AN: This will be a shorter chapter, but really fitting. We get to meet Aedon and Nico does some digging around in Sebastian's past. Tutto sommato dovrebbe essere interessante. Also, this chapter is to make up for this week. We had family surprise us yesterday so there is a possibility that posting while they are here will be impossible. SORRY!
NPOV
Her father's real name is not Sebastian. That is definitely the reason why I did not make the connection sooner than yesterday. I'll just find out his actual name and do some searching on my own. As I stand in the kitchen, watching as Dani puts together dinner, I can't help but wonder what kind of trouble her adopted brother got into that warranted witness protection. Dani has started boiling the water when I find my opportunity to ask questions. "Dani, what is your father's real name?" she squints at me.
"Marsalis Romano, why do you ask?" I give her my working, emotionless face.
"Just going to check around and make sure that he really is out of danger." I walk over to her and engulf her in a hug. "I promised you wouldn't be alone. So I intend on keeping my promise Dr. Santino. Now let me do my job and I'll leave you to do yours." I kiss her forehead and walk into her office to make an important call. Scrolling to the only person I know that can get me enough information and fast, I make the call.
"Nico, what can I do for you?'
"Marshall, I need your help."
I hear his laughter on the other end. 'Really. The great Nico Careles needs my help? Well then what can I do to help?'
It never amazes me that even though we were battle buddies and Marshall has gone on to make a name for himself, he still sees me as the strong, independent leader that he once knew. "You still have those connections with the Joint Chiefs and the Marshalls?"
'Yes. Do I want to know why?'
"It would be better if you didn't ask questions. I need you to get me the files on one Marsalis Romano and Aedon Samuels. Whatever the cost is, I'll handle it."
'You know as your boss, I could take a look into these files.'
"I'm not asking my boss, Marshall. I am asking my friend and old comrade to help me find information about two people who are important." At this point I start pacing in the office.
'How important? Are we talking possible jail time?'
"No Marshall. It is personal. I need the information as soon as possible."
'I'll see what I can do. And Nico, thanks for Juliette. I know that it was you who got her the help.'
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I will be expecting your email." I hang up before he can say anything more. Running my hand through my hair, I begin to wonder how he knows I helped Juliette. It is inconsequential. Right now I need to focus on the Santino's. With my mind set on being as helpful as possible I return back to the kitchen. Felix is walking around the kitchen grabbing the breadcrumbs. I ruffle his hair and give him a smile. He gives Dani the case of breadcrumbs then comes to sit next to me at the island.
"Ms. Dani, what do we do now?" Sitting before Felix and I is a line up of different ingredients. At the start of the lineup is the cut chicken breast, followed by some sort of mixture, then the breadcrumbs poured in a bowl, and finishing with a cookie sheet. She beckons Felix over to her side of the island and when he arrives picks him up and puts him on a stool beside her.
"Well Felix, we are going to bread the chicken." He tilts his head to the side a bit in an intrigued look. "You look too much like your father when you do that." He smiles at her. "So we take a piece of chicken" she picks it up and places it in the mixture "And put it here. This acts like the glue for the breadcrumbs" She picks up the now wet piece of chicken and puts it in the breadcrumbs. "Now we take the breadcrumbs and make sure that they are all over the chicken." She takes Felix's hands and grabs breadcrumbs from the bowl and starts burying the chicken. He continues to bury it and then Dani takes the piece out and puts it on the cookie sheet. "After all the pieces are done, I put them on the stove for a little bit to seal in the breading and then place them in the oven. It is quite a simple dish. Would you like to bread a piece on your own?" Felix nods his head and begins his task very slowly.
Dani comes to stand beside me. "What's going on in that brain of yours Nico?" I turn to face the woman who has become the center of my life.
"Nothing too troubling Dani I can assure you of that. I am hoping to have the information I need about your family relatively soon. After that point, I can only imagine what precautions I will be taking to ensure the safety of this family." Her face becomes a bit closed off.
"I understand." She walks back over to Felix and I can't help but feel as though I have upset her with my less than forthcoming words.
"Felix, vaya con abuelo por favor?" He finishes his piece of chicken, gives Dani a kiss on the cheek, and runs back to the living room. Dani looks shocked.
"Nico, you got rid of my helper." I make my way over to her.
"I'll help you instead but first you need to know something. I am not the easiest man to live with that much I understand. But when it comes to the people I care about, nothing will stand in my way of making sure that they are safe. Even if what is safe for them, is not for me. That's my job Dani. I am not doing this to scare you, but the alternative of not checking could be dangerous." She continues to bread the chicken, but nods to show she understands. We work side by side until all the pieces of chicken are breaded. Ten minutes later, I am loading the chicken into the oven and setting the timer when I hear the distinct sound of my phone going off. I grab my phone and check the notification; it is an email from Marshall containing the documents I asked for. Perfect timing Pittman. Dani's guest of honor will be arriving in 20 minutes and I need to make sure I know exactly who he is.
DPOV
Nico's phone just went off and he has excused himself back to my office. I guess whatever it is, it's important. I have the kitchen to myself again and it gives me time to think. Do I really want someone to protect me? 'Of course you do Santino. Think of what can happen if someone is not there?' Right so I want protection no matter the cost? 'Yes and you have Nico. He won't let anything happen.' I let out a sigh…I just lost to my Jeanette sounding conscious. I gaze at the time and realize I have 15 minutes before Aedon arrives and the pasta is still cooking. Putting aside the rest of my thoughts for another time, I focus on finishing the task at hand.
"Ray Jay, Linds, and Felix, can you three come in here for a second?" I yell into the hallway. Felix and Ray Jay have a race into the kitchen, with Lindsay trailing behind them shaking her head and smiling at their antics.
"What's up mom?" Ray Jay grabs Felix and puts him over his shoulder.
"One, please put Felix down. He doesn't deserve your abuse. Two, can the three of you set the table? We are going to be using the actual dining room today since there are so many of us." I grab the plates down from the cabinet and place them on the counter for the kids to take to the table. Ray Jay grabs the plates, Lindsay takes the cups from the dishwasher, and I point Felix in the direction of the silverware. With that task being done, all that's missing is the salad and garlic bread. Right time to work.
-15 minutes later-
The final touches have been put on dinner, when the doorbell rings. "Moment of truth Santino." Is all I mutter to myself. I hear Nico snicker behind me and turn to face him. "What?"
He shakes his head and approaches me. "Nothing Doctor. Nothing at all." He puts his hand on my lower back and pushes me forward to meet my uncertain fate. Okay well not uncertain fate, more like meet the stranger who has become a son to my father. Semantics I guess. We get into the living room and are greeted by the sight of a man that is a bit shorter than Nico, brown hair, green eyes, has a small smile on his face, but still looks guarded as though he is waiting to be kicked out. 'Not in this house.'
I cross the room to formally introduce myself. "Hello Aedon. My name is Dani" and pull him into a hug. "Welcome to the family." My father is standing in my line of view and he has a big smile on his face. Aedon is trembling when I pull back from the hug. I ask what's wrong.
"I've never been apart of a family before." Was his reply. This causes me to hug him again.
"Well now you are part of mine." I give him a reassuring squeeze before pulling back. "Dinner is ready. So if you all would like to make your way to the dining room, we can get this show on the road." I loop my arm through Aedon's and lead him to the dining room hoping that every one else is following. When we get to the dining room and sit down everyone else has taken a seat. Felix, Ray Jay, Mazio and dad are already serving themselves, leaving everyone else to wait until they have finished. Once everyone has been served and started eating, Nico starts with his questions.
"So Aedon, how long were you in for?"
Aedon takes a sip of his drink. "Just over 6 years sir." Nico laughs.
"Don't call me sir. My name is Nico Careles. You can call me Nico."
"But sir" Nico glares at him "…Nico?" he smiles and Aedon continues, "You seem to already know that information. What I don't get is why you won't just ask what it is you want to ask me."
Nico looks at me and I give a hesitant nod. "Why did you choose that particular operation knowing the extended risks that came with it?"
Aedon pushes his empty plate aside and takes a deep breath. "When I enlisted in the Army, it was just me. I had been the system for as long as I can remember. Not once was I adopted. So I figured, I could take the dangerous missions and no one would miss me. For my first tour I was in Germany working as an aviation engineer, and then was offered the opportunity to 'infiltrate' a cell stateside. I jumped on that as soon as they made the offer. I got to come back to the states and yes it was dangerous but I'm glad I took it. The information I found was enough to put some of the most dangerous cells in the US behind bars. When they found I was the leak…I honestly did not expect to live. Imagine my surprise of waking up in a hospital with Dad over there standing over me." He smiles at my father. Nico seems somewhat satisfied but asks another question.
"Do you think the threat is fully gone?"
Aedon seems to stiffen and shakes his head. "These cells have so many connections, it is impossible to tell where one ends and another starts. They are all connected in one-way or another. The Marshalls told us it was safe to return to our old lives, but that was it. There were no assurances that the danger had passed, just an agent telling us that we could come back to New York."
Nico nods. "It is just as I thought." He stands up. "If you will excuse me, I have some calls to make." He comes over and whispers that he will be back later in my ear before kissing me on the forehead. Mazio looks at me questioningly and I shake my head at him. Ray Jay and Felix both start picking up the plates to take to the kitchen. Apparently Lindsay has stated that the kids will clean the kitchen. Smart kids.
The rest of us adults make our way back to the living room. It seems as though another conversation is about to happen. Before we get into the seriousness of what Nico discovered, I want to get to know Aedon a bit.
"So Aedon, what do you do for a living now that you are out of the military?"
"Well I have a nursing degree. I figured since dad is a doctor and saved my life, I could help him." I smile at him. Seems like he will fit in really well.
"Okay favorite color?"
He thinks for a second. "I'm going to have to say blue."
"You know that says a lot about you, right?"
My dad laughs. "Really Danielle, how does a color define someone?" I stick my tongue out at him causing him to laugh again.
"It is simple. Personality traits are defined by a large study of people who love the same color. This study looks at different aspects of one's life and helps define the important thoughts associated with those aspects. For instance, blue personalities are genuine and sincere, and always take their responsibilities seriously. Does that fit you?" Aedon nods. "I can give you a list of what a blue personality is, but regardless of that I want to get to know you. You have been with my dad for 10 years and that makes you my unofficial brother. You have to tell me your likes, dislikes, hell even your shoe size that way I have all the bases covered."
The three guys laugh at my enthusiasm. "Well I like reading, cooking, watching movies, swimming, and definitely your chicken parmesan. I generally just don't like being alone. After being alone for so long and then having dad in my life, well it would be hard to readjust to being alone again. And I wear a size 11."
Thinking about anymore potential questions I could have, I stop when I hear a yelp coming from the kitchen. I make my way to the kitchen and laugh at what I see. It seems as though the kids were having a water fight while cleaning the dishes and in their one track minds never noticed Nico walk in, resulting in him getting drenched. Hearing my laughter, Nico turns his glare from the kids onto me.
"Nico dear, you look like you are a bit wet." I say still chuckling at his appearance. "You look so unlike your normal tough guy self." This gets the kids giggling. Nico merely raises an eyebrow.
"Is that so Doctor Santino?" He slowly makes his way to me. He stops in front of me and looks down at me. He gives me a smile before grabbing me, turning me around, and telling the kids to and I quote "fire at will". The kids start turning the water on me, causing me to scream and effectively getting Nico and I soaked. When the "water torture" has ended, Nico lets me go and I punch him in the chest much the amusement of the other guests in the house. Aedon walks over to me with a towel.
"Dad went and got it, but I figured you could use this." I grab the towel from him and glare at Nico.
"This is what a gentleman should have done, instead of making me get another shower." Nico laughs.
"I never said I was a gentleman Dani." He walks over and takes the towel from me. "Besides your next shower can be much more interesting." He says in a low voice so only I hear him. I feel myself flush. Of course the man has no qualms about saying such things in the presence of others. He never plays fair. Without moving too far from me he beings giving instructions. "Tio, can you go grab my bag from the car? It has an extra set of clothes for Felix and I." Mazio nods and heads outside. "Sebastian and Aedon, if you two wouldn't mind cleaning up the remaining water. It would be greatly appreciated." He turns to look at the kids. "Okay you three need to shower and change." He looks at Felix's hair "I don't think I want to know how the extra pasta ended up in your hair mijo. Right so let's all go our separate ways, then meet back here in say 30 minutes and we will go for dessert, my treat." At the mention of dessert, everyone else splits leaving Nico and I in the kitchen.
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer. "I do believe you promised me an interesting shower." I pull his head down for a heated kiss before letting him go and walking up the stairs. "Well you have 25 minutes to fulfill your promise."
Finis: Well this chapter at least. Just to let you know, I will not be upping the rating on this just yet. It is going to take some working up to. The best part of writing is letting the reader's imagination run wild, so imagine what you will my friends ;D Yes I do realize that I have brought Marshall Pittman into the story, and no I do not know what I'm going to do with him yet. Will he live or will he die? I'm unsure but I should also reiterate that I may not get another chapter up this week. I do apologize, so I hope this somewhat lighthearted chapter suits everyone's fancy. Have a good holiday!
