As Capazzo drove the Alfa Romeo down the road into the little town of Peoria, Illinois Charlie took in all the changes that had taken place since she had left several years ago.  Most things were still the same, but some things had change.  The sights brought back many memories for Charlie and she would often point out something and share a story with Capazzo from her childhood.  Like the time she had pushed Robert, the school bully, into the muddy street ditch next to the post office when he had tried to take her friend and her’s school lunches that they had packed from home.  Or the time that Tommy and Jimmy had dumped ants all over Susie and her as they sat on the bench outside the pharmacy shop to repay them for an earlier practical joke that Charlie could no longer remember.  It was obvious that most of the memories were happy ones.  However the happy memories could not keep the growing dread at bay for long.  As they got closer, Charlie got quieter.

As they turned to drive down main street, she saw that Old Man Cever’s five and dime store was now boarded up – apparently another causality of the depression that gripped the nation.  A few doors down was her father’s bakery.  It was still in operation, but being Sunday was closed for the day. 

Charlie smiled at a thought and spoke loud enough for Capazzo to hear her over the wind and automobile noise, “I remember my father would often have to come down to the store on Sunday’s to make a special order for some men from Chicago.  Apparently they would pick it up here on Sunday and drive it back to the city to sell on Monday.  I never could understand why?  I mean my father was a good baker, but to come over an hour just for some sweet bread?”  Charlie laughed.  “I just knew those strange folks from the city had to be a bit off their rockers.  After all why on God’s green earth would folks choose to stay in a place where you were living on top of each other?”

Shaking her head in amusement she reached out to take Capazzo’s hand in hers and went over in her mind another version of dialogue she knew had to come at some point today, before they had to leave to go back to Chicago tonight. 

“Oh Cap how do I even begin to tell them?”

Capazzo and Charlie's fingers interlocked as they make their way to Charlie's parents house. Charlie posed a question and Capazzo squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

"It's ok Bella, your parents love you, they will understand. This life wasn't something you dreamed about as a child, you were thrust into this life."

Capazzo explained as he tried to calm Charlie.

"We'll go there, you'll introduce me...you'll take one thing at a time and at the end of it all everything will be okay. I will be by your side the entire time."

Capazzo smiled and gave her a wink as the couple pulled closer to the home. Charlie quickly gave Capazzo some directions. The Don slowly pulled up to the home and Charlie instructed him to pull in the car port. The home was beautiful but Capazzo did notice some loose things out and about. Nothing out of the normal but then his eye lit up.

"Bel-"

He went to call out for Charlie but stopped. She looked at him and he shook his head. Charlie assumed she had only heard something. Capazzo looked on and saw different parts that made a mill. A gin mill. There was a prohibition going on, why the hell was there gin mill parts in the yard of these people, his future in laws?

Capazzo decided not to jump to any conclusions. This life and the recent events had made him think, rethink and analyze and reanalyze EVERYTHING so he decided to step out of that normal though process and just enjoy this meeting. After all he was meeting his future in laws. These were the people who birthed and raised the woman he loved and was going to be wedded to.

Capazzo finally cut off the engine as the two exited the car. He made sure to look into the mirror one last time to make sure his hair was behaving itself today...it was. Charlie smiled and rolled her eyes playfully. Capazzo grabbed a bunch of roses in the back seat for Charlie's mother and held Charlie's hand with his other free hand. He looked as the two walked up to the home hand in hand.

"Babe, you know...since I AM a boss...Do you think your parents would get on there knees and kiss my hand, you know...out of respect?"

Capazzo jokingly asked, Charlie laughed and playfully shoved his shoulder. A moment later they were at the front door.

She had no idea how he managed to do it every single time.  However, he managed it she was glad that he could still get her to smile in this moment and laugh.  She was reaching to knock on the door when it suddenly was thrown open from the inside and a 6 foot burly man came barreling out.  In a heart beat the man had picked up his daughter in a massive embrace and lifted her off her feet to twirl her around.

Charlie laughed as she looked down at her father's jovial face.  "Put me down.  I am not a little kid anymore."

The gruff sounding Italian man responded back with a chuckle, "I have not see my daughter in two years.  I will damn well give her a proper welcome home."

"ENRICO COSTA!" a stern Italian female voice could be heard chastising the man from the door way.  "You put her down this instant.  You promised you would not embarrass her."

"Momma!"  Charlie cried out and her father lowered her back down to the ground.  Charlie broke from her father's embrace to throw her arms around her mother.  "Welcome home child."  Her mother hugged her daughter tightly.  "I have missed you so much."  While the two women embraced, Charlie's father looks at Capazzo and gives him a nervous nod... before diverting his eyes with marked deference.

Finally pulling back from her mother's embrace she quickly introduced her parents to her fiancee.  "This is my fiancee, Capazzo.  Cap this is Gemma & Enrico Costa.  My parents."

Capazzo looked at Charlie's parents. Her mother looked very warm and welcoming, smiling and embracing Capazzo with a hug. Charlie's father, Enrico wasn't as pleasant. It had been no secret who Capazzo was, he was a boss of a well known crime family in South Side Chicago. Although Enrico looked on intently it was more caution then fear. Capazzo tried to read him and could instantly pick up on Enrico doing the same to him.

He made the first move, out of respect. He extended his hand.

"Hello sir, nice to meet you."

Enrico acknowledged and shook Capazzo's hand. Firm grip. Enrico then pointed over to the couch.

"Please, you both have a seat."

Capazzo nodded and Charlie's mom Gemma quickly popped up.

"Oh! Where are my manners? Let me get you kids something to eat and drink."

Capazzo smiled, he wasn't that hungry, he could use a drink but surely it wouldn't be anything strong enough for what he was looking for. Then again...there were parts to a gin mill outside, so maybe. Capazzo nodded to Gemma and she smiled back and made her way to the kitchen to fix a meal. Charlie then took this as a opportunity to exit the room, she trusted her father to be alone with Capazzo and likewise trusted Capazzo to be alone with her father.

"Hey, you two can talk I am going to help mom in the kitchen."

Capazzo confidently nodded at her and Enrico did the same. Once Charlie had exited the room the two men began to make small talk and chit chat. Capazzo, after a while, explained his life, not really knowing his real father and losing his mother and adopted father and being raised by his uncle Tony, then losing him as well. About 10 minutes later Capazzo felt enough was exchanged. He looked at Enrico.

"Enrico, sir. I would like to be very honest and very up front with you."

Enrico nodded and listened.

"I love your daughter very much. She is the best thing to ever come into my life and quite frankly I couldn't imagine my life without her. She helps me with many different things and I can't put into words the tremendous amount of gratitude, love and affection I have for her. What I am asking for you today sir...."

Capazzo paused for a moment then continued.

"Is Charlene's hand in marriage. I do believe I can give her a wonderful life and I can be the loyal, loving and giving husband she deserves. I would like for you to walk your daughter down that aisle and give her away to me. I would like to marry your daughter."

Capazzo although was known for his more modern ways, especially his futuristic hairstyle, he was very much traditional in this aspect of things. This was all about respect and more then anything he knew Charlie would want it this way. She cared a great deal for her parents and their blessings meant the world to her so Capazzo knew he had to do the right thing here. He awaited Enrico's answer. After a few seconds Enrico stood up.

"Capaz-"

"DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Charlie came stomping into the room yelling before Enrico could say a word.

In Charlie's hand was a stack of labels of a sort and she was holding them up for her father to see.  Quickly on her daughter's heels, Gemma was obviously trying to stop her daughter from having this confrontation.  Charlie would have no of it and she demanded of her father.  "Why the hell do you have these labels?"

Gemma gasped at the language and chided her daughter, "Charlene resp...." 

"Not now mother...." Charlie shrugged her mother's hand off her arm continued, "Why do you have these Racin' Ricky labels on your back pouch?  Racin' Ricky is the biggest bootlegger in Illinois!"

Enrico looked at his wife and she shook her head no at him.  Finally her father said, "Charlene it is time you were told the truth."

"No!" Gemma took a step towards her husband to try and stop him.  

He held up a hand to stop her, "She's a grown woman, Gemma.  We did our best to shield her all these years, but apparently some things.. well some things just run in the family apparently.  There is no reason to continue trying to keep this from her."

Charlie looked from her father to her mother and then back to her father.  Confusion obvious on her face.  "Keep what from me?"

Her father smiled down at her and took the labels.  "The reason I have these labels is because I am Racin' Ricky.  

Over the course of the next half hour, her father explained how he and his wife had lived in Chicago and had grown up in and around the mafioso.  He told how they met and fell in love, how they had decided to leave Chicago when her mother had discovered her pregnancy, and how they had managed over the years to keep all of it from Charlie despite running guns, boozes and other things for the mob families of the Greater Chicago area.  He also told Charlie how he had been keeping tabs on her over the last couple of years whenever a run would bring him to Chicago, and how very proud he was of her success as a business woman and her gaining such respect within the mafioso community.

Somewhere through it all, Charlie had walked to stand beside Capazzo and he held her hand for support as the truth came out.  Everything she had grown up believing had been a ruse.  She didn't know quite how to process all of it.  She had became on her own the very thing they had so desperately tried to keep her from.  Her mind was reeling, but it was snapped back to the present when her father stated, "Well now that we got that out of the way.  Let's talk more about you and this boy of yours and this marriage thing you are planning."

FOUR HOURS LATER...

After spending hours with Gemma and Enrico, talking and having dinner, Charlie and Capazzo decided to hit the road. It was a bit of a journey back to Capazzo Crime Syndicate Headquarters and they wanted to get on their way. Gemma exchanged hugs and kisses with Charlie and Capazzo. Enrico did the same with Charlie and then Capazzo approached him.

"Thank you for today sir, I really appreciate it."

Enrico smiled and grabbed Capazzo by the back of the neck and pulled him in for a hug.

"Bahhh, no more of that sir stuff. It's dad now, capisce?"

Capazzo smiled and nodded. He then lifted up a bag Enrico gave him.

"Thanks for this by the way."

Enrico nodded and the couples said their final goodbyes as Charlie and Capazzo walked toward the car and waved goodbye once more. Capazzo held the gift from Enrico in one hand and then a moment later Charlie's hand with his other hand. He leaned in and whispered to her.

"See you were worried about nothing, all is fine and now your old man is going to walk you down the aisle. I am marrying you Charlene Costa."

Capazzo smiled. Charlie smiled back and then gave a up nod to the bag...the gift her father had given to his future son-in-law.

"Oh this?...Just a little gift from my future father-in-law...."

Capazzo opened the bag slightly so Charlie could have a peek. It was some of the finest Cognac Capazzo had tasted, the exact kind he liked too. Capazzo smiled and winked at Charlie.

"You really didn't think I would refuse booze from ole Racin Ricky did you Bella?"

Capazzo laughed as the two stood by the car.

Capazzo opened the car door for her and slide inside.  As he closed the door and moved to get in on the other side she waved at her parents and promised to see them both soon.   Capazzo was right.  Everything was fine now.  There was nothing stopping them from getting married now and Charlie had never been happier.  She felt like an enormous load had been lifted from her shoulders.

When they were on their way, she reached out and took hold of Capazzo's hand.  "I know we have not yet set a date, but I want us to get married sooner rather than later.  I want to share every aspect of this life we have together." 

Neither one of them was promised a tomorrow in this thing of theirs and she wanted to live her life with no regret.