Prosper awoke to the ringing bells of the Basilica. A shaft of moonlight was shining in through the small window. He looked around at the other sleeping children and sighed. They looked so content. He crawled out from under his covers and slipped out the door and down the attic stairs.

Have you ever wondered how can things go so wrong? Seems there's always a problem. Seems you gotta stay so strong for so long...

Prosper didn't know how long he sat on the cold, stone ground, staring out across the reflected in the still, dark water. Something moved behind him. He gave a start as two arms wrapped around his waist and a warm cheek was pressed against the top of his head. "You okay?" Prosper shrugged slightly.

"Do you think Bo really does belong with Esther? I'm sure she can take care of him better than I can..." He let his voice trail off. "I- I just don't want to lose him... or any of you," he said looking up into Scipio's dark eyes.

"Prop, I'm not going anywhere."

I just wanna tell you now that I will always be there. No matter what the reason, no matter what the season. I'll make this promise to you, you'll never alone. You can make my heart a home 'cuz I will always be there.

Prosper gave him a small smile. "Look," Scip said, "we've got to go back to the island, find the merry-go-round, see if it really does work. Just think if it did. No one could tell me what to do, and you, you could take care of Bo. You could take him back from Esther."

"Bo doesn't want me as a father!" Prop said fiercely. "He wants me as a brother." He stood up and turned to face Scipio. Prosper took his hands and held them in his. "Don't go back," he said quietly, "It's not worth it..."

"I'm going," Scip said pulling his hands free. "Tonight."

"Then so am I," Prosper replied turning away and stepping to the edge of the canal. "I lost Bo, and if that merry-go-round works, I'll lose you too."

And when you think that you can't go on, feeling discouraged and all alone. There's so many times it's just not fair, but you need to know that someone is there, and they care...

"Prosper," Scipio said reaching his hand out to him, "you don't want to do this." Prop looked back over his shoulder into Scipio's eyes. There he saw something that he still wasn't used to seeing in his Thief Lord. Fear. "Prop..." He said again taking a step forward and placing a hand gently on Prosper's shoulder. Slowly he pulled him back from the water's edge. "I'm not going to leave you. Even if the merry-go-round does work, I'll still be the same old Scipio. I may look different, older, but that's just the magic. It'll be just like all of Venice is." He reached up and rubbed his thumb lightly across Prosper's cheek, catching a tear as it fell.

But I just need to tell you now that I will always be there. No matter what the reason, no matter what the season. I'll make this promise to you, you'll never alone. You can make my heart your home 'cuz I will always be there.

Prop closed his eyes and nodded, trying to hide his pain. He leaned forward slightly and caught Scip's lips with his. Scipio pulled him closer running his fingers through Prosper's wavy hair. There was a low roll of thunder, and a light rain began falling down on them. They pulled back slowly and stared up into the black, stormy clouds.

You'll never be alone, you can make my heart your home. "Cuz I will always... be there.

Scipio took Prosper's hand in his, and placed it on him own chest against his heart. Prosper could feel the steady, rhythmic beating beneath his fingertips. Scip wrapped his free arm around Prop's neck, and, pulling him close, he rested his forehead against Prosper's. "I promise," he whispered.