I groaned as I rolled over to look at the clock noticing the fact it was way too early to be awake. I rolled over and listened as I heard Mom and Dad trying to be quiet as they got all of their things together to leave for their flight. I really didn't know why I had woken up, but there was something telling me I needed to make sure I told my Mom goodbye before she left. I had an unsettled feeling deep in my gut, but I didn't know where to place it or why I had it. I got up and made my way down the hall toward the front door as Dad came back in to grab the last suitcase.

"Hey bud," he looked up, "we didn't mean to wake you."

"It's okay," I smiled and wiped the sleep from my eyes, "where's Mom?"

He bit the inside of his lip, a slight nervousness lingering there, "she's picking up something I left in our room." He moved around the suitcase and pulled me in a tight hug, "I'll miss you while we're gone. I wish you could have come with us."

I leaned back to look at him confused because hadn't I been trying for weeks to get them to change their mind about letting me go? I was starting to wonder whose idea it really was to leave me behind, "yeah, me too."

"Maybe you can take him during the summer," Mom turned the corner and stuffed a white envelope into her bag. I noticed how quickly and subtly Dad's body language shifted as his arms were still wrapped tightly around me. "You almost ready to go? We don't want to miss our flight."

"Yeah," Dad squeezed me tighter, "love you son."

"Love you too Dad." Something about him was off again. He was acting the same way he got when anyone mentioned New York, except it seemed different this time, like he was more anxious. He pulled back and looked into my eyes before smiling and ruffling my hair. I smiled back at him before turning to Mom and pulling her in close for a tight hug, catching her completely off guard.

"Eli, you okay?" She squeezed me tight and kissed the top of my head as I held her close. We stood like that for what felt like ages before I knew I had to let her go; the unease I felt not settling, but getting worse.

"Love you, Mom."

She pulled back a little before pulling me close again, "I love you too, Eli. So, so much." She kissed my cheek before letting me go, "we'll be back before you know it. Remember, Mr. Rossi will be here at 8 A.M. to pick you up."

I nodded my head, and watched as she grabbed her purse and walked out the door a slight spring almost in her step. Dad turned around to look at me once more, grinning, "anything you want me to bring you back from New York?"

I looked at him for a second. With my current uneasiness, I wanted to say Mom, but I quickly landed on, "the weirdest thing you can find for a dollar."

Dad laughed, "I'll see what I can do. Maybe Fin can help me find something, or maybe O—" He quickly closed his mouth, and then opened it like he wanted to finish his thought, but he shook his head as he changed his mind. He took one last look around before smiling at me and following Mom out to the car.

I watched from the window as he put the backpack he was carrying in the backseat. He turned and waved at me, and I waved back. He climbed into the car, and I watched as the car pulled out of the driveway and on to the main road. Before the car was completely out of sight, Mom turned in her seat and blew me a kiss and mouthed "I love you" before she was no longer visible. And just like that, they were gone, and I was alone. Alone with an uneasy feeling I couldn't explain nor shake. I watched for a few seconds longer before deciding to go back to bed. I still had a few hours before my alarm would sound, and I would be picked up to stay with my best friend.

~SVU/OC~

As the day went on, the uneasy feeling never really left. I figured it was from being separated from my parents for so long. I had been separated for a few days before, but never for this long. Mom had sent me a text before they boarded the plane, and I sent her a thumbs up and a heart knowing they were in the air already, and she wouldn't get it for a few hours. The day seemed to crawl by before I received a phone call letting me know they had landed. Mom had checked in like she always did making sure I was working on my school work, helping Mrs. Rossi, and behaving with Luca. I laughed as Mrs. Rossi affirmed that I had indeed been helping around the house as I had just returned from walking their dog.

"Kathy, he is a joy to have around. He's fine here." Mrs. Rossi looked over at me and smiled, "have fun in New York. Yes, he finished his school work earlier. He and Luca made a deal if they finished early and did some chores, they could go play futbol. They were just about to head out."

Stella Rossi passed the phone back over to me, and I could hear the smile in Mom's voice, "I'm so proud of you Eli. I have to go, but I wanted to check in and remind you how much I love you."

I grinned, "Love you too Mom." And right before she hung up, I felt the need to throw in, "be safe."

"I will."

Little did I know the trajectory of my life was held in the hands of grief and revenge as the hours between Rome and New York ticked away. The balance tipping between good and evil.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Tick tock.