Part Four – Cannoli or Canoodle?

I stretch and yawn; it'd been a challenging first week surprisingly. As my day was winding down I kept thinking back to the pool and Zara, I know for a fact I had gotten really close to something that would've felt really good. And yet whenever I tried to talk to her during official hours, she wasn't giving me an inch, I wonder if it was the fact that I was going to actually go for it or not?

I hear a knock on my door and I call out, "Enter."

The door opens and I see my aunt standing there, a huge grin on her face, I tilt my head to the side and ask, "What can I do for you?"

She walks in and closes the door behind her before putting a note down on my desk as she says, "Not for me, but something for you."

I raise an eyebrow and open the note to see a time and address, I guess she could read my confusion as she says, "Your date tomorrow."

I fold it and put it back down as I say, "Thanks, but I really don't need any help with getting one."

Littorio sat down across from me as she says, "If what I heard about at the pool is any indication, you might actually need some help in that department."

My cheeks got so hot and I stammer out, "Wh…what do you know about that?"

She winks at me before saying, "You got close to playing hide the AP shell, but got blocked."

I sigh and hang my head as I say, "Yeah." After a moment I look up and ask, "So what are you getting out of this?"

She grins and leans back in the chair putting her arms out as she says, "Entertainment."

I sigh again and put the note in my pocket as I ask her, "And what does Vittorio think about this?"

Littorio laughs, hard, before she says, "This date was her idea."

I blink a couple of times and ask, "Does my date know about my relationship with her?"

Littorio shakes her head before looking at the gloves on her right hand as she says, "That's really a second or third date kind of thing," she paused to look at me over the edges of her fingers, a twinkle in her rust-red eyes as she added, "or maybe the next morning if everything goes really well."

I lean back in my chair and toss a pen on my desk as I ask, "Can I at least get a hint on who it might be?"

There was a twinkle in Littorio's eyes as a smile played at the edges of her lips as she said, "She's not a destroyer."

I groan out, "Well that helps. Say, could I ask you for a personal favor?"

Littorio raised a green eyebrow and made a gesture with her hand as she said, "By all means, nephew."

I rub the back of my head as I sigh out, "Could you find out if Zara is mad about what happened at the pool?"

"She's not mad, that much I know already. Rather she seems a little-" she paused looking for the Italian word, "frustrated, with how things turned out."

I sigh and hang my head as I mumble, "She's not the only one."

Littorio laughs before she stands and says to me on the way out of the door "Don't forget your date tomorrow, dress nicely."

"How nicely?" I call after her.

"Like you are going to someplace fancy." She calls back before I see her leave completely.

XXXX

I adjusted the open shirt collar of this suit that Zara had insisted I get when we were shopping last weekend. Honestly, it was a little tight in a few areas I wish it wasn't, but even Pola said that it was the latest fashion. I took out my phone and checked the time; I wanted to make sure I had gotten to where I was meant to meet my date early. I mean the woman that raised me, drilled it into my head to never keep a lady waiting.

I hear the clicking of heels on the pavement coming in my direction so I look up to see a woman in a black dress that has three stripes around the hem, one red, one white, and the last one being green. As my eyes moved up her frame, I took a mental note that she was defiantly leaning towards the more… as Littorio put it, 'shapely' end of the spectrum. My eyes continued up and I saw that she had rust-red eyes and silver hair that was held up in a ponytail by a black ribbon. She spotted me quickly and made her way over as she greeted me by saying in English, "You must be my date for this evening, I'm glad to see that you are on time."

I get off of the low wall as I introduce myself, "Christian Harrison, and you are?"

She gives me a slightly sideways look for a second before extending a hand as she says, "Giulio Cesare." She pauses to open her clutch and she takes out a pair of tickets and continues, "We are headed to the opera, I have high expectations for you Captain Harrison."

I was taken aback slightly by her direct manner, seems like she planned most of this date out already. I gesture for her to lead the way and she frowns a little before taking the lead. As we walk towards the theater, I ask her, "So, do you want to tell me a little about you?"

She folds her hands in front of her as she says, "I'm the kansen of the Giulio Cesare, that should tell you enough to know that I will not yield to just anyone."

I frown inwardly; this date is off to a good start. Perhaps the opera will be at least fun; I've never been to one before.

XXXX

After the opera we made our way to a restaurant, oh how wrong I was about the opera, I didn't understand a darn thing that was going on, but my date at least seemed to enjoy herself during it.

During our walk, I spotted red hair out of the corner of my eye and I turned my head to look in the direction of it, to see Zara leaning against a lamppost, her phone out and her right thumb moving at a dizzying pace over it. While her other hand had a twist of some kind that was still warm, giving off a little steam in the autumn air. I keep watching until I see Pola join her, the two of them seem to laugh about something before Zara pushes off of the post and heads off in a direction I cannot follow.

"Are you even listening?" I hear my date say to me.

I feel my cheeks get hot, I had completely just ignored my date and missed what she said. I sigh inwardly before I try to save some face by saying, "Sorry, I was distracted by something for a moment."

She sighed and restated her question that I had missed, "I had asked you, what do you feel like for dinner? I'm thinking something warm to help take the chill off for the evening."

I nod, it didn't seem that cold for early November to me, but then again I grew up on the east coast of the states, so I was finding it rather warm. I give her a pleasant smile before I say to her, "That sounds good, I'm thinking something light."

"I know just the place." She says, again guiding me around.

Our dinner passed in mostly silence, I think both of us knew this wasn't going to go anywhere. After the meal, we parted ways and I found myself walking back to my apartment, alone. While I'm walking back I reflect on this date, I knew one thing, Giulio was not what I wanted. She was a little too much like Brooklyn, a planner. I sigh and sit on a low wall and look around, I've been down that road; making long-term plans only to have them fall to ash due to something I had little to no control in. I sigh and prop myself up with my arms as I lean back and look around and that's when it hits me, I'm in Italy, granted for work, but also a bit of a vacation.

I get off the wall and go in search of a great point for a selfie, when I finally find one I snap a shot of myself in front of night club and tag it to Juustagram as #Tarantonightlife. I slip my phone into my pocket and start to continue on my way to my apartment.

I'm halfway home when I hear my phone trill, I take it out and see I've got a response to my post already. I open it up to see it's from Sims and I read her response, 'couldn't find a date?'

Ouch, Sims, just ouch.

I sigh and go to put it away when I see I get another response, this one from Ticonderoga, it's a smiley face with heart eyes and just one word, hot. I find I'm smiling at that, Tico had always been openly affectionate towards me, much to Brooklyn's irritation. Then again Brooklyn knew I wouldn't do anything with Tico.

I'm almost back when my phone trills again, letting me know about another response, from Zara actually, 'I knew the suit would look good on you.'

I smile at her response and I was a little impressed that she spotted it that fast. I slip my phone into my pocket and finish getting home.

XXXX

After I slipped my key into my door and got inside I hear a knock on it, I tilt my head to the side and open the door to see Vittorio standing there, in a simple outfit, she smiles at me and asks, "May I come in?"

I stand off to the side to let her in before I close the door, I watch as she walks to my kitchen and asks me, "How did it go with Giulio?"

I sigh and move to the kitchen as I tell her, "Not well, if I'm honest about it. I think five minutes into the date we both knew it wasn't going to go anywhere."

Vittorio had taken a seat at my table, resting an elbow on it with her chin resting in her hand and her brow furrowed as she asked, "Why?"

I shrug and get down a pair of wine glasses and grab a bottle of red before I come over to the table as I say to her, "She was too much like Brooklyn, I don't want to go down that road again, at least not right now anyway."

Once I uncork the wine and pour two glasses, she sips it before sighing out, "I owe Littorio now."

I raise an eyebrow and ask, "Why?"

She sips more wine and sits back in her chair as she tells me, "I bet Littorio a bottle of Bruno Giacosa wine that Giulio would be a good match for you."

I blink a couple of times before I ask with disbelief in my voice, "You're betting on my love life?"

She shrugs and blushes a little as she says, "Yes, sorry." I sigh and hang my head before I hear her ask, "I saw your post on Juustagram, I was confused by one of the responses, could you explain it to me?"

I look up, my head tilting to the side as I ask, "Which one? Sims trolling me or the one from Tico?"

"The latter one, if you don't mind." She says and smiles.

I rub the back of my head as I explain to her that Tico had been clear that she found me attractive but was respectful of the relationship I was in with Brooklyn. Afterward, I ask her, "So, why the interest in my love life?"

She reaches across the table to pat my hand as she tells me, "It hurts my heart to see you in pain Cristiano, you hide it well, but I can see that you're hurting still."

I nod and sit back a little it was true; I'm still getting over Brooklyn. I rub the back of my neck and look out at the harbor as I admit, "I don't know what's right for me after the seriousness that was the relationship I had with Brooklyn, but I know someone similar isn't right."

Vittorio sits back and sighs out, "That's what Littorio said, that you'd need something different." She paused to sip some wine before adding, "I thought she was talking about a conquest for you, not something that could be long term."

I laugh a little and shake my head as I say, "Careful, you're starting to sound like a mom."

She laughs and puts her glass down before fluffing out her hair as she says, "Well, I should. I am your mother after all."

After a moment I say, "That you are, and it's times like this that I'm starting to enjoy."

She smiles so very sweetly at me as she says, "As am I Cristiano, how I wish I hadn't missed so much of your life."

I turn my attention to the harbor as I say offhandedly, "Me to mom, me too."

The room went quiet.

I turn my attention to her slowly and I see her grey eyes are filling with tears before she leans over the table to hug me, tightly as she sobs out, "That's the first time you've ever called me that. I've waited so long to hear you say that word."

I pat her back and it wasn't lost on me how it felt so different to have Vittorio hug me than it did the woman that raised me. This hug felt so familiar, despite it being the very first time she's really done this.

XXXX

When Monday rolled around I was most of the way through my day and my quote un-quote inspections of the Empire's fleet here to make sure that they complied with the treaty. Really the inspection was an official way of saying I got out for a walk in the day. Today however was proving to be a bit of a rainy day, not that I minded it. For my lunch today I thought I'd hit up the mess hall to grab something for lunch.

I had spotted something that looks familiar, but the name was Pizza Fritta, with a shrug I picked that and took it with me to eat outside under an awning to enjoy the sea air. As soon as I get to a spot and sit down, I turn it to the side slightly, expecting something very much like a calzone, but what I was greeted with was crispy fried dough, filled with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and sausage along with herbs and spices. I've got to admit, it was really good.

As I work on my lunch I think about how my Saturday went, a bad date, a little mocking through the internet and some harmless flirting from across the internet. But most importantly I felt a connection to my mother, something I think I'd been searching for my entire life so far. I put my lunch down on the plate and lick my fingers clean of the sauce for a moment. Just as I go to reach for it again, I hear someone call out to me, "Ciao Capitano."

I look to where the voice came from and I see Zara, her green and black uniform looking completely soaked in the rain walking towards me. If I thought it was tight on her before, now it looked almost like it was painted on. My eyes wandered her frame and it was clearly something not lost on her as she said with a smile, "Your eyes are wandering; is there something on your mind?" I clear my throat as I try to figure out a way out of this and save my skin. As I'm doing so she comes and sits down beside me, close enough that her hips were touching mine and she added, "I've finally got you alone; too bad it is in such a public place."

My cheeks got red hot and she laughed before leaning back, propping herself up with her arms as she asked me, "How was your date?"

I blink a couple of times and ask, "How did you know?"

"I was talking to Giulio on Sunday; she seemed irritated that she wasted her Saturday night. And I remember your post on Juustagram in the suit I picked out for you." she says, looking out over the harbor.

I sigh and say, "It could've-" I stop and change gears as I see her take a bite of my lunch, "Hey! I was eating that."

She shrugs and takes another bite with a wink before swallowing and saying to me in a teasing tone, "As the Sakura would say; an indirect kiss."

I didn't think my cheeks could get any hotter, yet they proved me wrong. Zara for her part started to laugh as she said, "That is just nonsense, I'd much rather something direct."

I was about to say something when I heard Pola call for her sister, "Zara! We need to get going to training area B, stop teasing Captain, and let's get going!"

Zara sighs and gets up as she says to me, "Always the interruptions Capitano; perhaps another time."

I watched her hurry off to her sister and it wasn't lost on me when she looked back at me over her shoulder and winked at me. That was when it hit me; maybe Zara might be the right thing for me. She is so different than Brooklyn, so much more in the moment. She seems more interested in having some fun now and worrying about the future later.

XXXX

XXXX

By the end of that week, I was exhausted. I lean back in my office chair for a moment before I pinch the bridge of my nose as I turn my chair around to look out my window over the port of Taranto. Getting out of my chair I open my window and let in the breeze of the med in, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I've really started to like it here.

I hear my door open just before I hear the voice of one of the heavy cruisers that serve my mother speak, "Captain Harrison, do you have any plans for this weekend?"

I turn slightly to see she has red hair and a very tight uniform, I clear my throat quickly before I say, "Not really, Zara. Why do you ask?"

She crosses the room and touches my chest with her right hand before leaning in to whisper, "Pola is out on patrol this weekend, and I was thinking that perhaps there won't be any interruptions this time."

I feel my cheeks get so hot. In the time I'd been here, Zara had made it clear that she isn't against the idea of a boarding action, even if it was just for a bit of fun. And well there was that one close encounter at the pool a few weeks ago. I clear my throat a little while Zara slides her hand down my chest as she brings hers into contact with me and gets a little closer to almost brushing her lips against mine as she whispers, "I did say that maybe next time, didn't I-"

I step back quickly and rub the back of my head just as I hear someone else clear their throat and say, "Zara, don't you have a place to be right now?"

I see her roll her eyes for a moment before she smiles at me and turns to greet the new arrival, "I will be on my way then, Littorio."

My aunt runs a hand through her green hair before coming to stand beside me while Zara left my office, she seemed to have extra sway in her hips. I'll admit I was looking and she looked over her shoulder at me before winking and leaving my office. When she was gone, my aunt put a hand on my shoulder as she said, "Really Cristiano, you should have some fun with Zara. We are only given so many days to enjoy, why waste them cooped up in an office building, you should show her your glorious splendor."

I sigh and hang my head as I say to her, "It's complicated."

"Yes, yes. That seems to be your favorite phrase these days, but you have her all but throwing herself at you, Cristiano, you should enjoy once and a while." She says and slaps me on the back.

I sigh and nod, truth is I do find Zara attractive, but I just feel conflicted, that spark hasn't happened with anyone since I broke up with Brooklyn. After a moment I ask my aunt, "So what brings you by my office today?"

She snaps her fingers before tucking a hand inside of her jacket and passing me a couple of passes as she says, "Courtesy of the Senate. Passes to the resort on Capri, be sure to take someone that will appreciate it."

I take the passes as I say to her, "Thanks, but why are you giving them to me?"

She grins at me and winks, "I have a date this weekend, I won't be using them." She pauses to head to my office door before saying to me, "If you do take Zara, then do be sure to bring condoms."

Before I can retort she's closed the door behind her and I sigh.

Turning around again I look down at the street below and see my mother directing port actions and I suddenly get an idea. I quickly shut down my office before sprinting down to the street and I find my mother in short order. She turns to look at me as I bend at my hips, catching my breath as I hold up the passes and say to her once things are a bit more private, "A weekend away, just you and me mother. It'd give us a chance to really get to know one another."

I feel her take the passes from my hand as she says, "Are you sure you would want to take me and not Zara?"

I panic a little on the inside before I trip over my tongue saying, "W… why do you say that?"

My mother shrugs as she says, "Nothing really, Littorio just got the feeling that there is something there is all."

I shake my head as I say, "It's complicated."

My mother links an arm through mine as she says, "Then tell me about it over dinner."

XXXX

I let her guide me to a little hole in the wall bistro and she orders for the both of us. My Italian has gotten a lot better since being here, but I still had nothing on a native speaker. I think for some degree of privacy my mother switched to using English as she asks, "Now, tell me what is going on with you and Zara?"

I sigh and lean back in my chair as I think about it and I say to her, "I'm just in a strange place. I find her attractive and she has made it very clear what she wants, but I'm not sure I'm able to give her what she wants."

She tilts her head to the side, my mother may claim to be weaker at reading people compared to Littorio, but she can always read me it seems and she asks, "Does this have anything to do with how things ended with Brooklyn?"

I sigh and rub the back of my head as I say, "Yeah. It'd been really hard for me to move past that."

She leans back a little, folding her arms under her bust as I continue, "And I don't want to replace Brooklyn, and I worry that I'd hurt Zara if I did anything with her."

My mother nods, taking a few moments before saying anything, "You wouldn't be replacing Brooklyn, you would be starting something new. Zara is a big girl, and I'm sure she knows that you are conflicted about this right now."

"Do you think that's why she teases me then?" I ask her, leaning forward.

My mother laughs a little, leaning forward to pat my hand as she says, "You reminded me of your father there for a moment. But it is likely part of the reason; Zara is very picky about everything she wants. If she is doing those things it means you have passed her checklist."

I sigh and hang my head before I say, "But what about Brooklyn?"

"What about her? That ended, no?" she asks.

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, she was right, that was finished, Brooklyn had made that very clear. I sigh out, "You're right, that's over."

My mother nods again and says so very plainly, "So, enjoy today with Zara and worry about the future later."

Once our meal arrives I take in the smell of such a simple dish, ricotta and spinach stuffed ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce. But my mother stands up, bends at her hips to kiss my cheek as she says to me, "I'll see you at the docks in the morning, for our trip to Capri, for now; enjoy your date."

I turn to look at my mother and ask, "Date?"

"Yes, Cristiano, a date with me." I hear the voice of Zara from my other side.

I turn slowly and see Zara sitting down in my mother's chair; she was in a slinky black dress with a little black clutch. I was dumbfounded; she looked amazing, like out of my league amazing. I watch as she adjusts her side ponytail before she says to me, "I am a big girl Cristiano, and I want to live in the moment. So if I can have you for now, then I will take it."

I pick up my wine glass and offer it out towards her, she picks up her own and clinks it with mine as I say to her, "To the moment then?"

"Yes, to the moment." She responds.

XXXX

XXXX

A/N: Thanks for hanging this far, there will likely be another chapter or two for this one.