Time/Location/Date:  Late Afternoon in Poughkeepsie, NY.  Mid-September, nearly two weeks after the events of, If Only Things Were Different

Aurora had returned to Vassar after her period of mourning for Salvatore came to an end.  Both Tiny and Tim fell back into their routines as her mother had taken up paying them so the men could remain with her.  As Tim had explained it, the old man was all they had in this world and now... she was.  Both men had planned to die defending a Luciano and in their estimation, Bella was a Byrne and Aurora - Aurora might well be the last on these shores.

Aurora felt odd without her extracurricular activities, that was to say, without having anyone to hunt down and kill - but she'd told her mother she'd stay out of things for the time being.  While her parents had conceded that they could not keep her from her friends, she agreed to stay out of their business affairs and avoid becoming entrenched in the life that her parents could not escape.  When and if that became impossible to do, she would sit down with Godfather Mezzo to discuss her future at Race Street or think about joining Aunt Tara.  It was the best outcome she could have hoped for.  Freedom to see and spend time with anyone she pleased, but restrictions on what she could become involved with.  In exchange, she would not be cut off from her family's money and she now officially had some money of her own.

Turned out Marie Lucania and Sal had both left her a substantial sum.  She, even without the money her parents had for her, was a very rich young woman.  She didn't have to ever work a day in her life - if she had wanted.  The trick was, Aurora grew bored easily and these two weeks were the absolute worst.

Day in and out she went from class back to her small apartment.  From her apartment to her classes.  With no real friends here and with no call from Billy... Aurora was very much alone and miserable.  Again.  When the first few days passed, she told herself he was merely playing catch up on all his crew affairs after several days out of town.  Then a week had passed and she found herself calling her mom. 

Bella realized quickly what Aurora was worried about and tried to reassure her that she hadn't put Billy off somehow.  She was convinced that Billy must have had something come up.  In Bella's mind, there was no reason the boy wouldn't call her but Aurora could rattle off a dozen things from the top of her head and so the reassurances weren't nearly as effective as Bella hoped they would be.

It was upon these many reasons which she felt he might be staying away, that she was reflecting as she walked back to her apartment building from class, shadowed by her bodyguards.  Dressed in slacks, a pretty blouse, and a light jacket, Aurora walked with her head in the clouds and her books held in front of her chest, as if she were embracing them or herself.  Aurora was so deep into her thoughts that she didn't notice what her guys had spotted long before she reached a conversational distance ... Billy Mastrosimone was waiting for her outside her building. 

Billy smiled as Aurora finally made eye contact with him. He would have waved, but it wasn't possible with all of the flowers in his hands. As large as they were, there was no room in them for anything else. Billy knew he had been neglectful and wanted to make it up to Aurora, but this was his only idea on how.

"Hey. Um. I didn't want you to think I had forgotten about you. I also did not know what your favorite flower was so I uh, just got all of them..."

He shrugged and held them all out so she could better see them.

"Are you busy tonight by chance? Also, hi guys." Billy nodded to Tiny and Tim.

Aurora leaned down, eyes closed and inhaled the scent of the flowers deeply.  The flowers were of many different types and so the aroma was a contradiction, a wild hodgepodge of fragrances warring for dominance. 

When she rose up she chuckled, "Daisy, but these aren't terrible.  You got them at the right time."

She waved her guys forward and the two men took the flowers for her as she had her hands full of books.  

"Well, I have to admit I'm looking forward to hearing about what you've been up to since we last spoke... and I suppose I'd been hoping you'd show up asking for an opportunity."

She smirked.

"If I happened to have some free time this evening, and I'm not saying that I do... but *IF* I did, what should I go upstairs and change into?  I don't want to go out looking like some poor college student if we're planning to do something more upscale.  Or worse, overdress and stick out like a sore thumb."

Billy's jaw dropped. He had to think fast. No he didn't. Rora already knew he had no plans. He gave it away when he let hid jaw drop.

"A little black dress is not going to be the things for tonight. Just be comfy. I thought we could do something simple this time and then maybe come back and have a night cap before I have to get a place to sleep."

Billy smiled as thoughts started to form in his head. He had an idea for tonight. He would have to go find a couple of things, but he should be able to easily given his particular skill set.

"But I mean, if you're not free then we can always do this another time. I'll just head to Philly and visit your parents instead on my way home."

Aurora nodded.  "A little black dress... well, I might have one or two I haven't had an excuse to wear yet.  It would give me a chance to break them in properly and it probably goes without saying that I've missed you so... why not?"  

She took half a step towards her door.  "Can you give me about twenty minutes?  I need to get out of these clothes, shower, fix my hair, put on make-up and make sure that I still look like a hundred bucks in that dress.  I'm afraid the one I'm thinking of leaves little to the imagination, so there's a fair chance that I may not feel comfortable coming out in it.  So, I'll have to have time to switch outfits if that's the case.  So yeah, twenty minutes?"

Aurora had seen his blank look when she'd asked him what she should wear, twenty minutes should be enough time for him to ask around or make a few phone calls to find a place in New York where he could take her on the spur of the moment.

"I see you in a few minutes."  With that Aurora raced up the stairs and went through her routine.  It was actually closer to thirty by the time she came down the stairs in a black lace cocktail dress that probably made her bodyguards feel the need to stand closer.  The top dipped low, the bottom hem was far too high, it was exactly the sort of dress no mother would let her daughter out the door in ... and yet, with her dancer's legs - Aurora wore it well.

This time meeting Billy she walked up to him and kissed him on the lips.  The kiss was brief but tender.

"Take me wherever you want to go.  Tonight, I'm all yours.  I have no classes tomorrow so... the sky is the limit." 

Aurora glanced at her goons coming down the stairs behind her.  Unlike last time, Tim actually walked forward and SPOKE to Billy.  "Our dating protocol was set down by Salvatore and not updated by Mrs. Byrne.  We normally travel in a separate car, following two cars behind you unless there is a reason to do otherwise.  If we get closer, you know something isn't right."

"We will shadow you place to place.  We typically have one of us in the car ready to drive at a moment's notice, the other waits at the door so you and Miss Byrne can have privacy.  Our orders are to protect Miss Byrne's life... nothing more.  What you and she do is your business.  I know you have your own detail, we're happy to work alongside of them now and in the future to make sure you both get the best protection possible."

He offered his hand.  "I'm Timothy Randazzo - I go by Tim, Don Mastrosimone.  It's nice to officially meet you, by the way."

The other goon, the larger of the two, came forward and offered his hand,  "Cristofero Amato... most folks call me Tiny though.  It's an honor to meet you Don Mastrosimone."

Aurora smiled at both of them as though she was pleased.

Billy had said one thing. One thing. Aurora on the other hand apparently did the opposite of what she was told, so that was something to consider.

In the time it took Aurora to go upstairs and change, Billy had gone to the car, told Oscar and Charlie to go find a phone secure them a spot somewhere nice in the city. He emphasized the word "nice". Then he told them to give a call to an old friend of his who lived around these parts.

"Guys name is Ricky, he is where I learned about my operation. He should have something I can borrow. Tell him I'll give him what the car's worth just to borrow it for the weekend. Double if he doesn't get it back. And tell him to get it to West Point in an hour or less."

Billy made his way back just in time to see Aurora coming down the stairs and he was greeted by the two bodyguards.

"Tim, Tiny. Guys, I'll introduce you to my two boys in a minute, when I'm alone I ride with them, but when the two of us are together. I like your plan."

The foursome made their way back to Billy's waiting car and then turned to everyone.

"Boys, we should all meet each other. Charlie, Oscar. Tiny and Tim. Everyone knows Aurora is the spark of starlight among the group, so as long as we are all together her safety is number one. After that, do as you will. That includes you two."

Billy lowered his gaze at Charlie and Oscar.

"Now her men have a protocol for dating. I like it so far, so you guys will ride with them, learn from 'em, we can adopt those methods."

With that he looked to Oscar and got a nod, so he snatched the keys from the man and opened the passenger door for Aurora. He couldn't help but glance down as she stepped into the car. She was showing off far too much leg and there was no man in the world, not that Billy knew at least, that wasn't gonna look. He made his way over to the driver's side before any of either the bodyguards, or Aurora noticed his face was flush, and got in.

"Alright Aurora. I have to make one stop, and we have a bit of a ride. I thought it would be nice to head down into the city. It's not that far after all, and we can talk in the mean time."

He fired up the engine then and pulled out of the parking space, not waiting to hear an answer.

Aurora liked Billy looking at her the way he did.  Carefully she crossed her legs and strapped herself into the seat beside her date.  She didn't object to him taking her wherever he wanted to go.  Honestly, anything would have been better than a night stuck alone at her place again. 

Once they were out on the open road she asked him,  "So... do I get to know what caused you to sneak off in the middle of the night from Hollowood?  I was worried mom and you must have had words or something but I've since come to realize that wasn't the case.  I just... can't put together what did happen.  I wasn't something I said, was it?"

She arched an eyebrow.  

"I mean, you're here now so I'm guessing it wasn't..."  She let her words fall away, allowing him to fill in the blank of why he left and maybe why he hadn't reached out for so long.

Billy shook his head hard.

"You are not, never were, and never will be an issue."

He sighed then. He knew this conversation was going to have to come at some point, but he didn't think it would be so early. There was nothing to be done about it though.

"It was a family sort of matter. There are going to be times Aurora that I cannot tell you where I have been, or what I have been doing. For your safety, for my safety, for the safety of the people I protect and your mom is in charge of protecting. I want to tell you everything, but I can't always do that."

He turned and looked at her then. In her face. He made sure she could see his eyes.

"I promise you one thing. Decisions were made the other night that had some consequences. Thankfully nothing bad that I know of so far. But it does lead me to asking you one question about a guy I met when I was on my trip. His name is Mancini."

He was quiet just long enough to let the name sink in before he jumped to continue. He didn't want an explanation just yet. He needed to finish what he was saying.

"I met him that night while I went to check on something. On top of that your brother mentioned him as well just before he got his ass kicked. And one of Durden's men mentioned him too. And every time someone mentioned him, I got more and more angry. I am coming to realize that I have a jealous streak. I do not think it is a good thing, but it's probably something you should be aware of. You're gorgeous and can be flirty. You have a dancer's body that would make the sculptors weep to look upon. I'm not sure what you see in men, or what you're looking for, but I can tell you this. If there are men around you, it's very likely I'm not going to like them so long as we are going steady. I feel like you deserve to know that."

He nodded. That was enough of that then. He had told her what he felt and why he thought he was not a great guy because of it, and when she told him to turn the car around and take her home, he would do just that.

Aurora nodded in agreement when he told her there would be things he could not tell her.  She did understand that and she wouldn't push for details.  She was just thankful to know it was family business and not something personal that had pushed him away from her.  She could rest easier now.

Her face went slack and pale when he mentioned Mancini.  She did not try to interject or offer details, she just listened.  Waiting.  When, instead of asking for more information, he chose to tell her about his jealous streak color returned to her face.  She was smiling at him.

"I don't think it's bad that you care about me enough to fear losing what we have, even if it is new to both of us.  And, I honestly find it flattering that you think such nice things about me.  I don't have a particularly solid track record with guys."  Her brow furrowed, "Truth is most guys I've dated I've later regretted it deeply.  You're... not like most guys I date."

She looked down at her hands folded in her lap,  "I don't have a long list of exes if that's your worry.  There was only ever one super serious relationship so far and... well, you won't ever have to cross paths with him so no worries there."  

She was quiet then, she couldn't help but think about Anthony for a moment, but she didn't allow herself to linger in memories, choosing instead to tell Billy the truth.  "He's dead.  Price of mob life."

She shook her head, "I think Cal Mancini is the only guy I would have been worried about you crossing paths with and the odds of that were damn slim.  I was told he left Philly.  I never figured you'd even hear about him unless Will opened his yap... and I had hoped that wouldn't happen.  There was no reason for it.  I put Cal in his place and made very clear to him that I never wanted to see him again.  Hopefully, you never have the displeasure of being in that asshole's presence ever again."

Then it hit her what Billy had said, "Wait... you said Durden's men talked about him?  Is he running with that monster?  Is Cal one of Durden's men these days?"

Billy slowly nodded.

"Seems that way. Seems he's being given some pretty sensitive tasks for Durden too, although he fucked this one up so who knows. If I see him again though, it'll be the last time I do."

He gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter subconsciously and then decided to change the subject.

"Aurora, do you know how to drive? Also, I really gotta say, it's hard driving right now for me. I keep wanting to look at you and not at the damned road."

He smiled a bashful smile then. He was telling the God's honest truth there. He didn't really know why he was saying it, but it was true.

"I don't know how much I'm gonna be able to handle the guys who are gonna swarm all over you tonight. Really, I have half a mind to spin around and just go right back to that dorm of yours."

His smile turned slightly more wolfish in that moment, though he still did his best not to look in her direction.

"Pull over."  She said softly and waited until he did before she unbuckled and slid across the seat to be near him.  She reached a hand up and put it on his cheek.

"Forget about Cal.  He's beneath you.  He can't stand in your shadow.  Truth is he lost all hope of ever being with me long before he hooked up with Durden." 

She shook her head. 

"Bastard is lucky he's not in a grave after how things ended between us actually... and hooking up with Durden isn't even a factor.  I wouldn't look twice at him if he was the last man on earth both because he's such a horrible jerk and because I am the girlfriend of a powerful,"  

She dragged her hand down his cheek and onto his neck, from his neck to his chest as she spoke - again stopping above his heart.  "... sexy, funny, kind man whom I couldn't stop thinking about for two weeks now.  A guy who I wore this dress for... one that would send my mother into convulsions and if you want to look at it... I'm happy to drive.  However, we're not going back to my place yet, Mister.  I've spent two weeks there alone and I will die if I have to go back there after you've made me so excited for a night out."

Billy smiled, and then reached out to touch Aurora. He let his hand fall on her shoulder, and then his other lifted her chin up so that their lips could touch for a moment.

"Good, you can drive then. But not until we get my car."

He pulled back out onto the road then and gunned it.

"It's waiting for us near West Point. Not at the base itself, but close by. I've got a friend who dropped it off for me if you want to take a spin. Maybe you want to drive the rest of the way to the city?"

Aurora retreated to the passenger's seat when he ended the kiss, nodding in agreement that she was content to wait for his car to take over driving.  "Sounds good to me."

She looked off to the west as they drove, the sun was lazily sinking in the sky having painted it in a brilliant pallet of colors from sapphire blues through pinks, oranges, and yellows.  It had been unseasonably warm for autumn in the Northeast.  One of the last days of what some older folks called the Indian Summer.  It was a good time to be here and with someone who made her so happy.

"I'm glad you came today and not over the weekend.  It can't stay this pretty for much longer which really is too bad.  During the good weather, they do concerts in the park.  I went to a few.  Some were quite good.  Not Philharmonic good, but decent."

A smile grew on her face, "My Aunt Tara used to take me on trips to see the New York Philharmonic when I was little.  You'd like her... my Aunt Tara.  She's my father's twin sister, of course... you probably know that.  I suppose all my parent's friends know about who she is, even if they never had the pleasure of meeting her personally." 

"When I was a little girl, she used to come over to our house and have meetings with me.  I remember this one time, I was probably six... I was playing in my mom's office pretending I was my mom taking calls and having meetings with gangsters - who were all my stuffed toys, by the way."

She laughed and shook her head, "Well, my Aunt who was Godmother then, comes in and brokers a deal with me for the services of one of my stuffies.  She still has that bear, I think.  She used to keep it on her bed and I'd see it every time I'd sleep over."

Aurora sat silent for a moment before speaking again, "How have you been holding up... personally I mean?  We never really did talk about what happened at the bottom of the stairs on your visit.  Believe me, I know it can be a real process letting go of someone who you love - especially if you feel like you need to keep up appearances."

She reached her hand across the seat and put it on Billy's thigh.  

"I was glad I was able to be there for you... glad you felt I was a safe person to share that with.  It was... beautiful, and ... so real.  I don't get a lot of real in my life, and it meant a lot for you to share that with me."

Billy nodded and stole a look at Aurora.

"I don't know that I have anything in me but real. I don't know how to be anything else. I can't shake someone's hand and stab them in the back. I can't tell someone they are my sister, and not be broken when they die."

He took his hand and patted hers on his own leg.

"I don't know what you mean by you can't be pretty for long though. I think you're always pretty. If you mean the dresses are gonna get longer. I don't know that would be a bad thing. We would be a lot safer on the road that's for sure."

He laughed then as he pulled into an lot that had a few garages on it. He looked around and noticed the one light on inside the third one. He parked the car outside the door and then waved at the men in the car that had pulled in behind them. They could take this one, or stay in one car, whatever worked for them. He stepped out of the car then and opened the passenger door for Aurora. As she stepped out he made sure to keep his eyes up. There was no way he could be rude.

He smiled then and ran over to the garage door and lifted it. Inside there was an immaculate Duesenberg Model SJ. The keys were sitting right there on the dashboard. Billy turned to Aurora.

"You know how to drive right?"

Aurora whistled loudly.

"You own a Duesenberg?  Oh man, if mom knew you had one of these..."  She walked up and gingerly touched the car. 

"So, did you buy it because of the handling, the speed, or ..." 

She met his eyes and winked, "Because it a huge turn on for all the dames?" 

She walks around the back of it and looks at the wheels and every curve of the car, "The Phantom Torpedo might be the only other one to compare... really.  Oh sure, you can say a lot about the Duesenberg, but there is just something about the Phantom.  My dad bought mom a Phantom for her last birthday.  She keeps it parked in Detroit.  She has fast cars in all the big cities... Dad's favorite gift to give her."

She chuckled, "She actually owns two Duesenbergs that I know about.  They're her favorites cause Dad had her drive one on their first date.  It's where the giant moose in the living room comes from.  Did I tell you the moose story yet?"

Billy shook his head.

"No you did not. But can we maybe not talk about your parents for a little while? I want to get to know you Aurora. The only thing I want to know about that moose is if you really wanted me to kiss you when we danced under it."

He made his way around the car in the opposite direction as she did.

"If you don't like the car, or if it's boring to you because you've ridden around in them your whole life, we can find something else, or we can just go back outside and take the normal looking one to the city."

He turned and looked then toward the open door and then slowly made his way back to it. He reached up and closed it.

"Or we can stay here for a few minutes and just wait until the sun goes down before taking her out."

Billy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a set of playing cards.

"We can play some poker for who gets to drive, or maybe a few other things. Where we go for dinner for one. Or maybe, if you're up for it..."

He started to shuffle the cards

"...if I win. You're not allowed to kiss me until I say so. If you win, I won't kiss you until you say so."

He fanned the cards out.

"What do you say?"

Aurora felt stupid.  Of course, Billy didn't want to talk about her parents!  How could she not have realized that?  Once again she was stepping in it.  She blushed.

"I very much wanted to kiss you under the moose."  Her smile was huge as she spoke the words.  "I would have kept kissing you if you had let me.  My parents and Will be damned."

"Oh the car is quite nice, you won't hear me complain... but, I'm not here for the cars.  I came because of you.  We could be on bicycles or just walking about and I'd have a good time." 

She shrugged.  Then, she watched him pull out the cards from his pocket with interest.  The smile on her face grew as he suggested possible stakes.  

"Alright... control of kiss distribution it is.  BUT, I'd like to add an addendum to our bet.  If I win, you have to teach me something of my choosing.  If you win, I'll do the same for you.  I already have something in mind.  And maybe there's nothing I can teach you right now... but you can save the chip for later.  What do you say?  Shall we play?"

Billy nodded and smiled his widest smile.

"You have yourself a deal."

He dealt the cards out and picked up his hand to look. He smiled and nodded. He was in a good spot. He had a straight started, 4 through eight, he was just missing the seven. He could pick up one card and pull the seven, it was doable. And looking at Aurora's face, she had nothing.

"Alright, how many do you need?"

Aurora looked at her cards and struggled to maintain a poker face.  She'd never wanted to gloat so much in her life.  Ace of hearts.  Ace of Clubs.  Ace of Spades.  It was the damnedest thing she'd seen in hands for years.  It was the sort of hand her father would get when down on his luck and low on cards - just when she thought she had him dead to rights.  He'd go all in and win everything.

She considered which of her cards to keep.  She had a three of spades and an eight of clubs.  She wasn't a believer in superstition, but there was something to luck.  She put down the three of spades.

"One, please."  She picked up the eight of spades and asked coyly, "You want to go best two out of three or ... stick with just the one hand.  We should probably decide that before showing, don't you think?"

Billy shook his head.

"Life is too short for more than one hand. Plus, we gotta get to driving if we are going to make dinner before I starve to death."

Billy slipped his one card down and drew a new one off the top of the deck. He wasn't entirely sure he wanted to look at it. Maybe he would do that cool move he saw professionals do and just not look and let the cards fall where they may. He couldn't help it though. he looked down at the eight of hearts. His heart sank. Well, now he was stuck with a pair of eights. Still, it was better than nothing.

"Alright angel. I'm lettin' you drive, you show em off first."