The case made the front pages. 'Top Business Man in Major Fraud,' 'The Fall of a Crime Lord,' 'Star Crossed Lovers' being amongst the most sensible headlines. Bao took a few weeks to recover, Sally slightly less. On leaving the hospital she visited her father in prison, and promptly wished that she hadn't. Defiantly she told the world proudly about her love for Bao, and the two moved in together, despite her family's prejudice. Hollywood sent agents to buy rights to their story, and they remained staunch in their refusal, while Bao's mother loved Sally like a daughter.
Wong tried to make a deal with the FBI, but they threw the book at him.
Lenny received a reduced sentence due to his learning disabilities, and painted a picture of him and his mother which he sent to the station as a thank you for not arresting her.
Amanda was apprehended fleeing the scene.
Ray and Fraser, meanwhile, had a difficult few days trying to avoid MacKenzie King, who seemed to consider them under a moral duty to give her an exclusive.
"It's easy for you Benny," Ray pointed out, "at least she can't phone you in the middle of the night."
"Unfortunately, she knows where I live. She's proving quite hard to shake."
"You should lock your door sometimes."
"She'd probably just pick it."
"You get that a lot do you, beautiful women breaking into your bedroom?"
Fraser cleared his throat, and tried to look innocent.
"Look, Ma's back, and you know she's been worrying about you, so how about you come over tonight? It will make her day for a week. Mind you, the whole family's back, so you'll have Frannie to fight off."
Fraser smiled. "I don't mind Frannie, I'm sure she's only teasing."
"Yeah... right." Ray knew that Fraser knew better, but his friend was nothing if not a gentleman, and liked to give people more credit than they deserved.
"Yes, Dief and I would be happy to come. Can I bring anything?"
"Just yourself."
Dinner was excellent, and Fraser ate far more than he was used to. Despite the chaos and noise, the children crawling under the table and stealing food off one another's plates, there was a calm about the Vecchio's that always put him at his ease. Growing up he had loved his Grandparents dearly, but it had been a largely solitary childhood, if not quite a lonely one. He envied Ray his home.
As evening drew in and the children went to bed the adults congregated in the living room. Fraser did his best to keep up with the conversation, but found it hard to concentrate. He fought it, but in the end he closed his eyes.
"What are you doing here Dad?" His father stood smiling in the centre of the room, a green garment hanging over his arm, as though he were carrying dry cleaning, completely ignored by the still talking Vecchio's. Fraser had a flutter of alarm. "I'm not in your afterlife, am I?"
"No, no son, don't worry. You're just dreaming."
"So, you're not really here?"
"Of course I'm really here. Good Lord son, do you never learn?"
"Well, it is a little confusing, you have to admit."
"I wanted to ask you, what were you making with these cabbage leaves?"
Fraser puzzled. He couldn't quite remember. "I thought they were fig leaves..."
"Fig leaves, cabbage leaves... same thing."
"I'd have thought they were two entirely different things."
Bob smiled. "What are you hiding from, son?"
"I'm not hiding," Fraser rubbed his face. "Why would I be hiding?"
"You know, you have good friends here, you can open up a little bit." Bob handed Benny the garment, and this being a dream patted his son fondly on the face. "You don't have to always cover your nakedness."
"This is odd Dad, even for you."
"Good night son," the old man said, "sweet dreams."
…
Ray looked over, and saw Fraser asleep on the sofa, with Dief's head in his lap. He smiled, and tucked a blanket round his friend.