Starshine downed what had to be her fifth cup of coffee for the day and crossed the carpet back to her office. Sorting through the stacks of papers that had magically appeared on her desk was her least favorite job. Wading through the mountain of receipts, letters, IOU's, and tax forms, she touched a stiff piece of photo board. Pulling it out she could see that it was the family photo she had done with Aiden, The triplets and Alice. They were all sitting together, smiling, looking like any happy family could. She smiled thinking back on her somewhat crazy, always hectic, loud, lovable life.

It had started fifteen years ago. She was barely twenty, stepping off the boat. She had been pushed here, pulled there, and had finally ended up on the dank streets of New York. Deimne had taken her in and given her a home and a life. Then, he came along. Aiden, the love of her life, swept her off her feet and married her. Doing crimes together, setting up their HQ, running the bar in New Orleans, the days simply flew. So many things happened that first year. Just before their first year anniversary, a small bundle had arrived on their doorstep. A beautiful baby girl lay in a Moses basket. Next to her lay a violin case and a note from her friend Naomi. Aiden took Alice in and warmed her up sitting next to the fire. As she grew, people stopped to marvel at her. Raven hair, pale skin, and perfect pink lips. She bore her mother's eyes and talent for the Stradivarius as much as Naomi had. But like all children she had a mischievous side. Her eyes always sparkled when she had gotten into trouble and those lips pulled themselves into a puckered half smile. The Shooting Stars soon grew accustomed to her merry voice ringing in the hallways. She was Aiden's little girl and she could often be seen riding on his shoulders or trooping after him in her overalls at the hardware store. As she grew, they taught her about Naomi. She learned to speak German and was often called upon by the Godmother of Detroit as well as Kates and Jack.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud thump and a wail. Exiting her office she saw a horrified Alice staring at Will who was screaming at the top of his lungs, a large gash on his head.

"I, I don't know how he got up there!" Alice screamed as the toddler wailed. "I saw him reaching for the book end and told him to get down! He jumped and fell, cutting his head open!" She burst into tears herself as Lana came in the door. She ran off to the kitchen and returned moments later with a bar mop and ice. Star wrapped the babies head up and carried him out to the car as Alice sobbed in Lana's arms.

Hours later a frazzled Star returned to the HQ with Will in her arms. Most of her crew was there along with Kates and Jack. Will's head was bandaged and it had taken 10 stitches to fix up the gash but he was otherwise unscathed. After reading the same story to the triplets five times, a long talk with Alice, and another cup of coffee, Star returned to her office.

She looked back at the picture thinking about her children. She loved each and every one of them but she, like many had done before, wondered if she was doing the right thing by them. She had willingly brought four beautiful children into this world, into this life, knowing that they would eventually find out about the double life she and Aiden were leading. Hadn't Alice already begun questioning why so many people came and went in the HQ, why daddy wore a gun, and why she always had to be picked up from Saint Anne's by Alphonse. At 13, Star knew that she wouldn't be able to hide the truth from Alice much longer.

Star woke up the next morning, her head nestled on the stack of bills, still clutching the picture. Duke was laughing outside the door as Aiden chased him down the hall to the kitchen and Daisy was tugging on her sleeve. "Wake UP momma, I'm hungry!" She said before flouncing out the door, her long ginger curls bouncing with each step. Star smiled and shook her head before standing up and stretching. The smell of coffee wafted from the kitchen and, like a zombie towards fresh meat, she followed the smell.

She shook her head as she walked. Kids in the HQ, who would have thought it possible. Most mafioso's kept their families separate from their work. As men that might be easy to keep the woman at home and go about their work but what happened when it was a woman who was the boss? Kates did it, Marietta did it. Did they feel this way about their sons and daughters? She took a sip of coffee and set it down on the counter. As she did so, the time seemed to slow down as a number of things happened at the same time. Alphonse screeched up to the curb and got out of the car screaming in Italian, the phone rang and as she picked it up she could hear Kates frantically screaming into the receiver. Something about Naomi and then she heard one word..."DEAD!" She dropped the phone on the counter and grabbed her purse. When Aiden called after her she said nothing as she ran to her room. She changed her clothing and stuffed a few items in a bag. He followed her into the bedroom still holding Will. "What happened?" He said fearfully. "N-Naomi has been shot..." Her voice trailed off as she grabbed her gun, a wad of cash, and her shoes. "I'm going to Detroit, you can follow later for the funeral, I need to be there for Jack." As she said that, she kissed Aiden on the cheek, Will on his forehead and ran back downstairs to the car. It roared to life and they sped up towards the train station.

She arrived at the station in less than twenty minutes and boarded the first class passenger coach. She walked to the small quarters that would house her and threw her suitcase on the mattress. Outside she heard a scuffle and saw Alphonse struggling with a small figure. He turned and Star saw that it was Alice. "I found her sneaking out of the back seat." He said gruffly, pushing the child forward. Starshine took her daughter gently to the sleeper car. Alice started talking and explained that she didn;t want to be left out so thats why she had snuck inside the car. She didn't say a word because Alice would discover soon enough the perils of running with the mafia and she wanted a few more hours for Alice to be a child.

They arrived in Detroit late in the evening. Kates met them at the station and was surprised to see Alice there. She shook it off after a moment as they got in the car and drove. She handed Star a telegram that had arrived from Aiden saying that he had arranged for care of the children so he could take the train. He had also found the note dashed off by Alice and asked for a phone call when they reached their destination.

Hours later they lay in their room. "Mom?" Alice asked, her mind racing. "Do you work for the government? Is that why everything is so hush hush and dad wears a gun and I have to have a bodyguard and..." She trailed off, twisting a piece of the blanket in her thin fingers. Star sat up in bed and looked at her beautiful daughter. She may not have given birth to her but she would give her life to keep her from harm. She knew though that the time for cover ups were over and that Alice knew too much to lie to anymore. "No Alice, I work for something much different, I work for the mafia. Grandpa Deimne? Well he's the godfather of New York and Uncle Will, well he's my boss. In this line of work there are many dangers that we face every day but your dad and I do everything we can to keep you and your siblings safe. Naomi did the same thing for her city and for Jack." Alice lay staring at the ceiling, thinking about what her mom had told her. she couldn't remember when she fell asleep. She awoke the next morning to her mother rustling around. She was dressing for the funeral. The light outside was a eerie pearl gray from the fog that drifted through the streets. They rode with Kates and Jack to the funeral where they met up with Aiden. Star told him what she told Alice and, though he looked shocked and furious, he told her she had done the right thing.

They paid their last respects to Naomi and then left for dinner. Around the table there was laughter as well as tears. Over the food and wine they reminisced, toasting to the friends and family they had lost. After parting ways, Star, Aiden and Alice left for the station. Their heads and hearts heavy with the days events as well as the thought that they had opened up their daughter to a new set of worries and eventually, burdens. They arrived in New York at last and drove home, praying for a few more years where their kids could be happy being just that...kids.