Seven Devils

TW: Swearing, heavy smut (cause of the wait), mentions of past abuse.

A/N: Everyone's fixated on Lapine, in different ways.

Chapter o12. Wait

Set your dreams where nobody hides
Give your tears to the tide
No time
No time

There's no end, there is no goodbye
Disappear with night
No time
No time

~M83

The whole building stunk of sex and spilled alcohol, nothing either man was uncomfortable with, the lights were kept dim but they could still make out the thickness of the smoke around them. The music boomed with an alluring sensual rhythm, making it easier for the girls working to get in the mood to do something out of necessity. Just a regular brothel in the red light district of the old city. The girl he once knew ran down the stairs to greet him, but after taking one look at the snipper walking before him she backed away slowly. Moran's back, everyone be on your best behavior, and for God's sake tell no one! The Varia boss followed the younger man inside without question, after being promised a meal and a roof over his head for the night.

Any place was better than La Perla.

"Someone's happy to see you?" The redhead called back as they climbed the stairs.

The Gunman made no remark. Promise me you won't set me aside; his rabbit's words came to him. He didn't even look at the young woman twice. He had no interest in that. Not now, not ever.

"Ones word mean shit in our world."

"Does it?"

"Always."

This wouldn't be the first time Xanxus spent the night at this particular brothel, but it would be the first time he stayed in the company of another man. He had been skeptical, at first, when the Sudest told him he would tell him the message once they were both inside.

"Calm yourself, I prefer blondes," The Snipper had joked walking past the taller man, "plus I would love to wash the blood off."

That's when it dawned on the Varia boss, "You fucking live here?"

Moran gave his famous sharp smile turning back to face him, "Conceived, born and raised," his chest swelled with pride, "looks like bastards can make it far in the mafia world, huh?"

And that was when Moran's rubber boots almost caught fire.

Once inside the safety of his room (the attic) the young Sudest began to unpack his duffle bag, not bothering with faux politeness with his guest. His room was large compared to the rooms the girls downstairs used. It contained a full bed, a couch across the bay window, a small kitchenette, private washroom, and all the walls were lined with locked armories a boy Moran's age could ever dream of. The only way to open them either by a coded padlock or by Moran's finger prints. He wanted to get his soiled clothes off, wanted to clean his blood off and see what damage Serge Gluttire had left on his face. Not that he would tell Xanxus that. The dark haired man had too many things to worry about, besides, Moran would handle the Fou Gluttire…in due time.

"The message, scum." Xanxus took a seat on the bay window, keeping a clear view at all of the doors in the large room. He only needed to turn his head slightly to have a good view of the street below, and a finger on the trigger of his X-gun (conveniently hidden at his side).

The young man discarded his soiled shirt, tossing it across the room, leaving his pale skin exposed. Xanxus noted the marks that were beginning to darken around his ribs and stomach. Someone had taken quite a beating…or a certain goat had a fixation with rough play. "There's been news about a new Famiglia on the rising," then there was the pendant hanging around his neck. Raw fluorite on a silver chain, he had seen rough sketches of a pendant like that in his- the old man's library. The teenager struggled to pull on a clean sweatshirt, "The Gesso Famiglia, they're called-"

"And this is my concern why?"

Moran shrugged walking to the kitchenette to get the man a drink. Giles had told him once that the only way to keep the would-be-Vongola civil was to ensure his cup was never half empty. "It probably doesn't. Like I said," all he had was gin…did the Varia boss like gin? "I was told to spread the word." The gunman kept his expression stoic even as he was faced with that unnerving smile, "I just thought since the boss of the Gesso famiglia was spotted in Verona, that you would be interested." Xanxus almost let the glass slip from his hand.

Moran watched as the older man's thoughts raced a thousand miles per minute. The young sniper drowned his drink in one swing already knowing what was going through the Mafioso's head. He had to return to Verona immediately. His wife was in danger, she could be taken again, she could—no.

No, she wouldn't be. She was more than capable of taking care of herself.

Hadn't he thought the same when he let her go off to Japan?

And how had that turned in the end?

No.

Xanxus believed in her skills. They weren't as coarse as they had been.

Then there was the treat of an unknown enemy. These upstarts were capable of doing anything to try and prove their strength. Even go as far as doing something so foolish as to target one of the Vongola Bosses' Wives. Lapine didn't have the benefit of naïveté like Sawada's wife. She was a participating member, even if it was unknown to most, and therefore not to be considered an easy target.

That hadn't stopped the Ratto.

Their mistake had left them in an early grave.

The young redhead rested a hand on his throbbing ribs. The image of blonde hair and steel indigo eyes came with the sudden ache. Of anyone in his line of work he could guess what else was going through Xanxus' mind besides the obvious. Not long ago did Moran find himself thinking of how a loved one could be consider a liability if the wrong people came to find out about them.

Because of this his relationship with a certain Skylark was kept secret –until the previous night—and now Xanxus was thinking that maybe staying put would be the best choice. If he ran back to her side now -at the sign of immediate treat- not only would he make her seem incapable of defending herself, he would also out her as his weakness. Of course that wasn't a hundred percent true. He had been gone for more than two weeks, without so much as a word to his second and third in command, it would seem perfectly normal for him to return now.

With a heavy sigh, and a swing of his drink (which was promptly refilled by the Ginger), the Vongola made his decision.

She could feel his eyes on the back of her head. Watching her every movement as she worked on his men…or well she wouldn't really call this particular patient a man, or woman, even.

This was a child.

A small, blue haired child.

No way in hell was Lapine letting pervert Shamal work on her. If he had no shame groping women when they were fully conscious who knew what he was capable off when they were under the influence of anesthetics. Not that he hadn't tried to defend himself. Stating that the blue haired girl was way below the age of consent, therefore he had no interest. Lapine looked up slightly, using the back of her wrist against her forehead to block her view of the Gesso Boss. Yes, he was still watching intently, she didn't need to see him to know. He hadn't left the room since they had started their work earlier that day. Even, Squalo had grown bored of watching, and had eventually left Leviathan to keep guard alone with the underlings.

Shamal's lewdness had no effect on the young doctor, but the Gesso's nonchalance during the whole operation, a task that was now dragging into the twenty-four-hour mark, had. Four operations later and he was still completely composed. When the work was finished, and Dr. Shamal had gone, while she took a final look at their work, he was there to praise her. No one had ever done that, and after not hearing from her husband for three days now, it was welcome.

"When they wake up their weaknesses will become their strengths," Byakuran spoke looking down at the four patients.

Lapine remained expressionless while reading over the young girl's vitals. It was a mystery to the French how none of them had managed to not lose their lives during the ordeal. "You seem so sure the procedure was a success," her violet eyes would not meet his lilac, "there's still a matter of their bodies rejecting the box weapons."

Byakuran gave a soft laugh pulling out a small marshmallow from his pocket, "You underestimate their will to live."

More like their bodies ability to adapt, she smiled at his eagerness before taking a step back to look down at her patients. She had asked no questions, no names, or ages, just the basic of medical history. As far as she was concerned the second she walked out the door they would no longer be her problem. They ceased to exist in her mind.

"This is goodbye, then," She worked her hair free of the thigh up-do.

The Gesso boss smiled as his own medical team came into the warehouse to finish taking care of his men, "For now."

Forever, she hoped. "Should anyone ask-"

"You were never here, Lapine! You're so paranoid!" He laughed, causing her to grimace, "you must be exhausted," He reached forward taking a strand of blonde hair between his fingers, her eyes grew wide, bringing it to his lips, "you should be taken better care of." His eyes narrowed with concern, it almost felt genuine, yet instead of being swooned by the gesture Lapine retreated.

She couldn't stop thinking about his eyes even as she entered the safety of her tower with Leviathan trailing behind. No one had ever spoken to her with such kindness, other than her brother (and her husband on more than one occasion), and his familiarity with her was beyond unnerving. There was no way she could have known he was Mafia, let alone a Boss of an upcoming Famiglia. He could have had her taken, and so she had taken the extra precaution of having Leviathan and other Varia with her. Byakuran had no ill will towards her, however, quite the opposite. It almost seemed like he wanted to be on friendly terms with the Vongola wife. Who wouldn't? If he could get on her good side than it could be an easy access to her famiglia.

The only problem was that the husband could care less for some new trash. If Xanxus had seen how Byakuran had easily reached to touch her, how he had given her flowers, offered to buy her a drink even, the Gesso Boss would have been dismembered on the spot.

But Xanxus had not been there, and he wasn't answering her calls.

"I figured you hadn't eaten anything, so I had Lussuria fix you something up," Leviathan informed coming behind her to place her vintage fur wrap around her shoulders. A gift Xanxus had brought back with him from Russia during his earlier missions when she first arrived in Verona. She hugged the fur around her like a safety blanket as she stared down at her plate. Her eyes turned to Leviathan once he sat beside her. Despite their early confrontations, and how annoying he could be at times with his brooding, she was beginning to grow found of her guard. Enough to let him have his dinner with her after too many nights of being left alone.

"Are you upset?" The Lightning Guardian asked taking a bite of his own food. Her lack of appetite did little to stop him from enjoying his meal. Especially after the day they had.

Lapine remained stoic as she spoke, "Of course I'm upset,"

"About the surgery?"

She had implanted box weapons, a tool that no one in the Varia fully understood yet, into four people. One of them being a small child. How could she not be? "Not only about that but…"

She stopped herself before bring up The Ratto incident. They all knew how she felt about accepting her new role as the Varia's Surgeon/torturer. Especially Leviathan, who had been her shadow, he understood how she didn't hate what she was doing while she was doing it. It was after, when her hands no longer held the scalpel, that the guilt would set in.

"Before I joined the Varia," he started, "before the Boss was here that is," her eyes widen slightly signaling that she was listening, "this kid breaks into my mother's house. One of those wannabe gang bangers. She hears somebody down stairs, and she grabs her umbrella," her eyes turn to the parabolas on his back, "she heads on down, what the hell she thought she was going to do with the damn thing I'll never know." He stops only to take a drink and finally notices she's not eating, but doesn't point it out, "But she heads down stairs and he grabbed the damn thing…and beats the shit out

You make sure they deserve it, and don't waste a minute of your time thinking about them after your done." He doesn't wait for a reaction before he continues with his now cold meal.

A tear fell from her eye realizing how moved she actually is. The blonde made no move to wipe it away turning her attention to the desert across from her, "Is that blueberry pie?" She mumbles trying to keep her voice from cracking.

He slides the whole thing over before taking the lid off for her, "A la mode."

"Thank you…Levi." The smile she gives him after taking her first bite causes him to blush almost as much as he did when the Boss first praised him.

Lapine slept the rest of the day away, too exhausted to dream. It was late into the night when she woke up again. Hunger drove her to seek out the cook, but ended up finding Lussuria instead. The boxer was on the phone, in her husband's office, frantically speaking in Spanish, sounding like he was trying to reassure whoever was on the other end.

"What's happened?" She asked Leviathan who had slept in the Boss's office rather than his own room in order to keep a close eye on her. He found that it was better to wake her immediately once she started tossing rather than later as she screamed out in her sleep. Easier for her to calm down and fall back asleep.

"Geranio Querido is missing."

Squalo had this little fantasy about her.

She came at him when he least expected it. Her dainty hand would trail from his shoulder down to his prostatic arm. If he focused enough the phantom pain would become her gentle touch. She would smile up at him, with her silver-gold hair cascading over her shoulder, giving his free hand access to it. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through it.

Then the small scalpel would appear in her other hand. She would use that to subdue him into staying still.

She would drag the cold metal against his cheek, keeping the sharp end from cutting him, but deadly close for her to spin around in her hand to slice him.

Then it would be her lips, whispering his name, that would distract him from the blade. Bewitching him to obsesses over them as she brought her blade deep into his neck—

"Commander Squalo," The voice of his underlings brought him back to reality, someone had come into the bar way after hours. By the time he realized it she was already sitting beside him. Dressed in a simple grey sweater, navy skirt, and black flats.

"Voii! Who let you in?" She didn't answer watching as her babysitter reached over the bar to pour her drink, "We're close!" Neither Cloud or Lightning Guardian acknowledge his protest.

"That will be all, Levi. Squalo will see me home, thank you." Lapine's voice was barely above a whisper. They watched Leviathan retreat out of the corner of their eyes. Squalo continued to slump over his seat, his prosthetic arm aching in dull pain. The blonde next to him sat rigidly besides him. He was glad that she was not looking at him. He wasn't sure if he could keep him calm if those piercing violets were looking at him.

"Geranio Querido is missing," she spoke after a minute, "you wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that?" He could feel them now, her eyes on the back of his head.

She knows, she fucking knows.

Ever since Xanxus had gone they all treated lightly around her, especially the swords master. Of course being the second-in-command while the Boss was gone meant having to deal with any idle treats. Lapine hadn't gone immediately to him, instead she had gone to the two Guardian's she trusted the most. That's how both Belphegor and Lussuria had ended at his door demanding that something be done about whoever had been running their mouth about the girl's special skills. It wasn't until after she had told him the only possible way another Mafioso could have found her that Squalo had reacted. She had been working for twenty-four hours straight without the possibility of her noticing he had left.

"Voii~! Why would I?" He had taken the first flight out of Verona to Valladolid after leaving her in the operating room.

It wasn't hard to lure the cocaine addict out of his mansion, and away from security. Once vulnerable, Squalo had proceeded to beat the living shit out of him. Lapine wasn't the only one to use her methods to get answers. After he had gotten a confession of Geranio briefly meeting with the Gesso Squalo proceeded to make sure the younger man would never open his mouth again. All the pent up anger he had felt after being looked down by her, after the Ratto incident, was let out on the Querido. How dare she think he was incapable of carrying out his task to find the damn rat? If it hadn't been for him she wouldn't be where she was now. Yet no amount of resentment could seem to stop him from having that little nightmare of a fantasy.

"Alright I might have," She scoffed softly holding her drink in both hands, more blood was spilled because of her, with the best intentions. "Can't have people running their mouths."

She nodded taking a drink, "Have you heard from Xanxus?"

The shark could hear the concern she was trying to mask with nonchalance. This had been the longest he had stayed away from her. At first she had held up pretty well, passing whatever test the Boss had set for her. Now they were ending the third week and she was not doing as well as before. After a moment she looked up, keeping her gaze away from him, trying to hide how her eyes were becoming watery.

"Do you think I'm crazy?" She whispered.

One moment she was fine, claiming that no one would ever walk over her, or use her, ever again. The next she would be a big pile of nerves crying at every loud noise that came from behind a wall. The next she would be a rage monster belittling them for their incompetence. Now she was here, sitting next to him, exhausted and vulnerable.

This was the curse of being a Vongola Wife.

"No." The silver haired man took a drink; she was as sane as the rest of them.

She was one of them.

"Someone told me, that you were afraid of me."

He slammed his hands on the table, "VOIII~! I'm going to kick his flamboyant ass."

She gave him a weak smile. "Is it true?"

"No, I-" He reached over pulling out a folded note from where his prosthetic met his real arm. "We're going to Florence." He needed a quick distraction from where the conversation was headed.

"What?" She unfolded the note discovering a letter, written in neat cursive, with Nono's seal.

"The old man wants to meet with you," he took a shot from his drink before filling up his glass, "Has been wanting to for the past six months, but the boss kept ignoring him." Finally growing tired of waiting the letters started coming to Squalo. The shark had waited for the right time to tell her, but with the boss always around it had been impossible. Now he figured she needed this. Keeping her waiting in Verona was doing no one any good. He could deal with Xanxus' wrath later.

"Didn't think he would ever do that." Lapine had thought Nono had no interest in her, being his adopted son's wife and all. Even their last meeting had been kept brief. I guess people can surprise you.

"Ever been to Vienna?" She finally looked at him.

Her violet eyes were wide with shock, that certainly came out of nowhere. "Austria? No."

"Ever want to go?" She shrugged, "I have a mission that requires a surgeon…and you're the only one with the skills." A small smile played on her lips as he began to ramble, "It'd be a nice change of pace from…well I fucking need it! My hair is falling out in fistfuls again!" He made his point by reaching for his scalp and drawing back a handful of hair. Her laughter was almost as sharp as the blade in his fantasies.

Paris, France

8 Months Ago

Her posture was rigid, back straight with legs crossed at the ankles and her dainty hands entwined on her lap to keep from shaking. It contrasted with his relaxed form, leaning back on his chair while swirling his drink. She could feel his crimson eyes studying her intensely while she kept her own gaze at the pouring rain outside the small café. It'd been a good ten minutes since she had arrived and neither one had said a word and the silence was driving her as mad as his glare.

When she had first arrived he had stood from his seat, much to her own surprised, and had stepped forward as if too great her with a kiss to her cheek. But he hadn't kissed her, only stood far too close to her for her liking, and took his time stepping back to offer her a seat. She wondered know if it had been because her father's men had been watching. The blonde had recognized a few of them as she came in to the semi-empty restaurant.

The rain continued to pour outside.

She kept her eyes to it, even as he placed a hand on the table between them, gesturing with two fingers for her to place her own in his. His touch was searing against her cold flesh. Lapine hoped that he didn't notice the way her hand trembled, if he did he didn't let it show, and held her breath as he inspected the engagement ring that adorned her finger. He noticed how small her hand was in his, hardly forgetting how easily he could break her. Xanxus doesn't ask if the ring was to her liking and reluctantly lets go of her only when her tea was refilled.

"Have you changed your mind?" His gruff voice startled her and it's hard for him not to want to mock her for it. "Come to your fucking senses, yet?" She was taken aback for a moment, unsure of what he's referring to.

After a moment she shook her head looking down at the heavy amethyst ring, "No, I-I still want to go through with it."

"Bullshit," he said taking a swing of what remained of his whisky, "if you did you wouldn't keep wasting my time with all this fucking paperwork." Her violet eyes finally reached his face, "And don't tell me you actually give a damn, because you haven't done any of the planning."

In fact, she hadn't even looked into anything wedding related since the engagement ring arrived in Paris the week before. His statement sparked something inside her, a sudden irritation that had been kept dormant for a while now. She had enough of this from her father, she would not have it from a stranger. "Forgive me, monsieur, but seeing as how we are not yet married I don't believe that what I do or don't do is any of your business."

His laughter was enough to replace her irritation with sudden fear. The blonde had spoken out of turn- "Monsieur? You better start calling me by my damn name," he leaned across the small table to come close to her, "or would you rather wait until I have you screaming it?"

"How dare you speak to me that way?"

There you are, the gunman's smirk grew into a sneering smile, there's that Alaude, "Because I fucking can- "

In one swift motion she pushed herself out of her chair to stand before him. Standing while he was sitting made her feel less afraid than she was before. Lapine remembered that the Alaude are not afraid of men with bad temper. "Did you call me here just to insult me? Well, congratulations you've succeed, may I leave now?"

Xanxus stood, pulling her chair back out, crimson eyes glaring down at violet, "You leave when I fucking say."

Neither one made to move.

Eyes looked in a silent battle for dominance.

She would need polishing to be sure. She would need to become adjusted to this kind of remarks from him daily.

Yet there was a sense of approval in him, she wouldn't take anything from anyone, just like the late Alaude Boss.

She took her seat again after a moment, her father's men were sure to report back to him and she had no desire to deal with anymore scolding from anyone. She had heard it earlier that morning from one of her teacher's as she left the university. Marriage, he had said, was no reason to stop her education. Especially since she was so close to being done, and her potential was not one to be wasted.

The Varia boss sat down ordering another drink, god knew he needed it when dealing with the likes of Cerise Alaude's daughter. He had been purposely pushing her buttons to get a reaction out of her and he was far from done. "Neither one of us cares about this damn engagement," Her only response was the subtle pouting of her lower lip, "we could go get a fucking civil marriage here if we really wanted to," the mention of that had her fidgeting with her hair in order to create a barrier between the two. The Gunman wanted to reach across the small space and tuck her long locks behind her ears.

"I don't…" she licked her lips before shaking her head, "I don't want…that."

The larger man leaned back on his chair to study her once more. She was the first beautiful thing he had seen in a while. So small and dainty and vulnerable like the first time he had seen her. Even though she was broken, that night she was a breath of fresh air in his world of bullet holes and gunpowder. "You won't marry me in Italy, you won't do it here either, what the fuck do you want then?"

Her violet eyes look up at him, he felt like scum for the look she's giving him, she looked at his sorry ass somehow thinking this would all be worth it in the end, "The church my mother married in…I'll marry there." She blinked a few times when he says nothing turning his attention back to the pouring rain.

Present Time

Florence, Italy

The room he lived in from ages 8 to 17 had been kept intact per Nono's request. Just as the anteroom his late sons had shared had been. Lapine figured that their rooms were probably intact as well. Closed off graves locked away with lost hopes and dreams of the Famiglia. Her bags rested at the foot of Xanxus childhood bed, a four posted canopy made out of dark wood. The structure had a sinister feel to it. She would feel that way about the gothic piece having been raised amongst her mother's antique furnishings.

In the middle of the room was a simple writing desk. Books where piled high on it, most of the had to do with ancient history, and weaponry. There were sketches thrown about as well: the early designs of her husband's X-Guns perhaps. Across from the desk, taking up half of the wall, was a large fireplace of white stone. Carved on the very top was the famous Vongola sigil she had kept seeing on just about everything since she arrived. The remaining walls were taken over by book shelves, large portrait of what seemed to be Mars and Rhea Silvia.

She hadn't expected to see that there of all places.

"That used to belong to Secondo," Ganauche III explained from where he stood by the door. He had given her space to take in her surroundings. Nono had a room prepared for her in the North West wing of the Estate, but she had insisted on staying in the old asilo nido as it was often refered as. "He once said it reminded him of how the Vongola came to be."

And Xanxus wanted nothing more than to be the next Secondo.

Lapine nodded, the taking of Asterie Fluminer had given birth to the modern Vongola. "Didn't his wife own a similar painting?" The blonde asked trailing her hand over the designes left forgotten on Xanxus' old desk.

"The Abduction of Persepina, it still hangs in the library," Her violet eyes turned to him. It was hard for him not to feel a certain sense of melancholy. She reminded him so much of his dear friend, "It would be my pleasure to show it to you."

The young Alaude nodded taking a seat at the foot of the bed, "Perhaps some other time, I'm exhausted from my travels."

"I can only imagine," The white-black haired mafioso turned back to the large brute standing in the anteroom keeping guard, "surely you'd be more comfortable staying in the room near your men?"

The younger woman smiled, a very Alaude Smile, "My husband's men." She corrected, as far as anyone was concerned she was just being escorted by said men. She had no other affiliation to the Varia otherwise. Lapine was a razor wrapped in silk, a woman masked by the illusion of innocence she had lost not too long ago.

And fucking hell she was good at it.

"I would like to thank you, in their name, for allowing a few of them to remain in the Estate," Ganauche straightened his shoulders turning back to her, "especially after all the mishap they seem to get into with the rest of the Famiglia." Only Leviathan and Lussuria had been allowed to remain in La Perla. As for Squalo, the Prince, and Mammon, they were made to stay in Florence, only allowed to be in the State during the day. Special permission had to be given for them to even be able to attend the evening meals, should she request their presence, as well as for the ball being given in her honor later that week.

He wanted to laugh.

Mishap was far from what they were known for doing.

The fact that they remained alive and inpower and not left to rot in some cell of the Vindice had come to Nono's Guardian's as a shock. Lapine tilted her head to the side, smug little smile playing on her lips, causing the older man to gulp. He was used to being under the scrutiny of women, but it had been a very long time since he had encountered the familiar face she carried. His dear friend seemed to live on in her daughter after all.

"I'll be sure to pass on the message, mia signora," With that he excused himself. Lapine stood from the bed slowly making her way to the anteroom where Leviathan waited.

"You may go now—" The Lightning Guardian made to protest, "Come now, they wouldn't attack the heir of the CEDEF if their own home. That would be against the Vongola's Moral code," sometimes Terzo's dumb traditions had their perks, "besides," Leviathan's face turned bright red as she lifted her skirt over her tight to show her sai, "I can handle myself."

The smaller blonde slammed the door behind her before the older man could protest. Only to find herself not entirely alone in the room. A scream almost left her lips at the sight of him sitting at the edge of his old desk staring down at his old designs.

"You shouldn't fucking be here," He's tone was low but lacked any hint of anger torwards her.

A soft sigh left her lips while her feet took a mind of their own and began to move torward Xanxus. They came together like a tidal wave crashing on the beach. Likely leaving utter destruction in their wake. But neither of them cared in that moment. Because she was his oxygen, and he wanted nothing more than to inhale her.

Her lips pulled at his, tasting the whiskey he'd been drinking since early that morning, a metallic twinge on her tongue that she knew was more than likely blood, but she didn't want to think about that. Didn't want to think about why he tasted like blood. No, only this. This moment was all that mattered. And it would be gone, replaced by another, and another, and she only wanted the right now.

Xanxus pulled her up on his front, hands cupping her rear and holding her tightly against his body. The blonde could feel each of his digits pressing into the fleshy part of her ass. It made her want to crush him between her legs…even though he was so solid, she knew that wasn't going to happen.

He was a rock, steadfast and unmoving. Nothing she did was ever going to hurt him.

His tongue was in her mouth and it was everything, everything she had been missing.

She could read the Gunman perfectly. Read his feelings, knew what he wanted as he ground her against his crotch and grunted loudly, the sound both muffled and echoed inside her head. She ran her fingers through his hair and he backed them straight for the bed. They collapsed on it, bouncing a little as she scooted up towards the pillows, smirking at the image of her husband crawling up to her like a prowling tiger. Hunting its prey. He smirked back, crimson eyes never leaving hers.

She licked her lips and he was there again, darting forward to kiss her and capture her tongue in his mouth. She ran her hands up his torso below his shirt, fingertips skating over rough scars. He kissed her like he couldn't get enough. His hand moved smoothly up and over her hip, rucking up her blouse as he sought out her breasts.

Her nipples were already stiff. She'd been hopelessly aroused since they'd locked eyes earlier. His rabbit moaned openly when his hand closed around her breast. His hand big and encompassing the whole thing. His thumb swiping steadily over her nipple through her bra.

And then he was tugging her shirt up and off, yanking at her bra, probably breaking the clasp, but she couldn't care less. Her skin was too hot anyway. Much too hot.

Her chest heaved and he gazed down at her reverently, his calloused thumb gently swiping her nipple again. Gently. Too gently.

She arched up into his touch, moaning loudly. Catching and holding his gaze again, because she wanted to feel it. She wanted Xanxus. She wanted to know, without a shadow of a doubt that it was her husband touching her. Holding her. Claiming her. She wanted to feel this for days. She wanted bruises on her hips. Hickeys on her throat. She needed proof. And he could give it to her.

"More…" she whispered.

His lips parted, his breath harsh as he circled her nipple with his thumb and forefinger, pinching slightly. Experimentally.

Making the blonde huff out an exhale. Nodding her head and reaching up for the head board. "Yes…" she murmured, allowing her eyes to close and giving herself over to the sensations he was giving her. Bordering on pain, the intensity making her moan openly. Pant his name.

It was just enough.

He leaned down to take one nipple in his mouth, sucking hard as his tongue laved over it.

She rubbed her legs together, trying to put out the fire between them. Or stoke it. She couldn't be sure.

His other hand slid up between them, rubbing roughly at her through her pants. She ground against his hand, impatient to take her skirt off. Feel his hands on her. God…feel HIM.

She let go of the headboard, reaching down to undo his pants. The Varia Boss sat back pushing her hands away, releasing her nipple with a pop.

He tugged her skirt down, leaving her panties where they were.

Lapine gasped when he bent down, nosing over her mound and inhaling deeply. A low rumble resonated from the back of his throat. And he slid his arms around her thighs, holding them apart as he nuzzled and mouthed at her through her panties. She moaned wantonly and rolled her hips towards him, which only seemed to encourage his endeavor to make her come without touching her skin. His teeth nipped lightly, only ever grazing her through the cotton.

"Xanxus…" she whispered. "Please…"

He tugged at her panties, yanking them down over her hips and burying his face between her legs. Tongue flicking and circling her clit rapidly, he hummed when she gripped his hair, anchoring him against her.

Because like hell he was gonna work her up and stop.

He clutched her hips, holding her down against the bed, the pads of his fingers pressing almost painfully into her flesh. She grasped his hair harder, making him grunt. His tongue flicked lightly, in opposition to everything else. To every other sensation she was feeling.

Her thighs started shaking, the first burning waves of her orgasm steadily getting stronger and stronger, until she was wailing under his touch. His strong hold keeping her from bucking up into his mouth, allowing him to bring her down as slowly as he wished.

She pulled roughly at his hair when it was too much, eyes widening when her hand came away with more than a few pieces of it.

He merely chuckled, pushing up to his knees.

Her head lolled to once side, watching as he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. Pushing them down over his hips.

Freeing his erection because he wasn't wearing any underwear.

Lapine reached for him, and he came right to her.

Encouraging her to raise her hips, he stuffed a pillow underneath her and gripped her thighs as he scooted up between them, rubbing himself against her. He sat back on his knees, breathing heavily as his cock slipped against her. Against her over-sensitive clit.

His dark eyes held hers. Locked her gaze. Eyes boring into her soul as he pressed into her.

She felt herself stretch to accept him, immediately clenching around his girth.

"Xanxus…" she whispered.

He stopped to meet her eyes, silently asking for her reassurance to go on.

She nodded, letting her eyes close when he began to move. Too slowly. Not enough. She reached for him, pulling him closer as he eased himself in and out.

"More…" she reached around to grab his bare ass. Digging her nails in slightly. "Please…I need…"

"I've got what you need…" he promised, the corner of his mouth twitching up as his grip tightened on her hips. "I've got you…"

His pace slowly got faster, his thrusting more intense.

To the point where every breath was a moan as he fucked himself into her. Fucked her and whispered in her ear.

"Sei mia…tutta mia…"

Now it was the other way around, here in her arms she made him feel…It was the soft caresses. The soft touch of lips lingering on his scars before she traced them with her pale finger.

The way she just looked at him.

With such devotion, such love filled in those violet eyes.

And he doesn't know how much he could take it, but he knows that he couldn't stay away a second longer after finding out from his idiotic second-in-command that she was in this shit hole of a manor. He leans into her touch while her hand is rested against his marred cheek.

"Vous ne me laissez pas a nouveau," She whispers to him, and instead of agreeing or promising anything he brought his lips to hers once more.

The kiss is painfully slow, the way their lips mold together. Taking it slow then building into the heat of passion that she knows he feels for her. Only to be interrupted by the door being thrown open by both Lightning and Sun Guardian.

"WAAH!" Lussuria squealed in both shock and delight at the sight of his Boss embracing his little wife. While Leviathan immediately turns his back to them to save himself even more embarrassment, "We're sorry a maid said she heard loud noises~!"

The Sky Guardian gives him no more time to explain, while the blonde hide herself by pressing her body against his, he already has one of his trusted gun aimed and charged at them, "I'll fucking kill you, trash!" Lapine only hears them scurry away, followed by a warning shot being discharged, "Fucking scum just bursting in here." The Varia boss complains stuffing the gun away beneath her pillow. It is the sound of her soft laughter than brings him back to reality, clearing away the sudden wrath that clouded his judgement. If there had been a louder commotion the whole castle would have come down on them.

The old man was sure to hear about this.

"You think it's fucking funny?" He teased biting on her shoulder, "Huh?"

Lapine only continued to laugh wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She had concerns of her own, starting with where he had been this whole time. Yet she had no time to care about that, for now he was with her and that was all that mattered.

Look, there she is?

Is that her?

She looks like a child.

Such a small thing.

That can't possibly be the mostro—bastardo—traidore wife.

It was hard for her to maintain her breathing as all eyes, and whispers, fell on her the next morning. Nono was hosting a rather large breakfast for her, and had gone out of his way to invite nearly all the heads of allied families and their respected families along. Filling up the gardens with about 500 guest. The small girl brought her hands together before her to keep them from trembling. She wished she could be deaf of them at that moment. Cursing herself for inheriting her father's amplified hearing. A curse and a blessing on its own. Her violet eyes made quick work of those around her. Searching desperately for a familiar face before stepping out to the lion's den. She also felt remarkably under dressed in her long, puffy, sleeved black and white stripped blouse and white skirt.

If she stood rigidly enough she could feel the cold metal of her sai against her thighs. Which was in a sense comforting.

But not nearly as comforting as it would have been to wake up with Xanxus beside her. She had nearly broken down crying finding herself all alone before it was time to start the day. No lingering note, or sign that he would return, was left behind. Part of her wanted to retreat to her room, hide away until someone came looking for her, and the other part…the Alaude part…

My mother wouldn't hide away, she took a deep breath rolling her shoulders back finally deciding to take a step forward. Stopping as a gentle hand rested on her shoulder while another landed on her elbow to turn her around. Lapine almost pulled away, how dare a stranger touch her, only to be overwhelmed with relief as familiar face greeted her.

"Gutten Morgen, kusine," a kiss was placed on Lapine's right cheek, "you looked like you needed help, ja?" Nelke Lerche, had all the distinguishing features of a Skylark from the German branch of the family: brown hair, pale skin, and piercing violet eyes (her inherited from her paternal grandmother). She was fifteen years old but wise beyond her years. Certainty more Lerche in her manners than both Lapine and Giles combined. "Onkle Visconti told me to keep an eye out, ja. Said you'd be all alone, and if your anything like Onkle Gluttire that you'd be having trouble with the crowd."

"It's nice to see you too, Nelke," Lapine mumbled allowing her younger cousin to guide her through the mass of people who would stop to greet them.

The Aludes did have a hate for crowding, but the true phobia she felt was inherited from her father. And with her mother gone Serge had no one to guide him through, leaving him to become a recluse.

She's very small, isn't she?

Hard to believe she took down fifteen Ratto on her own.

She can't possibly be his wife, I tell you. Tiny thing like that, with an appetite like his—

Must rip her in half every time—

Probably isn't satisfied, if she's still standing that is.

Looks just like the late Cerise, God rest her—

It felt like an eternity before they finally reached their table beneath a large canopy tent, "1,500 acres and they want to stuff us all in here, ja." Nelke complained taking her seat besides Lapine just as the Varia's Storm Guardian reached for the same chair. Lapine had been so distracted by the whisperers that she had no time to stop the Prince from his schemes.

"Ushishishi~! Allow me, Contadina," The young Prince offered pulling out the chair for the brunette. Before Lapine could stop him, it was too late and the chair had been pulled too far back causing for Nelke to fall on her arse. "Shishishi, the Prince always sits on the Regina's left." The dark-haired Skylark was quick on her feet, hands reaching for her own weapon hidden inside of her sleeve, stopping once Lapine rested a hand on her shoulder.

Nelke took a deep breath composing herself.

Thought she was young, she knew better than to break into a fight while surrounded by assassins and Mafioso. "Ich werde dich zu Tode beißen," the younger girl mumbled allowing her cousin to lead her around the table.

"Shishi~! Little Contadina shouldn't threaten the Prince," Lapine scanned the tables around them. Hardly surprised at the number of peoples that was watching them now. "Don't worry, Regina, the Prince won't do anything to embarrass you this week, shishishi~!"

"Nein, then what did you call that?" Nelke settled on her cousin's right glaring daggers at the strange boy sitting across from her.

"It means he's intrigued," Mammon perked up from his hiding spot, stuffed inside Belphegor's coat pocket, "He attacked your cousin during their first meeting."

The Brunette turned to her older cousin, "And your husband did nothing, ja?"

Belphegor, in turn, shoved his hand against the Arcobaleno's face pushing him back into his jacket, "I'll make you pay for every minute you keep me in here, damn brat!"

"Belphegor!" Lapine scolded reaching in and pulling the baby out onto her lap.

"The Boss should have killed you then!" Mammon shouted, calming down the minute the Cloud Guardian placed a shiny Euro in his tiny hands, "Should have killed you last night too!"

Lapine's eyes widen at the remark.

She became even more suspicious as the young Storm Guardian reached over to swat at the baby nearly knocking him off the table. Nelke reacted by placing her palm on the baby's back pushing back on the table. The Alaude watched the commotion with a blank expression, trying hard to stay composed as more eyes turned their way. Damn the Varia for embarrassing her at a time like this. Luckily it was only Belphegor and not loud Squalo or the obnoxious boxer. She gave the gardens another quick look over coming to the realization that even Leviathan was missing.

At least Nono was present. Seating at the large table in the middle of the garden. She had not been asked to join him during the meal as that honor was reserved for the heads of the minor famiglia's. The old man did the curtesy of noticing her, raising his glass toward her with a brief nod, she smiled back feeling reassured.

"You saw Xanxus?" Lapine asked once their meal was served.

Belphegor only smiled in response. It was a different smile from his usual sneer. This smile was reticent, doing well to hide his true feelings. Something had happened last night and the only way to find out was to pay for the truth.

"Mammon, I got a fifty note with your name on it—"

"He was arriving as we were dragging the Prince out—"

"You damn brat!" Belphegor hissed stabbing his butter knife next to the Arcobaleno to silence him. The Illusionist raised his palm toward the blond causing the later to halt in his seat. Lapine wasn't sure what it was the Mist Guardian was making the Prince see but I was enough to frighten him into silence.

"Arriving where?"

Mammon extended his free hand toward her waiting for the promised fifty euro note. He pocketed the money before extending his hand once more with no remark. If she wanted him to speak she would have to pay for his answers.

The Arcobaleno would never betray Xanxus. To him this was just a chance to see the spoiled boy punished once and for all.

"Interesting people you work with, kusine, ja." The Brunette mumbled reaching over to flick the tiara on the Ripper's head. "this one is not much fun like this, ja."

The French girl placed another fifty into the Arcobaleno's hand, "Belphegor was practically raised by Xanxus…so its only normal that they frequent the same establishments while they come to Florence."

"Establishments?"

"Whore houses, ja?" The young Lerche blurred out flicking the tiara on Belphegor's head once more. The realization almost knocked the Cloud Guardian out of her chair. She almost didn't hear Mammon explain how Belphegor had a tendency of getting too rough with the girls and often ended up being kicked out right before he ended up killing anyone, "Sadistic little unehelich."

That wasn't what had the Alaude shaken. She was not responsible for the young Prince's actions. What had her feeling suddenly ill was the idea that just as they were being kicked out -her husband was going in to a whore house…in the city. Xanxus hadn't slept in his bed last night but rather—

They say he went in late at night, but no one has seen him since.

Poor little thing.

Mother gone, father is mad, and her husband—

Still holding onto his old ways—

"You can unfreeze him now, Mammon," Her voice was barely above a whisper, "Nelke, did my brother come with you?"

She needed to see her brother.

She was sure that she would succumb to the sorrow she had been trying hard to avoid from her husband being gone. From all the whispering. How was she supposed to do that knowing that he had probably spent his whole time gone with—

No.

She wouldn't think of it.

Not until she was behind closed doors. She could not show any weakness amongst these strangers.

The gardens of La Perla had been a spot of gloom for the Varia boss. A place he had avoided even during his time living in the old manor. He could still remember a time when he and his…the old man's sons used to run around playing pretend to be mobsters. He never thought that out of the four he would be the last of them to frequent the old grounds. The last time he had come here had been way before the incident. It had been Enrico who had demanded the grounds closed off after the death of his own mother, only to be reopened again by the youngest of Nono's sons.

Federico was always so full of melancholy, with his head up in the clouds, always to be found in the gardens.

Out of the three Vongola son's, Federico had been affected the most by his mother's death. In a way, this created a stronger bond between bastard son and the would-be-Vongola Heir. Neither one ever spoke of it, however, one too heartbroken and the other too proud.

Now as he walked through the gardens, the Varia boss couldn't help to think back on the woman he spent the first two years as a Vongola with. He hated her the minute he laid eyes on her. If it hadn't been for her maybe the old man wouldn't have had left him and his ma in the slumps of Rome to rot. His hatred hadn't stop her from caring for him. She had gone out of her way to make sure he was always included, practically demanded that Xanxus be raised at his brothers' sides. The old man's wife saw to his entire education, starting by forcing him to seat hours on end practicing his writing and reading. Laughing at him when he swore he would never need to know those things cause all he would be good for was killing for the Vongola Boss.

Mi aspetto grandi cose di te, young cub, Xanxus scoffed causing the Sword master walking next to him to flinch.

God, he truly hated that woman.

Squalo had no way of knowing that the Varia boss was not paying attention to either him or the other two officers who were with them. They had been trying to explain, and failing miserably, as to why they had decided it was a good idea to bring his wife to the last place he wanted her to be in. He had stopped listening soon after Lussuria said something about how miserable she was becoming, how she had stopped eating, sleeping—

He knew those things would happen.

Xanxus knew because that was exactly what had happened to him, and she had only been gone for two days. He had to leave Verona. He couldn't let his men see him that way.

Three weeks.

Three weeks it too her to come under pressure of his absence. Strong coniglietta…

Squalo saw it first. The small smile that played on his boss' lips. He saw the sudden realization in forever rageful eyes. At first the shark was pissed off, the boss wasn't listening, but smug. They come to a sudden halt, that had Lussuria questioning if the Boss was feeling alright and Leviathan on full defense mode. It only took a moment for Lussuria to understand.

The realization of the motive for his actions felt like someone broke the news to him that the world had gone to shit and he had to do something about it.

Lussuria could read the emotions on the Boss face like a book, not liking how they went from anger to confusion. A frightened beast could cause essential damage to all those around him.

Slowly, Xanxus began to understand, the unfamiliar feelings he had been feeling lately for the Alaude were being reciprocated.

Xanxus knows no love.

He only knows the fear (loyalty) of his men. The pity of those he called family for eight years (before the truth came out to haunt him). Loyalty for the Vongola (despite the betrayal) because he knows that without it he would probably had been a dead man a long time ago.

But this…this feeling…this burning desire, this love…has only been shown to him by her.

The Varia boss continued his walk, his men waited a few passes before they followed. He'd have to have known. From the moment Xanxus would-be Vongola had laid eyes on her he had to have known. He came to another halt as she stood five feet before him. Her face was red, like she had been crying, eyes wide with shock, shaking all over. Frightened little Rabbit, he thought while his red gaze locked with hers.

AN: I do apologize for the long wait, I can't make promises of how long it will take for me to update again. Just know that the story is still alive and will be completed some day. Please review and like. Feed bad is always helpful.

Translations:

Italian:

La Perla- The pearl

Asili nido- Nursery

Mia signora- My lady

Sei mia tutta mia- You're mine, all mine

Contadina- peasent

Mia aspeto grandi cose di te- I expect great things from you

Mostro- monster

Bastardo- bastard

Traidore- traitor

French:

Monsier- sir

Vous ne me laissez pas a nouveau- don't leave me again

German:

Gutten morgen, kusine- good morning cousin

Onkel- uncle

Tante- aunt

Ich wede dich zu tode beiben- I'll bite you to death

Neing- no

Ja- yes

Unehelich- bastard