A/N: This no longer follows any spoilers, but still does connect to the previous chapters. I will warn you, if you are squeamish about sex, you may not want to read this, although I do think it is done tastefully. Otherwise, enjoy!

Moment 4: First night together

The Rossis and Betty got of the airplane and found enough taxis to take them to the small Italian village. They came up to a small cottage that was so picturesque it could have been on an Italy postcard. A tiny woman with snow-white hair that was receding emerged from the house. She greeted her large family with tears and hugs. Gio came up to her and with his arm around Betty, he said, "Nonna, I want you to meet my girlfriend, Betty. Betty, this is my great-grandmother Sophia Rossi."

Betty, glowing from the honor to meet her, stuck out her hand and gently shook the woman's hand. "It's very nice to meet you. Happy birthday."

The woman smiled and patted her on the hand. "Rambazza, when you are as old as I am, every day is a happy day."

She laughed and her and Gio pulled away as the family caught up. Half an hour later, they all headed for the town's small inn to find rooms. His mother, Maria, came up to Betty and Gio and gave them a key. "Here, Giovanni. Make sure you get showered and ready for the party tonight."

Gio and Betty looked down at the room key hesitantly. "Mamita, Betty and I aren't sharing rooms."

Maria waved her hand and laughed, brushing him off, saying, "We're not prudes, Gio. We're Italians."

"But, Mom," he said, stepping closer to her and lowering his voice. "We weren't planning to share. We really need separate rooms."

She looked at both of them and said, "I'm sorry, kids. There are twenty of us and this is a small inn. We've checked out all the rooms. There isn't another room for you."

She walked away, leaving Betty and Gio to stand anxiously together. Gio's cockiness returned and he looked at her with wiggling eyebrows and a conspicuous smile. Betty rolled her eyes, saying, "Shut up, Gio."

He stuck his arms out, laughing. "Hey, I didn't say anything!"

She squinted at him. "I know what you're thinking."

His face becoming serious again, he said, "I'm going to go put my stuff in our room. Then let's go into town and try to find you some extra clothes and things."

She sighed. When she had run from Henry's to the airport, she had not taken the time to pack anything. "Okay. I'll wait down here."

A few minutes later, they ventured alone into the tiny village. They found a general store that sold underwear and toothbrushes. He started to follow her in the underwear section but she spun around and pointed a finger at him. "Gio, if you come with me, so help me, I will hurt you."

He turned on his heel. "I think I'll wait over here."

She gave him a nod. "Good idea." She began browsing through the undergarments and had planned to buy the average, granny-like supports she usually did. But she came across a black pair with a delicate lacy front. Something told her that Gio would like it. Wondering what type of underwear Gio would like made the skin from the base of her back to the top of her neck burn hotly. She knew he wasn't actually going to be seeing her wearing these this week but she felt compelled to by them anyway. She paid for everything quickly with the money Gio had given her on the plane and she had promised to repay. Finding Gio at the door, he put his arm around her waist and said, "So, when do I get to see what you bought?"

Cocking her head, she said, "Keep giving me that arrogant grin and it will be around the time that hell freezes over."

Changing subjects, he said, "I asked the store owner. He says there's a boutique about a block down. You're going to need some clothes for the week."

She shook her head. "Gio, you're paying for too much already. I can't ask for clothes."

He smirked. "You might not ask, but you're going to need some unless you want to walk around town naked." He blinked thoughtfully, his mouth slightly parted. "Actually, that's not a bad thought."

She hit his arm. "Hell. Freezing. Over."

"C'mon," he said, laughing. "Let's get you some clothes." He took her hand and they walked over to the boutique.

Betty stopped him at the door with a hand to his chest. "I don't want you to see what I buy until I wear it." He waited as she went in and bought four dresses for the week. When she left the boutique, she found him outside.

With a cocked eyebrow, he said, "So, when we get back to the hotel, can I see what you got?"

Her voice lilted and she grabbed the bag to her chest tighter. "No! You have to wait."

His eyes hazed and he smiled, saying, "Then can I see you without the dresses?"

"What!" Her mouth dropped open and she hit his shoulder. "I'll spend the night at your great grandmother's if you keep talking like that!"

His face became serious and he touched her arm lightly as he said, "Betty, I didn't plan for us to share a room."

She smiled at him and crossed her eyebrows. "Gio, I know that. That's why I chose to come with you. I know you aren't going to pressure me." He kissed her soundly on the lips. "What was that for?" she asked.

He looked at her happily. "Because you're Betty Suarez and you're here with me."

Her whole body warmed and she thought that if he kept talking like that, they would need their room. They walked hand in hand to the hotel and found their room. It was small and intimate with stucco-like light-brown walls. The two long windows on the far side wall had dainty, white curtains. There was only one bed. It was king-size and the blankets were pristine and white as well. They stood close and awkwardly as they looked around the room.

Gio looked down at a couch on the wall across from the bed. "I can sleep here."

She shook her head, saying, "You don't have to do that. That's a big bed."

"No," he said firmly, in a rough voice. "I think I better take the couch."

She looked down and said a soft, "Oh." She had never thought about being able to frustrate someone before and the thought embarrassed her but enticed her as well. Choosing to ignore it, she curled her shoulder and coyly turned her chin towards it as she said, "I'm going to take a shower and then you can see my dress!"

"Hurry up, Suarez," he said laughing. "I'd like there to be some hot water left when you get out." In reality, though, he was starting to think he needed a cold shower. He thought about her as she went into the bathroom. He could see her getting undressed, her smooth legs stepping into the shower. The water falling over body, caressing her skin. He wondered what her dress would look like and how she would look in it. He thought about what type of panties she had bought that day. Damn, he wasn't even sure if he could sleep on the couch and contain his composure. He wanted her so badly, in every way. But he would wait for her. He wanted everything to be perfect.

He sat on the couch and listened to the water beat down against the bathtub. The steam from the bathroom caused both rooms to become hot and humid. Unbuttoning his shirt, he closed his eyes and listened to the rhythm the water made as it fell. Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom and his eyes sprang open as he heard her walk through the room. He let out a heavy breath when he saw her. Her dark hair fell softly around her shoulders and dainty earrings dangled from her ears. She was wearing a light blue dress with a small navy blue flower trim. The neckline was modest but cut low enough to remind him of her femininity. The dress looked soft and cottony. It moved gracefully around her curves. Her black flats showed off her delicate feet and he was mesmerized as she walked towards him. "You look great," he said breathily.

She smiled shyly and looked towards the floor. "Do you like it?"

His eyebrows rose. "Are you kidding me? You're beautiful."

Her smile got wider. Until she looked at him. She noticed for the first time that his shirt was unbuttoned. She could see his black undershirt beneath his shirt and she held her breath from the sight. She felt the need to slide her hands underneath his shirt and touch the wifebeater, feel the ribbed cotton on her fingertips. Finally, she noticed that he was staring at her as she was him, so she broke the gaze and pointed to the bathroom with her finger. "There should be enough hot water left."

"Good. That's good," he said, clearing his throat. Picking up his fresh clothes, he headed to the bathroom and shut the door.

She walked over to the bag of purchases and took out her remaining three dresses. She hung them in the closet to prevent wrinkling. She walked over to the other side of the room and looked through the window to see the village before her. But her eyes couldn't focus and she was fidgety. Pacing around the room, she tried to ignore the reason as to why she couldn't sit still. She was in a beautiful foreign country with her sexy new boyfriend who was wet and naked in the next room. She was grateful that he wasn't going to push her, but she couldn't stop her mind and body from pushing. She wasn't sure she'd be able to stay in the same room with him for two days without pushing him onto the bed and jumping him.

When Gio got out of the shower, they left the room and headed for his grandmother's house. On the way there, Betty tried not to notice his deep blue button-down shirt and dark blue jeans. He carried his leather jacket in one hand and her hand in his other. Most of his family was already at Sophia's home when they arrived.

They sat down at a long table outside as food was placed from one side to the other and music played jubilantly. Gio's mother sat across from them at the table as they ate. "You must be important to my son, Betty," she said as she took a drink of wine. "He's never brought a girl home and now he's taking you to another country."

"Mom!" he scolded with unusually red cheeks.

Betty put her hand on his arm and looked at him with a warm smile. "He's pretty important to me, too."

He gave her the slightest of smiles; his eyes showering her with love. He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and she closed her eyes.

Maria Rossi smiled. Betty had given her the right answer and Gio had reacted correctly as well. She could see how happy they were.

A few hours later, they were dancing with his family. He pulled her to him and spun her as they laughed. "So when does your family go back to New York?"

"They go back the day after tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning. Then we can spend the rest of the week visiting Italy," he said. He swayed her back and forth, holding her tightly with his arm around her back. "Where do you want to go?"

Grinning excitedly, she said, "We have to go to the Vatican. And Venice. And Rome."

He laughed. "Is there anywhere in Italy you don't want to go?"

She wobbled her head haughtily. "Where do you want to go?"

"The Vatican. And Venice. And Rome."

"Now who's the undecided tourist?" she said, chuckling.

He grabbed her closer to him and nuzzled his nose into her neck, kissing her softly as he growled, "I love your laugh."

Her body tingled from her heels to her head and she couldn't breath. "Gio, maybe we should get something to drink."

He stiffened and backed away. They walked back over to the table and Gio poured them two glasses of wine. He sat down at the wooden bench, his thighs straddling either side of the plank. Betty sat down, too, letting her bottom fit snugly into his legs. He put one arm around her stomach. They sat drinking their wine with her back resting up against his strong chest. She realized that this was probably no better of an idea than them dancing, but she enjoyed it too much to pull away this time. They sat like that for almost an hour until Gio felt Betty's skin get cold. He leaned over her shoulder and said into her ear, "You feel cold. Take my jacket."

She shook her head. "I don't need it."

"So those aren't goose bumps I feel on your arms? C'mon, just take it." Enticingly, his voice rumbled behind her as he said, "I'd like to see how it looks on you anyway."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay." She put on the jacket and could smell his cologne on the collar. She inhaled deeply and tried to take the heat from the leather and his scent in as if he were the one so tightly around her.

A few hours later, as everyone was still celebrating, they slipped away and went back to the hotel. "Today was wonderful. You have a really great family, Gio."

He opened the hotel door and let her walk into their room. "I've been really lucky." He went over to the chest of drawers and pulled out an extra pair of sheets, putting them on the sofa.

She stuck out her bottom lip as she watched him. "I'm sorry you have to sleep on the couch."

"It's no big deal," he said shrugging. "Next hotel we go to, though, we are getting two beds."

They laughed until Betty realized she had forgotten to buy nightclothes. And it was too late to buy any now. "Gio?"

He turned his head toward her as he bent down around the couch. "Hm?"

"I don't have anything to sleep in."

Every nerve in his body snapped and he spun to look at her. "I, uh, I've got a pair of boxers and I've got a large t-shirt you could wear until we buy some more clothes tomorrow."

She blushed and said quietly, "Okay." Going into the bathroom, she changed her clothes and went back into the room. She froze when she looked at Gio in his own pair of boxers and a t-shirt. And he was staring back at her with the same intensity.

They walked over to each other. He stroked a strand of her hair as his eyes studied her face. "Goodnight, Betty."

His words fell around her as if he were kissing her skin. In a near whisper, she said, "Goodnight, Gio."

He rubbed her arm and kissed her tenderly and softly. She slid her hands to his chest as she kissed him back. They stepped back and he laid on the couch as she got into bed. They both laid there in the darkness, pretending that they were asleep. Truthfully, neither of them could sleep for hours from the want to get up and go to the other. But they restrained until they finally fell asleep.

Gio woke the next morning with the sun dancing on his face. He looked over at Betty and saw that she was sitting up in bed, watching him. "What are you doing?"

"Watching you sleep," she said softly and simply.

He smiled. "Why?"

Her eyes were cloudy and her voice thick as she said, "I was imagining what it would be like to sleep next to you."

"Betty," he started to warn.

"Gio," she said assuredly to interrupt him. "I want to know what it's like to sleep with you."

In one swift movement, he was off the couch and two long strides took him to the clean white bed. His hand smoothly came around to the back of her head and he pulled her in to kiss him. He hovered over the side of the bed and they kissed solidly. Betty adjusted herself so that she was sitting on her knees and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She groaned as his tongue slid into her mouth and massaged her own. She daringly pulled away from his lips to nip at his earlobe, causing him to growl. She worked her way down his neck, leaving hot kisses.

"Oh, Betty," he cried, his hands sliding down her back to her bottom and he caressed her and nudged her towards him. "I knew this would be great, but I had no idea."

"Me neither," she whimpered as his hands came up around her waist and then cupped her breasts.

He felt her fingers curl around the elastic of his boxers and he stopped her long enough to look into her hazed brown eyes. "Are you sure, Betty?"

Catching her breath, she stared back at him. She nodded. "I want you, Gio. I want this."

He let out an undistinguishable curse. He had been waiting to hear that for so long. He watched her adoringly as she slowly lifted his shirt off of his stomach, then chest, then over his head. She devoured his upper body with her eyes, taking in his shape, his skin, his scent. She kissed his chest softly, then licked at its crest. He hissed and lightly tugged on her hair as a reflex. Then his fingers slid underneath her shirt and he pulled it off. Bending down, he took her breast in his mouth as his hands held her waist tightly. She swayed into him and held onto his shaven head, feeling the softness of his hair.

His hand came down into her boxers and found that her body was ready for him. He rubbed the kernel of flesh that made her cry out. She pulled him towards the bed and he guided her down. The morning sunlight enveloped them as they fell around the sheets. He kissed her stomach, licking her navel before he pulled down her shorts. He kissed her where his hand had just been, his tongue flicking at her sensitive center. Her hips came off the bed and she said, "Gio, please."

Manly pride took over and he took off his own boxers. He came back up to look into her eyes. "Betty, before we do this, I want to tell you again. I love you."

She panted and grabbed either side of his face. "I know, Gio. I know you love me." She boldly let her hand venture between their bodies to touch him. He sucked in breath as she stroked him.

"You better stop that," he warned.

She smiled. "Then you better start."

He adjusted them until he was inside her. He kissed her on the mouth, licking her lips before he began moving. He looked down at her under the safety of her beneath him. He listened to every breath and moan she made, every loving face she gave as he rhythmically moved inside her. Her hips came up to meet him each time until he could no longer take it and he shut his eyes and felt her come. A few moments later, he followed her.

He laid down next to her, breathing heavily but never feeling more content in his life. She turned to look at him and he pulled her to him, wrapping his arm around her naked body until her face was nuzzling his chest. She put her arm around him, too, and kissed his collar bone lightly. "Gio?" she asked.

"Yeah?"

"I think that at the next hotel, we can get a room with one bed."

He laughed thickly and purely. He was grateful that his family's party didn't start until that night. He didn't want to get out of bed, he didn't want to leave this woman, for hours.

For the first time in months, they were both exactly where they wanted to be.

Moment 4: First night together: the end.