Before they could respond- she spoke again.

"Oh- and if we can't meet today, Isabella, then I really do need to sit down with you in the near future to discuss some business of my own. I won't keep you, of course, but I'd like to have the conversation sooner rather than later."

"I think we're going to do a quick run around Philly and head out to Atlantic City.  I hear the prize fights there are something to see and I'd like some first hand observation of a real operation.  Something that people spend fortunes on, so we can see how it's done by the big dogs and we can improve on it."  She smirked, again she offered Tara her hand.

"I would like to take you up on a meeting soon though.  How do you feel about lunch tomorrow.  I could make plans to stay over in the area.  I'm free until tomorrow evening.  I'd love to pick your brain a bit more if you're up for it?"

Tara smiled as she accepted Isabella's hand. 

"I'm almost always around, and getting out from under a pile of reports would be a pleasure. Lunch sounds wonderful."

Tara offered William her hand as well.

"Nice working with both of you. I'm very much looking forward to see the finalized plans and working more closely together."

Isabella took William's arm and smiled at Tara, already making plans for tomorrow in the back of her head as they headed out to the car. 

Once there she gave Will a hug and a kiss on his cheek.  "We did it!  I knew we would, but we MUST celebrate tonight.  So... whatever you want.  Name it and we'll do it.  No holds barred.  If you want a trip to the moon, I'll see if it can be arranged... God knows I have the cash for it these days so we might as well enjoy ourselves a bit!"

Isabella would be staying. That was the only thing that mattered to William and in that moment he was utterly ecstatic. He eagerly took Tara's hand thinking of the roar of a crowd at a prize fight, the clash of bodies, and in the midst of it all an angel. One that he'd have a perfectly legitimate reason to be seen with for a long time to come that wouldn't violate any rules or expectations.

"Thanks Tara. I know we'll make you and the rest of the Pier proud."

He grinned as Isabella took his arm and they walked out of the office. Once at the car he returned her hug as best he could, careful to turn enough to spare his poor rib further pressure. When she said "whatever you want" his mind raced through a thousand possibilities, each of which could get him killed if the wrong person knew. As his mind wandered his smile grew wide and toothy like a shark sizing up a meal. He caught himself before letting the thoughts slip out loud, but the look on his face said volumes.

"Well, let's check out the fights you mentioned and watch some other poor saps get a beating. It'll do me good not to be on the receiving end for a change. After that maybe a few drinks and some dancing, a walk on the boardwalk to see the sights, and a swim if you're interested. Then you can ask me that question again." With a wink William started the car. 

"For now though I'll start with this," William leaned over to Isabella, gently placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her fully, letting every drop of his pent up feelings for her flow out in a moment he'd been hoping for since the day they'd met.

Will's fist made her head swim, but his kiss made her body float.  She let her hand come up and her fingers play in the closely shaved hair on the back of his neck.  She took a long moment to explore the way he kissed, the feel of his lips on hers and how his body reacted when she took hold of his bottom lip; her own and suckled on it for just an instant.  As she released his lower lip she whispered, "You kiss me like that again Will Bowden, and we're not going to make it to Atlantic City."

There was a difference in how Gavin kissed, in how William kissed, and how Elias use to kiss her.  To be certain the kisses of each man were as different as their personalities and strangely seemed to reflect their natures.  It seemed to Isabella that one could learn a lot about a man by how he kissed a girl he was keen for.

For example, Gavin's kisses were in the build up.  It's not that he was a bad kisser ... but really, what made his kisses set her on fire was the lead up.  He had a way with words, glances, and touches that had her thirsty for his lips in the same way a man wanted water after a long run.  But the kiss it itself was always... hmmm? How would she put it really? Did it reflect something of his skittish nature? As if there was a wall between them she'd not yet tore down?  Yes. He was always giving, but never vulnerable. He never really lost himself in the act the way he wanted her to lose herself... or find herself, as the case had seemed to be in Canada.

Will, on the other hand, was skittish in the lead up.  Clearly, not sure of himself leading up to the action; but once he'd committed to the course, his hands were as powerful inside of the ring as out of it.  That was to say nothing of how his lips claimed hers. He was used to being dominant in a relationship, or so it felt by the way he kissed. While she knew she had to be strong in all aspects of her life, as a Don, a part of her yearned to submit to that stronger man.  Stronger men who were forever absentee driving the course of her existence - it was … comfortable to her, familiar.

She had no doubt that if she was to spend the night with Will, he would leave her well reminded of her place in the universe as a woman - and she thrilled at the idea.  He was so strong. Everything he seemed to do, once committed, was awe-strikingly powerful and if there was one thing Isabella loved more than money… it was power.

Elias had been much the same way.  Knowing how he'd been once he'd gotten Salvatore's blessing, she smiled at the thoughts of what might yet come tonight.

"Shall we go see who's fighting today?"

William's head spun with the thrill of feeling Isabella's lips on his own and the way she held onto him. A part of him wanted to pin her to the seat and follow the kiss with the rest of his body, driving away anything else from her sight and her mind except for him. Part of him knew he could and with the way she'd responded he suspected she would be more than willing. If they hadn't been in the middle of a public place he may very well have found out, but he was already pushing his luck. In the instant when he began to pull away and she held his lip within her own a deep guttural feeling like the beginning of a growl rose up, almost pushing its way free of his lips, coming out only as a sharp exhalation of breath. Once again he was almost tempted to more. Almost.

"I've got enough hideouts here that wouldn't be a problem." William took a deep breath and steadied himself, suppressing the ferocity he felt just under the skin and leaned back to her gently brushing her lips with a second, softer kiss. "Then again maybe it's good to have something to look forward to, angel." 

Settling back in his seat William knew that it would be a long drive ahead of them and neither of their thoughts would be on the road. He resolved to make it as short a drive as possible and heard the tires squeal as he pulled away to start towards their goal and what promised to be an experience he'd never forget.

"I'm ready if you are. Just promise me you won't beat any of them up."

"There is only one man I'm putting my hands on tonight, Consigliere."  She said crossing her legs and eyeing him sideways as she reached down to roll the window into an open position.  

Taking a deep breath of the sea air she let the breeze lift up her hair and she pulled it all down to hang long.  The sunshine felt like heaven and in a way she felt like she might lift up out of the passenger seat and fly away from the hateful world.  She let her arm hang out the window and go up and down on drafts of wind as Will drove too fast down the highway headed for Atlantic City.

She kept noticing him looking over at her as she 'flew' down the highway, a smile on his face that made her want to ask him what he was thinking... but men hated women pushing in on their private thoughts.  So, she kept it to herself.  Instead she took in the sights, the cars and the people, and let her mind wander to all the things in life she hadn't yet experienced and in what ways she'd make the time to do it before she got too old... or was cut down too soon.

When the sign for Atlantic City came up on the road, Isabella had her shoes kicked off and her bare feet on the dash, wiggling her toes.  She smirked at Will - they hadn't said a thing since Philly... and yet, she'd felt something growing between them.  It was a comfortable intimacy, the sort people general notice after years of talking with nothing left to say.  That quiet that rests between two old souls that just pleasure in the presence of the one they love and no longer need the reassurance of platitudes and banter to fill the quiet spaces anymore.

Resting her head on the side of the door she closed her eyes and smiled a smile so deep she felt it in her painted toe nails.  "Does this have to end?"  She finally asked.  "I could just sit here in your car and let you drive us to the end of the world?  I think I'd like that, to just feel this way forever." 

Without looking to him she put her left hand out across the middle of the seat for Will to take.  She drew a deep breath as his fingers entwined with hers.  Yes.  This was what heaven felt like.

Will had hardly been able to keep his eyes off his passenger the whole way. Somehow she seemed...different. It was if someone had thrown open the doors of her jail and she was tasting freedom after a long absence. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her so happy and so at ease. Her hair flowing in the wind framed her face with a sort of wild, untamed beauty that drove him to the edge of his restraint. The only thing that held him back from pulling the car over was the peaceful joy of the moment. He would have sooner ripped apart the priceless works of art in the Observatory back on the pier than fracture that image.

The silence of it all would have been worrisome with anyone else. With Isabella it felt like the world had found the way it was supposed to turn at last and nothing more was needed. The sign for Atlantic City was both an excitement for all that it would hold and a sadness that this perfect moment would be broken at last. He thought about her question for a moment and considered what it would mean to just keep driving and leave everything behind. They could revel in one another even as their world burned around them. His heart told him it might be worth it, but his thoughts, he knew, would give him no peace. So very many people relied on the both of them and doubtless it would end in harm coming to those people as well as a sudden end for themselves when they would be found.

The thought that a moment like this was possible meant that it could be repeated and that brought comfort at the last. "It doesn't have to end. It just has to pause for a while from time to time. I promise I'll always be ready to take you out on the drive when you need it." The sense of being so close to her after all that had happened today was enough that he felt her reach for him even before his eyes found her hand and his own followed its way at almost the same moment.

Soon enough they had reached the exit to enter the city and the sea breeze and open space was replaced with the bustling traffic of the resort. Lights, sounds, and people were cluttering the view wherever one could turn. Families, lovers, and criminals of all stripes crowded the streets for joy and profit and flowed like a river through the streets of a city built on dreams. Their destination was a great brick building that looked as though it was built to withstand the force of a train. Fitting that it should be ready to fight the elements in such a manner given the clashes within its walls and the men who withstood the brunt of so much fury over their time inside it.

William brought the car to a stop and took a deep breath before looking once more to Isabella. It was time to start an adventure.

"You ready to see what a classy fighting joint is like? I got to admit I'm going to be a little jealous of the guys that get to do the boxing. Of course it does mean I don't have to leave your side, so I can't really complain."

Isabella chuckled.  "I'll admit I'm going to absolutely love spending a night on the outside of a ring with you rather than inside one."  She took his arm and hugged it as they made their way through a sea of people shoulder to shoulder.  The tourists, the gamblers, and ... the criminals.

Isabella almost didn't notice.  Her purse was being bumped so much by people coming and going around her as they made their way to the front of the room where bookies were listing the matches for tonight and doing odds making - that it wasn't obvious.  The pickpocket had incredible deft fingers for someone so young.  Her wallet had cleared the opening of her purse before Isabella knew for sure she was being robbed.

Her mouth hung open at the audacity of a young boy robbing a freaking Mafia Don!  "YOU LITTLE SHIT!"  She said as the boy of no more than eight turned and bowled over several people, cutting a path into the crowd.  Instantly, Isabella realizing that her mother's photo was in that wallet, broke into a run just behind him.  Seeming to forget she was dressed up for a business meeting and NOT running down pick pockets, she was slowly losing the tiny street rat in the mob.

William snapped to attention at her frantic scream & the pulling away of her arm, but it was seconds too late.  The little prick was out of reach of either of them. 

"HE STOLE MY WALLET!"  she called out over her shoulder to William as an explanation, but she also hoped that someone would stop him.  Sadly, no one did.  What the fuck is the world coming to?  It would be funny, if it hadn't happened to her, but it was!  Isabella watched the boy round a corner headed towards the fighter's locker rooms & disappear as she fought her way through the crowd trying to get to the booths where they could place bets.

"HE'S GETTING AWAY!"  She called out in frustration, resisting the urge to do something more drastic. 

The sight of Isabella sprinting away from him after a small boy locked up his brain for just a moment until she shouted about her wallet. He was too far behind to catch up, and though he could push through people more quickly he was no where near as agile as Isabella or the boy. There was simply no chance he'd catch up to the kid and get a hand on him.

A kid like that getting the take of a lifetime from a Don would have been enough to drive him crazy, but the moment he saw where the kid was headed he busted out in a hearty laugh. The fighter's locker room was a haven for its occupants and no one came or left unless they belonged. Even if no one in the building cared about a pickpocket, they'd stop the kid dead in his tracks before he'd bother the men who made this place profitable. "Don't worry, he just screwed up more than he knows. You stay here and I'll be right back." With a grin, William began to muscle his way through the oncoming traffic. The bumps and jostles sent fresh little lances of pain into his abdomen, but he knew he'd still need to get there before the kid found another route so he'd gritted his teeth and kept moving.

William's heart dropped as he rounded the corner and saw an empty hall, save for the guard standing outside the locker room door. There was no where for the kid to hide so he had to have gone in, but how? As William approached the guard he felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut. "Hey, did you see a kid come this way. About this high," William extended a hand at the height of his stomach, "He took a lady's wallet and I'd like to get it back." For a moment the guard looked at him, seeming to show no reaction on his face. The man looked William up and down once, studying his build and size before smiling and bowing his head slightly. "Of course Mr. Bowden. He's just inside. Please proceed, you are expected."

Expected? How could he be expected. They hadn't even planned this trip ahead of time. And how did the guard know his name? Added to the oddity of an eight year old making a mark out of a pair of well placed mafiosi this was too much. Something was very wrong here and he needed to get back and let Isabella know. He started to step back, but the man smiled and spoke again sending a chill down William's spine. "Make the right choice Mr. Bowden. It would be a shame if something happened to our other guest this evening because of your...hesitance. We would rather you both be received with proper hospitality." It was clearly a trap, but if the two of them were seen coming in it meant that whoever was behind this had eyes out in the lobby, eyes that Isabella didn't know were there.

He wouldn't risk her getting hurt. Gritting his teeth, William nodded and pushed through the door to the locker room. Inside he found a handful of men, some pacing and settling their minds, some sitting confidently and relaxed, and others doing small exercises to warm up. Each looked to be a powerful fighter in his own right and none of them seemed interested in William for more than a cursory glance. One taller, thinner man stood apart in a suit, holding the collar of the young man who'd sprinted away from them in the lobby. The man appeared to be middle aged and wore the scars of someone not unaccustomed to fighting. He spoke before William had a chance.

"Mr. Bowden, so lovely to meet you in person at last. I'd been waiting for you to visit our fine establishment for a while now. A mutual acquaintance assured me in very lucrative terms that it would only be a matter of time. I can say though that I'm a bit surprised by your company. Nonetheless, I believe this is what you came for?" He released his grip on the child and withdrew the wallet from his own pocket as the boy scampered away to the back of the room. The man walked forward and held the wallet out to William, who noticed a strange paper wrapped around it as it was held in front of him.

William sneered at the man. "What's the catch? Nobody steals a wallet just to give it back, especially after going to the trouble of getting a guy out of a public place." 

The man's hissing laugh in response grated on William's nerves and alongside the stranger's demeanor it made him feel like a toy being used in someone else's game. In other circumstances William would have been ready to lunge forward and teach him a lesson, but he knew it wasn't an option. "Mr. Bowden, I think the picture I've added will explain in full detail. Now if you'll excuse me, I have bets to place. Don't bother trying to follow or these fine gentlemen around us will make sure you learn not to be so hasty. Rest assured, our mutual acquaintance will be in touch to discuss matters further." He once again proffered the wallet, and this time William took it. With a gesture, the man called the boy to follow and both left the room. The fighters lingered a few moments more as William unwrapped the page from around the wallet.

William barely noticed their footfalls moving around him as he looked at a duplicate of a picture that frightened him more than anything that had happened since he'd come to this line of work. It was a photo showing Isabella standing over his own unconscious form with a split lip. A picture like this could set half the country at one another's throats. The leaders of Philadelphia and Detroit both knew what had happened by now, but the disgrace they'd suffer if this became public would be another matter entirely. The only thing that snapped him out of his thoughts was the sound of the door beginning to open once again. He quickly crumpled the paper and turned to face whoever was coming in behind him.

Isabella was use to waiting on men to get shit done, but this was longer than she was comfortable with and so she pushed her way through the crowd and walked confidently towards the men's locker rooms.  A large man with muscles to spare stared her down as she approached.  "Excuse me I..."

He cut her off, "Consigliere Luciano," Isabella's hackles raised as he confronted her with her name and title.  She looked around, instantly fearing some sort of trap.  "Mr. Bowden will be with you momentarily."

If she had been told such a thing after Will walked off on his own, she wouldn't have worried.  He as a Mafia Boss and as such he had things he needed to deal in that didn't concern her... but he hadn't just walked off alone.  He'd chased down someone who had lifted her wallet.

"What's this about?  Who do you work for?"

He didn't reply.  Isabella stepped into his personal bubble of space and asked again, "I said... who... do you work for?"  He stared her down, and for a long while he held her gaze but she could see his facade cracking.  He was a tool to break men, his boss' shield, he lacked the courage to support his boss' convictions.

The man opened his mouth to speak and the door came open.  The muscle stepped aside allowing a much smaller and less impressive man to step out; a man who was clearly the brains of the operation.  He tipped his hat to her, "Consigliere."

Isabella's mouth opened slightly as she watched the suit and his muscle walk off.  With only the barest hesitation she ran into the locker room receiving a few cat calls and whistles.  Will was standing there, unharmed & holding her wallet.  She breathed a sigh of relief.  "Thank God."  She said softly.  "I'll... be outside."  With that she retreated to the hallway.

The shock of Isabella busting into the men's locker room jolted William from his panicked thoughts and grounded him in the moment.

This was neither the place nor the time to deal with what he was even now stuffing into the inside of his suit. He quickly left the locker room and rejoined Isabella in the hall. He contemplated keeping it to himself, but he knew that it would affect her just the same. It was better she know what she's up against.

"We have a problem." William handed Isabella back her wallet and leaned close enough to whisper in her ear. "A message from Tyler. We need to talk somewhere private." He offered his arm to begin walking her back out to the lobby, hoping she'd have a better idea than he did what to do.

Well, that was one way to ruin a perfectly good date.  If Tyler blocks me one more time...

Isabella took Will out a fire exit to a quiet grassy back lot where employees went to smoke, a place largely uninhabited by anyone of importance.  She put her wallet away and started by putting a hand reassuringly on Will's arm saying, "Tell me what happened, don't leave a single thing out.  My father recently had a run in with Tyler - after you met with him at my party - the smallest thing could be of the utmost importance.  So, start from the beginning and try not to leave anything out."

Isabella had a talent for taking charge when the situation called for it. It lent clarity to the moment and William found himself focusing as he recounted the situation to her.

"The kid was gone when I got to the hall. Only place he could go was in the locker room, so I asked the guard if he'd seen the kid. He said he had and called me by name. Said I was expected. I started to back off thinking it was a trap and he said something might happen to you if I didn't go in. I knew if someone saw us coming they had to have someone out front and I didn't want anything to happen, so I went. An older little guy was inside keeping the kid by the scruff. He gave me your wallet and said a mutual acquaintance wanted me to have this."

William reached into his jacket and pulled out a crumpled copy of the picture of them on their ill-fated first meeting. His hand had a slight tremor has he held the thing out, almost as if it might bite one of them if given half a chance.

"He said our mutual acquaintance would get in contact soon and not to follow him. Said he had some bets to make. Threatened me with the muscle he had along and I froze up and didn't even try to stop him."  Not that he could have with that many bruisers alongside, especially with all the bruises and dings under his coat.

"We've got to figure out where they've got the original. If it gets out it would fuck over a lot more than just us." William leaned his head back and took a deep breath to try to keep himself steady. This wasn't a moment to let himself break into panic. In all truth, there might not be much of anything they could do until their enemy made a move so it was probably just a waste of energy. Especially now.

William lowered his head and his volume as he looked Isabella in the eyes. "That bastard already took away one night with you and I never forgave him. If he's gonna try taking another one then I'm going to make him regret it."

Isabella looked the crumpled photo.  She smirked and took hold of Will's shoulder and turned him so she had access to his back.  Against his back she smoothed out the photo.  

"I want you to take this photo," She says finishing up making it look as nice as possible.  "And have it framed for Jack Mezzo.  Buy a nice frame, super expensive frame, something that is a gift in and of itself and put this photo in it.  Include a note with the gift, it should read something along the lines of..."

She looks at the photo fondly,  "The exact moment when Will and Bella decided to take what Tyler was doing, and do it right.  Here's to many long years of profit for Detroit's Luciano Crime Empire and the families of Philadelphia."

She smirks and offers the photo to Will, "Although, since this is our first picture together, I'd be just as happy to see it on your desk as a reminder of how Tyler Durden,"

She walked into his personal space putting her arms around his thick neck, "... can get on his scrawny knees," 

And stood on her tip toes, her eyes nearly closed as she whispered aginst his lips, "...and suck your..."

Her kiss cut off the end of her thought, but she was sure he got the point:  Isabella wasn't letting Tyler Durden scare her and Will shouldn't either.  The message, Isabella assumed, was likely paid for before her father's heart to heart with the self-proclaimed godfather of Delaware City.  After having his face smashed in by a real Godfather, she doubted Tyler would make the mistake of following through on threats and if she and Will made light of their fight then surely no one else would take it hard.  Her father had already got his pound of flesh for her blood so what was there left to worry about?  Maybe Jack Mezzo losing his crap that a girl beat up his Consigliere?  Well, that would be silly.  Anyone with half a brain would realize that photo wasn't a clear indicator of what had gone on that night.

Durden would just have to find a new way to make her bow to his whims... and she was sure he would try.  When he did, she'd be waiting, but not tonight.  Tonight belonged to Will Bowden.  Durden could go kick rocks or get in line like every other guy who wanted on her dance card!

As the kiss ended she smiled at Will, "Wild horses couldn't drag me away from you tonight Will, I promise.  This was... this was nothing.  Shake it off and let's make sure Atlantic City remembers us.  I want to take the house for a HUGE sum tonight, if only cause he was bought off by Durden and any asshole on that man's payroll deserves to lose to a Luciano."

Confidence is a magical, contagious thing.

One minute William felt like he was at the edge of a precipice, tottering over the edge into the darkness. The next the angel in his arms had laughed and taken flight carrying him with her.

He knew deep down that nothing was ever that easy. This wasn't over and wouldn't be for some time, but that didn't matter at the moment. Until the sun rose tomorrow he was in a whole different world and he was going to enjoy it. William resolved that whenever he started to think about their troubles today he would just let a kiss wash it out of mind. It was working wonders so far.

"You make a pretty persuasive point. Maybe I will keep it, though I don't think it'll be Tyler Durden on my mind when I look at it." William wrapped his arms around Isabella and drew her into a gentle kiss, holding her to him after he pulled back. "Between us we ought to be able to just about shut him down if we play our cards right. Let's just try not to let it keep us from everything else this city has to offer. I'm really looking forward to dancing with you." He lets his arms draw back from her, taking one of her hands in his own as he walked back towards the fire escape they'd used to come out to the yard.

"Wait..."  She said abruptly.  "You want to dance... so screw this.  Let's go dance.  I told you... anything you want."  She looked at him with a dreamy sweet smile brushing under her eyes.

"Let's not waste a minute on things that don't matter.  I swore to myself when I finally had you alone that I wouldn't and I mean it.  I'm sure there is somewhere in this damnable coastal tourist trap to cut a rug, even at this hour and if not... I'll pay a band to follow us down to the beach and play!"

She bounced a little on the balls of her feet, "We've both seen our share of fights anyway, Will, so I'm all for dropping this plan considering what just happened and let you lead for a bit ... maybe spend some time getting to know a bit more about one another?"

William knew they'd get their payback and more against the gym once they opened up in competition. When Isabella mentioned getting to know each other better his smile came back in earnest.

"Yeah, I'd like that. To hell with this place. Let's go somewhere Durden's lackeys don't get a show and enjoy ourselves." 

William's excitement lent a spring to his step as he lead Isabella off the back lot, not even bothering to go back through the gym. They moved through a couple of alleys back to the main thoroughfare comfortable in the knowledge that nothing that could lurk there was more dangerous than themselves and soon found their way back at the car. Will once again opened the door for Isabella before entering and taking the wheel. 

"For the rest of the night, if there's anything you want to know about me you just ask. Nothing's off limits." Will took them towards the seaside, hoping to find a good club on the way. Sure enough, the street was lined with jazz and big band clubs about two blocks out from the boardwalk. As he searched for a place to park, Will decided to start them off.

"It's funny to think we both grew up so close to each other and both of us went from the streets of New York to where we are now. We both have more than we probably ever dreamed was possible in those days, but there's times I still miss them at least. Things were simpler then. What about you? You ever think of the old days? What's your favorite memory from when you were a kid?"

"Hmm.  Favorite memory."  She gives it serious thought.  "I've got some good ones, I mean, I had my share of troubles - but a fair number of happy times."  

Will got out and went around to let her out.  She once again took his hand and walked arm in arm with him through the streets, this time they had breathing room.  "A lot of my youth was spent on the streets of LA.  I went to a boarding school there for a time.  It's how I got to know Elie who, as fortune had it, really was my blood sister.  Though, like so much in my life that's a bit of a long story.  One I'll tell but it would take me on quite a tangent."

She chuckled.  "Favorite memory... maybe Christmas my eighth year?"  She smiled brightly.  "I'd written to Father Christmas and asked him to send my father home so my mother could stop working and spend all Christmas break with me.  I was probably too old to believe ... but there are times in life when you just say 'fuck it' and toss dice, choosing to believe that in a world full of pain that the impossible isn't only possible... but assured."

She kicked a pebble off the sidewalk into the gutter as they made their way down the street.  "So, Christmas morning I ran down to the front door and not to the tree.  I was sure I'd find his car outside... some big black thing with one hundred bodyguards and a driver."  she laughed.

"Turns out my childlike imagination wasn't too far off, eh?"  she shook her head.  "Anyway... I didn't find that, obviously, and I came in all sullen to sit by the tree and for hours I stared at the lights until the sun rose outside and my mother woke.  I opened all my gifts, said all the expected niceties and then..."  She shrugged.

"My mother she says to me," Isabella exaggerated her face and her voice to sound very motherly as she did her best impression of her mother, "Patatino!  How is it you can be so sad on Christmas day?  Did Father Christmas forget a package?"

Isabella paused to look at a vendor's wares as she tried to remember her response to her mother.  "I think... I told her that I was happy and that nothing was wrong.  It was, of course, a lie.  She grew a little cross with me and insisted I tell her what I did not get and I told her that I had only wanted her to stay home with me all break.  That I had asked Santa to bring the means for Mother to not have to work.  And that was when she showed me her very first Christmas bonus from her new employer.  It was enough money for us to spend the holiday together.  And... we did."

She examined a small bracelet, drawing a breath, exhaling.  "I was so proud of her for being able to do it without Santa's help and yet... I kept watching for my Father."  Isabella considered how much of her life was spent waiting for men, and she wondered if it was a disservice to the woman her mother had been in life.  She handed the bracelet back to the vendor and smiled at him before looking to Will. 

"But my Mother, she did right by me, even if I didn't see it that way then.  So... how about you?  What's your best memory from childhood?"