AN: Normally my flashbacks deal with things going on in the next chapter, but I decided to change it up a little since It's Father's Day.
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Emily age 3
"Mommy hurry," Evie fussed as she spun around in the hallway.
Erin caught up holding the tray of pancakes and coffee. A card and small box were clutched in Evie's hands. "I'm coming," Erin told her.
Evie turned back around and swung the door open. She set the box and card on the table before clambering on to the bed. "Daddy," She whispered nudging at Rossi's arm.
Erin stood at the foot of the bed watching with a smile. Rossi turned over with a sigh. When he opened his eyes he was face to face with an excited three year old. "Hi Daddy!" She squealed.
Rossi sat up and pulled Evie into his lap. "Hi sweetie."
Evie pointed to Erin. "Mommy and me made pancakes and coffee."
"Thank you sweetie," Rossi said shifting Evie so he could take the tray from Erin.
Erin took a seat on the bed next to the duo. "This looks really good. I hope my kitchen looks just as good," Rossi stated only half joking about his kitchen.
Evie looked away. "It will Daddy."
Rossi knew his kitchen was a disaster; the flour in Evie's hair was a dead giveaway. "We'll clean the kitchen before you need it," Erin told him with a pat on his leg.
Evie moved so she could reach the card and box. "I made you a card and got you a gift," She announced handing them to Rossi.
He kissed the top of her head as he read the card. "It's lovely sweetie."
Evie smiled. "Open the box."
"It's just what I needed," Rossi told her pulling out the brown patterned tie.
"I knew you would like it Daddy," Evie grinned.
Rossi gave her another hug. "It's perfect."
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Emily age 16 (Imagine all dialogue is in Italian)
"I can do this," Emily whispered to herself.
She looked over the ingredients sitting on the counter and then to the cookbook propped behind them. A sound from the playpen, a foot from the counter, caught her attention. Emily left her spot and leaned over the playpen to smile. "Hey baby. Do you want to help me?"
Emily received a gurgle and raised arms. She took that as a yes and situated Mattea on her hip. "We have to be good and not destroy Nonna Carmeilina's kitchen," Emily told her.
With lots of patience Emily managed to mix the ingredients while keeping a firm grip on Mattea. She decided to share stories with her young helper while they cooked. "When I was little I made pancakes for my dad for Father's Day. The Ambassador made me stop when I was six. Dad left when I was eight. Between you and me I wish he would have taken me with him. However, if I went with him I wouldn't have you."
Mattea tangled her hands in Emily's hair. Emily set the whisk down and reached up to untangle her hair. "It hurts when you pull my hair."
Emily placed Mattea back in the playpen while she cooked the pancakes. She'd just finished when Nonna Carmeilina entered her kitchen. "I see you tried to cook."
Emily looked up like a guilty child. "They look safe to eat."
"My kitchen looks like it go more batter than the pancakes. You and Mattea look like you bathed in it," Nonna Carmeilina said with amusement.
Emily looked down. "I'll clean it up."
"No you won't," She stated sternly, "You go get yourself and Mattea cleaned up before Matthew gets here."
Emily looked up. "How did you know?"
"Why else would you choose your cooking over mine," She picked up the abandoned cookbook, "at least you used my recipe. You did follow it right?"
Emily smiled. "I followed it just as you wrote it."
"Then I think it's safe to say you won't poison poor Matthew," Nonna Carmeilina joked. "Now go get cleaned up."
Emily picked up Mattea and kissed Nonna Carmeilina on the cheek on her way out.
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"I'm almost done," Emily told the squirming baby as she pulled the skirt on over her onesie. "Matthew will be here in a few minutes, and we're going to spend the day at his favorite museum. You may not be old enough to understand the paintings, but I think you'll like all the pretty colors."
"Emily, dear, Matthew is here!" Nonna Carmeilina's voice rang through the house.
"Coming!" Emily yelled back picking Mattea up. "Let's go see Daddy."
Matthew was standing by the door with his hands in his pockets. "Hey," He whispered when they entered the room.
Emily gave her biggest smile. "Come on. I made you something."
"She made it all by herself. I'm not responsible if you get sick," Nonna Carmeilina said before leaving them to enjoy their day.
Matthew followed Emily into the kitchen where the table was made up for the three of them. Emily started to put Mattea in her high chair before Matthew stopped her. "May I hold her?"
Emily grinned. "Of course you can hold your daughter."
Matthew looked at the baby in his arms with nothing but love. Mattea's outfit tugged at his heart strings. 'Ain't no Daddy like the one I got' was written in pink on her onesie. John had been his best friend until everything had happened. John may have given up his responsibilities, but Matthew couldn't be mad about that because he got to have them instead. He wouldn't trade them for anything.
"You okay?" Emily asked when he remained silent.
"Everything is perfect."