When things had gotten so complicated between her and Valentino, Alessia could only tell you by taking you back to what she thought was going to be the start of their future. From the beginning.

Have you ever had one of those tough days, where the only thing that kept you going was the fact that you had some good food at home? I'm not talking about a nice home cooked meal awaiting, I'm talking about some leftover takeout, a cold pizza slice or a half eaten sub sandwich with your name on it. To then come home after surviving yet another day, only to discover that someone else has made it before you. If you have, then you know just how Alessia felt at the beginning of this story.

The sun hung low on the afternoon sky, when Alessia and Valentino finally pulled up in front of their new home. Alessia was tired and her breasts were aching like crazy. After breastfeeding the baby all she was longing for was a hot shower and some sleep in their brand new home.

"Welcome home." Valentino smiles when he opens the gate for her.

The squeaky gate closes behind them when they enter the courtyard to the testare building. This was when the first red flags appeared for Alessia. For example, the first and only time she had seen the house, was on a dark evening when Valentino decided to surprise her, announcing their brand new abode. He took her through the city, the smell of country neither satisfying Alessia or unsettled her, she simply didn't know what she was feeling. The memory of that night was blurry, mainly, she remembered how her heart jumped, feeling the baby kick for the first time, as they stood there in the dark, right outside their future home.

Seeing the big brick building looking rougher than she had imagined, felt like buying the pig in a sac, which you're obviously not supposed to do.

"Vale what kind of people live here?" She frowns.

Piles and piles of cigarette stumps had been thrown onto the courtyard from the balconies above, Alessia was forced to step over the beer bottles shattered on the concreate. Baby Esmeralda was held tightly in her grip once they reached the doorway to the building. Valentino reached for the keys in his pocket.

Red flag number two appeared just as they stepped into the entrance, they were met by the grand staircase snaking its way to the top. Alessia became breathless just imaging herself climbing those stairs everyday from now on.

"Vale there is no elevator, what if there is a fire?"

"Are you planning on starting a fire?" He chuckles.

"You know what I mean."

"Here give me the baby." He said and unhanded Alessia the child. "Come on you can do it." He smiles and puts one arm around Alessia's waist so he could push her in front of him and together they began the climb.

Alessia would have been in a foul mood reaching the top of the building, If it hadn't been for Valentino giving her butt a pat now and then as they made their way up.

Only four doors were scattered on the top floor. They had heard all sorts of strange noises coming from behind people's doors passing each floor, climbing the stairs, however up there, things were quiet.

Alessia's heart jumped excited, seeing V. Rossi and A. Diallo written on the mailbox attached to one of the doors.

"We're here." Valentino said.

Alessia shuts her eyes hearing Valentino turn the keys in the lock, she wanted the element of surprise to shower her with joy.

"Ta da!"

Alessia steps over the threshold before opening her eyes. She was showered alright, but not with joy.

"Err... Vale?" She stutterd.

The first thing she noticed was the green texture of the waredown walls, clearly painted in another color god knows how many years prior. Then her eyes fell to the small kitchen where every other cupboard was missing a handle or hanging crooked as screws were missing. The floor, don't get her started on the floor, just by the looks of them she could tell they would be squeaking in the night, they looked like dried up firewood.

The bathroom! She thought. She almost pushed past Valentino on her way to the bathroom and let me tell you how she felt seeing the 1950's bathtub, dirty as a ditch, along with a shower without a seal, meaning water would be scattered all over the floor if anyone were to dare taking a shower in the first place. For the sake of Alessia's well being we will not mention the state of the toilet, all you need to know is Alessia was ready to drive all the way back home to Tavulia every time she needed to take a piss.

"Vale we can't live here." She said in hysteria.

"What? Why?"

"Why?" She gasped. "It's a haunted house, it looks like the house you rent to host a halloween party!"

"Come on babe, it's not that bad." He mumbles.

Alessia rubs her eyes to make sure they are both witnessing the same terrifying scene. "Not so bad, are you kidding me!" Alessia's increasing volume makes Esmeralda grump in Valentino's arms.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Tell you about what?"

Alessia's mouth falls open, Valentino must be joking the thought . "Told me about this fucking Scooby-Doo looking house!"

Esmeraldas crying brakes up the escalating fight.

Quietly Alessia unhands the baby and prepares to breast feed her.

The only place Alessia felt comfortable sitting was on the brand new sofa Uncle Flavio had bought them as a housewarming gift. The boys had been up there previously that summer to move in the heavy furniture. Alessia found some comfort in the fact that their queen bed was brand new as well, maybe she had a chance in getting some sleep after being traumatized by horrific scenes.

She felt a grudge coming on, Uncle Flavio had been aware what type of living situation they would be stuck in, despite all of this he couldn't have taken the time to warn her.

"That's the last box." Valentino mumbles and places the carton box between them on the floor. "Where is Esmeralda?" He asks. Alessia had just returned from putting Esmeralda to sleep on top of their bed. Har laid wrapped in blankets preventing her from rolling around and falling off.

"I don't get it..." Alessia began.

"Here we go." Valentino sighed, taking a seat on the sofa.

Alessia positions herself in front of the newly set up TV, preventing him from turning it on. "What made you believe that we could live here in the first place?"

"You said you liked it?"

Alessia chuckles recalling that night. "It was pitch black outside and you didn't even take me inside."

Valentino irritatly rubs his face with his palms, "So what if we live here for awhile, it's only temporary until I get through Moto3, hopefully Moto2, when I'm a MotoGP rider, we'll have enough money to move to Rom if you like ."

Alessia sighed, taking a seat beside him. "Vale you have to understand that we can not raise a child here."

"Why not?" He frowned.

"Well first of all the air is damped because the walls are moldy, Esmeralda could get sick breathing this in, is that what you want?"

"Of course not." He snsps, folding his arms angrily.

Alessia is aware that she might have stepped over the line with that one. She knew that Vale wanted the best for their family, however, why he was so persistent about living in this shack, she had no idea.

"Come, I wanna show you something." Valentino gets up and stretches his hand for Alessia to reluctantly grab. He then leads her past the kitchen into the hall where a closed door awaited.. Alessia took note of the state of the door, but held her tongue.

"I was thinking that this could be the baby's room."

My ass, she thought, before he even turned the handle. However when he did, she was left speechless. Valentino turned on the light and moved to the center, revealing a freshly painted room, yellow walls with white clouds on them. Alessia looked to the floor where cans of paint along with dried up brushes were scattered.

"Did you do this?" She mumbled.

Valentino kicks a brush with his foot. "I was gonna finnish it up before we noved in but when you were at the hospital, I ..." Valentino points to the yellow wall without any white clouds painted on it.

"I couldn't..." His voice is shaky. "I didn't know if you and the baby..."

Alessia moved to pull his head into her embrace. "Vale I'm sorry." She whispered. In the crease of her neck he rests his head, gripping her waist tightly. They stayed that way for a while, just swaying in the center of the room.

"I wanna show you something else." he said after awhile, having felt her relax against.

Once again Valentino lead Alessia through the house, which to her surprise didn't look as bad anymore.

Cold air swoped past them as Valentino opened up the glass doors to the balcony.

Alssia stepped out, the night sky now glooming in her eyes. She griped the iron railing and looked over the edge. The view was breathtaking. Ahead, the city of Florence looks to bloom like fireflies in the night. Slowly Valentino wraps his arms around Alessia from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. She smiles when he plants a soft kiss on her cheek.

"What do you think?"

Apart from the slight guilt, she felt overwhelmed with love. She turned around, wrapping her arms around his neck. Valentino open his mouth to say, "If you want, I can paint the rest of the house as well. I'll buy more paint, just tell me which colors you..." Alessia presses her finger on top of his lips, silencing him. "We'll paint the rest of the house together, okay" Valentino was already lost in her gaze, "okay." He nods, knowing he could be agreeing to anything being around her hypnotizing presence.

The young couple slept peacefully that night, baby Esmeralda fast asleep in a bundle between the two of them.

This was the beginning of the ride.