Disclaimer: Do I really need one of these in every chapter? Refer to the rambling in previous chapters.

"Aren't you going with your sister?" Leonardo asked Derek, who hadn't moved from his spot by the shelves.

"Are you crazy?" Derek raised his eyebrows at Leonardo as if he needed a mental check up. "She's going to buy clothes, it's like going out with a hungry carnivorous undead rhino!" he turned back to the shelves. "I'm staying right here, buddy…"

Leonardo chuckled and Ezio scoffed. Women. He turned around to go back to the roof, but saw Catherine's shawl draped over a chair. 'shit' he thought. Her dress was a bit too open in the front, and her shoulders were half bare. He grabbed the cloth and ran outside after her.

After looking around the clothing shops for a while, Ezio saw a familiar green dress. Next to it was the brat. He neared them and Miley turned to Ezio. She looked at the shawl in his hands, then at Catherine, then back to Ezio. Her face showed no emotion.

"Which ones do you want, Miley?" Catherine was asking her sister while holding up a simple dress that fit the brat.

"Anything's fine, Cat." Miley turned back to the shop owner. "Whatcha starin' at, dork?"

"Why you little…" The shop owner was way bigger than Catherine, who bravely pulled Miley behind her. Ezio decided to step out of the shadows.

"Is there a problem?" he asked loudly. He saw Catherine jump a little and had to suppress a grin.

"What do you want?" The shop owner asked Ezio as he approached the girls.

"I came looking for my wife, is that a problem?" Ezio put the shawl around Catherine's shoulders. He felt her tense up.

"You shouldn't leave her alone, she's a troublemaker." The man said. "Many men like a feisty one. So careless to not cover herself…"

Ezio wanted to punch the fatass on the mouth, but Catherine was faster. The man's nose started to bleed.

"I'll take these as an apology." Catherine said airily, as if nothing had happened. "Come, husband." She handed Ezio the basket with the dresses and left, ignoring the man's insults.

"I wish Nathan were here…" Miley muttered as they walked through the streets.

"Who's Nathan?" Ezio asked.

"Jealous, my love?" Catherine joked.

"I only said that as an excuse…" Ezio muttered "And he was right, you shouldn't walk around in dresses like that without company."

Catherine ignored him and entered another shop. The woman behind the counter looked nice, and smiled at them when they entered.

"Good afternoon, my dears what can I do for you?" she asked.

"Hello," Catherine tilted her head and smiled at the woman. "My brother is currently in town and has the need for a few extra clothing, could you help me?"

"Certainly, dear, how nice of you to help your brother." The woman turned around and rummaged through some shelves. "What size is he?"

"I'm not sure…" Catherine tapped her chin in thought. "He's a bit smaller than him…" Catherine motioned to Ezio."

"My, you have a handsome husband…" The woman giggled and blushed.

Suddenly Catherine's smile seemed strained.

"Riiiight, how about those shirts?"

"Here they are my dear." The woman put some shirts, pants, a pair of boots and a belt on the counter. "Anything else? Something for the little lady?" she smiled at Miley, who scowled.

Catherine stepped on her foot and smiled at the woman.

"No, thank you, that will be all." Catherine paid and put the clothes in the basket. They left the shop and started walking back to Leonardo's.

"You didn't answer me." Ezio said. "Who's Nathan?"

"He's Cat's boyfriend…" Miley sang. Catherine's eyebrow twitched.

"Boyfriend?" Ezio looked at Catherine.

"He wishes…" Catherine replied darkly.

"He's always after her and she keeps rejecting him. I think she should date him, his parents are rich, and he's got a huuuuuge house and…" While Miley ranted off about how great and wonderful Nathan was, Ezio looked at Catherine. She was frowning and walking a bit faster than necessary.

"Cat?" Ezio put a hand on her shoulder. She jerked out of his reach and pulled the shawl tighter around her.

"He's the son of the Mayor. But what his father doesn't know is that he's in a gang." Catherine said.

"Then why does Miley think he's so great?" Ezio kept his voice low and let Miley rant off.

"He's fine when he's not with his friends…" Catherine rolled her eyes. "But he thinks he has to prove something to them, so he gets all brutal when they're around."

"Doesn't Miley know of this?"

"No… I try to keep them out of our way."

"You're very protective over them, aren't you?"

"They're all I have left…" Catherine let go of Miley's hand so she could run to Leonardo's house when it came into view.

When Ezio left, Leonardo proceeded in explaining to Derek how he should hold the paintbrush so the result would be better.

"Like this?" Derek held the brush up for Leonardo to see.

"Try painting like that." The artist next to him said.

Derek stroked a bit on the blank canvas in front of him.

"It feels weird…"

"That is why you should hold it like this." Leonardo held his own brush up.

"Like this?"

"No." Leonardo put his utensil down and moved behind his student. He prodded his thumb into the right place and moved the others until they were where he wanted.

"Don't hold too tight…" Leonardo whispered. He felt Derek shudder before him. Frowning he looked at the boy.

He had whispered into his ear, and his hand was still on the younger one's. Derek was looking at Leonardo, a soft blush gracing his cheeks.

"Um…" Leonardo watched his student's pink lips move.

"Derek?" A small voice made them jump. Derek turned around and watched Annabelle come down the stairs. "Where's Cat?" she said rubbing her eyes.

"Cat's gonna be here soon. Why don't you go back upstairs and wait for her? Maybe sleep a little more…" Derek crouched down to look her in the eye.

"But…" she yawned "I'm not sleepy anymore…"

"Yes you are, go back up. Here." He handed her the kitty that was sleeping in the sun. "He's sleepy too. Tell him a story."

"Okay…" she took the kitty and went back upstairs. When Derek heard the door close, he turned to Leonardo, who was sitting on his stool.

"She's such a sweet girl." He smiled.

"Look, Leonardo," Derek shifted. "About before…"

"You don't need to say anything." Leonardo stood up and walked to him.

"No, really…um…I'm…I'm…" Derek didn't know how to say it. Normally Miley just shouted everything out and he had to cope with it.

"I know." Leonardo rubbed his arm. "Guess what? So am I."

Derek stared wide eyed at Leonardo.

"You mean…you're…you're…I mean…you're…"

Leonardo stepped closer and held Derek's hips.

"I think you know what I am…"

Leonardo bent lower and grazed his lips on Derek's and whispered:

"May I?"

Derek answered by standing on his toes and sealing their lips together. Leonardo felt Derek's hands rest on his chest and sighed. He hugged the boy's hips tighter and slid one hand to his shoulders. He ran his tongue over Derek's lip, asking for permission, and was answered by a shy and clumsy muscle. He nibbled on it and received a gasp. Taking the opportunity, he plunged Derek's mouth deeper, feeling his student slide his hands to hug his neck and try to pull himself higher. Leonardo steered them to a wall and hoisted Derek up by the back of his thighs, then pinned him with his body on the wall. Derek hugged Leonardo's hips with his legs.

"Ahem…"

Derek untangled himself from Leonardo, who stepped back hastily.

"Oh, don't mind us, please, keep going at it…" Catherine was grinning widely at them while Ezio looked out of place. He knew Leonardo was homosexual, but had never seen him with another. He promised himself to never bring any girls home again.

"Eww, Cat, they were sharing germs…" Leonardo seemed taken aback that she mentioned the typical childishly distaste for kisses, but nothing about two men doing it. He was pleased by that. It seemed Catherine and her siblings understood and accepted it. Especially Derek, who was now rummaging in the basket as if nothing had happened.

"Thanks, Cat." Derek took his clothes and headed upstairs. "Annabelle called for you. She's probably sleeping again."

Catherine put the basket on the kitchen table and came back to the living room. She spotted Leonardo looking back at Derek.

"What are you still doing here?" she grinned at the artist. "Go get him."

Leonardo smiled at her and started walking to the stairs.

"Oh, Leo?" Catherine called, still smiling.

"Yeah?" Leonardo couldn't contain the smile on his face.

"If you hurt my brother in any way I'm cooking your dick for dinner." She kept smiling sweetly at him.

Leonardo stared at her wide eyed.

"Run along, now, don't keep him waiting." Catherine made shooing motions with her hands and went outside to the garden. Ezio gave Leonardo one last look, still unsure of what to do and followed her.

"Um…" Ezio shifted behind her.

"Don't." she didn't even turn around.

"What?"

"My brother and I have this agreement. He doesn't comment on my choices, and I do the same for him. Though I must say…" She turned around with a smile. "I like his choice."

Ezio laughed.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know, maybe start on dinner?" Catherine Reached into the front of her dress. "Here." She gave him his pouch back.

Ezio noticed the pouch was still warm from her bodyheat.

"How do you save so much money?" he inspected the coins inside.

Catherine smiled and entered the kitchen. Ezio followed her and sat in his chair.

"What's for dinner?" he asked.

"You."

"Excuse me?"

Catherine laughed and called for Miley.

"Go wake your sister up."

Catherine busied herself around the kitchen and hummed to herself.

"Eww…" Miley came back with Annabelle.

"What?" Catherine sat the youngest one on one of the chairs.

"We passed Leonardo's room, Cat." Annabelle looked up to her sister, who paled a little. "There were strange noises… What's he doing there?"

"Um…Leo and Derek are…playing." Catherine patted her on the head, while glaring at a snickering Ezio.

"I wanna play too…" Annabelle pouted.

"Yeah, me too." Ezio wagged his eyebrows at Catherine. "OW! BRAT!"

"Thank you, Miley." Catherine took the wooden spoon from Miley.

"I'm NOT a brat!" Miley huffed.

"Cat?" Annabelle ignored their bickering. "Can I go play outside?"

"Be careful, and don't leave the garden." Catherine said.