Little chubby hands tugged at the sleeping man's clothing, accompanied by the calls of "Papa" and "father " but to no avail. Fed-up with her failure, she had pried his eyes open, finally managing to wake up the sleepy man. He didn't have long to examine those amber eyes as the little girl darted off, emphatically calling for her mother. The woman walked in carrying their child, smiling gently at the situation.
"Issy, papa is just playing, come, let's go see... 'colo, are you awake amore?" Niccolo sat up and pinched the bridge of his nose with kne hand while searching for his glasses with the other as his memories soon came back to him, bit by bit. His eyes widened when he felt a soft hand grasp his face and guide his gaze towards her.
"Bri? What are you... ah sorry I think I woke up too suddenly..." he answered with a raspy edge to his voice.
"It's alright my love, come now, we need to get ready for our Neapolitan guests, we'll be downstairs okay?" He nodded gently, and couldn't help his smile as he recounted the events that had lead them there, thinking to himself as he slowly walked through his luxury home, it's seems the priest was right... we've won...
His failure would have guaranteed his death, but the reward was worth it he thought, as he passed rows and rows of pictures and other memorabilia that spoke of their happy lives together. Having gone downstairs, he followed the sound of Bri's laughter which led him to the kitchen, where he found her and Isabella lovingly arranging chocolate chips into the shape of a face on a pancake.
"How are my favourite girls doing today?" Asked the young Don, scooping up the little girl. She was the perfect mix of them both, his eyes, Bria's pretty raven locks and sweet smile.
"Mama made these for you, I helped!"
"I see, well I have to thank you both, I'm starving," another familiar face had appeared just as Niccolo had completed his sentence.
"Good morning Don, here, let me take her, these chocolate smudges won't clean themselves, " said Ava. The little girl jumped into the older woman's arms leaving Bria and Niccolo alone, giving him a chance to properly look at her.
He stood before her, tilting her face upwards so that her gentle brown eyes could meet his. She hadn't changed at all
"Tesoro? Are you alright? You've been spacey since you've woken up," she asked with a soft tone, reaching up to feel his forehead with her delicate hand.
"I'm just fine my angel, everything is just perfect... "