Ch. 291..295: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 291-295

Chapter 291

And considering that Kent left Bianci alone with Daniel, of all people -

Kent moves quickly through the hallways of the house, eager to get back to the study and control the conversation there. Because as much as Bianci gave in on the deal, Kent knows that man - hes going to do everything he can to squeeze every last cent he can. He groans, hastening his steps, looking down at his feet as he loses himself in his thoughts.

Fay and Dominic, he knows, are in good hands with Nonna and Valentina and Janeen, so his mind turns to what he needs to do next - god damn it, but there's going to be a mountain of paperwork, and Fay has to sign it all-

"You're a f*****g traitor." Natalia's voice rips through the hall and Kent comes to a dead stop, whipping his head up to see her standing there, waiting for him, her arms crossed across her chest.

They're in a silent part of the house now, between the family bedrooms and the study, where Natalia knew they'd be uninterrupted. Of course she did - they spent years in this house, they know all of the in-between places where they can go to have secret chats. But this? This is one secret chat with Natalia that Kent does not want to have.

"Leave it, Natalia" he sighs, looking beyond her and resuming his steps. "It's done."

Natalia grabs his arm as he tries to brush past her. "She's a child, Kent! You f****d that child? And what, she tricked you into getting her pregnant? I always knew she was a vicious bitc-"

"Enough!" Kent shouts, spinning to glare down at her. A little glint of victory enters Natalia's eyes as she glares up at him. Inwardly, Kent curses himself for not just continuing to walk away, for giving into her taunts.

But Natalia - she's known him for decades. She knows all his triggers - she cut her teeth on them, after all.

"You won't say another word against Fay, Natalia," Kent says, wanting this ended, now. He takes a menacing step towards the woman, who doesn't budge an inch. "She is my wife, and -"

"Oh, she is not," Natalia says, rolling her eyes, derisive. "I was there at her wedding to your son, Kent - when you were not."

"She is my wife," Kent insists - because honestly, that's how he feels about here, even if there hasn't gone to the church, not yet. "In essence, if not in ceremony. Fay is my wife, and you will treat her with the respect she deserves.

"I will not bow down to the child who tricked you into bed, Kent Lippert," Natalia snarls, glaring up at him. "Not when I know what's between us - how you really feel about me -"

"Natalia," Kent growls, glaring down at her with such menace that she freezes, suddenly staring up at him in surprise. "I don't know what story you've told yourself about you and I, but it is fiction."

"Kent," she breathes, shaking her head at him, suddenly mystified.

"Did you not notice?" he asks, narrowing his eyes at her in frustration, "that Fay has been wearing my wedding ring since the second day I knew her? She has always been mine."

"But..." Natalia stutters out, taking a step back, confused." Daniel..."

Kent laughs at her then, which shakes her even more." Daniel was never going to use that ring, Natalia. And we both know it. Fay is the mother of my child, and beyond that - shes the one I want. I chose her, Natalia - I love her. You're only embarrassing yourself if you try to insist that anything else is the truth."

Natalia's face falls, devastated, as she finally understands.

That there were no tricks, no mistakes. Fay and Kent - they were written. God, he knew it the moment he saw her.

As Kent stares down at Natalia's clear grief, he finds a little space for pity in his heart, but not enough to give her any more of his time. Because Kent is well aware that Natalia has known about him and Fay for longer than she's pretending - even if she didn't admit it to herself. Natalia - who is always so good to Daniel, who she sees as her son?

She'd never have been so cruel to the girl who was supposed to be Daniel's bride.

No, Natalia had been jealous of Fay the moment she walked into the house. Some intuitive part of her must have noticed it, must have seen the way that Kent looked at Fay, how much he wanted her right from the very start.

No, Natalia had no grace for Fay, not a single moment of it in her envious heart. And so Kent has no grace for Natalia

- not anymore.

He turns, striding down the hall and away, ready to close this deal and this criminal chapter of his life.

His spirit soars at the idea - because as soon as this is done? The rest of his wonderful life begins - a life with Fay at his side, raising their little boy. And he's breathless with excitement for that. Natalia watches Kent walk away down the hall, her eyes filling with tears. But not just tears of grief. Those are there

- but anger accompanies them, and hatred, and jealousy, and rage. Because she has waited years for Kent to come back to her - to lay at her feet the life he's given to Fay, who he's known for months.

"You'll pay for this," Natalia hisses under her breath. "Kent Lippert - you'll pay, and so will she. I'll die before I let you get away with this."

And then Natalia turns, striding down the hall towards her own room to begin her plans.

Hours later, when everything is finished, Kent walks slowly back to the room. His head is pounding with the exertions of the last few hours - because honestly, he really has been running on fumes, pushing himself to concentrate, to keep everything steady. It was all worth it, of course, to see everything come out right - but god, when was the last time he actually slept? A few rough hours in the car hadn't done much-

His jaw stretches wide in a yawn as he pushes open the door to his room - the bedroom he slept in as a child, which Nonna had lead Fay to this morning. It's different now, of course - a pleasant guest room, cleared free of all of Kent's old toys and possessions. But Kent doesn't mind that, because it contains now with the things that mean everything to him: Fay and Dominic.

And, well, Daniel matters just as much - but he's not here right now. Kent makes a mental note to seek out his son soon. Just...maybe after a dozen hours of sleep. The boy, he knows, can entertain himself for that long.

"How is she?" Kent nods towards the sleeping Fay as he whispers to Valentina, who comes to his side. Dominic is curled sleeping in her arms.

"Oh, she's fine" Valentina sighs, smiling over at Fay. "Just exhausted. Honestly, Kent, I'll never forgive you for dragging her -"

"Yeah, yeah," Kent says on a sigh, reaching out and taking his son from her arms. "Talk to the Don about that one, not me."

Valentina laughs a little and stands on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll leave you. But come get me if you need me - or just shout, I'll be right down the hall -"

"We'll be fine, Valentina," Kent laughs, smiling at her. "You'll get to hold the baby again tomorrow, don't worry."

"I had better! Goodnight, beautiful little prince," Valentina murmurs, tapping Dominic on the nose before moving out of the room.

Kent gives his baby a kiss on the head as he walks slowly to Nonna, who has made quite a good bit of progress knitting a little cap and slippers for Dominic in the past few hours. "Where is Janeen?" he asks, glancing around the room.

"The purple one?" Nonna asks, looking up at Kent with a smirk that makes him smile. "I sent her away to go be with the boys - and with Gio. She was bored after a little bit - I could sense it. She is vivid, that one. I like her."

Kent nods, agreeing, but not needing to say much. Nonna, she likes to fill the room with chatter, speaking for both of them. Probably why I don't say much now, Kent considers, looking fondly down at the old woman as she gathers her knitting into a little bag. "You know," she says, looking slyly up at him. "I really shouldn't let you stay in here with your little Fay. You know I don't approve of people staying in the same room if they're not married."

Kent bursts out laughing at this and gestures towards the baby. "I think we're a little beyond that now, mama," he murmurs.

"Yes," she says, laughing and reaching for the baby, wanting to see him one more time before she goes. "And while I'm always glad to have another child in the family, I expect you to do right by that girl." She nods towards Fay now, and Kent nods back.

"I intend to," he says, very serious. It's been too long, frankly. He should have done it ages ago - should have done it the day he carried her out of the strip club. Just dragged her, kicking and screaming, off to a chapel. Hed known then, even if hed spent a great deal of time denying it.

"Well" Nonna says, reaching up to pat his cheek fondly. "I suppose one night won't hurt, my handsome boy."

Kent murmurs his agreement, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm. Nonna smiles at him with so much love in her eyes that Kent's heart aches to see it.

"I'm glad to have my boy back," she says, nodding to him. ~

Don't you run away again."

"I won't," he promises, meaning it. And then he bends down so that Nonna can press a kiss to his cheek, and she quietly pads from the room. Kent takes a deep breath in the dusky silence of the room, carrying his newborn son over to the bassinet that waits on his side of the bed.

Kent studies his son for a moment, and then presses a kiss to his cheek before he checks the little boy's swaddle, making sure it's tight.

When Dominic is lovingly tucked in, Kent settles him into the bassinet and climbs into the bed next to the woman he loves.

And then Kent gathers Fay into his arms, and tucks his head down against hers, and falls asleep for the first time as a free man.

 

 

Chapter 292

When I wake up, I can tell by the way that the sun shines through the window that the morning is well advanced. My first instinct, of course, is to curl up even tighter in Kent's arms, to bask in the warmth of his body, to catch just a few more minutes of sleep - But then I hear my little baby fussing in his bassinet and a huge smile breaks out onto my face. Because I have a little baby - and he needs me, but hes warm, and he's safe, and I just...absolutely love that

So I uncurl myself from Kent's side, doing my best not to wake him, and I scurry around the bed - honestly, who put the bassinet on this side - and lift my little boy up into my arms.

"Ohhh, little baby," I whisper to him as he starts to cry just a little. "It will be all right. Don't you worry about a thing."

Shushing softly, I carry Dominic over to my side of the bed and curl up against the pillows, pulling my nightgown down just a little so that I can feed him. My little boy eagerly latches, his sleepy eyes still closed as he does.

Dominic got us up a few times over the night, hungry and then wanting to be changed, but a sleepy Kent and I managed it together. Overall, I'm feeling much more rested than I have felt in the past 72 hours - almost human again, which is probably saying something for a new mom.

I glance at Kent and, seeing that hes still asleep, I take a minute to marvel at my little boy - my son, who I love so incredibly much already. I mean, I know I'm his mother and I'm biased, but...he's just so cute. With his little perfect face, and his teeny tiny hands. As I sit and admire, I wonder at all of the amazing things that are coming for us.

I let my mind drift through all the possibilities of the boy hell grow into. What sorts of things he'll like what he'll dislike. I laugh a little, thinking that his dad will probably turn him into some kind of gourmand and food snob. And then I grimace, worrying - what if he doesn't like reading?

God, what a horrible fate, what would we talk about -

"What are you frowning about?" Kent murmurs, and I glance down to see him peeking up at me through his dark lashes.

"What if he doesn't like books!?" | say abruptly, my voice worried.

Kent bursts out laughing and rolls onto his back, taking a deep breath with a big smile on his face. "The kid's going to like books, Fay. We'll force him."

"Noo," I murmur, stroking sweet Dominic's little head. *That will make it worse - that will make him turn away, just to be contrary."

"Maybe it's for the better," Kent murmurs. "I don't know if I want another bookish kid. This one...he can like sports instead."

I stick out my tongue, not liking the idea of a child that only likes sports, and Kent grins, sitting up and scooching closer to wrap his arm around me, peeking down at our son. "How long have you two been up?" he murmurs, kissing the side of my head and taking a long sniff of my hair.

"Just a few minutes," I reply, leaning against him. "Sorry if we woke you."

"No, I want to be awake," Kent sighs happily. "I like you two.

If you're up, I want to be up."

I snuggle happily against him, wondering if anyone else in the world knows how sweet the Mafia King is. Honestly, probably not, it would be bad for his reputation if they did...

But suddenly I grin as I remember that Kent? He doesn't need that reputation anymore. Henceforth, he's just going to be Kent Lippert - and that feels...amazing.

"I'm really happy" I whisper, turning to look up at Kent. "Are you?"

"Fay," he murmurs, shaking his head in disbelief as he reaches out a hand, cupping my cheek. "I am...so firth*g happy I can barely breathe. This is the best day of my damn life. Only tomorrow will be better." "Until the day after that," I say, smiling. "Which will be..."

"Fantastic." He pulls me closer then, pressing his warm mouth to mine, letting his fingers slip into my hair as he parts my lips with his, kissing me breathless. And I let him, holding my little baby close, considering that maybe I'll just stay here for the rest of my little life, perfectly happy kissing Kent and holding my little boy in my arms.

Unfortunately, the world has other plans, and a little knock comes at the door.

Kent growls a little, glaring at it, clearly intending to tell whoever is there to go the hell away - but I laugh, giving him a little shove and calling to whoever it is to come in.

The door cracks open, revealing Valentina peeking in. I smile at her as I pull my nightgown back up, Dominic having finished his little breakfast.

"How did we sleep?" Valentina asks, pushing the door open more fully with her shoulder and carrying in a breakfast tray heaping with delicious things. My stomach growls as I realize that I haven't eaten in -

Oh my god. When did I last eat? In the car yesterday, on the way here?

Instantly I'm ravenous, my mouth literally watering as Valentina brings the tray closer.

"We slept well, Valentina," Kent sighs, running a hand through his mussed hair. "Though you didn't have to do this -"

"Speak for yourself!" I snap, grabbing a little butter cookie off the tray and taking a swift bite. "Valentina, you can bring as much food as you want -"

She laughs at me as she settles the tray on the bed and reaches for the baby. "You eat," she says, "let me change the little one."

"Oh," I say, suddenly feeling guilty and starting to get up,

Valentina let me, that's a mom's job -"

But Valentina just clicks her tongue and waves me away, lifting the baby from my arms. I hesitate for a second, not wanting to over burden her, but then my stomach growls and my attention snaps back to the food. I give in, reaching for a stack of buttered toast and jam. Kent reaches for the coffee on the tray but I smack his hand, only half kidding. "Not for you," I murmur as he laughs at me, reaching again and pouring two cups. "You don't have to make breastmilk for the baby."

"I still need energy," he murmurs, glancing over at Valentina as she makes quick work of Dominic's dirty diaper. "We have a busy day today."

"We do?" I ask, my mouth full of delicious buttery bread." Why? What's going on? I thought all we had to today was make sure that Dominic survives -*

Valentina laughs, glancing at me over her shoulder.

"That's first priority," Kent says, smiling and pressing my cup of coffee into my hand before picking up his own. "But we've also got mountains of paperwork - you're signing your industries away today. Lawyers are coming, the whole works -" "That's all been delayed, actually," Valentina says, lifting my fresh little baby up into her arms and giving his face a kiss as she turns to us.

"What?" Kent asks, frowning at her. "Why? I thought Bianci

_"

"Oh, he is," Valentina says, intuiting the end of Kent's sentence. "He's incredibly eager to get it all done."

A sound rumbles down the hall, making my attention turn to the door. Is that...wheels? It sounds like a desk chair.

"Your mother, though," Valentina continues, a grin crossing her face, "has other plans."

Kent and I both frown, turning towards the door as Nonna pushes through. She beans at us as she pulls into the room after her, of all things, a dress form.

I frown at her, confused - what on earth -

But when I see what is on the dress form -

An incredibly beautiful vintage gown made of delicate lace

All white -

My jaw drops open. My piece of toast falls from my hand.

Kent barely saves the coffee before I drop that too.

"Today..." Nonna says in her stilted English, wheeling the dress form proudly to the center of the room, "today, you get married!" She claps her hands together, pleased at her pronouncement, and smiles broadly at Kent and I. I go completely still, just staring at her with my mouth open.

Valentina bursts out laughing, turning her head to grin at Dominic. "What do you think, little Domenico?" She strokes a hand over his soft fuzz of hair. "Want to see mommy and daddy get married tonight!?"

 

Chapter 293

I just...stare at Nonna and Valentina, completely dumbstruck.

Today?

A wedding?

Today!? My wedding is today!?

I turn suddenly when I hear Kent speaking in Italian behind me, his brow furrowed as he lifts a hand towards Nonna.

The words fly from his mouth, sounding like he's protesting.

"No!" Nonna says, stopping her tiny foot. I turn to stare at her now, shocked a little to see her glaring at Kent and pointing a finger at him as she says a few more solid words, sounding absolutely decided on the subject.

When Kent sighs, I turn quickly back to him, feeling like I'm at watching kind of insane tennis match, the grand prize for which is my hand in marriage.

"She says," Kent sighs, looking at me with a great deal of frustration, "that she won't have us sleeping in this house together if we're unmarried -" "Well, we can just leave -" I say, my eyes wide.

"And," Kent continues, raising an eyebrow at me as he cuts me of and puts his cup of coffee as well as mine back onto the tray, "that I owe it to you to marry you and make this baby legitimate. She then continued to say that you're 100 good for me," he sends an ironic little glare in his mother's direction as she comes to the end of the bed and smugly crosses her arms, "and that I'd better get you tied up in matrimony before you realize it and run screaming for the hills."

I burst out into laughter a this, turning towards the old woman, who nods to me firmly.

But then I raise my hands to my mouth in shock, realizing that Kent...

He's kind of just sitting there, waiting for me to tell him what I think about it. Which means that he...he'll do it, if I want to.

"Kent!" I suddenly gasp, my hand lashing out despite me to smack him on the chest. Nonna laughs, a rich, hearty sound, watching us with real joy in her eyes. "This is such crap!"

"What?" he laughs, his face bursting in a smile as he slips a hand around my waist and pulls me closer to him, completely ignoring everyone else in the room now. "What

-I mean, its not a bad idea, Fay -"

"No way!" I shout, shaking my head at him and putting my hands flat on his chest, not letting him pull me close and seduce me into compliance by being all big and sexy. "This is the second time I've been wrapped up into a lippert ...marriage that had been decided for me, and no one has asked me whether or not I want to be involved in it -"

Valentina laughs and comes closer to the bed, Dominic calm in her arms as she quickly translates my words for Nonna before looking at me curiously. "What is this?" she asks. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," I say, turning to glare at Kent who just smirks and shakes his head at me. "That this big brute slipped this damn ring on my finger," I hold up my engagement ring, which I honestly forget about all the time because I never take it off, "and told me I was engaged to Daniel! I had no say in it! And now!?"

I look around at Valentina and Nonna for support as Valentina begins to laugh, quickly murmuring the essence of the story to Nonna.

"Now!" I continue, "you're all just declaring that I'm getting married tonight when someone -" I shove Kent in the chest, even though he doesn't budge an inch and just stares at me, starting to smile, "has never, ever asked me to marry him! If I'm getting married again!" My voice gets squeaky in my protest now, "I want a proposal this time!"

Kent laughs and shakes his head, lifting his hands to cup my cheeks. "You're right," he murmurs, staring at my face as if he has the entire universe held in his hands. "I'm sorry, Fay - you deserve that, and much more."

My entire world narrows to Kent as he sits up straighter,leaning towards me. Because...because..

Oh my god

Because I think I know what's about to happen.

"Fay," he murmurs, dropping his hands from my face and reaching into my lap to take my limp hands in his strong ones. He raises one of my hands to his lips and pressing a kiss to it. "I'm sorry, Fay," he murmurs against my fingers," that I haven't done this the right way. Everything about it has been wrong - every damn piece of it has been backwards, since the moment I met you in that prison."

Valentina gasps a little at this revelation, murmuring to Nonna, but I ignore her. Every single ounce of my focus is on Kent's gorgeous face - the hard lines of it, the earnest emotion in his eyes.

"But from here out, I'm going to do it right," he says, his voice thick with promise. My lip starts to tremble as tears fill my eyes - because Kent, he is the entire world to me.

And even if we did have a strange start, I think it's what we needed. We needed every strange step in our path to discover who we are, what we mean to each other. Tears start to slide down my cheeks, and I see Kent press his lips together and blink his eyes quickly, fighting his own emotions as he always does.

"My mother is right," Kent says quietly, nodding his head towards Nonna, "I don't deserve you -"

"Kent," I breathe, shaking my head, squeezing his hands hard

"Not an inch of you, Fay," he murmurs, staring into my eyes.

"But I beg you - I beg you to marry me. Let me be a better man starting here and now. Let me give you everything you deserve, you and Dominic. Please, please be my wife."

ljust stare at him as the tears streak down my face, at this man / love more than anything in the world - at the man I've given everything for.

And suddenly I realize that I'm nodding - fervent, desperately. Because that's everything I want -

I want to be his wife so terribly much -

"Yes!?" Kent asks, his face breaking into a huge smile. "Is that a yes, Fay!?"

"Yes!" I shout, launching myself forward, throwing my arms around his neck. Kent laughs, rich and loud, as he catches me, pressing me tight to him as his fingers tangle in my hair, as an arm wraps around my waist.

And then he's kissing me, and I'm kissing him back - poorly, haphazardly, because I can't stop laughing and murmuring to him how much I love him, how much I can't wait to marry him.

Kent kisses me back and rocks me against him, laughing too, and I press kisses to his mouth and his cheeks, and his brow -But suddenly I spin, wanting my baby - because he should be in on this too -

"Dominic!" I call, reaching for him, and Valentina quickly carries him around the bed so that she can hand him to me, wiping at her eyes as she does so.

"That was the most romantic thing I have ever seen,"

Valentina laughs, smiling at us as she slips my baby into my arms. "And I am Italian, so that is...saying something."

I laugh, grinning at her, but I can't help it - I turn away, wanting only Kent and the baby who looks so much like him already. My little family - god, I'm just so incredibly happy already.

But tonight? Tonight it's all going to get better, because I'm going to marry Kent Lippert and make it official.

"Sorry you don't get to be a fiancé for very long," Kent murmurs, dipping his head down to kiss Dominic's little face and then rest his forehead against mine as Nonna and Valentina quietly move towards the door.

"Oh, that's all right," I sigh. "I was Daniel's fiancé for a long time and I'm not sure I enjoyed the experience very much."

"Fay," Kent says, his voice dry and disbelieving,

"I would do

things very different than Daniel did."

"Well, I should hope so," I murmur, giving him a dirty look. " Considering that Daniel cheated on me the whole time -"

We both turn when Nonna interrupts from the door, calling something in Italian. I beam at her as she nods to both of us, closing the door behind us, but then I turn back to Kent, seeking translation.

"She says she's giving us fifteen minutes alone," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my mouth like he can't help it." But then fittings begin, because we have a very busy day."

"Well then," I say, setting against his chest and tilting my chin up towards him as I hold my little baby happily to my breast. "Guess we're going to have to make the best of our short time alone. Because we're getting married tonight, Kent. And Nonna is going to make damn sure I look good, so you'd better spend your day finding a way to look sharp too."

"Like it will be hard," he laughs, dismissive, before lowering his head and kissing me again.

 

Chapter 294

I can't believe I don't get to throw you a bachelorette party.

Again!" Janeen protests, flopping onto my bed with a glass of champagne in her hand, coming dangerously close to splashing it all over the white blankets.

But I wouldn't care if she did - nothing could possibly kill my mood today.

"You threw me one hell of a first wedding reception, Janeen. Can't that count?" I say, turning towards her.

Nonna, at my feet pinning the dress so that she can make alterations, gives me a little smack on the thigh and turns me back towards her. Smiling, murmuring my apologies, I do as she bids.

"I think it counts," Daniel says from his spot by the window, Dominic tucked neatly into the curve of his arm and Titus at his feet as he smiles at me. "I was hung over enough for two lifetimes after that party. I think it counts as wedding reception, bachelor, and bachelorette party in one."

"You guys are so boring," Janeen grumbles, nestling back into the pillows as Jerome laughs at her, coming out of the bathroom and peering out the window towards the back of the house, where I guess things are being set up.

"I have a feeling that the size and scope of this party will impress even you, Janeen, he says, sending her a grin over his shoulder. "Have you seen what they're setting up out there? It's -"

"Nope nope!" I shout, covering my ears with my hands." Don't tell me! I don't want to know!"

"Why not?" Daniel asks, turning his head to me.

"Because," I say, rolling my eyes at him. "I need some mysteries for this wedding. I've already seen my groom on the wedding day, he's already seen my dress -"

"You've already had his kid," Janeen adds, dry.

"You've already married his other kid," Jerome chimes in, smirking at me. I gasp, appalled, and glare at him as I put my hands on my hips. Nonna smacks at me and murmurs at me in Italian, I think ordering me to stay still.

I apologize again and determine to do so, even as I defend my honor.

"My first marriage remains unconsummated," I say, shaking my hair back over my shoulders. "And, as such, I believe it is officially annulled."

"Not according to the State of New York, baby," Daniel says, smirking at me. "You can't just declare yourself divorced - you have to file for it."

"Well considering we're on the FBI's most wanted list," I say, narrowing my eyes at him, "I don't think that's happening."

"What's happening?" Kent asks, coming through the door, and my face bursts into a smile as he enters the room with a stack of tuxedos draped over his arm.

"Fay's trying to divorce me," Daniel says lightly, smiling down at the sleeping baby in his arms. "I'm refusing. I'm still in love - I think we should try to make it work, for the sake of the child."

"My child," Kent says, giving his son a little glare as he walks over to Jerome and hands him a tux, Kent lifts his chin towards the bathroom as a suggestion that Jerome should go try it on.

"Again," Daniel says, raising his handsome face to his father's as Kent turns to him next, "not according to the State of New York. What about this aren't you two getting?

There is a great deal of paperwork that we paid a lot of money for that says that this is my kid -"

"Shove it, Daniel," Kent says, though he can't keep the smirk from his face. "That first marriage doesn't count anyway.

Here," he says, offering the next tuxedo in the stack and gesturing for Dominic, clearly proposing a trade.

"It doesn't?" I ask, curious.

"No, Fay" Kent says, turning to me with a little frown. "It didn't happen in a church."

"Kent," I say, laughing a little, "a courthouse wedding is a perfectly legitimate way to get married."

Kent takes Dominic from Daniel's arms and slowly walks over to me, holding my gaze, his movements as soft and predatory as a panther. When he comes close, he tucks my hair back behind my ear. "I don't give a damn what some part-time judge in America thinks, Fay," he murmurs, and heat rushes through me at his words, at the way hes looking at me, like I'm his and his alone. "Tonight, I'm going to make my vows to you before god, in a chapel. Anything else is..just paperwork."

He moves close then, and I raise a hand to press against his cheek as he kisses me. It's almost ridiculous, how quickly I forget to breathe.

But suddenly Nonna smacks both of us and gets to her feet, scolding Kent and pushing him away. He laughs, backing off and nodding to her.

"She says I'm getting in the way," Kent informs me with a sigh as he passes the baby into my arms. "But it's probably for the best - I need to try this tux on so she can fit it anyway."

He spreads the clothes out on the bed at Janeen's feet, neatly checking to ensure that all the pieces are laid out.

"Why is Nonna doing all the alterations anyway?" I ask quietly, glancing down at her over my baby's head before pressing a few quick kisses to Dominic's face, smiling down at my sweet boy. "Can't you guys hire like, seven tailors to do all this work so she doesn't have to?"

"She wants to do it, Fay," Daniel says, starting to strip his shirt off so that he can be fitted into his tux as well. "You're still not getting this Italian wife thing."

"And I don't ever intend to," I say with a sigh, grinning down at Dominic. "So, please stop trying to teach me."

"Out," Kent says, snapping at Janeen before he moves his hands to the buttons on his shirt, intending to get changed.

"No way," she says, frowning at Kent and giving him a little kick. "This day just started to get good - I mean, I was mourning a lack of bachelorette party not ten minutes ago, and voila - two seriously hot guys start taking their clothes off -"

I burst into laugher as Jerome comes out of the bathroom wearing just his pants, frowning down at the white shirt in his hands. "Danny," he murmurs, "I can't make heads or tails of this -"

"Woo! Hoo!" Janeen shouts, raising her glass of champagne in the air, grinning like a cat. "Make it three!"

Nonna swats me again when I almost bend over double laughing, but she smiles at me when I apologize - because I just can't help laughing this hard as Jerome stares around at us, confused, and Kent snags Janeen off the bed, carrying her to the door and placing her delicately onto her feet just outside of it.

Nonna's laughing too at the antics, shaking her head with a happy sigh. And when she meets my eyes, I can see that were feeling precisely the same thing - incredibly happy to see our family happy, and healthy, and full of joy.

Because that, in the end, is truly the only thing that matters.

The rest of the day passes with alarming speed, which kind of makes sense because there is so much to do. Not only am I still learning how to be a mom for the first time, but the wedding dress fitting takes longer than I thought it would and people keep coming to me, wanting my opinion on how the flowers should look, or if I'd prefer lamb at the dinner over beef -

Eventually my dad, who comes up for his own tux fitting, sees how overwhelmed I get. He draws close to me and presses a kiss to my cheek. "Don't worry about it, baby," he murmurs. "I'll handle it all."

My eyes fill with tears again as I look at him with gratitude, which just makes him laugh as he walks out of the room and heads downstairs. And then he sends Janeen to my side to fend off everyone who wants anything from me, telling her to redirect everyone to him. And my sister spends the rest of the day with Dominic and I, plying me with champagne and making me laugh until the sun starts to set.

Dominic, for his part, is a very good little baby - putting up with all of the fuss and noise with a calmness that I'm hoping lasts throughout his babyhood. Even when we dress him in the tiny tuxedo that Valentina produced for him apparently out of thin air, he just looks around calmly.

My heart seems to grow every single moment that Dominic is in my arms. I absolutely can't get enough of looking at him, which is why I gasp in surprise when Nonna finally says "Viola!" and turns me so that I can see myself in the mirror.

I gasp, and am at extreme risk of both bursting into tears and dropping the baby at once. Luckily, Janeen is right next to me, and takes Dominic into her arms. "You're gorgeous, baby sis," she whispers, reverent, as we both look at my wedding gown in the mirror. The dress is incredibly romantic. Simple and chic, it fits tight around my arms and bodice until it hits my waist, where it flows to the floor in yard and yards of lace and silk.

I look, absolutely, like a princess from a fairy tale.

"Thank you," I whisper to Nonna, my hands shaking with shock and gratitude and joy.

"Bellissima," she murmurs, standing on her toes to press a kiss to my cheek.

And then she laughs, moving to the door and beckoning us to come along. "All right, baby," Janeen sighs. "I mean, I still have my Porsche out front. If you want to bail on this -"

"Oh, shut up," murmur, giving her a half-hearted little glare that makes her laugh.

"I know," she sighs, passing the baby back to me before wrapping her arm in mine. "I just tease. And I am happy for you, baby Fay. I think...I think you and Kent are just right for each other."

I raise my eyebrows at my sister. "Wow, Neeny," I murmur. " Look at you, being sweet."

"Don't get used to it," she sighs.

And then my sister grins at me and walks me down the stairs.

Chapter 295

A huge cheer goes up when Janeen and I step out of the house onto the back patio, and I burst out laughing because I wasn't expecting it. Dominic, surprised, gives a little cry and the crowd instantly bursts into a sorry little aww, which makes us all laugh again. It's all a fuss after that, and I don't really see what's going on as I comfort Dominic, rocking him until he returns to his state of quiet alertness. He looks around at everything a little displeased, but no longer protesting. When I look up, I'm surprised to see Daniel standing calmly at my side, looking very handsome in his black tux. Jerome stands next to him, Titus in his arms, Gio is beyond him, smiling at me warmly. "Where's Kent?" I say, frowning as I look around.

"At the chapel," Gio says, lifting his chin towards the land that stretches out behind the house. I look in that direction too, but...l don't see any chapel. "He is there alone for a moment, saying a prayer and making his peace with God so that he can go into his wedding with a clear heart."

"Oh," I say, a little taken-aback that it's gotten so religious."

Dol...not need a clear heart?"

Gio just smiles at me, warm. "You already have the purest heart, Fay," he murmurs, a flattering compliment that I don't really take time to think over deeply considering...

Well, considering that I'm about to commit bigamy.

"Come on!" Janeen says, grabbing two glasses of champagne off of a passing tray and offering one to me.

Let's get this party started!"

I take the glass, but don't drink much as - a little baffled - I start to walk forward at the end of a long line of people. I jump a little when a band starts to play old, traditional Italian music and, to my shock, starts to walk along with us.

"What...what's this!?" I ask, taking little steps forward as the family surges around me, chattering happily as we all walk together. Jerome puts Titus down and he scampers along the line of people, receiving pets and barking happily at the band. "The wedding procession," Daniel says, wrapping an arm around my waist. "It's a bigger deal in Italy than elsewhere.

In America, you just walk down the aisle. Here?" he shrugs.

"You walk all the way to the church, and you let the whole damn town know about it."

I laugh, and shrug, and take a sip of my champagne, smiling as my dad comes into sight and walks over to us.

"Ready, baby?" he asks, offering his arm. And I nod, and take it.

And so with Daniel on my right, and my dad on my left, and Janeen dancing before us with her glass of champagne held high over her head, I start to cross the Bianci lands towards my wedding. And the smile on my face grows and grows with every step. Jerome walks with Daniel, and Gio eventually joins Janeen, lightly taking her hand and spinning her, singing along to the music as we all slowly move forward. I laugh for the joy of it, because it really is beautiful. As the trail grows darker I realize that someone has taken the time to lay hundreds of candles out along the path so that we can all see the route, and each other, as the sun dips below the horizon.

Kent's family all takes a moment to drift backwards in the line, to whisper their blessings and best wishes to me, pressing kisses to my cheek and taking a moment to run a hand over the baby's head. My dad nods proudly to them all and Daniel leans close, murmuring their words to me for those who only speak Italian.

By the end of the path, I'm so overwhelmed with the beauty and love of this place that I'm nearly breathless with it.

Only one thing is missing, and my heart surges as the chapel finally comes into view, because I know that Kent is inside waiting for me. And i can't wait to see him.

The whole family streams into the tiny chapel before us, and as they do I note that the last people to go in - before my family, of course, who will make up my wedding party - are Nonna and Don Bianci, who stand before the doors of the chapel.

Nonna comes forward first, her eyes filled with tears as she presses kisses to both of my cheeks and murmurs to me that I am beautiful, and her daughter, and a joy to see. Or, at least, that's what Daniel interprets for to me. I kiss her back and hug her close before she steps aside, clearing space for Don Bianci.

He, I have less trouble understanding. I go a bit rigid as he steps towards me, not knowing what to expect. Dominic fusses a little, perhaps sensing my disease.

The most powerful man in Italy just clicks his tongue, waving a hand in front of he as he shakes his head. "Do not worry, beautiful Fay," he murmurs, giving me a small smile - perhaps the most approving look he ever gives to anyone. "The trouble between us - it has been laid aside forever. Today I welcome you as my daughter. You are a blessing to us."

He steps forward then, giving me a kiss on both of my cheeks before he peers at Dominic, murmurs his name, and presses a kiss to the child's forehead as well.

Then Don Bianci shakes my father's hand - I'm pleased to see that my dad puffs out his chest a bit and looks Bianci square in the eye - before nodding to all of us and taking Nonna's arm. Dad exhales a long breath as the Mafia don leads his tiny wife into the church.

"You ready, baby?" my dad murmurs to me.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I say back, though I'll admit that I'm nervous. I mean, not nervous about anything real just...

I don't know. Maybe this is how all brides feel on the day they marry the love of their-life.

Jerome, Daniel, and Gio each give me a kiss on the cheek before they head in, Daniel saying that they'll stand with Kent at the altar, though Jerome whispers an amendment to this, saying hell stand on my side since he's always been Team Fay anyway.

I laugh, squeezing his hand as he goes. And then Janeen comes forward to me, offering me a huge bouquet of wildflowers in all different colors.

"I'll take Dominic," she offers giving me a little smile.

"Oh!" I say, looking down at him and biting my lip.

"What?" she asks, turning her head to the side.

"Well," I say, glancing up at her. "Actually, why don't you carry the bouquet? I'll take the baby."

"Fay," she says, laughing a little, "you're the bride."

"Yeah, and he's way cuter than any bundle of flowers," I sigh, lifting my baby up higher so I can see his cute, scrunchy little face.

"Plus, it feels.right."

"You're a good mama, Fay," my dad murmurs, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Now come on, let's get you married."

I smile at him and, with a quick nod, my dad and my sister walk me towards the church.

Janeen gives me a kiss on the cheek as well as a quick smile before she passes through the doors, a swell of music signaling that the ceremony is getting started ando the bride is about to arrive. I peer through the door, watching Janeen move down the aisle as everyone stands up, getting ready for me.

"Baby," my dad says, and I turn in surprise to hear his voice wavering.

"Dad," I murmur, reaching out and cupping his cheek. "Is everything..."

"Everything is fine, baby," he murmurs, taking my hand from his face and holding it tight in his own. "I just... wanted to say..."

My eyes fill with tears again and I know immediately that I'm a goner - that theres no way I'm getting through this night with dry eyes, let alone whatever my dad is going to say next.

Dad takes a deep breath, steeling himself. "I wanted to say," he continues, setting his shoulders straight, "that being your dad has been the greatest honor of my life."

The tears start to slide down my cheeks and my dad laughs, reaching out to softly wipe them away.

"Now don't fuss, baby," he murmurs, laughing at me a little, which makes me laugh too. "I just wanted you to know that 1am so glad that I've had the chance to be your dad

Watching you grow to the woman you are," he shakes his head, pride radiating from every inch of him. "Well, Fay..it's just been a joy. I'm so grateful for you, that you're my little girl."

I tuck my head against his shoulder, smiling and crying and laughing a little - because I love him so much, but hes turning me into a damn sobbing mess by being so sweet.

"I love you, dad," I whisper to him as he holds me close. "In the great lottery of life, I'm glad I got you too."

We stay like that for a moment, sharing it, before dad pulls away a little and produces a handkerchief from his pocket.

"All right, now clean up," he murmurs, offering it to me so I can wipe the tears off my face. "Or else that big man of yours is gonna come looking for you, and while I like to pretend I could take him..we both know I can't."

I laugh again, and then I murmur a little apology to Dominic too as I wipe a few spare tears off his little head where they've splattered.

Then I set my shoulders, and nod to my dad that I'm ready.

He loops his arm in mine and, with my dad at my side and my baby in my arms, I enter the chapel and start down the aisle towards the man I love.