This is where things start to take a turn. Please make sure you read the tags before continuing.

Trigger Warning: this chapter is where the miscarriage tag comes into play so be aware of that.

Please give Abba and Carmen a hug after this one.


Chapter Two

The next day Carmen and Leone announced their pregnancy to the others. Carmen watched her husband glow in a way she had never seen him do so as he soaked up the congratulations from the team.

"We're so excited for you!" Maria told them, hugging them both.

By this point, Carmen had pretty much dispersed her insecurities. Anything that had been left lingering around was instantly vanquished by the well-wishes and excitement from the others.

"Thank you so much," Carmen told them, as overwhelmed as she had been when she had first come to stay with them. "Honestly you're all so kind here…"

She started to cry again. Leone took her hand and Trish handed her a box of tissues, giving her a small squeeze.

"We're all here for you," she said.

"Of course," Giorno agreed with a soft smile. "Congratulations."


Abbacchio felt like he was riding on cloud nine. Despite the fact that this seemed to be more nerve-wracking than when he had taken Rose as his own daughter—after all, he'd be fully responsible for screwing this one up. The kid would have his own genes.

"Leone."

He only realized he was supposed to be working when he heard Bruno call him. He looked up at his friend to see the other man watching him with a slightly knowing smile.

"Why don't you take the day off to help Carmen and Maria move stuff in the nursery?"

"Is it that obvious?" Abbacchio asked, embarrassed.

Bruno glanced toward his computer screen where Abbacchio realized for the first time that he had written the same sentence twice. He swiftly deleted it with a sigh. "Isn't it a little early to get everything ready anyway?"

"Well, you know how those two are," Bruno said fondly, still eyeing Abbacchio with a contemplative look, a smile turning up one corner of his mouth.

"What?" Abbacchio grunted.

"Nothing, it's just…fatherhood is a good look on you, Leone. I don't think I've ever seen you so happy."

Abbacchio softened instantly, not even annoyed by the observation. "Yeah, well, I don't think I have ever been this happy before," he admitted.

Bruno practically beamed, but gripped his shoulder, pulling him away from the desk. "I am extremely happy for both of you, of course, but I do think it's best to wait until the elation wears off before you draft any letters to the capos."

Abbacchio had to agree, and swiftly retreated toward the nursery, prepared to be moving furniture for the foreseeable future.

It was actually a lot more fun than Leone thought it would be to plan out baby goods with Carmen. Fun for her too, since she hadn't exactly gotten the chance to enjoy that kind of thing with Rose.

Rosie also seemed to be excited when they explained everything to her.

"You're going to be a big sister," Carmen told her.

Rose blinked her dark eyes between them. "Bi' sis?"

"There's going to be another baby coming to stay with us," Abbacchio told her with a smile.

"Remember when Mari came to live with us?" Carmen asked her. "There's going to be another baby soon, but this one will be your little brother or sister."

Rose looked around. "Where baby?"

Carmen laughed, picking her up and hugging her tightly. "The baby isn't here yet. They have to grow up big enough to come and stay with us. But I know you'll be the best big sister to them."

"Bi' sis?" Rose repeated, eyes wide.

Abbacchio leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Yes. Big sis."


Though Carmen was obviously happy to be pregnant again, especially with Leone's child, it didn't exactly erase the morning sickness, which only increased in severity over the next few weeks, leaving her miserable in bed most days until early afternoon.

Leone was doting and gentle with her though, always trying to find new things to calm the nausea, cuddling with her in the mornings before he had to get to work—not that Bruno or Giorno minded if he was a little late. Carmen was just so grateful to him for everything. Honestly, she didn't know how she had survived her pregnancy with Rose without this amazing man by her side. He'd also really stepped up with Rose's care, not that he had to with everyone else doting on the children in the house. It still proved to Carmen that no matter the doubts she might carry, Leone at least didn't seem to be having any doubts about adding a second child to their family.

It was a lot easier to get through the worst parts of pregnancy when she knew she wouldn't have to worry about money or finding her baby a good home. They already had one.

Maria was a blessed distraction, always keeping her company—she was still taking a vacation from the bakery after Mariolina's birth so she had plenty of free time to help Carmen with Rose when the men were working. It was so nice to have a friend like her, more a sister than anything.

But the morning sickness was persistent and one night at dinner, Carmen felt a return of the nausea, not at all pleased.

"Abbacchio, I need you and Mista to look into a couple new businesses that cropped up in our vicinity," Giorno was saying as Carmen barely paid attention, concentrating mostly on keeping the little food she'd eaten in place. "I have a suspicion they're operating outside of our normal suppliers and I want to make sure everything's on the up and up."

"Do you want us to offer them protection for a better deal?" Mista asked.

Giorno nodded. "Try to get them to agree to use our suppliers—make sure to stress that there will be discounts if they do, as well as the usual perks."

"Giorno," Maria said gently as she wiped Paolo's face with a napkin. "I thought we agreed no business at the table?"

"Of course, sorry," Giorno replied quickly.

Leone chuckled, reaching over to help Rose cut her food. "We'll go first thing in the morning before they open."

"Thank you," Giorno replied.

Carmen sighed and leaned back in her chair, giving up on eating all together.

Leone glanced over at her, a crease in his brow. "Are you okay?"

"Just not feeling great tonight," Carmen admitted.

"I can get you some peppermint tea instead?" Fugo offered quickly.

Carmen nodded. It was one of the few things that at least staved off the nausea enough to function. Leone squeezed her knee comfortingly.

"Can't wait for this to be over," Carmen muttered.

"Hopefully it won't be too much longer," Maria said sympathetically.

With the tea Fugo brought, she was able to calm her stomach enough before she lay down in bed that night to sleep, curled against Leone. He rubbed her shoulder soothingly while he read a little, making sure she was comfortable and wouldn't need anything before turning the lamp off and spooning her from behind. Carmen tried to relax further as he cocooned her in warm, strong arms and kissed the back of her head.

"We'll get through this," he promised her.

Carmen wanted to believe him. If only she didn't feel so miserable.

"What do you think it's going to be?" she asked to distract herself.

Leone adjusted his hand until it was pressed flat against her stomach. "Hmm…are you a boy or girl, little one?"

Carmen settled her hand on top of his. "I guess we'll have to consider names at some point. I've always liked Luna for a girl—especially if she has your complexion."

Leone huffed a laugh and kissed her head again. "It's a beautiful name…I like Stefano for a boy."

"Stefano or maybe Luca…" Carmen mused, then sighed. "Sorry, I shouldn't keep you up when you have to leave early."

Leone hummed and pulled her tighter against him. "You're not. I'm just excited too. It's almost been 3 months, right? That means we might have a baby for the new year."

Carmen smiled, closing her eyes. That's what she would concentrate on while she was not feeling well. Come the new year they would be adding another member to their family.


Carmen woke to the loss of warmth as Leone gently extricated himself from her. She groaned, prying her eyes open to see light barely filtering in from the window.

"Sorry," Leone murmured. "I have to leave and probably won't be back until dinnertime since we have a bit of a drive. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"Mm-mn," Carmen shook her head briefly, pressing her face back into the pillow. "Just gonna sleep."

"Okay. Love you." Leone leaned over to kiss her and Carmen drifted off to sleep again.

She didn't know how long she was asleep exactly but she woke up to the uncomfortable sensation of cramping in her lower stomach. That coupled with the usual nausea did not bode well for the day.

Carmen groaned and pushed back the covers to made her way to the bathroom, only to be stopped as she felt something wet on the sheets.

She looked down and horror clutched her throat.

Blood.


Trish and Narancia had helped Maria get the babies ready that day and while they started getting breakfast for them, Maria decided to pop in upstairs to see if Carmen needed anything.

She was shocked when the door opened before she even got there, revealing Carmen clutching her robe around herself, shaking.

"Carmen, what's wrong?" Maria asked, hurrying toward her with concern.

"I'm bleeding," she choked out. "I don't know what to do…" She let out a shaky sob and doubled over.

Maria grabbed her shoulders and steered her back to the bed. "Stay here, I'm going to go get Giorno."

Maria flew down the stairs, trying to keep her own shaking at bay as she barged into the office.

Bruno was on the phone and nearly dropped it as she burst in.

"Maria—"

"Carmen needs Giorno now, I think something's wrong with the baby," Maria managed to get out.

"Oh god," Fugo murmured as he and Giorno both shot up and sprinted for the door.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to call you back," Bruno said into the phone as Maria was already following the two young men back to the stairs.

"What happened?" Giorno asked.

"She's bleeding," Maria told him bluntly.

Giorno glanced at Fugo. "What does that mean?"

Fugo didn't reply, simply paled and hurried faster.

"What's going on?" Trish asked, appearing from the kitchen with Mariolina in her arms happily drinking her morning bottle.

"Please just watch over the kids for now," Maria pleaded as she hurried back up the stairs.

Carmen huddled in bed as Giorno bent to gently take her hands.

"My baby, did something happen to my baby?" Carmen sobbed.

"Just breathe," Giorno soothed though Maria could tell his voice was shaking slightly.

She hurried over and sat on the side of the bed, wrapping one arm around Carmen's shoulders. She couldn't see what Giorno was doing with his Stand—had stopped being able to see them about a week after Mari had been born—but she could easily tell when the young man was trying to keep himself from panicking.

"Giorno?" Fugo asked quietly.

Giorno shook his head. "There's something…I…" He pulled back suddenly. "I don't think I can do anything; we need to get her to the hospital."

"Giorno, my baby?" Carmen pleaded as Maria stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell," Giorno told her, looking stricken as he moved away and turned to Maria. "Bucciarati and I will bring the car around. Get her ready to leave." He ran out the door.

"What can I do to help?" Fugo asked, looking helpless.

"Please just help Trish and Narancia with the babies for now."

Fugo nodded and left reluctantly as Maria helped Carmen clean up and dress.

"Everything is probably just fine," Maria told her, trying to sound reassuring. "I was told this isn't entirely unlikely…"

"I don't know, I just feel like something's really wrong," Carmen hiccupped.

"Do you want me to call Leone?" Maria asked quietly.

"Not yet. If…if it really isn't anything I don't want to worry him. Not until I know more."

Maria nodded and wrapped an arm around Carmen's waist, guiding her down the stairs and to the car that Giorno and Bruno had pulled up front, waiting.

Maria bundled Carmen into the backseat and Bruno instantly pulled out onto the road.

The next half an hour was a whirlwind. Maria used her Capo's wife status to stay with Carmen once they got to the hospital, trying to hide her own nervousness in order to comfort the other woman.

But once the tests and examinations were done it was not good news.

Leaving Carmen to the nurses for a moment, Maria slipped away briefly to find Bruno and Giorno in the waiting room.

They looked at her expectantly. Maria could only shake her head, her throat aching.

Giorno sank his head into his hands and Bruno pulled Maria into his arms and held her tightly for a few moments before she pulled away, hating the thought of Carmen being alone.

"I need to go be with Carmen," she told her husband, squeezing his hand before meeting his eyes. "You need to call Leone."

"I already did, he's on his way," Bruno said, a waver in his voice that Maria rarely heard. "I figured whatever happened it was better for him to hear it in person."

Maria nodded. "Can you call the others then?"

Bruno nodded.

"I'm sorry."

They both looked at Giorno whose eyes were wet, looking awful. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything."

"Giorno, it's not your fault," Bruno told him, squeezing Maria's hand one last time before he released her to go sit next to the young man.

Maria hurried back to the room Carmen was in. The nurses had given her several blankets but she was still shaking, tears dripping steadily down her face.

Maria sat on the side of the bed. "Can I get you anything?"

Carmen shook her head. "What will Leone think?" she choked out. "He was so happy. I—I was happy…" She started crying again and all Maria could do was hold her tightly, wishing this was nothing but a nightmare.


Abbacchio readied himself to be professional as he and Mista got to their second stop. The first one had gone better than expected, but honestly the last thing he wanted to do right now was make business deals with these people. But business was business and Giorno had gained a lot of ground over the last couple years doing just this. The more corrupt people in the city they turned to their side, were one less for Leone's children to grow up around. It was funny how priorities changed.

Before they went in, Abbacchio's phone rang in his pocket.

He growled and was going to ignore it before he saw it was Bruno.

"Hold on, let me get this," he told Mista with a sigh

Mista gave him a thumbs up.

"Hey," Abbacchio said when he answered. "Did you need something? We're just at our second stop now."

"Leone," Bruno's voice came over the phone, slightly hesitant, putting Abbacchio instantly on edge. "We had to take Carmen to the hospital."

His heart crashed to his feet.

"W-what? What happened? Is she all right? The baby…?"

"We don't know yet, but I think it's best you come."

Abbacchio ended the call, numb, and hurried back toward the car without another word.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Mista demanded.

"Carmen's in the hospital."

"Shit," Mista breathed. "Look, I'll handle this, you take the car and head back."

Abbacchio didn't need any more urging. He simply jammed the keys into the ignition and tore back onto the road, heading toward the center of town.

He didn't even remember if he turned the car off as he screeched to a stop in the hospital parking lot, racing inside.

He spotted Bruno standing against the wall in the waiting room, glancing up as Abbacchio came in.

"Where is she? What the hell happened?" he demanded, hurrying over.

Bruno inserted himself in front of Abbacchio, stopping his progress.

That pissed him off. "Where's Carmen?" he demanded. "Is she all right?"

"Leone…" Bruno took him by the shoulders. The way he said his name, gently, regretfully, told Abbacchio that he did not want to hear what came next but Bruno let out a small exhale, seeming to be bracing himself before he said, "She lost the baby."

Abbacchio stared at Bucciarati, heart stopping dead in his chest. For a moment he lost the ability to even stand, legs giving out as he sank to the floor. Bruno went with him, holding him tightly as if he might fly into pieces any second, and, honestly? Abbacchio wasn't sure he wouldn't. There went his stupid heart. Old scars that he had spent so long fusing back together reopened, threatening to tear him in two.

"No, no…" he murmured, voice breaking as he shook. "God, no."

"I'm so sorry," Bruno told him, still holding onto him, even as Leone pushed away, tried to force his legs to support him as he climbed to his feet.

"I…I need to see her. Where is she?"

"Just down the hall. Maria's with her," Bruno told him, helping him stand, a forever solid support. Dread filled every inch of Abbacchio, unsure whether he would be able to offer his wife anything at the moment…

Giorno was standing outside the door and he looked up briefly without saying anything as Bruno opened the door and Leone rushed inside.

"Carmen," he called, voice sounding weak even to himself.

She was curled in the bed, wrapped in blankets as Maria sat next to her, clutching her hand tightly.

Abbacchio moved forward, but Carmen only burst into tears. "Please don't! I—I can't, I'm sorry. Just…please go away, Leone."

Abbacchio stood, shocked, heart only shattering further. He couldn't move in his confusion and Maria got up to take his arm, pushing him gently toward the door.

"Leone, I think it's best you leave for now," she said gently. "I know this is hard, but she just needs some space."

He swallowed and gave a jerky nod, as Maria briefly squeezed his hand, eyes wet. "I'm so sorry," she whispered as she opened the door, all but dismissing Abbacchio.

Bruno and Giorno looked up questioningly as he reemerged.

"Abbacchio, I'm sorry," Giorno said, stepping forward. "I—"

Abbacchio shouldered him aside and kept walking.

He could hear Bruno speaking briefly with Giorno before his footsteps hurried after him.

"Give me your keys, I'll drive you home," he said quietly.

Abbacchio hesitated. "I should stay…"

Bruno gave him a sympathetic look. "You and Carmen both need time to process. I think it would be better not to sit in a hospital waiting room for now."

"She doesn't even want to see me," he said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.

"I don't think it's because she's mad at you, I think she's just afraid to face you right now, but give her some time to calm down before you talk."

Abbacchio didn't reply but he did fish his keys out and handed them to Bucciarati.

"They have a car?" he asked lamely.

"Giorno will drive them back. The doctors just wanted to observe Carmen for a couple hours but she should be home tonight."

Abbacchio nodded dully as they made their way out to the parking lot.

They were silent the whole way home. Abbacchio just felt numb. With Carmen and Rose, and especially with the news of the new baby, he didn't even think it was possible for him to feel like this anymore. Thought it had just been another issue he had left in the past. Apparently, he was both wrong and stupid for thinking that. So fucking stupid.

Bruno finally inhaled as they pulled up at the house, starting to speak. "I can't imagine how difficult this is, but if there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

Abbacchio opened the door, unable to say anything as he stepped out. He felt exhausted, dizzy. He wanted to lay down.

He followed Bruno into the house, still mostly in a daze. It was oddly quiet.

Bruno set the keys on the rack. "I can make you some tea if you'd like?"

Abbacchio nodded dully. He didn't really care at the moment but he didn't have the mind capacity for decision either.

"Abba."

He glanced up to see Narancia approaching and wanted to tell him he didn't want to talk about it, but the lanky young man simply wrapped his arms around Abbacchio and held on tightly.

Abbacchio finally let out a breath and hooked his arms limply around Narancia, unable to do anything else. He could feel wetness soaking into his shirt, but he didn't move for a long moment.

When Narancia finally broke away he looked up at Abbacchio, eyes wet. "We're here if you need anything. And don't worry about Rosie, we've got her for now."

Abbacchio nodded and made his way upstairs, hoping to slip away before he was confronted by anyone else. As well-meaning as they would be, he didn't think he could mentally process any more interactions at this point.

He trudged toward his room with the overwhelming need to lay down but when he opened the door, the familiar surroundings did little to offer any comfort. How was it that just last night he'd held Carmen as they happily discussed baby names and now everything had been ripped away from them.

He pulled his coat off and headed over to the bed.

That was when he saw it. Blood staining the sheets.

He couldn't handle it anymore. Panic and nausea crashed over him and Abbacchio rushed to the bathroom, collapsing on his knees as he vomited in the toilet, shaking all over again. He choked on a sob, slumping there with his head on the forearm he had braced against the toilet seat. He didn't honestly think he would have the strength to get up off this floor again.

He barely registered footsteps approaching and the sound of water running; didn't even look up until he felt a hand land in the center of his back.

"Here."

He glanced up finally to see Bruno handing him a glass of water. He took it weakly in his shaking hand and rinsed his mouth before pushing himself upright and flushing the toilet.

"You can go lay down in our bed for now," Bruno told him. "I'll clean up."

"I don't know what to do," Abbacchio admitted, unable to hide his helplessness anymore.

"You don't have to right now," Bruno said gently. "Just take a little bit of time to gather yourself."

Abbacchio was too tired to protest or even say anything. He quickly changed into something comfortable then made his way to Bruno and Maria's room. Bruno had left a steaming mug of tea on the side table and put several extra blankets out. He grabbed one and wrapped himself in it, curling up on the bed.

That was when everything, all the tension inside of him just snapped, and he found himself sobbing silently. He hadn't felt this horrible since he'd had to face what he'd done to get his partner killed. Why was it that every time he thought his life was going well something terrible had to come along and crush everything? There was a reason he had, for so long, been scared to be happy. Because it usually just ended in something like this.

And how the hell was he going to pick up the pieces this time when it wasn't just his own grief he had to deal with?