Frankie was still asleep as Tony climbed up her fire escape with a large paper bag in his arms.  The window was unlocked as always and Tony smiled that that habit of Frankie has never changed.   She wake to the sounds of someone in her home.  Knowing that she went to bed alone she reached for her pistol that was on her night stand.  The noise continued coming from your kitchenette as she slowly climbed out of her bed. 

Frankie-Messina was ready to do damaged as she was in no mood for a robbery unless she was doing the taking.  She slowly open her bedroom door not making a sound.  She leveled her gun at the back of the head of a man that was cooking in her kitchenette.  Without looking at her the man said in a cheerful voice.

Did I wake you sleepy head?

She grin with a slight bit of anger but seeing the hot coffee on the table with buttered toast, bacon strips and omelets.  There was also blueberry bagels with cream cheese, milk and orange juice.  There are a dozen roses in a vase and a small box of chocolates.   Tony was dressed nicely as he turns and places a plate on the small table as she sat down placing her gun on the table.  He kissed her forehead smiling and then he sat  down never breaking eye contact with her.

I see you still tend to wake up with a pistol in your hand.  Good girl your grandfather would be proud of you.

She stares at him not yet eating as she can't figure out why he would go to all this trouble.  He looks around her apartment then tells her.

No I don't have a key to your place.  I came in through your fire escape.  You always live your window open, since you were 10 I remember you coming out to play and in for the night by your window.
 

"I could have shot you, you know that right?  Damn fool."  She picked up a bagel and ate it with the enthusiasm of a woman that might not have eaten in a while - though she tries her best to hide it.  "Mmmm but this really good so I forgive you."  She drinks the coffee immediately after swallowing.

"What's all this for?  Surly you remember that my birthday has already passed."

Smiling at her comment about shooting him and her birthday passing.  He tills his head slightly. 

Always with the gun play with you.  Can't an old flame just be happy that your back in his life even if you don't want to admit you love me?

Taking two strips of bacon and a slice of buttered toast folding it to make a half to form a sandwich.  He takes a big bite still refusing to ever break eye contact with her as he raises his coffee cup.

Here to adventure in two areas of our lives doll.

She stares at the bacon longingly even as he makes the toast.  Upon realizing he's toasting she picks up her glass again hastily and raises it - taking another sip.  "I'll say I love you all day long if I can have more of that bacon."  Her stomach roars loudly, as if she's putting food on it for the first time in QUITE a while, she covers it with both her hands, blushing.

"It's really quite good."  She reaches for more toast buttering it.  "If you're gonna keep sneaking in my windows, I could have you a key made.  It's not like my uncles or Grandfather are going to shoot you for coming up to my place before we're promesso sposo."

Tony eye's brighten at her words, he replies back to her in Italian.

Mi piacerebbe averti come mia moglie.   Se mi date una chiave al vostro posto vi darò un piatto pieno di pancetta

He slides the plate of bacon towards her and as she reaches for a few strips he quickly reaches for her hands and slowly rubs his hand on top of hers pulling his hand back towards himself as he then grabs in cup of joe.

You like teasing me with that offer don't you?

"I'm no tease."  She says very matter of factly.  "I'm practical.  However, you know better than to think you're getting a little wife to tend your house and push out little bambini."  She snags some bacon and crunches upon it.  "I haven't changed my position on the topic - not one inch, Tony... to be perfectly fair to you, I think we need to be straight on that."

She picks up the coffee and washes down her mouth full of food.  "I fear a lot has changed since we were kids... your family and mine, they won't celebrate us getting married.  Your family will mourn the grandchildren they hoped to get and mine the same because my Grandfather will know I wouldn't have agreed to marry anyone who didn't meet my expectations of a husband."

She smirks and takes more bacon, her stomach continues to make a ton of noise as she eats - leaving Tony to wonder when she last ate really was - she continues to blush at it.

Tony looks at her with a grin and speak in loving low soft voice.

I never asked you for anything but your love.  I can higher a maid if I want dinner on the table and a clean house Frankie.  The only thing I ever wanted was you and you should already know that I want you as my partner in this thing of ours.

Looking at her eat he nods.

Take a shower were going grocery shopping today.

Looking at her apartment he turns and looks at her.

We may need to look for a bigger home also with a full size kitchen?

"First off..."  She shakes her head with a mouth full of food.  "I can't have you buying me groceries.  It wouldn't be right."  She points a strip of bacon at him, "Secondly are you casually planning our future without even giving me the benefit of a real proposal?"  She looks scandalized, until she bites the bacon, then it's just kinda cute.

"I deserve better than that, Mister.  You don't get to walk up my fire escape with a pound of bacon and then leave with a promise of my hand in marriage and the specs on my dream home.  I may not be very traditional, but there are some customs that should never be forgotten." 

She laughs.  "Though, can you imagine the looks on my uncles faces if they saw us like this now?"  She shakes her head.  "Me here in my night clothes - you and I alone in my apartment... they'd have taken you out back and beaten you within an inch of your life and sent letters to Teresa and Rita telling them that unless they wanted one fewer young man in their family that they'd need to put a leash upon you!"

She sighs and stops laughing, suddenly becoming serious, "I never stopped loving you, Tony.  Not for a minute of my life... but...."  She puts her food down and looks down at her hands in her lap.  "I just just think you need a bit more time... all things considered.  Your losses... they're very fresh and men do rash things after such loss.  Things they might come to regret and that would be far more than I could bear."

She looks at Tony's eyes.  "I could endure you loving a dead woman, but I could never handle finding out I was second to her only after I was your wife.  And I don't really thing you've had time to grieve her... see, I've been giving a lot of thought to why she didn't send you to me right away.  You know, like you said when we first met again?  And there's only one solution to that puzzle, Tony.  And I think we both know the answer - the answer was in her last letter to you... a letter I suspect you still have right now."

Frankie wiped her mouth with a napkin and slid her chair away from the table, but she can not look Tony in the eyes.  "I want you to know I'm not angry or jealous... but I care about you enough to protect your heart ... & mine."  She nods towards her room.  "I'm gonna take a shower.  Enjoy breakfast, okay?"

Tony heard every word she said as he sat there wishing he never left Sicily to began with.   Looking at Frankie walking away he gave a boyish grin as he realized that he's been watching her walk away over half his life.  He liked the way her hips swayed from lift to right when she walked.  When it came to the things of the heart Sicilian women have always been right and he had no choice but to agree.

For the recorded your uncles wouldn't touch me, remember I'm a made guy for one and I'm no push over lady.  You named me the mountain to began with.  Also I'm buying groceries for us both.  So stop thinking of that as a handout and call it my part of the rent here.

Hearing her turning the shower on he cleans the kitchenette and the dishes.  He pours himself another cup of coffee as she showers and gets dressed.  He thinks on her words.  Lucy was a part of him that he did love but he wanted to bury that with the loss of Frank and forget that he sinned against Frank. Tony realized that he needed to write Katy a letter and check on how she is doing.

Frankie showered and tried to put aside any lingering bit of jealousy she had for the dead woman who clearly had some hold over Tony's heart in the past.  It wasn't worth getting upset over; and yet she had to be sure she would not end up being a rebound for his heart... something comfortable and familiar that he could run back to and later regret.

Frankie pinned up her hair, put rouge on, and painted her lips.  Dressed up in cute slacks and a pretty blouse, she came out of her room putting in a pair of pearl earrings that her Grandfather gave her last Christmas.  She saw Tony finish up writing something at the counter.  "So, if you're wanting to fill my kitchen I'll only allow it on one condition... you have to be here often enough to justify it.  You know, I can tell myself that it's your food and you're just storing it here... and sharing sometimes.  Maybe we can see about finding you a cot or an inexpensive bed to set up in the front room if you like... I can't have you putting the sofa out of shape by sleeping on it constantly.  It might not be much, but it's the only sofa I'm going to be able to afford for a while.  I won't have the print of your butt pressed down in the middle of it for the world to see."

She smiles and walks towards him.  "Is that a grocery list?"

Tony was writing a letter to Katy as he was her guardian and protector in America.  He was managing all that Frank left her until she becomes of age. 

No I was writing a letter to Franks daughter she's been in Sicily for two weeks now.  I see your ready and no cot for me lady I need a bed I have to be comfortable when I sleep but if you would come to my apartment which it is bigger and it has two bedrooms.  I will agree to your terms as I do plan to be around you as often as you allow me to be.  I think I will be here often and I would prefer a key that fire escape sucks and I don't want to have a slip and fall.  

Tony looked up at her with a smile as he realized she was absolutely gorgeous.  He handed her a key to his apartment. 

The address is 425 Park avenue.  You will see a doormen in a red and gold uniform he will carry your luggage to the apartment if you decide to swing by.  At least take a look.  I'm not saying this place isn't cute but a roll away bed takes a lot of space when you roll it out and if we want a party people can fit comfortable there.   We can always keep this place as our get away when you're ready for that.

He then looked at her icebox thinking it was small.  she would not be able to hold a lot of food but enough that they can eat good for at least a week.  He stood up and folded the letter and then paused.

At some point we will have to start earning money and completing the task that Lucy left you.  Don't think I have forgot about that.     

Frankie didn't say a word, instead she walked back into her bedroom and then came back out tossing a box onto the counter with a loud rattle and thud. 

As Tony opened it he found a set of lock picks, several different types of locks - a combination spinner, and business ledger.  Opening the ledger he probably found himself speechless.  The notes within indicated that Frankie had been involved in everything from pick pocketing to knocking over a post office.  She had ties to larger crimes too - breaking and entering at wealthy hopes, a few truck heists, and even one hit since her arrival weeks ago.  According to her notes she had made over three million dollars since arriving in New York, but barely had any food in her kitchen at all and the same three pairs of clothes he'd seen her wearing over and over.

"She said I was suppose to stay poor and send everything up to Don Dovahkiin until I'm a Made Man... so ... I have.  Every damn penny.  Actually, been thinking about a possible heist with the biggest take yet... but it's gonna require putting together a team."  She leans on the kitchen counter and gives a flirtatious smile.  "What do you say Tony DiCaprio... you interested in hearing about my big idea?"  

Tony was shocked that she made so much money and living as if she was poverty-stricken then he looked at her wanting to ask her why does she have a ledger.  That's a no-no for criminals a ledger is your own testimony stating you committed this or that crime and that you didn't pay your taxes.  However she hasn't spent much time in America and she is a smart woman so he had to assume that she has a plan to dispose of the ledger. 

She was proud of her achievements and she should be.  Looking at her he wanted to congratulate her but didn't know how she would respond.  His ears perked up when she asked him was he interested in hearing about her idea.  She always had lofty ideas and her ability to generate cash was rival to Frank's ability. 

You send so much back to your grandfather and so much up and your living like this?  You need to keep a taste for your own living love.  Tell you what you come stay with me and you keep doing what your doing. 

Her smile was melting, her ideas chilling and her style overwhelming.  Tony always listened to her with edger cheer as she looked at him handing her the ledger back.

Yes tell me all about it.  Don't worry about impressing me because I'm already all in. 

Frankie noticed how Tony looked at her ledger and it made her smile brighter.  He was always looking out for her - and he bit his tongue for fear of hurting her feelings.  That only made her adore him more!  

"I don't think Father Flannigan would much care for two unmarried people living together... aren't you worried about the good of your soul, young man?"  She was clearly giving him a hard time and was only joking.  "You're clearly not going to let this go, are you?"

Tony shook his head 'no.'  Frankie laughed.  "If I wasn't already a criminal - and starving half the time - I might be worried about what such a thing will do to my reputation; but since I have no good reputation to be worried about... I guess I can agree to this plan of yours.  BUT - separate rooms.  I'm not moving in with you... we're just sharing resources.  If you want this relationship to progress in that sort of way you need to go about it right and properly.  You hear me?"

She put the ledger back into the box and pulled out a newspaper clipping about the Indianapolis 500 racing derby.  "You ever hear about this thing?"

Tony loved her hot Sicilian blood when she gets going.  He smiled sharply as she said she would move in even if it was separate rooms he would be closer to her not to watch her or protect her but so he could move forward with her and going about it properly the Sicilian way.  He wanted to hide his excitement but knew she already spotted it.   She was good at reading him completely.

Looking at her news clipping and nodding letting her know he does know about the Indianapolis 500.  It had been around since 1911 and he looked puzzled at her as he knew this would be a big score with high risk.  This made him inhale deeply and exhale very slowly as he prepared to listen to her.

Yes I know about it?  What's the goal here?

Her face broke into a wide grin.  "Would you believe that I'm a race car driver, and that I'm hoping to be allowed to compete next May as the first female driver ever?!?"  She waited for his reaction and then laughed. 

"Okay!  No, I have no idea how to drive... but I have heard that the race commission secured a prize purse that may be as much as twice the previous amounts.  I want to go to Indianapolis and find out for sure.  AND, if possible, find a way to snag it for ourselves."  She leaned in close to Tony's face, "Darling... I want to rob the Indianapolis 500."

Tony nodded and smiled as the thought of the ticket sales and the commissary loot would also make a good hall.  The wealthy tend to go to those things and to take a few jewels from the elite would make an excellent score.  Then he realized that maybe over reaching and that he would have to scale back a bit. 

As she leaned into his face he thought here comes the teasing again.  She was good it was an art and fun to make Tony face turn red and then walk away.  This time he was going to turn the tables by not focusing on her but on the job she was going to lay out for him.

Okay break down the details and what you need from me

Frankie stood up straight, giving him an amused look, somewhat impressed that he could be all business with her.  Well, two could play that way.  Frankie got serious.  "I met this guy name Jonathan Darrow at a bar downtown.  He works for the Yale safe company.  Of course, our accidental meeting was planned... I was hoping to find out about a job closer to home but turns out the Indy 500 race commissioners put in a special order from the Yale Safe company for one of their newest, top of the line, safes because the prize purse is far larger than any local bank in Indianapolis is willing to insure!"

"So I want to head out to Indianapolis... long before race day.  I want to go in with a female racer and request the right to participate.  The whole thing is a rouse to get us eyes inside the main offices and maybe to get a rapport with some employees.  Whatever intelligence we can collect puts us ahead of the game."

"Then, if what Mr. Darrow tells me is true, we come back after hours and do a little B&E with a safe cracker who's the bee's knees... some muscle to handle the night watch and a driver who knows their way around Indianapolis... maybe a second set of eyes too... and we should walk away a whole lot richer.  I know that's the rough draft of this... and a lot will change depending on what we learn in the office; but if the money is literally sitting in a safe protected by a night watchman or two... we can handle that!"

She waited to see what Tony thought of her very rough outline of a plan.

Tony looked at her and nodded as he thought on her plan.  He thought if we do it on race day we could blend in with the crowd.  If we do it before race day it would be harder to get in but easier to get out of there.  The ticket sales will be stored in that safe and that will add up to the cash heist.

He smiled as he could see the her getting into the fight to be a female race car driver.  He realized that he may have to keep her focused because Frankie has always like a good fight and her rights.  Deny her the right to compete and she might shoot you.  Tony also knows that she will complete the heist but at what cost.

Tony looked at the clipping and wondered what the hell is in Indianapolis to eat or do.  He looked at her and thought well she can at least make him laugh. 

Like I said before doll I'm all in.