"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles." ― C. JoyBell C.

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Athena Giudici's POV

                I STOOD beside Gio and the man who introduced himself as Mr. Baldwick, a legal wedding minister stood across us. I'm overwhelmed how things goes so fast. From kidnapping to a proposal and now a wedding.

A scenario replayed in my head ...

You're so grown up, honey. I don't want to think the day when you and Zander get married and you're out of our life.. *burst into tears*.. b-but, I'm happy which road you ever take. We are always here to support you. Your daddy and I will give our blessings even if it's hard. We will walk you to him and hand you with all our heart ...*sniffing uncontrollably*

"M-Mom ..." I choked, mumbling under my breath, too lost in my thoughts that I wasn't paying attention what was the presider was talking. My tears flowing incessantly like the Niagara falls. This is my mom's dream. To walk me to the man waiting on the other end of the altar. Guilt flooded in my system.

"Bambolina, what's wrong?" Gio's soothing voice reach my ears and fresh tears stream down my cheeks.

I face him with my soaking cheeks, blurry vision with the glistening tears, fogging my vision. "I-I" I sniffed, suppressing the soft hiccups "I can't do this," I said then burst into tears, all over again.

I felt his hands holding my arms, stiffened. "Did I do something wrong?" his voice betrayed him.

"No, no.." shaking my head, soft hiccups escapes. "I love you, Gio. I will marry you, alright." I cried softly. "It's just that, this is my mom's dream. To walk me down to the altar and give us their blessings," I choked, my throat felt rasp from the incessant tears soaking my face.

Gio pulled me to him and hugs me real tight. I felt all the more vulnerable and emotional. I tried to stop it, but I can't. The tears just kept coming, in fresh waves. Guilt tugging my heart, and I felt like a selfish brat child. Mom deserves to witness my wedding. It has been her dream as she always said, and now, I'm pregnant and she knew nothing.

Dad?

No matter what he did, I still felt kind of guilty, too. I wanted to hate him, but I always end up loving him. He's my father, who raise us well. A part of me hated what he did, and a part of me, forgiving him because he's my father. Yes, he's a criminal, but he raise us, he loved us, and he didn't leave us. He'd support us until we found what we wanted in life.

"I'm sorry, Gio." I hiccups.

"Shh. It's alright. We can plan a grand wedding with your family." His hand rubbing my back and it is soothing.

I pushed myself away lightly and meet his gaze. His eyes were filled with sympathy and other mixed emotions. "How about my dad?" I asked warily. His face shows no emotions after hearing my words.

He turns his head to the others and they seemed all awaken from their frozen state and scrambles out of our sight, disappearing into the distance.

"Come," Gio led me to a table with four armchairs. "Sit," he pulled a chair and help me seated. He sat on the next armchairs, turning the chair to face me. He sat and his two legs caging my legs. He leaned forward, with his hands clasping mine.

He looks uncertain, yet there's a determination in his aura. "You want your dad in our wedding?" he asked after a lengthy paused.

"I want you to know why I didn't come to see you, but I was watching you every day, from a distance. I was caught up, solving the puzzles of my family's death. Who really killed them, because I don't want to believe it was your father, even though, I have all the evidence. When all the evidence laid out, and strongly pointing at him, I was so mad. I promised to my father, on his body, I will give justice to their death, and that's the only thing that kept me alive until I met you..." he shut his eyes, his lips descended on the back of my hands he was holding throughout the time. "I kidnap him..." he paused. His breathings seemed strained, his hands around my hands, stiffening. "I wanted to kill him, and at the same time, spare his life, because of you. I don't want to be reminded every day, that I killed your father when I'm staring at your eyes. I beat him, venting all my anger, frustrations, and to know the real truth from his mouth, and I'm so glad you arrived. I would have killed him and I would surely regret it all my life, because ..." He met up and locked our eyes. His eyes glisten and I saw tears slowly making its path to his cheeks. His eyes were full of emotions that match mine. I never saw him cried. He looks sincere and torn. It breaks me. I felt the tears again, this time, it felt like the tears doubled. "I'm not giving you up. I will never will. I found the essence of my life when I saw those stormy eyes. I knew, why I need to live more, and that to love you and protect you," I felt the pad of his thumbs wiping the tears away of my cheeks. "I didn't mean to make you cry, bambolina. I wanted to let you know, that even how much I hated your father, I can't take his life away because I love you. So much that it hurts to know that you are related to the man who ended the life of my family, but I believe one day, I'll find forgiveness in my heart. You taught me how to love, and I'm sure, I'll learn how to forgive."

"There's more things I need to tell. Claudio wasn't my father." My eyes widened, mouth hanging open. He looks down on our hands. My hands were on top of his one palm, the other stroking the back of my hands.

"Who is your father?" I asked, bewildered.

"Carmine Castellano. They used to date with my mom, before mom got married to dad. She was pregnant with me when she married dad. That's why Carmine, all his life, he hang around us."

I was gawking at him, couldn't believe what he just said.

"Maybe, that's why it's a bit easy for me to say this, that I'm trying to find the forgiveness in my heart for your dad. He can be there if that what you wish." He looks up and wipes the tears away of my eyes. I involuntarily launched myself onto him with overwhelming happiness and we almost toppled over backward, as he automatically wrapped his hands around me, chuckling.

"God, I love you so much!" I cried out as another fresh tears stream down my cheeks.

"I love you so much, bambolina. You brought light to my dark life and shines on my gloomy world.

We were silent for a while, just holding each other, our hearts fused, beating synchronically. I felt his lips occasionally kissing my temple.

"So," Gio drawled after a while and I pulled myself away lightly. His hands trailed down and stop at my thighs. He tugs me and I sat on his lap, with my legs on each side of his. His hand went back up to my waist and tugs me forward. My palm rested on his hard chest. He had that playful grin on his lips, wickedness swirled around those amethyst eyes.

"So," I mimicked, cocking my eyebrow, ignoring that familiar tingling sensations his sexy voice, and our positions created. Warm sensations rushed through me, down in between my legs. My nipples hardened at the hot stare he gave me.

"Maybe a honeymoon first, before the wedding," he grinned wickedly. I burst into a fit of laughter, both of happiness and peace now sheltering my heart.

When I sobered, I stared into his annoyed eyes. "Is that a yes, or no?" his forehead scrunched, lips pursed, and a cocked eyebrow.

"NO!" I said in a serious tone I could muster. His face disgruntled, indicating disapproval.

"IT'S UNFAIR! IT BEEN A WHILE SINCE I TOUCH YOU, IT FELT LIKE A YEAR!" he cried out, with a deep scowl. I gently got off his lap, his hands tightens, but he releases me anyway. His face is indescribable.

"That's not my problem, Tesoro. You had all the time, but you'd rather watch me from afar." I wink at him and headed for the back door. I heard him grunting and groaning periodically.

"Bambolina!" he called before I reach for the door. I turned around and watch him approaching me. His hands are tucked inside his pockets. He looks so mighty fine. His strides radiate power and dangerous authority. His body that stuffed with muscles leads every woman's imagination to green. And at this moment, my head is already clogging with his naked body. His Italian sausage he always proudly and shamefully parading it in front of me, whenever he had a chance and wickedness struck him. His mischievous smiles, those hot stares, and lips curled into smirks, it always makes me wet, but he will never know.

Ah, yes, he always felt it.

His serious face gradually morphing into smirks, then his signature mischievous grin plastered all over his face.

I felt his hands around my waist, and I snapped out of my trance. He sexily bit his bottom lips and I groaned inwardly. He knew, I'm under him.

I widened my eyes on him, playing I'm not affected as I surreptitiously squeeze my legs tighter as I felt the warm liquid seeping from me.

Dammit!

Oh, his effect on me, is beyond me.

"Let me suck that juice, bambolina," he tugs me closer to him and whispered it against my earlobes. I sucked in my breath and felt the warm sensations building in my core.

Holy guacamole. I can't climax just by hearing his sexy drawl.

I tried to recollect myself and ignore his effect on me. "How do you know?" I said keeping my voice low just to make sure, I won't falter, but it sounding strained. I gulped inaudibly.

My eyes widened when I felt his fingers in between my legs, caressing my wet mounds against the thin fabric that covering it. My legs starting to shake as I involuntarily look around and I grimaced when I saw Vito and Isaias, shaking their heads, laughing hysterically. I quickly pulled my skirt down and swatted his hands away from it. I felt the blush creeping over my cheeks and spreading all over my body. I'm sure, I look like a very ripe tomato.

Gio groaned. I smacked his chest seethingly, feeling so deeply embarrassed.

"So, is the wedding off?" Vito asked as he walks towards us, suppressing his laughter. I nestled my head on Gio's chest, trying to avoid their amused eyes. I could feel another wave of blushes creeping all over me. Gio's hands automatically wrapped around me.

"You guys help us planned the wedding," I heard Gio said. I wanted to pitch in, but I can't face the two yet after witnessing our scandalous position. I felt so awkward, deeply embarrassed and damn Gio. He was acting so calm.

"Hey, you made us decorated this backyard. We work so hard on this!" Sai's serious voice almost burst me into laughter. To be honest, I can't picture them planning my wedding. Seeing what they did, he called it, "they work so hard decorating the place". I nearly wanted to tell him, it seems like they just played like those little flower girls marching down to the altar, sprinkling petals as they march on, but I held my tongue. He sounded so serious, though.

"Well, sprinkling flowers is fun, why not?" Vito butted in and I grimaced.

"NO!" I involuntarily pitched in, with my shrieking voice forgetting about my embarrassment. The two looks at me, with a cocked eyebrow.

"I mean, I can do it." I smiled.

Vito shrugs his shoulders in nonchalance. Sai just stared at me, emotionless.

My smile withered and I wanted to smack the two. It's so hard to talk to them. I don't know if they are sincere, or listening or just trying to piss me.

"Forget it!" I wave off my hand and the two nodded, yet again, it pisses me.

I look at Gio who looks amused. "Are these two like this, often?" I asked him with an annoyed tone.

"WHAT?" Vito and Sai chorused.

I look at them, widening my eyes. "You always carried that nonchalant aura," I pointed to Vito and he grimaced. "And you," I pointed to Sai, "always carrying that cold, emotionless look," I said. "I don't know if you two are serious, or just hearing but not listening," I puffed air in with growing exasperation.

Gio broke into a fit of laughter and my eyes snap to him, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. What is so funny?

"I like this girl," Vito chuckled softly.

"She is so blunt!" Sai said in a nonchalant voice.

I rolled my eyes at both of them. I turned to Gio. "I'm hungry."

Gio led me inside with the two following us. I wonder where the rest are.

As we walk to an endless hallways and series of doors, I hear loud voices. Some bickering and others chatting. We entered into a very spacious dining room, and lots of foods served at the long oval table. The room that full of men in suits fell into silence as soon as we walk in.

Everyone has this smile that I never saw in any of them. They always wear their signature stoic, tight look. It's so refreshing to see them smiling though you could still see the fear in their eyes when they look at the three men beside me. "Continue the feast, gentlemen," Vito said and everyone happily resumed their food and conversation.

Gio led me to an empty spot, beside the middle chair and he took it. Vito and Sai took the two spot on his other side across me.

AFTER THE meal, Gio and I were seating at the balcony in the master bedroom, watching the beautiful scenery right before our eyes. The place was surrounded with rivers. It's so serene and the breeze feels so relaxing, kissing our bare skin.

"If the baby is a boy, what would be his name?" he suddenly asked, tugging me closer to him. I was sitting next to him, with my body leaning against him, on the couch. His hands wrapped around me.

"I haven't thought about it yet," I answered shortly.

"If it's a boy, name him after my name," he said proudly.

"If it's a girl?" my eyebrow cocked.

"Name her, Bambolina." he said with a serious tone, without hesitation.

"Really?" I pulled myself away from him to see if he was serious and indeed he is.

"Yes. She's going to be my other little doll," he said deadly serious.

I shook my head profusely. "No way," I chuckled.

"Let's name her after your mom's name," I said.

"We could do that," he nodded and pulled me back to his chest and gave my head feathery kisses. His voice carried excitement and overwhelming joy. "I can't wait to hold our baby," he whispered against my head.

I closed my eyes and just relish the warm feelings his kisses gave me. A sweet and genuine smile broke out on my lips as happiness overwhelmed me. Gio's hand around my body tightens, and our warm body presses together and it feels so natural, relaxing, and home. "So am I," I smiled.

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A/N: I'm in tears.. I don't know how to end this..

Anyhow, here's the final chapter... Epilogue comes next.

Thank you guys for the constant support. I hope you all like this chapter. Thanks again!