Sometimes, as much as it hurts the children, and him, Alessio must put limits.


The only sound in the living room was a ticking clock. Alessio looked at his children—who sat on the opposite couch—with a deep, disapproving frown, arms crossed.

The reason for the silent stare down lay right at his feet, nibling unto his shoes yet again.

"Anything you'd like to tell me, figli?" Alessio asked in a serious voice.

"We're sorry, Papa…" Pietro whispered.

"You do realize how serious this is, don't you?"

"Don't get mad, Papa… Let me explain…"

"Explain what, Pietro? That you brought a stray dog to this house without my permission?"

Pietro hesitated. "T-They were going to take him to the pound! We had to save him!"

"You could have done so without going behind my back!" Alessio growled sternly. "No, figli. You lied to me. The both of you know that I can't stand dishonesty." his frown softened, anger momentarily dousing into sadness. "I'm disappointed in you. I raised you better than this."

Giulia was sniffling and wiping her eyes. Alessio hated to see his bambina cry. He could barely refrain from reaching out to comfort her. But he had to stand his ground on this.

"Don't be mad at Giulia, Papa. It was all my idea."

"You are both responsible for this, ragazzo. The two of you hid this from me." Alessio got to his feet, startling the puppy into running to the opposite couch, where Giulia quietly picked it up. "I'm sorry, figli, but you must understand I cannot allow the dog to stay."

Their reactions were like he anticipated. Both children's eyes widened in horror, with Giulia hugging the little dog tighter.

"Papa, no! Don't take him to the pound! He's our friend!"

"I'm not taking the dog to the pound, but it will not stay in this house. I'll find a new owner who can take care of it.

"Please don't take him away! W-We can get you new shoes—!"

"Enough, Pietro!" Alessio raised his voice, making the children flinch. The consigliere rubbed his temple and sighed, eyes closed. "This isn't about the shoes. You lied to me. I simply can't let it slip. If I do, who's to say you won't do it again?" he said, more calmly this time. "I'm sorry, but the decision is final."

That said, he sent them to their rooms but told Giulia to hand over the dog. She did so very reluctantly. After putting the little critter in his hands, she ran to her room in tears.

Pietro stopped in the middle of the stairs. "Mamma would have let him stay."

Alessio's eyes widened at his son's bitter commentary, but his gaze hardened even more than before.

"She wouldn't have liked that you lied to her either." was the stone-cold reply. "Go to your room now."

Pietro did so, slamming the door shut behind him.


"Aaww, who's the cutest little critter in the seven rings? Yes, you are!"

Alessio watched, unamused, as his sister tickled the puppy's belly. He wasn't wrong when he thought she could look after the little one while he found it a new home.

"Oh, Ale, he's so cute! Why wouldn't you want to keep it?"

"Because doing so would undermine the seriousness of what the children did," he said.

"I know it wasn't right for them to lie, but aren't you being too hard on them?"

"Cecilia, you know I hate being lied to." Alessio sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't like being so hard, but it's the only way they'll understand how serious it is."

"You're starting to sound like Papa, you know. Remember the time we took that injured baby bird back home? He wasn't happy about it either."

"But we didn't lie to him, at the very least. We told him and Mamma the truth at dinner."

"Then he scolded us." Cecilia laughed.

Alessio chuckled. Father had convinced Mother to at least let them take care of the little bird until they could release it back into the wild. He and Cecilia cried their eyes out that day.

"Thanks again for looking after him. I'll call you once I find an owner."

"Take your time, Ale. I don't mind the little one overstaying his welcome!"

This time, Alessio did roll his eyes as his sister began pampering the dog again.

He was met with silence as he returned home. He better check on the children. Alessio found a piece of paper reading GO AWAY on Pietro's door. He sighed. Perhaps it's best if he lets his son calm down a bit before talking to him.

Alessio quietly headed to Giulia's room and knocked. He heard the unmistakable sound of Bianca's music box as he silently opened the door. Giulia was in bed. As he approached, he realized she had cried herself to sleep, holding the notebook with Bianca's stories. Alessio sighed sadly as he wiped a tear from his bambina's cheek with his thumb.

Carefully, he removed the storybook from his daughter's grasp and placed her favorite stuffed dolphin in its place. Unconsciously, Giulia stirred a bit to hug the toy. Alessio kissed her head as he pulled the blankets over her.