AN: Theresa finally sees the other side of the guys' background, and she displays another hidden talent.

The car rumbled along towards its destination. Theresa's knee bounced in nervous anticipation. She'd been looking forward to meeting Gyp, but she was still worried about her behavior. There were a lot of intracacies in mob culture she didn't know about, and she didn't want to offend any of them. She wore a dress she'd normally wear to church: short-sleeved and plum-colored, kissing the backs of her knees. Her hair was in its usual style, down but pinned back, and there were silver heels on her feet. She kept twiddling her yin-yang necklace, her face pressed against the window as she watched the scenery zoom by. She assumed the guys didn't notice anything, until Frankie's soft chuckle met her ears. When they reached a stop light, he looked over his shoulder from the driver's seat. She giggled when he smiled at her, knowing precisely what he was about to say.

Sure enough..."Relax, doll. He's gonna love ya. I promise."

"Frankie's right", Nick said, "Gyp does what he does, but he's not a bad guy at heart."

"It's what he does that I have a problem with", she replied.

"He respects takin' care of the women in your family. He's been yappin' at us for a while now, askin' when we were gonna bring you over."

"I just want to make a good impression."

"You'll be fine, Lil' T", Tommy said, as he put an arm around her.

She didn't get the chance to say more, but Frankie did.

He briefly glanced over his shoulder again and said, "We're here."

Theresa listened to the garbled voice that cane from the call-box. It sounded like an older man, but she couldn't be sure. Bob held the door open, so everybody in the back seat could get out. The seventeen-year-old's eyes widened, taking in the grandeur of the property. The exterior of the mansion was mostly red brick and sandstone. Elaborately-designed topiaries dotted the lawn. Was this really a mobster's house, or did some high-ranking politian or Wall Street executive live here? A couple of seconds later, she heard a door creak open and the sound of approaching footsteps. Her eyes immediately went to the ground.

"My boys! So good to see youse!"

She listened to the clapping of hands to upper backs, the sound of each man getting a hug. Frankie gave a soft chuckle. Though she didn't look, she knew he was smiling.

His voice was warm as he said, "It's good to see ya, too, Gyp."

"So, where's dis pretty girl ya keep tellin' me about?"

Tommy placed his hand against Theresa's back, gently and subtley nudging her forward. The teenager kept looking everywhere but up, not wanting her nerves to show on her face. There was the sound of a clicking tongue, which was followed by the slight pressure of a knuckle under her chin.

That new voice, ravaged by age and a likely smoking habit, said, "Lemme get a good look atcha."

She didn't pull away, letting him turn her face to look at him directly. Ash-brown hair faded into a more cinnamon color, before turning grey and finally white at the edges. Those periwinkle eyes must've struck terror into many during his long rise to being a captain, yet they still held a kind of grandfatherly tenderness.

"Much betta."

The corners of her mouth twitched, and she flashed a bit of teeth.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mr. de Carlo."

"Gyp, sweetheart. Call me Gyp. Now, let's all get a cuppa coffee, huh?"

With that, he turned on his heeel, and they followed him inside. Theresa was even more amazed by the interior of the home, than she was by the exterior. She lost count of how many paintings and marble busts she walked past. Most of the floors were either highly-polished magogany wood, or terracotta tiles. Gyp noticed her staring and chuckled. He told her that the only carpted rooms were the bedrooms and the den, which they were heading to. He then said the back porch had been modeled after a Roman temple, with half-columns holding up the railing, and that there was an old chapel on the mansion grounds.

He told her, "I'd walk ya around for the grand tour, but I can see you're pretty tired."

"You have no idea."

"What about us, huh", Nick asked, playfully clapping her on the shoulder.

She shoved him back, and they traded smiles. Theresa was finally starting to relax and enjoy her surroundings. She especially loved the de Carlo family portrait, which hung above the fireplace. It'd been done recently, according to Gyp, a way of celebrating the birth of his twin grandsons. That explained the two infants in the center foreground. She was admiring it, when Tommy brought her a mug of coffee.

He gestured at the painting and told her, "I drove Nina and Christiano home from the hospital, after the boys were born."

"Nina?"

"Gyp's youngest kid. She's the one on the end there."

She nodded in understanding. Tommy wandered back over to his friends, who were gathered around the piano near the large bay window. Bob was at the keyboard yet again. He was playing a few random notes, but nothing solid and steady. Theresa was leaning sideways against the instrument, making occasionaly comments on how he could string the notes together. She'd never studied music arranging, just like Nick hadn't, but she did know what sounded good. Bob smiled, happily trying her suggestions. Then, she noticed that Gyp was watching eyes met, and she shrugged as if to ask why he was staring.

He asked her, "Ya thinkin' of becomin' a musician like your brotha', sweetheart?"

"Uh...that does seem to be the family business."

From the corner of her eye, she notced the smirk Tommy made. It was pride over the idea that such talent could run in his genetics. Still, they both knew she hadn't really answered Gyp's question, and the looks on their faces showed that. Theresa sighed. She'd been wondering when this issue would come up.

She said, "Of course, I like the idea of a career in music. But life's taught me different things than it's taught other people."

"Like what", her brother asked.

"Things most of you, maybe except Bobby, can understand. I don't ignore the other side. There's darkness. There's fear. There's lonliness. There's...there's this", and she gestured at her necklace, before continuing, "I know what you guys go through, when you're away from home. It's a balance, but the fans only want to see one part of it. Nobody wants to talk about when you're too tired or sick to go on, but it's too late to cancel the show. Nobody wants to talk about when there is some spare time, but you're out of your mind in your hotel room, missing your family. It's easy to get exhausted in that life, if you're not careful."

Everything Theresa had said was true. They'd all been experiencing the first snippetts of what she'd described. They were just shocked the words had come from someone, who wasn't a veteran of that business. What could she possibly have been through, to have that much insight at her age? The unspoken question filled the room with an air of awkwardness. Tommy was the one to break the spell.

Clearing his throat, he took another sip of coffee and said, "So, prove it, then."

"Prove what?"

"You know what I'm talkin' about, Lil' T. I wantcha to show just how many of my genes ya really got in there. Sing with us."

"D-Do what now?"

He chuffed, before tapping his friend on the shoulder and asking, "Ya got your bass in the trunk, Nicky?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Go get it. My guitar, too. We're gonna have ourselves a little jam session here."

"On it."

"Wha-no. No. No. No. Tommy, please."

The more she begged, the bigger her brother's smile grew. It was one thing to answer a question. It was quite another to actually give a demonstration. It'd been a long time, since she'd felt this scared.

Bob clapped her on the arm and said, "Don't bother. When Tommy sets his mind to something, it's almost impossible to dissuade him."

Then, Frankie added his own two cents: "It's okay, Rees. You can do this."

Something about the tone of his voice surprised Theresa. This was one of the qualities she liked most about Frankie: his faith. Not since her mother's death, had somebody showed that much confidence in her. The look on her face must've shown this. He stood up and walked over to her, smiling.

He said, "Look, we're not gonna force ya into anything you don't want to do. But my grandmother told me somethin' I'll never forget. She said, 'Ya won't know what treasures you possess, unless you open the box first'."

"Wow. That...that's very wise."

"And she's not the only one."

Their eyes met, and she felt a bit of heat come to her cheeks. Everything around them seemed to freeze, but that only lasted a second. Nick walked back in, his breathing showing the effort it took to carry two heavy instruments. Without a word, he shoved the guitar at Tommy, who gave a soft grunt and a "damn" in response. He pushed a chair close to the piano and sat down.

Then, he asked, "So, princess, what do ya wanna try first?"

Theresa didn't know what to think or say. She hadn't really talked much about her personal music tastes. She'd never been put on the spot like this before. She couldn't see it, but she knew her face must've been red. She felt a subtle, grazing touch against her knuckles, and her eyes met Frankie's again in a brief, sideways glance. He was trying to give her another vote of confidence, without saying it openly this time. She wondered how many people in his youth had given him that same boost. Gyp was probably one, judging by how close they still were. She mentally sifted through all the artists she enjoyed, smiling when she finally decided upon on. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she took a sip of coffee.

Then, she said, "Well, I've always liked Johnny Cash. He's dark and brooding, but there's an underlying sweetness there."

She hadn't realized in until this point, but that quality described her brother perfectly. Going by the smile that flickered in the corner of his mouth, he understood that. He took a piece of stationary from a nearby notepad, and he slid it under his guitar strings.

He said, "So, let's try 'Walk The Line'. Sound good?"

"Yeah. I love that one."

"Well, a'right then."

Theresa, Nick, and Frankie gathered next to the piano, with the seventeen-year-old wedged between the singer and bassist. She watched Tommy pluck a couple of strings, producing the famous gallop sound. Nick joined in soon after. Then, before another crumb of self-doubt could enter her mind, her voice melded with theirs as they began the song:

"I keep a close watch on this heart of mine.

I keep my eyes wide open all the time.

I keep the ends out for the tie that binds.

Because you're mine, I walk the line.

I find it very, very easy to be true.

I find myself alone, when each day is through.

Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you.

Because you're mine, I walk the line."

Theresa hadn't done something like this since eighth grade. She loved the way her voice blended with Frankie's, during the higher points of the song. Nick added some "bop-bops" to the background, and his already-present smile grew when he went solo on "And happiness I've known proves that it's right". They heard a noise somewhere behind them: Gyp, keeping time by tapping his leg. She couldn't see it, but she could sense that he was smiling, too. She almost had a giggle-fit, when Tommy made a puppy-dog face at her on the lyric "You give me cause for love, that I can't hide". As they finished the last verse, everybody was clapping each other on the back.

Nick said, "Like when we used to practice our harmonies, eh, Frankie?"

"You mean when you guys broke into that church", Theresa asked.

He narrowed his eyes, when the singer stifled a laugh. He reached around and smacked the back of his head.

"Ow! Come on, Nicky! It was funny."

"Yeah. Maybe for you. I got arrested."

Gyp walked over to them, a soft chuckle escaping him.

He lightly tapped Theresa's arm and said, "You did a great job there, darlin'."

"Thanks. And now, I'd like some payment for it."

"What do ya mean by dat?"

She turned around, her eyes meeting Tommy's.

She told him, "I mean exactly that. You asked me to sing, so I did. Now, it's your turn."

This time, Frankie was the one to let go a laugh.

He asked her, "What song do ya want to hear, doll?"

"Uh...okay. Nicky mentioned the harmony practices you used to do. Maybe, you could pick something which plays into that."

"Like what?"

Shoot. He really wasn't letting this go. She felt her cheeks get warm again, and she glanced at the floor so he wouldn't notice that.

Finally, she said, "How about 'Under The Boardwalk'?"

She was happy, when they agreed with her choice. Tommy and Nick put down their instruments, and the guys fell into a half-circle formation. Theresa took Bob's spot at the piano, playing the accompaniment. Nick's smile split his face in half, probably because the song was a great show-off for his voice, in particular. Apparently, the guys didn't want to take a break, going straight into The Temptation's "My Girl". Though she remained at the keys, Theresa did join in. She was so focused on playing the right notes, that she didn't notice she was being watched. Frankie glanced sideways at her each time they said "my girl", mentally comparing her to another key woman in his life. Mary never asked to sing with him. She actually had a pretty voice, a bluesy sound most often showcased in church. Sometimes, their daughters could coax her into a lullaby. But anything beyond those situations seemed to have become taboo. He couldn't understand it. Marriage was supposed to mean you loved someone enough to share all your flaws and passions with them. Rejecting either of those concepts meant you also rejected part of your significant other. Conditional love wasn't love at all. Perhaps Mary didn't realize that, but it still hurt. Gyp was a gracious host, escorting them back out to their car, when it was time for them to leave.

After opening the front passenger door, he hugged Theresa and said, "I'm glad ya had a good time. Don' be a stranga' now, ya hear?"

"Of course, I'll come back", she replied, giving him a peck on the cheek.

As they left the property, Tommy asked from the back seat, "Didn't I tell ya not to worry, Lil' T?"

He reached over, giving a light smack to her shoulder. She giggled, a soft "Oh, hush" escaping her. She was the last one to be dropped off home. The sun was just starting to go down, when she and Frankie pulled into her driveway. She was smiling, as she turned to thank him. But then, she noticed something that made her smile instantly disappear. Frankie's earlier good mood was gone, replaced with a brooding, sad contemplation. She'd never seen that expression on his face before. Feeling both curious and nervous, Theresa reached out and placed her hand on his arm.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothin'. So...you never answered part of Gyp's question."

"Which part?"

"The part about what you were going to do for the future."

He was referring to the question of whether or not she wanted to be a musician one day.

After a minute's pause, she told him, "Well, I've been seriously thinking about becoming a teacher. I'd like to make an impact on people, just on a smaller scale then you guys."

"Good. That's great. Kids, especially little ones, need good role-models in their lives."

His voice cracked on that last word. Theresa rolled her eyes, as realization came over her. Now, his sudden change of mood made sense. He was thinking of his own children. She wasn't surprised. She knew how much being away from the girls weighed on him. And there was also Mary to consider. Her light touch on his arm became a tender squeeze, her thumb rubbing affectionately against him. His breathing changed, growing shallow as he tried to keep his composure. He mumbled the word "angel".

Knowing who he meant, Theresa said, "Francine loves you. Trust me on that."

"And my other girls? My wife?"

"All of them. You think they'd fill their house up with pictures of a man they hate?"

"How about ones of a man, who's actually there all the time?"

"Frankie..."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he placed his hand over hers. She'd never seen him like this before. She breathed in deep the cedar-and-cigarette smell that came from his shirt, her heart breaking a little bit more with each pass of his thumb over her knuckles.

She said, "A lot of things in this world don't make sense. Even the strongest possible love, that of a parent and child, has issues. But it's still the closest thing we have to magic...one notch in front of your singing."

That earned the response she'd hoped for: a slight chuff of laughter, and the faint windshield reflection of Frankie's dimpled smile.

He asked her, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make me feel better about stuff."

Maneuvering herself back into an upright position, she told him, "Well, it's not exactly rocket science. When someone I care about is in trouble, I try to be there for them. That's just who I am."

"Yeah, doll. That's who you are."

Their gazes remained locked, with only the occasional chirp of a cricket breaking up the silence. When Frankie moved his hand, the glow from a nearby lamp-post bounced off his wedding ring and into Theresa's eyes. She winced and ducked back, waving off his concern with a slightly-embarrassed giggle.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

She squirmed a little closer to the door, grabbing the handle and opening the door to leave.

But then, she heard Frankie say, "Hey, Rees..."

"What?"

A million different things were playing through his mind, if the look on his face was anything to go by. She wondered what some of them might be. His shoulders slumped the tiniest bit, and a soft sigh escaped him.

He told her simply, "Thanks."

She smiled back and said that it was no problem. Then, reflex entered in. Theresa leaned back over, stretching her neck out and kissing Frankie's cheek. It was the first time she'd ever done so, and his face betrayed his surprise. She froze, fully expecting him to chastise her in some way. But shockingly, that didn't happen. Instead, the corner of his mouth twitched in the tiniest of smiles. She did the same back, unbuckling her seatbelt and getting out of the car. Just before leaving completely, though, she ducked down and gave him a final, grateful good-bye. For the sake of politeness, she waited on her front stoop for his taillights to disappear around the corner. When she shut the door behind her, Theresa felt like her knees were going to buckle. What the hell just happened?! Why did her heart feel like it was about to burst out of her chest?

Yukon ran over within seconds of her, entering the house. She smiled when she saw him, crouching down and giving him a big hug. She giggled at how he wouldn't stop wriggling around, knowing he wanted to lick her face. When he finally did get free, she noticed yet again how his eyes were as gentle and kind as those of the man, who'd given him to her. Theresa sighed, the heavy exhale causing a tingling sensation in her lips. It reminded her of what happens, whenever a person eats something spicy, bringing her right back to that moment in Frankie's car. She gave her beloved dog a scratch behind his ears, wondering why everything in her life had to be so damn complicated.

AN: I hope you like that little tender moment between Theresa & Frankie. I know I promised a mention of her 18th birthday in this chapter, but the plot got away from me. It will happen in the next one, though.