Chapter Ten: The End is Just The Beginning

Georgia and Nick sat at the small table waiting for Sky and Alice. When they finally arrived, Georgia noticed that Alice was holding Sky's hand. As they sat down, Alice showed Georgia the ring. Georgia showed Alice the ring that Nick had bought that afternoon.

"Wow! Talk about 'great minds think alike'! So when are you planning to tie the knot?" Sky was ecstatic about the whole thing. He told Nick that they should have a double wedding. Nick and Georgia agreed and Alice and Georgia went off to plan. Nick asked Sky about Luciano and Arianna. Arianna's health was failing. No one could figure out why. When Sky and Tom had stravagated back, Rodolfo had just gotten a tonic from the Saint-Mary-Through-The-Vines.

Alice and Georgia walked back to the table. Georgia looked frightened. Alice was as pale as a sheet. When asked what was wrong, all Georgia could do was blurt out the word "Arianna". Then, all of a sudden, Nick saw what was wrong. Arianna stood a few feet away, devoid of a shadow. Nick and Sky rushed over and helped Arianna into the shade. Arianna was weak and disoriented. The two men helped her sit down and asked her how she had gotten there. When Arianna told her story, everyone was shocked.

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Arianna had slipped into a coma. Luciano was absolutely devastated. Sylvia watched as her daughter's body slipped away. Luciano was like a ghost, walking through the halls. Luciano had gone to bed that night holding the little rose. When Arianna had recovered, her father told her that Luciano was gone. Arianna had decided to follow him. When she had gotten to London, Arianna had tried to find Sky. Sky's mother had told her to go to the restaurant. Arianna had recovered from her shock enough to tell the group what had happened.

"As I was walking here, I saw Luciano. He had a shadow!" Arianna's words became a sob. Sky looked at Nick and knew what Arianna's words had meant. Luciano's body in Talia had died. Nick and Sky decided to look for Luciano.

It wasn't long before they found him. He was at the school. Luciano saw the two men and started to leave. Sky caught Luciano by the collar and made him stay. Luciano told Sky all about the events of that night.

The baby had been born too soon and Arianna wasn't strong enough for it. Luciano was unable to go on without her. H figured he could start over in London. Sky felt sad for Luciano. When he told Luciano that Arianna was in London, Luciano was confused.

Arianna and Georgia walked up to the men. Arianna and Luciano embraced. Luciano was suddenly depressed. He couldn't go back to Talia. Talia was his home now yet he had lost that.

Rodolfo suddenly appeared. In his hand was a tiny vial. "You can get back. Just use this as your talisman."

Luciano felt a twinge of hope. He could get back to Talia! All he had to do was use this new tailsman and he could get back to his life with Arianna. He glanced over at the beautiful girl next to him. Her smile warmed his soul. He felt whole again. His thoughts turned to the baby. He was a father now, and he had a lot of responsibility.

Prologue:

Arianna watched the baby crawl across the floor. Her husband walked into the room. "Are you ready to go? We have to be there by five o'clock for the weddings."

Arianna stood and grabbed the small book as Luciano grabbed the vial. Within minutes they were in London. They stood for the weddings of their two best friends. Arianna was a bride's maid while Luciano was both Sky and Nick's best man. The couples were so happy that Luciano couldn't help but think back to their wedding. Arianna smiled at him. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Now she was the mother of his child. He thought back to when he had almost lost all of that. Joy filled his heart. Never take any day for granted, he thought again. After all, it could all disappear before your eyes. He never thought he could love someone so deeply that he was willing to give up his life for her. Luciano changed drastically when he met Arianna. He learned how to love someone with all his heart and he never wanted to lose her. He wanted to spend everyday with her.