Richie stands at the corner of the room as he stares at the drink on his hand swirling it deep in his own thoughts, he looks up as he hears a familiar voice before standing straight as the couple makes their way towards him.

"Is that brandy?" the woman asks as she takes the drink from his hand before gulping it in one go.

"Natalie" Rolfe chides his wife who ignores him before she smiles at Richie and goes to hug him.

"Just promise my husband does not kill me tonight" she whispers in his ear before she moves away and Rolfe frowns as he looks from Richie to his wife in question.

"Oh, cut it off with your stare I was just greeting him"

"You never greet anyone that way" Rolfe narrows his eyes.

"Of course, I do" Natalie smiles before she pushes her coat away from her shoulder and hands a passerby.

"Is there something I need to know?" Rolfe asks in confusion as he was not very sure of bringing his wife in the party who insisted that he bring her in today.

"The only thing you need to know honey is that you have two daughters sleeping soundly at home, who needs a mother" she pats his arm before she eyes around the room and walk away.

"I made a mistake bringing her here, did I not?" Rolfe asks Richie who shrugs his shoulder in answer.

"How are the girls?" Richie asks instead.

"Terrible" Rolfe sighs before he stands beside Richie and looks around.

"You alone tonight?" Rolfe asks and Richie sighs.

"I would not be sulking over here alone" he comments making Rolfe raise a brow.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Salvatore threatened Alana and now she wants to leave with boys" he fills in, Rolfe squeezes Richie's shoulder showing his support.

*******

"Sal" Natalie calls out as she stands behind the man who turns around at once with a surprised face.

"Natalie, my, my...where...what?" he asks surprised before she puts her hand out for him to take.

"Well how can I refuse an invitation to one of the most happening party in the city?"

"But I don't remember inviting you" he frowns as she calls for the server for a drink.

"Ah, don't bother I personally take it as an invite to myself when every time my husband gets one. It's like we are a package deal, you call one you get another for free...

Wait till my girls are ready for all of these" she grins.

"Oh yes, congratulations though even if it's late and look at you" he gushes eyeing her from head to toe.

"Hard work pays off well, I was bored wearing my husband's boxers and shirts because my clothes would not fit in but now that I am back to shape, imagine my relief" she waves her hands around.

"I am sure Rolfe never minded"

"It's not about what Rolfe thinks it was more about the fact that he wore the shirt I had plan on being lazy in...

We got in a fight and of course what choice do I have, I tore it off his body had a great make up sex and decided I will have to be back in my old shape...

There is just so much shirts I can tear off" she sighs tiredly.

"Of course, of course" Salvatore laughs.

"Salvatore" Rolfe greets as he wraps his arm around his wife's waist pulling her closer to his side.

"Storm, glad you brought Natalie" he smiles.

"Oh, don't bother, I was already in the car even before he was ready, like who would miss this" she laughs, and Rolfe clears his throat.

"Would you stop that?" he whispers in her ear and she stares at him coyly.

"What?"

"Talking about our private moments" he warns but she groans.

"Hubby, I will shout it to the world as I am a very proud woman who is the only one that made you hard and now look at you now...

You did good" she pats on his cheek while Rolfe glares at her while Richie chuckles quietly and Salvatore laughs aloud.

"Did I say I missed you?" he asks and Natalie smiles in reply.

*******

"Well Russo, you should have brought Alana with you. I mean the last time I saw her she looked glorious, I must say pregnancy does suits her...

May be that is why you keep making me" Salvatore remarks.

"Or maybe I cannot keep my hands to my own self as you keep pulling him away from home a lot" Alana's voice makes everyone turn to see her in surprise.

"Surprise" Flora shouts throwing her hands up.

"When I heard she was not joining in I had to do something" Flora adds as she nods towards the men before she goes to stand with her father.

"Happy birthday daddy" Flora smiles kissing on her father's cheek.

"Thank you darling but I told you not to shout that out loud" he smiles patting on her cheek and she just shrugs her shoulders.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Salvatore" Alana greets the man as she goes to stand beside her husband before intertwining their fingers, letting him know she was fine.

"Thank you but I did not throw this party for my birthday" he states.

"Oh, come on daddy, enjoy it who knows you may never get to celebrate another birthday again" she jokes and Salvatore stares at daughter sternly.

"And anyways, don't pull Richie away from his family especially when Alana is in such condition, take Luc away though...

I have no problem and we have more than enough kids" she states innocently.

"Talking about your husband, where is he?"

"Ugh, enough talking let's go cut the cake" she squeals excitedly before walking away.

"Flo" Salvatore calls his daughter back, voice full of warning but she just waves her hands.

********

"Why did you not say anything?" Richie asks Alana as soon as they walk away from the crowd.

"I had no plan on coming here"

"Then?"

"Flora showed up, she just...and I...I wanted to see you, I am sorry about last night" she apologizes.

"What about boys?" he asks, and she smiles.

"Don't worry, your parents were more than happy to look after them"

"I am glad you are here, I am more than glad, and I am sorry too, for..." he stops as he looks around the room.

"Let's not be sorry anymore" she smiles before kissing the back of his hand.

"I love you" he whispers smiling her way and she nods in reply.

"You must be Richie's wife, I am Natalie Storm" Natalie interrupts the couple and Alana turns to meet the woman.

"I know who you are, I mean there must be just so little people who do not know about the infamous Natalie"

"See, I am so famous, and you say people remember me for all the wrong reasons, you are a lucky man to get to sleep beside me" Natalie talks with her husband who chuckles.

*******

"How are you and Sal...?" Richie goes to ask but stops as Alana squeezes his hand.

"Her father is in the business" Alana states vaguely.

"Don't shy out, Alana. We all know what that business is, my father is an asshole let's start with that, I would have been the life of every parties Salvatore ever threw but my father he disowned us...

That ungrateful man! He named every penny he has to his butler, not just disowning us but not giving us his surname as well...

But good thing I am married and have a new surname I love, it's the Storm" Natalie grins as she smiles at her husband.

"She does not know, her father..." Richie stares at Alana who nods her head.

"Because he disowned them, her father has no heir, clever man" Alana clarifies, and Richie nods his head.

"And Salvatore agrees?" Richie frowns at the information.

"He did not at first, but he got other options" she fills in and Richie nods his head in understanding.

"Clever indeed" Richie agrees as he stares at Salvatore who was busy chatting with other people.

*******

"Friends" Salvatore calls out as he stands in the middle of the room raising his glass of champagne to get everyone's attention.

"I thank you all for joining me this evening to not just celebrate my birthday but our friendship as well. Many of the faces in this room are the faces I see every day and some I am familiar with while some are new ones...

I welcome you in my life and let me warn you all, you may walk in with your own desire, but you can never leave until I say otherwise...

I spent years of my life in this business to know that I have made friends and enemies, I have lost friends and made nemesis out of my friends...

I have not just cherished many of you but have lost my temper as well when things were not my way, when many did not deed my warnings well...

I have got stabbed by the ones I trusted who took me for granted and turned my friends against me, but we all know how when that happens what the outcome is...

You all may think you know me, but you don't, you think you have power over me, you are making a mistake, your moves are watched even when my eyes are closed...

But know, when you are besides me, I am there for you but once you try to take me for granted, I do forget you like yesterday's news and I can make people forget you like one as well...

To the friendship that lasted, to the people that stayed, thank you and to those who joined welcome to my world, you are trapped now" he grins as he sips his drink before coughing as his eyes lands on the kid running inside of the room.

"Daddy"

*******

Flora rushes to her father aid rubbing his back while Salvatore pushes her hand away from her stating he is well.

"Mark, it's grandpa not daddy" Flora chides the boy who pouts before he rushes back to his mother's side.

"But mom says it's fine to call him daddy" he groans.

"Sorry, we are late" Lucero speaks as he glares at his wife who looks anywhere but at him.

"Someone slashed the tires and for some reason the car keys were not in their usual place" he adds eyeing his wife.

"Oh my God, did you perhaps take a taxi, aww you should not even have bothered to join the party, it was going on just fine" Flora pouts as she flutter her lashes innocently at her husband.

"Come here" he growls at her and she scoffs.

"Dad, do you want to sit down or have a water?" she asks her father who shakes her head no.

"I am fine, the drink went in the wrong pipe"

"That was a long ass speech, what do you think would have happened? You are too old anyways" Natalie cannot help but comment.

"Everyone, please continue and enjoy the party" Salvatore asks.

********

"Jessica, nice to see you" Salvatore steps towards the girl who nods her head.

"You brought your son"

"I could not say no when he insisted after hearing it was a birthday party"

"I am sure you did not tell him to call me daddy" he raises a brow and the woman smiles.

"I did perhaps he forgot to add gran" she replies as she touches her son's head fondly.

"The only one I would like to hear calling me grandpa are my daughter's children" he clarifies as he watches his daughter before sighing.

"But it's seems I will have to wait some more for it" he eyes Lucero next.

"You do realize you do have grandkids dad, you just have to be open about it" Flora mutters as she walks towards her father and Lucero takes the chance to wraps his arm around Flora who yelps.

"Excuse us" he states dragging Flora away from everyone.

"Let go of me, you brute" Flora warns her husband.

"Not until you apologize" he growls.

"Apologize my ass"

"Which will be red once we are alone" are the words they hear as the couple disappears.

"Well that was hot" Natalie sighs as she wiggles her brow at her husband who looks at her blankly.

"You never spanked me" she accuses him, and he just closes his eyes and lets a little prayer.

*******

Richie pulls the chair for Alana helping her to settle in before he takes his own seat while Rolfe and Natalie follow, they watch as Flora and Lucero join them on the table.

"Are you sure you can sit?" Natalie jokes and Flora glares at the girl before she pulls her own chair and sits downs before, she grabs the water and gulps down.

Salvatore looks at the table to find everyone settle in before they start to eat, he makes small talks with each of the people on the table before he questions Rolfe.

"How's Leah?" his question makes the man pause before he puts his fork down and stares at Salvatore.

"She is doing good"

"If she needs anything let me know, after all it saddens me how her mother was treated, were not you once friend with the Price...

I am sure things would have gone differently if you had talked with them" he comments but before he could reply Natalie gets in the conversation.

"Please, do not talk about the Price in front of me, they sure are some ungrateful bastards. I mean if they can treat their own sister in such a cruel way no amount of talks would have done anything...

I am just glad we got Leah in our custody, god knows what those monsters would have done to the girl and as for her needs...

She did want a new bike, I swear kids these days still rides bike I mean, I thought it was just our era. Anyways if you are insisting on paying how can we refuse, she needs her bike in pink though" Natalie smiles and Rolfe growls her name.

"What, it's his birthday I do not want to look rude by saying no" Natalie scolds her husband instead who shakes his head in reply.

"Of course, pink it is. Now that we are on the topic let's discuss, what your plans are for her? I mean you are now her guardian and you do know that everything Lia once owned will go to Leah" he makes the comment and Rolfe nods his head.

"Yes, I am well-aware"

"Then Rolfe you must also know what that means? Lia may own the business, but I owned her" he states, and the table goes silent for a moment.

"Leah is too young" he starts but Salvatore raises his hand to stop him.

"We all should start young, I was just seven when my father handed me my very first gun and now look at me..."

"I said a bike jeez are you offering a gun to my daughter?" Natalie gasps as she stares at the man.

"Natalie, all I am saying is the sooner she knows about the ways of the world the better, it's sad how your father never introduced you to this world but...

I refuse to make the mistakes of the past" he smiles.

"And we refuse to make any mistakes regarding our kids" Rolfe replies.

"Are we having any differences in here, Storm?" Salvatore asks as he puts both his hands on the table.

"Leah is not just my responsibility, she is my daughter and I refuse to hand her over to you, that is all I am saying" Rolfe states.

"Being a father yourself, you must know how hard it is to give up on your child, most of us sitting here are parents...

It's a bit unfair that we do not get to raise our children the way we want, just as your father raised you with a gun in your hand, we have our own way to raise our children...

Rolfe do not have to hand Leah to you, after all the man has agreed to hand every penny on Leah's name passed on by her mother back to you, Salvatore" Richie speaks backing up Rolfe who nods his head thankful for his support.

*******

"It's not just about the money Russo, someone needs to fill in the place Lia left"

"And Leah is not the one, I am sure someone can fill in the shoes"

"You do know there is the saying an apple do not fall far a way from it's tree, Lia had a way to deal with things, you may never know Leah would have the same nature" he speaks sitting with his back on the chair and watching Richie with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, the apple sure doesn't but sometimes some of them do roll down and move far away, decaying and planting their own seeds that grows on their own...

I have three sons and trust me when I say that not all of them are same in nature. Each of them represents their own individuals and perhaps Leah is that one apple that has rolled down far away from the reach of the tree" Richie argues, and few murmurs are around the table before it stops as Salvatore barks the word silence.

"Well said Russo, but this is my world and she is growing her roots in my land and I own her" he grits the words.

"Mom" the voice of the boy interrupts the talking and Salvatore's eyes lands on the boy who whines to his mother about the food being chilly.

"Fine, don't hand Leah to me now but I have a proposal" he starts as a plan forms in his head and everyone waits for him to continue.

"Leah will be betrothed to Mark, when she will be of age" he states and Alana grabs Richie's arm as he tries to get up.

"What?" the boy asks hearing his name called.

"You my boy just got engaged to Leah Storm" Salvatore grins in victory.

"Like fuck he did" Natalie blows slamming her hands on the table and getting up at once.

"I said my daughter needs a pink bike not a pimp, she has yet to learn how to ride a bike before she learns about riding a dick"

"Natalie" Rolfe groans as he tries to stop the words, he knows his wife will spurt.

"Do not Natalie me dear husband. Leah just learned to know the shades of pink and I will punch anyone who starts to teach her shades of grey...

My daughter will not marry that boy who does not know the difference between dad and granddad, fuck me tonight on our bed but I am not sitting on this chair with images of my daughter going to have sex with just one man for rest of her life...

She will have choices and chances that I never did" she argues, and Rolfe refrains himself from strangling his wife's pretty neck.

"Why Mark?" Alana's voice startles everyone as she stares at Salvatore.

"Excuse me?" he raises a brow as she speaks.

"You own Lia true like you own each of our family, but which family does Mark belongs to? We all know he is not a Lucero, it's his mother's side of the family...

Until and unless you are saying you know who his father is, I do not see the reason behind why Leah should by any way marry him" she challenges him, and Salvatore grits his teeth in rage as he eyes the couple.

"Which brings us back to the point that Leah in no way is betrothed to Mark"

"Then she will marry my grandson, Leon, the heir to this family" he states getting up from the seat.

"You did not answer my question though; do you know who Mark's father is as Jessica does not seem to know it" she pokes him.