Chapter 78

Author's Note: Oh my goodness thank you guys for the reviews. It really moves me that you like this story. But I do apologise for those of you wanting a sequel. For the moment I'm not planning one. Maybe in the future but for now I'm happy to finally wrap up this story after several years of writing it. It is sad though. I've become attached to the characters, especially my Black Jacket ninnies who are in this chapter. Enjoy folks!

The pain-killers had well and truly worn off by the time Dafne awoke. Sitting up was a painful experience and she couldn't help whimpering.

"What's wrong?" Basta's voice startled her. She didn't know if he had been lying awake or had been roused by her cries. "Your hands?"

Dafne bit her lip, staring at her hands and nodded.

Basta rose from bed almost instantly, asking,

"Where are the pills Orlanda gave you?"

"My dress pocket," Dafne answered in a small laboured voice, "In the bathroom."

Basta left wordlessly, returning a short time later with the pain-killers.

"How many are you supposed to take?" he asked, sitting on the edge of bed.

Dafne told him and he popped the correct number onto his palm.

"Open your mouth," he said gently, and fed them to her, one by one, just as Pietro had done the previous night.

Just had she had done then, Dafne swallowed them as quickly as could.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

Basta cupped her face, brushing her cheek with his thumb.

"Poor mouse," he murmured before lowering his gaze almost guiltily, "I'm sorry this happened to you."

"It's not your fault," Dafne replied, "You don't need to apologise..."

Basta grimaced.

"You were trying to kill him to save me," his words came out as a pained hiss, "If I hadn't gotten myself locked in the crypt..."

"There's no point agonising over the past," Dafne cut in gently but firmly, "What happened, happened. The important thing is that we're both alive."

"I suppose," Basta tried to smile but glanced at her hands and bit his lip, "It's just... Your poor hands..."

"They'll heal," Dafne said optimistically, "In time."

"You might end up with scars like mine," Basta pointed out sorrowfully.

"Your scars don't bother me," Dafne replied, "Why should I feel differently about my own?" she smiled a little jokingly, "I just hope you won't find them repulsive..."

Dafne suddenly found herself pressed against Basta's chest.

"I could never find you repulsive," he whispered fiercely in her ear, "Scarred hands or not, even if you had no hands at all, I'd still love you."

Dafne smiled, holding back tears at this rather moving declaration.

"I love you too."

Even though she wasn't concerned about scars, Dafne knew a trip to a doctor was the prudent thing to do. It was late morning so any medical practice would have to be open. Fortunately the closest one was only a short walk away from the hotel. They left Ignazio with the unfortunate man at the front desk. Basta dumped the cat on the counter, growling that they would be back later to pick him up. The man nodded with a nervous smile. He wasn't going to argue with someone wearing the distinctive black jacket of Capricorn's village.

The receptionist was similarly speechless when Basta demanded the doctor see Dafne immediately.

"Basta it's okay, we can wait," Dafne glanced apologetically at the other people in the waiting room. Most of them hid behind magazines, obviously locals who recognised Basta by his attire. None of them protested Dafne going first. As soon as the doctor finished with his current patient, Basta ushered Dafne into his room.

"It's her hands," he told the doctor without so much as a hello, "They're burned."

He stayed quiet on the details. As for the doctor, he didn't enquire. Perhaps he knew it wasn't a good idea to ask questions when there was a man in a black jacket involved. He unwrapped the bandages, showing Dafne for the first time her red, blistered skin beneath. Dafne was rather shocked but did her best to hide it. Basta was watching. She didn't want to upset him by appearing upset herself. Not after her brave talk in the hotel.

Thankfully the doctor gave her comforting news. The burns would heal on their own, if properly looked after. He gave Dafne instructions while he cleaned and dressed her hands in fresh bandages. Then he wrote a prescription for antibiotic ointment. The pharmacy was conveniently located next door. This time Dafne insisted to Basta that they wait their turn to be served. They were standing in line when a shriek erupted nearby.

"Dafne!"

Dafne regarded the other woman with surprise.

"Fia."

Fiammetta gave her a broad grin. She was wearing a sheer blue dress with a black lace bra visible underneath.

"No time no see," she looked at Basta, "Hi Bastie."

Basta glowered at her.

"Basta," he corrected her, "Bas-ta."

"Oh-kay," Fiammetta mimicked his tone before giggling. Then she caught sight of Dafne's hands, "Good Lord what happened to you," she exclaimed.

"It's er, a long story," Dafne replied, "What are you doing here?"

She regretted asking when Fiammetta unabashedly waved a box of prophylactics under her nose.

"Stocking up, for my next visit to the village," Fiammetta laughed, "What luck running into you two, you can give me a lift."

"Yeah I don't think so," Basta drawled, "First off we aren't going back there, second..."

"What do you mean, not going back?" Fiammetta interrupted.

"You tell her," Basta said to Dafne, "I'll take care of this," he took the prescription to the counter and barked at the pharmacist to fetch it immediately.

Dafne tried to summarise the events of the past night as best she could. Fiammetta's usually merry face grew rather solemn as she listened.

"So Cockie's gone," she said softly, "Well that's... a bit of a shame," she smiled a little sadly, "He was a bastard but he could be, I don't know, funny. We had some good times."

She sighed,

"I'm not sure what to do now. There's no point going to the village if there's no men there."

"Have you eaten?" Dafne asked, inviting her to come with them back to the hotel to meet the others for breakfast. Fiammetta happily accepted, much to Basta's annoyance when he found out.

"Being around Pietro and his idiot family is bad enough and you invite her," he grumbled as they walked back to the hotel.

Dafne shrugged,

"The more the merrier I guess," she said, causing Basta to roll his eyes.

The men waiting for them at the restaurant were happy to see Fiammetta, those who knew her at least. Enzo, or Lorenzo as Fiammetta called him, seemed particularly thrilled. Fiammetta made herself at home in his lap. Dafne took a seat next to Giosetta, who seemed a little out of place without Marietta at her side.

"Where's Marietta?"

"Still sleeping," Nero said dryly.

"She went a tad overboard last night," Giosetta explained.

Glancing around the table, Dafne had feeling they had all had a big night.

"Where's Orlanda?" she asked, noting another absence.

The question was met by sniggers.

"Probably holed up in her room crying over Pietro," Dante said.

"She confessed her love for him and he shot her down," Carlo explained gleefully.

"Well what was she expecting," Pietro growled. He was sitting opposite Dafne and there was no humour on his face, "I'm married with a kid on the way..."

"Doesn't stop you flirting with Dafne," Basta remarked under his breath loud for Pietro to hear.

He and Basta exchanged glares across the table.

"Orlanda isn't my type," Pietro turned his gaze to his coffee with a shudder, "No, definitely not."

"Well at least you set her straight," Dafne said brightly.

Pietro regarded her with a rather stern expression.

"Orlanda was under the impression that I'd commented on her figure. In an appreciative sense. She said you told her that."

Dafne froze, hoping her reaction would be construed as surprise, not guilt.

"Me?" she shook her head, "Why would I tell her that," Dafne did her best to feign indignation, "She's obviously lying."

"I hope so," Pietro said seriously, "I'd hate to think you were capable of such a cruel trick."

Basta burst out laughing. Dafne shot him an exasperated look. Pietro asked him what was so funny.

"Oh I'm just thinking of a funny thing Dafne told me," Basta answered, beginning to chuckle again.

"Care to share?" Pietro said dryly.

Dafne looked at Basta tensely, relieved when he shook his head.

"No it's a private joke. Just between us."

"Pietro, how long before the baby is born," Dafne asked, desperately wanting to change the subject, "Is it a boy or girl, do you know?"

She was glad to see Pietro brighten,

"A boy. He should be born in five weeks," he looked rather excited.

Franco was sitting next to him. He smiled.

"You're gonna love being a dad. It's great."

"You have kids?" Dafne couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. She found it a little hard to picture Franco as a father. Mostly because he seemed to be a rather willing hit man, offering to shoot Mortola last night. But apparently there was another side of him.

"Oh yeah," he said enthusiastically, "I have two girls. My angels. You wanna see?"

He brought a photograph out of his wallet and passed it to Dafne.

"The oldest is Luigina or Gina, she's six, and Chiara's four," he informed her with pride.

"Cute," Dafne said. The girls had their father's freckles.

"Very cute," Giosetta agreed, taking a look herself.

Massimo was seated on the other side of Giosetta. He waved his hand when she offered him the picture to look at.

"I've seen it already," he threw Franco an annoyed look, "More than once."

"Yeah Franco uses every opportunity to bring out that bloody picture," Carlo rolled his eyes.

"You would too if you had adorable kids," Franco retorted, taking back the photograph and grinning at it, "But you don't even have a girlfriend do you Carlo."

Carlo flushed red with embarrassment.

"So what if I don't have a..."

"He has Enzo," Dante interrupted, causing much laughter.

"Would everyone stop with the gay jokes," Carlo raged, "Enzo and I like women."

"Yeah I think that's kinda obvious," Enzo said, indicating Fiammetta perched on his lap. She didn't end up offering him much help.

"What a shame," she said, "I think you two would make a cute couple."

This comment prompted more laughter. Enzo shot Fiammetta a look of betrayal. She responded by giving his shoulder a playful swat.

"Don't worry cutie," she purred, "I know which way you swing more than anyone."

"Ew," Dante pulled a face, "Please no details."

"Oh I never give details," Fiammetta declared, "I pride myself on confidentiality."

Basta snorted.

"You big liar. You told Dafne..." he stopped with a stricken look on his face as he realised what he was saying, "Nevermind," he said quickly, ducking his head to avoid the curious glances shot his way.

Dafne was grateful Marietta chose that moment to make her late entrance and distract everyone. She wasn't looking the best with a wan face and puffy eyes. Giosetta gave her a sympathetic look.

"How are you feeling?"

"Kinda awful," Marietta groaned, "Why did I drink so much?"

"Because you have no self-control," Nero answered bemusedly.

Marietta glared at him with her hands on her hips,

"What the hell Nero. You skip off to breakfast without me. What kind of boyfriend are you?"

"A good one for taking care of you last night," Nero shot back, "I held your hair while you threw up in the toliet..."

"Gee that sounds romantic," Dante said sarcastically.

Giosetta giggled.

"Not that you probably remember," Nero told a slightly confused looking Marietta, "You were really wasted."

Marietta was speechless a moment. Then she smiled.

"You really held my hair?"

Nero rolled his eyes,

"Yes. And I did try to wake you for your information," he folded his arms, "Not my fault you were pretty much comatose."

Marietta laughed. She skipped over to Nero and put her arms around him,

"Aren't you sweet," she cooed in a somewhat teasing voice, "holding my hair while I puke and stuff."

"Yeah, yeah," Nero looked embarrassed, probably because his companions were grinning, "Just don't go on about it."

Marietta didn't need to be told twice. She complained that she was starving and hailed a waiter over. Dafne was glad she did. It gave her and Basta a chance to order as well.

"Hey how good is this," Marietta beamed at Dafne and Giosetta, "Having food brought to us for a change."

"It was so nice to sleep in too," Giosetta agreed, "I won't miss having to get up at the crack of dawn."

"I won't miss having to dress Capricorn," Dafne said, "Or giving Mortola reading lessons."

"Which would you say was worse?" Marietta asked.

"Hmm, that's a tough one. Both were extremely unpleasant."

"Yeah I probably wouldn't be able to decide either," Marietta conceded, "But really Mr. Red shouldn't have been such a lazy ass and dressed himself."

"Maybe Mortola never taught him how," Giosetta giggled.

"Ha maybe," Marietta grinned, "God I can't believe she turned out to be his Mommy. I just thought she had an old lady crush on him."

"Yeah me too," Giosetta said, pulling a slightly disgusted face.

"Related or not, I'm glad they're both dead," Dafne said, "So what are you two going to do now?"

"Well as you can see we've decided to stick with our boyfriends," Marietta said, "'Cause we actually kinda love them."

"Yes," Giosetta murmured in agreement. She glanced at Massimo and they exchanged rather sweet smiles.

"So we're going to head north with them," Marietta went on, "Moustache Man," she indicated Pietro who looked faintly amused by the moniker, "he said that there's a town near the headquarters, so me and Giosie can get jobs that actually pay wages."

"I wouldn't mind being a hairdresser again," Giosetta said.

This came as no surprise to Dafne. Giosetta had told her about her past. She had been working as a hairdresser when she had mistakenly fallen in love with an ex-con called Gennaro. Gennaro had joined Capricorn's crew and convinced Giosetta to move into the village with him. She didn't find out she would have to work as a maid until they got there. It had been an unpleasant shock and because she was dating one of Capricorn's men, the only maid who wanted to befriend her had been Marietta. She had introduced her to Massimo and there had been an instant connection between them.

Gennaro hadn't been happy to discover his girlfriend making friends with another man. He beat her pretty badly over it, much to Massimo's fury when he found out. He and Nero had taken Gennaro into the woods, forcing him to dig his own grave at gunpoint. Then Massimo ordered him to leave the village, telling him if he came back he would end up in this hole. Gennaro believed this threat, high-tailing it elsewhere. Massimo and Giosetta started dating after that. According to her, he was very sweet and never treated her violently like Gennaro had.

"Ooo maybe I can be a hairdresser too," Marietta said enthusiastically.

Unlike Giosetta she hadn't had a profession before coming to the village. She was a farmer's daughter, the second eldest of five female siblings. Capricorn had heard about this excess of daughters and demanded one of them as a maid. Marietta had been chosen at her stepmother's insistence. The two had always loathed each other. So when her stepmother saw an opportunity to get rid of Marietta, she took it. She argued to Marietta's father that Marietta was the least productive of his girls, convincing him it was better to give her up than one of the others. Marietta still harboured deep resentment for her father for listening to her stepmother and casting her out of home. It was understandable why she would prefer to start a new life elsewhere instead of returning to the family farm.

"God help the poor soul that lets you near their head with scissors," Nero drawled.

Marietta threw her a boyfriend a fiery look.

"Shut up Nero," she retorted, "For all you know I might actually be good at it."

Dafne turned to Pietro instead of watching the couple bicker.

"So you're going to keep the north headquarters running?" she asked.

"I had planned on it," Pietro answered, "Why, what do you think I should do?"

Dafne shrugged,

"I don't know. Invest in some vineyards like Nico's father. Become a legitimate businessman."

She gave him a hopeful look. He smiled.

"Is that your... angelic advice?"

Dafne smiled faintly at his choice of wording.

"Yes Mr. Devil," she replied, "And if you aren't willing to do that, at least pay your maids wages."

Pietro laughed,

"Well that I can do for sure. As for the rest, I'll have a think about it, okay bella."

"Don't call her bella," Basta growled.

Pietro smiled at Basta's glare unaffectedly.

"What about you amico," he said, "I'm slightly curious about what you'll do for legitimate employment. Do you have any plans?"

Basta glanced at Dafne. She shrugged a little helplessly.

"No," he turned back to Pietro, "Not as yet."

Pietro smiled brightly,

"Well maybe we can help you think of something, right famiglia," he glanced around the table, "Who has a career idea for Basta?"

The majority of Pietro's cousins didn't look like they wanted to participate in this exercise. They stayed silent, leaving Nico to offer the only suggestion.

"Um, you like knives," he said to Basta, "So maybe you could be a knife salesman."

Everyone stared at Nico a little incredulously. Dafne included. She couldn't really envision Basta as a salesman.

"Are you being serious?" Dante asked.

Nico shrugged, looking a little discouraged by the group's reaction.

"Yeah, he could go door to door and stuff..."

Carlo started howling with laughter.

"That would be hilarious," he adopted a raspy voice, "Hi I'm Basta, buy my knives or I'll cut you," he mimed stabbing gestures.

"Shut up Carlo," Basta gave the other man such a threatening look he ceased his impression immediately, "I do not sound like that."

"It was an interesting idea Nico," Pietro gave his cousin a reassuring look since he was looking a little disheartened, "But I don't think Basta has the right..." his mouth formed a faintly mocking smile, "temperament to be a salesman."

Basta chose to take offense at this evaluation.

"Oh yeah, well what work do you think I would be good at, genius?" he snapped.

"How about working for a security company," Pietro suggested after some thought, "Or in debt collection. Those jobs require people who can act intimidating. You're good at that."

Basta brightened,

"Yeah I am," he turned to Dafne with a look of enthusiasm, "Maybe I can do one of those jobs, little mouse."

Dafne gave him an encouraging smile. She was grateful to Pietro for coming up with suitable type jobs for Basta. She hadn't been able to think of any herself.

"Of course you're going to need all the necessary paper trail documents," Pietro said, "Birth certificate, driver's licence, that sort of thing. I think I can help you there."

"How?" Dafne asked, cursing herself a little for not foreseeing this problem.

"I have a forger contact," Pietro replied, "I can arrange for them to make you some authentic-looking documents."

"You would?" Dafne beamed at Pietro gratefully, "Thank you."

She nudged Basta and gave him a meaningful look. He sighed.

"Thanks Pietro," he muttered.

Pietro smiled.

"You're welcome pumpkin."

"Don't call me pumpkin!"

After breakfast it was time to leave. They picked up Ignazio from the man at reception, who looked relieved for the group to drop off their room keys and exit the building. By the time they reached the car park Dafne was full of excitement. She was finally going home. Still it was sad to say goodbye to Marietta and Giosetta. But they promised to keep in touch. The northern headquarters wasn't that far away from Dafne's village.

After the two were done squeezing her, Dante came up and punched her gently on the shoulder,

"I'd hug ya but Basta's watching," he informed her almost conspiratorially.

He was right. Basta was eyeing their interaction like hawk, looking a little like a super villain with Ignazio cradled in his arms.

"I'll miss you fellow third wheel," Dante went on, "It won't be the same hanging out with the lovebirds without you."

"You could always get yourself a girlfriend," Dafne suggested.

"Well I keep asking Giosie and she says no," Dante said with mock sad pout, "Something to do with dating with my lame ass brother."

He said this last part loud enough for Massimo to hear and throw him an offensive hand gesture. Dante returned the gesture with a grin.

"My advice is to try someone who isn't your brother's girlfriend," Dafne said.

Dante laughed,

"Yeah I 'spose," he gave her another friendly punch, this time on the opposite shoulder, "See ya Dafferz."

Dafne rolled her eyes at the nickname. It made her sound like a Looney Tunes character. But she admitted she would miss Dante. She would always remember how he had shared his cantuccini when she had been starving.

Fiammetta flounced up to her next, with Enzo and Carlo in tow.

"Bye lovely," she chirped, engulfing her in a hug.

She waved at Basta,

"Hey pumpkin," she thought Pietro's nickname for Basta was hilarious and had started using it, "I guess since you're dating Dafne, it would inappropriate to give you hug eh?"

"I wouldn't want one from you anyway," Basta bristled, "And don't call me pumpkin."

"If you get sick of him, I'm always available," Carlo whispered to Dafne, "I still think you're cute."

He gave her a smile. Dafne stared at him rather shocked.

"Christ do you have a death wish," Enzo muttered to Carlo, "Basta's like a couple of metres away you dope."

He grabbed Carlo by the collar and started dragging him away, throwing a curt "bye" to Dafne over his shoulder. Fiammetta ran after them, linking her arm with Enzo's while he had Carlo in a headlock with the other.

"Well aren't you popular," Basta remarked dryly as he came over to her. No one had really wished him a warm farewell, likely because Basta had never treated them with much friendlessness.

Dafne shrugged in response to his comment, leaning over Ignazio to kiss him on the cheek.

A bit of doubt started to dampen Dafne's spirits during the car ride. What if Silvio and Netta weren't at Signor Orazio's? What if they had decided to go elsewhere, for some unknown reason. What if Signor Orazio thought Dafne was the thief who had stolen his wife's necklace and torched a box of books?

No, she told herself resolutely, he would never believe me capable of that. He knows me.

And there was no reason to suspect Silvio and Netta were anywhere else. She had given them Beatrice's necklace and the address to the house. Where else would two orphans bound to go.

Yes. They'll be there, she thought, and Basta will be very surprised when he discovers Silvio was the brother I was talking about.

"Excited?" Basta asked. She had started smiling at him unconsciously.

"Very," she replied, cuddling up his shoulder.

Her sleepy village looked unchanged as Nico drove through it. Signor Orazio's neighbourhood was no exception. Even his house, an elegant white structure, looked the same as the day she had been forced from it. So much had happened to her since then. She had survived slavery, fallen in love. Now she was finally home.

"Nice place," Pietro commented.

Dafne smiled joyfully.

"Yes isn't it lovely."

"We won't stick around bella," Pietro said, "We don't want to intrude on your reunion."

Dafne nodded, grateful for his thoughtfulness.

"And we'll see each other soon enough," Pietro went on, "Since I'm getting those documents for you. I think we should meet at the vineyard. It's pretty out there so... I'll give you a business card," he produced one from his wallet, "The address is on there and..." he rummaged in his coat for a pen, "I'll write my number on it so you can call me directly."

Dafne watched him write with some fascination. She had assumed Pietro was as illiterate as the rest of Capricorn's men.

"You're looking a little gobsmacked," Pietro observed as he handed the card.

"Oh it's just, I didn't think you could write," Dafne admitted a little embarrassedly, "I had to teach your cousin how to hold a pen."

Pietro chuckled at this,

"Well that's what happens when you drop out of school," he said, "Nico, my sister and I are the only ones who graduated. My sister even went to university. She's a lawyer."

"A lawyer, really."

"Helps to have one in a family like mine," Pietro said, "Otherwise we'd all be jail."

Dafne stowed the card in her pocket. Then she reached to put her arms around Pietro's neck.

"Thank you for everything," she murmured, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, "Really."

"You're welcome bella," Pietro murmured back, returning the hug.

"Alright that's enough," Basta demanded and the pair released each other, "Why did you kiss him for?" he complained.

"Envious pumpkin?" Pietro purred, "Do you want to give me a kiss too, to make it even?"

Basta pulled a disgusted face.

"God no. And don't call me pumpkin!"

"What about Sweet Pea?" Pietro suggested with a grin.

Basta groaned,

"Even worse," he shook his head almost resignedly, "Just get lost you moron."

Pietro winked at Dafne,

"Ciao bella."

He moved aside and Nico rushed in to hug Dafne as well, only briefly so Basta didn't protest.

"Take care Dafne," he pushed up his sunglasses to show her those lovely eyes as he smiled.

"You too Nico."

Then the cousins took their leave, with Pietro waving "Ciao Sweet Pea!" cheerfully out the window as they drove away.

Basta sighed,

"Idiot."

But now the distraction of said idiot was gone, Basta looked rather nervous as he stared up the path leading to Signor Orazio's front door. Dafne laid a gentle hand on his arm,

"Are you okay?"

"What if he doesn't like me?" Basta said in a small voice.

"Signor Orazio?"

Basta grimaced,

"Once he learns I'm the one who kidnapped you, he'll probably want to call the police."

"He won't do that," Dafne assured him.

"How do you know?"

"Just trust me," she smiled.

She walked up to the front door with Basta trailing behind. Her fingers were trembled slightly as she went to ring the door bell. Then she waited with bated breath, her heart pounding. Behind the door she heard approaching footfalls and the door swung open to reveal...

Dafne almost didn't recognise Silvio. He'd had something of a haircut and was wearing new clothes. But his grin was unchanged, brilliant as always,

"Dafne!"

He grabbed her in a hug. Dafne didn't notice until he released her that there were tears streaming down her face.

"Oh it's so good to see you," she babbled full of happiness and relief.

"Silvio?" Basta sounded completely stunned. Dafne wiped the tears out of her eyes to see his expression matched.

Silvio beamed at him,

"Hey Basta."

He took a step towards him, remembered something and turned around,

"Netta!" he hollered into the house, "Dafne and Basta are here!"

Then he bounced down the path to where Basta was.

"Hey."

"Hey," Basta snapped, having recovered from his shock, "Is that all you say for yourself? Do you know how worried I've been you idiot. And you've been here the whole time!"

Silvio pouted.

"Well yeah. Didn't Dafne tell you?"

Both turned to Dafne. She shrugged a little sheepishly.

"Um, surprise."

Netta chose this moment to emerge from the house. Like Silvio she was wearing new clothes.

"Dafne," she gave her a tight hug. Then she noticed Ignazio, "Oh Nacy!"

She raced over to Basta.

"You brought him," she cried happily, "Oh thank you. Thank you."

Basta actually seemed to blush at the girl's gratitude.

"Don't mention it," he said gruffly, "Just take the stupid thing."

Netta didn't need to be asked twice. She swept the cat into her arms and cuddled him.

"Well I guess I can't be mad at you if Dafne never told me," Basta said to Silvio, who grinned and took this as an invitation to hug the other man. Basta didn't look entirely comfortable with him doing this. But afterwards he patted the boy's head affectionately, "So where's this master of yours Miss Surprise?" he called to Dafne.

"He's taking a nap," Netta said.

"No he's awake," a gentle voice floating from the house, followed by its owner, the elderly gentleman Dafne loved like a grandfather, "I heard the commotion."

He smiled at Dafne, his intelligent blue eyes watery.

"My dear girl, it's good to see you," his voice trembled slightly, "I've been very worried."

Dafne flew into his arms as soon as he opened them.

"I've missed you so much," she gasped tearfully.

Signor Orazio stroked her hair, murmuring that he had missed her too.

"What happened to your hands?" he asked when they finally let go of each other.

"I'll explain later," Dafne said, wiping the tears from her cheeks, "I want you to meet Basta."

She beckoned to Basta with an encouraging smile. He came forward a little hesitantly.

"Hello Signore," he said in the respectful tone Dafne had only heard him using on Capricorn. She was a little moved. He obviously wanted to make a good first impression.

"So you're the infamous Basta," Signor Orazio said, "Silvio has told me a lot about you."

Basta looked a little relieved. He knew the boy would have only said good things about him. Still he was surprised when Signor Orazio extended his hand to him. He stared at it uncertainly before he went to shake it.

"You know it's not every day I meet a character from one the books I published," Signor Orazio remarked, "You're the first in fact."

Basta smiled a little confusedly. He probably didn't understand what Orazio meant by 'published'.

"I remember Inkheart quite well of course," a nostalgic glint entered Orazio's eyes. This happened when he talked about any book he had published in his career, "It received a little controversy, because the characters were awfully wicked..."

"I'm not wicked," Basta protested rather insistently, "I'm good now. Dafne will tell you."

Signor Orazio smiled at him gently.

"I'm sure she will," he said, "But she doesn't really have to. Actions speak louder than words, my boy. You've brought Dafne home to me. I'm grateful for that."

Basta brightened at this. He smiled at Dafne who smiled back. Signor Orazio suggested they make their way inside. Dafne thought that was a wonderful idea. She took Basta's hand. They entered the house together.

To be continued...

Yes this isn't the ending. There will be an epilogue.

But I felt them going into the house together was like coming full circle. Basta bundled Dafne out of the house in the first chapter.