Life before the Bells

5 months into living together that Luce's belly swelled considerably...she was now six months along but...

'What a big baby.' She Mei sweatdropped as she and Verde did the check-up. She was poking Luce's protruded, rounded belly in awe with a finger.

'Ahahaha, its thanks to your wonder food.' Luce giggled, patting her belly.

She had to eat a lot of brain-healthy food as well as calcium-rich food with her pregnancy cravings and pregnancy symptoms 'sealed away' by She Mei's medicine so she could eat what's good for a developing baby without barfing it all back out. Her food was different from everyone else's for the sake of her child coming out intelligent. She's just worried how to get such a big baby out now...

Not only that...they all 'lost age' in physical terms. From early-thirties adults, they looked ten years younger. Not a sign of stress not wrinkle, not even eyebags are in sight. Teeth pearly-white, skin baby-soft and as fair as their genes can afford them.

Everyone was wondering what the hell were they doing and HOW were they doing it.

Group relationships improved, learning about each other. She Mei more as she was a civilian, her information is readily accessible but for others, very little is known. In fact, most of their pasts are a mystery.

Such as Renato having a Master's Degree in Mathematics, putting many Mathematicians, even Verde to shame, as well as a member of the Italian Bird-Watching Society, into Cosplay wearing ridiculous outfits with a straight face at stakeouts, a perfect shot able to aim at 0.5 seconds, skilled at reading people, and the highest Mafia Hide-and-Seek Rankings...considering he's the best hitman. In Mafia Hide-and-Seek, its basically lingo for hitmen finding their quarry in the shortest time possible. He also struck a strong friendship with Luce, being the one to understand him the most. His favorite foods are Espresso and expensive wines, Tofu Soup and Miso Soup.

They found out about the food when one day, Renato wanted to eat in a Japanese Restaurant...and despite the other dishes existing, they were ALL he ordered! By tens each!

Luce is a strong believer of fate being a shamaness able to see the future and sees it as a predestined course, which was rather hypocritical as she uses her powers to make her famiglia prosper as one of the most powerful families that sometimes set her at odds with She Mei who's a believer of fighting for a kind of fate one would want, not just give in to destiny as people would want to avoid bad futures to live a life they'd be happy with. If not for fate discussions, they'd get along. Viper was also of like-mind with the latter, preferring to live life his own way, not what destiny mapped out for him. As a mother, she has a caring and nurturing side, baking tasty treats as she could not overwork, being pregnant. Her favorite foods were candied sour fruits and berries which she eats by bucketloads if given the chance.

Verde is a typical scientist who would do anything to sate his curiosity and get results and will not tolerate anyone disturbing his work unless there's a job or She Mei telling him to sleep at midnight as the group doctor. Little is known of him as he's always by the computer working quietly, only leaving to eat, bathe and sleep(under threat from She Mei) or if there's a job. He bathes every three days but would bathe right after a sanctioned job and his favorite foods are non-greasy finger food if only because he can eat while working and not get his computer and tools dirty. She Mei makes him healthy snacks which he can eat with a fork or a skewer. He was also researching, trying to figure out how She Mei created Maintenance Immortality.

Viper's the epitome of greed for money but even he has standards. He'd rather charge exorbitant fees for his services and hoard it, and spend only just enough for his needs that his closet is very limited and he has little material possessions...even if they're the latest in the market. They settled for calling him a 'he' but nobody knows his real name and gender as he switches voices every day. He also latches on to She Mei for prolonging his life as she created immortality, a feat nobody else had done which was why she remains physically a teenager. When Verde checked her cells, he said her Telomeres are as expected of a seventeen years old human despite her being 29 when he looked months back and she could actually lengthen Telomeres by unknown means. And prolonged telomeres means increased lifespan.

He was willing to pay her a fortune for a prolonged life which she did if only because he paid. Nobody knows his actual age but when Verde looked after months of treatment, his Telomeres showed that he is now '20 years old' like Feng was to his glee that she was worth the money spent! He is also an actual psychic. He could dowse, use telepathy, and fly. His favorite foods were cheap foods that don't go beyond 3 Euro and Strawberry Milk...thus She Mei had to teach him how to cook cheap, but healthy food that costs just as much, and tastier than 'the junk' he buys while Strawberry Milk is now homemade at home in healthier ingredients. So he learned how to cook if only to save more. Miser.

Feng, aside from being a once-a-century Martial Arts genius, Qigong Master and Chinese Medicine Master, likes Spicy Food. The hotter the better that while he can happily eat it, the others would burst into tears and cry! He also knows Shiatsu and Acupuncture and tends to spoil his girlfriend a lot, being doting ever since they became official. He's also a skilled handyman, considering he lived on his own for years in pursuit of his craft after leaving his family. He was also apparently disowned for ditching a beneficial engagement and embarrassed his birth family but to be fair, his fiancee has a personality at odds with his peacefulness. He was glad he did or he'd never have the woman he actually likes and can freely marry her, foregoing tradition! And due to disownment, he can never use his surname ever again thus would marry into She Mei's.

Lal is a no-nonsense Military Instructor who successfully raised good soldiers due to her keen observation that enabled her to determine their best abilities and what was wrong with them. She tends to be harder and harsher at who'd go far in life to bring out their best potential and be disgusted with those who doesn't exert enough effort, warranting 'punishment'. It was she who saw that She Mei is dangerous to herself and took to beating the conditioning out of the youngest member in the team and the one who gave her the therapy she desperately needed...result? She Mei latched onto her as a big sister figure. Her favorite foods were Skewered Kebabs and grilled fish with beer.

Missions from Checkerface aside with extraordinary rewards beyond what Freelancers can hope for, they were also invited to formal events since they're famous people, save for She Mei who was an unknown, and always comes as Fon's 'plus-one'. Then again, they're dating! But its also in these parties that everyone felt that she was the strongest Cloud, having met many Clouds, but never anyone like her!

And in those formal parties it tends to begin.

Skies trying to harmonize with the World's Strongest Flames.

Women swooning over the men who looked younger than they should.

Some envied Luce and Lal and some praised their youthful beauty. Some even asked Lal for a dance though Luce was 'hands off'. You do NOT approach a married woman, especially a pregnant one...

While Renato, Verde, Lal and Viper can easily brush off these harmonizing attempts, Feng...

Nobody could try to latch onto Feng!

Its known thus that he already has a Sky.

This got people wondering who was powerful enough to snag him...and that, was news to their housemates.

In fact, he looked far too smug. Cheerfully smug.

'You're enjoying this aren't you?' She Mei giggled as she was dressed in a rich-red formal high-slitted, floral-print Qipao with red chinese heeled shoes. Her hair styled in how concubines of ancient chinese dynasties style their hair with elaborate hairpins and clamps. Her make-up was chinese style too instead of western style. Her eye makeup showed emphasis on eyeliner and eyeshadow as well as pink lip gloss, not lipstick. The rest of her face and neck has natural powder and light rouge on her cheeks that was 'barely there'.

When young teenage Skies tried to approach her for a dance as well as trying to harmonize with her, the looks Feng gives them were smolderingly murderous. And took to making sure everyone knows she's his lover.

(It took him weeks to teach her how men should and could be good lovers)

When age talks came up due to how the pair looked...with good reason...

'She's just turned 30.' they would say. 'She's way too baby-faced and health-conscious.'

Indeed, She Mei does many adult things in parties like drinking and flirting with Feng and they're too into each other and he looked good in a suit.

'Man, those two are the center of attention aren't they?' Daniela Vongola mused while drinking tea with her guardians, her son and his guardians and her longtime friend Renato despite the age gap.

'Well, Feng's off the Elemental Market and Mei's quite the sight. 30 yet looks half her age, too bad for teenage Sky heirs in the party.' said Renato. 'I couldn't believe she was 29 when I first saw her months ago. I thought when I walked into her shop that she was some kid assisting Feng in a shop...and she's actually the Field Specialist going around and he told us her real age.'

'Yeah, she doesn't look thirty at all...the fast life of a mafioso is stressful that we really don't look our age at all.' said Daniela. 'Look at me and my famiglia, I'm 59 but I don't look it. I look like I'm in my late 90s.' she grumbled. 'Civilians look nicer than we do.' she griped huffily. 'How do you guys do it?'

'Well, guess.' Renato challenged. 'Put that Hyper Intuition into action.'

'Its her isn't it?' Timoteo asked, as he looked at She Mei. 'My gut says so.'

'Bingo. She's hirable for beauty treatment but she's very picky with who deserves it and she'll go with who Feng says deserves it.' said Renato, chugging down beer. 'There are scumbag who doesn't deserve her specialty and some who do. You'll have to prove yourselves first. Mei's very picky.'

'But what if she's threatened into it?' Visconti asked him.

'She's terrifying.' Renato smirked. 'We worked together once and with one kick to the back alone, she caused some poor bastard's guts to explode and spill out what's inside in a gory mess. Her boyfriend isn't the world's best martial artist for nothing. She's learning from him. Feng knows what to do to protect his woman.'

The Vongola party went green.

Still Renato thought, he wished he found her sooner than Feng did.

When he sees their interaction in their cabin, he knew she was a woman he would have died for. There aren't many women like her who only wanted simple, but meaningful things in life as a result of life of betrayals. She wasn't one for money and materialistic luxury her betrayers wanted from her. She was a very loyal, sweet and affectionate lover who puts those she cares for first.

He imagined that had he gotten to her first, he would have quit being a hitman and give her the happy family she wanted.

Now Feng has that in his hands. But if he screws up...one wrong move...he would never let go and fight.

For now, he has to compose himself lest Daniela and her boy sniff him out.

Sniff what he truly felt through their bloodline ability.

xxx

A week later...

'Hey, there's this weird news going on.' said Renato as he got back from weekly sniffing around in costumes. He currently wore the 'fashion bohemian disaster' look.

'What weird news?' Lal asked him.

'Funny you should ask...some COMSUBIN guy totaled 1375 hitmen from a famiglia.' said Renato. 'A Colonello.'

'He what?!' Lal burst from her seat in concern. 'Why?!'

'After you, he was the strongest Rain.' said Renato thoughtfully. 'He awakened to flames a month ago...and he drew famiglia like catnip like we do.'

'That moron!' Lal ran out of the Cabin, got onto her jeep and sped off.

'Hey?!'

'Probably someone she knows.' Luce commented, eating candied fruit made for her by the cooks as she sat by the couch. She was out of jobs for now as she's in a critical time in her pregnancy she has to be careful and avoid stress as much as possible. As a result, one other must stay with her for her safety and they take turns doing so.

'Really, we could get called anytime, that impulsive woman...' Renato grumbled, crossing his arms.

'Well, no call so far yet...' said Verde, coming out of the bath, cleanly shaven and in a fluffy bathrobe. 'Been two weeks since our last job.' he said, towel-drying his hair.

'Yeah, its getting boring.' Viper complained, flat out on the floor.

'Viper at least lie down on the other couch!' She Mei scolded. 'The floor's dirty!'

'Straight hard floors are more comfortable than squishy uneven surfaces when I want to sulk.'

'No means no! At least disinfect the floor before you do!'

'Hey Luce, what's the deal with Lal and this person of interest?' Feng asked while coming out of the toilet which was right next to the bathroom.

'Well...they're of a similar case like Feng and Mei.' Luce giggled. 'A Teacher-Student Romance. He's doing all he could to track down Lal for months...'

'Well, this time she's the one going to him.' said Viper with a snort. 'And only because she got wind he became a catnip for power-hungry no-good Skies.'

'I wish we Skies didn't have such an ugly reputation.' Luce sighed, pouting. 'Not all of us are bad...'

'Sadly, you're in the 10% who aren't.' said Renato wryly. '90% are shitholes we Guardians want nothing to do with.'

'Oh, jeez...' Luce huffed.

'Oh yes, I'll be leaving too.' said She Mei. 'Donna Vongola hired me for a medical job but...what's she like?' she asked them. She still maintained neutral status.

'She has a strong sense of justice and stubborn as a mule.' said Renato. 'Vongola was once a bloody famiglia but she changed it to how she said it should be from when it was founded but her work is halfway done due to old age, thus she raised Timoteo, her successor to complete her task. It is said that the Vongola Territories is the safest place in Italy, free of anything illegal and spotless from corruption. Tim is 29 this year and already has three sons with his wife. He just had inherited Vongola as Daniela retired quite late when normally, bosses inherit at 22 or 24.'

'I see...that's quite a stellar opinion coming from you so I accept this job.' said She Mei. 'I'll skip out if Checkerface got us a job while I'm gone.' and she went upstairs to pack...and come downstairs...she paused as if realizing something.

'Where does she live?'

Everyone face-faulted.

And so...

'Well, be back for you when you call!' and Renato left her by the doorstep after telling a maid to escort her to his friend.

So She Mei was escorted to the office with her stroller bag.

'Welcome, She Mei.' Donna Vongola greeted. She now lives in a mansion with her Guardians where retired generations live in peace, leaving the rest to their successors.

'Pleasure to meet you.' said She Mei, dressed in a hip-length, high-slitted purple qipao with white rose prints with her trademark black shorts, tights and shoes that matched her qipaos. 'Well, I'll be in for a long stay since this treatment takes two months at minimum so you'll be eating a lot for three people every single day, forbidden to drink alcohol, smoke and sleep late. You need not worry about getting fat since metabolism is sped up during the process. By the way, my services cost 200.000 per individual because of the ingredients.'

Daniela choked.

'200.000?'

Her guardians froze as well.

If she charges along the lines of hundred grand, you're worthy of an extended lifespan. But if ten thousands, you'll just get the beauty treatment.

Was Renato's words in their heads.

Since She Mei was a loner who trusts very few, she often relies on others' judgment once they earn her unconditional trust.

'Ren's a good judge of character he never failed us not even once.' said She Mei. 'Be fortunate.'

Thus the elderly Donna took advantage of a prolonged life for herself and her famiglia that by the end of two months, Daniela and her group looked like they were in their early thirties with no sign of stress whatsoever but sadly, nothing can be done naturally about the graying hair thus they dyed it instead.

'Hey She Mei...I know Renato vouched for me but you are said to be picky...so why prolong my life, not just the beauty I wanted?' Daniela asked She Mei in private by the estate gardens.

'I don't know myself...but I feel that you'll be needed one day.' said She Mei. 'That's why I prolonged your life and strengthened your organs, not just the youth you wanted. You turned 60 this year, I gave you fifty more years. Oh, I'll tell you one thing...if one reaches centenarian age, its impossible to extend their life further. I can only give them the beauty treatment just so they can die beautiful I suppose.' the young witch told her. 'Use your additional lifespan well and prove me right.'

'Heh...' Daniela chuckled. 'Everyone's gonna be surprised at the next party...'

'Don't tell about me or I'll kill you and who you told.' She Mei warned her. 'Not everyone deserves a longer life. Some just needs to die so more people can live, or end their suffering or stop a tragedy before it can even begin. Some assholes need to die so they can't harm innocents. When I asked why these people existed...Luce would tell me good and bad must exist in a balance. Renato would tell me people chose to be good or bad. Lal would tell me because bad guys feel strong hurting the weak. Feng would tell me its because of peer influence. Viper would tell me its to maintain ideals. Verde would tell me psychological mumbo-jumbo I can't even understand.'

'Its like that.' said Daniela. 'Here's one more...bad guys and bad things exist so the good have a reason to fight and live.'

However...

'By the way She Mei...you're pregnant.' She Mei froze at the woman's words.

'I-I am?!' She Mei gasped out.

'Yes...be careful and not work too much.'

xxx

At home...she quickly asked Feng to check her using his abilities.

'Humm...you're a month and half along, Mei.' Feng smiled, finishing checking on her. 'Well, we've been intimate for quite a while now.'

'Well, that means she's off of missions for now,' said Lal as at home, she has to deal with her own boyfriend who took to staying with them since he got kicked out of COMSUBIN for being a 'trouble magnet' since the day he awakened.

'I think you guys should marry.' said Luce. 'While you're comfortable with things the way they are, Italy's stance on out of wedlock children are cruel. Marry so your child won't be enduring public scorn.' she advised.

'You're kidding me?!' She Mei choked out, her words causing Feng worry. 'I'll gladly marry Feng any day but such a horrible stigma for having kids out of wedlock?!'

'Sadly yes. Italy is a traditionalist country particularly for old bloodlines.' said Renato. 'Best get on with it while your baby bulge is still not obvious.'

'Well, let's get planning shall we?' Luce giggled. 'This is going to be fun!'

xxx

'Ai-Mei, while I'm glad you'll marry me but your words earlier scared me back there.' said Feng that night in their room. They always shared a room that her Cloud Room was always vacant...and now Colonello occupied it. While he and Lal are lovers, one thing Lal CAN'T stand is that he snores so loud she can't sleep! So Verde have him a chin strap that works to keep his mouth closed while sleeping.

It would be a while before they shared the Rain Room.

'Sorry...its just that I'm fine having good things in life without having to bother with tradition you know?' She Mei sighed. 'Tradition ruined my life. Chewed it up, spit it back out and trampled on it. I hate tradition. We could be a family as live-in partners with no one the wiser. Heck, a lot of eloped couples do that...'

'Well, this is one tradition to protect our child from future stigma.' said Feng. 'We both don't like tradition unless its medicine but society's really fickle.'

'Yeah, I'd know that best.' She Mei said gloomily. 'Well...everyone will know my name real soon.' Feng perked up at that.

'Can I be the first to know?'

She Mei smiled and told him.

xxx

After a month of organization...the Venue, the Food, the priest, who'd be in on it and their roles...and who's invited. Its a private affair considering WHO THEY ARE.

That, and make sure schedules are open for the big day.

Both She Mei and Feng learned how Italian Weddings go. She Mei from Luce and Feng from Renato.

Feng took to singing to her in private...when cooking and in their room together. He had already purchased a pair of matching diamond rings online in the internet.

The other women in the house would swoon and squeal at the songs, making Colonello pout.

'Jeez, Lal's going all squealy.' Colonello complained on a drinking night.

'Get started with singing lessons then.' said Viper. 'No bride would want a groom whose singing voice sucks.'

'Yeah. Its a given. Heck, I practiced as a precaution before I got my title.' said Renato.

One week before wedding day...

She Mei had to come with Luce and Viper...with good reason. Civilians would raise an eyebrow at a young marrying bride so he had to be around to mentally deal with boutique employees.

The venue is in Castle Mago Estate, they have to hire a lot of employees for help since they can't do it all by themselves, darn it!

The wedding is on a Sunday. It happens to be Feng's 34th birthday.

Sunday weddings are the luckiest and if a bride wears green the night before the wedding, it will bring luck and abundance to the couple. Conversely, if she wears gold on the day of the wedding or before it, she will receive bad luck. So not even the tiniest gold on her person. Ever.

On the way to the church, the bride and groom will receive several challenges involving a fallen broom, a crying baby, or other household chores to test their skills before marriage. In Northern Italy, the groom brings the bride's bouquet and he chooses the color and style of the flowers as his gift to her. Feng prepared his wife's favorite flowers for the wedding and the setting.

They learned that her name is Diantha. A name meaning 'god flower'. A name Viper felt befitting because she can technically be one with her immortality technique. And Feng will become Feng Potter due to circumstances. Bill's family, Charlie, Luna and her husband Lorcan Scamander and Neville(but not his wife and kids) met Feng for the first time, being invited to She Mei's wedding and Teddy serves as the Ring Bearer and Bill's youngest daughter Dominique is the Flower Girl.

To ward off the evil-eye from envious people, a groom should carry a piece of iron(toc ferro). At the reception, all the men at the reception are supposed to kiss the bride for good luck and to make the groom jealously possessive.

Strong drinks are served to start the festivities and to toast the couple with 'Evviva gli sposi' which means Hurray for the newlyweds and is shouted whenever there's a lull in the party or shouts of 'kiss for the bride' mean that the newlyweds must kiss to show their affection.

During the reception, the bride carries a satin pouch where guests can place envelopes of money for the chance to dance with her. Of course no reception would be complete without dancing the traditional tarantella, which is the dance of the spider and involves light and quick movements with passionate hand gestures.

The food is almost as important as the ceremony and guests may be served up to 14 different courses(She Mei had to learn these Courses) and of course the cake is served with espresso. The groom also has his tie cut into little pieces that are then sold off to the guests by the groomsmen to pay for the band. The groom would normally bring a cheap tie for this event but Feng bought a pricy one as he'll marry only once anyway.

One of the oldest traditions is the giving of candy-coated Jordan almonds. Meant to represent the bittersweet nature of marriage, these treats are given to guests wrapped in tulle, or pretty pouches, in quantities of 5 or 7, which are lucky numbers.

At the end of the wedding day, a couple would break a vase or glass and the number of pieces was supposed to represent the number of years that they would be happily married. Due to that, the newly-weds gave it all they got to ensure the vase is broken into tiny pieces!

As in many cultures, during the reception, friends of the groom would sneak away to play tricks on the couple such as walling-in the door of the couple's new home or putting itching powder on the bed. George and his family were responsible for the pranking. They also provided entertaining party favors and fireworks.

Then there's the wedding night...

'They can't do that, she's pregnant!' was the realization.

'Well, that's one good reason to be cock-blocked I guess!' Charlie snickered.