AN: Okay, so this is definitely not the longest chapter. And I know you guys didn't really review. But this is one of the LAST chapters, so I'm gonna cut you guys some slack. So, this chap's kinda important. Kinda. Whatever, just read it.

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 9: Present Surprises

The day of the party had come at last. It was December 23, or, as Bo put it, Christmas Eve-Eve. He had busily been planning the party for nearly a week, getting food and music and decorations. Today, Prosper and Caterina would go with him a few hours early to set up in the school's gym.

The Casa Spavento was full of cheer on the outside, but, on the inside, there was more than one person suffering.

Caterina had remained quiet for a while, especially when she woke up one morning and bolted to the bathroom only to see her dinner swirl down. That was yesterday, so when she woke up on the party day with the strangest craving for buttered toast, she had a feeling something was wrong and departed, telling the others she had an errand to run.

Bo had been, all the while, urging Prosper to get the perfect gift for Caterina. However, over and over, Prosper vehemently refused to do so.

When the time came for Bo and his 'volunteers' to depart, Caterina was still upstairs, hidden away in her room.

"Prop, could you go and get her, please?" Bo gave him that annoying but convincing look.

Prop rolled his eyes. "Fine." And he dashed up the stairs, calling out her name. He got no reply to his calling, but found her door was open, so he walked into her room.

It was deserted. He looked around, sighing and running his fingers through his hair. On her bed, he saw the book she had purchased at the shop where he worked. On her desk, there were many items scattered to and fro, including quite a few photographs. Most were of her travels, but there were a few that had been taken recently. But his eyes were enthralled by one photograph in particular. It depicted the two of them, arms encircling each other. He picked it up to look at it more closely, then flipped it over to see a date.

The picture had been taken on Caterina's eighteenth birthday, last year. Prosper remembered the day oh-so clearly; it was not only one of the happiest days he'd spent with her, but also one of the last happy days they had shared. He closed his eyes, remembering the day. He saw himself handing her the present again, felt her lips kiss him, her body against his, all over again. He didn't notice his grip loosen on the photograph until he heard it land in the wastebasket with a soft sound.

He opened his eyes and bent down to retrieve it, worried that it might get dirty. As he fished it out, his eyes caught on to something else in her trashcan, sitting gaily, as if waiting to be noticed. It helped that it was a bright pink color, its black letters standing out against the pink sharply. It read:

Test di gravidanza.

It was a pregnancy test.

Prosper slapped the photo down on the desk. What could this mean? What had she held back? This could only mean…

No. He couldn't believe that.

Frustrated, he stormed out of the room and down the stairs. When he saw Bo's questioning look, he just shrugged. A couple moments later, Caterina came down the stairs, ready to go.

"Sorry I took so long. Do we have everything?"

Bo nodded to her. "I think. Could you guys help me with the bags?" Silently, they each picked up a few of the bags, surprised and how heavy they were.

"Alright!" Bo said cheerily. "Let's go!"

AN: Ahem. So guys, I'm gonna need your opinion and say in the following question: DO YOU WANT A SEQUEL? Next chapter's gonna be the last, but I'm not gonna write the epilogue until I know whether or not I'm gonna write a sequel! SO TELL ME!
Ha, I feel so sneaky. Because, in order for you guys to tell me if you want a sequel or if you find that notion absolutely atrocious, YOU HAVE TO REVIEW!!! Hahahahahahaha...