Death...  Some people described it as a sweet release of all the pain that this life brings you.  Some people described it as the ultimate pain.  Some were afraid of it, some welcomed it with open arms.  Death was many things to many people.  But what of those left behind in the wake of such an unstoppable force?  What of those that could only stand at the rut in their life that it made and cry out?  What of those who feel that they will never be whole after such an atrocity had happened...  Death.  It certainly was nothing to be taken lightly.

It was a beautiful afternoon, so very much a stark contrast to the storm that raged in one young woman's spirit.  A war had taken place...  A battle between the cities.  A skirmish that was not unlike others that had taken place before her time and what surely would take place once she was long gone.  Her city had not come out unscathed in the least and her heart broke for those that they had lost...  They had taken some dire losses in this war, just like so many.  Katherine had spent the last week or so visiting funerals, visiting gravesites, mourning...  This afternoon was no different.  Tears stung her eyes as they threatened to fall like a torrent as she visited one young man's grave.  Stefano Lucchese...  He had been so much to her over the last...  Well for as long as she could remember.  Since she was but a little girl, her mother had hired him on to be her protector but he had become so much more than that.  

"You've been taken too soon Stefano...  There was so much that we were supposed to do together.  Why did you have to be among those taken..."  Her voice broke softly.  She had known where Stefano hailed from and yet she hadn't cared.  He had been her friend for so long, her confidant...  Perhaps even...  More?  And yet now he lay quiet and cold there in the ground.  Katherine stood by his grave stone, trying to remain firm, to remain solid.  She could do this...  She was a big girl.  Hadn't she told him that way back when?  She shook her head feeling a wave of grief wash over her.  "I was wrong Stefano...  I do need you.  I needed you so much and you were there...  You were there when I didn't see it, and you were there when I refused to see it.  You were there for me every step of the way."  Her voice broke softly.  She realized it but as with so much of herself, it was too little and too late.  A soft sob ripped itself from her in the empty graveyard as she allowed herself to fall to her knees there at his side.  She couldn't see him under the mound of earth, but she knew he was there.  "I miss you so much Stefano...  And you know what?  I-I never told you...  But I discovered something in the last few weeks...  You were always more than my friend, more than my closest friend...  Stefano..."  Her voice broke again as it fell to barely a whisper.  "Stefano I love you..."  The words fell from her tongue with a morbid sweetness.  They were words that she had been afraid to speak to him in life, but now seemed necessary to admit in death.  "I love you..."  Tears cascaded down her face as words became an impossibility and she simply allowed herself to break.  She knew that both he and her mother would hate to see her like this, but she couldn't help it.  She wasn't strong like Stefano, she wasn't strong like her mother.  She wasn't strong.  How could she do this without her anchor? Without her best friend? She knew she'd have to, but for now, she simply needed to break.

Michael had lost his two older brothers in two days.  The funeral was over and the crowd had left hours ago.  He returned so that he could now pay his last respects before he was to head west.  As he approached the graves he stopped as he saw a young woman standing there near the graves of his brothers.  She was dressed in black and stood there looking down at their stone markers.   Michael saw her face and saw the sadness that only someone that loved someone and lost them would have.  Michael didn't know the woman but that didn't matter.  What was on his mind was which one was she crying over.  Why was she still here and why didn't he notice her when the ceremony was being held.  He paused for a few moments to allow her to weep and say her goodbyes in peace. 

He was however very curious to who she was.  His first thought was that it had to be for Stefano, only because she looked like a proper woman and Peter, well Peter always bragged about who he was seeing and a classy woman was never the case when it came to his type.   Michael also saw two men standing not to far from her looking as though they were there to protect her or arrest him.  He stood back then looked behind as Joey A and Funzi were starting to walk towards him; he waved them off and then turned back towards the woman and started to walk towards her.  Her men stepped in front of him and called out her name.  Michael looked at her as she looked at him.  She wiped her eyes trying to focus as if she knew him.   Everyone does that when they think of Stefano and see Michael.  Michael was six years younger then Stefano and side by side they could pass for twins only Michael was a little shorter then his oldest brother Stefano. 

That's when he knew for sure that she was there for Stefano.  She was something to look at.  So young, yet so pretty she had a smile mad him want to smile even when she looked so sad.  Michael wanted to meet her as she walked closer towards the men.  She told them its okay an they stepped to the side.  Michael turned as he heard footsteps behind him and again waved Joey and Funzi off.  He then turned back towards her.  His voice cracking as he spoke to her.

"Hello, I'm Michael Lucchese.  How did you come to know my brother or did you know them both?  

He was sure that she was someone close to Stefano as she looked the type.  Stefano had a soft spot for the younger sweet girls that would become strong and beautiful women.  He could tell she was in pain as she began to speak.  Her voice told a story of love and great pain just off the first word as it cracked trying to flow from her lips.  As she stopped to moisten her lips Michael it was confirmed in his heart she know Stefano.  That meant she was someone he trusted and liked just how much Michael wasn't sure of.  What he was sure of was that he wanted to hold to help her stand as she looked a little tired.  He wasn't sure but he felt a kindred spirit as he reached to grab her hand as she was starting to stumble.  Her hand touched his hand only for a split second as she snatched her hand back looking at him as to say how dare you.  He had a smirk as he knew she came from money and he was the treated as the poor farm boy that was beneath their status.  Yet it was the softness of her eyes that had him relax and yet he knew to be cautious.   Their father used to say that a beautiful face can kill just as easy as a gun and you never even see it.  

Katherine shook her head as she felt the full weight of her grief come cascading down upon her worse than a waterfall.  She thought she heard her bodyguards shift uncomfortably, but she didn't even look up.  They knew their job and she would leave them to it.  But then footsteps sounded and Garth spoke her name in his typical guttural growl.  Kat looked up through pain fogged eyes to see a young man making his way toward the gravesite.  She tensed a tad but did not get up off her knees for the moment.  She reached out to gently touch the headstone of Stefano's likely banishing any trace of question of which brother she had known.  Tears streamed down her face but she sought to stem the flow after her oldest and most trusted bodyguard gave her forewarning of the approach.  He knew she didn't like to be seen crying.  She gave a curt nod to Shane who simply looked uncomfortable with the young man's approach.  But he would stand aside at Kat's acceptance.  She unsteadily pushed herself to her feet, standing at the foot of the two side by side graves.  Running a hand quickly under her eyes, she tried to banish the residual liquid that lay there.  Trembling all over, she had finally gotten the sobs under control as she turned to half face the man.

As his approach grew close, her heart stopped.  There before her stood...  Stefano?  No...  Not Stefano but the likeness was uncanny.  Now Kat couldn't have gotten as close to Stefano as she did without knowing he had brothers...  But she didn't even know their names, nor had she ever met them.  But there before her, this was unmistakably kin to her Stefano.  She drew a steadying breath as the man moved past her bodyguards toward her.  Honestly if he did have ill intent, she only hoped he'd make it quick...  At least then she could rejoin the man she had discovered her love for.  But instead of bullets, introductions lifted into the air and she gave a small smile as she ran a hand under her eyes once again hoping to goodness that she didn't lose it once more.  "Katherine Pryde...  I..."  She would quietly explain how she knew him, at least the parts that were known.  But her eyes spoke more than her words ever could.  She loved him.  No doubt about it.

Moving slightly to wander closer to the headstone, she caught her foot on the hem of her long black dress and stumbled.  Her hand was caught up by his and she hissed softly at the contact.  She didn't know this man and the pain in her soul didn't allow much for niceties.  But it took half a breath before she softened again.  "I'm sorry...  You didn't deserve that."  All at once the haughtiness flowed from her gaze.  She couldn't hold it.  Not today.  "It's nice to finally meet you Michael.  I knew that Stefano had brothers...  I never had the pleasure of meeting his other..."  She softly indicated to the other headstone.  "Both of your other brother..."  She bit her lip softly as she gazed over Peter's headstone, only to have her gaze drawn back to Stefano's.  So much death.  Too much...  But as she looked up into Michael's eyes she saw kindness there...  Similar to Stefano, but very different at the same time.  And yet she felt no less drawn to the young man in her pain.  But how much of it was him?  And how much was it to the likeness of the man she had just lost?  Only time would tell...

Her name rung deep in his ear and he know immediately why Stefano kept her to himself.  Her voice was so soft that he knew he could listen to her talk all day about anything.  She was an angel and he became envious of Stefano.  When it came to his heart Stefano never shared that.  He guarded his heart like people guard their wealth never revealing it so no one can get to it and steal it.  Michael looked into her eyes and could see she loved his brother greatly and yet he was conflicted because the second she bit her lip she looked so innocent to him.   He could see his brother falling for her and he knew he needed to bury that thought.  He wondered if she ever knew that he thought of her like that, did she think of him like that what could have been.   He was deeply disappointed with himself for allowing that to enter into his mind but all he could focus on was how innocent she looked.  He wondered how old she was because she looked like a little kid yet she was a grown woman or a mature girl playing the role of a woman.  Michael took a step closer as he looked at Peters grave and then Stefano's. 

"These two were complete opposites and yet they would die for each other.  Stefano was the care giver and protector.  He was always fixing what we younger boy did and helping our parents put food on the table.  Peter was always the muscle and even though we hated admitting it he had a good heart when he wasn't beating us up the jerk."  

He looked at her as she gave a small smile at his descriptions of his to brothers then he smiled at her.  

"Mrs. Pryde.  You know a side of my brother that I don't know off or at least I don't think I do.  Would you and your men like to joint me for coffee or tea?  I mean it doesn't have to be today, but I'm heading out west in a few days and I would like to hear how you to met and the adventures of my brother.  I mean I know him and he's always been the one to turn the basic things into something exciting in his own way.  If that's okay with you.  Whenever you have some free time or maybe when or if you ever decide to head out west. " 

Just then Joey and Funzi walked back up towards Michael as Kathrine's men stood in front of them.

Please for give me it appears that my friends don't understand the meaning of give me some space.  I'll be right back.

Michael walked over to the four men as they were at a standstill.  Michael pulled his guys away a few feet to talk then he looked back at Katherine and his mind went towards her and he wonder why she was so interesting and important at this moment in time.  He told them to give him a few more minutes and not to come back unless they see he's in danger or he calls them.  Michael watched as the nodded and went back to the car.  Then he turned towards Katherine and smiled and gave her two men a quick nod.  

"Please forgive the intrusion they mean well but at times they can be a bit over protective and noisy.  Now where was I, oh yes.  If you don't mind you have a bit of Stefano that I don't know and I would be happy to explain some of his childhood to you and I got stories about him that will make you laugh.  I'm sure my brother play protector and hero when I know at times in his life he wasn't the bravest guy in the room but he would do it for them that he loved.  I will say Stefano was one of the smartest and kindest guy in those rooms. "

Looking between Michael and the grave she mourned at, it was such a bittersweet feeling.  She knew in her mind and heart that Michael was not Stefano, and yet her eyes were filled with betrayal to her soul.  He looked so much like him...  But there was a softer feeling to him than there had been with Stefano...  She had never doubted one bit that Stefano felt something for her, if only a protective nature...  Even if she sometimes wondered if there was more behind his gaze than he let on.  But now she'd never know.  But Michael...  He didn't know her at all and thus couldn't feel the same way that his brother before him had.  And yet the features were similar...  Sure he was a tad shorter and the worries of life were not as etched in his face...  But he held a lot of the same features that his brother before him had and it made Kat's heart hurt.  And yet it was a beautiful pain...  If one could call it that.  It was a pain that was not in itself detrimental.  It was a bittersweet knowledge that her counterpart was gone, and yet his brother and spitting image still stood above ground.  

Kat felt a strange...  Protectiveness over the young man before her.  It was hard for her to explain.  But it was a feeling that she never wished to allow the brutality of death to take him too early from this earth.  Now she had no clue how to go about that...  But something in her knew that she wanted to keep him close...  But for what reason?  What was the true reason behind this longing?  Honestly she herself didn't even know.

Katherine straightened her posture, stiffening a tad as Michael moved closer.  No matter what she felt inside, he was still more or less a stranger.  No matter how the tension in her form melted away...  He was not Stefano.  She didn't know what was in this young man's head...  Not in the least, she couldn't read him like she felt she could Stefano, and yet her own projections were still there and her form responded more as if he were his brother and not himself.  And that was not right.  But she gave him a small smile as he began to speak of his brothers.  He spoke of a side of Stefano that she well knew and she nodded slowly.  She honestly wished she had known his brothers as she was certain that she'd likely fit right in as a sister to them...  That was the role she played to Stefano for many years...  Much more like a kid sister than a charge.  Kat would step aside a tad to allow Michael room at his brothers' gravesite but not far enough away to make him think she felt adverse to his presence.

Her gaze dropped a tad as Michael moved on to an invitation.  She felt a knot loosen in her chest as he spoke of heading out West.  Well that would certainly make her job of keeping an eye on him much easier.  Ok so that was a silly notion, and one she'd likely never voice, but still...  It was something she currently held onto like a life boat in this tumultuous moment.  She chuckled softly and nodded quietly.  "I would very much enjoy coffee with you Michael.  Perhaps we could even make the travels back West together...  If you wanted.  I actually don't live around Detroit...  I hail from Los Angeles myself..."  Her gaze flickered back to Michael's to gauge his reaction.  She briefly wondered if he too was headed back to her home state...  But that was honestly too much to hope for she was certain.

Movement was caught out the corner of her eye and Kat stiffened a tad.  Never let your guard down!  This was something she had been taught again and again, and yet it was a weakness of hers...  She trusted too easily.  But she saw her men move fluidly in to intercept and she was thankful for them yet again.  And yet as she heard Michael's words, she smiled wryly.  Ah bodyguards...  They didn't tend to get along with other people's bodyguards...  Even when they were all there for the same purpose...  Protect their charge.

She looked to her own bodyguards, making eye contact with Garth.  They had both stepped down fairly quickly when Michael went over to talk to his own.  She nodded in a silent gesture to Garth.  One couldn't work with another person as long as they had and as closely without being able to at least somewhat read each other.  Garth knew there was no danger and so he relaxed quickly, murmuring in an undertone to Shane to pass on that knowledge.  The two of them moved back to their car as well but stood outside it, ready to respond if things turned interesting.

Kat sighed a little and turned her gaze back upon the headstones before her.  She was not kept waiting long before Michael made his approach once more.  She half turned to face him, acknowledging his return with a small smile and nod.  "It would be my pleasure to meet with you and swap stories...  I would love to hear about his childhood...  All of yours really."  She nodded softly to him before bowing her head a little.  "I'll let you alone here, I'm sure you want to spend time without my intrusion...  I'll still be here a couple days...  I'm staying at the local hotel."  She paused to moisten her lips.  "I would very much like to see you again."  She stood just a tad straighter as she tried to inject a bit of formality to this, even if it was out of place.  She wasn't sure what else to do.  She felt herself slipping into such a familiarity with this man so easily and so quickly that it unnerved her.  But she would see this one through.

Michael was thrilled when Kathrine said she would like to see him again.  He wanted to know about Stefano and even more he wanted to know about her.  She look so innocent and wholesome that he could see why Stefano kept her to himself.  As she stood straight and formal he smirked at how proper she is.  He agreed to meet her Later that night.  He would swing by her hotel and take her out for dinner knowing that her bodyguards would be close by.  Later that night he arrived and was in the lobby of her hotel and called up to her room.  She came down twenty minutes later.  She was in a shimmering royal blue and silver dress that showed a little leg just stopping three inches above her knee.  

When she entered the lobby Michael was smiling like a kid with a sticker on his paper for great work.  As she stuck her hand out to shake his hand he nodded and shook her hand gently.  They went to a nice mom and pop restaurant, there they talked about Stefano and his protective behavior.  She talked about how they came to meet and how she looked up to him and even thought of being his wife as a child.  Michael chuckled at the thought of his oldest brother married.  Then she told of the things Stefano helped her get away with and the help he would give when she was having trouble with the class or the boys in the class.  

Kathrine even talked about her mothers death and how Stefano helped her get out of the city and start a new life in LA.  Then it was Michael turn to talk about his brothers youth.  He told her how he would follow Stefano and Peter and how Peter helped him get to the top of a tree and then left him there and Stefano climbed the tree and put Michael on his back and climbed down.  How when he was picked on by the older boys that Stefano went to the school and beat them up so bad that no one dared pick on him after that.   How when Stefano wanted some Ice cream and stuck some sugar in a bowl and poured milk in that bowl and stuck it in the ice box and when he woke up from his nap all he had was a bowl of cold sugar milk and a butt wiping that their mother gave him.

Then Michael told of a time he got in trouble with Stefano.  Michael explained that he was about to turn six and he met this little girl that he liked but never knew her name.  He told her that the little girl wore this little pink sweater with these fancy letter on the right side of her chest and he would walk up to her and call her his wife.  That little girl had just turned four maybe five and was so cute with her bob tails and pretty pink bows in her hair.  Katherine looked at him then she said and you had pulled her hair.  Michael smiled nodded that he did and then Katherine said told him that that little girl cried when he took her stuff.   Michael assumed that Stefano told her.  He went on to say that Stefano was twelve and slapped him on the back of the head.  Then Michael looked at Kathrine as her face turned red.  It looked like she was a bit angry then she said that fancy letter was a cursive letter K.  Then she smiled an tossed the glass of water in his face.  Shocked at her behavior he quickly stood and took his napkin and wiped his face as the food came.

Katherine said she never like bullies.  Michael then sat down and told her that he wasn't a bully that he was a small child and did actually like that girl but never saw her again after that day.  He only took the book be cause he wanted to give her a new book and one of his friend put a dead spider in the book she had.  Katherine then explained that that little girl must have grew up hating bully's and because of him really didn't talk to boy until she was fourteen.  Michael then explain how would she know she wasn't there and didn't know the girl.  Katherine called him dense as she explained that, that little girl was sent to a private school where she hated being away.  That's when Michael put it together and understood. 

The evening was quite the bittersweet contrast to the afternoon. The funeral had been full of sadness and grief but Katherine had to admit that she had been highly looking forward to this evening with the brother of Stefano.  It still shocked her how vividly he looked like his elder brother.  The similarity was so distinct that it made her heart ache deeply in her chest.    And yet it was a good ache.  Almost like the cauterization of a wound.  She knew that she never would truly be able to let Stefano go, and she wasn't entirely sure that this was fair to his younger brother...  But it was therapeutic for the young woman.  She took her time getting ready, hearing Stefano chiding about wasting time in her ear.  She smiled but as she got older, she had known he appreciated the few times she actually took her time in getting ready for something.  Sighing softly as she ran her fingertips down the silky fabric of the dress that gently clung to her every feature, she nodded.  It was classy and simple, but still of the evening gown variety.  She wasn't sure where they were headed so she didn't want to be obscenely over or underdressed.  She had to be prepared for the occasion.  

Finally she headed out and they were off.  Conversation flowed easily between the two as they shared stories between them, Kat divulging a few more details than was likely healthy.  But Michael was kin.  He deserved to know as much about his brother as she could give him.  And he in turn gave her a more valuable gift than money could buy.  She giggled at the memories that he shared.  She could see that.  "Oh I wish I could have grown up with you guys...  What times we would have had..."  She mused softly as the conversation soon turned to a girl...  A girl with cute pigtails and sweater emblazoned with...  A K...  The more she listened to Michael, the more the pieces began to complete themselves in her mind.  The more the irritation began to take root.  

She was quickly coming to the conclusion that they had more or less grown up together...  To an extent!  These memories were a double edged thing.  Part of it elated her as she put two and two together but part of it also shot a shock down her spine that she didn't care for at all.  That girl...  It was her.  And that boy?  It was him.  The brothers?  Stefano...  And Peter, she hadn't known the middle brother, but she had been well aware of the elder.  How could she have forgotten?  She listened and tried to lead the conversation a bit to see if he recalled it as well, but even as he continued speaking, she knew he wasn't catching on.  Finally she shook her head and snagged the nearest glass of water, tossing it into his face.  But even as she did and saw the intense shock on his face, the same shock was mirrored on her own face.  Although she wasn't certain which shocked her more, her act, or her voicing of her displeasure.  

Yet even so, as the tense moment was broken, Kat dissolved into giggles before snagging a nearby napkin, all but ignoring the waiter as she tried to help Michael mop up the water she had just doused him with.  Gingerly reaching over him, she began to mop at his opposite leg.  Taking a careful step to the side, her high heel hit a small puddle.  Yelping as that foot slid out from under her, she toppled right into the man's lap, her face turning suddenly scarlet and earning a soft chuckle from the waiter as he carefully reached in to try and steady her.

Michael was shocked and impressed that this small framed woman would toss a glass of water into his face.  He looked at her and he was smiling as he could tell she was that same fireball he met at an early age.  Her eyes held anger, surprise and curiousity.  As she fell into his lap he could smell the light sent of her purfume and the softness of her body.  He was lost as she looked and gave a light soft chuckle.  He wanted to lean in but he had already pressed his luck and paid a price.  The waiter dared not make eye contact but Michael was an Lucchese and this was small.  Katherine started to stand but Michael gently helded her down on his lap and to her surprise he apologized for his behavior as a child and now.  He said it with such sencerity that she knew it came from his heart.  Michael then watched as she slow stood to her feet and he stood with her.  He slowly reached for her hand and with the other reached into his pocket and put a few bills on the table and smiled at the waiter telling him that he was sorry for the mess that he caused and to keep the change.  

Turning to Katherine he asked her if she still liked rollercoasters and ice cream as she nooded he smiled still holding her hand.  He walked out with her and called a cab to talk them to the board walk.  He told her not to worry he will have someone pick up the car.  The cab driver would be a witness that he would stay on his best behavior.  While in the cab Michael talked about how Stefano and Pete got him into hot water with their mother but she was no dummy she knew the score so instead of spanking michael she gave him ice cream and Stefano and Pete had to clean the house for the mess they allowed Michael to make.  Then he told Katherine how the two boys beat him with pillows that night for not helping them.   Michael smiled at that memory as he realized that the hit him with pillows and they laughed as he was trying to swing a pillow at them.  He never thought about that aspect of how they loved him.  He looked at Katherine and her eyes made him smile brighter.  

He was so impressed with her as he recalled her curling long hair when she was a child and asked her if she remembers a boy name David Wildmen Michael reminded Katherine of the fight on the play ground when David pulled her hair and then dared Michael to do something about it.  Michael told Katherine that was his first fist fight.  How he closed his eyes and swung with both hands and when the first one connected followed by a eye opening follewed with the second swing connecting and his fist just keep going and connecting and David not swinging back he realized that having to older brothers to fight was tougher then fighting a stranger off the streets or a class bully.  He looked at her as she nodded.  He admitted that he only did it to impress her but when she walked away after the fight he shook his head and then felt like he was a bully.  

They arrived at the boardwalk and the amusement park lights were bright and the sounds of bells and poppers mixed with children laughter was exciting.  Michael paid the driver and told him to stay he would pay him $200 for the night the cabby nodded and smiled.  Michael didn't pay attention as he instictly reached for Katherine hand again as they walked around.  It was natural as if they had known each other all their lives.  In away they did but this was more like it was right, they were comfortable.  Michael was but Katherine kept looking up at him as he pointed to different rides and asking her if she wanted any cotton candy or pop corn or something to drink.