Hello everyone! Are you enjoying all the Easter/Passover/holiday gifts? Be prepared for more now! This and the following chapter were originally written as one and then split to make two. So if this ending seems a little awkward, forgiveness please, just read on to the next one and it will make sense! Enjoy! Also PS - fourbubbles you rock!

A week into Michelina and Monica's visit both Spike and Winnie were certain they would die fat and happy from all the food constantly being pressed on them, and if the food didn't do it, the constant chatter would - it occurred to them both, separately and together, that their guests must have talked that much just to make noise. Thus, when the night for the dinner at Pietr and Rachel's arrived - another big first for them as a couple - Spike and Winnie were looking forward to it with as much anticipation as Christmas and the World Series combined.

'This is going to be entertaining, to say the least,' Winnie told Spike as she added perfume

'Indeed it will. My motormouth relatives going up against Pietr, Rachel and Gabriella?'

'It's not a contest, you know.'

'No, I think it'll be more like Mexican wrestling.' Spike waited patiently for Winnie as she gave herself the once over in the mirror. 'Either way, it will be a great dinner to remember.'

'Indeed. Aaron and Devon will be there too, Devon wants to ask Monica about Italian couture trends.'

'She understands that Monica is an accountant for the family business of fruit-farming, right?'

Winnie turned, kissed Spike. 'Devon is a fourteen year old girl with a keen eye for fashion who gets to meet someone from a country known for its sense of style. Let it play out on its own.'

'Speaking of which, think either of them will ask for more sex advice?' Spike got a sick pleasure out of watching Winnie visibly shudder. 'I'm kidding.'

'You're not, and that's what creeps me out. The idea of my little brother having needs in an abstract concept is one thing, seeing proof of it with a real girlfriend is quite another.'

'Mikey!' Monica's voice rang out from downstairs. 'We're waiting! Conceive your child on your own time, we want to meet all of Winnie's parents!'

'Maybe she can take a turn and talk to Aaron,' Winnie suggested, 'and we can watch her squirm.'

The ride over was surprisingly quiet, particularly as they drew closer to Pietr and Rachel's home and the size of their neighbours' abodes. By the time they parked both Monica and Michelina were trading worried looks.

'Please, Mikey, we are not dressed enough for this area,' Michelina protested, 'we do not want to make an insult to Pietro and Raquella.'

'Oh, no, Michelina, they just have a big house. Trust me, we look great.'

They parked in the left leg of the h-shaped driveway, and were greeted moments later at the door by Rachel who was in her at-home chef attire with an apron to protect against splatters and had her hair messily bundled up into a top-knot.

'Hey guys come on in! I'm Rachel, so lovely to meet you. Pietr and Gabriella are in the living room having drinks.' Rachel opened her arms, gave Michelina and Monica each one of her trademark python-like hugs. 'Aaron and Devon are out at a friend's house but they should be back any moment.'

'Lovely to meet you, your home is gorgeous,' Monica replied, trying not to goggle; Spike hadn't been exaggerating when he said his bride came from money that she didn't flash around. 'And something smells delicious!'

'I decided to make ravioli, I know it's a favourite of my soon-to-be son-in-law.

'Oh yes and Winnie loves it too.'

'If you'll excuse me, I'm just going to go freshen up, I didn't realize how late it was!'

'You certainly said things right about Rachel, Michelangelo,' Michelina chuckled as Rachel headed upstairs to make herself presentable for her guests and Winnie took them into the living room where Pietr was at the bar mixing drinks and the sound of Gabriella on the phone floated out of the kitchen; for a moment Winnie went on alert as she saw her father wince slightly when he moved around the bar to greet them. 'You are Winnie's papa Pietro?'

'Call me Pietr. And this must be the lovely Monica as well.' Pietr took her hand warmly, kissed both her cheeks. 'Welcome to our home.'

'Thank you, it's so lovely to meet you finally as well.'

'What can I get you to drink?' Pietr gestured to the bar. 'I heard you pull in and started on the Tom Camdens Spike and I enjoy during our visits. A play on the Tom Collins of my own design.'

'That sounds delicious,' Spike told him, not missing either the way Pietr's face contracted mildly - only a trained observer would have noticed the discomfort - but said nothing as he knew Winnie would be already going over and over it in her mind.

'I will try as well, we brought wine for the dinner.' Monica offered the bottle and winked at Winnie and Spike. 'The good stuff from home.'

'Oh nice. Daddy this is the most amazing wine, it's the Scarlatti family label from the farm and vineyard just outside Naples.' Winnie tilted her head towards the kitchen. 'Shannie?'

'Yes, she is going to be coming to a medical conference around the twenty-fifth, they're working out the details of the flights.'

'Why Shannie is not part of the wedding party?' Michelina inquired, accepting the glass Pietr offered her and smiling at the taste; she would have to ask for this receipe to take home to Italy with her.

'Oh Mama, no, that's a question for after we've had a few more glasses of this.' Spike took the bottle from Monica and headed for the kitchen to safely stow it and to let Gabriella know they'd arrived. He wandered into the spacious kitchen and waved quietly as Gabriella finished off her conversation with Shannie on her tablet, catching her eye making Gabriella nod which sent the strings of her earbuds swaying.

'Okay, sweetheart, I have to go, Spike and Winnie are here with Michelina and Monica. You and Gen have fun tonight but don't be out too late, you- yes I understand you are the surgeon and give the orders. I will. Love you too bunny.'

She closed the app, took out her earbuds. 'Hi, Spike, how are you buddy?'

'Just great.' He gave Gabriella a warm hug, set the wine on the counter. 'Hiding out from Pietr and my mom?'

'I'm babysitting the sauce.' She pointed to the pot of simmering marinara on the stove as she sipped her white wine. 'Drinking on the job, though, it might burn.'

'Hey, you okay?' Spike gave her a look - the only other time he'd seen Gabriella look so stressed was when Winnie had had her miscarriage the previous summer. Her eyes had the heavy, distant look of someone trying not to be concerned.

'It's nothing,' Gabriella started, but Spike shook his head as he went to the fridge and helped himself to a glass of water.

'It's Pietr isn't it? Is it the wedding stuff? Seeing Winnie with him and Rachel?'

'I wish,' she laughed lowly, 'but no. The look he keeps getting, that pinched look, well...the last time he had that look was just before he thought he was going to lose his job or be downsized. Back before he got sick, just as Winnie was going into the academy, she was so worried about him possibly losing his job because that's how things were going in his office. Then when he did get sick all she could think of was what would happen if he was laid off and lost his benefits.'

'You don't think he's sick again, do you?' Spike felt a zip of panic.

'No, of course not. But I keep up with the financial markets and I've seen headline after headline of banks reducing staff, reducing salaries, things like that. I can't bear the thought of Winnie watching her father lose everything he's built if it comes to that.'

'I sincerely doubt it will,' Spike replied gently, covering Gabriella's sturdy hand and squeezing lightly. 'Pietr isn't one to toss away cash on frivolous things. Sure he has this house but he's also got more saved and invested wisely, right?'

'Of course he does. I've known him long enough to know that he'd have eggs in baskets here there and everywhere, and Rachel is a smart business woman. Whatever her faults as a person, I can't fault her intuition as an accountant.'

'Do you still love him? Pietr, I mean.'

'Yes, but not for the reasons you might think.' Gabriella gave a slightly-wistful smile and for a second Spike saw the young girl who'd married for obligation. 'He gave me my Winnie, and my Shannie, and for that I have to be eternally thankful. Whatever his shortcomings as my husband, as the father of my children there is none better than him, so yes, I worry for his health and well-being if only for seeing how it would affect our daughters.'

'Even with all those times that you felt Winnie picked Pietr over you, or that Shannie sided against him?'

'Especially then. One thing I learned runs deep in both sides of our family is an unquenchable optimistic fire. I suppose that's why I'm so good at working with children with special needs, because I never give up hope that I'll be able to reach them.' Gabriella sighed, smiled. 'Why do you think Winnie's so good at talking down criminals?'

'Most of the people we see aren't criminals, they're usually just ordinary human beings who've reached that point of no return and it's our job to...return them,' Spike finished, feeling a little awkward at his phrasing; it was a wasted sentiment though as Gabriella laughed and sipped her wine.

'Always the way to say it so you feel comforted and amused at once, Spike. I hear you just finished some brutal night-shifts and-'

'Mikey! Where you go? Pietr has drinks ready!' Monica's voice rang out; seconds later she was in the kitchen and immediately zeroed in on Gabriella to give her a warm hug and kisses on both cheeks in greeting. 'Ah, making good times with your mama-in-law, I see! Mama of the bride, so nice to see you not over Skype.'

'You as well Monica. I hope tomorrow you'll have time to join me for doing the measurements for your dress?'

'Certainly in the morning. Tomorrow we are having a dinner for the wedding party to taste different ideas for the reception menu. This way before our beautiful bride and groom arrive in Italy-' Monica wrapped an arm around Spike '-we will have our menu notes of what we will be making.'

'Have you chosen a cake with Sophie yet?' Gabriella asked, sliding off the kitchen tall-chair and heading with Spike and Monica back to the living room where Spike and Winnie sat together on the sofa opposite Gabriella and Michelina each in armchairs. Monica perched herself on one of the bar-stools as Pietr served his guests the house signature cocktail. 'Or was that the groom's cake and the wedding cake is something else?'