Disclaimer: I don't Everwood, I wish I was on the casting though!

A/N: here is chapter three; long with a lot of explanation. I really hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Chapter three: Living without you.

Ephram was living outside of the city on a hill called Cariggi, that's why the ride took half an hour, but Amy did not mind at all. Looking through the window she realised how beautiful Florence was by night, it was definitely the most beautiful place she had ever seen. After long minutes of complete silence, she finally turned to look at him.

"At first I was wondering why you were not living in the city but after seeing this, I understand. It's beautiful." She said smiling.

"Yes it is." He simply said, still looking at road in front of them. "I've seen so many places and I even lived in several of them but I never really felt home, except here." He explained. 'It's quiet, peaceful and sometimes it even remembers me of Everwood." He added.

"I don't think I would qualify Everwood as 'quiet and peaceful'". She said laughing. "But I see what you mean." She added looking through the window again.

"Here we are." He said a few minutes later when they parked in front of his house. It was a beautiful little blue house with pale blue shutters and a veranda was surrounding it. There also was a little garden in the left side but Amy noticed that nobody was taking care of it because there was no flower blooming; instead the weeds had made their home there. She also noticed that another car was parked in front of the house.

They got out of the car and Ephram led them to the front door. In each side, the aisle was enlightened by two rows of with balls. Amy stopped when she saw the wonderful mosaic that was lying under their feet. It represented a peaceful prairie with flowers of all colours, cheery trees, butterflies and birds flying in blue sky. Although it was night, she could see that a lot of peaces were missing.

"Amy?" Ephram said waking her up from her reverie. "Are you coming?" he asked smiling and holding the door open for her. She smiled back and walked away from the master peace. When they came in, they were greeted by a man and a woman. He was tall and good-looking with the Mediterranean kind of look, dark short hair, dark eyes but they were full of kindness though, and he also looked like he hadn't shaved his beard in several days.

She, on the other hand, was not tall. On the contrary, she seemed even smaller standing next to him. She had brown long curly hair and beautiful green eyes.

"So how is she?" Ephram asked to the man, worried.

"She's fine." He replied. Amy noticed that he was speaking perfect English and that he did not have the Italian accent. "She's sleeping." He added and Ephram sighed with relief.

"Don't worry so much, Brown!" the woman said with sympathy. "It's just the flu." Then she turned to Amy. "Buona serra. You must be Amy, I'm Francesca and this is my husband Alberto." She said pointing at him. Her Italian accent was more pronounced. Amy held her hand and Francesca shook it.

"It's nice to meet you." Alberto said shaking her hand as well.

"It's nice to meet you too." She said. The three of them looked at each other, smiling then turned to look at Ephram who seemed to be in another world, a look of worry still in his eyes.

"Ephram?" Alberto said.

"Um? Oh yeah sorry." He said coming back to earth. "Alberto, Francesco Topolli, this is Amy Abbott..."

" The presentation are already made." Francesca said lauging. "Well, we've got a movie to watch and you have a lot of catching up to do; so we better get going." She added smiling. "It was nice to meet you, Amy."

"It was nice to meet you too, guys." Amy said with a smile. Francesca leaned and put a quick kiss on Ephram's cheek and turned to shook Amy's hand again while her husband was giving Ephram a small rap on the shoulder.

"Call if anything is wrong with Ella." He said and Ephram nodded.

A few second later Ephram and Amy were alone, still standing in the entrance hall.

"You should go check on Ella, I'll find my way to the living room, don't worry." Amy said smiling.

"Ok, I'll be back in two seconds." He said before rushing to Ella's bedroom. Amy turned around and began to look around the house. All the walls were white but lovely decorated with dozens of painting. After few seconds, she found the living room eventually. It was beautiful; the furniture was simple and little but the arrangement was perfect. There was a grand black piano on the corner next to the chimney. She made her way to the brown leather couch and sat down, looking at a particular painting hung above the piano. It represented a beautiful young woman with long dark hair and the most beautiful brown eyes she had ever seen. She did not know who painted it but he was clearly very talented. He had given so much life to the painting and mostly through the eyes of his model. 'It must be her…' Amy thought.

"You made it." Ephram said from behind her.

"I did." She said laughing and getting up to face him. "I don't know what you prepared but it smells very good."

"Well you must be bored with pasta but it's the only thing that I can cook without burning the house down." They shared a giggle. "The sauce is ready; I only have to make the spaghetti."

"Ok. Do you want some help." She asked.

"I think I can handle it." He said smiling. "But I will surely enjoy your company." he added. They headed to the kitchen and she watched him cook while she was seating on of the stool of the counter.

"How is Ella?" she asked, trying to make conversation. Ella was Ephram's daughter, she was three years old. After leaving Everwood ten years ago, Ephram travelled through Europe for two years. He went everywhere: France, England, Scotland, Spain, Germany, Belgium, and then Italia. He loved this country, he visited a lot of cities but when he came to Florence it was different, something was telling him to stay a little longer and that is what he did. After a few weeks he met Alberto who was studying languages. They became close friends and somehow Alberto convinced Ephram to take English and art history lessons in his college. They took a flat together and everything was great. In his second year Ephram met Carla. She was an art student. They quickly fell in love, they understood each other and for once in his life, things were not complicated. They lived together for one year before getting married. It was fast but they did not mind because they knew it was the right thing to do. Their wedding was beautiful; it was a great day because Andy, Delia, Nina, Sam, Bright and Hannah came too.

They were happy; she was working in a museum and he was an English teacher and he even began to play piano again. They spent their time travelling through the world, discovering new culture, new arts, and new languages. Carla was the first person, since Amy, to bring the best out of him. She was beautiful, generous, graceful and the nicest person he had ever met. She was an artist as well, like he was and she understood him. Three years ago she died giving birth to their first child, Ella. Ephram was devastated; another person he loved was gone and he did not know how to deal with it. So instead of trying, he let himself drawn into alcohol. Jane and Paul, Carla's parent took care of Ella during a year. Ephram loved his baby girl more than anything in the world but he was too broken, he could not take care of her. Plus, despite the guilt that this feeling was causing in him, he could not help but resent Ella for Carla's death. Days, weeks, months and finally a year passed by before he realised that he had to pull himself together. He went to AA meetings, he started working again and he learned how to take care of his baby.

"She's good, still sleeping." He answered while he was throwing the spaghettis in the boiling water. "I don't think you saw her?" He said pulling out his wallet from his pocket.

"Actually, Bright and Hannah had shown me picture from her baptism." She said. "But I'd love to see her again." she added while he was pulling out several pictures of his daughter.

"They were taken three months ago during her birthday." He explained.

"She's so cute." Amy said smiling widely. "She's got your eyes." She added looking up at him.

"Yeah but she remind me so much of her mother. She's got her smile and her cheekbone." He said smiling. "Oh I'm sorry. I forgot to ask; d'you wanna drink something?" he asked opening the fridge.

"Sure. A coke would be great she said."

"Are you sure? You can have something… stronger. It doesn't bother me at all."

"No thanks. Coke is perfect."

"So tell me," he said giving her the drink. "What is it like to work with my father, Dr Abbott?" he said teasing her a little.

"It's great… You know at first I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to work with our fathers but then I saw how important their work was for them and how great they are together. I learned so many things with them."

"Are they still fighting over everything?" he asked laughing.

"Yes! Yes they are." She said rolling her eyes. "Can you believe that they actually argue to know which one is going to open the door in the morning?" he laughed. "It's kind of funny, you know. As long as they don't involve me in their fights." She took a sup of her coke. "What about you, huh? How is work? You know I still can't believe you're a high school teacher? Italian student can't be that different from American student." She added smirking.

"Actually I like it. Some people think that it's the best work in the entire world. Well it's not!" she laughed. "It's exhausting, it's not well paid and teenagers, as you imagine, are not sweet angels. But I like it nonetheless."

"High school seems so far away." She said more seriously.

"It's because it is." He said seating down across of her. "How is Hannah?" he asked.

"She's good. She's thinking about staying at home during her pregnancy to write a book…"

"Hannah is pregnant?" he interrupted her, surprised by the news.

"Yes she is, they learned last week only though."

"Bright must be very exited."

"Oh yes! He already bought a dozen of toys, clothes and he is beginning to prepare the baby's room."

"I'll call him tomorrow. It's really great! They were waiting for this for so long now." He said. Then remembering something he added: "How is Thomas by the way?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She said. "He's good. He's staying with your father and Nina actually."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My mum and dad are in vacancy in Hawaii, and his father is on a business trip."

He looked at her hesitantly.

"What?" she asked.

"What what?"

"You had that look on your face. The one you have when you want to ask something but you're not sure if you should." He was slightly surprised that she still remembered such a thing.

"Well, Bright never told me the whole story; he just said that you were pregnant. It's ok if you don't want to talk about it, I completely understand."

"Don't worry, it's ok, I don't mind talking about it. It was such a long time ago. Bright must have talked to you about Reid."

"Yeah. His college roommate."

"Well we dated for a couple of month in my freshman year but it didn't work, we remained close friends though. One night in my fifth year, we got drunk and it happened. Nine month later, Thomas was born." She finished smiling.

"Are you guys still together?"

"Nah. We decided to keep the baby and he wanted to be a part of his life but we didn't work as a couple…" she got up from her seat to get her purse and pulled some pictures out of it. "It's Reid and Thomas during their summer holidays last year." Ephram took the picture and looked closely at it.

"They look very much alike." He finally said giving her back the picture.

"Yeah they do." She said with a smile; thinking of Thomas always made her happy, no matter what. "Not just physically." she added. "sometimes it amazes me…"

"I know what you mean. Ella is already three years old; she's growing up so fast and she looks more and more like Carla." His voice lowered when he pronounced his wife's name.

"I'm sorry Ephram."

"What do you mean?"

"I should've called." She said sighing deeply. "I should've been there for you."

"It's ok Amy, I understand. You had your own life."

"No it's not ok!" she said angry with herself. "I feel so guilty. You were having the worst time of your life and instead of support; all you received from me was… nothing." He just looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "It's just that I didn't know if you wanted to see me. I felt like I shouldn't be here with you."

"Well, I'm glad that you didn't come because I don't think I could have stood it." She looked at him questioningly. "I was a giant mess Amy. When I think of that Ephram I'm so ashamed. I didn't feel the will to live anymore. Once again life had played with me and had taken someone I loved away from me and I just couldn't bear it. I fell. I fell like no one has ever fallen. The worst part was I knew I was falling but I didn't care anymore." He stopped realising that he never talked to this to anybody, except his group of support. He looked up at her and when he saw all the care in her eyes he carried on. "When I left Everwood I thought I would never love again and then she came in my life and healed my broken heart with her kindness. You know I beginning to think that I'm lucky." He said half smiling.

"Really?"

" Carla was going to die anyway, she had a heart disease but I'm the lucky one because I met her before she was gone and she gave me the most beautiful gift in the world; Ella." Every time he was pronouncing her name, Amy noticed a spark in his eyes. She simply smiled at him knowing exactly how he was feeling. He got up to check on more time on the spaghetti.

"I think we are done here." he said. "The plate are already there, could you set the table please?"

"Of course." She said heading toward the kitchen table.

Dinner was very pleasant. Despite some awkwardness, they were both soon able to relax and enjoy each other company. In fact Amy was very surprised when she realised how easy it was, it was like he never left. That is what she loved so much with Ephram, it was easy to talk with him and have a good time, even when he was sad.

"I'm full." She finally said after her third spaghetti plate.

"Me too. I didn't know my food was that good!" he said teasing her.

"It was delicious Ephram. When did you learn?"

"You know, I spent three years on my own so I kinda had to. Spaghetti is the only thing I can cook without looking in the cooking book that Jane gave me."

"Huh… who's Jane?" she asked intrigued.

"It was Carla's mother."

"Was?"

"She died two years ago." He said with a sad look.

"Oh I'm sorry Ephram." She said with compassion.

"Yeah me too." his tone was more bitter then he had expected. "She was great. She and her husband, Paul, took care of Ella after Carla's death. I wasn't able to do it; in fact I wasn't even able to look at her."

"Why?"

"This is why I'm so ashamed of myself. I know it sounds horrible but I was so depressed and so angry…" he sighed. "For a long time I blame Ella for her death." A look of understanding crossed Amy's eyes.

"So what did you do?" she said crossing her arms on the table and leaning against it.

"Nothing. Except drinking too much. Then Jane died and Paul was too old to take care of a baby alone. So I finally decided to take my responsibilities and leave my stupid anger and fears behind me. At first it was really hard; I was sober again but I wasn't prepared. Luckily, Alberto and Francesca were there for me. Fran is a nurse, she works at the paediatric service of the hospital and she helped me a lot; teaching me everything I needed to know."

"And…um how are you now?" she asked with a look of concern in her eyes.

"If it wasn't for my baby girl I'd still be wallowing. I'm sober for two years, I'm teaching again and I'm moving on or at least I'm trying to." She smiled at him and silence fell between them for the first since the beginning of the evening.

"Paul and Jane, huh? Are they not Italian?" she asked after a little while.

"Actually, no. Paul is French and Jane was English. They met in Rome during their studies."

"So Ella is a hell of a mix, huh?" She said smiling.

"Yeah she is." He replied laughing. He stood up and began to clear away the table and she helped him. Once the last plate was in the dishwasher they went to the living with a cup of coffee in their hands. When they came in, Amy's attention was, once again, caught by the beautiful painting.

"It's beautiful." She said when she noticed he was looking at her. "Who did it?" she asked really curious to know who this genius was.

"Carla. It's a self-portrait."

"I didn't know she could paint."

"She…was a wonderful artist. She used to paint, to play violin and to sing as well."

"Wow!" Amy said really impressed.

"Yeah I know. She used to do so many things. Do you saw that mosaic on the aisle?"

"Yeah. I loved it. Did she make it too?" he nodded. She looked at him and saw that he was on the verge of tears and she understood his pain, she understood why he was so miserable. She had lost someone she loved too but it was different. Carla seemed to be like Julia was, caring and loving. She was great and she was taken away from the people who loved her. Now he had to deal with and in addition he had to raise a little girl on his own. She knew exactly how he felt. She hesitated at first but she couldn't help it; looking at him again she put her right hand on his joined ones.

"I'm really sorry Ephram." She said looking down at their hands; trying to ignore the fact that she was actually enjoying the touch. He did not respond but he squeezed her hand.

"Papa?" a soft and sleepy voice said behind them. Ephram quickly dried the tears that had finally fell down his cheeks and turned to see his daughter standing on the frame of the door; her teddy bear in her arms. She had black curly hair, pulled into a braid but the thing that stroke Amy were her eyes. She had the same stunning blue eyes that her father. She had seen them on the picture Ephram show her earlier but now that she was really seeing the little girl, it was even more obvious.

"Hey sweetie." He said clearing his throat. "Are you ok?" he asked worried. He stood up and came closer to her.

"Yeah I am Papa but I'm thirsty." He smiled and took her in his arms.

"Ok piccolina. I'll give you a glass of water but first I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." He said walking toward the couch where Amy was standing. Ella was sucking her thumb and her head was resting on her father's shoulder.

"Amy Abbott, this is Ella Carla Julia Brown; my daughter" he said smiling. He looked at his daughter and gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Wow! This is a great name and this is the sweetest little girl I've ever seen." She said smiling to Ella.

"Hi Amy." Ella said smiling to her.

"Hi Ella. It's nice to meet you." She said holding her hand to her. Ella's little hand shook Amy's one and they stared at each other, smiling. The little girl turned to her father and whispered something in his ear. Ephram leaned his head to hear more clearly and laughed at her comment. He throw a quick look at Amy and whispered back, loud enough for Amy to hear it too: "Yes she is." Amy looked at him quizzically but he ignored her.

"Ok young lady." He said looking at his daughter. "It's getting late so we go grab a glass of water and you'll go back to sleep. Ok?" she simply nodded and turned to look at Amy.

"Arivedertsi Amy." She said waving to her.

"Arivederci Ella." She replied waving back and laughing.

A few minutes later Ella was sleeping again and Ephram came back to Amy.

"She's so sweet." Amy said while he seated next to her.

"Thanks. She asked me if you were staying with us." They shared a giggle.

"I'm used to this kind of question with Thomas. He is worried about my dates…" she stopped realising how awkward it was talking about this with Ephram. He noticed her embarrassment and smiled at her.

"He still thinks you and R-Reid will get back together." She nodded. "It's kinda normal, you know."

"Yeah I know, but lately he was a little sad." He glanced at her questioningly. "Reid is getting married"

"Oh! I get it."

"So is this what she whispered to you?" she asked remembering their silent chat. "She asked if I was going to stay."

"No." he said laughing but he did not carry on, making her wait.

"This is mean!" she said hitting him on the shoulder.

"I see old habits die hard!" he said laughing and rubbing the spot where she hit him, pretending she hurt him.

"Oh come on!" she said, pleading him.

"She said you were pretty." He finally said avoiding her gaze.

"Oooooh! This is so sweet." She said smiling, trying to ease the awkwardness.

They spent the rest of the evening talking about everything: Everwood, Florence, family, friends and work. They were laughing and they both enjoyed it, knowing that it would not last long…They were having such a good time that they did not realised how fast the time was passing by. It was 2 in the morning when Amy looked at her watch for the first time.

"Dammit! I didn't realise how late it was! I bet Hannah and Meg are worried."

"They must be sleeping."

"Oh no! They're not. Believe me." He gave a questioning look so she reluctantly carried on. "I-I almost cancelled our diner. They know I was really nervous…" She said avoiding his eyes.

"I see. I almost did too." he said smiling. She returned her gaze at him.

"Really?"

"Yeah." He said laughing slightly. "I thought it could be weird after all this time… well I'm glad I didn't and I'm glad I didn't give you my number as well." They shared a giggle.

"Well I should probably call a cab and get back, it's really late."

"Are you sure? I mean you can crash here if you want." For the second time today; he blushed. He could not even remember the last time he had blushed in front of a woman. 'Probably in front of her.' he thought, annoyed. She simply smiled.

"It's ok; I don't want to bother you."

"I've a guest room, it really doesn't bother me and I'll be more reassured if you leave tomorrow, with the sun up and everything." She laughed lightly.

"What?"

"You know I'm 27! I'm not afraid of the dark anymore." He began to laugh as well.

"Seriously Amy, I'd rather see you stay. Plus Ella will kill me if she can't say good bye to you." She thought about it for two second before nodding.

A/N: that's it for today! I really hope you enjoyed it! I loved writing it so please let me know what you think by reviewing… if you have any suggestions, anything you'd like to see let me know about it!