"Are you sure David?", I asked once again.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "I wouldn't have asked you if I wasn't sure."

I nodded, "Then I would love to stay at your place."

He shook his head, "Our place little one! Our place."

"What does Eric has to say about this?"

He chuckled, "He has no problems unless he gets to live with you. And the jerk he is, he would follow you even if I file a restraining order."

I giggled, "He's sick."

"I am right here you little shits.", Eric grumbled in his tired voice.

He has been working on a contract today because apparently staying here for so long was never planned. And I was not allowed to work because I had better works to do like taking care of my mother. His words. Not mine.

Venus came to us with coffee mugs, "Now please go and rest all of you...you look so tired."

"Thank you Venus!", I said while these two shamelessly started sipping coffee as if they are paying her for this.

I rolled my eyes but then I saw Venus signalling me towards her phone.

I realized she's asking me to check my phone.

I opened it and saw a text from her, "Austin has sent the VIP passes for everyone. Next Saturday it is."

My heart started racing at that, and I couldn't help but feel nervous about it. It's finally time.

"Approach him.", My phone vibrated again with another text.

I sighed.

I've to do it.

"Uhm....how about we all go out next Saturday? I mean everyone..."

David caught it in a second and his eyes excited, "Ofcourse we should."

"Embrey is still in hospital guys.", Eric grumbled.

"She will be back on Monday...and we can always ask those oldies to come back when they are tired. Nonna wouldn't miss a chance to chill."

He looked at us skeptically, "What would tire them? We'll be going for a dinner not for a run."

"Oh Eric! Not every outing means dinner in some poised restaurant where they only serve prickly salad. We'll do something interesting.", I mentally thanked Venus for this.

"Like what?"

Venus looked at David who shared a look with her, "Remember Austin Hills? Your friend David? I heard he's holding a concert in Rome, that too in the night. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Before David could say anything, Eric interrupted.

"A concert!? That's too noisy! And you sure we don't want Nonna to turn deaf at such an age..", All of us glared at him but he only shrugged.

"What fucker thinks I will turn deaf?", Nonna approached in our direction glaring at Eric, "Suck it up Junior Ashton, You look more of a grandpa than I ever was, a grandma. Your ears may burst not mine."

He raised his hand, "Fine Fine Nonna...I forget sometimes that you never aged after eighteen."

Sarcasm.
Nonna kill him.

"Erica, come to me tonight. I will tell you how he wet his bed one night after I narrated him a horror story."

I chuckled at his horrified expression, while David gave nonna a high five.

"So next Saturday! Concert it is!"

*

"Did you take everything needed?", He asked me once more.

I nodded, "I did. And it is just ten minutes away. I'll come back if I forget something."

"I'll miss you.", He made a pout.

"God!! Eric I am going to David's place, and it is just ten minutes away. And he told you that you can come and stay with me."

He nodded, "I know he did. But I will give you sometime with your fucker brother before I decide to take you all to myself. And on top of that, I think I will have to go to States. I need to manage things there."

"Then Eric I will come with you.."

He shook his head, "As much as I want you to come, you have to take care of Embrey and mend your relationship with her. And also give some time to knowing your father. Vince was an interesting man... you'll be intrigued."

"But..."

"No buts Erica...when I'll come back, I'll come straight to you, and then...", He stood up from his place, and came to stand just near me, pressing my body flush against his, "...we will fuck the longing away!"

I scoffed and moved away, "For once say something sweeter Eric. Like how you will kiss me as I run into your arms. You are so crudely romantic."

"I am still romantic. And you love it girl..."

I rolled my eyes, "No I don't!!"

"Okay listen...let us have a quickie before that dickhead comes."

That made me laugh, "You are seriously acting like we have to sneak behind my brother's back."

"Consider my offer...we may not see each other for days.."

That when settled in me, I had a sulking expression. I really don't like to stay away from him. And he had to cancel his plan of accompanying me to David's because of his urgently needed presence in States. He will leave tonight.

I went forward and hugged him tight, "Please come back as soon as you can. I can't live without you..."

"I know. And that's why I will be sending you my nudes."

I pinched his waist cruelly, not breaking the hug.

"I love you..."

"I love you more!!"

E R I C

"Sir the jet is ready..", Stephan announced coming in the waiting room and I stood up followed by her.
It was midnight but when David sensed her gloominess when he came to pick her up, he said they will see me off to the airport.

"You got that Eric? Don't wear a grey tie with that blazer, I really like that one. It will spoil your look at the conference."

I nodded, "I'll call you.."

"And yeah...I have given Henry a grocery list. One of them will cook...or better you yourself do since it is so hard to please you.."

"Okay mommy! Anything else?", I teased.

She frowned and turned to Stephan, "Stephan please call me if he overworks himself..."

I glanced at David who was ready to burst into laughter and that made me smile. I went forward and hugged him, "Take care of her. I will kick you in your balls if she gets a single scratch."

He narrowed his eyes at me, "That was my line Eric!"

"Whatever!"

I kissed her one last time, and turned to leave when she stopped me, "Be back before Saturday. Please."

Saturday? Concert? She's pretty excited about it... probably her interest in music has finally spiked.

"I will. I promise.", And with that I left to spend these few days in disgusting longing.

E R I C A

"Nervous?"

I heard David ask and I nodded, "I can't help thinking it is where my father loved."

He smiled, "He did. And every corner of the mansion speaks of that. I have never touched his things, but James said he has left a lot of things for me and Embrey... probably to read. It was as if he sensed he would die."

I couldn't help feeling gloomy at that. I wish he was still alive. Though I would have then had a completely different life but it would atleast have my father in it.

Soon, we came into a different street and then at the end I saw one of the most beautiful mansion standing tall, lighting up beautifully in the vicinity of night.

David and Venus spent a whole last week getting it renovated and making it suitable to live.

He parked the car and we both got down.
I saw the name plate shining.

"Vincent Wellington.
David Wellington."

He instructed the guard to take the luggage inside the mansion.

"Get a good night sleep tonight.... tomorrow we will together explore the mansion. I have a lot to show you.", He said as we entered the beautiful mansion.
I felt the same as I felt when I entered James' mansion ten years ago...
Though James'mansion had more of a modern essence, while this one had more of the Roman authentic touch.

"Let me show you your room.", He went forward and walked up the humongous stairs and I followed him.

"There are two master bedrooms. One was for dad and other was for my mom. Now I have taken up my mother's room and you our father's. I have done everything upto your convenience and your asshole boyfriend helped me."

I chuckled, "Thank you David...."

"Okay!", He kissed my head, "Good night and sleep well."

Guess my father's room had a different aura in it. And I smiled to myself for that.

*

"So this is the library...and this one has so many old books that I feel like the cupboard will fall on me if I stand between them."

I grinned at his banter, "You don't worry...I love books."

"Ofcourse you do! You would have been his favourite and I would have been discarded like a trash because I hate reading. Only I know how I completed my studies. God bless Eric!"

I laughed.

"Will you both come downstairs today?", We heard Venus' voice.

"C'mon let's go otherwise my wife will digest me without burping.", And that's how our house tour ended. While running downstairs, my eyes again fell on the wall length portrait of the same man in his early thirties. He was so graceful and had a beautiful smile. Something that David inherited, and his eyes were the same brown shade as mine, while David had obsidian black, which he got from his mother.

There were other pictures of him with James and Jessica.
There was also one picture where he held baby David who was wailing like there's no tomorrow and a baby Eric in James' arms who was scowling at him.

I guess Eric was born a jerk.

Later at the lunch, Venus suggested something to which David made a face.

"Let's go and do some homecoming party in a club downtown."

I nodded at the idea because I had nothing specific to do as James and Jessica were with my mother today, and even Eric wasn't here..

"No! Not without me. I don't want you both to get your asses drunk and me running behind you. Even Eric isn't here. How will I manage the two of you?"

To this Venus scowled, "Don't be a prude David! Just because Eric isn't here, doesn't mean you will sulk and make us do the same. Am I right Erica?"

"Yes! I agree!", That scumbag would never allow me to go to the club and get drunk. Such a daddy material. I can use this opportunity.

Now when David was cornered, he sighed and agreed, "Okay!! But no funny business."

"No ofcourse not!!", Well, since Eric is not here, I wouldn't do something embarrassing like I did the last time I was drunk...so there's nothing for me to worry about anyway..

*