"I gave Elias his button back this week."  She said softly.  "Then I had to watch the two of you fight.  It was just a really long week.  You add on top of that all the other worries I've got making noise in my head and I think it was just a perfect storm for me to make an ass of myself.  Not one of my prouder moments to be truthful.  Your sister tried to curb my worries, but..."  Isabella shook her head.  Nope.  That was a can of worms best left alone.

"You know what, I do enough telling you two what I think to be true about the other."  she laughed.  "One of these days I'm going to really step in it with one or both of you and I'm going to feel bad about that so... I'll leave that alone.  Suffice to say I hope your sister has the right of things despite our difference of opinions on the future and how to deal with it."

"Final two... possibly three questions - are you hoping I'd make you answer a certain question?  If so, what's the question?"

Gavin stretched his arms around Bella, lacing his hands at the small of her back.

"Glad your week is over, then. Next one will be better. And you don't need to worry about Tara and me."

Gavin smiled up at her.

"Did I have one particular question in mind for this? No, I didn't. I just figured there were probably a lot of things you wanted to talk about, and this seemed like a good way of getting there faster. I don't mind you being direct, you know, although I guess I did think there were a few things you might try to pin me down on. But no- I didn't have just one in mind."

"Love, marriage, children, what our future together looks like & talking with my father about any of that shit?"  she said with an arched eyebrow.  "Some topics are better left to come about organically.  At least, I feel like they are.  Generally, even when a man says he's ready to talk about anything... well, I suppose you're not like other guys are you?"

She stared into his eyes a moment, seeming to soften and put her nerves aside a bit more.  "I won't ask you if you love me."  She said decidedly.  "I want that to be a gift, that word is used too freely and I'm as guilty of it as anyone... as you saw the night I thought you'd run."

"Marriage seems a bit sudden to discuss because we really did just decide to be exclusive and it's honestly the sort of thing a man normally brings up when the time is right... though knowing us it would be just my damn luck if it was me on a knee asking for your hand."  She laughed. 

"Children... well, the natural method isn't a thing we need to worry about, but you've told me you don't think you'd be much for being a father.  I guess I understand why you see it that way.  I mean, mafia life being what it is... not an ideal place to raise kids, but I think that it's really rather early to even consider such things.  Besides, I've already picked up a couple kids that don't even belong to me to occupy my maternal urges with and a whole crew full of grown ass adults who need me to care for them like a mother.  That should be enough for any woman."  She laughed.

"As for my father... what will you tell him when next you see him?"

Gavin looked up steadily as he heard "love, marriage, children", and he smirked as she mentioned love. 

"If you were going to ask me about marriage, naked and top of me does seem like a preferable set up compared to me being on my knee. But if you're asking my thoughts on that... I don't know. I wonder if it would change everything. I also wonder if it wouldn't change anything. I think you're right about the suddenness, though."

"Children... I dunno... I feel like that's a lot of work. I'm also pretty sure I'd fuck up any kids I have. Just being honest."

"And your father... well, I guess that depends on when I see him. Do you think I should go talk to him soon? He basically told me to keep you safe, out of trouble, and keep your private life away from him. I think I've pretty much done that.... depending on your definitions of "safe", "trouble", and "private"..."

He chuckled.

She smiled.  "I think unless we're planning on moving forward towards that marriage thing, that he's happy to not see or hear a thing about us and our time together.  That way he can keep on collecting my money and pretending I'm still a virgin."

"If, however, we change our minds on that topic - a visit to him is certainly proper.  He'd appreciate it.  But, more than that, I'm thinking I'm just scared to ever discuss marriage with you again least you go flying off a cliff as an exit strategy."  She smirked, clearly joking, obviously, Gavin hadn't jumped off the cliff to escape the discussing but it did paint a humorous picture.

"Well, now you know why I wasn't holding your feet to the fire on all the big topics."  She said quietly.  "Granted I suppose there are other big topics..."  She thought for a moment.  "How about something more practical.  If something were to happen to you... what do I need to know, and what - if anything - would you like me to do for you?"

Gavin nodded.

"You tell me if you change your mind. You're not going to make me do anything I don't want to do. And I'm not going to jump off cliffs if I can help it. But when you want to... we can talk."

"But let's switch to a more cheerful subject, like death..."

He winked.

"Uh... I'm not planning on anything happening, but I suppose I'd like you to spread my ashes somewhere.  There's nothing else really to know. Depending on who else is alive, you'll get a visit from some banker with some money. Don't let some priest asshole stick me in the ground. Split me up, I guess. Some ashes in Philly, on Race Street. The Caribbean. Chicago. The woods somewhere. Then I'd like you to get a really dramatic wolf tattoo right here..."

He squeezed her lower back, then a spot right below her stomach.

"... or here."

Gavin laughed.

"What else you got? And what about you- if something happens to you?"

"Why wait for you to die?"  She said with a smile that was the very heart of mischief.  "I've always wanted to get one!  We can look around for a good place on the boardwalk and you can hold my hand while he does it."

She sighed.  "For me?  My father will probably want me buried and you should respect that all things considered.  However, I'd like for you to go to my home in Port Huron.  Everything that matters to me, everything that has ever mattered to me, is there.  Anything of mine you'd like to keep... please do.  Give my clothing to people who will be made happy by it.  All that stuff is just stuff but it could mean a lot to people who have a lot less than I was able to get for myself in life and besides, the Feds will likely just sell it all if they get a chance."

"There's a picture in my things, you'll know it when you find it, be sure it goes to William - it's too personal to be allowed to fall into anyone else's hands." 

She thinks for a moment before coming up with something truly serious.  "There are journals there... ones of the ladies who ran Ivory Tower before me."  She paused.  "Burn them.  Lucy, Frankie, and Katy don't owe this thing of ours, shit.  They gave everything they had to it and all of them call bullets for their trouble.  I think, maybe, I should be the last Don of the Ivory Tower.  Lucy's ideas were great, but this world isn't what she thought it was, and no one should read her private thought in any case.  All they'll do for some future Don is leave them with the same worries and fears I now have and that's not an inheritance I'd wish on anyone."

"I suppose it's why I've been less good at my job than they were, I have less invested in this world than they all did.  I don't have anything I feel like I need to prove and I sure as fuck don't feel a sense of dedication to anyone beyond myself and my nearest and dearest.  They were better people than me... and that desire to help others cost them all very dearly.  When I die, I want to go out knowing I lived my best life - for me and those I loved.  Fuck anyone else."

"The deed to my house in Port Huron will be put in your sister's name.  I told her that I wanted her to go buy a home and live in it... like a normal person, and she said maybe.  I think we both know she won't.  So... the house can be hers after you clear out my shit and do with it what you think best.  There's only one other person on the planet who knows where the hell that house is... and he's never set foot there.  I don't think if I were to die William would suddenly remember an obscure letter mailed to him so long ago from that location.  He's probably thrown out the envelope ages ago."

"Anyway... yea.  Just take what you like of my things, get William his picture cause it's personal, give away my clothing to people who need it... and burn the Tower journals and put an end to this stupidity and let Lucky Lucy and her descendants rest in peace."

Gavin laughed.

"Okay. But we can talk about location. Maybe somewhere else, if I'm still alive."

He sighed slowly, listening to the serious stuff. 

"Okay... but let's try not to die anytime soon, huh? Got any other questions for me?"

"Wait you only wanted the wolf on the small of my back or down low if you thought another man might see it one day?"  She laughed.  "You're horrible Gavin... terrible truly."  She shook her head imagining William reacting to the sight of Gavin's nickname inked into her skin right around two very private areas of her body.

"But yes, I agree I don't intend to die soon."  She thought again.  "What do you want to eat for lunch... I'm starving and while this game has been fun, I don't know there is anything I wouldn't just ask you regardless of you being 'required' to answer.  I mean... seriously, can you think of any single situation in which you'd lie to me anyway?  I mean... I wouldn't lie to you.  I don't think I can think of a single time I would for any reason.  I'm an open book."

"For example... ask me anything.  Go on now.  Fair turnabout.  You ask me anything at all and I'll tell you the truth, I swear on my mother's grave."

Gavin sighed.

"Yes. I can think of a situation where I'd lie to you. So could you, I bet. Like if I was stuck somewhere and I was definitely going to die... I think I'd lie to you to get you to save yourself. Just being honest."

He yawned and stretched, assuming the mantle of questioner.

"Wouldn't you?"

Isabella thought about it.  "No.  Because you'd know I was dying and I know better than to think you'd ever leave me if there was even a hint of a possibility that you might save me.  So any lie I told you would be wasted and only serve to make the final thing I said to you be the only time I ever told you something untrue... and considering the nature of our relationship thus far... it would be a horrible end to us.  Instead, I'd try to convince you to avenge me, that I wanted you to make someone suffer horribly from stealing our happiness from us."

She smiled.  "Next question?"

Gavin sighed. Hopefully they never found out what would really happen in that situation.

"Where else do you want to go? In terms of traveling? What's on the wish list?"

"After the hell that Jamaica turned out to be?"  She chortled.  "Maybe we should stay close to home?  Miami... New Orleans..."  She smirked playfully.

"Sicily." She said flatly.  "I want to visit some of my distant family.  And I'd like to go back to visit Canada.  If I'm entirely honest I'm sure I haven't seen all it has to offer.  Though maybe we can avoid the head on collisions with Moose."

"Paris.  I hear it's one hell of a city... all the art, beauty, the romance of it... and the absolute debauchery.  I think you and I could really raise some hell in a place like that.  Yes, without a doubt, I'd love to see the city of lights with you.  If you could be convinced to go?"

Gavin chuckled. He didn't really see himself in Paris. But, then again, there were a lot of things about his life now that he wouldn't have imagined before.

"Miami and New Orleans sound good to me. I also promised I'd visit Elie's businesses in Vegas and LA."

He popped his brows slightly at the mention of Sicily, though.

"Where in Sicily? I've been there. Visited a friend for a couple weeks; she's still out there."

"I like your odds of convincing me to go just about anywhere."

“My mother’s family originates in Savoca Sicily.  I believe the city is technically under the control of godfather Messina who, ironically, is the man who raised the previous leader of the Ivory Tower, Francesca Messina.  They say the city is amazing it’s really more of the village, to be honest but it was once a grand place with huge catacombs and a religious order stationed there.”

“I guess it’s pretty usual to want to know where it is you came from and being that I know so little about my mother’s family other than names and origins I would like to see that side of who I am, the place I come from, the people who made me who I am if only by blood.” 

“And why Paris?”  He asked.

” I suppose it’s a little embarrassing… The truth is I have always wanted to go to Paris ever since I was a little girl. There was this time I went to a shop and I saw this… Lamp I guess? It was the Eiffel tower all lit up and my mother told me this  story about Paris and how she always dreamed that one day she would get to drink coffee in a little café within eyeshot of the Eiffel Tower and under a blanket of stars.  She’d accept the proposal of the most perfect man in the whole world. I always imagined that man would be my father.  I had a lot of fantasies about him as a kid. I always Dreamed that he would come back for me and my mother and so when she would say stupid romantic things like that I imagined that he must know all the stories because that’s the sort of thing people in love tell each other. They tell each other all the things they hoped for and dream about, even the impossible ones, and I knew my father had the money and power to take her to Paris and make it real.”

”Eventually the dream evolved and it wasn’t about my mother getting swept off her feet; eventually became about me getting swept off my feet.  I was sitting in his café I’m by myself feeling alone the world and then he just walks up to me. I smile because I can’t believe we’re there together and he joins me at my table. He’s wearing a suit and a smile that rivals the sun because he’s so happy.“

”There’s  more of it gets really sappy and silly. I guess the dream wasn’t exactly the same, I mean my fantasies are a little different ... maybe a bit more dangerous than my mothers, but in essence I’ve always wanted to be there with someone I love. I wanted to see the Eiffel tower for real and see if its anything like it wasn’t my imagination all those years ago.“

“Well I guess you told me about your pirate fantasy so now you know about my romantic Parisian daydream perhaps were even.”

"Ah. I spent most of my time split between Palermo and Catania. Don't think I ever made it to Messina."

He grinned, thinking about Paris.

"Well, I don't really see myself as too Parisian, but I suppose we can risk it at some point, eh?"

He stretched.

"So what's the plan for today, by the way? Perfectly content doing this, but I don't want to make you late for anything either."

She smiled.  "I call Jewel and tell her I'm staying another night because..."  She said climbing atop him.  "I can't keep my hands off you."  She said leaning down and kissing his lips.

"That and I..."  She sighed.  "I really do need to get down to Purgatory.  I need to ... sort shit out with William, I know it won't be easy, but if I can't work with him then I might as well sign the damn deed over right now.  You know?"

She shook her head and kissed him again.  "We just need to find a way for it to not be weird.  I mean, you two seem to have found a way forward, and while it's not quite the same for you both, I'm sure if you can that I can too.  BUT FIRST - I want you to help me to find a tattoo artist we can trust.  Someone who's got a nice clean shop for me to get my unmentionables inked in."  She giggled as Gavin put his hands onto her body.

"What part of me did you want me to get that wolf put on again?  Did you say you wanted some guy working for hours above my exposed bottom... or maybe somewhere even more scandalous?"  Isabella laughed and kissed Gavin again and again.