CHAPTER 20

~ Stepping into Reality ~

At Deena's parents', Joann has Pauleena and she is walking around with her when she hears cars pulling into the driveway. She looks out and then opens the door for Deena. Behind her coming up the walkway is Pauly.

Joann (to the baby), "Look who it is! It's Mommy and Daddy."

Deena greets her baby and then goes to pull off her jacket, clean her hands and what not. Pauly smiles seeing his daughter and then he greets Deena's Mom.

Pauly, "Hello Mrs. Cortese."

Joann, "Hi. How was your trip here?"

Pauly, "Great. I was just anxious to see about Pauleena."

Joann, "Well, she is such a good baby. She takes to everyone."

Pauly nods. Just then Deena comes back and takes Pauleena from her Mother.

Deena, "Thanks for keepin her Ma. Has she eaten already?"

Joann, "Yeah, about an hour ago."

Deena nods and kisses on her cheeks and then she walks off with her.

Pauly takes that as his cue to follow them.

Downstairs, Pauly uses the bathroom and then he comes out with clean hands. Deena watches him as he comes up to her while she is seated on the couch. He reaches out.

"May I?"

Deena, "Why are you asking?"

Pauly, "Well I don't know, you kind of just took her from your Mom and walked off."

Deena, "What are you talking about? (Shaking her head and handing her over) Here Pauly."

Pauly takes her and he immediately goes for her cheeks, everybody does.

Pauly sits down, "How's my little apple face, huh?"

Pauleena automatically curls up on her Father's chest and rests her head on her hands. It's so cute Deena can't help but to smile.

Deena, "She misses you."

Pauly, "Of course she does. She's Daddy's girl."

Deena, "Did your Mom get a chance to see the pictures we got sent back?"

Pauly smiles, "Yeah, I got 'em on my lap top. She says, I can't deny this one; got the same hair when I was born."

Deena, "Well that's the first thing everyone notices. I just shrug my shoulders and say, not mine."

Pauly, "She had me email like, a million family members. Everyone's anxious to see her in person. We're gonna have to work something out so that the Fam in Providence can see her."

It is funny Pauly should say that. That plays right into what Deena wants to talk about. She sits there watching Pauly with Pauleena and it makes it that much harder to bring up.

Deena, "So…dinner tonight was rough, but also an eye opener. First off, I just want to say thank you for sticking up for me. Nicole didn't mean anything by it. I know she was just upset at how her news turned out."

Pauly, "Yeah, but she knows we love her. We just like to joke around."

Deena, "I don't know, I think Vinny was legit upset though."

Pauly smiles a little, "Yeah…I got that impression too. I haven't talked to him about it, but he'll have to deal with that on his own. I can't understand how he would care now either like Nicole said though."

Deena, "Well, it's just human nature. Nicole and Vinny were almost an item. Regardless of the outcome, everyone has a right to their feelings."

Pauly nods and Deena continues.

"Anyway I guess I'll say, I get it… I do understand what you are trying to do for 'Leena. So for the future, I won't say anything against you because of what you did at dinner tonight."

Pauly, "Well I was hoping you wouldn't be puttin anything negative out there anyway. I don't take back what I said at dinner, you know the truth Deena. I'm not only doing this for her, I'm doing it for you too. I believe in taking care of Family. You're my Family now Deena."

Deena sighs, this is hard.

Deena, "I'm glad to hear that but I'm fine Pauly. If you just want to be there for 'Leena, I'm fine with that. Don't think you have to take on any burdens."

Pauly, "It's no burden. That's just the way I am."

Deena, "Listen, I know I have been pushing for…us to be more than what we have agreed to in the past but since 'Leena has been born, I'm starting to see what I want for the future."

Pauly is not sure where this is going he can only listen at this point.

Deena, "We are getting along now but how long will that last? I said I accept you working in Vegas but I still am not one hundred about it truthfully. I want a Family and I hear you, I do…but 'Leena is only four weeks old and we already can't come to an agreement on how to be functional parents for her."

Pauly is stunned. Where the hell is this coming from?

Pauly, "We haven't even talked about what we're gonna do?"

Deena, "That's why we should do that now."

Pauly, "Hold up, back up…I mean, thinking back to dinner look at what Snooks said we're all dysfunctional so what do you expect?"

Deena, "I expect a better life for her."

Pauly, "My life is fine, I don't know about yours but you think I don't want that…and who says we don't have that anyway? We're both able to give her what she needs right now and in a year or two everything that she would ever want."

Deena decides to let Pauly answer, "So what are we going to do then?"

Pauly is just sat there. What is he supposed to say?

Pauly, "I'm new at this Deena and so are you. It-it's gonna take time to know what the right things are to do. Only when we make mistakes are we going to know how to correct them, it's apart of bein parents I guess."

Deena nods her head. She doesn't say anything and Pauly studies her. There's something else going on here and she seems to be having a hard time conveying what she is trying to say.

Pauly continues, "What are you trying to get at, seriously?"

Deena, "It's just the arguing is not good for her."

Pauly, "…but we're not arguing right now."

Deena, "We aren't having cupcakes and milk either…and judging from earlier we can't even do that right as a family. You got all mad and left the table."

Pauly, "Because my intentions for my daughter were being questioned. No one bothered to hear my side of the story they just automatically assumed I wasn't doing right because of what you put out there."

Deena, "…and I said I was sorry for that."

Pauly laughs a little, "Well you really didn't. You just said you wouldn't say anything negative against me anymore."

Deena, "Well I'm apologizing now. I'm sorry."

Pauly, "Thank you and I accept. Is this it because I'm going to put 'Leena to bed. It's late."

Deena waves him off and he does what he used to when he stayed there with her. Pauly caught on faster than she did with some of the things Pauleena needs.

When Pauly comes back from her nursery, he sits on the bed and responds.

"I'm gonna head out in a minute."

Deena, "You're more than welcome to stay the night."

Pauly, "Nah, my man Vinny offered me his couch to crash on."

Deena, "So you'd rather drive an hour than to just stay in?"

Pauly, "Don't put it like that. I'll be back to visit before I head home again."

It is quiet for a minute and then Pauly stands up again.

Pauly, "Walk me to the door?"

Deena is about to do so and she speaks up.

Deena, "I can't let you leave without telling you this."

Pauly looks at her in question for the millionth time, "Tellin me what?"

Deena, "I've been doing some over the phone research with my lawyer. I agree with him that we should set up some visitation plans between us for Pauleena."

Pauly just looks at her. What else is she going to drop on him tonight? None of this sounds right.

Pauly, "Just what the fuck are you trying to do? Keep me from seeing my daughter now, because that's what it really sounds like…"

Deena, "Are you insane? I would never do that. I just think that you popping in and out of town will be a little unstable for her. Since we're not together she needs to have equal time with us and instead of arguing over who gets her when, we'll already know."

Pauly, "Are you really serious about this or are you still on the fact that I'm in Vegas again and it's pissing you off that I'm not here?"

Pauly continues.

"…because I can't be on a set schedule as to when I can see her at this point. What would be insane is to have a baby in Vegas with no place for her to stay."

Pauly is so irritated because Deena keeps jumping the gun. Not right at this moment, but he already has plans to settle himself. He plans on getting a house in Vegas but he can't tell Deena that, not right now, not with this. Who knows how she'll react.

Pauly, "I really wish you would just wait a Goddamn moment before makin all these split second decisions! I'm not about to have you tie me down because of a fuckin mood swing you decided to have one day!"

Deena, "What the hell?! No one is keeping you here but you do as you fuckin please anyway. I'm thinking of Pauleena."

Pauly, "You keep saying that! You're taking care of her just fine. Pauleena is fine."

Deena, "Yeah, that's the problem! You need to share the responsibility!"

Pauly, "You know what, you're fuckin nuts! Maybe this is the only way we'll be able to do this…I-I can't be around you if this shit keeps flyin out your mouth! Do what you want…"

With that Pauly leaves, angry as hell. Deena goes after him calling him back but he doesn't stop. They get all the way to his car when he stops after she pulls his coat from the back.

Deena, "So do what you want, what does that mean? Are you dumping this off on me or are you agreeing to setting up a Visitation?"

Pauly just looks at her. He shakes his head and responds.

Pauly, "Yeah Deena. Go ahead and set it up…just send me the papers to sign, alright?"

Pauly doesn't even wait for an answer he just gets in the car and speeds off in the direction to get to Vinny's. Deena watches him and then she goes back in the house wiping tears from her eyes. That went worse than dinner in her opinion.

A/N: *Head shake*...Oh boy. Another rough one but moving along. Super Saturday Everyone! Sorry for the delay this week. I am still away from home but update I shall. I may even do another Chap if I have time tomorrow. Comments are welcome and I'll see u on the other side as the week comes to an end.