Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.
I own my original characters and original story.

Thanks again to Cared Cullen for all her help!

*****************************YBTM********************

***Three Years Earlier***November, 1949***

Supper over, Alice and I were doing dishes when the front door opened with a bang. We knew who it was, before he spoke a single word.

Em never did anything quietly.

"Ma, your favorite son-in-law is here!" He bellowed from the parlor, causing the two of us to giggle.

Mom was laughing and shaking her head from where she sat at the kitchen table, enjoying a cup of tea during a rare moment of peace.

I could hear Em and Pop speaking in the parlor, just as Rose peeped in through the kitchen doorway.

"Hey, Mom" Rose waddled over to the table and placed a sweet kiss on our mother's cheek.

Mom smiled while cradling Rose's face in her hands. "Look at you, so beautiful. How ya feeling today?"

Rose, one year older than me, and the eldest of Mom and Pop's children was about two months away from giving birth to her first child.

Consequently, since Rose was the only one of us who was married, this baby would also be Mom and Pop's first grandchild.

"Fat," she shrugged, "a little tired, and hungry," Rose admitted with a laugh.

"Ma!" Em interrupted from the doorway, a bright smile on his face as he made his way over to our mother.

"By the way, I'll have you know that you're my only son-in-law," Mom began, her tone chastising, as she tried to hide her smile.

He bent down and hugged her shoulders from behind while leaving a kiss on her cheek as well.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Em!" Mom gasped and turned to look at him as he sat down beside her, "That cologne," she waved her hand in front of her face, "You smell like a French whore."

Rose, Alice and I burst into laughter, while Em merely grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "Irene Swan," he placed his hand over his heart, feigning shock, "Pray tell, how would you know what a French whore smells like? Hmm?"

My mother actually blushed as she attempted to stutter out a response. Her reaction only caused Em to smile wider.

"Emilio Colonna, behave." She was giggling now as well.

"Oh, Christ, now I know I'm in trouble, she used my whole name."

"You need to go to confession," was my mother's pithy response.

"Ay!" He held his hands up, "I'm not the one sniffing around whore houses." He whispered, causing my mother to laugh loudly and lightly smack his arm.

It was always this way. They teased one another until the rest of us were in stitches; their conversation usually ending with Mom telling Em he needed to go to confession.

"Get on with ye. Admit that the only reason you're here is because Rosie knew I made bread pudding." Mom smiled as she stood to bring the pudding to the table.

"It's a dirty lie," Em began, still grinning, "You know I can't go a day without seein' your beautiful face." He teased.

"A-huh," my mother eyed him doubtfully while Rose reached for the pudding.

"Oh, thank God," Rose murmured while serving herself a large dish.

Em's eyes shone as he watched his wife. He loved her so much. I only hoped one day to find a man who would be as devoted to me as Em was to my sister…

My brother-in-law sighed before glancing in my direction; catching me staring.

His mouth pulled up at the corner. "Hey Bells, my kid brother's arriving next week."

Mom stirred her tea. "This is the one we haven't met?"

Em nodded. "Ed's been gone for six years. He enlisted in '43 right after our Ma died, and has been stationed in Germany since the end of the war."

Of course, I knew that Em had seen his brother during those six years. He'd told me that after the end of the war, he and Ed had been stationed for a time in Germany together.

Em was given a medical discharge in 1947, because of a stomach ulcer. He came home and started driving a truck for Gemstone Ice and Coal. That's where he met Rose, who worked as a secretary in the office.

Ed leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes on me. "I've got Ed all picked out for you, Bella."

"Yeah, yeah, so you keep sayin'," Rose murmured between mouthfuls. "Last I heard, driving a delivery truck does not qualify you as a matchmaker. Eat some pudding and shut up."

Rose, was a bit cranky. It's something we'd gotten used to. It seemed that as her belly grew, her moods became more and more unpredictable.

Em bore the brunt of her foul humor like a trooper.

I never remembered Mom being like this when she was expecting Patrick…

Mom told me herself that things were different with every baby, and I had been too young to remember much about the months leading up to the births of my little sisters.

My mom had been very lucky. All told, she had birthed six children, all alive and well which in and of itself was a rarity. For most of my life, the thought of having a baby had frightened me. Through the years, I'd witnessed all too many of my aunts and other family friends grieving the loss of an infant.

Mom's own mother had died while giving birth; she and Mom's baby brother were buried together in the cathedral cemetery.

We visit their grave every Sunday after Mass.

Rose and Alice, who turned nineteen in March, were not only my sisters, but also my dearest friends.

Our younger sisters, Laura and Frances, were sixteen and fifteen respectively. As far as I could tell, they spent their days contriving ways to waste time on frivolous pursuits. Tonight, for example, as soon as supper was over, they both claimed to have schoolwork to finish, and dashed up the stairs, leaving the dishes to Alice and myself.

I would bet dollars to donuts that if I were to sneak up there right now, I'd find them both lying across their beds, gossiping and flipping through the pages of Look magazine.

Pop says they'll grow up eventually. I'm not so sure I believe him.

Mom had a difficult time bringing Frances into the world, and her doctor voiced his doubts that she'd ever bear more children. I remembered the years that followed, and my mother becoming a bit weepy whenever she held a new niece or nephew, knowing she wouldn't be having any more of her own.

Then, lo and behold, when Franny was nine years old, Patrick, our little brother, arrived.

Mom and Pop were over the moon, as were we all.

Patrick was a joy from that first day; a sweeter, more even-tempered child you'd never know.

Mom and Pop have hopes that he'll grow up to become a priest.

I suppose time will tell…

***YBTM***

The following week, I found myself in the back seat of Em's Buick on our way to the rail station. His brother, Ed was due to arrive in an hour or so.

At first, knowing that Em just wanted me to meet his brother, I'd refused to go along, but after Rose asked, explaining that all of Em's family would be there, and she didn't know them all that well, I agreed.

"Besides, since you and Ed will be the godparents," she stroked her belly lovingly as she spoke, "it's only right that you two should meet."

She wasn't kidding when she said the entire Colonna clan would be there. We stopped in Little Italy to meet up with the others, and soon all four of the brothers and their wives, along with their aunt and me, were headed to the station, travelling in three separate automobiles.

Em's Aunt Juliana rode with us. I'd met her once before, at Em and Rose's wedding, but hadn't gotten a chance to speak much with her then. Rose had mentioned that she was quite a little spitfire.

On the surface, she appeared small, timid, and sweet, but as soon as she was seated beside me and opened her mouth, I understood exactly what Rose had meant.

I think I loved Aunt Julie from that moment.

"Thank God you got room, Em," she began; her words flavored with an Italian accent. "Vicky and Giacomo want me to ride with them, but youse know if I gotta ride with Vicky, Imma gonna strangle her." Aunt Juliana gestured as if she had a grip on Vicky's neck. "She's, um, how you say? Stuck up." She explained.

We laughed, but I got the feeling that Vicky had better watch her back.

"Giacomo?" I assumed Aunt Juliana was referring to one of Em's brothers, but had never heard the name before.

"Giacomo is my brother Jimmy's given name," Em explained.

"Yeah, all our kids, changing their names, tryin' to hide who they are…" She shook her head. "Even my girl, Giovanina, she calls herself Jane." Aunt Juliana looked at me and smiled as she shrugged. "Eh, what ya gonna do?"

"Hey, I'm still Emilio," Em defended.

"Yes you are, mi ragazzo bello, and that's why you're my favorite." She grinned while reaching forward to pat the back of his head.

"Aunt Julie, all due respect, but you're fulla shit," Em laughed. "You tell every one of us that we're your favorite."

"Ay!" She laughed. "Youse damn kids tellin' stories now?"

When we arrived at the station, no one lingered outside, for even though it was only November, the evening air had turned bitterly cold.

I stayed close by my sister as we waited, still feeling out of place around Em's family.

My gaze took in our large group as we waited, and I attempted to remember everyone's name. Em's eldest brother Carl was there with his wife, Esmeralda. They had several children, but none were with them tonight. I heard Carl remark that their oldest was at home caring for the others.

Another brother, Joey, carried a small boy in his arms, while sitting beside his wife, Elise. Rose had said that Elise was from Belgium, and that Joey had met her there after the war.

Jimmy and Vicky were there with their two children, and Vicky made quite a show of acting like she was in charge.

"Look at her," Rose muttered. "She always has to make like she's more important than everyone else. She's never even met Ed…"

Once the train's arrival was imminent, we made our way outside. It wasn't as cold as before, the walls of the rail station effectively blocking the wind. We broke into small groups to chat while we waited.

I saw Aunt Julie having a lively conversation with Carl and Esmeralda, while Vicky bossed her husband, having him chase after their rambunctious children.

Em and Joey stood off to the side, smoking; both seemed calm, but I didn't miss the way their eyes continued to dart anxiously in the direction from which Ed's train would soon arrive.

Elise and little Sonny stood by Rose and me. I discovered that she was very nice and quite funny. "When I first married Joey, I didn't know much English. We both spoke enough German to get by…" Her accent was very distinct, "So, when I came to America and met his brother, Jimmy, for the first time, Joey told me how to say 'Hello, glad to meet you'." She smiled mischievously. "Only what Joey really taught me was, 'Hello, you ugly bastard'."

Rose and I burst into laughter.

Elise dropped her voice to a whisper then. "His wife don't like me from that day." She shrugged and smiled over to where her husband was still speaking with Em; Carl and Jimmy having now joined them.

"These brothers," Elise shook her head. "They like to tease."

When Ed's train finally arrived and pulled to a stop, Rose and I made sure to stand back from the others.

I watched as passengers stepped off one by one, paying special attention to any man in uniform.

Once Ed appeared, I barely got a glimpse of him before he was swarmed by all four of his brothers.

They wrapped their arms around him as if they never wanted to let go. There were very few dry eyes as his family welcomed him home. I heard Rose sniffling from beside me while she watched her husband finally release his brother and wipe his own tears on his sleeve. We both laughed when we saw Aunt Julie push two of her burly nephews out of the way in order to cradle Ed's face in her hands and leave a soft kiss on his lips. Ed pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

Once he released his aunt and stood to his full height, I was finally able to get a good look at Ed Colonna. And my, what a sight he was…

He was handsome, tall, well-built, and when he smiled…

"Bella, close your mouth," Rose whispered from beside me.

I did as she directed and turned toward her, ready to defend myself, but no words would come. "I…, um."

"You are so funny." She grinned, "I don't blame you though. I have to say that he's almost as handsome as my Em." I wanted to argue that point, but thought better of it; best to keep some thoughts to myself.

The fact of the matter was, I couldn't remember ever having met a man more handsome than the one who stood before me now.

Em was close, but not quite…

Before I knew it, my sister latched onto my arm and literally pulled me toward Em and his family.

Em beamed as he pulled his wife into his side. "Ed, I'd like you to meet my Rosie," Ed held out a hand to shake, but then grinned widely before taking his hand back and giving my sister a hug instead.

It wasn't an easy feat, considering the size of her belly.

Then Em turned to me. "And this is Rose's sister, Bella."

Ed's eyes studied me as he took my hand and shook it, "Nice to meet you, Bella."

"Nice to meet you too," I answered, but could feel the blush in my cheeks as I thought about how nice my name sounded on his lips.

Ed blew out a breath and glanced around, "I didn't expect youse all to be here. This is some welcome!"

We laughed and made our way through the station to the car park.

Vicky insisted that Ed ride with them. I got the impression that he didn't want to make waves, so he went along, piling into the backseat with their children.

We were all invited over for coffee, but Rose wasn't up to it so Em dropped us back home before spending what was left of the evening with his brothers.

A week passed before I saw Ed again…

***YBTM***

"Laura, set five more places at the table," Mom directed, "Franny and Patty, go down the corner and help carry food."

We all knew that 'down the corner' meant go to Em and Rose's flat.

It was Thanksgiving Day, and we were only moments away from sitting down to dinner.

I gave my mother a questioning look, knowing that Rose had planned a dinner at her own home for Joey, Elise and Ed.

"Em phoned, it seems Rose didn't thaw the turkey long enough before cooking it," Mom shook her head. "I told her what to do, I don't know, she forgets things lately. Doesn't matter," she waved her hand, "Em went to slice into it and it's still frozen in the middle. Your sister's a mess, crying and carrying on." She stood at the stove, stirring the pan of gravy, motioning that Alice should take over. "We have plenty, I told her they were more than welcome to come here, but she wanted to do something special for Em's family. Now, everyone's coming here anyway, and we'll just add Rosie's side dishes to ours…"

I felt horrible for Rose, knowing how she was trying to make a good impression. "Mom should I go…" I gestured toward the door. "Yeah, help her pull herself together." She turned toward the parlor then, "Charlie, can you bring up some chairs from the basement?"

I found Rose seated on her sofa, sniffling into a hankie, while Elise attempted to console her. Before long, I had her laughing at the absurdity of it all, and by the time she was seated at my parents' table, she wore a genuine smile on her face.

I sat across from Ed, barely eating or speaking, preferring instead to spend my time stealing glances at him. More than once, I thought I caught him studying me as well, but when our eyes met, he'd quickly look away.

The conversation during dinner was lively, with my parents asking many questions. "You're a seamstress?" I could tell that Mom genuinely liked Elise.

Elise nodded.

"Do you plan to open your own shop?"

Elise smiled, "Oh, no. Nothing like that. I like working at home. It gives me something to keep me busy, especially if Joe is sent away again."

Joe, like Ed, was still in the army.

"Also, we're hoping to buy a house soon, so the extra money doesn't hurt."

Mother, who up until the older of us girls started working had sewn all of our clothing by hand, was in her glory discussing fabrics and patterns for the next little while.

My continued silence must have been too much for Alice. I felt her nudge me with her leg, "What is wrong with you?" she whispered. "You're too quiet."

I realized then that I was being silly. I didn't know what Em had been thinking, but the more time I spent in his brother's presence, the more I became convinced that he'd never want someone like me.

He was so handsome; he could have any girl he wanted…

He was Em's brother, that's all, and would never be any more to me than that.

Why was I wasting time hoping he'd show the slightest interest?

"Sorry, I'm just tired." I whispered back, and from that moment on I tried my best to ignore Ed's presence.

***YBTM***

Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger
you may see a stranger across a crowded room,
and somehow you know, you know even then,
that somewhere you'll see her again and again…

Some enchanted evening, someone may be laughing
you may hear her laughing across a crowded room,
and night after night as strange as it seems
the sound of her laughter will sing in your dreams…

Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try…

***************A/N****************
A/N Song Rec: "Some Enchanted Evening" (from the musical South Pacific) a hit by Perry Como in 1949...and a small glimpse into the mind of Ed Colonna.

Glad you've decided to take this little journey with me. The story isn't a long one…just an expanded version of a one-shot. More to come…