STELLA

It's been a busy couple of weeks since I was discharged from the hospital. 

Joey's funeral was held a few days after I was home as well. Annalisa was adamant in trying to make it a celebration of Joey's life and how he brought joy to everyone's life rather than a time to be sad. 

She arranged for his favorite songs to play before and after the service as friends and family spoke and shared in their grief and recalled their favorite memories of Joey.

But poor Annalisa couldn't hold in her emotions--not that she was expected to--and broke down during JP's eulogy. Joey's mom and dad, Valentina and Orlando, sat on either side of her and held her tightly, comforting her, and whispering words of love.

They even stayed for a few days with Annalisa at her house and went with her to a check up. 

And upon learning of the fallout she had with her parents, Annalisa wept as they held her telling her she was their daughter now and they asked her to come live with them even if it was only during the pregnancy.

They also offered to have the baby shower at their home, but Annalisa declined; she didn't want to have the baby shower anymore and just wanted something small and intimate. To soften the refusal, she agreed to move in with them during the remainder of her pregnancy. 

We hugged and shed a lot of tears when I helped her pack her things. Enzo insisted on going with her, but Annalisa told him it wasn't necessary because Valentina and Orlando had their own security.

But that wasn't good enough for Enzo. He told her he didn't take his promise to Joey lightly and he intended on seeing it through. 

It was difficult and hard to watch as they argued on the day she left. Annalisa's argument was it wouldn't be fair to hold him to watch over her or the baby if it kept him from his duties to the family and thinking longterm, she told him it was an impossible promise to keep. 

In her mind it didn't make sense or at the very least she felt like the promise he made to Joey came with an expiration date. He couldn't possibly intend to watch over her and the baby for the rest of their lives, to which he responded with a deadpan of, "duh, of course I do."

After she stormed out of the house, Valentina thanked Enzo for taking his promise seriously and offered him to join Annalisa. She told him they had plenty of space and a room for him to use. He declined politely knowing it was best to let Annalisa cool off, even though he muttered that pregnancy made her crazier then she already was. 

I remember the knowing look Joey's parents gave one another smiling softly at each other before they hugged Enzo and thanked him for looking out for their Joey and for Annalisa. As we hugged Valentina and Orlando they asked me to keep them updated on our baby as well. 

JP and I met with the men, and the other capo's via video calls and went over our plan of attack against the Albanians, that will roll out in coming days. 

We enlisted the help of Tej and with his expertise alongside Mateo and David, we will be able to make a move on them they won't see coming. All the while still maintaining a low profile and not drawing attention from the FBI since we know they are watching us carefully. 

"Nipote, I know your mind and I know you need to satiate a particular appetite in order to have some clarity. Especially after what happened with Joey," Cristian stands in the conference room addressing Enzo. "I phoned the Vitale brothers."

My head snaps up at this information and I look over at JP and see he's already watching me. "Our alliance with them will give us greater numbers should this escalate even further." 

"I don't need any help. You know I don't work with anyone." Enzo states irritated. He looks like he hasn't slept in days. Three days to be exact; since Annalisa left.

"You won't be working with anyone, Lorenzo, but you, Topo, and the Vitale brothers will simultaneously go after the different remaining heads of the Albanians," Cristian informs Enzo. I can tell by the look in his eye his attention and interest is peaked.

Enzo leans forward in his chair running a hand through his three day stubble. "What's the plan then?"

Cristian looks at JP, he gives a subtle nod, and Cristian launches into a detailed plan on taking out executive members of the Albanian organization followed by the "Kryetar" or underbosses of their families. 

"Where does Jimmy fall into all of this?" Enzo questions afterward. 

"Jimmy's mine." Every single pair of eyes turn back to look at me. 

"Stella, I hate to point out the obvious, but...hell to the no," Enzo states, his eye twitches in annoyance and anger before he moves his fierce glare from my face to stare down JP. "What the fuck, man?"

I'm reminded of one of JP's and mine nightly conversation when he recounted the night Gio was killed and telling me about the look in Enzo's eyes. I can see now what JP was talking about. The look in Enzo's eyes is disarming and a little unsettling.

"I'm going after Jimmy, Enzo," I tell him calmly and hold my hand out to stop the onslaught of fury that is bursting to unleash from him. "I'm not going to engage with him physically obviously, so calm down, will ya?"

"You honestly think I would support her going head to head with Jimmy, in her condition, Lorenzo?" JP asks through his teeth, standing to lean over the table fixing his hard gaze on Enzo. 

"Given your history, what do you think?" Enzo responds coldly.

Adonis moves in quickly as does Cristian, anticipating what is on the verge of exploding and they hold Enzo and JP, away from each other. "Stop it!" I stand in between them now.

"How are we going to succeed in defeating the enemy when we are trying to tear each other down from within our family?" I question angrily. "You all heard what the Albanians think about our families and organizations; our own greed and selfishness is our undoing and you two are proving them right." 

JP's dark eyes lose some of their ferocity, but remain on Enzo as he pulls on his suit jacket and then his tie, straightening it, after getting ruffled from when Adonis held him back. He looks back at me, taking a deep breath, "You're right, Stella." 

I proceed to layout the plan of action I have in mind for Jimmy. I also detail the contingency plans in case they are needed. I look around the room after I finish answering some questions. "Alright, John Paul, Cristian anything you two want to add?" 

They both shake their heads. "Alright, then we will meet again in two weeks unless something else comes up. Thank you everyone, meeting adjourned." The men stand a few converse with each other. Others talk with each other as they walk out of the conference room. 

JP comes up from behind and wraps his arms around my chest. "You were wonderful, amore." He nuzzles his face into my neck and places a soft kiss just under my ear. 

I chuckle from the tickling sensation I feel and turn to face him, wrapping my arms around him. "Thank you, JP." I glance over at Enzo and JP inhales deeply. 

"Go on, he's not doing good." He tells me, I nod and smile softly back at him before I walk over to Enzo who's talking with Cristian. He turns to face me when Cristian's eyes move towards me. 

"Enzo, I know your intentions have always been to keep me safe, but so have JP's. Yes, he's made mistakes, but we all have, and we can't keep living in the past," I step up to him and cup his face. "I love you Enzo, but you need to let it go. Please." 

I wrap him in a hug and then whisper quietly, "I know you're still upset and hurt over losing Joey, too and you're worried about Annalisa. But you need to focus. She's going to need you and you need to be ready when she does." His arms tighten around me and I feel him nod slightly.

Enzo takes a deep breath as I step back and cup his face with my hand. He places his hand over mine and nods. "You're right. Forgive me." 

He clears his throat and looks over at JP. "John Paul, I know you wouldn't knowingly or willingly put Stella in danger. I'm sorry." 

JP walks closer to us. "I have a lot to atone for when it comes to Stella, Enzo, but I will not repeat my mistakes. But thank you for always looking out for her." He holds his hand out to Enzo and Enzo takes it shaking it before he pulls him into a hug. 

"Alright, enough of this," Cristian states gruffly.

"Does someone feels left out?" I smile as I walk up to him and hug him tightly. Even though I can't see his face I can only imagine he's rolling his eyes before he wraps his arms around me, too. I chuckle as I pull away.

"Feel better, grumpy pants?" I beam at him and he chuckles, shaking his head before he walks away.

"Come on, princess let's go see what the kids are up to and grab some lunch, gotta keep your strength up for our little lime," JP tells me as he kisses my head while I laugh. Over the last couple of weeks, he likes to tell me what fruit and or vegetable the size of the baby compares to. 

"You're so cute, John Paul," I hold him around the waist and lean into him. "What time is your flight tonight?"

"Not until ten," He tells me and then we come to an abrupt stop when we walk into the kitchen and find Lucy and Marco making out in the kitchen. 

I have a moment of deja vu as watching them. Lucy is sitting on the counter with Marco standing in between her legs. The memory of when JP came home from San Diego and picked me up, setting me on counter and kissed me flashes in my mind. 

Thankfully, though, their kissing is a lot less passionate and more sweet and very tentative.

"Ew!" Carmen exclaims with disgust when she walks in next to us. 

Marco pulls away quickly from Lucy, who lowers her head; hiding behind Marco. She peers over his shoulder meeting my eyes and lowers her head as she gnaws on her lower lip. 

"Marco, Lucy, please wait for Stella and me, in my office, we need to have a talk," JP tells them firmly. 

"Come on, JP, we don't have to 'talk'" Marco argues. 

"Yes, we do," I respond. "Go on, now, please." 

Marco sets his jaw as he looks at us. "It's fine Marco, let's just go and wait, okay?" Lucy says quietly behind Marco. She squeezes his arm gently and he turns to help her off of the counter and grabs a hold of her hand leading her out of the kitchen. 

Kai and Miles walk in next. Lola is on Miles shoulders and Toby in Kia's arms. "Whoa, what'd we miss, why is everyone so serious?" Miles lifts Lola off his shoulders and sets her down.

"Marco and Lucy were kissing," Carmen informs them. 

"What?" Lola exclaims completely sucked into the gossip.

"Carmen," JP says her name firmly.

"Well, they were," Carmen pouts and plops down at the island. "Why am I the one in trouble?"

"You're not in trouble, but it's also not very nice to talk about your brother and Lucy," I tell her as I rub her shoulders. 

JP pulls out his wallet and turns handing a credit card to Kai. "Kai, would you mind ordering some pizza for everyone, please?"

"Sure, no prob," Kai nods and takes JP's card. "Let's head outside guys." He and Miles corral the younger kiddos to the backyard. 

I turn back to JP when the kids close the door behind them and gasp in surprise when JP lifts me up on the counter. "JP!" I laugh but he captures my lips with his and kisses me eagerly. He holds my face in his hands before they move down over my shoulders and slide to my hips pulling me towards him. 

He breaks the kiss and then kisses my neck as a moan leaves my mouth and then we hear someone clear their throat. "Scusi, amores." I hear my mom chuckle as my eyes flutter open. 

JP kisses me softly and gives me a handsome smile. "Just reliving one of the best moments coming home to you, princess."  

"You remembered, too?" 

"How could I not?" He pecks my lips in a chaste kiss before he sets me down. 

"Sorry mamma," I look over at her as she walks in further into the kitchen. 

"No, no, don't be sorry," She smiles. "I just didn't want to startle you two. Where are bambinos?"

"Outside, Kai ordered pizza for lunch. JP and I need to go speak to with Lucy and Marco." I tell her as we start heading towards the doorway, she nods and then heads outside to be with the kids.

"So, what's the game plan here?" I ask JP as we walk down the hallway. 

"You're asking me?" JP looks anxious and I smile. 

"Well, you did tell them to go to your office, John Paul." 

"I know I did, but I was hoping you'd have something up your sleeve." 

I roll my eyes, shaking my head. "Have you had the talk with Marco?" 

"The talk, talk?" He questions as he takes a deep breath. "No, Melanie did. He has asked me a few questions and also Santino, but as far as I know I think he's still a virgin."

I scrunch up my nose. "It's a little weird, right? Talking about this, about them? I mean, we've known him since he was a baby." 

"I mean, I never imagined us being in this...circumstance...raising kids that aren't our own, but now that we are here, together, I wouldn't have it any other way and soon we'll have our own piccino."  He smiles at me adoringly as we stop before his office. (little one)

I lift up on my toes to give him a quick chaste kiss. "I'm so happy, John Paul." 

"Me, too, princess." He kisses me back and then we walk in through the office door to find Marco and Lucy kissing again. 

*****