AN- this story is turning out to be quite a challenge!

Title- Mafia Princess

Chapter 2

Ryo, Dee, and Cassie walked into the apartment that Dee and Ryo lived in. She looked around and was amazed by how clean it was.

"For Detectives your apartment is actually clean. This is a first for me."

Cassie smiled.

"Mainly it's Ryo who cleans the place. I help him every once in a while though."

Dee spoke up. He wasn't too thrilled with having another kid around the house. He had just gotten used to Bikky being gone.

"Cassie, are you sure you are comfortable about this? I mean, I'm sure if you weren't ok with this, Rose could put you with JJ, or maybe himself."

Cassie shook her head.

"No. I am ok with you two. Trust me, it's not something I haven't encountered in my years with the force. When I was an informant in the capitol, I saw guys with other guys, and girls for that matter. And I don't mean just kissing either."

Ryo looked worried. What did they put this girl through?

'Poor thing.'

He thought to himself.

'She probably never had a normal family life. Considering her father and all.'

"Ryo, I am going back out to the car and bring the rest of the stuff up. I'll be back."

Ryo turned to Dee and nodded. Dee left, and Ryo gave Cassie the tour of the apartment.

"Our kitchen is over there, and our living room is over here."

Ryo pointed to the rooms. The two of them walked down the hall.

"This will be your bathroom. Dee and I have one in our bedroom, so we hardly ever use this one. And our bedroom is that door at the end."

He pointed to the door.

"Now here is your bedroom."

Ryo opened the door to Bikky's old room.

"I'm sorry about the carpet. Some of the stains wouldn't come out."

Cassie looked around the room. The room had brown carpet, and cream walls. The bed was a twin sized bed, and was set over in the corner. There where two dressers, one having a large mirror, and the other just having drawers. There was a small closet to her right, and a larger closet to her left.

"You can decorate the room any way you want to. I don't care if you put posters up or not, but just don't decide to spray paint the walls. Tonight, we can go out and look for things to decorate with if you want to."

She smiled at Ryo.

"Oh Ryo! I would love too! I never ever had my own room before! I always either slept on couches, or in guest bedrooms, but I never had a room to myself! Thank you Ryo."

Ryo smiled. She was a sweet girl.

"You're welcome."

They both turned when they heard heavy breathing coming from the door.

"Where do... you want... all of this?"

Dee asked out of breath.

"Oh Dee. You didn't have to carry all of that up. I could've helped you."

Dee put down the one duffle bag, two suitcases, and small backpack. Cassie walked over and carried the stuff into her room.

"You can unpack later if you'd like. We should really go have dinner together, and then get that shopping done before the stores close."

Ryo said, while noticing Dee still trying to catch his breath.

"Dee, you ok? Did you walk the two flights of stairs or something?"

Dee looked at Ryo and smiled.

"The elevator was full, and I didn't feel like waiting, and since the stuff didn't seem that heavy at the time, it sounded like a good idea. So I walked. About halfway through the first flight, I decided that that was a bad idea."

Ryo and Cassie both looked at each other and laughed. Dee looked angry.

"Why are you laughing at me? Ryo?"

Dee pouted which made Ryo laugh even more.

"Come on you two, lets get going."

Ryo and Cassie both continued to laugh while walking out of the apartment with a very annoyed Dee following them.

"This food is really great here. I used to come here all the time for lunch."

They all were seated, and started looking for food to order.

"I would suggest you get the chicken alfraido. It's very good here."

Ryo nodded his head, and closed the menu. Dee still looked at his. She could tell he was upset about something. But she didn't know what.

"Dee is something the matter?"

Ryo asked Dee sweetly.

"No. I'm fine."

Dee smiled at Ryo. Cassie could still tell there was something bothering him.

"Hey, is that JJ over there?"

She said while Ryo and Dee turned around.

"Shit, he's here."

Dee said while sinking down in his seat.

"Ryo, can we invite him over to eat with us? He is all by himself, and he looks kind of sad. Please Ryo?"

Ryo was torn between what to do. She did have a point and he had a soft spot for giving in to kids, but still, Dee didn't seem cool to the idea. He sighed and whispered to Dee,

"Dee, please? For me?"

Dee rolled his eyes.

"Ryo, no. Don't give into her. I don't want to deal with him right now."

Cassie noted their whispering, and spoke up.

"I guess I could go sit with him then. If that's ok with you guys?"

Ryo nodded his head, and she got up.

"Dee. You could have, at least for just one meal, had him sit next to us. We are supposed to be getting to know Cassie. Not having her sit on the other side of the restaurant."

Ryo looked at Dee annoyed.

"Ryo. You know I am not thrilled with having a kid again. And you are just so soft at times that you give into people. You need to stop doing that."

Ryo didn't say anything to Dee after that. Dee knew he had said something wrong.

"I'm sorry Ryo. It's just...this is a big case. And she is so young, what if she gets killed, and we lose our jobs? Then what?"

Ryo sighed and took Dee's hand into his.

"It's ok Dee. We won't screw this up. Don't worry."

They smiled at each other, and the waitress cleared her throat.

"Are you guys ready to order?"

Ryo blushed and nodded. Dee just laughed.

"Hey stranger. Fancy seeing you here."

JJ looked up startled.

"Oh Cassie, what are you doing here?"

"I am here with Dee and Ryo. I asked if it was ok to come sit with you and eat. That's ok with you right?"

JJ nodded. Cassie sat down, and looked at the menu.

"If you don't mind Cassie, I ordered the chicken parmesan, and I can never eat it all by myself. Would you like to share it with me?"

Cassie put the menu down and nodded.

"Thank you Cassie."

Cassie was startled.

"You're Welcome, I guess."

JJ smiled.

"No, It's not that, It's just...Normally I eat alone. No one ever really comes out with me to eat. It's nice to have someone to eat with."

Cassie smiled.

"You're welcome. I never met someone like you and Ryo before. You two seem to be the nicest people that have ever come into my life."

JJ looked like he was about to cry.

"Really? What about Dee?"

"Dee, he's your typical detective. But I know under that hard surface, he's a nice guy. I just gotta find his soft spot."

She smiled and JJ laughed.

"I am beginning to think that he doesn't have one. Before he and Ryo hooked up, I was after him. You know, I have a really huge crush on him. I try everything. That's why most people don't like me. I come off as annoying. But to be honest, I act happy when really, I'm not all that happy. I see Ryo and Dee all the time."

JJ looked dreamily across the room at the two. Ryo and Dee were still holding hands and looking into each other's eyes.

"And it just makes me realize how alone I am. I really want to be with someone, but I always find myself comparing him or her to Dee. I never seem to find one that is like him."

Cassie smiled and reached for JJ's hand. She held his small hand in hers.

"JJ, you can't always compare people to him. I don't know how else to say this, but in just the few hours I have spent with them, Dee isn't going to leave Ryo anytime soon. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth. I know for a fact that you will never find another guy like Dee. Unfortunately, his type is very hard to find. What you need to do is just forget about him. Put yourself in a world without Dee. It'll be hard, but you'll soon find that forgetting about Dee will be one of the best things in your life. Surround yourself with friends."

JJ looked down.

"I don't have many of those. Pretty much you, Drake, Diana, and Ryo are the only people who really speak to me. You and Drake being the only ones that I really consider a friend."

Cassie felt bad. She had just brought up something that JJ probably didn't like talking about.

"I'm sorry JJ. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

JJ looked up into her eyes.

"No. You're right. I need to try and forget about Dee. I should just stop comparing other guys to him. Because if I stick to that rout, I will end up dying alone."

Cassie smiled.

"Say JJ, have you ever considered maybe Drake? He's a good looking guy, and he seems to like you. You said yourself that he is a person who you consider a friend. Have you ever thought about maybe asking him to dinner, or maybe a movie?"

JJ thought for a moment. A young waitress bringing his food interrupted his thinking.

"Will that be all for you sir?"

JJ nodded his head.

"Would you like me to bring an extra plate then?"

"Yes please."

Cassie said. The waitress nodded her head, and walked away. She returned a few short moments later with a fork, knife, and plate.

"Here you are. Enjoy your meal."

JJ and Cassie both nodded, as she walked away. JJ carefully separated the food, and handed the plate over to Cassie.

"Thanks. Now, what do you think about Drake?"

She said as she put a fork full of food in her mouth.

"Well, I guess I could give it a try. He is bi, like Dee, after all. What do I have to lose, right?"

Cassie smiled.

"I'm sure things will work out for you. You are a great guy, and it's a shame that people think you're annoying. You're a really one of the nicest people I have ever met. Heck, if I wasn't fifteen, I would date you."

JJ laughed. He really liked the kid. He only hoped this wouldn't be the last time he and her got to see each other away from work.

"Ryo! Look at this one! I really want this shirt! Please Ryo?"

The trio had been in the mall for almost four hours now. Dee sighed impatiently. His arms were getting tired from holding all of the bags, and he was getting sick of her and Ryo bonding.

'Damn,'

Dee thought.

'She and Ryo are into almost the same things! This is getting really boring and annoying! If I have to hear about Johnny Depp one more time, I swear I will scream.'

Ryo nodded his head. Cassie smiled at Ryo. Ryo had bought her new clothes, things for her room, and things for the apartment that he had wanted, but never got. Dee was starting to feel left out. Ryo hadn't bought him anything! And they were a couple! Ryo paid for the shirt. And the three of them left the store. As they were walking to the store they came in at, Cassie stopped and gasped.

"What is it?"

Ryo walked back to Cassie, and this only proved to annoy Dee more.

"I love that sword! It's so pretty! Ryo? I know you bought me a lot, but I love this kind of thing. Please Ryo?"

Ryo looked at the price. The tag said nine hundred on it, and he sighed.

"Sweetie, I can't afford that. I'm sorry."

Cassie nodded.

"Come on! Will the two of you quit buying things, and get going! You already spent well over five hundred dollars on the brat all ready! We need to stop now, and leave!"

Dee exclaimed making Cassie and Ryo look up at him.

"Sorry Dee."

Cassie said while looking down. She never really had been shopping before. And when she had, it wasn't really for things she liked. She had people buy her clothes before, but she was never able to pick them out herself. And nobody ever really bought her things like CD's and posters before. The only thing she ever really got, besides the necessities, was a sword, and that was only because she bought it herself.

"Dee! You didn't have to yell at her like that."

Ryo scolded Dee, as Cassie continued walking through the crowds. Ryo and Dee followed her, and soon they were on their way back to the apartment.

"Dee? Would you like me to help you carry that stuff up?"

Cassie offered Dee, as Ryo popped open the trunk.

"Yeah. Sure."

Cassie grabbed three of the bags, and Dee grabbed the other four. Ryo let them all into the building, and they walked into Ryo and Dee's apartment.

"Thank you Cassie."

Dee said. He felt like shit for yelling earlier at Ryo and Cassie. He knew he probably hurt Cassie by doing it.

'She probably doesn't get things bought as gifts for her.'

Dee thought as he carried the bags and put them into Cassie's room. Cassie thanked him, and he walked out. She closed the door, and he walked down the hall.

"Dee. You should be a little nicer to her. She is trying to be nice to you, and you keep acting like a total jackass to her. Dee, please try. I know we probably spent a little too much tonight, but she needed new clothes, and she probably isn't used to people buying her things that she wants."

"Sorry Ryo."

Ryo looked at Dee.

"I'm not the one you should be saying sorry to. You hurt Cassie more then me. You should go and apologize to her."

Dee nodded, as Ryo just walked into the kitchen. Dee stood at the door to Cassie's room and knocked.

"Come in."

Dee walked in, and closed the door behind him. Cassie was hanging her new clothes up in the big closet.

"Cassie, I'm sorry for the comment earlier. I was just angry that's all. You and Ryo seem to have a lot in common when it comes to music, movies, and actors. I guess I was jealous. That's all."

Cassie stopped putting her clothes away and looked at Dee.

"It's ok Dee. I won't take Ryo away from you. Don't worry. I see how much you and Ryo love each other, and I won't mess that up."

She smiled at Dee. He smiled back at her.

"Come here Cassie."

Cassie walked over to Dee. Dee wrapped his arms around her. She returned the hug.