"Don't be nervous my boy. Just play like I know you can." Tony's father gave him an encouraging smile as DiNozzo sat down at the small stool perched fondly in front of the grand black piano. His suit held to his body perfectly and bunched only a little as he sat.

Marcello made his way into the middle of the circular dance floor and held out a long arm to his stunning wife. The lights dimmed down low and mutters of appreciation were heard as Sherena entered from the right. She wore a long dress once again, one of her favourites. It clung to her hips and illuminated her curves to any man in the room.

"My sweet." Marcello grasped the smooth hand that grabbed at his and pulled gently into the middle of the floor. He laid his hand softly on Sherena's hip and gently held her in a smooth romantic position.

The dancing was complimented by the sweet notes that came from the grand piano above. Tony's hands worked carefully over the black and white keys, pausing and continuing in all the correct places. More murmurs of appreciation could be heard to everyone apart from Marcello and Sherena.

They were lost together, flowing in the beautiful music that carried them across the dance floor. Sherena's dress flashed every time a dim strobe light landed on the couple and Marcello's eyes danced alongside his body.

Tony came to the end of his piece and watched as his father, a hero in his eyes, swivelled his mother around and smoothly leaned down to kiss her. Clapping arose from around the floor and suddenly cheering and singing began to take place.

Tony looked around the tall room and spotted his friend standing on a chair and smiling with teeth at him. She knew Tony could play the piano, but she didn't know how well. The adults around her had muttered happily about the music and their jealous eyes had been set on the couple in the middle of the floor. To them, it looked like a perfect family.

"Tony! You were brilliant!" Ruby ran towards him and grabbed him in a squeeze of a hug, almost tackling them both down to the floor.

"Jeez, Ruby! You should play football!"

"Oh," her brown eyes rolled, "Please don't talk football. Come on." She led him onto the packed dance floor and began to jump to the music, a contrast to the adults on the floor. He smiled, cockily and joined in her dancing. "I didn't know you could play that well!" She said through her breaths.

"My mum made me start when I was five."

"You pick it up quickly!"

"Yeah. 'Cos I'm smart!"

She grinned and squirmed her way through the adults, pausing only a few times to let Tony catch up.

"Whose birthday is it anyway?" Ruby asked innocently after they reached the tables in the corner.

"It's my mama and father's anniversary. I thought I told you?"

"Oh, yeah. You probably did." They both laughed together and looked at the adults occupying the dance floor.

"They look silly."

"Yeah, they do." Both children continued to laugh at the people on the floor.

"Where are your mama and father?"

"My dad is over there," Ruby pointed into the crowd, trying to show Tony, "My mama didn't come though. She said something about being too tired or sick or something."

Tony raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her.

"She keeps throwing up in the morning. If I ask her, she tells me that it will be very nice once it's finished."

Both of the children looked at each other curiously as if deciphering a hard code.

"Don't get that." Tony stated simply.

"Nope, me either." She laughed and ran off to get a drink.

"Lei me ha fatto l'oggi orgoglioso, il figlio." Marcello placed a calloused hand on the back of the 11 year olds head.

"Thanks Papa. I had fun. Ruby and me ran around like posh people."

"Ruby and I, Tony."

"No. Ruby and me. You were with mama." Tony said innocently. His father sighed and ran a hand through his slightly spiky hair.

Tony still looked like him in many ways. Still quite short, but had grown to have a young athletic body. His thick brown hair flopped on his head and his bright green yes still brought his emotions to light. Tony was slightly tanned, having inherited that advantage to his mother, along with the eyes but the hair and the face shape was definitely from Marcello.

"The correct grammar is Ruby and I, Tony."

"Oh," Tony looked around the car he was in. "When can I learn to drive?"

"When you're 16, To-, "His father broke off and watched his child drop the drink he held onto the floor of the limo, the contents spilling everywhere. "Or maybe when you're 30." Marcello muttered, watching his clumsy son try and clean up the mess with his seatbelt still on.

"I'm going to have a big fast car!" Tony's eyes gleamed dangerously as he pulled back to sit on the car.

"And how are you going to afford that?"

"I don't know yet." Tony said, dejectedly.

"If you take over my business when you're older, you will be able to afford it."

Tony glanced briefly at his father before turning his head to look out the window. The trees flew past as they neared home.

"I don't know yet." He repeated his words with effect. The silence was heavy in the air and as soon as the car pulled to a stop, Anthony flew out of the door and towards the mansion. His father was slower in his exit.

"Thanks, Frank." He shut the door and put the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, pushing them up. He righted his suit and carried on down the pathway with a slight snarl on his face.

"MR. DINOZZO! MR. DINOZZO!" A young man practically jumped out of the car and ran up to the man in waiting.

"What?"

"I have some terrible news." The man looked up at the father of one with a heavy mask of pain, hidden in his eyes.

The silence was terrifying.

A/N. The next chapter will be up soon. It will be a very very sad and possibly angst ridden one so be warned. I will probably cry writing it, lol. Hope you enjoyed. And review, review, review.

"Lei me ha fatto l'oggi orgoglioso, il figlio" - I was really proud of you, son.