A/N: I wasn't going to add any more to this story, but I felt like it needed a nice epilogue, I like epilogues... they make me happy, like reviews *hint hint*

Dottore Massimo stormed into Scip's room, gripping him by the arm so tightly Scipio knew he was going to get a bruise. He hadn't let go since he slammed the front door in Riccio's face. Scipio struggled against his tears; he refused to let his father see him cry! He held back hot tears as his father's nails bit into his skin. He was glad he'd thrown on that jumper now. The Dottore practically threw Scipio across the room before silently shutting the door behind him, Scipio scrambled to his feet and clamped his fists to his side, he was shaking.

"I had such high hopes for you Scipio." The Dottore finally said, "Such high hopes."

Scipio stepped back against the wall, and looked down at the floor.

"You never do want I tell you, do you?" his father sighed, shaking his head. He walked closer to his terrified son, "You're so selfish sometimes, a selfish, stupid little boy." He snarled as he slapped Scipio across the cheek.

Scipio cried out as his head smashed into the wall behind him, "Father!" he pleaded, "Father, I'm sorry."

His pleas fell on deaf ears as Dottore Massimo grabbed a fistful of Scip's hair and forced him to the ground, "You never learn, do you? You little imbecile!" He placed a foot firmly in the small of Scipio's back and reached for a nearby belt hanging from the wardrobe door.

Scipio saw the belt in his father's hand and began to writhe and scream, "Father I'm sorry, please don't! I'm sorry!" he begged as he tried and failed to free himself from his father's hold. He felt the material of his shirt being forced up his back. He doubled his efforts to escape.

"Be still boy!" his father ordered. Scipio instantly complied, for a moment the only noise to be heard was Scipio's panicked breathing. "I have always been good to you Scipio, haven't I? I don't understand why you feel it necessary to act this way, it's really most un-gentlemanly." The Dottore said calmly, his voice no more than a whisper.

Scipio heard the belt whistle through the air and –

Scip woke with a cry; he clamped a hand over his mouth and looked around wildly. It took him a moment to recognise the room he shared with Prop. He sat up and leant against the wall, the cool pressure easing the pain that had flared up there again. He sat for a minute, trying to calm his erratic breathing, his eyes closed to block out all the light from the window.

"Scip?" a voice from across the room broke Scip from his thoughts; Prop was now sat up watching Scipio in the darkness.

"Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Scip whispered.

"Nightmares?" Prop asked, shifting into a more comfortable position.

Scip sighed, "Yeah…"

"Same one?"

Scipio nodded, and then realised it might be difficult to see a nod in the dark, "Yeah." He'd had the same nightmare for what felt like an eternity. Always that night, the night his father had beaten him for the first time. The first night of the torture that had led to Scipio living with Ida and Victor and the gang at the Casa Spavento.

He'd been living with them for three months now; it wasn't too bad, much simpler than the life he was used to. Ida only had one rule, in for tea at six. Other than that, she left it to the kids to sort out.

A disgruntled mewling from the bottom of Scipio's bed caught his attention; he leant over and picked up the small black kitten he had bought off the woman down the street. "Sorry Aurora, didn't see you there baby." he murmured, scratching her little ears.

"What does it mean again?" Prop said, sleepily.

"Aurora? It means dawn."

"Are you going to be okay?" Prop asked, worry evident in his voice.

"Eventually, probably." Scipio answered quietly.

"What about tonight?"

Scip smiled, "I'll be fine Prop, go to sleep." He lay down and looked at the small collection of pictures that was growing on their wall.

The smiling faces of his family looked back at him; he reached out and touched one of them, it was Scipio surrounded by his wonderful family, on the day Ida and Victor had won the adoption case. Aurora scampered across the bed and sat in front of Scip's face, blocking his view of the pictures. "Come on then little one." Scip laughed, patting the bed next to him. Aurora looked pleased with herself as she curled up against Scip's chest and fell asleep.

Scipio smiled; things were going to be okay. He had his new dawn, his novell'aurora.