AN: aha! here is the next chapter! i really hope you guys enjoy it and i thank you for reviewing. i would especially like to thank Winters-loving-way for their wonderful review. it's funny too, because when i saw the long review, i was thinking, "aw, crap. it looks like a flame..." and i ended up being quite flattered. so thank you Winters-loving-way!!!

Ribbons and Bo's

(sequel to Love Can Prosper and Caterina)

Summary: A year has passed since Caterina's flight from Venice. Now that she is back, she's not sure she's ready to resume her old life with Prosper ,or if she even wants to. But with a little help from ribbons, and a lot of help from Bo, can they make it work?

Chapter Three: Family Time

When Prosper woke up the next morning, the Casa Spavento was in an uproar. Caterina was not surprised that Prosper had failed to mention her return to everyone else. But they were quite happy to see her back again.

Victor had called up Scipio, his girlfriend Carabella, Riccio, and Mosca, and before everyone knew it, they were having an unexpected party.

Prosper kept his distance from Caterina, having said and done everything he needed to the night before. Also remembering what had happened with them at the last party they were at together.

Even so, he was happier than he had been in a long time. He could tell she was happy too, blissful, in fact, at the reunion. But, every so often, she threw a glance Prosper's way, and smiled at him. He knew because he was watching her, watching as she talked and hugged and laughed with everyone else. He also listened, but not once did she mention the other man he knew she was seeing. "Rolf," she had said on the phone. Perhaps that was him? But Prosper just shook his head to chase the thought away.

Caterina wondered why Prosper didn't come talk to her. She had missed him so much, yet he just put more distance between them. She refused to admit to herself, thinking about Rolf, but she had always loved Prosper greatly, and being in the same house as him again, the same house where so much had happened between them, did not help one bit. All it did was bring her feelings into greater focus. She closed her eyes, remembering all the time they had spent together, all the time they'd enjoyed, and blushed when she remembered her eighteenth birthday party. But then Rolf walked back into her mind and guilt overcame her. Something had to change, whether it was her feelings for Prosper or her feelings for Rolf. But she didn't want anything to.

Prosper decided that it was about time to eat a little something and walked into the kitchen. Caterina saw his departure and glanced at the dirty plate in her hand. Idea-struck, she followed him.

She stayed quiet as she walked into the kitchen, not wanting to scare him off. Finally, she cleared her throat. "Prosper?"

Startled, he spun around and hit his head on the door of the cupboard he'd been rummaging through. Ignoring this, he gasped, "Caterina."

She was concerned; she walked toward him, intent on making sure he was alright. "I'm sorry, Prop. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Oh, it's alright." He put his hand to his now-sore head.

She continued to walk towards him, not sure of what to do. "So...why haven't you been talking to me?" She regretted the words as soon as she said them; it was the first thing that came to mind.

Prosper's face became indifferent, emotionless. "I said and did everything necessary last night."

"Did you really? Or is that just what you want to believe?"

He did not respond.

"Prop, I'm back here to visit my family because I love my family. And I love you, Prosper. I've missed you."

Prosper stared at the floor. "But you don't love me the way you used to, Caterina, not the way I love you either."

Unable to hold herself back, Caterina stepped forward and put her arms around him, comforting him.

"Now, listen, Prop. I never said that, but that's not what matters now. What matters is that I might be leaving again and I want to spend time with my family. And you're part of my family. So come on!"

She grabbed his arm and towed him after her, back to the party.

-_-_-_-_-

Prosper smiled, though it wasn't genuine. Caterina had at last convinced him to stay and socialize with their family and friends. He had been with them for the past year while she had been away. But he hadn't been there, known what was going on in their lives. It turned out Scipio and Carabella were engaged, Ida and Victor planning a trip, and that Bo had gotten the high score on his math test. Riccio and Mosca had finally been able to get a two-bedroom apartment and live there rather than the warehouses of Castello. Riccio was in his senior year of high school and greatly anticipating graduation, though the school year had only just begun. Mosca was dating many different girls, searching for one he liked.

Though hearing about the lives of his family and friends interested him, it also made Prosper feel...disappointed in himself, for he never noticed what was happening in their lives anymore. He was too busy wallowing in his self pity.

But what would he do now? Caterina was back and changing his life already. For the moment, it was brighter than before. But later on, that could all change. Something else could go wrong and it would leave him broken, desperate for repair and comfort. What would he do then?

"Prop?" His train of thought was interrupted by Scipio's voice. "Prop, you never said how the job hunting was going. Have found a new job?" The restaurant that Prosper had worked at with Caterina was still there, but he had been fired because no one had called in for him while he had been in the hospital.

"Oh, yeah." Prosper nodded. "I got a job at a bookstore. I start Monday."

"That's great, Prop. I'm proud of you. How's it going with the dating life?" Scipio chuckled.

Prosper didn't want to answer, but obliged anyway. "What dating life?"

"Oh," Scipio said understandingly. He caught Prosper's eyes flickering over to Caterina. "It's her, isn't it?"

"Who?" Prosper did his best to look innocent and aloof.

Scipio smirked, lightly punching Prosper's arm. "Come one, Prop. Hornet. You fancy her. Still."

"What makes you think that?"

"Oh, come on, Prop. I thought we went through this: I'm a detective. I pay attention; I notice these things." He chuckled again.

Prosper turned away, not offering up anything more to continue the conversation. "How's the detective work going?" he asked, changing the subject. Scipio launched into a tale of his latest case, requiring Prop to only offer up bits and pieces here and there. He took the time to reflect upon Scipio's words. He had told him nearly the same thing a year earlier...

"Can I ask you something, er, personal?" Scipio had asked.

"I guess..."

"Are you and Hornet still...seeing each other?"

"What do you mean?"

"Get real, Prop. I'm a detective. I pay attention; I know these things. So, are you?"

Prosper wished he could give Scipio the same answer he'd hinted at that day, that he was still seeing Caterina, that she was his.

But he couldn't.

AN: i know that Prosper's pretty down, and he probably will be for most of this... review!! please&thanks. (hint: 5 more and i update in a week).

Also, i have posted a new poll, which i would like for you guys to check out. please?

peace out!
-b-