CPOV

"Happy anniversary Princess" I said, clinking my glass to my wife's.

"Happy anniversary Christian. Twenty-two years, where have they gone."

"I don't know but they have been the best of my life."

"Mine too."

We were in Palermo, having a quiet dinner, just the two of us. Champagne and candles were quickly put away and extinguished in return for the wine that replaced it. I told Ethan I wanted a romantic meal with my wife for our anniversary and he ordered the works. Ana was the first to taste the champagne before ordering a glass of our usual wine.

If she wanted champagne, I would buy the most expensive bottle there is, but that is not us. Ana had her wine while, I preferred my beer.

"Your day has passed, only Lucy and I have days left" she laughed.

"I don't know, we still have a few hours of today left. Oriella has looked like those girls are coming for days, maybe today is the day."

"Whatever day they come, I hope it's soon. Oriella is on her last legs. She's sleeping more than she's awake."

"So were you Ana."

"I know, Grey twins are exhausting to carry and just as tiring when they're born."

I could do nothing but agree with Ana. The good thing about them being our grandchildren is, when we're tired and want a rest, we can hand them back to their parents. When they're your own, you can't do that.

Our meal was ordered and soon arrived at our table, along with another beer for me.

"Do our grandchildren have names yet" I asked Ana, after swallowing a piece of my burger.

"I suppose they do but they won't tell us, until they're here" she told me, placing her fork down. How my wife can eat risotto with a fork, I don't know but she manages it. "We are going to have beautiful grandchildren Christian" she sighed, smiling.

"I know, how could they not be, look at their parents."

"Two girls who look like Oriella."

"One grandfather armed and ready to shoot, as well as their dad, uncles and great granddads."

"It's going to be like Lucy all over again" Ana said.

"Princesses are to be protected, no matter the cost."

"I know, and we are" Ana told me, taking my hand into hers and kissed my wedding ring.

Finishing our meal, we made our way to the car, which was at the back of Palermo. As Ana was driving, having only one glass of wine, she had just started the engine when her phone rang.

"Son, calm down" Ana said. "Ok, we will meet you there."

"Luca" I asked as soon as the call ended.

"Yes, Oriella's having contractions. We will meet them at the hospital."

"They are three weeks early; will they be ok" I asked.

"The boys were more. Grey babies are made of strong stuff, I'm sure they will be fine. It will be strange delivering them at the hospital and not the baby unit at the surgery, but we need the extra equipment around and we need to be quick if she needs a caesarean."

I tried not to think of when my own twins were born, and Luca was not breathing. I know the girls will be bigger than they were, but they will still be tiny.

Arriving at the hospital, Ana disappeared while I took my post in the waiting room and made myself comfortable. I will be here for however long it takes my granddaughters to be born.

It wasn't long after, that Lucy joined me. She had been staying in the city with Theo for the night and as he and Ava were here now, the waiting family was growing.

"I hate hospitals" Lucy grumbled, looking around the room.

"I know Lucy, having the girls here is safer, especially if they're small."

"I know, I can't wait to hold them, but this place reminds me of mum being here."

"Your mum is through there, helping Oriella breathe and making sure that Luca doesn't faint."

"Did you faint Dad" Theo asked, from where he sat opposite us the Ava.

"Did I hell as like. Seeing your mum in pain though did make me feel sick, knowing there was nothing I could do about it but hold her hand."

"Not a lot else a man can do at that moment apart from hold her hand and give encouragement" my dad said, as he joined us with mum.

"Are you considering a new career path Lucy, if you don't like hospitals" Ava asked her.

"No, I still want to be a doctor and I know I will have to be in a hospital at some point. I'd like to work at the surgery though, work side by side with mum."

"I'm sure your mum will love that" I told her, receiving my daughters smile.

We sat and waited, not so patiently for any news. Hearing from Mia, who had gone through to help, that they were taking Oriella for a c-section, had us all in a panic. With one of the babies' breach, it was best to get them out of there before they become distressed. There were enough distressed people in this waiting room, without my granddaughters being distressed as well.

I paced, and I was not the only one. I spoke to Frankie who was hanging on every word, waiting to hear that his great granddaughters were ok. By the time we had any news, we were practically having a conference call with all our Italian family who had converged on Beatrice and Antonio's home.

"Ana" I said, as my wife joined us in the waiting room.

"Two beautiful little girls. Both small but breathing on their own" she said, as I wrapped my arms around her.

"Oriella" I asked.

"Exhausted, but like Luca, ecstatic. She's just being moved to a private room."

"Will the girls be going with her" I asked.

"I have checked them over, Grandma's privilege" she smiled. "Like I said, there is no breathing problems. They're both healthy and just over four pounds. If they feed alright, then they should be able to stay with Ori."

"No nursery" Lucy asked.

"No, we think it's for the best that the Senators great grandchildren are kept with mum, especially with what happened to me."

"That and the fact, I will shoot anyone who picks them up that isn't family" I told them quietly.

"You and me both" Ana said, as I kept my arms around her

Once Oriella and the girls had been moved to a room, it was an emotional Luca who came to let us know that we could go and see them.

"God I can't stop crying, I'm a wuss" he laughed as I hugged my son.

"No, you're not. You're a dad" I said smiling. "Your kids will cause you many more tears over the years, I can guarantee it."

"What are they called" Lucy asked, hugging her brother.

"We will tell you when we all go up. Has anyone called Italy."

"We have been on the phone to them all night" Theo said, handing Luca his phone so he could speak to Beatrice.

He spoke to his great grandmother for a few minutes before we followed him up to the room where Oriella now was. We kept the line open to Italy as Luca wanted us all to hear the names at the same time.

As we walked into the room, Oriella was sat up in bed. On either side of her were what I had once called fish tanks. I had known them so well with my own children and now they held my granddaughters.

"How are you feeling" I asked Oriella, looking to her before the little girls who were sleeping soundly.

They were beautiful, a perfect representation of their parents.

"I can't feel below my stomach, so I have no idea what is going on down there but apart from that I feel fine, for now. Does granddad want a hold" she asked, carefully picking one of the little girls up and placed her into my arms.

"They're tiny" I said. "They feel smaller than the boys."

"They're dainty, perfect" Ana said as Luca passed her our other granddaughter.

"Names" Lucy asked.

"Before that, just know that I'm the closest and I will be spending the winnings on my granddaughters" I laughed, kissing my granddaughter's forehead that I held before I kissed my granddaughter who Ana was holding.

"We are never going to hear the end of it" Matteo grumbled.

It was Matteo's idea for us all to bet on when the girls would be born, and he was the one who was betting that they would arrive two months earlier than the three weeks that they were.

All talk of any bet was abandoned though, when Oriella got all of our attention.

"Names. Do you want to call your grandparents" Ori asked Luca.

"Already on" Theo said, putting it on speaker now we were in a private room.

"Ok, Christian you have our first born, the bigger of the two who is Beatrice Claire Grey."

We could all hear a sob from Italy at the announcement of her name and Claire here was just as bad.

"Our smallest, our little fighter is Anastasia Grace Grey" Luca told his mother as he wrapped her in his arms, being mindful of the little girl she held.

"We wanted to have family names, it felt right" Oriella told us as my own mother cried.

"Two Anastasia's and two Beatrice's in the family, that won't get confusing" Matteo said, laughing until I placed his niece into his arms, immediately shutting him up.

Theo held baby Anastasia before it was Lucy's turn. Not wanting to decide which to hold, a cushion was placed into her lap and she held both.

We left the new family at the hospital as we all went home for some sleep. As we were climbing into bed, the sun was coming up, but it didn't matter how tired we were. Our grandchildren had safely arrived, they were happy and healthy, their parents too. Two new little Princesses ready to take this world by storm and with the amount of security that surrounded the hospital at the moment, two little Princesses who were safe.

…

Three days later Oriella and the girls were home. Greedy little madams that they were, always wanting a feed. They were definitely Greys, you could see that as they demanded their parent's attention, their grandparents too.

"I'm having Deja-vu" Ana said, snapping a photo of granddad and granddaughters time.

I had them both lay on my chest, both fast asleep. I know what Ana is talking about as I did this with my own twins. All my children had liked the skin to skin contact that we're having now.

"I don't know how you can do that dad, I panic if I try and put one of them on my chest" Luca told me.

"Practice and trusting your instincts. I could happily sleep like this, but I won't as the second one of them sniffles or moves, my eyes are open. Come on, try" I told him.

He got comfortable on the couch as Oriella came into the room and sat by his side. Placing Beatrice on his chest first, Anastasia was to follow.

"How does that feel" I asked as he lay back further into the cushions.

"Good, but terrifying" he said, stroking his little girl's hair.

"You're a natural dad Luca" Oriella assured him.

"She's right. Listen to your wife, they always know best."

"I'm glad you know that" Ana laughed as she came to sit down, cuddling into my side.

Only a fool would not listen to the person who knows them best. Out of everything I have learned in this life and in my marriage, it's that I'm no fool.

Ana's my best friend, my confident, not forgetting my Consigliere too. I know if I need her, she would be there. Just like Oriella will be there for Luca, like Ava and Chiara will be there for Theo and Matteo too. No matter what happens in the future, I know just like Ana, those girls will be by my son's side.

Watching Luca and Oriella with their daughters now, it's a future I'm looking forward too.

APOV ~ FIVE YEARS LATER.

I laughed, watching Christian rush into the sea with our granddaughters in his arms. Their squeals of delight as he lowered himself down to their chests in the water.

Granddads girls through and through, Bea and Ana were. Daddy's girls as well but they had their granddad wrapped around their finger and they knew it too.

I had spent so much time on this beach over the years, so much fun to be had. From the very first time I had come here and watched Hugo run in and out of the water, to my grandchildren now.

Hugo, my best friend. I miss him still after all these years, but his line has continued. Gizmo had been the one who Hope had let near her, eventually producing six pups from two litters this time. Like all other litters that have come over the years, they have all stayed with us. Three girls and three boys which is a first as the only other girl who was born from Hugo's line was Bella.

"Grandma" I heard squealed before a soggy little boy climbed into my lap.

"How's grandma's little boy" I said, blowing raspberries on his neck and getting a mouthful of salt from the sea.

Tomas was three years old and a double of his dad Theo at that age. Into everything and wants to know how everything works. He's a tough little one, giving Matteo a dead leg when he encouraged him to practice his martial arts moves on him. He didn't ask again. Theo and Ava married the year after Luca and Oriella, although they had a summer wedding in Seattle. It was the big society wedding with families coming from all over the country, but they didn't mind, after all the wedding was about those two. Ava's mother tried to take over and turn it into a garish freak show just to show-off, but I soon put her in her place, much to the relief of the happy couple.

"Dogs get wet" Tomas said, laughing as the dogs ran in and out of the water.

"They're silly aren't they."

"They get sillier every litter we get" Theo said, passing Tomas an ice cream which I'm sure to be wearing soon enough.

Theo still works for his father, although he has told him he will be ready to take over when he's thirty. Whether Christian will be willing to give up the job by then, I don't know but it's nice to see him relaxing here.

"Ava resting" I asked.

"Yes, our baby girl is making her more tired than Tomas ever did."

"I can understand, Bea and Ana would do without sleep if they could. I have never known two girls who just don't stop."

"They take after their grandma" he said, nodding to me.

"Tell me about it, work is busier than ever. I joked with your dad that I was thinking of taking early retirement."

"Retirement at fifty-three, why not, you've earned it."

"And do what. I would drive myself crazy with nothing to do."

"With all your grandchildren on the same street, do you have time to go crazy" he laughed.

He's right. If I haven't seen them for a day, I'm demanding a visit or for them to come to me.

"It's official, I'm knackered" Matteo said, flopping down onto the empty sun bed next to us.

"What's wrong son" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Raph."

"What's wrong with him, he's a sweet boy" I smirked, stifling my laughter.

"Mum, he's a terror. Look up terrible two's in the dictionary and there is a picture of my son beside it" he grumbled.

"You would name your kid Raphael after a fucking ninja turtle, he's sure to kick your arse."

"Theo" I chastised my son as I held my hands over Tomas's little ears.

This little boy repeats everything. I don't want him running down the beach shouting "Fucking."

"Sorry mum….you didn't hear anything did you son" Theo asked Tomas who nodded his head before smiling to me.

"Matteo, Raphael has a lot of energy, just like you did as a child. It's not his fault that you're getting too old to run after him."

Theo was laughing at my comment and the look of shock on his brother face. That was until Matteo pushed him off the sun bed, into the sand below.

Tomas thought they were wrestling and wanted to join in, so with ice cream still in hand he went and jumped on his dad and uncle.

I left them to it, walking into the warm sea and submerged my body before I swam around. Like always when I move from my post, I get barking dogs telling me to come back, before following me or my grandchildren wanting to come to me too.

"Grandma, wait" Beatrice called out, as Christian let go of her and she started swimming to me.

Christian was only a few feet away, otherwise he wouldn't have released Beatrice, and she was soon in my arms.

"What have you been doing" I asked, moving closer still to my husband and Anastasia.

"Splashing Granddad" Anastasia told me in a fit of giggles, before doing just that.

"Thanks baby girl" he told her, wiping his eyes.

"Having fun Christian."

"Always" he laughed, bobbing Ana in the water. "What's up with Theo and Matteo."

"Matteo's complaining about Raph's terrible twos, so Theo was winding him up."

"Raph is nothing compared to what our twins were like, he's an angel in comparison" he told me.

"I know. I think we will only have one grandchild from Matteo and Chiara, I think he can only cope with one."

"That's their choice. It would be fun for everyone if they had another though. Someone for Raph to play with, although he's with Tomas most of the time."

"Our family is growing all the time" I told him.

"It is that. The next generation of Grey's ready to take charge."

"Will they be part of the business" I asked, knowing my daughters-in-law were more involved now than I ever was when we were married.

"These two won't" he told me before explaining more. "If they wanted to have some part in it, then I would lose more of my hair than I already have, and they would have more security than ever, but I wouldn't stop them. Bea here though wants to be a ballet dancer and Ana wants to be a Princess, so that's fine with me" he smiled, kissing each of our granddaughter's cheeks.

"They are already Princesses" I told him.

"That they are."

Oriella might not have been born into a mafia family but she's treated as such, our family. Bea and Ana are no different, they're Princesses.

"With the boys, they would have the same choices I had, and our sons had. It's up to them if they want to join the family business or look for fish all day, like I was doing with them this morning."

"They are both strong enough, I'm not sure how their mums would feel about it though."

"Probably the same as you did."

"Yes, a nervous wreck" I admitted.

"Grandma, is Mommy and sisy here" Ana asked me.

"Not yet sweetheart. Your Mommy was just going to feed Fia. They will be here soon."

"Fia is so little" Bea laughed. "She grips my finger tight."

"Does she do the same to you" I asked Ana who nodded.

"That's because she's keeping her sisters close. My sisters and I have a very close bond. I know you three will have that too."

"I think they already have" Christian said as we started to walk towards the shore.

As soon as we reached the beach, the girls ran for their daddy. Luca picked them both up, kissing each of their cheeks.

My son still works in the family business and he still ran his security business with Alex. He likes to be home in the evenings to help Oriella with the girls. They come first and that is how it should be. To this date he has only ever missed one bedtime and to say the girls gave him and Christian the cold shoulder, was an understatement. He never missed it again and I don't know who felt worse at seeing the girl's tears, Luca or Christian.

We had lunch on the beach, taking over the familiar cafe that we always fill. I had Fia on my lap while Oriella and Luca ate. Raph was sat happily by my side, enjoying his meal and being the angel that he was. Yes, he's hyper but he's easy manageable and had my dad's full attention at the moment.

It's strange when I look around my family now, as the girls actually outnumber the boys. Who would've thought that when I met Christian, that this is how the Grey family would be. No female born into the Grey's for over a hundred years and now there are four with one more on the way. Add to that my daughters in law and my husband and sons are easily outnumbered.

….

After lunch, we went back to the beach. While most went into the water, my destination was my sunbed again and the parasol that covered it.

I watched Matteo play in the water with Raphael, a natural dad that he is. He may not be able to keep up with him at times but they're incredibly close.

Matteo still has a love of cars, that hasn't changed since he was a small boy. His own son has picked up on that too and likes nothing more than to imitate his dad, driving his little car up and down the driveway.

While they all played and had fun, I had my youngest granddaughter to myself. Fia was sleeping soundly beside me, ignoring the dogs who were barking as Christian had gone for a swim. Luca and Oriella were in the water, cooling off with the girls, while I wished some cool air would come my way. I'm not one to lie in the sun all day, enjoying the shade most of the time, unlike my daughter who's soaking up the rays.

"Lucy you never said how medical school is going" I asked her.

"Well, I did laugh when one of my fellow trainees fainted at the sight of blood."

"Oh dear, they won't last long" I told her.

"I know, they have already dropped out. It did give us some practice on how to look after someone who had collapsed though. All experience is good."

"Do you like the freedom of being away from home" I asked, checking none of the boys were around.

"I like doing my own thing, but I miss you all like crazy when I'm gone. Kian is nearby though" she smiled.

"No ring yet, I see."

"We're taking our time" she laughed. "Just because we're not married or engaged, doesn't mean that we're not committed to each other. In our time mum, besides I'm not thirty yet, so dad would only complain."

"Your dad is happy as long as you are Lucy, you know that. I seriously doubt that after all these years of you being together, that if Kian asked, he would say no."

"We'll see mum, we'll see" she smiled, turning her face to the sun again.

….

As the sun started to fade, I took a walk along the beach with Christian, just the two of us, not forgetting the dogs of course. With the sun going down, the temperature didn't drop much here in Sicily.

"Happy Princess" Christian asked as we walked through the edge of the water.

"Incredibly so Christian" I smiled, looking to the hills behind us, which were not far from our home. "Being here, I can feel those who are not with us any more. I know they're in my heart but it's like I can feel their presence."

"They will always be with you Ana. Our families stick together no matter where they are" he told me, touching my locket.

I nodded, feeling his arms come around me as we watched the sun set together. Twenty-seven years I have been married to this amazing man and each day has gotten better than the one that came before. With his love and encouragement, I was able to find the real me. Standing within his arms and being surrounded by our family, I'm the Principessa that I was born to be.

~ The End ~

I need my tissues now it's time to say goodbye to this family.

Thank you to everyone who has read and supported my stories. This family in particular have come to feel like part of my own. Silly I know, but when they're in your head for so long it's hard to say goodbye.

I would never rule out coming back to them at some point but at the moment, I have nothing left to write. I would only write more though if it was something I could finish as I would never start something that was left unwritten.

If there is any lose ends that I forgot to tie up or anything you wanted to ask about the family, please P.M me, I know I have probably forgotten something. I'll blame the summer cold that I'm full of.

Take care.

Caroline.