AN: Okay guys, I'm, like, really, really sorry I didn't update last week. I procrastinated and didn't write the chapter 'cause I can be an airhead like that. Sorry. But, here's a chapter for you guys! I've kinda merged the remaining chapters with others, so that leaves two more chapters after this and an epilogue, with a POSSIBLE sequel. It depends on how much you guys want it and how fast I can write it. But for now, enjoy Chapter 8!

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 8: Guy Time and Party Announcements

Christmas neared with each day, now a mere eight days away. It was this day that Prosper chose to call up Mosca and Riccio and invite them to get some coffee with him. They both agreed quickly, deciding to meet at San Marco.

Prosper smiled when he saw his friends outside the coffee shop. "Hey Riccio, Mosca."

"How's it going, Prop?" Mosca asked as they walked inside.

"Pretty good. I'm almost off for the year. What about you?"

"Just eight more days till Christmas, and I still haven't figured out what to get for Sophie."

"What about you, Riccio?"

"I'm nearly half way done with my senior year. It's been a blast so far," he smiled.

"And you, Prop? What have you gotten for Caterina?" Mosca teased.

Prosper blushed. "What're you guys talking about?"

"Oh, come on, Prosper! It's so obvious how you feel about her!" Prop glared at Riccio's smile.

Mosca took a sip of the coffee that he had ordered. Prosper said nothing.

"It's just my opinion, and it may not me much to you, but I think you should say something to her. Just a subtle hint of some sort."

"But girls are terrible at getting hints," Prosper complained, trying to find a way out.

"So? At least then you could say that you'd tried. And, quite frankly, I think she would catch on and say something herself." Mosca took another sip. Prosper gave him a puzzled look.

"Why do you say that? You're starting to sound like Bo."

Riccio chuckled at that statement. "Bo? Bo's giving you girl advice?"

"No, more like orders really."

Mosca and Riccio snickered at each other.

"That's one smart kid." Prosper rolled his eyes at Riccio.

"Well, anyway, I really think that you should try, Prop. Just give it one little try…" Mosca pulled the conversation back to its previous subject.

Prosper stood up then, dropped some money on the table, and walked out of the coffee shop, but not before he said, "I might think about that someday, Mosca."

-_-_-_-_-

Prosper slammed the front door shut and hung up his coat. No one seemed to be around, and so he buried his face in his hands. He was confused, so very confused. He loved Caterina and wanted to let her know, but he was sure she already knew. And he didn't want to get hurt, oh, no. But he figured that pain would be inevitable if he acted on his instinct and everyone else's advice.

Since when had others been telling him what he should do? That was something that seriously aggravated him: being told by others what to do.

"Prop? Is that you?" Ida's voice floated out of the kitchen.

"Yeah," he called back.

"Oh, good. Could you come to the kitchen for a moment? Bo has a little something he'd like to say."

"Alright." Prosper erased any trace of emotion from his face and walked to the kitchen. "What's going on?" he asked upon entry.

Bo was wearing a big goofy smile on his face, while Caterina sat calmly with a cup of tea and Victor and Ida stood together, leaning against the counter.

"Go on, Bo, before we all burst from curiosity," said Victor.

"Okay." Bo grabbed one of the chairs surrounding the table and stood up on it. Then, he proudly announced, "This year, I would like to host a Christmas party. We could have it over at school, in the gymnasium. I already asked the principal and she said that was fine. Now, you guys just have to agree." Bo's face became pouty and pleading, his eyes big and his lower lip sticking out some. "Please?"

Ida and Victor shared a knowing look, obviously communicating to each other whether or not to allow this. Prosper didn't really want a big party, especially when he saw Bo smiling devilishly at him, when none of the others were looking at him, and winking. Though Bo was only twelve, Prop knew that, if his little brother was giving him that look, he had a legit reason to be scared.

Victor clapped his hands, smiling. "Alright, Bo. It's fine with us, but you get to supervise the whole thing. Got it?"

Bo nodded fiercely, obviously blissful at the idea. "Yes, sir!" Then, he turned to Hornet and his brother. "Prop? Hornet? You guys will help me set up, won't you?" Bo turned his formidable, innocent, I-wouldn't-hurt-a-fly look on the pair.

"Of course!" Caterina answered quickly.

Prosper, however, glared at his little brother, but Bo continued to give him that look. Finally, he sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'll help, too."

"Yipee!" Bo cheered, leaping off the chair and onto the linoleum. "We're having a party!"

Oh, great, thought Prop. What have I gotten myself into?

You know that look Bo gave the others? Well now he's looking at you with the big eyes and pouty lips, begging you to REVIEW! He says that if you do, he just might be able to slip you an invitation to his party. -wink, wink- I wonder what could possibly happen at this party? REVIEW if you want to find out!!!