back?" I ask seriously and can't help the pout that comes across my face and he chuckles.

"I thought you'd never ask."

"Wait, you were waiting for me to ask you?" I question, confused.

"Of course, I didn't want to assume that you wanted me to move in so quickly and I was trying really hard to be patient, but you know I'm not very good at being patient." His hand caressing my hair and then lingers on my jawline. 

"I'd love nothing more than to come to you every night, especially since I have to travel for work tomorrow."

"You do?" I ask surprised.

"I want to go visit Georgie and his family. He still lives with his mom, since his father was one of the Don's that was killed during Gio's uprising. He's their only son, he has a younger sister, so I want to go see if there's anything I can do for them. And I have some meetings to attend while I'm out there to check on the new Don's and see how they are settling in; I'll update you on them each day, if you want."

"How long will you be gone?" 

"Just a few days, three at the most; so, I'll be back by Wednesday next week. I'll have Adonis move my things over tonight." He smiles at me and I grin back at him. "Come on, let's go enjoy the rest of the party," He interlaces his hand with mine and leads me back to where our friends and family are. 

I bask in the happy, loving and celebratory atmosphere as I look over the kids, our friends and family. I know life won't always be this way, but for now, as I lean into JP, sitting on his lap enjoying the lightness and happiness I feel. 

I laugh along with everyone as Enzo and Joey push each other. They are pulling up the last leg of a relay race that the kids started and they sprint across the yard while the kids yell out for them to run fast; cheering or screaming their names loudly.