Chapter 3

A maiden of a woman, Piazza, sat in her room, looking over the picture of her dead late husband, Marini. "Oh my". Piazza said, sitting down. Ercole with his smugness, yet his controlling effervescence, that was disguised as charisma, sat down beside her. "Quello come il nio". Ercole said, with charm, and passion.

"I cannot stop thinking about him". Piazza said. "He was my everything, and I needed him as much as he needed me towards the end".

"Well, I think perhaps the quickest way to honor his memory is to leave the past behind, and focus on what we have now". Ercole said, with gentleness. "What do you mean by that?". Piazza asked. "It's nothing, but I am just concerned that perhaps with you thinking of your husband so much, maybe you love him more than you love me". Ercole said. "I love you". Piazza said. "I always love you".

"If you do love me, perhaps you'll leave this tragedy behind". Ercole said. "I may be able to". Piazza said. Ercole embraced Piazza. "Concentrati su di mi". Ercole whispered. "Focus on me, Bella". "Kiss me".

"Oh, yes, certainly". Piazza said. They kept kissing, embracing. Piazza felt Ercole's touch as she kissed his lips. She felt his embrace when she kissed his lips. "Li amore". Ercole whispered. They kept kissing. Piazza felt something hard, and long down by Ercole's under region. She knew what it was. Piazza kissed Ercole's lips, knowing she had fallen into the trap of love.

Alberto and Luca worked on the Catera. When Alberto breathed however, his breath sounded strained, the product of a cigarette stained lung that was desperate for air. It was a blackened lung that was desperate for a clear pathway. Alberto was a smoker. He breathed a strained breath, that sounded a bit scratched, as the depth of his voice came through.

Luca noticed this as he noticed Alberto bending down, and working on the car. "Ok, this might be the inner part of it, but we might have to get in a little more". Alberto said, as his voice remained a bit raspy.

"I think I might have to pull this up a bit". Alberto said, putting the gear on. "I think". Luca said. "Does this go here?". Luca asked. "It does". Alberto said, gently. "I think this might work with it".

"I never thought we'd get the most work with this". Alberto said, gently. "Luckily, we'll take it around the world with us". "It's something we can hang our hat on". He chuckled a bit.

"How did you get to learn how to build cars?". Luca asked. "I just learned my watching usually". Alberto said, gently. "Giulia's dad, remember Massimo, he taught me how to work on those types of things".

"But everything else I learned off by hand". Alberto smiled gently. "You're getting to be good at it as well". "I guess". Luca said. "My father taught me all kinds of things". "But...he's not here anymore". "He's not here...anymore".

"Your father was a good man". Alberto said, kindly. "He always did respect you for who you were". "But I'm glad you still keep his memory".

"I guess". Luca said, sniffling. "My parents...they left me this map". "They said it was for them to explore the surface, and travel the world". "It's all the places they've been to, where my grandfather started his journey".

"My parents never finished their journey, but I've always wondered what it would be like to finish it, and see the world for them".

"Y'know we could do that". Alberto said, gently. "I'm thinking maybe we could travel to the different spots they have mapped out". "You, me, and possibly Giulia".

"But we can't afford it right now". Luca said. "We can". "I have some money set aside, we'll take our Catera, and drive different places". Alberto said, gently. "You and I and our world travels, huh bud?". He chuckled a bit.

"Yeah, pretty much". Luca said. Alberto chuckled. "But what I like is how strong you've been through it all". Alberto said, kindly. "You've been a true hero, and I'm beyond glad to call myself your friend". He smiled a gentle smile. "Thank you". Luca said. "You ok?". Alberto asked, gently. "Kind of". Luca said. "I just miss my parents is all".

"I get that". Alberto said, gently. "I miss seeing them, myself". "Y know, it's never a good time to worry". "Worrying gets you nowhere". "I like to not worry about much of anything".

"Worrying is like taking poison and hoping you somehow get better from it". "But it is something everyone does". Alberto said, gently. "Sometimes even the best of us, worry". "Worrying is something we often can't help".

"I'm trying not to worry". Luca said. "It just happens".

"Well, when something happens, or when we experience something tragic, we have worries, and fears". Alberto said, gently. "We have some worries, but there isn't anything to be concerned about". "Things will get better". "You just have to believe they will".

He smiled a gentle smile. There was a bit of silence between them as they fixed the car. Then Alberto spoke. "What happened to your parents?". He asked, gently. "Your family?".

Luca swallowed a bit. "Well, um...um...my dad went to fight in Vietnam, the war is still happening there, you know". "He got picked, and he went, then my mom went to see him, because she always went to secretly see him". "She got poisoned by agent orange, and my dad got...got blown up". Luca said, sniffling. "My mother died within two weeks, and my father died in battle". "My grandmother died of old age".

"I remember my parents not waking up, and them sleeping".

"Mm hmm". Alberto nodded. "That must've been hard for you".

"It was". Luca said. "Well, know that your parents are still with us everywhere we travel". Alberto said, gently. "Know that they are present in the friendship we have with one another". "We're together because of their spirit within us". "You and I were put together by them, and the guardian angels they are".

"You believe in that stuff, right?". Alberto asked. "I do". Luca said. "I get that sometimes it's hard". Alberto said, gently. "I know that we all have pain within us we'd like to let go of". "Believe me, I have pain that I need to let go of, too". "But when we carry our loved ones within us, we find the inner road to peace, and well being".

"I know". Luca said. "Did you want to fight in the Vietnam war?".

"I burned my draft card". Alberto said, coolly, and cockily. "I think the war is a waste of time, honestly". "I'd rather be doing other things rather than getting killed, and watching other people get killed".

"My dad fought in World War 2, but he was a member of the axis army". Alberto said. "I didn't believe in that war, either". "It was just a huge waste of time".

"But you should never get involved in war, or anything like it". Alberto said. "I don't want nothin to happen to you".

"I don't like war, either". Luca said. "I don't know why everyone needs to fight when there's nothing to fight about".

"There really is nothing to fight about". Alberto said, gently. "War is useless for resources, really". "But, you wouldn't do anything like that, right?".

"No, I wouldn't". Luca said. "I watched my family die, and I don't want anything to happen to you, or anyone else".

"Nothing will happen to me, bud". Alberto said, gently. "I'm right here beside you, through anything". "Trust me".

"I know". Luca said. Alberto smiled a gentle smile. Luca hugged Alberto. "You look tired, bud". "Do you need to go inside, and get some milk?". Alberto asked, kindly.

"Kind of". Luca said. "Let's go inside, and see what kind of things we need for our travel plans". Alberto said, gently. He walked with Luca into the house. Giulia was sitting with her robe on. She just wore her silk robe. "Ciao, Amico, Del rio". She said to Luca. "Hi". Luca said. "You look parched". Giulia said, kindly. "Can I get you something to drink, or eat?".

"No, I'm ok". Luca said. "Let me know if you need anything". Giulia said, gently. "Were you both working on the car?".

"We were". Alberto said, as he came in, lighting a cigarette. His breathing did sound kind of strained, lush, and blackened with the depth of maturity, and the essence of what manhood to a young adult in the 60's, was. Sex, and smoking cigarettes.

"But we did well". "We did what we could". Alberto said, blowing out smoke. He smoked his cigarette.

"Look at him drinking his milk". Giulia said, smiling. "He looks so endearing".

"He does, doesn't he?". Alberto said, smiling. They both felt a smile curl across their lips as they looked down at Luca. Luca truly was the youngest. He was someone that needed care.

Alberto felt a smile creep across his lips as he kept a cigarette pressed against his lips.

"Hmm". He mumbled, blowing out smoke. "Um...so...do I have to go to bed early tonight to get up?". Luca asked, looking up at Alberto and Giulia. Giulia lit a cigarette as well.

"You can go to bed whenever you want". Alberto said, gently. "It's entirely up to you".

"I know". Luca said. "Bud, let's get you some milk". Alberto said, gently. "You also have to take your cough medicine".

"Ok". Luca said. "You've had some time to get your other stuff as well". Alberto said, gently. "Y know I'm going to have to watch you take this". "You often sneak it in your pocket or hide it".

"I know, and I'm sorry". Luca said, sniffling. "You're fine, but I just don't want nothin to happen to you". Alberto said, gently. "I know". Luca said. "Let's get your medicine, bud". Alberto said.

Luca went over to the sink, as Alberto took some cough medicine out, putting it in a syrup cup. Alberto watched Luca as he swallowed the medicine. Luca looked up at Alberto.

"You need your milk?". Alberto asked, gently. "Kind of". Luca said. Alberto poured some milk for Luca into a glass. "There you go, bud". "Have some milk". Alberto said, gently. "It's ok".

Giulia stood nearby watching. "I hope you both don't mind, but I got something with more antioxidants than regular milk". Giulia said, gently.

"This is silk milk". Giulia explained, gently. She still had her alluring esque voice. "This is an almond vanilla milk that's high in antioxidants, and vitamins, much more than regular milk". "Tofu would also help as well, instead of cheese".

"I'm thinking maybe we should change your diet just a bit". Giulia said, gently. "I think it would help some". She smiled a gentle smile. "That sounds like a good idea". Alberto said, smiling. "Maybe we'll change your bedsheets, make them something more comfortable for ya". He said, gently.

"We'll get you some new perillios, as well". Alberto said, gently. "I hope you don't mind". He said this to Luca. "I'm ok". Luca said. "But, can we save the ones my parents got me?".

"We certainly can". Alberto said, gently. "But it would be nice to get you a new start". "Think of the good it will do you".

"I know". Luca said. "You'll be fine, bud". Alberto said, gently. "We'll get you started on Marijuana, also".

"But...but...isn't that a drug?". Luca asked. "It's a good drug". Alberto said, gently. "It'll help to settle you down, when you get agitated".

"It won't hurt me, will it?". Luca asked. "It won't, trust me". Alberto said, gently. "I've done it before, and I didn't have a problem with it". "Things happen, but it's not an issue".

"You ok, bud?". Alberto asked, gently. "I'm fine". Luca said. "Good, good". Alberto said, with friendliness.

"Let's try it". Alberto said. "Maybe it will calm you down some if you experience something happening".

"Ok". Luca said. "Let's get you some pot". Alberto said, kindly. He smiled a gentle smile. "Giulia". Luca said. Giulia looked up from her book she was reading. "Yes?". She asked. "You don't smoke pot, do you?". Luca asked. "Sometimes I do". Giulia said. "I do it to calm down when I get neurotic, or over excited".

"I like doing it a lot". Giulia said, gently. "I'd have to agree with Alberto on this one". "Try it, see if you coincide with it".

"I don't know". Luca said. "Will you try it for me?". "I know a lot of famous intellectuals who used it for research in their breakthroughs". Giulia said. "It wouldn't hurt the mind to try something new".

"Try it for me, at least". Alberto said, kindly. "It won't hurt you, I promise". "Do it?".

"Oh, ok". Luca said. "There you go, we have a contender". Giulia said, chuckling. "That's right, bud, way to go". Alberto said, gently. Luca felt a bit nervous, but he figured this was going to be way better for him than his cough medicine. Besides, this pot, this Marijuana is what everyone smoked in the 60's. Drugs, sex, and marriage were the lead contenders. Luca knew he would have to be in Alberto, and Giulia's position one day. He would have to be in a relationship as well.

Luca felt as if things were getting better for him, thanks to his friends.

Alberto and Giulia pulled down the sheets to their bed they shared in Alberto's room. "It's nice you're convincing Luca to do something for his health". Giulia said, in a romantic whisper. "He does need kind of a change". "I guess I'm magic in that way". Alberto said, in his suave romantic, bedroom voice. "You certainly are". Giulia whispered. They both got into Alberto's bed. "I was thinking, perhaps about traveling throughout the world, if you'd be interested in joining me". Alberto said, looking at Giulia.

"I've talked to Luca about it". Alberto said. "I think it would be a good idea". Giulia said. "But, are you sure we have the money for it?".

"I've got some things saved up". Alberto said. The sheets rustled as the bed creaked a bit. "We could do it, but my concern is, are you interested in doing anything in the meantime that would be valuable?". Giulia asked.

"Maybe not". Alberto said. "Hmm, well, let's think about this for a second". Giulia said, in a patient manner. Her negligee rustled, as the white, 1300 thread count sheets rustled before them. They were adult bedsheets. "It's going to be a long journey if we're going around the world, Asia included". Giulia said. "We should get our affairs in order before we decide anything".

"I'd like to do it". "I don't have anything else". Alberto said, nodding. "Mmk". Giulia said. They both began kissing. However in Alberto's bedside dresser, there was a wooden box, a small square wooden box, with felt inside of it, and a diamond ring meant for Giulia. Alberto had something to ask of Giulia. He knew he had to ask her quickly. As it meant love for them, now and forever.

Giulia put her hand on Alberto's bare chest, as she kissed his lips. Alberto got naked, save for his boxers, as Giulia was naked as well. They kept kissing, curling their lips around one another. Alberto felt Giulia curl her lips around his, as he felt Giulia's breasts. "Mm, so are you sure you want to take this journey?". "You're not pluralizing?". Giulia asked.

"I would never". "Even if I knew what that word meant". Alberto said. They both chuckled, kissing. In the dimly lit bedroom, only the sound of soft, squishing lips was heard as they kissed. They kissed for miles around. Their kisses were met with Glee. They were building a future together. Their future was everlasting in itself.

Giulia picked up her cigarette, taking in the tobacco. "Let Luca know he should pack his school books". Giulia said. "I know how he feels about that".

"I know you do". Alberto said, as Giulia blew cigarette smoke out. They both kissed, feeling their romance, as they had sex. Alberto gave, while Giulia received.

They turned on their side to see one another, as now it was time for pillow talk. They smoked, talked as they gazed into one another's eyes. The love for one another was strong. Soon, Alberto knew, he would deliver his proposal to Giulia. For now.