Chapter Ten

Something In Common

Gia could finally relax. The press conference was over and she was being brought back to her rooms by Desiree. Entering back into the safety of her apartments and was greeted by Duke who she started to play with. Rolling on the floor with him and hugging him, playing tug of war with him, shaking off the conference. Other than Lucia and her mother, Duke had been the only friend Gia had ever had. Now Duke was all she had. Gia was however enjoying Desiree's company. She was sympathetic without making Gia feel even more miserable. She was also kind and enjoyed listening to Gia's stories and her interests. Desiree was a comfort source for Gia, almost like Lucia, but to a different degree. As for Pavi... Gia had found him to be nice, although she didn't think he knew how to act towards her. Then again, she didn't know how to act towards him either. Either way, the kindness he showed her today was appreciated. She didn't enjoy all of the eyes on her and the flashing cameras, it was all too public and too new for her. She was glad that he ended it there.

Desiree smiled watching Gia play with Duke, her acting a little happier than she had been in the past few days. She hoped Gia's mood would only get better from here and she could continue to cope as well as she had been. Gia didn't notice as Desiree got a call on her communicator.

"Gia, I need to step out for a bit. I'll be back in a little while," Desiree informed the girl. Gia nodded her head, not paying too much attention at the moment. Desiree then proceeded out of Gia's rooms, high heels clicking away. An idea then popped up in Gia's head. She decided to follow Desiree to where ever she was going. She got up and scurried out of the room, following the clicking of Desiree's heels. She had to be careful when getting in the elevator with her, it made her rethink even attempting to follow her. Thankfully a group of genterns also boarded the elevator, giving Gia a convenient way to hide and continue her little mission. Desiree was too distracted adjusting her dress and her hair to notice Gia hidden behind the genterns, who Gia made a the 'shh' sign at and they smiled and mimicked the sign, so Gia was so far successful. When the elevator finally stopped and Desiree got out and Gia carefully followed her. Desiree then proceeding into a room and Gia slowly trailed after her, hiding behind a wall as she watched what Desiree was doing. Desiree then approached a man who was standing next to a table with something large covered up on it. She recognized Pavi and watched as the two began to speak with each other, not being able to hear much, she did manage to pick up a few things,

"I think it's very nice of you to this for Gia. Let her mother have a proper burial," Desiree said, smiling sadly.

"I-a never got to-a say goodbye to-a my mother. She should at-a least get-a that," he said. Gia didn't understand, she had asked for her mother to buried properly with a tomb and a few words Gia found fitting, but what was this? Desiree touched Pavi's arm and with her other hand she lightly picked up the sheet covering the mass under the blanket. It revealed Mag's eyeless, blood drenched face. Slowly and unsteadily, Gia began to back up, hitting a small metal cart knocking it's instruments and the cart itself over, causing a loud bang. Gia then wasted no time in looking towards the heads that shot over in her direction, catching a glimpse of Desiree's surprised and horrified face, and she ran as fast as she could out of the room.

"Damn it! She was actually happier today. There goes her coping well! Oh, God, how could I have not noticed her following me?" Desiree cursed herself. The little girl was sure to be horrified, Desiree herself was shaken by the beloved soprano's corpse. She could only imagine how her daughter, who had been traumatized already would react to seeing her mother's corpse right in front of her.

Pavi shook his head. He wasn't irritated that Desiree hadn't noticed her, it wasn't her fault, but at the fact that Gia actually saw Mag. Gripping the bridge of his mask nose, he sighed, "I'll-a go talk to-a her,"

"Are you sure? I could do it," Desiree responded, although she was happy Pavi was trying as best as he could to adapt to having a child, she knew this was a sensitive situation.

"It's-a fine," he said leaving the room.

When he got to Gia's apartments, it was silent in the front room, but getting closer to her bedroom he heard little sobs. He awkwardly knocked on the fame of the open door and entered the room. Gia was curled up in a ball, hidden under the covers of her bed. The dog sat next to the bed and had his head next to where Gia's covered head was.

"Gia?"

No response.

"Gianna? Are-a you okay?"

A muffled response came.

"I cannot hear-a you,"

Slowly, Gia uncovered her head. "I said," her voice raspy and shaking, "why would she do this to me?"

He didn't seem to know how to respond to this, but Gia continued.

"Why would she leave me? She said she loved me with all of her heart," her voice started to become angry. "How could this mother who loved me so very much leave me all alone?" She hissed. She rose up out from the covers bringing her knees up to her chest.

"I don't understand," she whispered. "Was I not worth it?" she said, her eyes red and puffy already.

"I know how-a you feel in-a way. I lost-a my mother when-a I was young too,"

She looked toward him, he was sitting at the end of her bed, looking at the ground.

"What happened?" she hiccuped.

It's been a long time since he'd thought about it. His mother, Alessandra, had always been around, and for a long time she was beloved by Rotti. She was beautiful, with thick, curly black hair and piercing green eyes. She had a loving, comforting smile and the best dimples when she smiled, which was often. She had the loveliest voice, singing and speaking, a graceful italian accent, which he eventually began to speak with too, to hide his speech impediment. While she was loving to everybody, she adored her little son and her husband and she was a loving stepmother to Luigi who was much less volatile with her around. She was doted on by Rotti, until Pavi was eight years old. He could notice the extreme amount of tension there was between his parents even though he was young. One day his mother had all her things packed,

"Mamma deve andare ora bambino. Per favore, non piangere il mio prezioso. Tu mi vedi più. Fino ad allora, si ricordi quanto ti amo il mio Paviche dolce," she said, kneeling down to his level and hugging him as tight as she could, tears streaming from her eyes. She gave him a kiss on his forehead and walked out of the building, never to return to it. After that, Pavi did have contact with her, mostly over the phone and through letters. Pavi became very upset with his father because not a month after his mother left, a new woman was walking around calling herself, 'Mrs. Largo', sporting a huge ring and soon bulging belly. Soon began the down spiral of Rotti and Pavi's relationship.

The last time Pavi saw his mother was when he was a few months later, and his mother was very ill. She was tiny and frail, wasn't able to walk. She was set up in a glamorous mansion, probably his father's way of feeling less guilty about abandoning another wife. Nonetheless, she was estatic to see her son, and she held him and they talked all day until he had to leave. She explained she never wanted to leave him, but she wasn't happy and neither was his father. When he scowled at the mention of his father, she told him to 'Ama il tuo papà' and to even love his new sibling coming, because family is the most important thing, no matter what.

'Promise me, Paviche. Promise to-a love your-a papa, and your-a brother and-a new sibling. Try to-a love your-a stepmother. Promise me, darling," she whispered, her voice was weak.

"I promise, Mama,"

She smiled sadly, holding his little hand to her face.

That was the last time he saw his mother. She died a week later, and he didn't know what became of her body, no matter how much he asked his father, who changed the subject. He was too busy with his new wife, Carlotta, who gave birth to Carmela shortly after. Carlotta was nice to him and his brother, just no where near as affectionate as Alessandra. She was pretty, thin and had chocolate brown eyes and golden hair. She wasn't overly demanding or even as intelligent as Rotti's previous wives. But she was just right for him, docile and obedient. However, Carlotta ended up dying not too long after Carmela was born, leaving his father heartbroken for years.

"My mother and father divorced when-a I was-a eight. I only-a saw her once after that-a. She died shortly after,"

"I'm sorry,"

"Mothers can't-a be with us forever, Gianna. Mag loved you very much-a. I doubt-a she would've done this knowing what-a happened to Lucia. Don't be angry at your-a mother Gia. It will-a poison the happy memories you have with her,"he advised.

Gia, who at this point had calmed down, looked at him, looking behind the mask, at the man she was speaking to, understanding her mother and Lucia may not have realized what he went through. The fact that he was comforting her like this was a reassurance that he wasn't all bad. He was her papa.

"I think your mama would be proud of you," she said, drying her eyes with a tissue.

He smiled at that. Gia in many ways reminded him of his mother. Perhaps having her wasn't going to be as bad as the prospect of having a child once seemed.

Author's Note.

Well, I was determined to get this chapter done today and I did! I really wanted to get to an emotional point and I hope I accomplished that. I wanted to paint a picture of the Largos and te kids and the moms and etc. I wanted there to be something personal between Pavi and Gia and I think this connected it nicely? Who knows, it's for you to decide if you like this or not! I hope you do, and I hope for reviews?

ama il tuo papà- love your papa

Mamma deve andare ora bambino. Per favore, non piangere il mio prezioso. Tu mi vedi più. Fino ad allora, si ricordi quanto ti amo il mio Paviche dolce.

Mommy has to go now baby. Please don't cry my precious. You'll see me again. Until then, please remember how much I love you my sweet Paviche.