Chapter Two
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A Funeral
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An air of calm resonates through the emptied estate, something that hasn't been a reality in the place for many years, a truth credited to their father. Though he had been quite unstable for the majority of his adult life, he was still their father and they loved him the best they could. As they believe of him for them. Sifting through the paperwork in his father's study, Johnny takes a deep breath, trying to keep himself in the moment, needing to get things squared away before he heads to the funeral.

"Hey, big brother." Elizabeth voices from the doorway as she leans against the doorjamb. "Need a hand."

"Hey, kid." Johnny sighs, dropping his hand down on the stack of files. "Thought you were heading to the church with Claudia."

"Was, but she figured you needed me more." she says simply, pushing away from the doorjamb to walk over to him. "How you holding up?"

"Dunno." he admits, smiling slightly when she hops onto the desk and pats the spot next to her for him to sit, which he does. "You?"

"I'll miss the old geezer, for sure." Elizabeth gently bumps him, a smile playing at her lips. "He made life interesting."

"That's one way to put it." he chuckles, glancing at the photo of their father on the desk. "He didn't do much good in his life, but he made us family and, for that, I'm thankful."

"Me, too." she says with love, linking arms with him before laying her head on his shoulder. "You know what happens next, right?"

"Yeah." he admits with a shake of his head. "We got it covered, though, no sweat."

"Good." she says before kissing his cheek and hopping off the desk. "Come on, we should get to the church."

"Right. Okay." Johnny shakes his head before hopping off the desk. "The meeting to establish things will take place tomorrow morning. You gonna show or you want me to handle it?"

"I'll show." Elizabeth assures, walking with him to the sedan. "Still can't believe Claudia's actually taking a backseat."

"She's never been about this life." Johnny reminds her as they climb into the sedan. "And that works for us."

"True." she agrees. "Our newest adventure."

"Exactly."

The day seemed so surreal as they walked into the funeral and came face to face with a full house. Anthony Zacchara was not a popular man by any means yet it seemed as if the entire town was in attendance. Keeping their head high, the two walk to the front of the church where they meet their sister, taking their seats beside her. Elizabeth sits between them, taking both their hands in hers as they brace themselves for the mass to begin. One last goodbye to the man that had given them all that he could for as long as he could. It wasn't easy to be his children, but they'll be damned if it wasn't worth every second.

"Either of you guys need anything, you know where to find me." Claudia says after she hugs them both goodbye, having lowered their father to his final resting place. "I may not care about taking over the family business, doesn't mean I won't be there to help you if the need arises."

"We know." Elizabeth smiles softly as they all join hands. "Same here. We'll always be here for you."

"Thanks, sis." Claudia chuckles softly. "I guess its time I head out. Got a plane with my name on it after all."

"Safe travels." Johnny says before he allows them to pull him into a group hug.

"I love you both, always." Claudia says with a heavy heart as she pulls away, knowing that she had to step out of the picture long enough for them to gain control of the organization. "Goodbye."

Elizabeth and Johnny stand together as Claudia climbs into her car and drives off into the horizon. Standing tall, they make their way past the onlookers before climbing into the sedan and driving off in search of food. So much has changed since the old man passed away, the reading of the will taking place the same night his death had been official, both surprised to find that he had left them the organization. Claudia had been pleasantly surprised to see that he had left her the business he established in Paris.

"So strange to stand here now." Elizabeth voices as they stand outside the Italian restaurant from all those years ago. "Seems like a lifetime ago."

"Really does." Johnny agrees. "We had been different people then."

"Sometimes, in the dead of night, I fear the day I wake up to find this had all been a dream." Elizabeth admits, taking a deep breath. "Its been years, I know I'm past that part of my life, but still..."

"Hey." Johnny turns her to face him. "You will never get back to that, ever. You hear me?"

"I hear you." she smiles softly. "Its just hard to shake sometimes."

"Ya, I get that." Johnny accepts. "But I hope you know that I'll never let your life get that far."

"I know." she says wholeheartedly. "Come on. I'm hungry."

Taking a seat at their usual table, brother and sister have a rather enjoyable lunch together as they contemplate their next steps in their plans for their father's organization. For their organization. The way their father ran things had been sufficient for the time he had been in charge, but with his death dawns a new era. A new leadership. A new direction for the organization. They both know it'll take a lot to get the organization running how they envision it, but they're up for the challenge and they couldn't wait.

"Father wanted us to rise up and take claim of everything he had created for us." Johnny says, raising a glass to her. "Here's to actualizing his dream."

"Hear, hear." she smiles slightly, clinking her glass with his. "To the future."

Note: To the future...what lies in waiting...where will they take their new found adventure? Find on in the next chapter.