Summary: Nothing better than a mother's advice... and cooking.

Alessio's never been the emotional type. There was always a cold, stoic expression on his face as he carried out his duties as the Family's consigliere. Deathslinger even took a fancy to calling him Mr. Balls of Steel because of this. Even at his own wife's funeral, his emotionless expression never changed. Those who knew him well, however, could see the grief in his eyes.

Alessio swore a part of him might have died alongside Bianca. He did not cry in front of other people, but the pain was there. Many of his colleagues—and their wives— attended her funeral. She was such a pure, loving soul that everyone wanted to say goodbye to her; even Crimson himself showed up to pay his respects despite the... bad blood between him and Bianca, mostly on her part. Pietro was cradled in the arms of his Aunt Cecilia, who whispered comforting words to her nephew despite the tears in her eyes. Unlike his father, the four-year-old was bawling his eyes out. It broke Alessio's heart even more.

The ride way back to the house was quiet. Cecilia offered to drive so he could spend some time with Pietro. And so, Alessio joined his son and his nephew GaGarret in the backseat, the former sobbing into his chest. Eventually, Pietro cried himself to sleep in his arms. Once they got home, rather than wake Pietro up, Alessio opted to carry him to the nursery while Cecilia and GaGarret went to the kitchen to make them something to eat. He was greeted by seeing his mother sitting next to Giulia's cradle, watching her sleep. Alessio was glad she could look after the little one; there was no one else he'd entrust his bambina to.

"How was it, figlio?" Mother inquired grimly.

"It's done, mamma. She's finally resting..." Alessio took a peek inside the cradle. His baby girl was cuddled up with her baby cousin Arianna. "How's Giulia?"

"She slept the whole time, the little angel. She didn't stir even when Arianna woke up a few times." Mother got to her feet and touched his cheeks with both hands. "Goodness' sake, Alessio. When was the last time you slept? Have you been eating well?"

"I'm fine, mamma."

"I'll make you some tea."

"I'd rather have coffee—"

"I'll make tea." With that, Mother left for the kitchen.

Alessio sighed. No matter how old he got, she'd still treat him like a child sometimes.

After tucking Pietro into his bed, Alessio went back to the crib. Carefully, he cradled his daughter in his arms, making sure not to disturb Arianna in the process, and he kissed her forehead. For a while, he just sat on the rocking couch, silently watching his bambina sleep. Giulia stirred a bit every now and then but didn't look like she'd wake up anytime soon. Alessio felt guilty for not bringing her to Bianca's funeral, but it was no place for a baby so young. He tenderly stroked her cheek with his thumb. Giulia stirred at his touch and smiled a bit. Despite his emotional state, Alessio managed to crack up the tiniest of smiles. She looked so much like her mother...

"Ale?" reluctantly, he looked up to see his sister in the doorway. "Mamma wants you to come downstairs and eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat something, Alessio," Cecilia spoke a bit more sternly. "Pietro and Giulia need you now more than ever. How do you expect to care for them if you don't care for yourself?"

Sometimes, he hates it when his little sister is right. Alessio got up and—very reluctantly—handed Giulia over. He didn't want to let go of his daughter. Thankfully, Giulia didn't seem to notice the exchange and contently kept sleeping.

"It's okay, Ale. I'll keep an eye on the children." Cecilia assured him.

Alessio looked back one more time before heading downstairs and into the kitchen. The familiar aroma of his mother's biscotti almost made his mouth water. There was a time, back when they were kids when he and Cecilia would beg their mother to make biscotti. GaGarret and Jawns, who'd caught up at some point while he was upstairs, were already munching into one of them. As he sat down, Alessio remembered to take off his hat. Mother always made a fuss whenever he forgot. She placed a cup of tea and the biscotti in front of him. Alessio frowned at the cup.

"I hate tea," he murmured.

"It's for your own good, Alessio. You look tense. You need to sleep."

"Mamma, I just buried my wife and the mother of my children. How can I be anything but tense?"

"More of a reason! Stop making a fuss and drink."

"Mother..."

"Drink." There it was. Mother's strict gaze and stone-hard voice.

Alessio glanced at GaGarret and Jawns for some help, but they made the smart decision to stay silent. Both of them know there's no way out once she switches to that mode.

With an unhappy grunt, Alessio took a gulp of tea. The warm sensation did help his muscles relax, but the beverage was still tasteless and bland.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Speak for yourself." Alessio took a bite of a biscotti. If the circumstances were different, he would have smiled at the sweet, familiar taste.

"Alessio, you need to take care of yourself. The children need you now more than ever."

"You think I don't know that?" Alessio rubbed his temple, eyes closed. "I just... I don't know how I'll do it without Bianca..."

"Does... Does Pietro know what happened to her?" GaGarret inquired.

"No. I told him she got ill." He met his nephew's gaze with a sternness of his own. "And I want to keep it that way. Understood?"

GaGarret nodded. "Crystal clear, zio A."

"I'm a tomb, Ale." Jawns added

"You don't have to ask, figlio. It's best to save them that pain..." Mother looked him over. "...There's something else, isn't it?"

Promise me that you'll keep them safe.

Don't let them get involved with the Family.

Alessio took another sip of tea.

"...I promised Bianca I would keep Pietro and Giulia out of the Family's affairs. I promised her I'd keep them safe."

Jawns looked like he wanted to say something to that. It only took a silent glare from Alessio for him to keep his mouth shut.

"Does that mean you're leaving the Mafia?" Alessio didn't miss the undertone of hope in his mother's voice. How he hated to crush her hopes.

"It's not that simple, mamma. You can't just 'quit' the Family and leave without looking back. Those who've tried..." Alessio trailed off, leaving his thoughts unfinished but clear.

"Can't you talk with Crimson or something? You're his consigliere, aren't you? That means you're close."

Alessio sighed. "Precisely, mamma. The consigliere doesn't quit under any circumstances unless the boss himself dismisses you..." his grip on the cup tightened. "And we know what that means." he finished darkly.

Alessio would never forget that day. How he'd been beaten, tied up, gagged, and left to rot in a cell after managing to wipe out a considerable group of the Knolastnames. How Crimson—back then just recently inducted into the Family and eager to make his mark— had shown up at his cell, offering him away to support his recently widowed mother and younger sister. How he'd been given a 'test' involving a rival Family to see his worth. What he had to do...

The things he had to do to get to where he is now.

Sometimes he still wonders how his pure, sweet-natured Bianca could love one as him, with such a troubled past.

"I have to think about it, mamma. All I know is that I'm keeping my children away from the Family for as long as possible."

A small cry echoed from the nursery. Giulia. Alessio was about to get on his feet when a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder pushed him back down.

"Cecilia's with her, figlio. I'll go check if she needs any help. You stay and try to eat some more." Mother frowned. "Don't even think of spilling that tea down the sink, young man."

"Nonna really knows you well, doesn't she?" GaGarret chuckled once she was out of earshot.

Alessio murmured under his breath, tail twitching in irritation as he kept sipping the tasteless tea little by little. "You have no idea."