In my Arms…
Dante Angelo Falconeri was the definition of a good cop. His mother raised him right, his morals could never be tainted, his love didn't need to be bought. He treated everyone he met with respect. He gave me chance after chance. When I shot him, he didn't let me take the fall for it. When everyone thought I was responsible for the death of a little girl and her father he chose to believe I was innocent instead of jumping to conclusions. I love my so much. I jumped in front of a bullet for him once, that is when our relationship took a turn for the better. He realized that I truly loved him. Why couldn't I have been here to stop that one.
"Dante, oh my god!" his son was lying on his stomach in the alley, bleeding out. He quickly knelt by his son and called 911.
"ughhh….dad?" Dante croaked.
Sonny carefully turned him over and assessed the damage. He was shot… it was really bad. "Dante, can you hear my son, I'm right here, stay with me" he shouted. 'Please God don't take him, not yet, he's not ready, I'm not ready' he prayed in his head.
"Lulu….she's….."
"Keep talking Dante, Lulu is what? You've got to stay awake son. Please Dante, stay with me!" by this time Sonny was sobbing.
"wallet…." He started reaching for his back pocket.
"no, don't move, let me do it…" Sonny pulled Dante's wallet and opened it for him.
Dante reached for the picture that was folded I half and smiled. "she's preg….nant." he was choking on his own blood now.
"She is? That's amazing, that's why you have to live, you have to be around for your child, you don't want to be like me do and not be there for your son or daughter?" Sonny couldn't contain his sadness and anger, he wanted his son to live and be ok.
'how can I do what I do, get shot at a million times and I still get to be here, God, don't take him please.' He thought. "Where is the damn ambulance!"
Sonny Cradled Dante in his arms, something he never got to do when he was a child. He didn't blame Olivia for keeping him safe, but he would have loved to get to see his son grow up into the man he is today.
"What are you going to name the baby? Have you guys decided" he kept asking Dante questions, to keep him alert.
"Makayla…. Addison if it's a girl…. Michael Christopher for a boy…."
"You want to name your son after me….?" Sonny was touched, his heart was breaking because if the ambulance didn't get there time, his grandchild would never meet his/her father…
"Well…it's tradition..to name the boy after his godfat..her…. Michael is who…we both wan..t"
"oh he" smiled. "Dante you and lulu are going to be great parents…. Don't let me out live you…"
"our..child will be…..stron…g and..smar….t and beaut..ful…"
"Yes Dante, but it wont be happy if you don't stay with me!" he was holding pressure on his son's wound as best he could.
Dante took one last look at the sonogram and lifted it to his lips to kiss it… "promise me something… dad.."
"I don't need to promise you anything, because you're going to be here for your wife and kid!" Sonny knew that if his son was promised something he would be reassured that things would be ok without him…
"…. daddy please…."
"oh Please don't make me say this… you have to be ok…"
"Please…Promise me, that you'll take care of…Lulu, she's gonna …need you…" he closed his eyes.
"I promise…but we can take care of them together Dante…"
"I want…. You to kno..w tha..t I lov.e yo..u. Dad…you'v..e done your best…for all of us… do.. the same…for my chil…d." and with that he drew his last breath.
" I love you to Dante… Hey? Don't do this!" the ambulance sirens weren't far now but they would be to late.
"Dante" he sobbed holding his son for what would be the last time. He would never have that moment with him again… he spent so much time, wasting his life trying to be the best in the world… gaining power and respect from the scum of the earth… all that and he missed out on his Son's life and now Dante's life was cut short… "Oh God…. Dante! No … why?" Sonny kissed his son's hair and rocked him back and forth. Sobbing.
(holding his infant grandson)
Your father was a great husband to your Mommy. They were meant for each other … he held the door open for her, he gave her his jacket when she was cold he gave her his hand to help her out of a car or on to a boat. He brought her flowers to work everyday and he loved you before you were born. I want you Michael Christopher Dante Angelo Spencer Falconeri to know that. When you grow up I want you to be the kind of man that your father was a just man. A man that I am not. And if you ever need me for anything, I will always have a place for you in my arms. Just like you are now.