Victoria sat up in bed, blearily looking around her and rubbing her eyes. Pushing her hair out of her face, she glanced at the watch on her wall, squinting in the darkness before giving up on trying to read the time. Climbing out of her bed, she made her way out of the room and to the one next to her own, pushing the door open to enter her younger brother's room.

"Demetrio," She called from the open doorway, watching the unmoving lump under the covers. "Demetrio," Victoria called out again.

"What?" Demetrio called out, shuffling under his blanket to be laying on his side and looking at her through half-lidded eyes.

"Get up,"

"Why?" He sat up in bed.

"Come on, let's wake mom,"

"Mom's asleep," Demetrio yawned and shuffled off the bed and onto the floor, trudging after his older sister.

"Which is why we are going to wake her,"

"Fine,"

Pushing open their parent's bedroom door, they allowed a stream of light to flood through the extended hallway. The dogs instantly perking up at the foot of the bed as Demetrio put a finger to his lips to keep them quiet.

Knowing their parents, the siblings made their way to the left side of the bed, knowing that their mom slept there. Both of them climbed onto the king-sized bed, kneeling behind the lump and shaking them awake.

"Mom," Victoria and Demetrio whisper, not wanting to wake their father on the other side. "Mom, wake up,"

"What's the matter?" Their father's voice slurred before them, the lump shifting to be lying on his back as their father looked back at them with one eye closed. Victoria and Demetrio freezing in their place. "What's wrong?" Salvatore yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"We were trying to wake mom," Victoria muttered, slowly climbing off the bed. "You can go back to sleep,"

"No, I'm up," Salvatore grunted and rubbed a hand over his face. "Don't wake mom, she's tired,"

"Oh," Demetrio looked back at his sister. "Okay,"

"Give me a minute, and I'll join you guys in the kitchen, okay?"

"Okay,"

Salvatore watched his children leave the room, the door closing with a soft click before he rested his head back against the pillow. Turning to his right to find his wife's back towards him, her head on his arm and her hands tucked under her. Humming softly, he slowly removed his arm out from under her head, the motion causing her to groan and shift to be lying with her face towards him.

"What happened?" She murmured.

"Nothing, sweetheart," Salvatore assured, combing her hair back from her face. "I'll take care of it and be right back, you just sleep,"

"Hmmm...okay,"

"Okay," Her husband placed a kiss on her forehead and moved out of the covers, fixing the waistband of his trousers and pulling on the discarded t-shirt at the foot of the bed.

"Okay," Salvatore entered bright-eyed into the kitchen where his children were swiveling on the bar stools, chattering between themselves. "What do you guys want for breakfast?"

"Baked eggs!" Victoria exclaimed at the same time Demetrio demanded "Cannoli pancakes!"

"No! Baked eggs!"

"Cannoli pancakes!"

"Eggs!"

"Pancakes!"

"How about both?" Salvatore called over their chatter, both of them falling silent. "How about we make both cannoli pancakes, and baked eggs, and grab some biscotti with the coffee and some orange juice for the both of you, how does that sound?"

"Yes!"

"Then we can take it up to mom in a trey,"

"Yes!" They both grinned and nodded.

"Okay, let's set the coffee machine," Salvatore clapped his hands together and beckoned his kids with him, instructing them how to do it with the filter, water, and coffee beans, along with setting the mugs to the side.

Moving onto the baked eggs, where Salvatore cut the baguette, Demetrio setting it out in a dish, while Victoria oiled their tops and both sprinkled mozzarella cheese on top.

"Let's put this in the oven for twelve minutes," Salvatore spoke and slid the dish inside. "So while this cook, let's prepare the cannoli pancakes,"

Adding the ingredients for the cream into a large below, he let Victoria mix them together, while he and Demetrio prepared the pancake batter according to the instructions on the box.

"Dad, can you look at this and tell me if it's alright?" Victoria spoke with her gaze on the bowl, flipping the whisk back and out of the way.

"Victoria!" Demetrio gasped from behind her, the girl turning around and gasping to see the cream from the whisk splattered across the front of her father's shirt and face.

Salvatore wiping it off his cheek before looking down at the cream in his hand, giving it a lick before smacking his lips.

"Hmm, tastes about right," He nodded as both his children stifled their laughter, bursting into a fit of giggles at his antics. "Now, why don't you taste it?" He grinned and held out the cream covered hand in Victoria's direction, preparing to smear it across her face as she shrieked and jumped off the stepping stool, running around the counter with her father after her.

Demetrio stood laughing at their game but shrieked when Salvatore grabbed him and smeared the cream on his cheek.

Before the Italian Mafia Boss could react, his son grabbed the ladle in the pancake mixture and blindly flung it around; getting not only Salvatore, but also the walls, the doors, windows, and Victoria.

All three of them laughing while a food fight ensued between them.

"Salvatore?" Nicole groaned and rolled on to the other side in search of her husband's warmth, sighing to find it vacant of his presence.

Bracing herself on her elbows, she looked around at the dark and empty bedroom, before checking her phone for the time, noticing that over an hour had passed since Salvatore said he'd be right back.

"Where'd you go?" She murmured to no one in particular and kicked off the covers, fixing her sweatpants and crop top, pulling on a sweater before making her way out of the room, the dogs bounding out after her.

Opening her daughter's bedroom, she noted it to be vacant, realizing that her children didn't come to wake her this weekend. Looking into her son's room, she found that just as empty as the first and made her way down the stairs, noting how quiet and vacant the interior of the estate felt without the guards on every landing and no activity going on this morning.

The sound of shrieking and laughter directed her towards the kitchen, swinging the door open, she couldn't help but gasp to see the state before her.

Demetrio hiding behind the fridge with a bowl of pancake mixture in his hand, with Victoria behind one counter with a container of heavy cream, and Salvatore crouched behind the center island. All three of them with cream and pancake mixture splattered on their clothes, in their hair, and on their faces, and laughing hysterically. Ignorant to the food remnants all around the kitchen.

"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded from the door, all three of them looking up to find Nicole standing before them.

"No!" All three shrieked at the same time, rushing towards her and pushing her out the door. Locking it in her face. "You can't come in here!" They spoke in sync and giggled behind the closed structure.

"Hey!" She banged on the door with a closed fist. "Let me in!"

"No!" Her husband laughed behind the structure. "Go back to the room! We won't let you in!"

"Salvatore!"

"Don't worry! I have everything under control!"

"The kitchen didn't look like 'everything is under control'!"

"Just a momentary distraction, nothing more,"

"Salvatore, let me in!"

"Not happening, Nici,"

"Salv-"

"-Dad! The baguette!" Demetrio's voice shrieked as Nicole's heart fell to hear her husband curse, the sound of footsteps and clattering reaching her ears.

"Salvatore? What happened? What's going on?"

"Mom! Go back to your room! Everything is fine here!" Victoria assured from the other side of the structure. "I promise!"

Nicole hesitated outside the door for a second, shuffling on her feet before relenting with a groan.

"Fine,"

"Yes!" Demetrio and Salvatore exclaimed under their breath before high fiving. "Alright, let's get our heads back in the game," Salvatore grinned at his children and brought them together to touch foreheads, all three laughing.

They prepared the remainder of the things for the baked eggs, putting the dish back in the oven, before frying the pancakes and stuffing them with the cannoli cream and setting up four into a plate.

Once the eggs were ready, Salvatore put the pancakes and the eggs in a big trey, while taking out two smaller ones. Handing the trey with the two coffee mugs to Victoria, while Demetrio took the orange juices. All three of them making their way out of the kitchen, giggling to each other while making their up to their parent's bedroom.

Nicole pacing the length of the room with one hand on her hips and the biting the nails of the other, her eyes constantly darting to the door with the curtains drawn open behind her.

The sound of the door being thrown open had her freeze and turn to watch her children and husband with treys in their hands.

"Good morning!" The three called in a sing-song voice as Nicole instantly stepped forward to take the coffee and orange juice trey from her children, but stopped when they tsk-ed and moved them out of her grasp. "We can do it, mom,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, mom," Victoria rolled her eyes and placed the tray on the coffee table in the center of the room, Demetrio doing the same.

"Good morning," Salvatore smiled as he put the tray down and turned around to greet his wife with a kiss on her lips.

"Look at what you three have done to yourselves," Nicole groaned at their food covered conditions. "It's even in your hair," She tsk-ed and picked out a piece of chocolate chip from his hair.

"Oh it's no big deal," Salvatore waved away and took her hand, leading her to the other side of the coffee table and situating her on the floor between his legs. The children across from them.

The Mafia Boss dished up breakfast for the four of them, putting one plate in front of everyone before digging in.

"Here, try this," Salvatore held out a spoonful of baked eggs to Nicole. "We made this on Victoria's demand,"

Looking at the food on the spoon, Nicole opened her mouth and ha-ed at the heat. Fanning her open mouth, before finally swallowing it.

"Hot," She hissed. "But delicious,"

"Give her the pancakes too!" Demetrio demanded.

"Of course, of course," Salvatore made a bite of the pancakes and fed it to his wife who moaned.

"Oh, wow!" She exclaimed, wide-eyed.

The three chuckled to each other before digging into their breakfast. The siblings chattering to each other. Nicole leaning back with her head on her husband's chest, both of them eating their breakfast and enjoying their coffee, watching their children interact with one another.

"What do you suppose?" Salvatore muttered in his wife's ear in Greek.

"What?"

"Is it too late for a third?"

The words had Nicole burst into a fit of laughter, covering her mouth as she shook against her husband's chest. Salvatore watching her giggle with adoration shining in his eyes and a smile playing at his lips.

"Hey," Victoria nudged her brother who looked up at her with wide eyes, turning to watch his parents laughing when she gestured to them. "Get yourself someone that looks at you like dad looks at mom,"

"Ewww," Demetrio scrunched up his nose. "You're so weird,"

"I'm unique,"

"Alright, Ms. Unique," Salvatore chuckled and turned to his daughter. "Both of you finish eating then into the shower you guys go,"

"Yes, sir," They both saluted their father and finished their breakfast, making their way to their rooms to shower.

"Food was delicious," Nicole licked her lips and let out a tiny squeak when Salvatore wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. "To think that Victoria and Demetrio helped you make it," She chuckled against his cheek.

"They grew up so fast,"

"Tell me about it,"

"Victoria is turning 12, and Demetrio is turning 9,"

"I can still remember the day they were born,"

"I could never forget it," Salvatore shook his head. "Victoria was breech and Demetrio was premature. Like honestly, woman, you reduced my lifetime by seventy percent at least,"

"You can take half of my lifeline," Nicole turned to place a kiss on his cheek. "As compensation," She chuckled and ran her knuckles across his jaw.

"Nah," Salvatore hugged her from behind placing a kiss on her neck. "I don't want to outlive you. A life without you is no life worth living,"

"You old sap," Nicole pushed him away with a laugh. "Go shower, you have cannoli in your hair,"

"Of course, of course," Her husband chuckled, placing a kiss on the back of her head and pushed himself off the floor, making his way towards the washroom as Nicole sat with her knees pulled to her chest and watched his back disappear into the walk-in-closet, her chest warm with the love she had for this man and their kids.

"Are you two ready?" Salvatore asked from his place on the couch, tying his shoes and looking up at his children.

"Yes!" They nodded.

"You got the gift for Orlando?" Nicole asked as she packed her bag, referring to Victoria's friend whose birthday they were going to attend.

"Yes," Victoria held up the wrapped gift in her hands.

"Shouldn't we get something for Dario too?" Demetrio asked, referring to Orlando's younger brother who was his friend.

"We could," Salvatore got to his feet. "But it's Orlando's birthday, isn't it? Why? Do you want to get him something?"

"I just think it would be nice, you know," The younger shrugged when his father came to stand before him in a light grey suit under a white button-up. "I mean everyone will be focusing on Orlando, Dario might feel a little left out,"

"Hmm," Salvatore hummed at the words. "We can get him something on the way, what do you think?" He asked his boy while running a hand through his hair.

"Yes, please," Demetrio grinned.

The smile had Salvatore chuckle before turning around to look at his wife, his smile faltering to see her dressed in a black halter top dress with a falling tulle that reached just above her knees. Her hair pulled into a messy bun to show off her diamond and emerald earrings glinting in her ear.

"Why don't you two go sit in the car," Salvatore spoke absentmindedly, gently nudging Demetrio towards the door. "We'll be right down, mom and I have something to take care of,"

"Okay," The children ran out the room, closing the door with a click as Nicole looked at her husband with furrowed eyebrows.

"Are we forgetting something?"

"Yeah," Salvatore nodded with one hand slipped into his slack's pocket. "Good thing I remembered before we left,"

"But what are we forgetting?"

"Just..." Her husband shrugged, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her flushed against him. "How incredibly fucking sexy you look," He groaned against the skin of her neck, his wife giggling, before shrieking when they fell on the couch, laughter bursting through her lips.

"Dad!" Victoria groaned in the car and pressing on the horn when her parents finally arrived outside, Salvatore's hand tangled with Nicole's who had let her hair down and to the side. "Come on! We're getting late!"

Chuckling at their children, Salvatore opened the passenger's side door for his wife, helping her get settled in before making his way around to the driver's side.

"Finally!" Demetrio groaned from the back.

"Should we lower the roof?" Salvatore looked over his shoulder at the children whose grin was all the answer he needed. "Yes, it is," He chuckled, starting the car and lowering the roof on his convertible Mercedes.

On the drive to their friend's house, they stopped at a shop to get Dario a little something before resuming on their way.

Every parent's attention was redirected to them when their car pulled up into the driveway, chatter instantly breaking out as Salvatore stepped out with his sunglasses over his eyes, and helped his children out the back. Both of them running ahead and towards their friends. Locking the car and wrapping an arm around Nicole's waist, they made their way after their children and towards the parents of the birthday boy.

"Did you notice," Nicole murmured into her husband's ear in Greek when he noticed all the mothers and fathers huddled together and whispering to each other. "A lot more dads have begun showing up since you started attending these functions with me,"

"And did you notice," Salvatore responded. "The moms have started to put an effort into dressing up because you upstage them every time?"

"Shut up," Nicole blushed and hit him with the back of her clutch, her husband chuckling in response as they both greeted the parents with a smile. Thanking them for the invitation before telling their kids to play nicely.

They were directed to the rest of the parents, both of them interacting with small talk and polite smiles. The two were introduced to one of the children's father.

"Sweetie, this is Nicole, Demetrio and Victoria's mother," A fellow mom, Anna, introduced her husband to Nicole.

"Oh, you're Elena's father," Nicole smiled. "Pleasure meeting you,"

"Pleasure's all mine," The dad, Carlo grinned and shook her hand.

"And this is Salvatore," Anna gestured to the Mafia Boss with a shy smile.

"Carlo," Salvatore shook his hand firmly. "So nice to see another dad taking an active part in their child's life,"

"Well, yes-"

"-And Anna," Salvatore stopped him before he could continue, redirecting his attention to the woman who flushed. "Looking as radiant as ever. Did you do something to your hair?" He asked placing a kiss on either of her cheeks.

"Why yes," She laughed breathlessly, touching her hair to settle it. "I got it cut recently,"

"Really?" Carlos's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at his wife's hair.

"The cut suits you. Gorgeous,"

"Thank you," Anna giggled with pink cheeks.

"Honey, can I talk to you a minute?" Carlos steered his wife away from them as Nicole turned to her husband and pinched his arm.

"Ow," Salvatore jumped. "What was that for?"

"Behave," She hissed at him. "I know what you're doing,"

"What? Showing the husbands that they don't pay enough attention to their wives?"

"Salvatore, you're upstaging them,"

"Hey, if it is a competition they require to understand that their wife is a person who likes to feel noticed and appreciated then so be it," He scoffed and turned to wrap his arms around Nicole's waist as she draped her arms around his neck, smiling up at him. "By the way, did I tell you that you look absolutely ravishing today?"

"You did," She chuckled and bumped her nose against his.

"I don't think I've said it enough," He brushed her lips with his own.

"Oh no, whatever will you do about it, Mr. Regnante?"

"I guess I'll just have to show you how gorgeous I think you look when we get home," Salvatore pecked her lips once, twice. "Although, it would look so much better on our bedroom floor,"

The words had Nicole laugh against his mouth, pulling back to bury her face into his chest as he chuckled and placed a kiss on her temple.

"Cheesy,"

"Everything tastes better with cheese," He wrinkled his nose and licked his lips.

"Shut up,"

"Make me,"

"Maybe I will," Nicole spoke and pressed her lips to his in a kiss, ignorant to all the wives and husbands watching them with open mouths. Unable to believe that they had been married for over a decade.

"When is the socially acceptable time to leave?"

"After dinner, sweetheart,"

"We're having dinner here too?"

"Yeah,"

"Ugh," Salvatore groaned, rolling his eyes behind his glasses. "Fine,"

They mingled with guests, a lot of people asking them how they managed to keep the spark between them alive. A few men asking Salvatore what he did for a living. All the mothers cooing when Salvatore insisted that Nicole remain seated while he went to check in on the kids, ensuring that everything was alright with them. All the father's paling or blushing, some imitating Salvatore and checking on their children.

"Here you go," Salvatore got Nicole an assortment of everything, placing a kiss on her cheek as she thanked him. Taking a bite before feeding it to Salvatore. "Oh, these cheese bits are delicious," He winked at his wife who scoffed at his insinuation.

"Oh, my God," Nicole groaned when they finally returned home. "I'm exhausted," She sighed and climbed up the stairs with her shoes in one hand, and Demetrio's hand in the other.

Settling her in his room, Nicole met Salvatore in the hallway who had put Victoria to bed. Holding her hand out to him as he took it and walked into their room.

"I hope you're not too exhausted," Salvatore murmured to his wife who tossed her bag on the couch, watching her husband peel off his blazer, and settled down on the edge of the bed.

"Not too exhausted," Nicole shrugged as her husband chuckled, opening her arms out to him, she hummed when he kissed her and lay her back on the bed. Both of them giggling.