He didn't argue and ate as she fed him. He was glad it was early and he shouldn't have been worrying about the upcoming night but he was. He masked it though- just for her- as they ate the salad.

Once they finished the salads, Sally sent Hal to grab the cake from the kitchen, explaining to the guys how it was one hell of a masterpiece.

Hal came in and Ricky grinned- secretly he was a chocoholic... Actually, all of them were. Hal sat it in front of her, "You want us to sing?" he asked, smiling at her.

She scoffed jokingly, "Oh, God no!" she laughed, "There is no need to sing to me, boys. I'm just happy to be sharing today with all of you! Like the brother's I never had."

"Can we not sing?" Johnny said, "I'm too close to her- she'll go deaf- I sound so bad…"

"Oh, Johnny, you sound so pretty!" Ricky smiled at him teasingly.

"Shut it Ricky! I do not!" he spat annoyed.

"As long as Sally really doesn't mind, we won't sing!" Peanut said, as the voice of reason once more.

Sally nodded and stood up to cut the cake into thin even slices, seeing as how it was three layers. "I hope you guys like it?" she posed the question before dishing out the slices and passing them around. When she gave a piece to Johnny, she sat and got her own slice and dug in happily.

They ate and Hal was grinning, "Its so good- Sally! You're a great cook!" he exclaimed.

She laughed, "Thank you! You helped, remember? And soon, you shall be just as good, yeah?" she smirked.

"I hope." he said.

"Until he resorts back to cannibalism!" Norton said.

"I hope not!" Johnny groaned, "That was so creepy…"

Sally nodded curtly, "None of my recipes require humans, so, no worries… The flavors are chosen because they go well together… Only in rare cases are certain things interchangeable. And we've had this conversation already, so stop picking on Hal for his curious stomach." she reprimanded.

"Wasn't pickin'.." Johnny said evenly to her, Norton laughed but said nothing because he knew they had been.

Hal grinned at her happily, "Thanks Sally!"

Sally offered a sweet smile to Hal, "When Johnny and I are gone, I hope you boys will be nice to Hal… Or else I'll give you a good dark shiner!" she challenged with a smirk.

Vance covered his ear, "She will!"

"Don't worry-" Norton said, "We'll be nice."

They finished up soon and Johnny looked at her, "So, you're shopping now?" he asked.

Sally nodded, "Yep. Would you like to join me or stay here?"

"I'll go with you." he said, and stood up.

Sally smile and lead them off, stopping by Dillan's first to grab a bit of money. When he saw the rings he blinked a bit, then pulled Johnny into a 'brotherly' hug.

Johnny blinked but awkwardly hugged back. He hadn't expected that and had no idea what to say.

"I'm glad you make her happy. That's all I want." Dillan stated, then handed an unimaginable wad of money to Sally, who picked through it awkwardly.

"Dillan… This is too much!" she said, looking up at him.

He waved his hand, "Non-sense. Get yourself something nice to wear, meet his mother… Eventually, I shall wish to meet her as well. After all, we'll practically be family, now, won't we."

Dillan smiled kindly, dark hair combed back suavely.

Sally nodded, "I guess so, huh?"

Johnny nodded- his mom- meeting this guy? He felt himself pale. "Mhm. Yeah. I guess so.." he said slowly.

Sally glanced at Johnny curiously, then to Dillan, "Thank you Dillan! We gotta go! I want to get to his mother's as soon as possible." she hugged him quickly, and he hugged her back telling her to take care of herself.

Dillan offered his hand for Johnny to shake, "Cheers."

"Uhm.. Sure?" he blinked and shook his hand then followed her out and let out a breath once they were on the street. "I forgot him…" he sighed shaking his head- he'd felt like this the first time they'd met too.

Sally laughed and held onto Johnny's arm, "I think he likes you. He may not agree with your lifestyle, or even mine, but he knows that in arguments with me, he never wins." she laughed again, "But don't worry about it, Johnny. When you left Chicago… I was really pissed off and I kept ranting about it to him and he kept vouching for you, saying that you couldn't just pick up and move like that… And that you were young and so was I… You know… Logical crap."

He smiled at her, "Good. He likes me. Mom's gonna like you so we won't have any family disputes... At least not with immediate family."

Sally blinked up at him, "Who would oppose?"

"Maybe, my dad's side…" he shrugged, "But.. They don't totally matter.."

She huffed at 'them' "Why would they disapprove of me?"

"They don't approve of anyone!" he rolled his eyes, "They didn't like mom and they liked me only because I'm a 'Vincent'." he explained.

"PFF!" she waved her hand dismissively, "Who are they to say who you love, eh?"

"Exactly!" he told her, "That's why it doesn't matter what they think because I'm gonna marry you anyway."

Sally smiled happily up at Johnny and pecked him, "We've got a dress to buy…" she then lead him to a store that held the type of clothing she was looking for.

Picking out a light blue dress, much like that of what was worn back in the 50's with light purple grapes and green leaves all over it, Sally happily took that and bought a bit of make up, seeing as how she never had it before, and pulled Johnny back to the Tenements and set him outside the door so she could show him how she looked in it.

Seeing as how she had opened her gift from Dillan, which was a pair of designer black high heals, she put those on as well and felt very pretty, which made her feel very self satisfied.

Stepping out of the bedroom door, she had curled her hair and clipped a bit back cutely, looking VERY 50's and pulling it off quite well.

Johnny exhaled in a slow whistle, "Whoa- baby you look great!" he exclaimed and kissed her lovingly.

She sighed happily, "Thank you! Now, I'd like to take a bit of the cake to your mother's… Never go some place important empty handed, you know."

Johnny shook his head, "Wow- ma told me that once.." he shook his head, "Yeah- okay.. I'm scared now." he turned to go downstairs and get a slice.

Sally blinked, "Then she and I should get along fantastically!" she said, gliding in her new, designer black 1 and a half inch heals that Dillan had given her.

Now, she wasn't all that used to heals, but she did her best, not once tripping!

Helping Johnny grab the cake, she passed the guys in the living area with a wave, "Hey."

"Have fun!" they called as they walked out.

Outside Johnny looked at her, "Okay we've got three options- we could walk, ride the bus, or the car…" he suggested.

"Well… Why not the car? Easier than having to stop at every bus stop, right?"

"Okay." he waved her to follow him around the back, there was an off-blue mustang sitting there. Obviously unused.

"I think we've officially jumped back in time, Johnny!" she laughed, hopping into the passenger side, holding the plate full of cake in her lap after putting on her seat belt.

He smiled at her, "Maybe- This was my uncles car and he made me fix it up and gave it to me." he explained, "I love this car- it's just stupid sometimes." he turned the keys once, twice- nothing but then revved it another time and slammed his foot on the gas and it revved the third time. He pulled out and turned around going back and up the hill to the neighborhood just outside of town.

"That the same uncle who gave this ring to his wife?" Sally asked, smiling at the ring on her ring finger. It was amazing it fit! Sally always had trouble with rings.

"Yup. My dad's only decent brother." he said to her, smirking.

Sally chuckled, "I like this uncle… So, where's he at nowadays?"

"Right now?" he asked, "I think he's at work. He lives not far from my mom." he said to her.

"Think he'd like me?" She asked hopefully, "I mean, if he's related to your father, but you've said nothing but good about him, wouldn't he like me in some way?"

"Yeah-" he got all happy- "the only reason it might be weird is he speaks mostly in Italian." he explained, "But if you really want to."

Sally grinned, "You know I would adore meeting the man with a good taste in jewelry!" she laughed.

Johnny smiled at her, "Oh he defiantly has that!" he nodded enthusiastically taking a turn down to a short dead-end street.

Sally laughed lightly, "Oh! Are we almost there?" she was very excited!

"Yup." he nodded and stopped at the very end of the street- it was a nice house, small but very well-kept. He stepped out of the driver's side and looked at her, "Ma's name is Mary- don't call her anything else- she gets upset." he explained.

Sally nodded, "You got it." Sally then stepped out and straightened her skirt and followed Johnny towards the door.

He walked with her- feeling nervous but tried to calm himself. He hesitated a second before knocking on the door.

Immediately, the door swung open and before any one could say anything Mary had pulled Johnny into a very tight hug, "Oh! Johnny! I was wondering when you'd arrive! Oh, I missed you sooo much! Lemme get a good look at you!" She pulled away, holding onto Johnny's head.

Licking her thumb, she rubbed his left cheek, "What is that? What? I get no respect! You don't even bother to wash up before you come over!? Oh! I missed you baby boy!" and she pulled him into another rough hug.

Johnny was blushing, "Ah- ma- hey.." he hugged her- he felt dizzy from her pulling him back and forth already. "Hey mama." he said and stood up straight again. He looked at Sally- the blushed had faded mostly, "This is Sally, mama. My-- er.." he wasn't sure what to say now that they were engaged. He wondered if she thought he'd be going too fast with this new girl.

"Oh, my! What a pretty girl!" Mary gushed, then turned towards Johnny, "She's so much more pretty than that little skimp! And look at that dress!" She gasped, "And those shoes! Snappy dresser! What's that?" she pointed towards the cake in Sally's hands.

Sally grinned, "This is a couple of pieces of the cake I made for my birthday today. I just wanted you to have some before all the guys ate it all!" she laughed, handing the plate to Mary.

"Birthday?" She turned towards Johnny, "How come you didn't tell me her birthday was today?" she then turned back to Sally and pulled her in quickly, nearly making Sally trip. "Come in! Come in! My name is Mary, dear."

"Sally Givanno, Mary. And I'm so glad to finally be meeting you!" she laughed.

Mary nodded and then set the plate down to hold onto Sally's hands. Before she could say much of anything else, Mary gasped and looked down at Sally's left hand in shock.

Johnny blinked and followed quickly after them but stopped dead in the doorway when his mother gasped. He hoped it was the good sort of gasp- her emotions were so unpredictable.

Mary's eyes watered and she looked up at Sally who watched her in curiosity, "My baby… And you?"

Sally nodded, "Yes. He asked during lunch."

Mary choked out a laugh, full on sobbing now, and pulled Sally into a tight hug, turning her lightly from side to side, "Welcome to the family, Sally."

Sally sniffled, starting to cry as well, "Thank you, Mary."

"Oh! No, no! You call me momma from now on!" Mary gushed, pulling back to look at Sally, then pulling her into another hug, where both women laughed and cried together.

Johnny blinked- he had no idea what to do so he stayed back and let them bond. Women were completely foreign to him so he figured staying out of the crying, laughing hugging fest was a good idea.

The two women pulled apart and sniffled, then Mary turned and walked up to Johnny, "My baby is growin' up! Oh, I'm so proud!" she grabbed his face and pulled him down to leave bright red lipstick on his cheeks and forehead, causing Sally to giggle a bit while wiping under her eyes carefully.

"Mama I've been grown up…" he mumbled reaching into his pocket to pull out a bandanna and wipe away the lipstick marks. He was used to this- that was obvious.

She patted his cheeks, "Oh, baby boy! You're a man… Men never grow up!" She laughed, quickly joined by Sally who couldn't agree more.

Sally walked up and took the bandanna from Johnny to wipe away parts he hadn't gotten. "I told you she and I would get along, Johnny!"

Johnny blushed when she started wiping at his face, "I didn't really doubt it. You both baby me too much not to get along…" he mumbled.

Sally laughed and pecked him lightly, then turned towards Mary, "So! Where shall we sit and talk?"

Mary laughed as well and pulled Sally into the homey living room, Sally feeling right at home. They talked quickly, as if long lost friends… Best friends… Stopping suddenly, Mary turned towards Johnny, "Go call your uncle! Tell him that he simply must meet Sally!"

"Which uncle mama?" he asked, looking at her- he'd been quiet most of the time and was glad to bring another man- any man into the conversation.

She scoffed, "Which uncle?" she mocked, "The one who passed on the ring, Uncle Al!"

"Alright- alright I'm going." he said rising and going quickly to the phone in the kitchen. The poor guy probably just got home…

"His number is on the fridge!" Mary called.

"I already know it mama!" he called to her dialing quickly and waiting for him to answer.

He didn't wait long because Al had just walked into the house. Sally could hear Johnny speaking quickly in Italian to the man, then the phone hung up, and entered the living room.

"He'll be here in ten minutes mama." he said sitting back down next to Sally.

Sally grabbed his hand and kissed Johnny gently, "Thank you, baby."

Mary watched happily. She had met Lola once and immediately despised her for how she had worn what she had earlier that day… And spoke to Mary about Johnny… Just one hell of a disrespectful girl, but Sally was something else!

Johnny kissed her back, "You're happy, huh? You get to meet him now." he said to her softly, smiling at her.

Sally nodded, "Great birthday!" she pressed her forehead to his lovingly, "I love you." the words bring tears to Mary's eyes.

"I love you too." he said, catching her lips again, one hand coming to hold her cheek in his palm to deepen it. He totally forgot where they were.

Mary sighed happily, 'aww'ing cutely, then sniffling.

Sally smiled at Mary and pulled her into a hug, "Don't worry! I got love for you too, Momma."

Mary then burst into tears again, enjoying that she was getting so much affection as she held Sally back.

Johnny laughed and hugged them both, "Sheesh- Ma you're cryin' more than Sally was." he said to her- grinning at it because it was true.

Both women laughed, then Mary pulled herself together just in time to answer the door with a shout, "AL!" and she dragged the man in with a hug.

"Ahck! Hallo!" he laughed, returning the hug, he had a thick accent. "Where is this girl, huh? The one-a Johnny came to get my ring for?"

Johnny looked at Sally, "He's eccentric- okay?" he smiled at her warningly.

Sally nodded and stood up with a smile towards 'Uncle Al' as Mary talked quickly, explaining how she adored Sally already.

He was tall and there were obvious similarities between him and Johnny- their faces and eyes- only he was big and muscular with thick, curly black hair. He hugged her the moment he saw her. "Ey! You're gonna be my niece, huh? Welcome!" he said- grinning happily.

Sally laughed and hugged him back, "Thank you! Johnny has said nothing but kind things about you! I'm so glad to finally meet you." she offered formerly.

Mary smiled, glad of the quick acceptance.

He let go of her and stood back to look her up and down, "Hey! She doesn't look at all like the last slut- not that ya're a slut, kiddo- but- Jeez! Johnny's had some bad ones before!"

"Hey!" Johnny called defensively, "I'm right here! I can hear you!"

Mary nodded, "Did you see those shoes? And her hair is simply beautiful! And she's so nice… Not like that Lombardi girl! No! Sally is a woman! It's her birthday, did you know?" she gushed, ignoring Johnny.

Sally smiled at Johnny.

"No!" Al exclaimed, "He didn't say that!" he cast a look at Johnny and said something quickly in Italian that made Johnny blush and fall completely silent. Then he laughed, "I don't mean it. But we're complimenting her! We love this one, Johnny- you'll do well to keep her!"

"I wouldn't'a proposed if I didn't wanna keep her, Uncle Al." he said impatiently.

Sally blushed this time and quickly sat next to Johnny, slipping off her shoes to curl up against Johnny, feet already sore from the new shoes. "It'll take a lot to get rid of me, Uncle Al!" she laughed, pecking Johnny's cheek.

Johnny smirked slipping a hand around her waist. "Oh I know it will!" he smiled at her and kissed her.

Al grinned, "Mary- ain't ya' excited?" he asked, "Finally one'a the boys got it right!"

Mary was near tears again, "I'm more than excited, Al… Oh…" She sniffled, "I have to work on dinner!"

Johnny covered Sally's ears, "Don't say that word 'round her mama!" he exclaimed.

Mary blinked at Johnny, "Why not?"

Sally shook Johnny's hands away, waiting for him to answer as well.

He sighed, "Because she goes crazy when she cooks!" he said.

"But that's a good thing!" Al boomed, "Women are supposed to be good cooks!"

"She goes over-board!" he exclaimed.

Sally waved her hand at Johnny in a dismissive fashion, "I tend to cook in the Tenements! I also had him and the other boys board up some holes and cleaned it up… I tend to cook lunch on the weekends and dinner every night. Johnny thinks I work too hard, is all. Either that or he's jealous of the food!" she joked.

Mary laughed and held out a hand to Sally, "Come on! Let's go talk in the kitchen."

"Aaahh!" Johnny shook his head as she was dragged off and quickly followed, "Oh my- Mamaaa!!" he whined, "She does do too much!"

Al was following them in amusement.

Mary shook her head at Johnny, "I think you are just jealous of the food!" she laughed again.

Sally nodded, "Well, I've been teaching Hal how to cook properly, so maybe he can cook one night a week, or something? But, I will do most of the cooking, no matter what Johnny says!" she tittered with Mary.

"I think I should have a say!" he said stubbornly and to this Al just burst out laughing.

"Men have no say when a woman decides to do something- know that and you'll have a happy marriage!" he said to Johnny who shook his head, refusing to listen.

"No way- Sally you need to listen to reason! How many other guys would say you work too hard, huh?" he asked.

Sally snorted, "Johnny… The other guys enjoy that I take care of them. They like it. They appreciate it… And it's not that big a deal, baby. What is a problem is having to learn how to set a cast in the middle of Chemistry because Peanut broke his arm!" she stated easily.

Mary gasped, "You made a cast? Who's Peanut?"

"Uhm… Larry." Sally answered.

"Larry broke his arm and you fixed it?" she asked.

Sally nodded, "Yes. Home made, straight pieces of wood on either side of his arm and wrapped along with his arm. Then I told him lots of milk or calcium to help his bones heal, you know?"

Mary nodded, "Ah… Aren't you clever!" she gushed.

Johnny sighed, "Fiiiine, I give up. You win. But when you're thirty and we've got ten kids don't complain to me about having too much work" he said.

She laughed, "Like you'd listen?!" she joked then turned towards Mary, "Momma would listen!"

Mary smiled brilliantly and nodded, "I would! It's the truth! I'd probably steal a few of the children too!" and the women burst out laughing.

Johnny rolled his eyes, "Fine. Laugh. You'll see."

Al patted him on the back, "Relax kiddo. Its not bad when they do all the work-- means you don't gotta."

Mary scoffed and lightly hit Al's arm, "Al! Don't teach him that!"

Sally simply laughed and shook her head.

"Its true!" Al said, "My lady and I had a perfect life together."

Johnny nodded, "I believe him." he nodded.

Sally smiled, "That makes me very happy to hear that, Uncle Al. Have you seen how the ring looks on me yet?" she offered her left hand to him.