Tutte sat down and told the waitress what he would like to have.

"I can start with some garlic-bread with melted cheese and to main I'll have a rump steak and to drink a large glas of cold beer thanks and almost forget, give me mamma's home made ice cream as dessert, it sounds delicius"

A Very hungry Shady strolled into Detroit's Finest Steak House.

With his entourage they spread out and filled numerous tables.

A few men in suits were quickly surrounded by waitresses. A Cutie approached  Shady's table... " What can I get you "  she quipped with a smile. Shady looked up with a happy smile.   "  Ribeye steak 10oz  all round please. Could you also add some garlic breads with cheese. One last thing miss, nothing stronger than beer for the lads. We still have work today.  " The waitress scribbles a few moments and disappears into the kitchen.

Shady and his boys lit up a few  cigars and waited for their meals .

Tutte needed food to get the enrgy in body since this day would be a long one so he walks in and sits down and when the waitress comes he has decided what to order and tells her.

"I can start up with some  Garlic Bread With Melted Cheese and ti dinner I'll have  Wagayu Steak and a little desert could be fine so I choose Mamma's Home made Ice cream, what to drink? I have a beer please"

All of the food tasted like heaven, he sat there and had a really good meal and after he was finish he put the payment under his beer-glas and then walked out in the wonderful streets of Detroit.

Aleks was still waiting for his order to come, so he decided to have a smoke.

Took out smoke package and lighted one up..

Katherine was absolutely alight with nervous energy today.  She had some new news to share with her beloved friend although with his sources and contacts, she was almost certain that he would have already heard.  She tried so hard to keep him in the loop and be the first one to tell him the good news.  But this...  This was better news than she could have hoped for.  She fairly wriggled with delight and impatience as she waited to be seated.  She had invited her dear Stefano out to lunch to deliver this news to him and share the joy and nervousness that soared in her heart and mind.  Surely he'd be pleased...  Wouldn't he?  Or would he be angry?  His contacts were with a different family...  A different city even and yet he chose to live in LA with her whenever he could.  Whenever he wasn't called elsewhere.  

Her heart raced as she looked around the restaurant on the chance that Stefano had arrived before her.  Dressed in a knee length emerald green dress, decorated with sequins that caught the light and gave a playful sparkle, the young woman had made an effort in her appearance this afternoon.  It was certainly more effort than she had placed when they ran into each other at the library the other day.  Oh she was so excited!  The young man attending the door kept casting her slightly nervous glances as if he wondered if she'd fall over due to heart failure from her nervous excitable nature.  Oh yes...  For better or worse, hopefully this would go well.  The news that she was taking classes had started out going poorly, how would this go?  So much for keeping a low profile Kat! So much for not doing the same thing your mother did Kat!  Oh perhaps she truly was a foolish little thing.  Either way, the excited joy that sparkled in her eyes was impossible to miss and had at least drawn in the young man at the door into it's enthralled dance.

Stefano walked into the steak house he had been out side watching the joint for a while.  He had men already in place.  As he walked in he saw Kat.  She was looking very happy that last time she was this excited was when her mom allowed her to have a boyfriend in high school.  He took a deep breath and headed towards her table.  He slid into his seat and smiled as he leaned forward and whispered to her.  

Hi ya Kid, how's life?

He leaned back into his chair as glanced once more at Kat then did a quick scan around the room.  He then focused on what she had to say as he looked into her eyes.

Katherine was nervous as could be.  What if he got sick? What if he didn't want to come? What if he was actually busy.  What if he...

Chill Kat!  He told you that he'd come, so of course he'd be here.  Just give him a minute.  Drawing a steadying breath, she smiled as the waiter brought her some water.  The earlier excitement began to grow in her eyes again as she thanked the man and told him she wasn't quite ready to order.  Swinging her feet a little and feeling a bit like a little girl again, she chuckled softly at herself allowing her eyes to close.  She was no little girl...  Far from it at this point...  Even though her years were hardly something to speak of.

There...  She heard a soft but familiar set of footsteps and she knew just who's they were before he even slid into the seat next to her.  She let out a soft sigh of relief before opening those eyes and looking to him.  As he leaned in, she leaned in a little herself so that their shoulders barely touched.  His words brought a light tinkling laugh from her as she had been having a similar thought pattern in reverse.  But she said nothing but looked at him coyly through those long lashes to let him know that there was something up in her mind at that statement.

But her eyes lit up and they were filled with a joy that was all her own, a joy that had been more or less absent since the fateful day.  But she saw the brief look that wasn't the happiness she expected and it rocked her back a moment.  And yet it was gone so fast that she hardly believed she saw it at all!  Feeling her pulse race she would look to her dearest friend.  

"Stefano...  I'm so thrilled to see you!  I'm glad you could come out today!"  She beamed at him wildly at him once again but drew a deep breath.  "How are you?" 

It was clear that whatever news she had, she was nervous about it, but all too excited at the same time!  

Just then the waiter came by and asked if he could take their orders. 

"Could I please have the garlic bread with melted cheese and a Sirloin steak?  And just more water if you please..."  She would take another large drink of it draining the glass.  Goodness she was excitable.

Stefano reached across the table and held Kat's hand he didn't know what was wrong only that her hands felt a bit cold and she was trembling. He smiled to try to comfort her but wasn't sure what to do, say or expect.  She had been through a lot and he was becoming worried.  He pressed his fears down the best he could and gave her his boyish grin that he has given her a thousand times before.  He then heard her ask him a series of questions.  

Kat are you kidding me?  You know when you call I come running.  Your mother wanted me to protect you and even though she's gone and your turned into a beautiful young woman.  I will never leave your side kid.  No as for how I'm doing I had to check to see if its my birthday I was so excited when you said you were coming out this way.  I've missed you Kat.  And yes I get weekly reports that your safe and your doing well.  I will never just abandon you because you wanted space and to make your own name.

Stefano looked down at the table as he recalled that day.  He never told her how he felt but he knew some how she knew.  She was a smart cookie and when it came to him she was usually dead on.  He braced him self when she placed an order with the waiter so quickly he knew she was about to tell him something big.  His thoughts went in a thousand directions and one thing was for sure he was going to kill the men he had hired to watch her daily.  For her to have news that she is scared to tell him is news he should have had already nothing should be a surprised to him when it comes to her.  Kat was one person that he would kill over and died over.  She didn't know that but everyone that he selected to help teach or protect knew.

That sounds good, I'll have the same thing only no water a glass of white wine please.  

He looked back at her and smiled.  

As his warm hand wrapped around her chilled one, she looked up to his eyes.  The comfort in his eyes just about did her in.  Growing up, he was always the one she ran to when she was frightened or uncertain.  How that had changed in an instant, she didn’t know but she longed for those simpler days even if she knew they were unattainable.  Should she have gone with him?  Should she have done as her mother would have wished?  Did her mother truly wish her to join him in Detroit or did she know that her young daughter, with so much spirit and so much drive would have tried to make a name for herself instead, to walk the path that her mother and, although unknown to her, her father had blazed first?  But she smiled as she felt that familiar warmth and ease wash over her that always came with being in his presence.  If Stefano was there, ain’t nothing touching her.  She knew that deep down and it was enough to loosen the muscles in her shoulders.  She giggled a tad at his boyish grin that he shot her way and she grinned broadly at him as she listened to his words.

“No no…  I know Stefano.  I know, really I do.  You would never leave my side if I asked you to!”  She chuckled softly and beamed at him.  “Nope…  Not your birthday for a while yet!”  She giggled a little at that and nodded quickly. “I’m so sorry I haven’t visited or written…  I should, I can, I just…  Well you know!  Insanity and such…  But part of that is why I wanted so badly to come talk to you in person!”  Her eyes glowed with excitement.  “I know you’re with me even if you’re not right beside me…  That’s why I said yes…”  Her voice quaked a little both with nerves and enthusiasm that her tiny form could hardly contain.

As she was given more water, she would drink a bit more from the glass.  She was well assured that Stefano likely knew the ins and outs of her life.  She wasn’t certain how, but he always seemed to know what was going on before she could tell him!  She beamed as she watched his face while he gave the waiter his order.  She had known just where to suggest for lunch when she spoke to him earlier, and she was certain that she had hit it right on.  Then again it was often the food of choice for the two of them when they needed to grab something to eat but didn’t feel like fast food.  A good diner that made a good steak often sufficed. 

In any case, the waiter went off to put in their order and fetch the wine and Kat fairly vibrated with energy as she released his hand and gently smoothed her dress down in a nervous manner.  “There was some excitement in LA…  I ah…  Well I know you told me I should keep it low key and not draw too much attention to myself but I…  Stefano you see.”  Why the heck was she being so silly about this?  Stefano knew this life…  He knew how it worked, and he knew that Kat was an incredibly fast study and growing more capable by the day and loved people more deeply than she could ever love herself.  “Zaheer asked me to be his Left Hand…  To step up beside him to help him run his family…  And I…  Stefano I told him yes I would.”  Her heart raced as her gaze leapt back up to meet his, her whole form quaking at this point.  But it was highly likely that he’d read nothing but joy, enthusiasm, excitement…  Exhilaration. Sure there was some nerves…  But it was only because she didn’t know exactly what she was doing yet.  But she’d learn.  Oh she’d learn.  And fast.

That's why she said yes, yes is she about to tell me she's getting married?  God no, no, no, wait what did she say, she said his left hand man.  Did she really just say left hand man?  He signed for a second then it hit him that's no low profile.  Stefano was stun she was the left hand to a powerful family out in LA.  He knew her mother would be proud of her to be so young with such respect and responsibilities yet she was supposed to keep a low profile he looked at her and smiled because she was happy.  He was going to have the men that was supposed to report on her activities killed before the sun set tomorrow out in LA.  He keep that smile up as he thought of how each one was going to die.  Then he told her.

"I am very proud of you.  Your mother would be too.  Look at you and at such a young age.  I always knew you had brains.  I want you to be happy but most of all I want and need you to be safe."  You know that you are there to support the soldiers and the associates and you have to let your Don know when they are wrong with there thinking.  The position of the family consigliere is of respect and honor.  You have the ear of the boss.  Dam Kat I'm very proud of you.  

He looked her in the eyes an she knew he meant that out of loving concern.  He knew that family's sometimes go to war and the head of a snake is cut off to kill the body and she was now part of that head.  His chest ached for a second then he pressed his worries down. He had to ensure she knew that He was truly proud and not too worried even if all he wanted was for the so call protection detail to die before tomorrow midnight and for her to live a long life.  

Now where is that food and tell me how school is going and what is your vision to help your Don?

Katherine watched the emotions as they moved across Stefano’s face.  Now this man had a Poker face far better than her own, but she read him anyway.  Every twitch of the eyebrow, the way one corner of his mouth lifted or fell, that most slight wrinkle of his nose…  Even while most of his face remained placid.  She knew that the peace that he showed on his face was not necessarily the peace felt underneath.  She hoped she knew what her mother would have said…  But if her mother were here, she wouldn’t be in LA…  In any case, she smiled as he smiled as she felt relief flood her as she felt that his concern turned to happiness.  He was happy for this change even if it wasn’t exactly the plan…  Oh goodness don’t let him think she was going behind his back!  She knew he was watching out for her and always there for her, but the distance made it difficult for her to remember to run things by him instead of jumping into things with her endless and boundless enthusiasm… 

His words made the corners of her eyes prickle with tears.  Happy tears, but tears nonetheless.  She smiled shyly and dipped her head a tad.  He was proud of her…  He was proud of her!  Those words echoed in her mind and sent her spirits sky high.  Unlike him, the only time she had a good poker face was when she played poker.  At this point her eyes were alight and her smile so broad it hurt.  She nodded as she latched onto every word he spoke.  She knew what he was talking about.  But still she took in every word and internalized it as if they were made of solid gold.  She nodded eagerly like a small child receiving instruction.  “Yes yes…  And I will do all that and more!  Zaheer wants me to help him build his crew, to be there for our family.  To help him build our city!  Oh Stefano, I am so happy I could burst!”  She snorted softly as her joy tempered just a tad.  “I went to LA because I didn’t think I could follow in my mother’s footsteps…  But…  It seems I’m doing just that instead.”  She shook her head a little and worried her bottom lip a bit with her teeth.  “But what if I can’t Stefano…  What if I can’t be all that Zaheer thinks I am?”  She shook her head a tad as this had occurred to her more than once.  “I tried to argue with him you know?  Tried to tell him that I wouldn’t be a good fit for this…  But still he was certain that I would…  He believes in me almost as much as you I think…”  She smiled a little coyly once again to the man beside her. 

She couldn’t help but wiggle a little as the conversation turned to other things.  “Well…  School is going well.  My marks aren’t the greatest, but I’m learning a lot and they’re nothing to sneeze at…  To help La…  Zaheer wants me to help him with recruiting and a lot to do with the crew members themselves…  Oh Stefano I don’t even know yet but I’m going to be helping out a lot more now!  That much I do know-“ She fell silent as the waiter returned with their plates.  She giggled a little and indicated with her hand as if to say ‘Here it is.’  She smiled and thanked the waiter softly as he placed her food in front of her before snagging a small bit of the garlic bread and taking a contented nibble.

Stefano took her hands into his and smiled again. 

"What do you mean if you can't?  Lady you yelled at me and told me where to go and how to get there when you didn't like my Ideas.  I remember you being 14 or 15 and when I said you should not go to the dance with Johnny Boi Ola you told me oh yeah.  You told me that I was being petty, stupid and just mean.  That I should go jump in the lake swim to the bottom and don't come up until I counted to three hundred backwards.  No you say what if you can't? "  

"Where is the little girl that when she was 12 wanted to sale sandwiches and would not let even her own mother help?  You sold five times the amount then your closes competitor.  You had an delivery system and collection system you even color coded the brown paper bags with colored stickers to match the sandwiches.  You had some many sticker on each bag 3 blue stickers meant three ham sandwiches.  Two yellow stickers meant two turkey sandwiches.  They don't get the sandwiches if they don't pay first.  You had a racket then.  You sold candy in school and the school took you candy from you and you cried.  Then the school started selling candy a week later.  What do you mean you cant.  You made me give you space to grow.  Kat I gave you space because I trusted your judgement.  I wont lie I'm a bit taken that you became a made member of the honored society and now look at you.  It's now about if you can its will you continue sweetie."  

"Now again where is that food?"

Stefano was not worried if she could do it he knew she had the smarts to pull it off.  He worried if she will ever see her again and will she ever know.  She was coming into her own and she was going to have her own protection and there wasn't much he could offer her.  His anger was kindled again and these men dying was the only thing that gave him a small piece of joy as he thought of Kay on her own without him.  He wasn't really hungry anymore he wanted the food on the table because she ordered it and he wanted people to jump when she was around.  He wanted her to  be treated and feel like a queen.  

This was a feeling she was quickly growing accustomed to and finding that she loved.  His hands on her own.  They were so warm, so comforting even if the gesture was not about comfort.  Growing up, his hand had taken hers to drag her butt to where she needed to go...  To let her know that she was being ridiculous...  Oh heck had they gone head to head over who was being ridiculous while she grew up...  But even so, she always knew they were caring hands.  She paid utter attention to his every word as he so passionately told her in no uncertain circumstances that she could do this.  Could she?  Could she be her mother?  Could she at the very least live up to what her mother wanted of her?  Could she?  Oh she didn't know!  But he seemed to.  She ducked her head a little as he reminded her about that time she had told him to jump into the lake.  Her brows furrowed in a clear 'Sorry' manner and she bit her lip.  She had been so angry that day...  She would do what she wished...  That's always how she operated.  Always...  And yet here and now on the brink of greatness she questions herself.

She laughed softly as he spoke of her business ventures in school and she nodded slowly in response.  That was the ever ringing question...  Would she?  Would she continue?  Would she press on when things got hard?  Would she perservere in the face of uncertainty and resistence?  Would she overcome her own resistence?  Now honestly Kitty had never had a difficult time telling people where to go and how to get there as he put it.  Her mother always told her it was unbecoming for a lady to do so, and so she'd try to temper it, having become quite a bit more soft spoken in her later years of high school, but that fire never left her eyes.  And never left her spirit.  Stefano's words bolstered the young woman, making her feel invincible...  It was a curious feeling, but she felt that she could take on the world!

But then his repeated question came just as the waiter turned his back and left.  The food was there before them but he was still asking after it?  Kat blinked a couple times and now it was her turn to gently lay a hand across his own it's coolness spreading over the side of his thumb.  "Stefano...  Are you alright?"  She questioned him softly.  She could see the distraction in his eyes that conflicted with his very words.  Something vexed her dear Stefano and it jerked her right out of her euphoria.  She refused to take another bite until she was certain he was well.

Stefano was shocked that the food was already there.  Only she could cause him to lose focus.  He remembered when she was a cheerleader and how she looked and smiled with one pom-pom held high in the air.  He recalled how she looked when she was in her first ballroom dress.  The way her hair laid softly on her shoulder and her smile, the way she tilts her head to the right when she doesn't believe him or to the lift when he is irritating her.  The way she bites her lower lip when she is figuring something out.  He loved when she would yell at him she was so cute and yet so tough with her short self.  Here they are her big moment and he lost focus because of his fear.  He knew he was blowing it up now and he better think fast on how to fix this.  

I'm fine sweetie.  Trust me by tomorrow night I will be in a better state of mind and I plan to accompany you over the next two weeks so I will not argue that point.  Its going to be the Kat and Stefano show.  

He wanted her to smile but he wanted time with her to ensure she was safe to ensure she wasn't worried about him with his lack of focus and he wanted to make sure that she was there for him with such a lack of focus.  To not see a man put food in front of him is to lose a life.   His own life.  He wishes he had been a bit younger and spent even more time with her.  But he knew that giving her space was the best thing for her.  She made her own mark in LA and she was a rising star with nothing but potential to go further and time was on her side.   

She blinked a few times and looked from Stefano down to the food on the table, back to Stefano, clear concern in those eyes.  In all honesty, she didn't understand what it was she did to him.  She only knew him to have laser focus.  She knew him to have a soft spot for her, but only because he had been her guardian and protector for the past eight or so years.  In any case, nothing surprised Stefano and this worried her that this situation had.  His surprise only bred surprise in her as well.  Was he alright?  At this point in time that was her only concern.  Was he alright...  And if he wasn't, then how could she help?  Never had she really felt this question as strongly as she did now.  As she worked with the crime family in LA, she felt a certain boldness rise in her.  Sure she didn't feel adequate in the least, and yet she felt that she could at least be useful in some regards.  She carefully drew her lower lip in for a quick bite.  Something she felt like she was doing more and more often lately but she had to figure this out and quick...  But he was quick on the draw.  His words put her at ease almost instantly and she smiled, finally releasing that poor lip.  

His words about accompanying did rise a bit of a refute but it died in her throat before it could even come out as more than a "But Stefano..." She knew that look...  She knew that tone.  No matter how she blustered, she wasn't going to win this one.  She smiled warmly to him and nodded.  She wasn't going to argue with him.  Not here...  Probably not anywhere for now...  But who knows what the future would bring?  She would bow her head and tuck into her steak having not realized just how starved she had been.  It took her next to no time at all to finish off her steak before calling for the check and containers for their left overs.  She smiled gently to Stefano before giving a bit of a relieved look.  "I'm glad you're on my side..."  She murmured softly to him.  There was so much more feeling in those words than her pride really wanted her to admit.  

Once the tab was paid, the two of them moved off to get into their vehicles and head home.  Tomorrow would start the next step in this grand adventure, but first...  Sleep was a necessity.  

Tutte were in for a meal and have poited his walk towards there the Detroit's Finest Stak House were and after a couple of minutes walking he saw the restaurang from a short distance laying there in a corner of a block so he continues to walk to it and soon he stood just aoutside, the door opens and out walks a couple who were at good mood and talked about the good food they just ate in there.

He takes of his coat and hangs up it and takes a seat near the window there it was an empty space and also a window-table hich he loved, sitting and wathing out in the street and look at peopale going through their lifes wer so amusing. Waitress comes by.

"Can I have some garlic bread with melted cheese for a starter then I have a ribeye steak and for desert mamas homemaid icecream, oh, btw I have a big glas of beer to thanks"

He sits there and looks out while waiting for the food and it just takes 2 minutes to the garlic bread to arrivem he nods to the girl bringing them and takes a bite, gordious. The steak arrives in another few and now were talking, what a staek, he continue his meal and just enjoy himself.

It had been sometime since Stefano had been in this steak house.  He was very hungry and it had some good memories.  He sat down at the same booth he and Katherine_Pryde used to sit at.  He ordered the T-bone lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and covered under onions and the side was a baked potato with sour cream and two buttered dinner rolls.  He then added a glass of red wine.  While he sat there he wanted a seven and seven while he waited for his order.   

He lit a cigarette as he thought of the last time he was there and wondered what she was doing, they lost touch as they both were working hard to get ahead in life.  He knew she was okay from the reports he was getting and that she was also enjoying the night life.  He smiled at the little locket he still carried with her picture in it.  She gave that to him on her 16th birthday.  He needed to head out to LA and see her.  He promised her mother he would always be there.  

His meal came and like any meal it was enjoyed the way all Sicilians enjoyed their meals.  He tasted each bite and chewed it until it was gone and then sipped his wine.  Once he was done he pushed the empty plate away and leaned back in the booth and lit another cigarette. 

After flying around on business Heston was hungry and tired taking a taxi at the airport he asked the drivers recommendations on where to eat Heston had fancied something more then a burger and maybe thought a little more about what he was going to put into his ageing body arriving outside of Detroit’s finest steakhouse Heston paid the driver and tipped generously 

Choosing to sit semi near the window Heston first ordered a bottle of red wine “as old as possible” to be accompanied by toasted bread with beef dripping butter to start followed by a 20oz T-bone steak he hopped it was served with salad “medium rare” please