Author's Notes: Sorry about the long break. I didn't work very hard on this chapter, so it's probably horrible. I've been busy with Shadowcast stuff [and watching Buffy/drooling over Giles]. I just had a 4-week break from school, and all my story files are at school, so that's why the delay took so long. I apologize. Marni is finally realizing that she really loves Nathan. I think it's quite a development. Marni and Nathan are going to be married soon...after I introduce Mag, which will probably be in the next chapter. Pavi and Luigi make a cameo in this chapter. Unfortunately, I don't think I captured their relationship very well. I have to work on that for the Pavi/Luigi fanfic I'm planning on writing for my friend Pavi. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I'll be updating regularly now that school's back in session.

I'm off to Los Angeles this weekend for Repo! practice, Rocky Horror, and FangoCon. Busy, busy, busy.

Rotti Largo stared out the window as yet another dark and rainy day passed by, slowly ticking away the time he had left. Rotti sighed and say back in his large leather chair in front of his desk, his hench women at his side. He stared in front of him at Marni and little Carmella sitting on the couch together sleepily. "How's your mother?" Rotti's tone was stiff and raspy, as if he didn't get any sleep the night before.

"She's fine. She said she misses you," Marni lied with a yawn. Carmella yawned, too, and then giggled loudly. Marni smiled and lifted Carmella into her arms and rubbed her nose against the toddler's. "I love you, Mellie," Marni cooed softly. "I really, really do."

For some reason, Rotti was disturbed by the image before him. Carmella, Luigi, and Paviche were never so friendly toward him. Never. Why was that? Even when Rotti spoiled them to the core, they never treated him like they treated their mother. Was Rotti a failure of a father? He thought so. His two sons were good-for-nothing mooches. He had never actually said that to their faces before. Why? Perhaps he was just too kind-hearted. Or maybe he didn't think it would go over well with the soon-to-be wife. Or maybe he didn't have the balls to say how he really felt about anything.

Marni's chocolate eyes rested on Rotti's blank expression. She knew he was deep in thought, but decided to butt in anyway. "Are you alright, honey?"

"I'll be fine," he replied, rubbing his temples.

Just then, Luigi and Paviche decided to bust into the room loudly, arguing about god knows what. Marni rolled her eyes and sighed heavily as she got up from the couch. Luigi was shouting angrily and Paviche was calmly saying things that were incoherent over Luigi's angry remarks. Pavi always had a higher voice than his brother. They were seven years apart, and yet they still fought on a daily basis. Rotti sighed and his head hit the desk with a loud BMMP.

"No, you said you were going to make sure Mom got her birthday present on time!" Luigi shouted.

"But Brother, you promised to buy the present. How can the Pavi make sure Mother receives her present if the Pavi has no present to give?" Pavi replied casually.

"DON'T TALK SMART TO ME."

"The Pavi cannot help that you are dim-witted, Brother, and cannot understand simple English."

"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH."

"Alright, that's enough," Marni growled, silencing the two boys at once. Pavi was holding his pocket mirror in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. "Now, what are you two talking about?" She asked, noticing the paper.

"Oh, um, nothing, Mother," Pavi said quickly. "We, uh, didn't know you'd, uh, be here."

Marni scowled. "What kind of example is this for your sister, huh? You two are disgusting. I hope you're proud of yourselves." Her hands were now planted on her hips as Luigi sat in his chair, slumping down in shame.

"Fucking! Fuck! Fuuckiiing!" Carmella sang happily as she clapped her hands and smiled at Marni. Marni's eyes narrowed as she glared Luigi and Pavi down.

"See what you've done? You idiots."

"But, Mo—"

"GET YOUR ASSES OUT, NOW."

"Si, signora."

Pavi left and did as he was told. He was always his parents' bitch; at least, that's how Luigi always saw it. He was disgusted by Pavi. He was better-looking, and praised far more than Luigi was, and this angered him to no end. Throughout his life, Luigi's hatred for his half brother grew until it exploded into an untamable monster. Luigi also felt as though he got no respect from anyone with Pavi around.

He stopped behind Marni and said in a low voice, "I'm not your son." And with that, Luigi stormed off in a childish rage behind Pavi, slapping him on the back of his head while he waited for the elevator.

Marni sighed heavily and looked at Carmella fondly. "Those boys are nothing but trouble," she murmured.

"Tell me about it," Rotti mumbled while his face was still one with his desk.

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Marni gasped in horror, the sound echoed throughout Rotti's master bathroom. Her hand instinctively covered her mouth in awe and surprise. How could she have been so stupid? Marni's thoughts raced back to the night she had sex with Nathan. Oh god, oh god, oh god, she thought anxiously. Five little pregnancy tests proved positive, and now, she needed to find out who the father was. If Rotti found out she had sex with Nathan, he would leave her for sure. How could she have been so stupid? Stupid, stupid, stupid! This couldn't be happening to her. Not now. Not when she had two perfect lives. No, no, no, no, no, no!

"Marni, is something wrong? I thought I heard you scream from downstairs." Rotti yawned as he walked into the bathroom. He spotted Marni hauled over the toilet, retching violently. She wiped her hair from her face and looked up at Rotti with pleading eyes. Rotti gasped as he realized what had happened.

"Rotti, I…I think I'm pregnant." She whimpered.

The shock attacked Rotti from the inside. "P…pregnant? A-again…?"

Marni nodded slowly, flashbacks from her "date" with Nathan flooding her mind. Her face was more pale than usual, and Rotti could tell she felt extremely sick. He put an arm around her thin body and inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. Just then, Marni realized Nathan wasn't the only man she had fun with. She looked up at Rotti and smiled. "I hope it's a girl."

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Marni sat in Rotti's office alone, stroking her thin belly fondly as Nathan walked in. He tilted his head slightly and attempted to sneak up on her. When he was just a breath away from her back, he inhaled and whispered, "Good morning."

"Oh my god, Nathan," Marni gasped, her hands clutching the couch she sat on like a cat would to a scratching post. "Don't do that."

Nathan chuckled softly and pecked her on the cheek. "How're you doing this morning?" He put his briefcase on Rotti's desk and sat next to her with a sincerely apologetic face. Even Marni found it adorable.

"Um," she began nervously. "I took a bunch of tests this morning—"

"What kind of tests?" Nathan asked immediately.

Marni sighed and smiled a bit. "Pregnancy."

Nathan swallowed hard and a slight smile lit up his face. "Is…is it…?"

Marni nodded very slightly and rubbed her abdomen again.

"…oh my god. I'm…I'm a father?" Nathan whispered eagerly. Just then, a thought stabbed him in the heart. "Oh god." He sighed and took his glasses off while looking rather pale and sickly himself.

"What? What's wrong? Aren't you happy?" Marni asked, pretending to be worried.

"Of course I'm happy. This is one of the best days of my life. But…what about Rotti?"

Marni's face contorted in disgust as she imagined Rotti's aging face in front of her. She looked at Nathan and was soothed instantly. She smiled fondly at him, and sighed. "I…I'm not sure. I don't know what to do about it, Nathan. I just…don't. I need you right now…more than ever."

Nathan wrapped his arms around Marni and began rocking her back and fourth slowly. "I'll never leave your side. Not for an instant."