APOV

"Are you ok, sweet girl."

I turned to see my grandfather approach before he carefully sat down on the jetty by my side.

"I'm fine Granddad, I just have a lot on my mind."

"I'll bet, a problem shared is a problem halved" he said before he let out a sad laugh. "That is what your mother used to say to me when I used to hole myself up in my office for days at a time when we were having trouble."

"I bet you spent a lot of time in there then, this family attracts trouble" I laughed, laying my head against his shoulder as I felt a kiss to my hair. The mention of my mother had my hand reaching for my locket, where it always rested near my heart.

"When you're at the top, there is always someone who wants to knock you down. Our families were always the strongest. We have worked together many time over the years, our businesses working in sync with each other. When you married Christian, you not only made a lot of people very happy, you also made a lot of our enemies worry."

"This woman, she doesn't work like others we have seen before."

"No, she doesn't, she's a loose cannon who's tried to go against the people who this family protect the most. As far as Christian and the rest of us are concerned, she will be treated like every other enemy of this family."

"Maybe it's going to take a woman of this family to go up against her" I told him.

"Then she should run and hide now" he said smiling.

"Forgetting about her for a minute, how are you feeling" I asked him.

"I'm ok, you said it yourself. I just had a cold."

"I know, I'm allowed to worry about you though."

"Although I would love to see my Carlotta again, I'm in no rush to leave you all. I have so much more life to live and so much to tell her when I finally meet my little girl again."

"I can't part with you Granddad."

"Hey, none of that, I'm not going anywhere for a very long time. I have three figures to get to yet. That's my next goal."

"And much more" I said, lifting my head from his shoulder to kiss his cheek.

We were joined then by Rosie who had come to explore. Gizmo who had been sleeping behind us, lay still as she climbed over him to reach us. Sprout and Rocco were on the beach, deciding whether to go in the water or not and Milo was doing laps I think, across the front of where I sat.

"She's just a perfect little thing" Granddad said, getting a lick from Rosie.

"Just like her owner" I told him as he nodded.

"Luciana grows like a weed. Every time we come back here, she seems to have grown half a foot more."

"I know, I think she will take after Christian and her brothers in the height department before she finishes growing. I will be the short one of the family."

"You're perfect the way you are Ana."

It was lovely sitting here as the light breeze blew across the water, peaceful. We could hear the murmur of voices in my house behind us but we were in no rush to move.

"They have worn themselves out" Granddad laughed looking at the dogs who littered the jetty behind us, all sleeping or snoring in the warm summer sun.

"Yes, mention dinner or a chewy thought and they will be up" I laughed mentioning that one word and Milo's ears shot up.

"Was it dinner."

"No, CHEWY" I called out, seeing five dogs suddenly on their feet, barking in excitement of the chew stick they were excited to receive. Rosie joining them, her bark nowhere near as loud as the boys but she wanted one too.

"Did someone say that secret word" Christian asked as he stepped out onto the patio. The dogs ran to him, when he waved about the chew sticks he had in his hand.

They all sat for him, waiting patiently before they all ran to different parts of the garden to enjoy their treat, making sure none of the others could take it off them if was put down for a second.

"Do you have a numb bum yet" Christian asked us as he approached.

"Oh, about an hour ago. Do you want to help an old man up" Granddad asked my husband who helped him to his feet.

"Princess" Christian said, smiling as he held his hand to me.

"Thank you" I smiled, as he helped me to my feet.

Standing now, I could feel the ache of sitting on the jetty for so long. We slowly walked back to the house, shutting the gate behind us to keep the dogs dry for now.

"Ana, there is a parcel here for you and Mr Christian" Dulce called from the back door.

I looked to Christian, knowing neither of us were expecting anything.

"Where did it come from" Christian asked her.

"The young man Harvey gave it to me at the front door. He said it had been checked and cleared."

We made our way into the kitchen where the box was on the counter, I recognised the address immediately.

"It's from Chicago" I said, opening it.

Inside was another box, this one cream with at bow around it, beautiful unlike its brown outer.

I pulled the bow off, looking at the contents inside. Turning to Christian, I smiled before picking up the letter that lay on top of all the other envelopes. Opening this one, I read it out loud.

To Aunt Ana and Uncle Christian,

Garret and I after years of being together are finally getting married.

Mum and Dad are over the moon, telling us it's about time and to get on with the grandchildren. I'm sure you can hear my eyes rolling from there.

We would love you all to be here with us on our special day, our whole family together to celebrate with us.

I will speak to you soon.

Love Valentina

"Years of being together, she's twenty" Matteo said.

"Yes, and they have been together since they were 14. Can we go to Chicago" I asked Christian, not knowing how everything is going to go outside this house at the moment.

"Looks like we're all going" he said, pulling the envelopes out of the box and handed them to everyone including my Dad and Grandparents.

"There is one here for Mac. Will he get the chance to come over" I asked my grandparents as I opened the actual invitation for Christian and I, which he read over my shoulder.

"I don't see why not, it's been pretty quiet over there at the moment. Touch wood, it continues" he said making me laugh as he touched Matteo's head.

"Thanks Granddad, glad to know my head is made of wood."

While they were teasing each other, I turned to Christian.

"Getting away Ana, although not exactly the best time, I think will do us all some good. If the children were little, you would've been at the safe house when all this started."

"No Christian, not this time. I'm not hiding but I won't be stupid either."

"Stupid is not a word that springs to mind when I think of you Ana. I will speak to Dante, let him know what has been going on. The wedding is at their home so security will be incredibly tight anyway. I won't turn you into a prisoner here Ana, we just have to be careful."

"I know" I said being wrapped in his arms.

Everyone was excited for our upcoming trip and Christian is right, a break will do us some good.

"Are Luca and Oriella up yet" I asked seeing their unopened invitation still on the counter.

"No, I haven't seen them" Grandma said.

"Probably having a lie-in" Matteo said, raising his eyebrow, just like his father does.

I let go of Christian for a minute, walking towards the stairs to see if Luca and Oriella wanted something to eat as it was getting on for lunch time. Being home most of the time, I ran out of things to do quickly. One thing I can always do and the family not protest about though, is feed them.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Luca and Oriella were coming down.

"I was just coming to find you; do you want some..." I stopped seeing the red eyes of them both. "What is it, what's wrong" I asked breathless.

They both smiled to each other before Oriella showed me her hand. Luca had finally done it after all these years, he had asked Oriella to marry him.

My squeal had everyone running as I pulled them both into my arms, my tears now joining theirs.

"Princess what is it" Christian asked.

"Show him" I said, excitedly.

Oriella showed him the ring on her finger and then Christian did what I just did, minus the squeal.

"Let me look, let me look" Lucy asked, wanting to see the ring.

I knew what it looked like, I had been there when he had chosen it.

"It's like you wait for a bus and two come along at once, congrats you two" Matteo said, hugging his brother and Oriella.

"Thanks bro but what have you been smoking" Luca asked, laughing.

"We all just received invitations to Valentina and Garrets wedding next month."

Matteo handed his brother the invitation which he and Oriella opened together.

"Next month" Luca repeated.

"Yes, I'm sure there is something she isn't telling us" Matteo told him as Luca also read the letter.

"Ori and I would like a bit more time than that."

"How long" I asked.

"Christmas in Caccamo" he said looking to me as I brought my hand to my mouth. I don't think my Grandmother was much different.

He wants to get married in the same church that I did.

"It will be perfect" I told him.

"Lucy do you have a minute" Oriella asked her as they both stepped outside.

"Is she ok" I asked Luca, looking at the two girls before they disappeared from sight.

"Yeah, she's perfect Mum" he smiled, pulling me in for a hug.

The girls were back in a few minutes, happily chatting away.

"Ana."

"Yes Sweetheart"

"Where is Christian" Oriella asked me.

"He just went to his office, you can go through."

"Unless you hear shouting" Matteo teased her.

"Are you ok Lucy" I asked her.

"Yes, I finally get a sister."

"I think you have had one for a long time. Theo is supposed to be bringing Ava home for lunch tomorrow. You need to tell him" I said looking to Luca.

"He already knows, I sent him a message while my fiancée hand was being pulled about."

"Expect a lot of that" I smiled.

"Ana, Christian wants you" Oriella said, coming from Christian's office. She looked like she had been crying again.

"You ok" a little nod was what I received before I made my way to see Christian.

Entering the office, his chair had its back to me so I knew he was looking at the photos of our family he had there. Closing the door, I moved closer as he quickly turned around and pulled me into his arms.

"What is it" I asked, seeing his slight red eyes. "Talk to me Christian."

"Oriella asked me if I would give her away when she marries our son. Ori said she asked Lucy if that was ok because she didn't want to upset her if I agreed to give her away first."

"Oh, Christian. Our daughter is certainly not upset. She's bouncing around in there as much as that little pup does, so happy she gets a sister. What answer did you give Oriella"

"Yes, of course. I'm honoured that she would ask me and if I'm honest, overwhelmed as well."

"She sees us as her parents, she has for a very long time. They never had time for her, unless it was trying to keep her and Luca apart."

"I know. Oriella has been part of our family for so long, I forget sometimes that she wasn't born into it."

"That would make it weird, if she was" I laughed, being ticked by my husband.

"I suppose it's a good job I'm not working everyday now. We all have a wedding to plan."

"Are you ok Princess, you were sat outside for a long while before your Granddad joined you."

"I'm fine, just trying to get my head around everything. Thinking of how this woman's mind works. I meant to ask you, when you were with Ramirez, did he say anything about all the businesses we destroyed."

"No, he was too busy sprouting shit. Hain gave us an address that he had for them in Mexico. I don't really like crossing borders but I have a team checking it out."

"If we have just destroyed their complete livelihood, don't you think he would've been more concerned."

"I would be, this woman though, I don't know. The list of our addresses that Hain had came from Cameron, it was the same handwriting."

"So, he was definitely playing both sides."

"Yes, not any more though. Next week when you're at the surgery, I'm having two guys in the building with you, the security office is big enough. I will also be having guys outside, surrounding the building. They will blend in Ana, don't worry they won't be a problem."

"If David drops me off at the front door instead of parking up and we both walking in together then I will be covered. There is a canopy overhead. Has Hain got back to them yet."

"No, not yet. He told them he wanted to do surveillance of where you or Lucy would be the most at first. With Lucy being on the holidays, she's not out there as much and If she is, she is surrounded by her guards. If he gets back to them too quickly then they're either going to think he's an amateur and mess it up or he knows where the exact places are, like the club."

"Where is he staying."

"He has a hotel room in the city. I did offer to find him a room but he declined. Hain said the less contact he had for now the better."

"And when this is all over, will he disappear again."

"I don't know Ana, I hope not but I can understand if he does."

"You never talked about him" I said, brushing the hair from his forehead.

"It's hard, Hain is like Jason and John, like brothers to me. Losing him when he disappeared, gutted us all. We looked for him for a long time but we had to let him go, knowing that he would come back when he was ready to. I never knew what he did until he came back to protect my mum. Knowing a brother was going through so much pain and there was not a damn thing we could do about it, hurt. We could kill the ones who did this to him and we did but it didn't bring his parents back, didn't bring Laney back."

"I know, family is the most precious thing we have."

"Come in" Christian shouted when someone knocked on the office door.

I didn't get up, he wouldn't let me anyway.

"Hello, you busy" Theo asked.

"No, we're just discussing putting the world to rights son."

"Who is Boss" he asked, making me laugh when Christian pointed to me. "What's the plan then."

"The plan is to celebrate your brother's engagement and I need to call Valentina to let her know that we're attending the wedding."

"Sounds perfect Ana" Christian said as he finally let me up from his lap.

"I wanted to talk to you about Ava."

"Yes, is she ok" I said, quickly turning to my son.

"She's fine Mum, she's here, I hope you don't mind. I didn't want to leave her behind when I got Luca's message."

"No, son. I'm so happy that you have brought her. How much does she know about the family" I asked before I could get too happy that he had brought her home.

"She knows the rumours like everyone else and she knows the truth."

"You told her" I asked.

"He didn't need to" Christian told me.

"What."

"Like with your businesses, if you have an opening you try and bring people in that are in the business, the family, before looking outside. Dad did the same with Ava. Her Grandfather was an old associate of Granddad Trevelyan."

"Why didn't you tell me" I asked him.

"I didn't know our son would start dating her. Then again after our visit to the office, I should've known."

"I'm glad you brought her home son" I told him as we left the office and went back to join our family.

Ava was sat talking to Grandma out on the patio when I went out.

"It's lovely to have you here Ava, I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived" I told her.

"It's ok Ana, you have a beautiful home."

"Thank you, it is lovely, when the children are all out and the dogs are not shedding. It does stay clean for five minutes then" I told her, smiling.

"My Dad has a dog, I think it's a bit of everything. A complete fluff ball and you can always tell where he has been."

"With these dogs dear, Ana doesn't need to look for them, they're her shadows" Grandma said looking at the four dogs behind me on the patio. Ava wouldn't know this but to them, she's a stranger so they won't go far away from me until they know she's not a threat.

"Can I get you anything to drink Ava, Grandma."

"I would love a tea" Ava said, grandma wanting tea also so I made my way back into the house with my entourage following. Dad and Isabella took my place outside, getting to know the newcomer.

I put the kettle on, going into the living room to see if anyone else wanted a drink. They all seemed to be watching Lucy and I had no idea why.

"What's going on" I asked.

"My little sister is up to something" Matteo said.

"Decisions decisions" Lucy said finally when she decided to let us in on her mischief.

"What do you need to make a decision about Lucy" Luca asked her from the chair where he was practically wrapped around Oriella.

"It says on my invitation that I can bring a plus one, what boy can I bring from school" she said excitedly.

Everyone was about to protest but it was Luca who spoke up.

"Invite them all. We can get rid of them all in a strange city surrounded by many mafia families because there won't just be us and the Rossi family there. If they can survive a weekend like that, then they might be worthy of dating my sister. Shit" Luca said quietly looking out the back door where Ava was laughing with Isabella.

"She knows bro, don't worry about it" Theo told him.

"Can I bring someone."

"A girl" Christian asked.

"Of course, a girl. I wouldn't let any of the boys from school near any of you, you're all crazy."

"Which one" Christian asked her.

"Gabbie. I can bring Nicole something back, besides her mum wouldn't let her go to Chicago anyway, that's where he's from."

"Another killing two birds with one stone comes to mind. Attend a family wedding and kill a child abuser, perfect weekend" Theo said to his father who just smiled.

"Whatever you're planning, don't. Gun shots aren't customary to see the bride down the aisle."

I looked up to see Christian's raised eyebrow.

"Who am I kidding, they will probably have a gun salute. Does anyone want a drink" I asked this crazy lot.

"Coffee please Princess. Ell, Ethan and my parents all got similar boxes to us this morning. Jac and Daniel were not too happy that they weren't allowed to do a controlled explosion on theirs when it arrived" Christian said, chuckling to himself.

This family is mad, crazy but I love them.

As everyone moved onto the patio, I picked my phone up calling Valentina to let her know that we would all be coming. We would have to let her know about the children's plus one when they decided for sure who they were taking.

"Congratulations young lady" I said when she answered the phone.

"Aunt Ana, thank you. I'm so excited. Mum hasn't stopped crying yet."

"Yeah mums are like that when their kids do pretty much anything."

"Can you come."

"Of course. Mac, Sofia and AJ are still in Italy but Granddad is going to call him. Lucy is teasing everyone on which boy to bring."

"Oh my god, have Christian and the boys got steam coming out of their ears" she laughed.

"Not far off it, until Luca suggested she invite all the boys and they can lose them in Chicago."

"I miss you all, there is never a dull moment in your house" she laughed.

"We miss you too. Hold on a second, Luca wants you."

"Congrats, Valentina. I have news….Oriella and I are getting married also….yes I will send you an invite, you will have to come to Italy though."

While Luca was on the phone, I took the drinks out that I had made before excusing myself when I saw my son.

"Mum it will be just me, no plus one" Matteo said, putting the tray of tiramisu from the fridge onto the counter.

Luca went to hand the phone back to me once he had said goodbye but I gestured for him to give Matteo the phone instead, putting the tiramisu back in the fridge where it's staying until after dinner.

"Hey Valentina, you sure you're not knocked up."

A normal parent would be offended for their son to just come out and ask a girl that but Valentina can give back as good as she can take. As children it was like having triplets when the Rossi's were in town as she was always with my twins.

"Well if you want, we can smuggle you out of there before the wedding."

"Matteo Eamon Grey, give me that phone."

He handed me the phone laughing before he went outside to join the others.

"I don't think my son will ever grow up Valentina."

"He's ok Ana, he wouldn't be Matteo if he wasn't trying to wind me up about something."

"I'm so happy for you Valentina, we will all be there. I will let you know who Lucy and Theo bring. Oh, and Christian said he's going to call your Dad about security, you know how they are."

"Yes, overprotective. I will let you go to your crazy family and I will see you when you land here."

"Will do, take care and give your parents my love."

I hung up, finally getting my drink and went outside to join everyone else.

Sitting next to Christian, I clinked my cup to Oriella's and Luca's.

"Congratulations you two, your Dad and I are so happy for you both."

"We all are" my grandmother said as her cup joined the others.

"Celebrating with a cup of tea, do we have British in our blood" Matteo asked.

"No but it's too early for Champagne, we will bring that out later at dinner and do this all over again."

"It's evening somewhere in the world mum" Matteo told me.

"Ok let me rephrase that, it's too early for me to drink champagne and every other sane person here. Now an engagement party, what did you want."

"Family, that's all we want" Luca told us.

"No big party" Matteo asked him.

"You know me bro, I'm not one for the limelight."

"I'm definitely not" Oriella told them.

"You're wedding though, you invited Valentina."

"Yes, she's family. We want a wedding that is just family and I don't just mean blood but we don't want everyone who's of rank to attend unless they know us personally. Will that look disrespectful" he asked, turning to his father.

"Son, Ori it's your wedding. If people have a problem that they don't get an invite, then I will deal with them."

"Yeah bro, you can have a quiet wedding. Theo who's next in line has no chance" Matteo laughed before he felt my hand on the back on his head.

Ava who had practically choked on her drink was having her back rubbed by Theo while he stared daggers his brother.

"Sorry Ava."

"It's ok Matteo, Theo has warned me all about your brain fart moments and he told me to ignore you."

Christian barked out a laugh, lifting his cup to Ava this time as it was Matteo's turn to be teased now.

An engagement dinner was planned for before we went to Chicago, the details I'm told I have to leave up to Christian. Mac and his family are coming to Valentina and Garret's wedding so will land in Seattle before we all fly to Chicago together a couple of days later. They will be here for my little boy's engagement party and I don't know who's more happier.

As I sat, wrapped under Christian's arm I looked to my children. Luca and Oriella are getting married and are so happy they look like they're going to burst. Theo and Ava, you can see just watching them interact how much they mean to each other all ready. Lucy is just Lucy, crazy little girl with a heart of gold and then there is Matteo, my single boy. He may not have met thee one yet but he's happy and that is all a parent could wish for.

Thank you for reading.

I'm very proud that my Mafia Christian has been nominated in the category of Best Christian in this months poll on the Facebook group Top Five FSOG Stories. Bad Girls has also been nominated in the Completed fic category as well so I'm a very happy bunny.

There are some amazing stories also nominated so if you have time, go on and cast your vote. If you are not already a member of the group its easy to be added.

For those wanting Ana to get her hands on Maria, that will come. She will be getting a bit of practice in over the next couple of chapter though.

Until next time

Caroline.