37) Ultimatum

"Mama, I'm tired!" whined Angelo as they stepped into the condo. "Can I go to bed now?"

"What happened to taking a shower?"

In a split second, Angelo's face fell into a pout as he batted his big blue eyes at her. "Please, can I skip? Just for tonight?"

Mira collapsed in a fit of giggles. "Look at you, working that charm!" she snorted, falling onto the couch. "You're even better than I am! Isn't he, Dino?"

The Cavallone Boss shook his head in amusement as he perched on her armrest at her feet. "Looks like you've got competition".

"Maaa…I'm serious!" he pleaded, scrunching up his face.

"Oh, that was a good one!" Mira was laughing so hard, she had to cover her face with the pillow she'd been lying on she wouldn't have to look at him. "I should've taken a picture".

"Uncle Dino?" he turned to the Cavallone Boss with the same pleading look on his angelic face. "Can I? Pleeeeeease?"

"I, uh…I don't know", he grimaced, and tapped frantically her Mira's leg. "Hey, Mira!"

Slowly, the pillow lowered, revealing half her face. "Yes?"

"Can he skip the shower tonight?"

Throwing the pillow aside, she pursed her lips in thought. "Alright", she sat up next to Dino, beckoning her son to sit on the coffee table across her. "We'll do this the rock-paper-scissors way. Ready?"

Angelo nodded gleefully, making a fist.

"Rock, paper, scissors—"they chanted"—SHOOT!"

Instantly, Angelo's paper covered his mother's rock. He grinned triumphantly and ran to their room, yelling, "No showers tonight!"

"Honey, at least put some clean PJ's on!" Mira called after him. She propped her elbow against Dino's leg and sighed deeply. "I hope to God he changes. It's already one thing that he didn't clean up after sweating so much. I mean, what is it with boys and dirt?"

Dino snorted in disbelief. "Since when were you such a clean freak? If I remember correctly, your room was always a mess".

"Was not!"

"Was too!" he gathered her in his arms and laughed in her hair. "It was only clean when you weren't too busy filming Squalo".

Mira swallowed hard, remembering the encounter a few minutes ago. Though it felt good being in someone's arms—in this case, Dino's—the thought of her murderous old friend back in her life put a cramp in the mood. It was guaranteed that the whole squad was with him. Especially Xanxus.

She groaned at the idea as she laid her head on Dino's lap, pillowed by her arms. "I saw him today", she declared in a muffled tone.

Fingers stroked her hair and when they got to the ends, they traced patterns on her back. Xanxus never did this, she thought, oddly missing the flying glasses she'd so expertly dodged. Stop being such a masochist. You're ruining the atmosphere.

"Who?" Dino asked soothingly.

"Squalo". She replied bluntly. He stopped stroking her hair and she couldn't really blame him. "Before I met up with you guys".

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm telling you now, aren't I?"

She leaned away from him and sat on the far end of the couch, hugging her knees to her chest. He occupied the space she'd left, staring at her in anticipation. He wanted to hold her, reassure her in some way that everything will be okay. Mira wanted to believe the same thing, but deep down, neither of them really did.

"I told him about Angelo", she said, by way of breaking the ice.

"You WHAT?!" came his flabbergasted response. "I thought you didn't want Varia to know about him?"

"And they won't, I trust Squalo with my life". She peered at him from behind the wall of her arms. "Dino, are you mad at me?" she whispered.

He exhaled sharply as he ran a hand through his hair, looking more confused than ever. "I don't know. Should I be?"

"I don't know. You tell me".

Only her big blue eyes peered over her makeshift barricade, but that was enough for him. He wondered how Xanxus could've let her go. I wouldn't have, he thought. Gently, he took hold of her forearm and pulled her into his chest, resting his chin on top of her head.

"So, I take it you're not mad at me?"

"Nope". I'm not mad but…He pulled away from her ever so slightly just so he can look at her full in the face. "Mira what do you want?"

"What's that supposed to mean", she drew away from him completely.

This isn't going to be easy, he thought, taking a deep breath as he held her hand. "You're my best friend, and I've always loved you, but I'm tired of sharing you with everyone—"at the sight of her bemused expression, he added, "—not that I'm trying to keep you away from everyone. God, no…I just—it's either me or him".

Mira laughed mirthlessly, almost yanking her hand away from him, but he held on tighter. "Is this your subtle way of asking me to leave?"

"No!" he almost shouted. "By all means, stay. I just want you to figure what"—or who—"it is you want. When you have…you know where to find me".

Suddenly, Mira felt rotten beyond compare. "What if…" she croaked, almost unable to finish the thought. What if it's not you?

"Just"—Dino forced a smile on his face, however pained it might look—"be happy".

Mira nodded and went to her room.

Between the two of them, she'd always been the more selfish one, always going for the option that fits her best.

Mira stood in front of the bathroom sink, her face still wet from washing. One or the other, Mira, she thought. Choose one, choose wisely.

So this was pretty hard to write...

...but I made it anyway!

review, pretty please?