AN: OH. MY. GOSH!! I am SO SORRY! I haven't updated in TWO MONTHS! I feel terrible, guys, just terrible. And the worst part is...I nearly forgot about this story. Would everyone give Vladimir Lenin a big round of applause for the review he sent in, yelling at me to keep going and totally reminding me. So here is chapter five! Please read and enjoy!

The Greatest Joy

Sequel to Ribbons and Bo's

Chapter Five: Magical Appearances

Caterina looked down at her belly. It had grown so much in the past month. She found it incredibly embarrassing to be having her wedding dress fitted with such a fat stomach. The lady wrapped the measuring tape around said stomach and Caterina tried to suck it in, but then decided against it, knowing that she would regret it when she actually had to wear the dress.

"When's the wedding?" the lady asked, trying to make friendly conversation.

"Next month," Caterina replied with a satisfied smile.

"I hope it all goes well. When's the baby due?"

She smiled wider. "That'll be another seven months."

The lady wrote the measurements down. "Do you know yet if it's a boy or girl?"

Caterina shook her head.

"Gonna save it for a surprise?"

"I don't know actually. I wouldn't mind, but Prosper's anxious to know. He's already got a long list of names for boys and girls."

The lady laughed. "Is Prosper your fiancé?"

"Yes. And the father."

"It's good he agreed to marry you, then. Too many men nowadays sleep with the girl, get her pregnant, and just walk away." The lady looked at Caterina in such a way that she seemed to know what she was talking about.

"Prosper would never do that. We've known each other since we were kids, and we've been in love just as long."

The lady smiled. "I'm happy for you then. It sounds like the world needs more men like your Prosper."

"That may be so, but if there were, he wouldn't be so unique." Caterina thanked the lady, grabbed her purse, and left the shop.

Spring was on its way in Venice. Caterina could smell it in the air, taste it on her tongue, see it on the cheerful faces of everyone she passed. She couldn't wait. She'd always loved the spring. Great things always happened. Marvelous things. Magical things.

And one was just about to happen to her.

You see, as she made her way over to Scipio and Carabella's flat to meet them and Prosper, she wasn't alone in the journey. And her follower had a companion.

One was a young man and the other a young woman. They looked very much alike and were no doubt related to each other.

"Do you really think he'll be that easy to find? People do not usually stay in one place for so long," the young woman said to her brother.

"If he is there, it'll be a stroke of luck on our part. But if he isn't, at least it's a lead."

His sister rolled her eyes. "And what if he's left Venice altogether? What are we supposed to do then?"

The young man shrugged. "I don't think he would leave. This was his home, and his heart was here. No, he wouldn't leave."

The sister sighed. "Whatever you say."

"I think the turn off is here."

"No, actually it's the next one."

She glared at her brother. Sometimes he could be so incompetent. "It's here, Renzo. I'm telling you this is the right turn."

"Fine. But if we get lost, don't go blaming it on me, Morosina. You remember Paris…" he cautioned.

"Yes, dear brother. I will never forget how you got us lost there."

Renzo rolled his eyes. His sister could be so arrogant, but she usually had good reason, because she was rarely wrong. In fact, they found what they were looking for right that moment, immediately after turning where Morosina suggested. She looked smugly at her brother.

"Fine. You win this one."

"5 Euros, dear brother." Morosina held out her palm eagerly.

"Only if he's here."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"He's probably gone or dead. Or he's just the same old pompous donkey that he was when we first met him." Morosina grimaced.

"Or he did himself some good and got married," Renzo argued, pointing to Caterina, who was just entering the flat. She hadn't even knocked; she'd just walked straight in. "I think she's a bit too pretty to be married to a pompous donkey, don't you?"

"He might not live there anymore. She may be the new tenant and live there all alone," Morosina shot back.

"Well we'll just have to find out, won't we, dear sister?"

"Agreed."

Renzo gave his sister a quizzical look. "Did you just agree with me on something?"

"I'm afraid so. Oh, heavens, what is this world coming to?" Morosina faked panic.

The door to the flat they were watching opened before they could go any closer. Prosper walked out, holding Caterina's hand, followed by Scipio and Carabella.

"Look, Renzo. I recognize that figure in the front. The boy." She pointed to Prosper. "Wasn't he there, too?"

"I don't not believe you, but he's too young to be the one." Renzo's eyes shifted from Prosper and pointed to Scipio as he locked the front door. "But I do believe that there's our man."

He looked at his sister and their eyes locked, each pair reflecting the other's hopeful eyes.

Together, they said, "The Thief Lord."

AN: What could they possibly be planning?? I know I probably don't deserve it (shame on me) but would you at least consider REVIEWING and giving me something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving? Happy holiday! (Once again, I apologize for the huge delay in updating.)