Napoli, Italia

Lively chatter flowed in every corner of the De Rege restaurant, the far right corner being the sole exception to this. Over there, the only sounds heard were the brisk steps of the waiters and the occasional bustling coming from the kitchen whenever someone from the staff used the backdoor. Two men were seated at a table in the silent corner; one of them was a young man, and sitting across from him was his father.

Impatience had Silvio drumming his fingers against his knee as he waited for his son to speak up; all the while wondering why Dante had dragged them to their family restaurant in the first place. He dropped his gaze to the, now, winkled tablecloth underneath Dante's elbows. He had lost count of the number of times his son re-adjusted his sitting position.

From his peripheral vision, Silvio caught his other son heading toward the kitchen with a new order on his hands. "Giovanni!" Silvio waved for him to come over. "Get your brother a drink."

Giovanni regarded his brother, never before having seen him this anxious. Perhaps Dante would tell their father he would drop out of college like he had done.

"Anything else?" Giovanni asked his father.

"Sì." Silvio pointed a stern finger at Giovanni's aloof expression and said, "Next time you're waiting tables and ask a customer that question, I want you to do it with a smile."

Giovanni showed his father an exceptionally forced smile. "Is this good enough?"

Silvio shook his head at his son and mumbled to Dante, "I think your brother wants to get fired."

Soft laughter slipped past Dante's lips – glad for the exchange as it helped him ease up.

"You don't have to bring me anything!" Dante said to his brother's retreating figure and got a nod in return, then he lowered his voice, "I want to be sober for this."

"First things first, am I going to hear good or bad news?"

"Good news," he said without a shred of hesitance in his voice. "I would say it's good news. It depends on how you look at it. You might say I'm too young or that I'm not ready or don't know what I'm getting myself into but-"

"But it looks like you've already made your mind up."

Dante raised his azure eyes to meet the ones of his father, a slow smile pulling at his lips. He leaned back, sitting upright, and flattened the tablecloth out with his hands. Taking a deep breath, he asked his father if he remembered Bianca.

"How could I not?"

"I'm going to propose to her. I have zero doubts she's the one. None at all."

Dante stared at his father with the eyes of an eagle. There was the slightest hint of a smile to be seen on Silvio's visage. Would he laugh at him? Waiting for any sign of approval from his father felt like an eternity.

His son had to say no more. It seemed like it was only yesterday when Silvio visited his own father for this exact conversation. Elated, he told him, "I'll always stand behind your decisions, Figlio."

(Son)

When his father stood up with his arms wide open, Dante rose to his full length and hugged him. Receiving a few heavy-handed claps on the back, a wide smile broke out on Dante's face. All of his worries drowned in the sound of Silvio's joyous laughter. It felt good to know that his father approved of his choice.

"What happened?" Giovanni asked as soon as he locked eyes with Dante.

Silvio stepped back and turned his head sideways, facing Giovanni, and said, "Your brother is settling down."

"Bianca," Dante clarified, noting the slight frown on his brother. "I'm going to propose to her this week."

Giovanni's frown disappeared, a raising of the eyebrow taking its place. "Why bother getting engaged? It's not as if you two haven't already been planning the wedding."

Silvio held up his hand as if to say he has had enough of the nonsense coming out of Giovanni's mouth. "I pity the girl who has to marry you." Silvio sighed, then looked at the plates on Giovanni's hands. "What are you still doing here? Go and bring the food to the customer," he ordered. As soon as Giovanni was out of earshot, he said to Dante, "Don't become like him."

"I won't." Dante chuckled. "Sometimes I can't tell whether he's serious or just joking around."

* * *

Roma, Italia

A bell chimed above Dante's and Bianca's heads as they walked out of a remote restaurant, having just finished a pleasant dinner over candlelight. She looped her arm around Dante's strong arm, making him cast a look at her and causing her mocha brown eyes to twinkle with a smile. When he told her they would go on a date, Bianca thought it would be something simple yet romantic, but, with this, he had exceeded her expectations. She had always talked about how much she wanted to visit the city of love.

Wanting to tease her boyfriend, she did an overexaggerated sigh and rested her head against his upper arm. "I have to say, I'm extremely disappointed."

"Meaning?"

"You always give me red roses on a date." She extended her arms, showing him her empty palms. "But look at this. Not even a petal. Who knows what it'll take to lift my spirits again?"

Dante chuckled, fully aware and familiar with her teasing. "I don't think you'll ever recover from this blow."

"Me neither," Bianca said and lifted her head from his arm. Her eyes ran over the cobblestones they walked on before sliding her gaze back to Dante. "Tonight has been fantastic."

"Already giving me a review when the night isn't over?" His laugh contained a tinge of nervousness.

Bianca lightly knitted her brows. "I hope you're not bringing me somewhere else to eat because it feels as if I'm pregnant."

"And you also look like it." Dante stared at her flat stomach, causing him to hear her giggle.

This was one of the many things Dante loved about Bianca. How she was able to laugh at herself. How she never failed to have him laugh along with her. How simply talking to her made him happy.

For the thousandth time that evening, his besotted gaze fell on Bianca. Thick brown locks framed her face, the colour slightly darker than her eyes. Her smile faltered when she noticed his staring, her features morphing into a stern look, a light blush accompanying it.

"Stop that!"

"Stop what?" Dante shook his head, not realizing what he was doing.

"You always do this. You never look. You stare," Bianca said softly. "I don't think you even know that you're doing it."

Bianca stopped in her tracks when Dante did and sent her a quizzed look. His consuming gaze made her drown in his blue eyes. It tempted her to point out that he was still doing it. Dante caressed her velvety hair and cherry cheeks as his arm snaked around her waist to pull her closer. Soon, his lips were on hers. Slow, yet charged.

"I can't help it," he said, his eyes turning innocent.

The sight of his cheeks flushing reminded her why she fell for him. Daunting on the outside but benign on the inside. At least, with her he was.

"Well, don't change it. Don't ever change."

The young couple continued their stroll through the city, joining the buzz as they reached the usual tourist routes. Dante mentally hit himself on the head. He passed up two perfect opportunities to propose to Bianca. The first time during dinner and the second time in the cosy street. Every time Dante thought to open his mouth, he'd rethink his phrasing and eventually, retreated back into silence. It was an ongoing cycle.

Bianca noticed the lines of frustration beneath the surface of Dante's exterior. After knowing him for so long, it was easy to tell. She brought her other hand to his arm, discreetly asking for his attention. He faced her and immediately showed her a smile.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh," he said softly as a chuckle slipped past his lips. "No, it's nothing."

"Oh, really?" Bianca spoke in a higher pitch than usual, not believing him for a second.

"Sì, really."

"Then why do you look so serious?"

"Please, don't ask. You're going to make a liar out of me."

"I can't make you into one if you already are one."

Dante grinned from ear to ear. "Will you promise to forgive me if I tell you the truth later tonight."

"I'll think about it." She kissed him on the cheek.

Dante raised his eyebrow at her. "What was that for?"

"I'm just happy."

Once they reached the Spanish steps, Bianca requested that they take a rest from all the walking to which Dante agreed. They climbed the steps until they were at the very top – where they had a magnificent view of Saint Peter's Basilica. Dante grabbed Bianca by the waist and lifted her in the air – causing her to squeal – and placed her on the stone surface. Her feet dangled above the ground as she sighed in relief.

"Come," she said while patting the spot beside her. "Don't you want to sit?"

"I'm good here." Dante stepped forward so he would be between her legs, and rested his hands on her thighs.

"I bet you are."

Bianca overlooked the scenic view, thinking to herself how wonderful tonight had been. "I wish every day could be like this."

"You love it here that much?"

"Well, yes, but that's not what I meant." She let out a faint laugh. "I have you all to myself right now. You're sometimes so busy back at home – doing the things your father wants you to – so a day like this is...well, it's nice."

Dante let her words sink in. He was over the moon to hear how she wanted his attention but at the same time, guilt coursed through his body for not spending enough time with her. There wasn't much he could do though. He had to work hard if he wanted to secure a capo position in the family.

"I do have a solution for spending more time with each other."

Her eyes sparkled. "Do tell."

This is it. Dante took in a deep breath that came out shaky. He removed his hands from her and stepped back. Suddenly, his mouth felt too dry and his body temperature too high. It took a second before he regained his cool – or at least, what was left of it.

"Dante?"

He went on his knee and said what had been swirling around his head for a long time, "I have an inkling you already know what I'm about to ask you – given the position I'm in right now – but if it's not too much to ask, I'd like to tell you what resides in my heart."

Bianca's lips tipped up ever so delicately. She slid off the surface, wanting to stand on her feet for this moment. And when she did, his eyes displayed a certain softness whilst possessing the striking quality she grew to love.

Dante continued, "I want you to be my morning, and I want you to be my night. My heart dances at the sight of you. You are the one for me. I want to be the man who fulfills all of your wishes." He held out a ruby ring and asked, "Would you do me the honour of being my wife, Bianca Mallardo?"

By now, her eyes were glistening. Bianca bridged the distance between them, an airy and melodic laugh coming out of her before she kissed him. "Sì, I will do you the honour," she said, her lips brushing against his smiling lips.

Dante's body relaxed into a long sigh once he heard her answer. He rose to his full length, immediately embracing her with all he could. Then, he leaned back and made it official by putting the engagement ring on her finger.

The end