** Victoria's POV **

Stella walked back into the dining room followed by Hunter looking as unhappy as ever, and the first thing I noticed was that he, at least, wasn't holding his gun this time.

"Elena, how is your boyfriend?" Sebastian asked from the other side of the table.

"She doesn't have one." I said glaring at him and he glared right back.

I heard Elena let out a tiny whimper, which just made me want to break Sebastian's arm and beat him with them.

"How are your parents, Marco?" Stella asked taking the attention from her son.

"They are both fine, Mrs. Knight. My father just isn't taking retirement very well."

She chuckled and gave a small nod. "Well I know someone who can relate to that." She said eyeing her husband.

"Dad is never going to retire. He's always all over our work." Jason chuckled.

"Aren't working from home too when you should be resting." I said giving him a pointed look and he scoffed.

"The pain is barely there anymore. I can work just fine. And someone has to keep tabs on things when Seb is in charge."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sebastian snapped pointing his fork at his brother.

"It means you're lazy." Jason shrugged looking down at his food.

"I would expect Elena to say something like that. Not you." He said pointed at his sister this time getting a glare from her.

"Leave me alone." She hissed, face heating when Marco's eyes landed on her.

"Are you this quiet because Lombardi is here?" Sebastian smirked and she released my hand grabbing her butter knife.

"I said leave me alone." She said lowly again.

Her face heat up even more and she placed the knife down when Marco's eyes stayed on her.

"Mom, she's trying to stab me." Seb said eyeing the knife.

"She's right, Sebastian. Leave her alone. You're the talkative one today." Stella said giving him a warning look.

A look that should tell him to keep it shut before he gets in trouble.

"I'm telling the truth. She's acting differently because of Lombardi". He smiled putting a piece of bread in his mouth.

Strangely Jason and Hunter were silent the whole time just focusing on their food. I honestly didn't know what was going at this table right now. Sebastian was the only hostile.

But Hunter was irritated. It was written all over his face, but he just stayed quiet. It was just surprising that he stayed quiet.

"Mom, can I go back to my room?" Elena suddenly asked dropping her fork and looking at her mom.

"You can." Stella nodded sending daggers at Sebastian, who gulped heavily after meeting her gaze.

"Your ears are going to be bleeding after dinner, young man." Stella said lowly.

Hunter and Jason still haven't said anything.

I looked at Stella silently and she nodded slowly. I stood up and followed Elena to her room.

**Third person**

After dinner, Sebastian stayed behind after Victoria, Jason and Marco left. Victoria needed to go home and the two friends had things to take care of.

He stood in front of his sister's room and knocked lightly. After a few seconds of silence, he heard Elena's voice telling him to come in and he opened the door.

"Were you sleeping?" He asked barely being able to see, with the lamp on her nightstand being the only light on.

"No." She said quickly with her back to him

"I'm going home now." He said from the door.

Elena nodded slowly, not turning to face him. "Bye."

He let out a heavy sigh pinching the bridge of his nose. "What? You're mad because you're embarrassed."

"You tried to embarrass me." She said again with the same quiet voice.

"I'm sorry." He said in an annoyed tone, only to be met with silence again.

So annoying. He thought glaring at her back.

"You embarrassed me in front of him." She said and her voice cracked toward the end. She sniffed moving her hand to her face. "I didn't even want to go down for dinner, but Vicky convinced me and you just tried to embarrass me the whole time." She said crying even more.

He liked messing with her a lot, but the moment she cried it was over. She could be too sensitive sometimes and would over nothing, but still, that was a line he didn't line to cross.

"Look. Stop crying. I told you I was sorry, okay?" He said obviously agitated.

She sniffed again not answering and he groaned lowly walking to the other side of her bed.

"Don't cry. I'm sorry. I won't do it again." He said feeling his heart clench even more. "At least not with Lombardi." He added laying on the other side.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and nodded, as he laid on his side facing her.

"Forgive me?"

"Okay." She nodded pointing a finger at him. "Don't do it again."

He mumbled incoherent words under his breath, then stayed silent.

"Why do you see in that jackass anyways?"

"Don't call him that." She hissed narrowing her eyes at him. "When you fall in love, you'll be able to give an opinion."

"Love?" He scoffed. "What the hell do you know about that? You're too young for that."

She rolled her eyes looking over his shoulder at her balcony door. "We're the same age, dumbass."

"I was born first, knucklehead."

"Whatever." She yawned loudly. "I'm sure I'll find love before you anyways."

"Not even going to debate on that." He said as she yawned again. "You better not make the wrong choice when it comes."

"Even if I do, you're going to beat him up for me." She smiled opening her hand.

He sighed placing his hand on hers. "You bet I will."

She nodded and smiled brightly. "Same goes for me. Any women who messes with you will lose their heads."

"Thank you." He chuckled.

She tightened her grip on his hand trying to let sleep find her. She had moved back in here, to give Victoria and her mom the space they needed. She knew she would have to stay here either way because Jason and Victoria would be getting married soon.

"I'm gonna head home. Goodnight." Sebastian said sitting up and getting off the bed.

He got off the bed and walked toward the door.

"I love you, Seb."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." He mumbled moving forward but stopped abruptly when he felt a pillow hit his back. "What the hell?"

"I said I love you!" she snapped loudly sitting up to face him.

"I love you too. Geez." He chuckled closing the bedroom door behind him.

*****

** Victoria's POV **

Elena has been so angry that when I walked into her room, she was already pacing and talking about ways to kill her brother, which was understandable.

The rest of dinner though was mostly silent, except for Sebastian's constant questioning and attitude toward Marco.

"Sebastian was a jerk." I said crossing my arms over my chest looking out at the moving cars.

"He was just teasing." Jason chuckled leaning back.

"Jason, that was mean." I said shaking my head. "Your sister loves that man."

"I know. I didn't do anything. My mom convinced my dad into staying quiet during dinner. I don't know how she managed that." He smiled moving an arm to wrap it around my shoulder before pulling me to his chest.

"Jason, you're hu-"

"Victoria, I'm fine." He sighed. "I'll make sure to never get hurt again. You're worse than my mother." He said and I frowned at him.

"Well I'm sorry for caring." I rolled my eyes burring my face into the side of his chest. "How does it feel to be on the backseat."

"I hate it. I miss driving."

"As soon as you say goodbye to your stitches." I smiled looking up at him. "What was in that document Marco brought?" I asked and he laughed softly.

"You just couldn't wait."

"Nope." I grinned shaking my head.

"I'll tell you tomorrow." He said causing a frown to appear on my face. "Don't make that face. You're almost home."

"Fine. I won't forget."

"I know." He said moving his lips to mine.

****

I sighed getting into my apartment and directly went to the kitchen as I heard noises coming from there. And what I saw made furrow my eyebrows.

"What are you doing?" I asked as soon as I walked into the kitchen to kitchen mom moving around grabbing things and Steve sitting on one of the stools.

"She said something about a family midnight snack." Steve said quietly turning to look at as I stood beside him on the other of the counter.

"Get out."

"What? Why w-" I started to protest but bit my tongue at the pointed look she gave.

"Out! Both of you." She said using her hands to shoo us away. "You're crowding me."

"Heard the boss." Steve muttered, not wasting a moment to leave.

I frowned and looked back at my mother to see her looking at me expectantly. I hesitantly walked out wondering if it was safe to leave her alone in the kitchen. She was doing much better, but she still had her moments where she would give a scare.

"She'll be fine." I heard Steve say as he sat on the couch.

I followed and sat on the other couch turning my eyes to tv, chewing on my lip slowly.

Should I say something to him now? What should I say? What canI say?

I turned to look at him when he let out a soft laugh. "I never thought a day would come when you wouldn't know how to talk to me."

I let out a small gasp shaking my head quickly. "It's not that, Steve. I just-" I paused, not really knowing what I wanted to say.

"I know." He smiled placing his hands on his knees. "It's new and weird."

"I wouldn't say 'weird'." I chuckled. "I'm just always wondering what happened to you all these years. Where were you?" I asked looking up at him. "And about how I should bring it up."

His smile dropped but his eyes remained on mine. "I can't tell you where I was, Victoria. What I can tell you is that not a day went by without me thinking about you. If it wasn't you and your mother, I would have given up a lot time ago." He said and I placed my hand on my lap looking at him.

He can't tell me?

"I've been through way worse than a ruined shirt. Or boiling coffee." Those were his words when I met him at the café.

I looked at him and couldn't help but wonder even more. But I also know that some things are left unsaid, especially if it would bring memories he wants to forget.

I shifted a little deciding not to question further. "So, you knew who I was when we met at the coffee shop?" I asked with small smile.

"Yes. Your mother told me where the place was. I wanted to see you. I just wasn't expecting you to spill hot coffee on me."

"It was an accident."

"I'm not so sure about that." He smiled leaning back. "If it was, you wouldn't have spilled that much. And I don't even remember you buying another one for yourself. Like you bought the thing just to spill it on me."

I gaped and let a laugh shaking my head at it. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you are your mother's daughter. You don't need a reason to do weird things like that."

"Yeah if someone had that kind of behavior, it would be you. I'm sure you earned that 'demon' nickname." I said pointing at him.

He shrugged, the smile not leaving his face. "That nickname is just another proof of your mother's weirdness." He said then paused for a few seconds before his eyes moved to my hands. "So, you're engaged."

"Oh y-yes." I nodded nervousness creeping to my body. "Jason."

"Hunter said he was good." He said looking back at me. "Is he?"

"Yes. He is a wonderful man." I nodded smiling lightly as my fingers traced the ring on my finger.

"I would like to meet then, officially. If that's okay with you."

My eyes widened slightly at him. "But you've already met him."

He nodded. "As Hunter's son only."

I frowned a little. "O-Okay. We can arrange that."

"Come here." He said patting the spot beside him.

I slowly stood up and walked up to him and sat down. He pulled out and I placed mine on it without hesitation.

"I know we can't make up all these years," he started placing his other hand over mine. "but I'm here now." He said and I blinked quickly as I felt my eyes heating up. "I don't plan on going anywhere."

I nodded blinking again before squeezing his hand in mine. I pulled my hand away before wrapping my arms around him. He let out a long sigh before hugging me back.

"Thank you..." I said tightening my grip on him. "Dad."

He tensed up briefly and let out another sigh. I looked over his shoulder to find my mom standing with a spatula in her hand. She smiled at me with tears rolling going back in the kitchen.

"I'm here, now." I heard Steve say again and I nodded pulling away with furrowed eyebrows.

I placed my hand on his cheek looking at him expectantly. "You're not going to act like Mr. Knight when Jason comes here, right?"

He chuckled grabbing my hand. "Of course not. Hunter has always been a softie."

Huh?