Silvio was lying in bed with Lia, watching the way the sunlight danced through her golden hair. The sun did not illuminate her hair, he thought; rather, it is the other way around. He traced a lazy, gentle finger down between her shoulder blades and let his hand rest on the small of her back. They lay like that for a while, and he watched her sleep as the poor fools who had to be out working made noise outside the window of the hotel. Her perfect blue eyes fluttered open and she instinctively smiled when she saw him. He smiled back.

"Fuck it," he said, "let's get married."

He wasn't planning on saying it- at least not out loud- and his eyes opened slightly wider, but his smirk only deepened. 

Silvio might not have meant to say it, but he meant every word.

Lia blinked. Then she blinked again. No, she was not dreaming. She was really here, Silvio was really here, and he'd really just asked her to marry him.

Well.

Sort of? Pushing herself up onto one elbow, she studied him with narrowed eyes. Was he playing? Teasing her? She hoped not, but one must be careful of one's own heart, musn't they? She relaxed her face and tried for casual, if stoic, even as her heart tried to explode through her ribcage.

"Married, Signor? Sure, why not? After all, what girl could resist such a silver-tongued offer? As you say. 'Fuck it'. Why not?" Her smirk matched his now, but his eyes continued to bore into hers, no flicker of humor, jest, or doubt in their depths. 

"You're serious."

Silvio continued to watch her as she stumbled through the moment. Marriage. What an awf-

Wait. No, not an awful idea. Quite possibly a brilliant one! If they were married, perhaps her father would leave them be. His son-in-law... maybe even the father of his grandchildren one day! 

"Okay. Okay! Yes, let's get married, Silvio!" She said excitedly, leaning forward to grasp him around the neck.

"Yes! I agree!", said Silvio, almost as surprised as he'd been when she arrived.

But of course they should get married. 

Why shouldn't they?

Silvio kissed once- again. He should get out of bed and- well, one doesn't propose every day. He reached for Lia with a vulpine grin; his hands were warm, but not nearly as warm as his eyes.

45 Minutes Later

"Today, yes? I will get the Padre. I have some cash in my wallet- take it and buy yourself a beautiful dress. Although... potresti indossare un canovaccio ed essere la sposa più bella che questa città abbia mai visto. Still, buy a dress. Return here and a car and driver will be waiting for you. I will arrange things at the church. Saint Joan of Arc- on South Casino Center Boulevard. I will go and get the rings."

Silvio stepped out of his towel and quickly into a tuxedo.

"Well, what do you think?"

He grinned.

"Semplicemente perfetto," Lia grinned back. And he was, too. She'd been here less than two full days, and not only had she found Silvio, she was getting to keep him. Not wanting to wrinkle his tuxedo, she placed a hand on his cheek and leaned in for an uncharacteristically chaste kiss.

"Saint Joan of Arc. South Casino Center Boulevard. Got it!" She said excitedly as she took the cash he offered her. Surely a cab driver could find her a boutique close by? 

-

An hour and a half later, Lia returned in a satin, powder blue dress, an off-the-shoulder, mid-calf little number that hugged her curves. She'd agonized over the purchase, not because of the price, but because it was no where near a traditional wedding gown. The sales clerk had assured her that no one in Vegas wore gowns, that she looked perfectly beautiful in it, and that... the clincher... it was her 'something blue'! Pairing it with her late grandmother's sapphire earrings, Lia was set.

She was going to be Mrs. Silvio Violante!

She returned by taxi to the hotel, finding a car and driver waiting for her before she even crossed the sidewalk to the entrance, and moments later, she found herself at the church. When she stepped inside, the silence was nearly deafening, even more so when she spotted Silvio, and the look upon his face.

"Is it...is it not proper enough? That woman swore to me... I'm so sorry, Silvio, I'll go back and get something more tast-" 

Her words were swallowed by a kiss that had the Father, standing nearby, politely clearing his throat to remind the pair that he was, indeed, still there.

Silvio sat down at the desk and wrote two notes on hotel stationary in extravagant, flowing penmanship. He addressed one to Rora, the only person he could call a friend in Las Vegas that he hadn't completely had sex with, and one to Pita, his lawyer. 

Rora,

Your presence is requested at my wedding. 4 PM at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. (Today.) 

315 S Casino Center Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Silvio

PS - You need to be there, as I need you for a witness. You're the only person I'd call a true friend that I haven't completely had sex with. Feel free to bring Billy. - SV

Pita,

Your presence is requested at my wedding. 4 PM at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. (Today.) 

315 S Casino Center Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Silvio

PS - You need to be there, as you are my other witness. Out of all the men I could know decently well in this city, you are the only one that does not have a wife/daughter that I have been intimate with. Also, please bring any legal documents I need, etc. - SV

Grinning, he sent them off with a courier who looked like he really needed the money. When Rora and Pita arrived, he would be standing in his tux on the front steps, grinning. Lia would be waiting to arrive in a car that Silvio had rented for the occasion.

_______

But first, the rings. Silvio had made some small amount of money gambling and performing a few jobs, but nowhere near enough to purchase the sort of rings that Lia preferred. Instead, he borrowed the money from a large, threatening acquaintance of his who charged him a reasonable amount of interest. Mostly confident that he'd be able to repay the loan before he got killed for the loan, Silvio walked across the street and into the city's most exclusive jewelry shop. He emerged with two platinum wedding bands and an engagement ring for Lia that was half ruby, half sapphire in two swirling sections, somewhat like the yin and yang symbol he'd seen, but without the dots. He slipped the rings into his pocket and headed out to the door toward the church.

_______

Silvio couldn't contain his grin after he'd stopped kissing Lia. The blue dress was the most beautiful thing he'd seen her wear, outside of nothing, and it seemed like he was about two seconds away from rubbing his hands together and chuckling with glee. 

"Un giorno perfetto! Ora tutto ciò di cui abbiamo bisogno sono i nostri testimoni."

Aurora Byrne had arrived on the arm of Billy Mastrosimone to a wedding she never dreamed would happen before her own!  She greeted Silvio on the front steps with a kiss for each cheek.  Billy's pocket square was a slightly different shade than the dress Aurora was wearing but otherwise, both were dressed fantastically for the occasion.  

Aurora had brought a small gift for the bride.  "I'm sorry it's not much, on short notice.  It's more sentimental than valuable, but as you're Silvio's Lia - I feel like we are as close as any family, so it felt appropriate."  

A small bracelet, made of braided silver strands, was inside a black velvet box.  "It belonged to my birth mother, Godmother Marie Lucania.  The silver is Egyptian, I'm told.  It was passed down through the family lines going back not just through the Conti family but to when we were still part of the Messina family.  As I said, it's not worth much to a pawnbroker... but as family heirlooms go, it's significant and I hope it shows my affection towards you and Silvio both."

She smiled and then remembered the other gift she had for them.  Opening her purse she pulled out a small satin bag and offered it to Lia.  "I don't know that there will be a lot of guests on your happy day to fill this Bridal Purse so, I and Billy made sure it was quite full already... it should be a nice nest egg for you and Silvio... or a very luxurious honeymoon.  You both deserve it and all happiness."

With that she kissed both of Lia's cheeks.  "Congratulations Mrs. Violante."

"I- well I don't know what to say," Lia stammered. This was indeed a priceless gift, one she didn't feel worthy of receiving. There was a lump in her throat now, and it was getting larger by the second. Instead of trying to speak around it, she leaned forward instead, holding onto Aurora and hugging her tightly. 

"Thank you for this. I will cherish it always," she whispered. A little embarrassed, she let go and gave the newest Summerlin crew leader a quick hug, as well. 

"I believe congratulations are in order, all around, are they not?" She smiled as she stepped back next to Silvio. These people were nothing like the greedy, egomaniacal, bloodthirtsy animals she'd grown up around in Italy. She didn't miss them, or home, at all, she realized with a start. Not even her father, who should be walking her down this aisle today.

Billy smiled and hugged Lia back before turning to Silvio.

"I don't know if you smoke, but for me, any good celebration deserves a good cigar."

With that, Billy produces a box of cigars, turning it so that Silvio can see it just right in the light. The box is tinted a deep red color, and there is a silver embossed "V" on the front of it.

"I had the box made from an old wine barrel, that's why It's got the color that it does. The cigars are made with some of the grape leaves from the same vineyard as the wine was made from, both of which are from a winery in Napoli. I didn't know where you were from Mrs. Violante so I took a shot in the dark. I hope you don't mind. And I hope you enjoy them Silvio."

He smiled and patted the man on the back before taking Aurora's arm once again.

Silvio grinned at Billy.

"I do not usually smoke- but, like most men, I make an exception for a fine cigar. This is a wonderful gift, my friend, grazie."

Looking around, Silvio didn't see Pita anywhere.

"Ah, well, it appears my lawyer has failed to appear. No doubt he is somewhere diligently working on my behalf, slaving away over paperwork. No matter- I will find him later. Mr. Mastrosimone, you have been appointed to witness. Congratulations, I know it is the greatest achievement of your life, yes? Let us go inside and find the priest."

The sun began to set on Las Vegas, and the quartet enjoyed that brief period of perfect balance between the hot day and the cool night. The sun itself bathed the sky in an array of orange and purple splendor; the sun was exerting itself in a failed effort to match the beauty of the bride, thought Silvio. As they approached the church doors, Silvio winked at his own tuxedo-clad reflection. Perhaps the sun competed with the groom as well, eh?

The priest, Father John Doyle, was a round, gregarious Irishman who welcomed them with far more words than necessary. Eventually, after suffering through several anecdotes about horse racing, Silvio gently redirected him to the topic of the wedding. 

"Ah, shite. Of course."

He glanced at Lia's dress with a raised eyebrow.

"We need to talk about that dress, young lady..." he said in serious tone, maintaining a grave expression for a few beats, "...like how can you get more brides wearing numbers like that?! BA ha ha ha..."

Father Doyle slapped Silvio on the back, hard enough to almost knock the Italian over.

"Alright, let's get this cart on the road, aye?"

He arranged the pair of them in front of the altar, with Aurora and Billy in the front pew.

The actual marriage was mostly incomprehensible to Silvio. For the one thing, he did not speak Latin, although he of course recognized many of the words. The greater factor was being distracted by Lia's beauty. At one point, just prior to begining the Eucharist, Doyle barked good naturedly over his shoulder at Silvio.

"Dammit, son, you're getting married. Stop looking like a dog sitting outside the steakhouse!'

It was quite the homily. 

Lia stood quietly as the ceremony played through. This was nothing at all like a church ceremony back home, and Doyle was nothing like any priest she'd ever known. He was affable, though, and in those moments of clarity where the attendees were gifted with a moment of understanding into what the hell he was saying, it was usually quite humorous, and they would all begin to snicker or giggle. For the rest of it, though, Lia just reflected quietly on the fact that she had met Silvio in a church, and that when he'd finally approached her and spoken, it had been inside of a confessional, where he'd been masquerading as a priest.

When Silvio was told that he could 'kiss the bride', he leaned over to find Lia grinning at him.

"Cosa c'è di divertente?" He whispered, close to her face. Lia simply shook her head, then accepted the kiss as Mrs. Silvio Violante. Handshakes and hugs followed all around, and as they all re-emerged into the blinding Nevada sun outside of the church, it was agreed upon that they would make their way over to Silvio's bar, for a celebratory round of drinks.

Silvio walked out of the church hearing the wedding bells; no one was more surprised than him that those bells rang for him and Lia. 

If someone had told him, in those first moments of his exile when he watched Venice fade away beneath the clouds, that he would see Lia Mattaranzi again, he would have dismissed them as an irrational optimist. 

If someone told him that one day he'd look into her eyes and see Mrs. Lia Violante, he would have said they were insane.

Perhaps it is good to be insane sometimes, thought Silvio, as he held onto his wife's hand and helped her down the front steps of the church. All love may be a form of insanity, but perhaps this love more than most. 

Whatever he and Lie shared, it was most beautiful to Silvio.

Aurora exhaled.

She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until they were all standing to clap and shake hands with the bride and groom.  They were both alight with happiness.  It was the very sort of thing she grew up believing was possible because of Gavin and Bella's remarkable romance and long-lived marriage.  Theirs was the sort of story she told herself she'd grow up protecting wherever she found it ... lovers with all the odds against them, fighting to be together in a world that was often just too cold and cruel to survive alone.

As they all made their way out of the church, intent upon going to Silvio's bar, she held tight to her Billy's arm.  Rora dismissed the nagging voice in the back of her mind.  It was a cynical voice.  It was a dark thing.  It, more than any man, was one of her worst enemies.  Instead, she looked up to the man whose arm she clung to and she smiled, leaning against him as they walked.  

She'd done the right thing despite her moments of weakness.  Now Silvio and Lia had been reunited - just as Alucard and Integra had been.  She hadn't ruined anything.  Everyone was where they should be.  Everything with the world was right again.  Whether by luck or divine providence, despite all the darkness of the storms they'd weathered; today was sunny and bright. 

If life in la cosa nostra had taught her anything so far, if the lives of both her birth and adopted parents afforded her any wisdom at all, it was that one had to live in the sun for as long as you could possibly get away with and not worry too far back or ahead.  The next storm was always closer than you realized and more terrible than the last.

As Billy held open the car door for her, she kissed him sweetly and whispered, "I love you." 

With that, she ducked inside and let the car take them away to the party.