I watch as Annalisa slows down and attempts to compose herself before she reaches the guys. Enzo notices her first and then sees the look on her face then looks back at Joey. 

"Anna! You look stunning as always; I was wondering where you were," Enzo greets her and kisses both sides of her face. Joey's head snaps over to her and even though her face is pleasant you can see the fire behind her eyes as she stares at the woman still next to Joey her hand on his arm. 

Joey moves away and holds his hand out to her, she smiles as she takes his hand and he pulls her over next to him. "Babe, this is Stacy, I was just telling her about you and the baby." He smiles warmly at Annalisa and places his hand on her stomach. 

Stacy smiles at Annalisa. "Congratulations, do you know what you're having?" 

Annalisa shakes her head. "We're doing a gender reveal in a few days," Annalisa tells her. "My best friend is the only one who knows." Annalisa glances at me and JP looks over his shoulder at me and smiles. 

"Hey love," He greets me and pulls me up next to his side. His hand rests on my backside and not so subtly squeezes as he pecks my lips. I see from the corner of my eye the disappointed looks on the other moms who are standing there in the group. 

"Ladies, this is my girl, Stella, that I was telling you about. Stella these are some of Lola's friends moms': Abby, Megan, Jazmin, Stacy and Monica." They all smile at me pleasantly even though I can see some of them aren't sincere. 

"Hello," I smile back at them, I turn back to JP. "Should we sing Happy Birthday soon, that way those who need to can go or stay longer if they want." 

"Sure," JP smiles at me.

"I think it's wonderful what you and Johnny are doing; raising Lola and her siblings. What a selfless thing to do," Abby comments. 

I smile in response. "Thank you, we were close with their parents and have known each of the kids since they were baby's."  

"You're both so young though...Do you not plan on having any kids of your own, with so many already? Or are you not able to have any kids?" The one named Jazmin asks as she takes a drink of her cocktail, but I can see the small smirk behind her cup.

"At least three, maybe more. Even numbers, right baby?" JP squeezes my ass and I look up at him and he places a kiss on the corner of my mouth. I smile knowing he remembers the conversation we had about having a family when we were younger. 

"Right. JP's always wanted a big family," I respond, even though I'm only looking at the beautiful dark brown eyes staring back at me.  

I look away when the one named Monica, chuckles. "That would be seven, not an even number, unless I'm wrong?" The sarcasm in her tone is obvious. 

"Stella is the guardian to three other kids. They're older, but they're hers," Enzo tone is cold as he glares at Monica. 

And as if on cue, we hear Lucy, calling out for me. Carmen is standing next to her grinning at us, too. "Mom! You guys got to come see the surprise Kai, Miles, Marco and little Toby are doing for Lola." 

The DJ cuts the music. "Alright everyone, it's time for a special birthday presentation for the birthday princess, Lola. Let's have her come up front." 

We head over to the terrace and I hear Lucy explaining to the women. "My brothers and Lola's brothers are doing a traditional celebration of sorts; it can look a little intimidating or scary depending on the occasion but this is all out of love and joy."

"Did you know they were doing something together?" JP asks me as he moves me in front of him and holds me around the waist. 

"No, I had no idea." 

The boys walk out shirtless in shorts and I chuckle when I see little Tobin holding Kai's hand also shirtless. Marco enlisted some of his friends in on the presentation as a few of them join them. Miles walks over to the DJ and the DJ hands him the microphone. 

"Welcome friends and family. My name is Miles, I am an honorary older brother of Lola's, the best looking one, actually," Light laughters spreads throughout the guests.

Marco boos while Kai shakes his head at Miles.

"Anyway, we want to wish Lola a very happy birthday and want to give her a celebration from our culture, a Hawaiian ha'a, much like the traditional Haka. It is mostly known as posture dance and it was and is still used sometimes to intimidate a challenger but today we do it to honor Lola on her special day. She is a queen in her own right, she is smart, kind and hilarious. We love you, Lola." 

"I love you, too!" Lola yells back grinning happily at them.

Miles hands the microphone back to the DJ and Miles takes his spot in the line and Kai begins by calling out a chant. The boys place their hands on their hips in unison and squat. Then Kai shouts another word and they all stick out their tongues or flick them out and their eyes are wide. 

"Dude, I'm a little offended I didn't get asked to join in," Enzo says next to me. Joey, Topo and Santino all murmur and nod in agreement. 

The boys begin rhythmic movements slapping their thighs and chests in unison and lifting their arms up above their heads, repeating their movements as Kai shouts out a chant and they repeat after him. 

They switch to alternating slapping their elbows and doing other movements that resemble punches.

Lucy encourages them with the joyful traditional screams you hear during a Haka. Tears come to my eyes watching them up there and I chuckle at the faces Toby is making, trying to keep up with the older boys. 

I smile when I see Cristian recording with his phone next to my mom. "Tell me Cristian doesn't look like a proud grandpa over there." 

The guys laugh around me and all agree. 

"And he says I'm going soft," Enzo snorts.

Cheers and applauses erupt when they end their performance and we watch as Lola squeals happily; running up to them and hugs and kisses each of them. 

"That was amazing!" A few of the women come back over to us and compliment the children. JP and I thank them and then he steers us away from them and back over to where the kids are. 

"Are you doing okay?" JP asks me. "You handled the thirsty single moms, really well, Stella." 

I scrunch my eyebrows at him.

"What?" He smiles. "You thought I didn't know what they were trying to do?"

"No, it's not that. It's nothing, really, it's just you said 'Stella' so formal-like." I tell him as I bring my arms around his neck. 

JP chuckles. "That is your name, you know." 

I roll my eyes at him. "I know, but I'm getting used to all the other names you call me that it's starting to sound foreign to me." 

JP full blown laughs now and I drop my hands from his neck, but he holds me tight before I start to walk away, annoyed.

"You're so adorable when you pout, princess." He nuzzles my neck and I squirm and chuckle as his beard tickles me, but then I feel him start to kiss and lick my neck and now I feel the pulsing in between my legs begin. 

"JP!" It comes out more like a moan than a chastisement and he chuckles against my neck. 

"Shh! Have some self control, amore," He taunts me. 

"You are shameless, John Paul Toretto," I laugh as I lean back to look at him. He grins at me before he pecks my lips. 

"Moms, JP! What did you think of the performance?" Miles comes over bounding to us energetic as ever. "Were you surprised? Marco did pretty good, but Toby was on fire. He's got the face and tongue flicking down like a pro, right?" 

"It was an awesome performance, Miles," JP chuckles. 

I agree, with JP. "You guys were amazing, I had no idea you guys were doing this." 

"Well, it was Kai's idea. He does have great ideas every now and then," Miles says, jokingly. "Anyway, Nonna Bella asked me to tell you guys they're bringing out the cake soon so don't go off to make-out somewhere."

"Miles!" 

He moves away laughing. 

"He reminds me so much of Joey," JP says amused as he grabs my hand and leads me towards the table where Lola is sitting. 

Santino and Marco carry the cake out and everyone begins singing, "Happy Birthday". Lola beams from ear to ear when she sees the pink cake and stands on her chair to blow out the candles. 

The catering staff proceeds to cut slices and hand them out to the guests as Lola also opens presents from her friends and family. She's polite and genuine with her enthusiasm with each gift.

"This one is from your mom, Lolabug," JP hands her a present. "She was hoping she'd make it long enough to give it to you herself." 

Lola opens the gift and its a small photo album full of only pictures of Lola, Tobias and Melanie. JP told me Melanie took the time to put one together for each of the kids for their birthdays, Carmen received hers a month before we came to New York, Marco will get his in a couple of months for his birthday and Melanie asked JP to take as many pictures of her before she passed to give to Toby but to also includes several others that she found of her and Tobias.

I know from the one JP had of his mom, he was probably the one who suggested the idea to her.

"Thank you, JP," Lola turns to JP and hugs him tightly. She wipes her eyes with her hands. "Thank you everyone!" She says in her small voice. "I love you all." 

Later after the party is over, my mom and I organize Lola's gifts in her room and then help clean up inside the kitchen. The staff did a majority of the clean up outside and I see the kids sitting out on the terrace playing the guitar and singing quietly with their friends. Marco and Lucy sit on the porch swing while everyone else sits around them. 

After I help give Toby a bath and put him to bed, I come back downstairs and see Cristian walking back in the front door. 

"Hey, I thought you had left," I hook my arm in his as we walk back into the kitchen. 

"I did, piccola, but I wanted to talk to you." 

"Is something wrong?" I ask, noticing the concern on his face, but then he smiles at me. 

"No, at least I hope not," Cristian says and then he mutters to himself before he walks ahead of me and then turns around. 

"Would it---"

"Would you mind---"

"I'd like to---"

I chuckle as I watch him struggle to form an actual sentence. "You want to ask my mom out?" 

"Yes," Cristian's shoulders sag in defeat and I laugh holding my hand over my mouth. "How did you know that was what I was going to talk to you about?"

I fold my arms as I look back at him. "Cristian Romano, the heartless, cold, ruthless leader is asking me permission to take my mom out on a date?" I tease before I pull him into a tight hug. 

"You don't need to ask me anything, but I appreciate the gesture," I kiss his cheek before I pull away from him. 

"Stella, in all seriousness, you wouldn't mind?" 

"Of course not, you deserve to be happy and so does mamma," I smile at him. "I see how she looks at you and how you look at her." 

He blows out air and then runs a hand through his hair. "Well, this went better than I thought. I took a bunch of antacid tablets to ease my anxiousness, working the courage to ask you." 

I chuckle as I watch him. "What would you have done if I said no?" 

He sighs and then shrugs. "I would have respected your opinion and would have walked away. It's not the first time, I would walk away from choosing love."

"Love?" My grin widens and so do his eyes. 

"You know what I mean, piccola, but your opinion and the relationship we have matters more than to risk it in the long run." He sighs again and my heart warms at his words. "I know I cannot compete to what Timo was for her, or the place he still holds in her heart, but I promise I will care for her and protect her." 

"You don't have to convince me, Cristian," I squeeze his hand reassuringly. "And I've been really lucky and blessed to have a lot of father figures in my life, you being one of them." 

His eyes glisten as he looks over at me and he kisses my head. 

"Do you know where I may find her?" 

"She's in her room; go get her tiger!" I wink at him. 

"Stella..." 

I laugh as I turn away to go out to the terrace to join the rest of the kids and the guys.