Sup! :) I just finished writing this chapter and am officially free of precious stress! I would have updated all my stories earlier but I had midterms and my mom and brother were freaking out so I had to help him study for them as well as finish all my projects and study for ym own. In the end I passed with flying colors! *Poses and winks* And since I was officially school-work free for a bit, I decided to catch up on the stuff I still had to do.

Again, I want to remind you all that I will try my absolute hardest to update faster and have longer chapters, but I am also a beta for two people and am trying to fix and better all my previous works at the same time. I can't even send the documents to one of the people I'm beta-ing for because something's up with my account nor can I go on forums or communities. I I can't look at my update list for stories I followed/favorited either, but this has all happened before so I figure it'll fix itself like it did last time. *Sighs* I have the worst luck with computers.

I also have something I would like to ask you all as readers of my story. I have thought about having some light, fluffy, nothing past kisses yaoi in here if you guys would allow me to. Not all ships will be yaoi, and here will be a lot of het ships. I just wanted to make sure it was okay with the readers first, so please leave your opinion in a review or PM me. If you'd like, I can even make a poll on my account, but I just want to know if you guys would mind it. If I do get good responses, the first ship will be AlaudexGiotto, and no, I won't kill the wife. I tried to make this as neutral aspossible until I receive a definite answer, so please decide quickly so that I can begin writing the new chapter. I already have things planned for either decision, but I'd like to know before I start. *Bows* I leave the fate of my baby in your hands.

Anyways, here is the new chapter and I hope you all enjoy it! ;)

Giotto walked to the dining room with a skip in his step as he hummed quietly, the grin on his face stretching from ear to ear. He'd specially requested the Guardians that weren't on missions or meetings to come for dinner earlier than usual so that he could tell them the good news. One of the main rules Giotto had established when they'd first started was that no matter what, if you were at home you were to eat with the family. So far not one of the members had tried to disobey it and surprisingly, fights didn't occur as often as they could have at the table.

He halted before the dark oak doors before inhaling deeply and throwing them both open with a dramatic flourish, stepping in and scanning as he realized no one was there yet, grin fading exasperatedly.

"Oh come on," he complained as he threw his hands in the air, "no one saw that?! I even did the whole two doors at once thing!"

He heard a giggle come from behind him and he turned quickly, blue eyes lighting up as he saw Nana standing there and flying towards her for attention.

"You saw that, right?" he asked, eyes hopeful as she grinned at him.

"Yup," she teased as he whooped. "But you could've done better than that."

He eyed her suspiciously as he leaned forward. "Oh really?"

She nodded her head, the grin growing wider. "Uh-huh."

"And how exactly should I have done it then," he asked, a twinkle in his bright eyes as he circled her, pretending to be angry.

"Well, for starters," she said, "you could have worn your cape."

He froze and cursed, dropping the act before his bottom lip jutted out and he pouted. "Dammit, I knew I was forgetting something!"

She stifled laughter behind her hands at the adorable look on his face and continued. "Not to mention you would have looked more serious if you weren't grinning like an idiot."

His pout grew even deeper as he crossed his arms and huffed at her, trying to glare at Nana unsuccessfully.

"Now that wasn't fair. You know why I'm so happy. I mean," here he paused as he grinned devilishly. "Now I know for sure my son is going to get my awe-striking good looks. What's not to be happy about?"

She guffawed and held her stomach as she spoke, "What?! So just because it's a boy, it'll look like you? Puh-lease," she raised her hand in the air as she held back the grin threatening to split across her face as she continued to banter. "We all know he's going to be like me! Besides, God knows we don't need another Giotto. One's enough to drive me crazy, much less two! Poor G can hardly survive dealing with you and he definitely doesn't need a mini-Giotto running around and making his life twice as hard."

He gaped at her with wide eyes before bursting into laughter at her ridiculous pose, carrying all the sass of a teenage drama queen but better with the enormous belly that was carrying their child. And even as she tried to scold him for laughing at her she couldn't help the laughter that slipped from her twitching lips as they both burst out laughing and wiped tears from their eyes. After they'd laughed themselves silly, Nana looked at her best friend of eight years and felt her eyes soften. She really wouldn't have made it this far without him.

"Hey, Gio," she whispered as she stroked her belly softly.

"Yeah," he answered, voice quiet as she looked up at him.

"Do you-," she mumbled, hands still on her stomach. "Do you think I could invite Iemitsu to- to dinner? Would it be okay for me to do that or would it be weird or-," he stopped her mid-sentence by ruffling her brown hair and messing it wildly, giving her a small smile.

"You can tell him to wear casual clothing. After all," he winked at her, "he's part of the family. Wouldn't want to look like some sort of stiff when we introduce him to the others."

She swatted his hand away and tried to fix her hair, a similar smile growing across her face as she nodded.

"Un!"

Asari gave an amused glance behind him as he felt the earth shake, automatically knowing Alaude had placed a bomb against the wall before they left the building before concentrating at the task at hand before them. There was still another 20 minutes before they reached the fork meant to confuse intruders. Only he and his father knew that it was actually fake and each of them lead to a different faux hideout as they had designed it and that there was a door in the wall you had to press against that would lead to another tunnel that would eventually split into a maze.

His father had always been extremely careful in his ways, his instincts from his former occupation always keeping him sharp. Over the years he'd started to lose his edge slightly and it had taken his mother's death for him to realize he would have to take even more precautions against the world that would drag his family into the dark if it got hold of them. He'd immediately called in some favors and had built the base he was hopefully at now, safe and sound with his baby brother and waiting for Asari.

His eyes narrowed and his pace quickened as he thought of his family, Alaude shooting him a look as they hurried through. He wouldn't fail them, and he certainly wouldn't give up. He could feel a dangerous smirk spread across his tan face as he rubbed his sword's hilt roughly, adrenaline surging through his body as he ran through the long tunnel. No one messed with Asari Ugetsu's family and got away with it.

No one alive anyway.

Alaude lifted a blonde eyebrow in faint amusement before he too quickened in his steps and returned to his previous thoughts. This was a well built hallway, the walls smooth and a light occasionally coming up every now and then so as not to make anything too obvious. They'd passed over thirty traps on the way and according to the not so happy go lucky Rain Guardian they weren't even halfway through the corridor they'd built. He was impressed, and while he'd never admit it out loud, he'd realized exactly why it was Giotto kept the herb- omnivore now, he corrected, around. He was a Rain that could soothe one's worries and hammer down on one like a waterfall when time to strike, fluid and dangerous. Especially if the way he took down that guard out front out was simply child's play for him. His brother-in-law would've liked this one, he mused.

He was smooth and lethal like water flowing and it was no wonder he was considered one of the best swordsmen of the world, mafia included. After all, his father had been the Rain's Wrath, the best freelance swords hitman and swordsman in general since the Sword Emperor. There had been nobody better than him in his time and definitely not now, and though this Rain might be able to pose a challenge against him, if he were to emerge in La Cosa Nostra again it would undoubtedly shake its very core as it had when he was younger.

Shaking his head with a small smirk, he focused on the passageway and wondered what day it was. Internally dreading the ridiculous welcome and check up once they came if they were later than they thought, he wondered how long it would take for the stupid blonde omnivore to rant before he shut up and let them go. Knowing Mikoto, she'd only giggle and wink at him before leaving them behind while she explored with Kyouya and he suffered endlessly at the hands of the Vongola leader as he scolded them, hands on his hips and mother-hen attitude set at full, the Rain omnivore nodding and laughing all the while.

If he was honest, he really didn't mind the omnivores in his so-called famiglia. He'd give up his life for any one of them in an instant, not that he or they would ever be so foolish as to walk into something they couldn't handle. Then again, the blonde could be pretty stupid sometimes, he thought, a small smirk on his face as he remembered the ridiculous feats he'd accomplished just barely standing it before collapsing.

He'd been the sky who tied the cloud to the other elements, allowing him to travel freely but keeping him grounded as he explored the world and wrought justice, gave him a place to stay when he tired or was lost, and most importantly, understood that they were different and never once tried to order him around like someone of a lower rank. He acknowledged him as an equal and while no one knew who would win if they actual battled against each other with all their strength, it would have probably destroyed the mansion and everything around it not to mention that at one point maybe kill someone if they came in the middle.

He halted in his steps as Asari looked at something before lighting up and pressing his entire body against the wall. Raising an eyebrow, he stared at the swordsman as he continued to lean against it and waited patiently for the evident door or such to appear like it had in the bathroom. Exactly 10 seconds after he'd started to lean against the wall, a doorway opened behind him and if he weren't a Vongola Guardian and extremely capable as well as the one who had helped to design the door, he would have fell through and landed on the floor. As it was, he was all of those and he had pulled himself away before it opened and grinned.

God, he'd always wanted to do that.

Shaking his head in faint mirth as the Rain Guardian pumped his fist he entered the doorway, waiting for him to follow before continuing to walk. They were almost there. Cool blue eyes narrowed and a smirk similar to Asari's earlier appeared on his lips as they stormed through.

Mikoto sighed happily as she buried her face in the soft pillows, Hi-kun snuggled up to her and one hand gripping her shirt tightly. She laughed, the sound laced with relief as she felt her eyes burn with tears and rubbed the oncoming tears away.

They were safe.

She and Hi-kun were safe.

And Alaude was coming.

Alaude was coming.

God, she'd never imagined this would ever happen. Of course, she had always expected an attack and had even fought in the battle, but she'd have never imagined meeting Tsuyoshi here, getting sleep and food, not having to worry about what she'd do next for their survival. Before, the plan during an attack was to simply escape from a hidden passageway within the house and reach the safe house, but it'd been bombed and they'd been nowhere left to go, stranded at the very edge of Namimori.

So she ran to the forest, hoping to somehow camouflage herself in the forest she grew up in and knew better than the back of her hand, maybe hide on their old treehouse from before. She thought there might even be some rations from when she and Hi-kun had gone there a month ago, just enough for her to last until she could figure something else out.

And then he'd started pulling her somewhere else, at one point forgetting she was there and simply running and she didn't know what was going on because what in the hell was the blue flame and why was he trying so damn hard to find it? When she'd stepped on the stupid twig and they'd been found. She had never wanted so much to simply cry and laugh while hugging Hi-kun tightly to her chest but chose instead to follow Tsuyoshi, explaining how they'd find them and her son's strange behavior.

He'd been so kind, so understanding, just like her own father and she'd had the inexplicable urge to hug him and cry on his shoulders like a little girl, blinking the tears away and nodding when he told her to rest before collapsing on this bed.

Feeling that things were going to be just fine, her laughter slowly dissipated as one lone tear of happiness slipped out and she fell into a deep sleep with her beloved son by her side dreaming of skylarks and her father, the sweet melody of a flute in the air.

Giotto practically giggled as he and Nana awaited the Guardians' arrival to the dining room, hushed whispers escaping him as he turned to her.

"Hey, hey, when did he say he'd come?" asked Giotto excitedly as his grin stretched from ear to ear and he imagined the reactions they would have when Iemitsu walked in and they introduced him as Nana's fiancée. She grinned back at him and whispered quietly, "He said he'd be here in around 10 minutes."

He snickered and leaned back before realizing something. "Why are we whispering?"

She shook her head and laughed quietly as she answered. "I have absolutely no idea."

They started into another fit of giggles, straightening up only when they heard a noise and hushing each other noisily.

"Shhh, someone's coming!"

"You shhhh!"

"We don't have time for this!"

"Shhhh!"

They straightened up when they heard the door open, shooting each other looks as they ducked behind their chairs, Nana struggling to stay upright having gone down so fast. She wobbled and Giotto panicked, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into him so that she could balance herself. So lost in trying to stay hidden and quiet, they didn't notice the shadow looming over them or the soft footsteps thudding against the floor.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

They froze, both of them slowly turning to see G in front of them, hands crossed and one eyebrow arched as he waited for an answer. They immediately stood up, Giotto brushing off imaginary dirt as he helped Nana up and she fixed the crease in her dress, hands combing through her hair quickly.

"Nothing," they said simultaneously, G shooting them a look before shaking his head and pulling a chair out next to the head of the table before sitting down.

"Well?" he asked, gesturing towards the chairs as they stood there fidgeting and eyes flying all over the place.

They realized what he meant and pulled out chairs for themselves as they sat down and waited for Lampo and Knuckles in awkward silence, Nana and Giotto giving each other looks and mouthing words when they though G wasn't looking. Daemon was with Elena and the kids on a little vacation of sorts and they weren't expecting him for another week so it was just going to be the five of them plus Iemitsu.

Soon enough, Lampo and Knuckles walked in, the others greeting them as the maids brought in the food and drinks. Giotto seemed to relax when he realized G still had no idea what they were planning and the thought of their reactions when Iemitsu walked in made him grin. The Guardians gave him strange looks for this and he cleared his throat, fighting the grin down as the maids bowed and he thanked them for their work.

Noticing that there was an empty seat with a plate and utensils set up, Lampo questioned his boss.

"Oi, Vongola. Why's there an extra plate? Daemon isn't back yet and neither are Asari or Alaude."

Giotto smiled easily and explained. "We have a surprise guest for dinner tonight. You see, Nana's fiancée is coming over."

They seemed to take in stride, already used to surprise visitors coming over before what he said kicked in.

"Her fiancée's coming over for dinner today and you didn't tell us?" G growled at his best friend, eyes wide as the blonde nodded.

"Yup!"

G seemed to have more to say when there was a knock on the door and Giotto grinned, standing up.

"That would be him."

He sauntered to the door and winked at Nana before opening it, standing in a way that his Guardians couldn't see the man behind the door no matter how hard they tried. They heard a voice though, an easy-going and yet respectful tone coming from the man that was Nana's fiancée.

"Hello, Giotto-sama. I hope I'm not late. I brought some wine."

G froze, eyes narrowing as he tried to place that voice. He'd heard it somewhere before, but where? Nana wouldn't marry someone in the mafia if she could help it, so who could it be? He, Knuckle and Lampo looked at each other confusedly as they tried to match the voice with a name or face.

"No, not at all. You came right on time. We're pleased to have you here, and thank you very much for the wine."

A deep chuckle came from behind oak doors and G's eye twitched at the familiarity in it, gritting his teeth as Giotto shot them an amused look, still obscuring their view of their guest.

"Your welcome. May I come in?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Welcome to the Vongola Mansion."

He stepped back and the mystery man came into the light, a good-natured smile on his face as he ambled next to Giotto. Spotting the Guardians, he grinned and bowed slightly before giving them a two-fingered salute. The three of them simply stared in shock as the two blondes took their seats at the table and began conversing, Giotto cracking up internally at their countenances as he spoke with Iemitsu and ignored them completely.

Finally, G snapped out of it and swore loudly.

"Che cazzo?!"

Che cazzo - What the fuck

So, whatcha think? Is it good? Is it bad? Please leave your comments and questions in a review or PM, and remember to choose an answer for the question at the beginning. If you do not make up your mind, I may not be able to write the new chapter in time. Please choose what you think is best and thank you very much for reading this story.

Published 1/31/2014

~ForeverBlackSun