As the sun fades from the sky, a young man stands in front of a grave, drinking from a silver flask. Still unsure of the words he wants to say, he stands there quietly, staring at the headstone. Taking one last swig from the flask and placing it back into his coat pocket, he looks around the cemetery, seeing many headstones with names of people he was familiar with. Names of his father's friends, people who had looked after him and his pops in times of need. All their hopes and dreams wiped out in a brief but bloody war recently. Kneeling down, he places a photo next to the headstone. Clearing his throat and wiping a tear from his face, he speaks to the headstone.

"Pop, its hard to stand here next to your grave and not be emotional. You where my best friend and the only family member I had in this city. When I heard the news of your untimely death, I caught the first train home from New York. It was a long ride, I was unable to make it before you where laid to rest. I want to apologize for that. You didn't want me to leave Chicago, but I had the urge to see what was out there. Looking back now, I wish I had stayed. I don't know what would have happened, but I wish I could have been here for your funeral. Its tough to see your name on a headstone, to know we'll never sit on the porch anymore, drinking beers and talking about life. But what could you expect when you're tied up in this thing of yours? I know you always wanted me to get involved, it was your dream I think. I had considered it, but never told you that. I didn't want to get your hopes up in case I made other decisions I  about my life. I've contacted a friend of mine, he's offered to give me some work in Las Vegas, so I'm heading there tonight. I just wanted to visit you, to tell you what I was going to do. You deserved better than this, but you knew the risk that came along with the life style. Tonight I leave Chicago, my loyalties and duties lay with Las Vegas now, but I'll come back and visit with you the next time business brings me here Pop."


Turning away from the headstone, he walks through the graveyard. At each headstone he recognizes, he stops and shares a few quiet words, paying his final respects to people whom he considered to be family. After sharing words with many familiar names, he walks out of the graveyard. It's a little over two miles to the train depot, having someone pick him up would have been wiser, but the walk in the brisk autumn air would give him time to think about his future.

Spotting _Ragnarok_ on her way to the graveyard, she walks up to him and hugs him, without saying a word, for any word would have sounded shallow at this exact moment.

As she gets ready to go and pay her respects to her mother, she looks him in the eyes and says in a very soft voice:

"Your father was a great man, but I'm sure you're on your way to accomplish many respectable things yourself."

She then walks past him, leading her steps to her mother's grave.

Morgan waited in her car a bit down the road for _Ragnorak_ to come out of the cemetery.  He had told her what he was going to do today and she worried about him.  Seeing him come out, she drove up and opened the door for him.

Hey, thought you might need a ride and maybe some company. Talk or not, we can go get drunk or I'll take you home, whatever it is you need right now my friend.

Smiling from the kind words that Giulietta had just spoken to him, it lightened his mood as he walked out of the cemetery. Stopping at the gate, he is surprised to see Morgan's car waiting of him. Getting into the car, he looks at her with a smile

This is most unexpected, but Im very thankful for it. Lets find a bar where we can have a few drinks and talk of better times to come. This evening has been most difficult for me.

Of course it has.  A drink, some relaxation sounds good, if you want to talk then fine, if not then that's okay too.

Morgan smiles as _Ragnarok_ gets in the car.  Pulling back into the road, she heads for a little tavern she knows of that is usually not very crowded and also serves food.  "Which he looks like he needs also" she thought looking over at him".

A few blocks away, she pulls to the curb and points the tavern out to _Ragnarok_.  They get out and walk into a dimly lit tavern with the great room warmed by a double-sided fireplace and were immediately escorted to a table.

Tommy saw _Ragnarok_ by his fathers grave. He approaches him.

I know how you feel,I recently lost a father,it's a shame your father was lost in a war,at least he died fighting for his family,My father suicided.

Takes a sip of his flask and walks off into the morning fog.

_Ragnarok_ motions for the waiter and places an order for a bottle of bourbon for himself and whatever Morgan would be having. He enjoyed the quiet, but pleasant atmosphere of the tavern.

I really cant thank you enough for the ride, I had the full intentions of walking the two miles to the train tracks, just to clear my mind. Thats two miles I could have handled, but with the threat of rain this evening, it wasnt the smartest decision Ive ever made. This place looks fantastic, do you stop by here often?

Morgan orders scotch and asks for the food menu.

You need to eat _Ragnarok_  And yes, I do stop here frequently, it's in a trusted area of town - the owner and bartender were friends of my father and they are well known and um, connected shall we say?  So I can relax here more then other places.

Smiling up at the waitress she orders the chicken parmigiana with a side salad.

he orders the largest, rarest steak on the menu, with two baked potatoes for a side. The waiter looks at him, asking if he was sure he wanted the meat that rare. Trying to hold his temper, he says thru gritted teeth

Yes, I want my steak talking to me, please

pouring a double shot into his glass, he throws the liquor back, enjoying the wonderful taste of it.

Connected you say, Its always good to sit back in a place thats protected by someone else than the dirty cops. My old man used to tell me about this place on the north side where he would go with the boys and not have to worry about being disturbed. We need more places like that for us buisness men and women.

I agree with you, all the cities should have several.  We may be mafioso but we are human and have a need to be able to relax sometimes.

Morgan takes a bit of her chicken and smiles appreciatively.

As a matter of fact, I'm considering buying some real estate in Philadelphia for just such a place.  You'll have to come to it's grand opening.

Morgan watched her friend tossing back the whiskey and was about to say something when his food arrived distracting him.  Watching as he started eating, she thought his face and body language generally looked a bit less tense. Good, he won't be pulling some dumb stunt tonight to get out the stress she thought