*I had to redo a chapter because I got Bella's birthday wrong. If any of the chapters from 24-26 or so are out of order, please tell me so I can fix it.*

"So where do you want to go?"

I raised my eyebrows at the question nervously. "Um, I thought about it, but…There aren't any good restaurants around," I lied.

Romano's expression practically screamed that he didn't believe me. "You're in Italy."

"Yeah, true." That was the worst lie in the history of lies. I'm in Italy. There are no bad restaurants in Italy! "I'm sorry, something's just been bothering me."

We stopped walking on the sidewalk and Romano slung his arm around me. "Why?" He sagged his shoulders with realization. "It was Veneziano, wasn't it?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it as I found it unwise. "Don't be so hard on him. He's just lonely." I rested my head on his shoulder affectionately. "Please? He's pretty much a child, mentally speaking."

Romano rolled his eyes, but sighed in defeat. "Okay. Let's just hurry up and find something to do."

"'Kay." I glanced from building to building. "You know what I read once?"

"What?" he asked as we started walking again.

"I read that Italians are very superstitious."

"They are."

"Then why aren't you?"

Romano hesitated in his stride. "What…?"

"Well, you are wearing a shirt that's a shade of purple," I shrugged. I was going to point out Italy's black shirt (which was MUCH worse) but decided to keep him out of it.

Romano tugged gently on his shirt. "It's technically maroon."

I smirked and nudged him playfully with a giggle. Black and purple are colors of bad luck and death in Italy. I couldn't understand why the personifications wore the hues if they were supposed to be so wary of them. There were a lot of other weird stuff they did, like make the sign of Diablo and point it upside-down if they wanted to ward off bad luck or they even couldn't let the broom touch their feet when they're sweeping. Here's why: If it did, then they couldn't get swept off their feet! That one made me laugh.

"Oops!" I dropped the small purse I had in my hand and bent down to pick it up. In the process, my bracelet slipped off my hand. I jammed it back onto my wrist and stood up straight. "Sorry. I'm a little out of it today."

"No, that's not a bad thing," Romano told me.

"Huh?"

"If you drop things, it means someone who loves you is thinking of you." He smiled in a way that wasn't sarcastic or sly. I never saw him do it before. It made him look handsome. I liked it. Before I could melt at the sheer bello-ness of it all, I realized something.

A place where being clumsy was a good thing?! This was my kind of country! I giggled in delight and we quickened our pace. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Well, the number seventeen is really bad," Romano explained. "Is it in America? It's gotta be."

"No…" I denied, confused. "It's just a number. Thirteen is unlucky."

He looked genuinely shocked by this. "Thirteen is lucky. Seventeen is a horrible number! In Latin numerals, it spells out VIXI when they're rearranged, and it means something along the lines of 'he lived' in English. It's put on gravestones a lot."

My face drained of color at the rant. "Oh. I'll stay away from it then."

"There's more."

"Joy."

"It's something small, but it's still there. The one is like a hanged man and the seven is the gallows."

My hand found its way to my throat. I shuddered. "I'll stay away from that, then."

"Good." Romano pointed to a building in the distance. "You see that place over there?"

I squinted, catching sight of it. "Yeah, I see it."

"It's an opera house." He smirked. "It doesn't have a seventeenth level."

I pondered this for a second and busted out laughing. I paused for a moment and continued. "Omigosh!" I gasped. "Y-You're birthday! You told me your birthday once! March 17th!" My giggling fit lessened as Romano crossed his arms and feigned interest in the floor. "Sorry, but it's funny, you've gotta admit." I hugged him and smiled cutely. "I'm sorry~!"

"It's okay…"

I released him and gripped his hands in mine. "Can we go to a movie? I know it's kind of a bland place for a date, but I've always wanted to go into a movie!"

"Yeah, fine." Romano frowned at the thought.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "You don't want to go? It's fine, we can find somewhere else to go. Even if we just walk around, it's still fine, right?" I held his hand tightly as we continued our stroll. "This is a really nice place, you know. Italy in general, I mean."

"I'm glad you like," he replied. I heard a hint of arrogance in his tone.

"…Hey. You know how you don't grow old and stuff?"

"…Yeah."

"I'm going to die," I muttered worriedly. "What happens when that happens?"

"Don't worry," Romano assured me. "It won't change anything."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

I smiled and leaned against him. "Good. That makes me happy."

He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer.

Later

Paulo skipped over to me, fingering the buckle on the choker that hung loosely around his neck. "So how'd it go?"

"Amazing!" I announced, actually giving him a sisterly bear hug. "He's just so nice to me! And that's special 'cause he practically despises everyone else."

"Aw, I'm so happy for you, sorella!" He hugged me back and pinned me to him. I tried to pull away, but dropped my arms in defeat when I realized this wasn't going to work.

"I think I'm going to visit America and Japan for a while," I chuckled nervously, finally breaking free. "I'll see you later, Paulo."

He waved excitedly as I hurried away.

Later (again)

I may or may not have lied about seeing America and Japan… What? I had to get away. I found Scout, wherever she was hiding in the home (which turned out to be in the attic playing with a kitten). I stood over her and hastily said, "Take me to see Dad."

"What a nice way to ask," Scout huffed, standing up and setting the kitten on her head. It mewed, happy in her fluffy mane. "Fine."

"Sorry, but I have to go tell Dad about such a wonderful day," I sighed dreamily.

"Why doncha ask Paulo, though?"

My expression darkened. "He's Paulo. I have to get away from him sometime."

"True," Scout giggled. "He never leaves your side. He's like a little lost puppy. Kinda cute in a way." She frowned. "But annoying."

"Yeah…" I took her hand. "Now, let's go."

I'm not going over this again: you fall, vortex, and BANG, you're there. You get the drill by now, right? In fact, it was getting kind of fun. Scout and I even had a race on the way down. She won because she smaller, but it was still nice. I tried not to pay attention to the images around me in case any of them were sad. I landed in the house and knocked on the wall so I didn't jump out and surprise Kai.

No answer. I shuffled around the corner, and saw no one there. Only a small wrapped gift laid on the table. I picked it up and noticed a note next to it. Scout grabbed it before I could make a move. She read it out loud.

"Dear Bella," she said, her eyes moving across the page. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you for when you came and visit me. Which you must be doing if you're reading this. I'm off to visit my cousin. She's sick in the hospital and I'm going to see her. I'll be back in a week. Fumo isn't there either, as you can see. She's staying at home sick. And I got you a gift for your birthday. Sorry it was late. It's tchnically from Paulo, but I chipped in and helped with it. I hope you like it! Love, Kai."

I tilted my head at the present. Things had been so crazy lately, I'd forgotten I'd turned nineteen. Scout's mouth was a thin line as she stared at me in anticipation.

"Open it!" she pleaded. I rolled my eyes and eagerly ripped the green wrapping off the gift. There was a small box with a necklace. The pendant was an incredibly detailed silver feather. With all the intricate lines, it was difficult to believe it wasn't real.

"Wow," I breathed. "It's beautiful."

"Glad you like it!"

Scout and I shrieked in surprise and spun around. Paulo was sitting on the back of the couch, his feet resting on the cushion. He must've been hiding behind the furniture.

"Don't do that!" I gasped, my hand over my heart. "That scared me!"

It obviously scared Scout more because she had fell backwards onto the floor. She sat up and placed her hands on the ground, shifting her weight.

"So-rry~!" Paulo apologized innocently. He stuck out his tongue playfully and I returned the gesture rudely. "It's a Deliverer necklace!" He pointed to his own choker. "You don't have to have all the responsibilities that come with being one, but it'll make it easier to travel between times, no?"

"Yeah…" My face brightened as I realized how useful this gift could be. "Thanks, Paulo!"

He hopped down from his seat and landed next to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and this one – just this once – I decided not to push him off. "So what are you gonna get me?"

I froze and my smile slowly disappeared. "What?"

"Well, you have to get me something to!" Paulo explained, his smile fading as well. "Did you forget my birthday has past recently? We're twins!"

I turned my head to Scout as she got up and brushed up her shorts. She shrugged nonchalantly. I went back to Paulo and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll get you something."

"Thank you, sorella!" He hugged me and I'm pretty sure a few of my ribs broke. "You're the best!"

I chuckled humorlessly and sagged my shoulders. Darn my niceness.

*Sorry this chapter took a while. Our Italian club is having a cannoli sale! I'm so buying one! And you'd better buy one too, or…

Holy Rome: *revs chainsaw* :D I hope Romano doesn't buy one!

Romano: 0_0 I swear you're the son of Satan.

I'm listening to "Childish War." I especially like the covers by Kradness and Reol and the one by JubyPhonic and rachie. I really have nothing else to say…

Bella: I do!

Oh! Bella-chan! You don't come to the footnotes often. What do you have to say?

Link: My life sucks…

LINK?! From Legend of Zelda?! I'm such a big fan! :'D

Link: I know. You're always hanging around me.

Bella: Link's kinda in a bad mood 'cause you're reading a FanFic with Ghiralink. It's called…Threads of Fate, was it? By ButterflyBabyBlue?

Yeah. It's a high school AU and it's so well-written!

Holy Rome: How come you don't make high school AUs, Shadow?

0_0' Leave me alone. *has flashback*

K bye.*