"Where is he now?" Alicia asks.

"He has been staying with Uccio these last couple of weeks, he came and got Esmeralda this morning so that I could go to work."

"It's for the best Alessia"

Alessia's thumb is hovering over the end call button. "When does your break start?"

"Next Friday, but I'll come get you on that Sunday."

It was a bitter morning going to work, everyday seemed bitter now.

"Have you talked to your mother, told her you're coming home."

Alessia chuckles "So she can tell me 'I told you so.' No way."

"Well where are you gonna stay when you go home?" Alessia bites her lip. "Your place?"

"What about when I leave for school again, then where are you gonna stay?"

"Talk to you later Alicia, I'm about to get to the shop."

"Alright talk to you la..." she hung up before Alicia could finish the sentence, the shop really being ten minutes away.

Entering the shop the tailor is seen fiddling with a mannequin dressed in a striped suit.

"Morning." She sighs. The tailor looks over his glasses, "A good morning?"

"Just morning." Alessia smiles. The tailor gives her a sympathetic look. "I am sorry to hear about your recent financial troubles," He pulls out a stool to sit on. "Just remember, keep on designing no matter what. Maybe you could open up your own shop when you move back home?"

"Maybe?" Alessia says dreamingly. The tailor believes that she and Esmerlada are in a bit of a financial debt and that's their reason for leaving town.

"After this last job we will do, will you keep on working for Biaggi?"

"Course I will!" The tailor laughs at her silly question. "Yeah, I'll mind the leather but I'll just get another assistant for that." Alessia is not startled by his ruthless words, she has grown fond of the tailor's ways, one can even say that she admires his peculiar ethics.

*******

"I see that you've decided." Valentino said, looking around the apartment, items were missing. It was eight o'clock when he came knocking on the door to drop Esmeralda off.

"I guess so." Alessia said. She could hardly meet his eyes.

"Does this mean that we have broken up?"

His words cut like knives, Alessia has to turn around not to fall apart. She walks up to the window where she can look out in the night.

"I guess so." She whispers. Valentino let's out what could have easily been mistaken for a chuckle, however it isn't. "Where are you gonna go?"

Alessia turns around, not ashamed to show him the tears running down her cheek. "Home."

"Home?" He frowns. "Have you talked to your mother?" Alessia shakes her head and lets a dimmed laughter slip her mouth. "What do you think?"

Valentino nods understandingly. There is a long pause before he asks what really weighs heavily on his chest. "Are you still gonna work for Biaggi?"

Alessia is seen rolling her eyes. "No Vale, I only did it to be closer to you, I won't be needing the job any longer, next weekend will be the last time."

Valentino runs a hand through his hair "Alessia I'm..."

"I'm sorry Vale." She interrupts.

"For what?"

"For putting you through that, It was selfish of me not to think of how you would feel and it led to all the unnecessary fights and....."

"No, no, no." Valentino rushes to her side. Immediately her body reacts to his closeness. "You just wanted us to be together, who could blame you." His grace suddenly enhances Alessia's guilt. Valentino raises her chin before her gaze drops to the floor. He slightly hesitates before letting his lips touch hers, once they collide there is no hesitation. Alessia's hand goes to grip a bundle of his hair as the kiss deepends, her body crashing against the wall. There is no denying their passion and that is why Valentino has the confidence to break them apart again. His hand gently runs up and down her jaw. "We still love each other don't we?" He is not asking out of uncertainty.

Alessia smiles as she nods.

"Then why are we doing this?" He chuckles. Alessia's smile is seen withering. "Because Vale, you were right, I am unhappy." Valentino's hand leaves her face. "Not because of you." She is quick to correct, his hand leaving a missing feeling. "Because I wasn't ready to be a parent and I wasn't ready for this life and those two worlds crashing into one another just made a whole mess out of things. Like you said, I needed to decide and now I have." Her index finger goes to catch the tear escaping his eye. "I have decided to take responsibility for how I feel, in order to feel better again, starting with not running away from home."

Valentino let's his forehead rest against here. "I'm gonna tell her goodnight and then I'm gonna go, okay?" He whispered.

Alessia waits for his return at the door. He stops to look at her before descending. "You know you're welcome to stay at my house If you don't wanna stay at your mother's."

"Vale." She sighs "Wouldn't it be strange?"

"What would be strange, Esmerlada staying with her grandparents?" Valentino wears a smirk on his face. "Alessia, you will always be my family, there is no changing that."

He gives her a slight wave before making his way down the stairs.