Antonio Jr had finally gained his youngest brother's attention from all the lovely young women attending the party this evening.
It had taken a not-so-discrete pop on the back of the boy's head to achieve that goal.
Luca rubbed the sore spot, grumbling irritably, "What d'you do that for!"
"Because father expects our alliance with Reddington to continue," Antonio Jr growled his annoyance. "That can't happen if a sudden death in the family off-sets that delicate balance."
Clearly stumped by the new bit of information being conveyed, Luca frowned. "Whose death?"
"Yours!" Antonio Jr's chilly tone lashed out.
Luca's brows crinkled for the scorn displayed.
"Reddington is a very possessive individual, I hear tell, where his newest conquest is concerned." Antonio Jr warned. "And you stand there," he shook his head woefully, "ogling her breasts like they were on display at the Louvre Museum!"
"You displeased father," Roberto reminded, "and embarrassed mother."
"Yeah, kid," Ben, who was part of the ensemble gathered at the far end of the bar area, put in his two cents, "I thought Reddington was going to have to peel the imprint of your pupils off Elizabeth's chest."
The guy stifled a laugh, recalling Red's face.
"Hey! They were just... right there!" Luca motioned animatedly, "on display! What was I supposed to do?"
"Look away," Ben murmured, "or rather, upwards...the woman does have eyes, you know."
The boy seemed genuinely confused by the realization.
"No matter how alluring the vision," Mark schooled the boy on the magnetism between male and female, "you are supposed to take in the full scope of their beauty... in a gentlemanly fashion."
Luca frowned harder, slowly deciphering the words being said.
"Have a little decorum!" Antonio Jr snapped, clarifying the statement. "Stop thinking with your dick!"
Luca made contact.
"Were you not ever nineteen years of age?"
Mark startled visibly at Dembe's unexpected arrival, almost spilling his whiskey.
"How the hell do you do that?" Mark demanded to know because usually he was one cautious guy. Not much got past him. "...Pop out of thin air like that!"
"It is a gift." Dembe explained evenly.
"And a curse..." Francis' long face alerted everyone to his mood, as did his dour tone.
"Lia still giving you the cold shoulder?" Ben placed a reassuring hand on Francis' cold shoulder.
"No," Francis shook his head, then shrugged, "well... yeah. Her too."
"Crashed and burned with Maria again, did you?" Mark knew well enough.
Francis snapped his head towards his friend, his expression askew, "I don't know what I'm doing wrong?"
Sighing, Mark rolled disbelieving eyes Ben's way, finding the man grinning his amusement.
"You know what it is," Ben offered an excuse, "I think feather chick messed with your Chi."
"Yeah," Mark nodded agreeably, "your Chi is all fucked up, man."
Squinting at the man opposite him contemplating the explanation afforded, Mark downed his drink, gesturing for another.
"It would make sense," Francis replied seriously.
"I mean, that has to be it, right," Mark retained a neutral expression, "There's no other logical explanation."
"You know," Ben muttered into his tumbler, "like Maria being married or anything."
Francis waved a more than a dismissing hand to that notion.
"My warped Chi," Francis was distraught, "now that would also explain while my little honey ham won't hear reason."
"Yeah, and I've been running interference all evening for you," Ben spread his hands amiably, "I fell on the sword for you, buddy. I gotta tell you, that ostrich on stilts," he gestured to the long-legged beauty, "... she's a dark one."
Francis mustered a little interest, "...Yeah?"
"Sure, but in a good way. If you know what I mean." Ben shared, nudging Francis meaningfully.
"I spent a remarkably interesting week on Martinique with a woman who was a Voo-Doo Priestess," Dembe recalled solemnly, "I, therefore, understand the reference."
Ben nodded his gratitude, "Like there is a dark side and then," he waggled his brows, "there is the... dark side."
"Indeed." Dembe nodded sedately.
"Really?" Francis' interest was piqued a brief moment. "...No! I gotta get my little peach fuzz back, man!"
"One man's peach fuzz is another man's light saber, bro." Ben philosophized, fist bumping with Luca.
"...What?" All seemed stumped by the reference. All looked to Dembe for clarification.
"It frightens me," he admitted, "I actually understood that."
"What about this ostrich chick?" Luca was all ears.
"You want another smack?" Antonio Jr snarled. "I told you to be on your best behavior tonight."
"It would upset mother if one of her children died at her anniversary party." Enrico chuckled.
"Evidently you didn't see the look mother gave you when you were hitting on Elizabeth." Antonio Jr wasn't shy about casting aspersions.
"I was merely attempting to ascertain how involved Reddington's interests are." Enrico shrugged. "He has had other paramours, why is this one supposedly different?"
"All you need to know," his older brother reminded, "is that... she is."
Enrico shrugged. "There are plenty of fish in this lovely sea tonight."
"Cast your hook for one of those, then." Antonio Jr relaxed somewhat.
"Raymond will kill you dead if he knew you were even inquiring about Elizabeth." Dembe shook his head shamefully. "The man is 'involved' to the point of no common sense."
"Kill me dead?" the other man mused. "Is there any other type of dead?"
Dembe lifted an odd stare, "Ask the Voo-Doo Priestess. She is more qualified to answer such an inquiry."
"Just tread lightly, man!" Francis was losing patience. No one seemed particularly concerned over his problem. "Or I will take your ass out! Now what about my little cream puff!?"
"We could always wager the outcome if," Silas sauntered on scene, voicing his opinion on the overheard subject, "Enrico find the balls to venture forth, of course."
Mark startled visibly, his drink sloshing over his wrist and expensive timepiece, "Jesus man!" he voiced his annoyance. "Make an announcement, what the hell are you guys, part Ninja?!"
He included Dembe in his accusation.
"You go ahead, Enrico," Silas ignored the man, motioning, "see how far you can push Reddington before he snaps. We haven't had anything of interest to bet on in... days."
Enrico scowled lightly, knowing the drill well. He wasn't sure he wanted to be the brunt of one of these questionable challenges.
"You are just looking to regroup your losses after the last wager," Dembe bit into a carrot stick that had floated in his questionable choice of drink for some time now. "He lost a good deal on a similar bet a short while ago."
"Yeah, well, if Reddington hadn't stuck his big ass into the middle of things, Liz would have taken that punk bitch out herself!" the incident still rankled Silas.
"That was not the wager." Dembe corrected absently.
"In the good old days, Reddington would have killed that fucker!" Silas ranted. "He thought it might 'upset' Liz," he air-quoted. "Upset, Liz! What the hell is that all about?"
"You are confusing two separate incidents," Dembe shook his head. "Raymond believed killing Brad would upset Elizabeth." he reminded. "You stopped Raymond from killing Tom."
Enrico, who had followed the conversation, suddenly wondered even more so... if his earlier actions were all that advisable.
Silas frowned, recalling events as they took place. "Oh, right... the damn cops showed up." he remembered. "How the hell are we supposed to keep track of all the psychos after her!"
"Is that not your job?" Dembe enquired.
"You bet against Red?" Mark gasped, his attention for something of greater interest. "You dirty traitor!"
"What the hell do you know." Silas grumbled.
"More than you, apparently." Mark muttered under his breath.
"Not that Francis isn't demented," Silas granted, "But Red's Chi is the one that's all fucked up!" he grumbled his discontent. "Luca's not the only one thinking with his dick these days."
"Well, you've never done that." Antonio Jr observed with a scoff.
"You said," Dembe countered, "Raymond was more vicious when he thought with his–"
"I know what the hell I said!" Silas snapped his annoyance. "Do you know when I shit last as well!"
"This morning," Dembe replied. "Are you getting senile?" he asked seriously.
"What about my little licorice whip?" Francis bemoaned.
"What the hell are you drinking?" Mark had noted Dembe's glass. "Your carrot stick is wilting."
"My carrot stick," Dembe shifted a cool gaze, "never... wilts."
Luca laughed, having caught the joke. He held up his hand for the traditional fist-bump, which Dembe ignored.
"Your woman is teaching you a lesson, young squire." Antonio Jr explained patiently. "You paid attention to another female. You must now pay the piper until... or if she decides you have suffered enough. Could you please do so in silence?"
"Yeah, right... that's gonna happen." Mark knew Francis better than that.
"When a man decides to change for his lady," Ben put his two cents in the pot, going back to the other conversation on the table, "you guys know his mind can't process correctly and shit just goes all haywire."
"Your thought process has never fully developed." Silas pointed out. "How the hell would you know?"
"I'm just saying," Ben gestured with his hand, "Reddington will figure it out, he just needs more time."
"Were you talking to me?" Francis hadn't really been paying attention, asking of Silas, "... or him?"
"Does it matter," Silas reminded, "you two are interchangeable."
"I am so bummed man!" Francis had other priorities.
"We know." a collective voice met his statement.
"The whole world knows loser!" Ben snapped. "Give it a rest!"
"But my little leg-o-mutton is bringing me down!" Francis wailed his misery.
"And Nora is snubbing him because he's such a fickle bitch," Mark shared the sad tale with all, "and even the ostrich chick seems to have found greener pastures."
All checked Mark's meaning.
Any number of eligible young bucks happily surrounded the ostrich chick, vying for her attention.
"The night has taken a nose-dive where our resident slut is concerned." Mark finished urbanely. "We are deemed to spend purgatory with the young swain for the duration, I think."
"Look, Francis," Ben wasn't about to spend his time commiserating tonight, "...fresh game."
All conversation stopped, all eyes turned, fixed hypnotically on the seductive sway of the lovely young woman's shapely hips as she strolled past.
The moment ended as a lucky individual who seemed more than happy to claim her for his own, greeted the woman enthusiastically.
All sighed, some philosophically, some resigned, some with abject melancholy.
"My life is over." Francis was positive.
"If you don't pull your head out of your ass... then, yeah." Silas was only happy to oblige.
Dembe placed a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder. "This too shall pass, Francis."
Mark canted his head back and forth, shrugging. "He's right." he offered support.
"You know what the problem is?" Ben had figured it out. "What with your Chi all jacked up and the full moon..."
Mark frowned over at Dembe and Silas, shrugging. There wasn't a moon out tonight.
"...This shit was bound to happen." Ben confirmed.
Francis perked up, "Which means," he pondered for a goodly while but came up empty in the end, "...what?"
"You just gotta ride it out," Ben smiled happily.
"Yeah, man," Mark held his expression, "I mean, things could be worse you know. You could turn into a fucking werewolf or some shit."
"Yeah, so," Ben continued on, "count what blessings you do have."
Francis face fell. "Bummer, man!" he practically stamped his foot. "Just... bummer! I'm fucking screwed!"
"Let's look at this logically." Dembe soothed.
Silas looked to his counterpart, scowling. "You're talking to Francis." he reminded.
Francis frowned, before refocusing his attention on Dembe.
"You are a fine specimen of manhood, are you not?" Dembe glanced the young man up and down.
"I am!" Francis stated emphatically.
"You are financially secure." Dembe pointed out the good things.
"I am!" Francis nodded, hastily calculating his net worth as he often did in a day's time.
"You're as cute as a bug," Mark sensed Dembe's direction, aiding the cause.
Francis smoothed his hair, his features comically serious, "Damned straight!"
"Then where does the problem truly lie?" Dembe reasoned. "Not with you, my friend." he sipped his drink thoughtfully. "It can't possibly be... you."
Francis straightened, a light blinking on overhead. "Hey!" his attitude altered visibly. "Hey... that's right!"
All waited patiently now.
"You are one-hundred percent right, Dembe!" Francis took umbrage. "It's not me... it's them."
Silas leaned on the bar, propping his head against his hand. It was going to be a long night.
He sighed... heavily.
"I don't got no problem!" Francis' face beamed, "they got the problem."
"Indeed," Dembe nodded sedately.
"If they can't see what a catch I am," Francis spread his hands out, preening his magnificent form, 'it's their loss, right?"
Everyone quickly agreed... it was.
"Hell, yeah," Mark slapped his friend on the back, "you are an Adonis! What the hell is wrong with those chicks?"
Francis straightened his vest, lifting his chin proudly, "What the hell was wrong with me?" he was clearly stumped. "My Chi is just fine. I am just... fine."
"You certainly are." Antonio Jr hastily put forth a resounding opinion. "Any woman present should be proud you give over your attention."
"Don't go overboard." Enrico warned sotto voce. "Yes, Francis," he smiled pleasantly, "you tried your best to dissuade the ostrich chick's attention. Your lady should cut you some slack if you've apologized and tried to set matters to right."
"Your damned right she should!" Francis was incensed. "I'm a catch!"
Silas motioned for a stiff drink. It was getting deep in here. "I'd date you myself but... I've decided to go the celibate route for a while."
Francis cut the man a look. "You're not my type."
"Since when do you have a type." Ben disdained. "If it has a warm hole, you're there."
Silas caught sight of Red slowly glancing their way, a soured, pained expression on his face for he plainly heard what was said. The guard lifted helpless hands, waving the man off.
"All women are beautiful and special in their own way!" Francis stoutly defended himself.
"They are," Ben granted, "but that line... it doesn't really work on them, you know. I don't think, anyway?"
"You don't think at all!" Silas snapped. "Keep it down dammit!" he noted the disapproving glares of several beautiful ladies as the discussion carried outside their circle. "I don't want to have to waylay a crowd of disenchanted women tonight... my heart wouldn't be in it!"
"Relax, Silas... public hangings are so passé," Mark chuckled. "The worse that could happen, is that the ladies would manually strangle the nitwits. You could always win their favor, claiming no knowledge of said incidents..." he sweetened the pot.
"What did I say?" Francis was rethinking his statement. "They should hang him?" he pointed to Ben.
"What about I take both of your asses out?" Silas arose to his full height. "Scatter!" he motioned curtly. "Work the room... stop being morbid and for God's sake, don't embarrass yourselves!"
He pointed to Francis and Ben specifically, "Be his wing-man! Try support for a change." he advised both men. "This group looks like it's gathered to view the dearly departed..." he disgusted.
"I hate all of you. Well, except you, Dembe." Silas corrected. "You... I tolerate."
"What's up your ass?" Mark wanted to know. "Eula find another worthy male specimen and reconsider?" he asked innocently, receiving a death glare for his efforts.
The group found the remark amusing, much to Silas' annoyance.
"I told her you were interested." Silas shifted vindictive eyes towards Mark.
Francis fell towards Ben, both cackling their amusement as Mark's face paled.
Silas scanned the room, having made constant running checks on Elizabeth Keen.
The woman in question made her way to a set of empty chairs occupying a nearby alcove.
The area offered a modicum of privacy.
Liz was saying something to Maria, leaning in close to be heard.
Silas turned his attention back to the idiots.
"We tried so hard to circumvent business this evening," Liz apologized having just left Red and Antonio, absorbed in a point of dissension involving the division of territories in a certain district in South America.
Liz had tuned out after a fashion.
"I'm accustomed to it," Maria waved the matter aside. "It used to upset me but then I realized, it provided a perfect opportunity for impromptu visits with my friends."
She lifted her wineglass. "We do not need our husbands... or male companions... to make us interesting."
Liz laughed, nibbling on her hors d'oeuvres. She hoped that to be an accurate statement.
She wanted this woman to like her. Liz didn't fully understand the need, but still, she desired it.
And all the while, in the back of her mind, was the thought... she was deceiving not only Maria but Antonio as well.
The stupid pretense she and Red had perpetuated had forced her into a situation she, nor Red, never envisioned coming about.
Liz's emotions were tangled and confused for she liked all Red's friends, especially Antonio and Maria.
"You have a lovely home," Maria smiled graciously, "it is so warm and inviting. It is a difficult feat making it so, is it not." she spoke from experience.
"Thank you," Liz was deeply flattered. Sitting across from the woman, she adjusted her skirts primly, hiding the high slit at her thigh. "It has been rather difficult to grow accustom to, it is so large and spacious."
"There are days I miss our first home," Maria reminisced, "it was small but full of love," her eyes twinkled, "...and furniture."
Giggling softly, Liz nodded, "I do not miss how creative you must get with storage in your first home."
Maria sat forward, her brow arching, "I believe... with a man like Reddington, you will not face a lack of storage space... or much of anything else, dare I say... ever again."
Liz sighed airily, her cheeks plumping, "I wouldn't mind facing that dilemma again, as long as Red was by my side."
"How are you ladies faring?" Nora smiled at the two, interrupting discretely, wanting to see for herself how Elizabeth was faring. "I hope I'm not–"
"Oh, Nora!" Liz sat her plate aside, hastily pushing to her feet. "Mrs. Crocetti–" Liz motioned to her companion, quick to offer introductions.
"Maria, honey," the woman's eyes softened, correcting gently, "please."
Liz flushed, nodding, "Maria, this is Nora..." she gestured to her friend, "I couldn't have done any of this tonight without her help and guidance."
Maria sensed the recent arrival's presence was needed from the girl's exuberance, "Please, won't you join us." she gestured to an empty seat.
"Oh, I should..." Nora hesitantly made her excuses, unsure of Elizabeth's tone as yet.
"Nora..." Liz pleaded, "please get some snacks and sit with us... you've done too much already."
Holding her expression, Nora carefully assessed the situation. Did Elizabeth want her to sit because... things were not going well or did the young woman simply desire her company? Perhaps she should sit and get a reading on the mood of the moment.
"My old war wound is acting up." she quipped, "maybe I will sit a spell, if no one truly minds." she smiled at both, grasping a plate from the serving table. She rejoined them, sitting opposite them.
"Have you set a date," Maria enquired pleasantly, "for the wedding?"
In anticipation of this inevitable question, Nora had practiced with Liz earlier to make the reply seem at ease and natural.
Still, it felt like an unforgivable deception to lie to someone with which Liz hoped to have a close relationship.
"Not as yet," Liz grimaced, "the subject did come up but..."
Liz hesitated, suddenly unsure just how much of Red and Antonio's business Maria was aware of, exactly.
"Let me guess, a sudden trip out of town," Maria posed, her playful eyes darting between Liz and Nora, "he was wounded... or both?"
Liz wished like hell now Red had joined in on the practice run because... she wasn't sure what to say exactly.
"It's always something with these men." Maria nodded sagely. "It is the world in which we live." she laughed musically, "They may try to shelter us but I, for one, was not born yesterday," she grinned, "...obviously."
Patting Liz's hand consolingly, Maria inched closer, "Think of me as your safe-haven," she whispered, "someone that you may speak with.. freely."
Lowering downcast eyes, Liz clasped the hand in hers, drawing strength from it, "...If Antonio asked you to–"
"No, no," Maria assuaged, "Antonio is a good man, and he cares for you deeply," her eyes softened, "I am sensing... well, it is difficult to know who one can trust... isn't it?"
Liz nodded after a moment's hesitation.
"Like most males in his position," Maria arched her brow, "Antonio wakes each morning intent on conquering the world. As I am certain, does your man, yes?"
Liz's eyes flit towards Red, knowing that frame of mind all too well.
Red didn't seem to fear anything. He went into every situation with every intention of succeeding.
Failure, it was not an option. It was not even in Red's vocabulary. It was in hers, though.
Intellectually, Liz knew Red understood how the game worked and navigated it with ease. But it didn't negate the fact she worried for him... constantly. No one could control all aspects of life. Not even Red.
"I see you understand," Maria read Liz's expression well enough. "Our world is different than most. With its dangers and uncertainties."
Liz winced apologetically, just then realizing how tightly she grasped the older woman's hand in her own. Maria squeezed her hand in return, anchoring her.
"How do you do it?" Liz whispered her uncertainty. "How do you put on a brave face..."
"Before I married," Maria began the tale, wishing to put the woman at ease, "as a gift from my father, I went to Italy to piece together my wedding trousseau..."
"Your family," Liz enquired, "they were happy you were marrying."
"Oh, yes," Maria's eyes twinkled as she glanced at Nora, including the woman in with gentle grace "my father believed Antonio would provide very well for me. My mother thought he was very handsome... and would gift me with beautiful children."
Nora smiled, remembering her parents voicing much of the same when she was a young woman and about to marry her now late husband.
At the time, she was too happy and didn't realize her parents expected her to quit her job and put aside her goals... so she could focus on becoming a housewife.
Thankfully, her husband, unlike others of that era, supported her goals and encouraged her to pursue them.
"He has done so admirably," Maria grinned, earning a soft chuckle from the women across from her, "if I say so myself."
"I'm sorry, I interrupted you," Liz apologized, "you were telling of us Italy."
"Italy..." Nora sighed, "an amazingly beautiful country."
"Nora! You've visited?" Liz was enthralled.
"My husband and I traveled there for our tenth anniversary. It was lovely."
"It was more so in the past." Maria nodded. "Tourism has diminished its beauty."
"But you were saying," Nora urged, "about your trip."
"Oh, yes," Maria remembered, "so, into the end of my first week there," she continued, "my mother insisted we enjoy a side trip to Athens and visit Jackie who would know all the best spots, of course, for what I needed."
Liz and Nora leaned closer, already captivated by the tale.
"Now, this was before Ari took ill," Maria set the scene, "so Jackie was in a good place... for the most part."
Nora's eyes widened perceptibly, understanding the reference. She sat back, a bit overwhelmed.
"I'm sorry," Nora interrupted, "just to clarify... you are speaking of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, yes?"
"Oh, yes," Maria nodded, "I'm sorry, I thought I had said that. I do not tell a story as well as Antonio. But yes, Jackie Kennedy... is to whom I referred."
Liz's mouth fell agape, her interest even more rapt.
"My mother and Jackie were dear friends from childhood, you see," Maria explained. "After each married, they often found themselves meeting at luncheons and the like because both associated within the same social circles..."
Desperately trying to withhold her awe and desire to ask Maria about her family history, Liz remained silent, absently nibbling her mini quiche.
"Jackie had always been very kind and caring to me as a child," Maria remembered fondly, "and as I grew to a woman, about to embark on my marriage... she became an even more prominent figure in my life."
Even after all these years, Liz could sense Maria's fondness for what she regarded as the best time in her life, if Maria's demeanor meant anything.
"We had a wonderful few days," the older woman's eyes clouded over, envisioning those exciting days, "shopping, laughing... gathering little things to spark Antonio's interest." the woman's mouth curved into a catlike grin. "Those were good times indeed."
Liz felt herself responding in kind, knowing she too enjoyed Red's spark of interest when he saw her new purchases, ones especially thought out for just such a reaction.
"Before our departure, I was afforded a moment of quiet with Jackie," Maria recalled, "it was a moment I have carried with me since that day."
Liz absently sipped her wine, engrossed in the tale.
"If anyone knew the difficulties being married to a powerful man, it was Jackie," Maria's eyes shimmered, "she understood the intricacies of a world comprised of crime, corruption and deceit." she shared a calculated glace to her companions. "Let us all speak honestly and freely here, shall we?"
Leaning closer, Liz focused on the woman intently... soaking in the words, the knowledge.
"Jackie's advice was; make your home, rear your children... love your husband." Maria smiled. "Don't allow anyone into that private domain." she stressed. "Live the dream." she whispered. "It's yours and yours alone."
Liz swallowed, understanding the simplistic words for what they were.
"To the rest of the world," Maria waved a dismissive hand to that 'world', "don't show fear, present the façade they expect..." she lifted her chin. "If they don't believe they are hurting you, they question their methods."
"And when something... bad occurs?" Liz questioned quietly.
"Don't give the sons-of-bitches," Maria spat, "the satisfaction of knowing you're terrified. They get nervous when you're calm."
Liz blinked, knowing without doubt Maria had put this information to practical use sometime in her life.
Maria patted Liz's hand, her tone softening, "You will not need to utilize this often," she murmured, "your Raymond... he is very much like Antonio."
Liz once again glanced at the two imposing figures across the way. Though laughing, the other man they spoke to did so with his chin lowered, his shoulders bent inwards slightly... showing no threat to the Alpha males before him. This man was an intelligent one, his body language stated as much.
"Raymond would rather destroy everything in sight," Maria's eyes glittered with concealed amusement, "than not come home to you." she promised. "He can't rest unless he knows what he loves most is safe and content."
Red's words came filtering back through Liz's mind, the underlying meaning, so much more profound now.
Someone who's willing to burn down the world to protect the one person they care about... that's a man I understand.
"Men like him," Maria shrugged feminine shoulders, "they dislike having their options limited."
Swallowing hard at the lump in her throat, Liz blinked past the gathering tears.
"If he is not happy how he left things with you that day," Maria grinned, "nothing will stop him from correcting that error."
Liz nodded, sniffling. She fought to control the tremble in her lips, though was failing miserably. Her heart was deeply touched by Maria's words... and insight.
"He can not die," Maria sat her glass aside, scanning the treats on her plate, "if he does not make sure you are all right." she spoke from experience. "His need to make love to you once more..."
Liz flushed, her eyes suddenly intent on the folds of her skirt.
"They have daily goals," Maria said, "and most are centered around... getting home."
It was funny, something so simplistically stated... made Liz's tension ease.
Red was, if nothing else, stubborn as hell. If he was determined to get home to her... he would do it come hell or high-water.
"The world they have entered is dangerous, yes... but then, so are they." Maria lifted her head regally.
"Know, that no matter the situation," Maria's sharp eyes connected with Liz's, "you have someone to come to, to confide in... someone who understands and can help."
Nora smiled gratefully at her counterpart. It meant a great deal, Elizabeth had this woman also in her corner. So many times, she wished to know the right thing to say to the young woman but words failed her. Perhaps, between her and Maria... together they might be the support Elizabeth needed.
Liz's eyes glittered with warmth, "I will think of you as my confidant if," she smiled softly, "you will return the sentiment in kind."
Maria gripped the hand in hers, nodding, "You've got a deal." she chuckled, kissing Liz's cheeks. "Now, on to other matters." she brightened, winking at Nora. "Tell me, has Raymond mentioned an interest in... babies?"
Maria and Nora pealed with laughter as the younger woman went through a plethora of expressions.
Liz felt the blood rush from her face as abject fear took hold. She was young yet, there were so many goals left to achieve.
Curiosity sparked in the span of a moment.
Red was so warm and nurturing. What kind of father would he be, she wondered.
He cheeks tinted yet again, these were private thoughts that should not be shared at a party... surely?
"I'll take that as a... yes." Maria checked with an agreeable Nora.