Rat_Smiley ran around the hotel ballroom he had arranged for this event, making sure that everything was set. The decorations around the room were all of paintings and pictures of the history of Philadelphia, famous faces and places.  White table cloth and simple folding chairs were the furnishings.  A table full of various foods from the businesses of the city. Pastas, spaghetti, pizzas, cheeseburgers and hamburgers, supplied by The G's Dinner.  Coffee and Donuts provided by Race Street Joe's.  Chocolate chip cookies and Hazelnut Praline Cookies from The Cookie Shop. Carrot Cake from The Native Home.  And various other foods and delicacies from all over the city. All that he could put together with such little warning of her rise.

As the time finally arose, the first guests began to arise.  Rat greeted each one at the door and a member of the hotel helped them to find a seat.  After all of the guests were finally seated, including the woman of honor, he went to the front and picked up a microphone to address the crowd.

"Thank you everyone for coming tonight.  I have the honor of introducing all of you to a talented, intelligent and motivated woman.  A woman who I have had the opportunity to work for on a semi-permanent basis.  Here's hoping for a promotion." Rat winks at Isabella.  "So please give a round of applause for our new Godmother, Isabella Byrne."

Erich made his way to the party as his sister has instructed him. He picked up a glass of whatever it was they were serving, he did not recognize the drink. To be fair it wasn't a bier, so it was hard to recognize. He had limited experience after all.

"Herzliche Glückwünsche. Prost zu einem langen Leben!"

CookieDealer was among the first who arrived. Deep down he was very nervous with his cookies included in the buffet; what if the big bosses of Philly didn't like them? He wasn't expecting such a big event to happen so fast. But the day wasn't about the food, it was about a very respected leader taking the position of Godmother, so he tried his best to forget about the food and focus on the purpose event itself. When it was his turn to greet Isabella, he calmly shook her hand and congratulated her for that grand achievement.

"I'm very happy to see you assume the role of Godmother. There is no doubt you are worthy of the position. The cooperation and teamwork among all Race Street families has been excellent so far and I'm sure it will remain that way even though we're conducting business in another district now." He raised his glass to make a toast. 

"To a bright future for South Philly!"

Amaryllis hadn't been to something like a party since she had been in Detroit. So in a somewhat nicer dress, with her done a bit nicer than normal, she headed into the party. She felt a bit out of place here with a somewhat nice bottle of wine as she glanced around, shifting a bit nervously. Her dress was green which was making both her hair pop, her fair skin looked a bit fairer and her eyes looked quite Bluish Green. 

She looked to find a place to set down her gift or to find the godmother so she could present her gift to the woman. Either way, she was making sure the godmother would receive this gift if only so she could show her respect. 
 

"Congratulations Godmother, may your reign be long and prosperous."
 

Adele had bought a new dress for just this occasion.  It was the first thing she had brought just for herself since coming to America and she absolutely loved it.  It was a floor-length, black evening grown with black fringe.  Grabbing up a glass of champagne she lifted it up for a toast. 

"As my brozer saidt,  'Here's to zee greatest Godmozer I know!  May her tenure be long and enrichink.  Cheers!'

Taking a sip of the drink before handing the glass to her brother, she picked up the box that laid on the table before her.  Moving to the Godmother she presented the gift.

"Somezink from our home country.  Blessinks on you and yours."

She leaves the gift with the Godmother and returns to her seat.

Isabella sat at a seat in the front of the room, accepting gifts, and greeting guests.  A plate of food sat untouched in front of her.  She glanced down at the impossibly clear diamond on her left-hand ring finger.  She'd been wearing the diamond for years now since that night Gavin slid it on her finger and said three little words that changed everything.

His blue eyes looked steadily up at Bella, unblinking. Some understandings passed the needs for words. This was one of them- but he said the words anyway.  "I love you."

The ring on her left hand, however, had sat in a box for years despite it's immense value and beauty.  The blood-red ruby was gaudy, a flaunting of wealth and excess on a level she seldom allowed herself.  Gavin had brought it home after one of his trips, she couldn't recall which... maybe Asia?  He'd given it to her because as the hand of his sister, a Godfather, he felt it was time Bella embraced her wealth and power.  She should show off what they worked so hard for... well, she'd suspected that was Tara's idea more than Gavin's really - but he had a point.  So she upgraded her closet but kept the ring tucked away until now.

Red like blood.

Bella knew the price she'd paid for the burden of responsibility. With a word she might have anything she wanted tonight - money, treasures, and lives... but the path here was paved in the bodies of enemies and loved ones alike.  It was for this reason the Godmother did not smile despite the fact that this party was expressly for her. 

Isabella considered herself blessed.  She still had her husband, her children were growing to be impressive young adults, and God willing she'd live long enough to see grandchildren one day.  The hands which those lovely rings rested upon were soft, and the skin was not quite as taut as it once had been before.  When had she gotten old?  At what point had she missed the start of the end?  

She drew a breath and cast her eyes about the room and for a moment the ballroom of the present melted away and she could see another ballroom, one far away, and long ago.  The corner of her lip twitched and her eyes closed remembering being young, beautiful and sure that they'd all live forever in their perfect kingdom by the inland seas.  For just a moment she again stood in the presence of ghosts who she missed with every fiber of her being.  

"Godfather Luciano?"  Bella shuddered and her eyes flew open.  She blinked in confusion as the young man in front of her repeated himself and this time she correctly heard him say, "Godmother Luciano?"

"Byrne."  She corrected the young gangster and accepted his gift and well wishes.

She had assumed Salvatore's empire would last one-hundred years.  On that night, so long ago, she 'knew' what life held for her.  Don of the Ivory Tower, married life with Elias... children, and then in time when her father was old and unable to carry on he and Marie would retire together and the Luciano Crime Empire would be hers at along last.  She would carry on the family legacy.  She was not a son but she would show her father what a woman could do.  She would make sure that men didn't just fear her as they feared her father - but they would love her as well.  She would be a good leader.  She would be out in the streets with the people and her love and mercy would ensure that when her time came there would be a line around the church the day she was put on display to the public.  Such would be her reign.  

Bella picked up her wine.  She looked at the deep red in the glass and tried to ignore the still quiet ringing in her ears.  She'd fired her gun in a small space, shooting the man who tried to take her home from her as Louis had risen to new heights.  She sipped remembering the gun running out of bullets and the fear she felt as she began to finish him with her bare hands.  She dug deep at that moment, calling on a strength she didn't think she still had, a strength summoned up by a desperate need not only to survive but never allow this place to fall into the hands of someone who had not sacrificed & personally bled for her streets.

"Godmother Byrne."  Bella nodded to the young gangster who passed her an envelope and kissed her ruby ring.

Bella listened as the toasts began nodding to Rat_Smiley who was well-past ready to be taken on a small trip.  Tonight was his final proving ground.  He was Race Street in his blood, she could see it now.

Erich was young, new to these shores and he didn't speak a word of English but it didn't take an understanding of German to hear the sentiment behind his words.  She smiled at the young man and nodded to him in thanks.

It was nice to see CookieDealer here.  Her smile was genuine as she saw the younger Don and listened to his words.  He, she thought to herself, had a bright future ahead of him.  Perhaps it would be him in this seat one day?  Who knew.  Bella was decidedly done trying to guess what the days ahead of her held.  She was seldom right in any case.

Amaryllis_Sarantou was an unforgettable beauty, a stunning thing with the world laid out before her and a lifetime to expand her power to more than just the influence she had over men's minds and... hearts.  Bella gave her a small smile and quick, "Thank you."

Adele- the English speaking half of her new German associates.  Smart, charming, and not hard on the eyes ... a dangerous combination.  Bella accepted the box with an appreciative, "Thank you," and marveled at the box's weight.  She wondered what was inside but resisted the urge to tear it open rudely.  Though it was hard... if there was anything Bella loved more in all the world beyond her family, it was gifts.

It had been a very long road to this point and now she would finally see if she or her father was truly right after all.  The dragon, surrounded by her hoard of gifts and tributes, put aside the most recent box and went back to her memories, hopes, and fears of what might yet be.

Even thought Rat organized and set off this celebration, he still had to wait in line to speak with the new Godmother.  He waited patiently a ribbon covered box, the size of a pool cue, in his hands.  

After giving his well-wishes to the new Godmother, who was clearly distracted with her new duties, he handed her the box.

Inside the box is a Chinoiserie Silver Plated Dragon Walking Stick Sword, circa 1900's.

"It's got a blade hidden in the handle.  I thought it was appropriate.  I hope you like it."

Luis seemed to be the last to arrive to his Godmother's celebration... As newly appointed Underboss, his power grew along with his crew..and along with the list of headaches. Entering the ballroom accompanied by his head of security and long time friend Joe Delorenzi, he casually greeted those he knew, and some he had only just met as he walked towards Isabella sitting at the front of the room.

As he finally got closer, he couldn't help but grin from cheek to cheek as he took her hand and kissed the ring on her finger and stepped back...

"Godmother Byrne.. I apologize for arriving so late, but as you understand I can be a busy man..." he glanced back at Joe and motioned for him to pass up the envelope he was carrying

"This is for your cash purse.. I hope you will find the amount suitable" Luis said as he handed it to one of her nearby bodyguards

"I will go and enjoy the celebration now.. if you would like to chat I will be just nearby enjoying some of that fine spaghetti from G's Diner..."

Luis tipped his hat and motioned for Joe to follow him to a nearby table where he was quickly served a enormous plate of spaghetti topped with meatballs just to his liking..

Louis checked himself out in the mirror of his apartment. The tie was plumb straight, the creases on the shirt and suit were so sharp they could be used to julienne strands of hair and when the shine on his shoes caught the lights above it reflected beneath his chin like a spooky flashlight.  The slight flecks of grey hair were starting to appear on his head, hopefully creating a slightly distinguished look. A knock at the door revealed Lo standing there. 

“Are you ever going to be ready Louis?”

She wandered over and brushed the shoulders of his suit to remove a couple of flecks of something or other. Louis smiled. Lo looked stunning in her simple, yet elegant dress. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden necklace. 

“I am done, you however haven’t quite finished.”

He put the necklace round Lo’s neck and they headed out to the car downstairs. One of Louis’ latest batch of helpers who the guys had nicknamed Gruffalo opened the car door. 

“Here you go ma’am, and sir.”

Louis presumes it was the gruffness of the how voice that prompted the nickname but he spoke in soft tones yet looked as if boulders had been shoved beneath areas of his suit. He made a mental note to discuss it with him another night.

The journey to the venue was uneventful as Louis and Lo discussed their recent move from South Philly to the Old City. Lo commented that Louis was busier than ever. Louis laughed it off, knowing that as with pretty much all the important women in his life; Lo, Apollonia and Isabella-Luciano they were invariably right. The car stopped and they both stepped out and walked into the ballroom. Louis immediately sought out Bella. 

“Mrs Byrne, this is the most amazing day for South Philly and Philadelphia as a whole. I can think of no-one more deserving of this title. You have been the rock round which all of South Philly has been tied for so long. You have stepped up time and time again. I am so proud for you, Gavin and the kids.”  

Louis gave Bella a hug and whispered in her ear. 

“Thoroughly deserved Mrs B”

Business interests held her on the opposite coast, but when she was informed of the news, Roxanne scrambled to get a present together. Wrapping up an unimpressive looking glass bottle in the day's newspaper, she attached a card to the rather buttery, full bodied, oak aged, Californian Chardonnay she had discovered in a newly starting vineyard. Scribbled in a quick informal hand on the card, were the words.

Félicitations Madame Byrne!
May your reign be long et prospère. And when it is your time to go, may you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you are dead. I will be sure to greet you properly upon my return.
À votre santé!

-R

Stopping by the hotel concierge's desk, she handed the man the parcel and a generous tip with instructions for the address and a request for express delivery, despite his questioning glance.

Isabella felt something moving inside the box from Di and so, she decided it was best to open it now.  Her heart melted.  She fished out the tiny yellow and white kitten with the big blue eyes and kissed it.  

"Oh Di!"  She exclaimed giving the other woman a hug.  "He's a perfect angel, in fact, that's what we're calling him."  

Bella showed the cat off, "My Angel, everyone"  She chuckled and kept the kitten in her lap as she continued to greet guests and take gifts.

Rat_Smiley approached with a walking stick that was impressive as hell.  The hidden blade wasn't bad either, though she didn't need to walk with a stick, it might not hurt to do so to give the illusion of being fragile and to give herself one more weapon on hand.  "Thank you, Rat, it's quite appreciated.  A lovely gift."

Luis_Patangeli gave her favorite and most needed gift, a large sum of cash to be used in helping fund her district's many projects.  She gave him a nod of her head and let her underboss go on his way.  They'd be speaking a lot in the coming days.

The Godfather Chairman was as impressive as ever, though she could see more of Jack in him tonight than she had before - in a way it made her sad.  It meant he was feeling some of what she was, probably worse if she was being honest.  Was this what it was like, was this a club they were now a part of that no one else could know the real pressures of without having been a part of it yet?  Three nights, eight hours of sleep, perhaps she was just overly tired and feeling the need to romanticize everything.  She kissed Louis' cheek as he hugged her.  "Thanks, Boss."  She whispered for his ears alone.

A gift from Roxanne_LeRoux had been delivered and she was certainly grateful.  Later she'd have April send thank you notes to all the people who gave her tributes and gifts tonight.

As the night wore on, the party got less formal and just a splash more wild. The liquor and toasts were flowing as men loosened their ties and women kicked off their shoes. Between the heat, the excitement, and the alcohol, Bella's cheeks were flushed. Gavin was by her side for the evening, happy to dodge the spotlight and keep it on his wife; he'd speak to her later, privately.

As Bella weaved her way through a group of late arrivals to the party, a bodyguard waved at her to get her attention.

"Godmother Byrne!"

"Yes?"

"Yes?"

Familiar musical laughter followed the simultaneous response, as the only other person who could respond to that name snuck her arm around Bella's waist.

"You know... ten years later... and I still answered instinctively. Old habits die hard."

Bella turned to a smiling Tara Byrne, who guided her away from the bodyguard and toward a dark corner of the venue; they ducked into a side room where they could have a private chat for a moment. Tara hugged her sister-in-law before pulling her down to sit next to each other on the couch.

"Sorry for the abduction. I haven't been back in ages, and I didn't want to steal any of your spotlight. Besides, there's at least one ICPC agent here figuring I'll show up who's been chasing me about some stolen Renaissance... I suppose the details aren't important. Anyways, I couldn't let tonight go by without congratulating you."

Tara leaned back on the couch turning to more directly face her sister-in-law. She had a few more pounds and a few more wrinkles, but it was unmistakably the former Godmother of South Philadelphia who took Bella's hand in her own. 

"There's nothing I can give you tonight, and I hope you're aware enough to realize that you already have everything you need. A family who loves you, material wealth to get anything you want, talent and the place to use it... what can I give you that you don't already have? Except, perhaps, a few words of friendly advice."

"Godmother or Godfather is such an interesting choice of titles, no? What is a godparent? It's someone who doesn't have to care, but chooses to anyways. A parent, at least ideally, must care. But no one forces someone to become a godparent for their child; they choose people who are likely to go above and beyond in caring for that child. Similarly, a leader of a district is ideally going to be an unselfish person- someone who works to serve others, to take responsibility for the problems of others and work to help them."

She shrugged.

"There are also others who just fuck around and take money to benefit themselves, but we both know that doesn't apply to you."

"However, this service of others must be balanced with self-interest as well. I spent the larger part of my life serving this district, and I always put myself last. Always. I had men who loved me, and I delayed for the district. I had my own interests and passions, and I ignored them for the district. I had hobbies... actually, that's a lie. I never had time for hobbies. My point is this, Bella. You're here to serve others- but you need to balance that by spending your time here doing what makes you excited and fulfilled. That is what draws people in and keeps them engaged."

Tara smiled warmly at Bella as she squeezed her hand. 

"You've been part of Race Street since the very beginning, even if you were Isabella-Luciano back then. You were the first person Jack invited to see the Pier, and there was a reason for that. This is where you're supposed to be, and you're sitting in the right chair. Whatever challenges you're faced with, you've already accomplished... everything. You got the best of both worlds- everything I wanted. Everything anyone could want, I think. Keep being yourself."

With a familiar grin, she stood.

"Well, time for me to duck out a side door and get you back to your party. I'll sneak by to see the family before I leave the city."

"Tara?"  Bella stood up and smiled at her Sister.  "Thank you.  I've never been so grateful to have been wrong in all my life."

She didn't go on to explain what.  She supposed Tara understood.  She'd wrong about just about everything really... about never leading a crew again, never being a Godfather, and her fears about what might happen if she allowed herself to love and marry Gavin.  None of the bad things she'd thought would happen had occurred.  She'd managed to avoid the fate of the Ivory Tower leaders... she had made her own way and done so while (at times) actively avoiding any of it.

How strange this life really is!

"I look forward to seeing you out at Hollowood."  And with that the younger Godmother Byrne made her way back out into her party, wondering what a certain officer of the law was up to these days.  It had been years since Bella had thought to look in on Kacey Adams and the sight of Tara now - back in Philly even if only for a visit - and talking about what things she'd missed out on in life; well, Bella sincerely hoped that her one time disobeying her Godmother might actually have borne fruit.  Maybe... just maybe, Tara's story wasn't over either?  

Returning to her seat at the table, she smiled.  A moment ago she couldn't help but to be haunted by the ghosts of her past and the things she thought she missed most and yet... here with her now was a room full of people who were every bit as much as those who came before them.  Their stories as varied and wonderful as those which came before.  She gave a quick glance and smile to her husband and settled back, picking up her kitten once again to play with it.

This life, this world, was in spite of everything essentially good.  And, God willing, she'd live long enough to make sure that it remembered her name.