AN: Dun dun dun~! New chapter! Yay, let's pick up were we'd left off, with the whole Ottabio affair coming to an end. Everything must have closure one way or another, right? Enjoy the latest installment~!

Hot damn, why do I always forget these things? Thank you my lovely beta reader, Orihara Izaya, you are wonderful! ANd I do not own KHR, only Francesca and her family.

Francesca was standing out of Xanxus' room – the one that was supposed to be his study for when he felt alive enough to do something –; it was easier for her to stand than sit down because her ribs hurt less with the correct posture. She was waiting for him to let her in and ask her about Ottabio.

Ah…the Ottabio deal! "The betrayal" as Xanxus had dubbed it accurately enough. It had barely been two days yet it already had a name! Nono had taken all sorts of measures and precautions with the rest of the members, keeping alive but one man with rank and a handful of his soldiers – as the rest were unforgivingly slaughtered by the Varia elite – while he had every intention of questioning Francesca, too.

But that was where Xanxus put his foot down. Well, in all literalness, he put his fist down and did it with quite the might, cracking the table in the process. Then, he proceeded to tell Nono there was no chance in hell he'd give her over and that he deserved to know the details, at least from her who seemed to be the first person to actually blow the whistle on Ottabio. He had praised her loyalty, too – he called her the most faithful dog he's had in a while – and then simply took off with her – by dragging her along -.

She'd felt an inexplicable pride when he had decided to interrogate her himself because that only meant he wanted her side of the story, and she had expanded her chest with her head held high—it hurt her, but it felt good.

She was starting to like this man and his antics. She knew not why, other than her growing Stockholm syndrome.

So now was the moment he'd chosen for her: Squalo had broken into her room – and she uses the verb wisely – and announced the fact Xanxus would be now seeing her. Then he promptly chastised her for being improperly dressed – "Why are you not wearing your uniform scum? When you went in all that trouble to get one and become one of us? Do you see me in my pyjamas?" – and left, as fast as he'd come.

He was truly the rain guardian: he rained and rained and rained upon you, till everything was washed away.

So she'd begrudgingly put on her skirt-themed uniform – it was far too excruciating to put on stockings with her injuries –, trying to catch Xanxus in high spirits, braved herself for the verbal abuse that was about to come, and headed to his room. And she was currently waiting for the door to open and let her in as Bel and Levi were also giving their reports in there. She'd only hoped they said nothing to anger him.

Knowing Bel though, she was sure he'd do it on purpose.

Then, a "get the fuck out" was heard quite clearly and two men ran out—one snorting his laughter the other crying for his imagined slight against his boss. Oh poor Levi; he was always so easy to mind scar.

She ignored them both though, and walked in Xanxus' chambers. "I'm here."

"Sit down." He was testy but at least he didn't hit her with something to make her sit which was an improvement from what she'd thought she'd face. "Now tell me how you knew of his betrayal."

She then went into a detailed account of her past encounter with Ottabio and what she'd overheard when she was young. She made an effort to remember everything about Ottabio that made her scared or doubtful. He was simply nodding throughout her story till she reached the end.

"Why didn't your aunt agree with him?"

She started jotting points with her fingers. "Because A) she didn't like him at all; when I later asked her about him she'd said, and I remember her exact words "never waste your time listening to people like him". And B) she really wanted to study you. You were an anomaly, and an innovation; she loves—loved those."

When he looked at her, she felt the scorching of his gaze; oh right, he hated to be treated like a "lab rat". She swallowed. "Err, I mean, not that you're, um, I mean you're a person and—oh come on! It's not my fault she saw you as a specimen OK? I think you're human…enough. When you're not angry."

His eyebrow raised but let it slide in sake of the information he was getting. "And why did you just come and told me that?"

She lost him.

"What do you mean?"

He rolled his eyes. "No sane person would just go up to someone and tell them that the one person they think is definitely on their side is actually betraying them. It was a daring and mostly stupid move. Why d'you do it?"

"Um…" she looked away for support; his glare was far too strict. "You see I just…thought that was the right thing to do. You're my boss and he was a coward supposedly working for you who wanted to kill you and my aunt always told me that truth will always find its way no matter what, so…"

He probed for her to go on, but she only shrugged, out of habit. He ducked his head for her to continue because that can't be all – not in his book –, but she only shook hers. He looked taken aback…and then he laughed. He laughed and he laughed and she watched him while being completely still.

- She vaguely remembered the saying "it is more scared of you than you are of it" so she made no threatening moves. Though she was sure, in this case, she was more scared of it than the other way round. -

"You are even more naïve than I thought" he admitted the source of his sudden mirth and made a point to look at her thoroughly "you are one strange broad."

He called her strange when he was living in with Lussuria…and all the rest? That was rich! "Wh-?"

"And how did you remember that sort of thing anyway? Didn't your aunt tell you to forget about him?"

She felt tongue-tied now; she knew why she remembered, she just didn't want him to know. "Um…well…it did take me a while to place him; my memory is unflawed—almost, almost photographic. OK, I can't actually memorise a book just by looking at it but once I know something it's in; it never leaves or gets misplaced."

She was trying so hard to sound professional and pointed, he knew she was lying; his smarmy attitude told her so. "So I just had to take a little longer to find this certain piece of information."

His smirk was ever present. "…You were just worried about me."

"N-n-n-n-no-"

"Very convincing."

Anger swelled her chest, as she was ready to lash out, but he silenced her with a wave of his hand. "But I have to disappoint you; you're not my type." He waited a moment to let what he'd said sink in before he made the final jab: "No tits."

He could just photograph the look of utmost hurt, betrayal and offence on her face…

"Well, I don't tend to like bratty, unstable, assassins with daddy-issues either so I guess we're squared!"

"Shut up and fix me, misses S."

"Why does everyone insist on calling me that?"

"If everyone's saying it …" he said as devilishly, as arrogantly he looked at her "suck it up and patch me up."

"As you wish!" she snapped embarrassed and snatched his phone. She winced but didn't let it get her down. "Squalo bring me cubes again; yes I know it's too menial a task. Well, get someone else to do it…! I don't care; do I look like a maid? Then say it to the rest!" she screeched the last and shut the phone so violently, Xanxus slapped her hand.

"It's an antique."

"Sorry," she barked instead of the "so are you" line that came to her.

"And what are the ice cubes for? I'm not shaking anymore."

"Yes, but your temperature has risen above normal anyway; haven't you noticed the air conditioning is on in here?

And though I have stopped the medicine that do the same thing – seeing you were in ice and all – most of the drugs I'm giving you have the same $effect, one way or another. So I'm getting the cubes to cool you down a little; today is the last time I promise."

He smirked at her naivety; it was becoming one of his favourite traits about her. She was so easy to agitate it amused his own sadistic side. "Just get on with it and don't forget to be thorough…"

Pervert! She mentally exclaimed redder than blood, but she felt she had no other choice other than doing as he said. And when he asked why the serums had turned into needles again, even if she'd said it obly be for one day- he hated to be punctured like a pincushion – she explained this was something like the cubes. It would stop and from tomorrow on it would be all serums again.

He grunted his understanding and let himself relax, as he savoured the feel of her hands massaging him, taking away his soreness...

.

.

She'd been sleeping her day away, having pleasant and colourful dreams. Ever since she was taken by the Varia in fact she's been having nothing but colourful and admittedly wild dreams. It felt like tripping on acid, only in her sleep. And she knew what tripping on acid was like not out of personal experience, but from everything she has seen on movies or read in books. (Of course, maybe the dreams had to do with the fact she was keeping herself in a constant hook on painkillers to forget the constant prickling of her ribs yet she couldn't be sure.)

But she figured it was legitimate because she took great pride in choosing the correct, plausible books. That excluded her long collection of love stories though: being stories that spoke of nothing but a love so strong it overcame any obstacle and eliminated all suspicions of the significant other! A love so pure and just meant to be that nothing else mattered…

She knew they were impossible and would never come true for her.

Of course, don't take her wrong, she didn't like all sorts of romantic stories; for instance, she hated unhealthy, badly written romances especially if they tried to appear as something different!

She shook her head, trying to repress her thoughts of wanting to read a new book, in sake of what she really had to do: cook, clean, prepare the drugs and then tend to her own wounds, her ribs, and make sure everything is OK. Also, exactly because of her ribs, she now had to wake up earlier because she had to do everything slower.

She didn't have anyone massaging or feeding her or making sure she did no sudden movements so she could recuperate faster! Oh no, only the boss had that luxury! Not only did she do virtually all I her power to make him better and prevent him from exerting himself, she even fed him when he was too bored! The one thing he never allowed anyone else to do for him, he finally left it to her.

And she was too pissed she had to spoon feed him almost everyday. And suffer all the humiliation it came with—namely a lot of harassment for no apparent reason other than him feeling like it. And he'd been doing it a lot…it was then when she had decided with firmness she needed to find him a woman!

That lovely Silvana Conti woman I'd met at Nono's party will do the trick, she thought satisfied with herself and smirked. She only had to make it feel like this was all Xanxus' idea and not hers or else she knew he'd react violently. She had to come up with a plan; she puckered her lips in deep thought as she was making her way to the kitchen to make breakfast.

"Wow!"

It was heard from behind her; she jumped out of her thoughts and turned around to face whoever had scared her. "Ah, it's just you Squalo…" she said relieved though a bit alerted by his expression. "What was the exclamation for?" or the look you're giving me?

"What; are you kidding? You're walking around in your underwear!"

She gaped and looked at herself immediately.

"Your sexy underwear. I had no idea you enjoyed lace so much…"

But all of his words and his tone were wasted on her; she didn't wear any clothes! Why—she was sure she had taken out her uniform, laid it there with her stockings and her shoes and…oh right. She never put it on.

Oh God, why, she thought to herself panicked! She was desperately trying to find something to cover herself with! She put her arms around her and looked everywhere for anything resembling an article of clothing, excluding the pain from her brain for now!

"Ha ha! You didn't even realise you were half-naked? What's wrong with you?"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Out of completely nowhere, Bel appeared. "Oooh, is this half-naked Tuesday? In that case, let me get Levi; he'd sure love to join you!"

"NO!" Ah! "Don't get Levi—don't get anyone!" she ran behind Squalo to cover herself; he looked at her in a "do I look like a drape" way but she didn't unlatch herself from his hair. "Where did you come from anyway?"

"U shi shi…!"

"Did someone say "half-naked Tuesday"?"

Lussuria appeared behind a wall, his flamboyant hair preceding him. "And is it Franny-chan I'm seeing promoting it? Oh my, dear Franny, you just became my most favourite daughter! I'm joining~!"

Overwhelmed, almost in a flash, his clothes were on the floor and he was in nothing but his own underwear. And they were oh so very colourful and wild, just like her dreams, only with a tinge of nightmare.

"Put your clothes back on!" she said desperate now, still not able to find anything suitable to cover her but Squalo. "And I'm your only daughter anyway-…!"

Oh wait, if Lussuria took off his clothes then…chance! She made up her mind: she'd take them for herself! She dived, glad she didn't change his mind to put them back on…only Bel was faster! He'd predicted her move and swept them up before she reached them!

"Damn it Bel!" she barked, holding on to her hurt ribs with one hand, going back to Squalo.

"U shi shi…Levi! Come here quick; we're getting undressed!"

"No!"

She banged her head on Squalo's – if there was anything harder than a wall then that was that. She'd seen it for a fact, too when Xanxus threw all sorts of things to him but it never even bled – out of mere frustration and then she proceeded to shake him whole. "Please, just give me your trench coat before Levi comes back!"

"VOOOOOOOI! Do you have any idea what Xanxus will do to me if he finds me without it? At least, if you show up like this, he won't mind. Do you want him to kill me, trash? And get away from me!"

He flailed his arms, but she wouldn't let go.

She held on harder. "Why would Xanxus come here now? Just give it to me and save me from the horror of-! KYAH!"

Levi appeared out of nowhere, like everybody else, only he was already half-naked. "Too late now! Help, help, keep him away from me!" she shook Squalo harder, but he still didn't give in to her requests.

"So I see this is the half-naked Tuesday Lussuria and I have been trying so hard to establish. This is great news! Who stripped first?"

Francesca implored Bel not to tell with her eyes and her fierce shaking of her head, but she didn't get through to him; he only smirked and showed her with his finger, in a very grand way. "She did."

"Francesca, you are a genius!" he exclaimed and moved to hug her!

Squalo thought stopped him with a very strong kick to the balls; there was no way he'd allow a half-naked Levi closer than ten inches!

"O-Ouch…I'll just…go tell the boss." He barely said, holding on to his sack in pain, as he staggered away.

"Oh thank God I'm rid of him!"

"Are you now? If he goes to the boss like that and then tells him it's your fault, whom do you think he'll torture for it?" Squalo snapped indignant.

She seriously thought for a moment. "Both?"

"Exactly."

Only then did she realise- "Oh no!"

She started running after him faster than she could breath. Her ribs were in so much pain she thought she'd collapse if she stopped…but that only made her go faster. If she prevented him, it would all be worth it. "If you give me what's left of your winnings from the prank, I'll stop him for you." Mammon said deviously as he caught up with her, actually flying. He'd done that before so she wasn't too surprised.

"NO! I need that money!"

"Then I'm sorry for what's going to happen to you…"

She shook her head; then, she passed Levi, trying not to look at him too much! The horrors she really, really had to endure for her position were crippling! She secretly wished she was never found or taken with them…

She reached her boss first, and busted into the room with force! "Boss!" she exclaimed, one hand holding the double doors open, the other on her ribs. "I'm here!"

He only raised an eyebrow, trying to decide what to be: pissed or amused.

When she looked behind her, and seemed to see something he didn't, she immediately closed the double doors. From the sounds he heard, he figured someone just crushed into it. He had no idea who it could have been, but sure as hell wasn't Squalo or else there would be shouts.

He vaguely wondered who she injured and why.

"Are you ready for your daily doses?" she asked cheery as she was locking the door behind her, wheezing and nearly fainted. That was an odd mix.

She was trying to keep Levi surely away to avoid receiving any sort of abuse because of him and his dim-witted half-baked ideas. To actually believe she was the one who consciously established the half-naked Tuesday…!

Meanwhile, Xanxus noticed all of her movements with great interest; he had to choose amused for now. "Depends on what you offer…"

"What do you mean? Your medicine, as always…which I just remembered I do not carry with me." She slapped her forehead. "Damn."

"I can see that or else you'd have to explain exactly where you're hiding them."

"Eh? Oh, ha ha, no I was-…err…um…" she only just realised what he'd said, causing her to blush. She coughed at his lecherous smirk. "I mean I obviously forgot a lot of things today, such as my clothes," she said suddenly trying to make it sound like forgetting her makeup, waving her hand nonchalantly "but that can be fixed easily. I'll just go fetch them. But, um, till I do…can I sort of borrow a couple of your own clothes?"

"…If you want to get into my pants, you have to act sexier."

"No, I…! What is it with all the innuendo lately anyway?" her nerves finally broke and she started coughing because she was too loud. "I can't concentrate in an environment such as this!"

"Then try wearing clothes from now on, bitch!"

"You've been like this for a couple of weeks now-AH!" she ducked at the random vase he threw towards her and avoided it only just, pained. No wonder after such a long time her ribs hadn't healed almost at all. "Why do you have to be such a tyrant?" she snapped.

Then, unceremoniously she walked to his closet and, for the first time in her life, she disregarded him completely, without even asking if he'd allow her. She only opened the closet, took a long trench coat and pulled it over her.

"Thank you," she said emphatically and turned around and strutted to the door.

She unlocked it slowly but steadily, she opened the door, and she walked over a knocked-out Levi on her way. "I'll be right back, boss," she barked, yet again uncaring of his reaction and headed to her room with her head held high.

She had no idea how the hell he didn't get up and hit her personally with all the shit she just pulled but she could only thank her good luck for the lack of violence. Somewhat surprised though, she realised, at the very least she had made Xanxus think of dirty things, even if for a moment. Given there was no way he'd live those out with her – I'm not "his type", she thought annoyed – then he'd certainly start missing Silvana.

Plan: success!

Wow, hold on a minute; did she bitterly think she wasn't good enough for the likes of Xanxus? Bitterly—bitterly!? Why? That implied she was interested in him, which she was not! Why would she be interested in a homicidal maniac anyway...? It was just her womanly ego. Right, she just wanted to know she was attractive to men, of all kinds...she decided that was the sole reason she was bitter about it and moved on.

She took the medicine, she made sure it was all there and walked back to her boss's office...in his own trench coat. Damn it, why was she always forgetting the most important things!? And when he eyed her mightly amused and said:

"You do realise you won't be treating me with my coat on your back, right?"

she knew she would have to make haste on her plan to bring Silvana and Xanxus together.

.

"Why don't we hold a nice party for her being formally accepted in the Varia, huh?" Lussuria propositioned as everyone was at lunch, eating heartily.

Francesca, the instigator and maestro of this conversation, was sitting right next to Squalo, between him and the man who just spoke. She was watching them all closely, trying to gauge by their reactions the outcome of this conversation, but she tried attracting as less attention as possible.

The first one to take the bait was Levi. "Why that sounds like a wonderful idea!" he exclaimed ever willing "this way we can open our doors to more women!"

"And men~!"

"So we'll be having a party you say…? A prince never hesitates to throw one—it shows his superiority to all the rest, u shi shi."

"I protest this decision; parties are nothing but a black hole of expenses: food, drinks, entertainment for the guests…I won't have it!"

"Oh but this is different Mammon dear; this once, Nono will provide us with the money because it isn't for personal use but something related to the family…"

She was genuially surprised by the effort Lussuria put into making this a reality; she'd only just told him about it, in an attempt to get Silvana into this house faster, and he fell right for it! She'd started feeling proud for her powers of manipulation. Plus, she'd said, it was about time they put their plan.

Of course, she had told Lussuria solely for the party and the plan, without any mention of her own agenda. But when he looked at her strangely and asked "what plan" she kindly reminded him that they had Nono's sons to kill and for the last one, the trick was to take some people on their own side…!

He'd said, "Aw, yes how could I forget" and immediately proceeded to promise her to talk everyone into it during lunch. And he was so far, so successful. She felt happy she had at least one ally in this crazy place.

"In that case I have no interest whatsoever; you can do whatever you want." Mammon said with finality; in his language that equalled: "go right ahead and do it".

She felt extremely happy now.

"I see everyone wants to throw her a party, huh? What the hell, then, I don't mind! What do you say boss?"

They all turned to him with great expectancy… "It's been a long time we hosted something. Nono will have a field day with trying to come up with security measures for this."

They all laughed…surprisingly, so did she.

.

.

She had no idea what to wear! She was standing with her back at the closet, three days later, and minutes before the event that was held for her sake, but she had no freaking idea on what to wear! Lussuria had done nothing but bring her beautiful gifts of silk these three days that she did nothing but rest, take care of herself and Xanxus – and occasionally pamper Squalo – yet she was still clueless on what she should wear.

It wasn't a matter of taste: Lussuria had the best taste and brought the prettiest and the most elegant pieces—clothes she would never be able to choose by herself, but they all seemed…too nice for her. Or too pretentious. She wanted to be in something comfortable and something more "her" for an event like this. And, she knew image was everything when making a fresh start.

At least, that's what Lussuria kept telling her.

She huffed and puffed and kept going through all of the things lying on her bed; if her hair weren't made specifically for this occasion – Xanxus' orders of course – she'd be pulling on them with great ferocity! Lussuria should have been by her side, too but in the end they encountered some last minute problems with some guests so he hurried downstairs, leaving her alone in the process.

And the guests were already there, all of them; she could hear them walking around and talking, like a faraway buzzing in her ears. She herself was supposed to appear later, to make an entrance. After all, this event was all about her and this once, not even Xanxus did he say otherwise. Well, he actually could, but decided not to and let her have her spotlight. He got to watch Nono struggle to keep everything under wraps and secure and that was enough for him.

She literally banged her head on the wall out of mere frustration. "Ouch…" she muttered rubbing her forehead.

She shook her head, disappointed. Why was she such a socially awkward slob? She sighed because she knew the answer but said nothing more about it lest she'd get depressed, too other than desperate. She sighed again and eyed her clothes one final time. An idea started taking shape in her mind's eye and she finally smiled…

Maybe banging her head on things helped in thinking!

.

"So where is our person of honour? She is fashionably but torturously late."

"Silvana dear, you'll get to see her in time, don't worry. Don't forget she learnt from me~" Lussuria said all pride and happiness "she can't but wait for everyone to be anxious…"

"You taught her well," she said devilishly as she winked at him.

Xanxus, on whose arm the dashing woman was hanging beautiful and elegant, simply yawned. Waiting never was one of his favourite past times but so long there was booze and a good buffet to occupy himself with, he let it slide. Ah, and of course entertainment, in the shape of his beloved father running around panicked to make sure nothing out of the ordinary will happen.

There was also the delight of watching Squalo fraternize with that woman, Michaela, who he was supposed to have under his influence so when they killed her "man", she would order the attack on Nono's most favoured son for the position of the tenth.

And then the lights went out!

A unanimous "AW!" was heard by all the guests – Nono almost ordered an attack on the Varia – but when music started playing, they all relaxed and looked around to see what's going to happen. After some seconds, the strobe lights turned to the head of the long stairs…and there she was!

The people all around muttered "awww" in complete awe and for a brief moment even her Varia co-workers stood there simply staring. She didn't look stunning or pretty…she simply looked Varia. And that was all they could say about her.

She took every step in her own time, giving everyone the chance to pay close attention to her and her outfit – and she didn't hurt like someone was trying to run a knife through her –: black boots that reached all the way to her knee; black form-fitting pants; long black trench coat with buttons, a belt and the Varia symbol attached on the left arm…

She was wearing her very "manly" – as Xanxus would put it – and inelegant – as Lussuria would put it – Varia uniform. The one that was just the same with Squalo's and Bel's and everyone's!

She had undone her hair from the elaborate style the hairdresser put them in and now, free and unbound, they were falling straight. Free and unbound as they were, they moved to her every step and got in the way of her elbows; free and unbound as they were, she enjoyed them verily. Now she was, too.

She stuck her chest out proud and took every step with confidence: no more back-tracking, no more looking back, no more vacillating. She was now a Varia member for good and her appearance ensured it: it was there for everyone to see. She was, from now on, just one more member of the squad. At that realisation, she felt much more proud than she thought she would—or should.

When she finally descended the stairs, she was overwhelmed by exactly how many people came to congratulate or talk to her in general!

"We are so proud you're a member of the family in all formality now!"

"Congratulations on your new spot!"

"The uniform was just made for you! You look lovely!"

"Finally, a woman so high up in the Varia!"

"Congratulations on your promotion!"

"You are magnificent!"

"You are brilliant!"

"You deserve this position!"

And more and more compliments of such nature made their way to her either by distantly catching them, or by people saying them fervently while shaking her hand or just small slaps on the back…

She was only smiling and nodding, a simple thank you ever leaving her lips. She was proud.

"Dear Franny-chan, despite you making me sad you chose none of my most wonderful dresses, I still think the choice of clothing is the best it could have been," Lussuria whispered as he made a fleeting appearance by her side, winking, only to be gone when:

"My dear lord;" a familiar voice said, causing her to turn around "little Francesca is a woman now! And she joins the Varia…how touching."

She felt her eyes widen by the mere sight of the Guardians of the ninth and him himself there; he was smiling affectionately and a hand stroke her head.

"Come, come now don't tease her Ganauche; our precious sweet flower. How are you feeling my dear child? Is this to your taste? Do you feel…well?"

"Ah yes! I haven't felt this good in a long time! It's a relief, to finally belong somewhere…"

Nono looked every bit of guilty yet happy that he should. "I'm glad this seems to be what you truly want."

"Under the circumstances, indeed!"

No matter what she said or how Nono felt, she couldn't help being cheerful: after all that happened they trusted her again and they gave her, the position she'd asked—she deserved. Not only did she belong, she actually earned it with many cracked bones to show for it. The thought made her elated: she won this right to be called Varia and no one, absolutely no one, could take that away from her.

Not even the approaching storm, namely Xanxus…

But before he could come and sulk and ruin the fabulous mood all around her, Nono blocked him from her field of vision by side stepping and holding out a hand. "I'm so very pleased to know you are doing well; but do you know who else would be pleased by the same information?"

She blinked. Was this a test? "Um…my late aunt, God rests her soul?"

"Ha ha, no Francesca, but I'm sure she most certainly would, too… I meant" he looked to the side purposefully, making her follow his eyes; when she saw what he looked at, she froze "your parents! And here they are…!"

She stared for well over a minute. Had she not been the centre of attention, she'd have gaped. Oh wait, she was gaping! Well, if she were she had a bloody good reason to: her parents were there! All the way from Spain did they come with no one telling her anything about it, just to see her appointment as a Varia member? That was fishy to say the least, dangerous to say the most.

Why are they here anyway? They hated the Varia and anything that had to do with violence…she closed her eyes suddenly, shutting her mouth, too and internally wished they hadn't come here looking for trouble or to humiliate her. Because they tended to want to do that a lot—humiliate her and treat her like a child.

She shook her head and looked at them again. "Mother…father…"

They, on the other hand, had frozen for a different reason: their daughter's reaction was enough to make them too awkward to make the first move; and to think they were about to hug and congratulate her…

"Honey-pie!" her father exclaimed finally and tackled her with a hug. "I'm so happy to see you again after such a long time! How I've missed you, my sweetie…! How have you been? Oh how you have grown! Your hair—look at your hair! And you're so tall! And you're so beautiful—a real lady!"

"If you think she's a real lady then the last time you saw her she must have been a toddler."

As her father was slowly killing her in a bone-crushing hug (in a quite literal way if one thought of her ribs), Xanxus interrupted his gushing. "And if you say this when she's wearing this uniform, then you need glasses old man."

"Xanxus dear don't be so mean!"

"What? You two still like each other?" he snapped at Silvana's disapproval of his bashing.

In fact, this was the one time Francesca didn't mind him being mean; what he'd said might have been petty and cruel, but it also stung her parents and she knew it: when her father released her and started checking him out as her mother looked at him under her nose, she knew they minded.

"And who might you be young man?" her father asked absolute.

"Ah, he is Xanxus, my son…and your daughter's boss from now on." Nono interrupted to calm both parties down. Despite the murderous look at the "son" part, Xanxus remained generally satisfied as he sipped a little out of his drink.

"Is that so?" he asked truly surprised "I'm Sergio de Luca, Francesca's father."

"And I'm Daniela de Luca, her mother, and I demand some respect from you Xanxus, Nono's son."

"I'm Xanxus, the boss of Varia; my biggest achievement in life certainly isn't being his son," he snapped pointing with his finger at Nono "and I too demand some respect into my own house!"

Francesca almost felt the thunder between them and she could swear Xanxus was pissed enough to have his temperature rise; she went between them, wearing her disapproving look, and turned to her mother. "I demand you do not talk down to my boss mother; and I would appreciate if you both could talk to me only in private from now on."

When her mother tried to protest, her father held her back; whispering something in her ear, apparently he managed to change her mind and she simply bit her tongue. "Very well; but you'll have to make sure he is not around."

And with her finger still pointing at Xanxus, she made her exit…Sergio did not follow. He put his arm around Francesca and stood there proud. "I'm staying here so I can see all the people who come to congratulate you. My baby is now an adult…!" he added moved in the end and looked at her affectionately.

She rolled her eyes. "This will be a long night," she muttered as she patted her father's hand.

"What, no daddy issues?"

"I figured you have enough of those for the both of us…"

"Do you want to die, or is it something you randomly decided?"

"Do not threaten my daughter!"

"Xanxus!" Silvana exclaimed scandalised yet again, but he didn't seem to care all that much about either of them; he pretended they were nothing but noise.

For the most part, that was true…

The night passed blissfully for the young woman; her mother didn't bother her at least for the most of the evening and her father was moderate. Her brothers hadn't come, she realised with great relief, and the only one she had to cope with-truly cope with, was her dear mom. But that was half-taken care of by Xanxus' behaviour that kept her at a safe distance.

Nono's heirs appeared at one point, with Lussuria and Squalo accompanying them, too and she was all but heart-broken when she saw what kind and thoughtful man she had set out to kill. And given she was the one who came up with the plan, she was sure he'd die and that made her all the more sad.

Even Dino had appeared in front of her that night to congratulate her, and she could honestly say he was the most pleasurable presence. She'd liked him greatly when she first met him - he was polite, kind and generous - but now he was all the more charming towards her. He even went as far to kiss her hand. Of course, he never got much further than that because Xanxus all but hit him for it.

She still didn't understand why he liked making her life miserable so much other than the obvious reason – he liked it – but she knew she just had to roll with it. Thus rolling she did.

But, the night wouldn't be without an incident. One time her mother did come close and there was a bit of a fall out between them: she claimed, once more, that Francesca was now a disgrace to the whole family, since she became a Varia member, meaning a person involved in assassinations.

It was a ghastly occupation she, as a scientist, had chosen for herself, Daniela continued relentlessly, saying she would never put to true good use her exceptional skills, if they were solely used for killing. She disapproved, she wanted her daughter to know she did and she even had the nerve to say Lucretia would also think she was doing a horrible, horrible thing.

That was when Francesca sort of lost it and her father thundered his wife with the most reprobating look he could; how dared she bring up her aunt, she'd said, how dared she claim to know what she'd say? Her aunt, she then informed, would be more than thrilled to know she got out of that house! She would be pleased to hear that she was doing something she wanted with her life for a change!

-The part where she chose to join the Varia on her own free will might have been a lie, but just a little. -

Her mother had absolutely no right to judge her! After all, she was the one who abandoned her and left her to her sister so even if Francesca had done the most horrendous thing ever, it would still be both Daniela's fault yet at the same time she still wouldn't have any say in the matter!

Then she stomped her foot stubbornly and turned around and left her alone…or else she was sure the whole reception would hear her and she didn't want that, not when she had Squalo in the team: they'd say after him, she was the loudest member. And no one wanted that title – and someone had already unwisely enough called her Squalo 2.0 due to the long hair –. So she did the only thing she could: she turned her back distinctively and stormed away…

Then came Xanxus and trash-talked her parents and her herself but she couldn't care less; she merely shrugged and watched him go upstairs with Silvana still attached on his arm…thank God for that matter. Her trick worked. Thank Lussuria anyway, for he organised everything. She sighed with great relief; she hoped now he would stop harassing her; it was a true wonder how she hadn't come out of that room raped that day…

She was more than glad everything worked out for her in the end; her mother was a sudden addition that caused her to falter for a little while, but she managed to gather her wits and face her. Well, she had been talking back to Xanxus lately—she's been living with him and lived to tell the tale in fact! Thus her mother, one fragile, weak woman wouldn't scare her into submission.

.

She cried a lot that night; she could be as brave and logical as she wanted in front of other people, but when she was alone, at her most intimate thoughts, she knew she would always crave for her mother's approval, even if not consciously. She would have wanted and liked to hear her say, "you did well". Why couldn't she be happy for her own child? Especially when she did all in her power to make her life miserable.

She was too young to comprehend concepts such as loyalty and sacrifice; when she was given away, all she could feel was rejection and the overwhelming sensation of injustice. Why her? She was the youngest, not the oldest…

So she cried and cried and cried; but her mother didn't feel sorry for her. She was even depressed for some time but none cared but her aunt. She was all-alone in a place she couldn't understand but they didn't go in the trouble of explaining to her—and that woman she still wanted to satisfy. Why? She didn't deserve it…and she knew it. It was just, a complex she had. Just like her liking Xanxus. Oh wait, she didn't!

She wiped at her tears and looked at herself in the mirror: puffy eyes, tired and so very self-pitying...

If it hadn't been for her mother then she wouldn't be stuck in an empty house with none but her aunt; if it weren't for her mother she wouldn't be stuck in the Varia! If it weren't for her mother, she wouldn't be the scientist she was today…! Well, even if it was her aunt who taught her everything, she was there because her mother sent her.

So she didn't do only bad things…she took comfort in the thought. But no more crying, she made up her mind and held her head high as she took it out of the pillow she used as a muffler, and no more trying to please her. I am my own person.

She smiled at her resolution but couldn't help spilling tears over it as well. That day she was truly becoming an adult. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes and blew her nose and looked straight ahead, beyond her reflection. No easy ways out from now on, whatever she decided to do with herself would be her own decision—her own problem and her own fault. Either she folded under Xanxus' oppression or not, would be her personal ruling.

She breathed a fresh air that night, the air of change. Hopefully, it would turn out the best.

.

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A/N: End! I hope you enjoyed dears, and please leave a review on the way out!