The Queen Genovese

“You sure you need me there for that conversation?” His smile was impossible to contain. Arching a brow at his wife because he actually tried that conversation not long ago. In very few words, usually his style. Of course Sienna had not heard any of it and still found her way to their bedroom. Something else he never got use to – sleeping next to a small person that loved tossing and turning. But he liked his space, so much that he would wonder off to a downstairs couch or another guest room for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. If he were lucky no one would notice his disappearance until breakfast. “Alright .. It might work, but I’m going on the record now and say it hasn’t been that bad?” It was beyond funny to him.

As if on cue, Reese could hear his name being called down stairs. Rowan sometimes could be impatient, and Reese wondered was he ever like that. Barely down a step or two, he stopped when he heard Jennifer call to him as well. His hand rested on the wooden banister he listened to her suggestion with heedful eyes. Reese let her words sink in, already understanding what she wanted. And he never questioned her, Genovese knew how to protect their own better than anyone else. “Hm,” Reese ducked his head down after hearing how she’d be alone tonight. “It’s gotten to that point hasn’t it?” He asked more himself than to Jennifer. Some people just didn’t know when to stop even if that meant putting their own life on the line. With a quick nod of his head, Reese accepted that plan of action. He wouldn’t divulge of any details or say anything further until later when alone. “–I’m gonna make breakfast this morning, since change of plans..” That natural warmness returned to his eyes. “Did you want anything in particular and before you say it, coffee is not breakfast food and I’m not making it.”

Lightly shaking her head, more than amused with her husband, Jennifer put her right hand onto her hip not knowing whether should she laugh or not, but it was simply Reese at his best. Always trying to get his way out of stuff like that, and more than ever she wondered when Sienna would ask the inevitable, how kids are made? It was one thing to go through that with Rowan, but with their baby girl.. oh, Reese would lose it. “Well, it hasn’t, but,” that twenty year old girl woke up in her, “is it so awful of me that I want you just for myself for at least one morning in the week?” Yes, she was a mother, the role she loved the most, but she was also a wife, and even more important, she was woman in love. Still, because despite the fact that fifteen years had passed since they fell in love, she was still in love with Reese with all of her being. Unlike with many other couples, marriage and children didn’t ruin anything between the two of them, they were even more stronger, more passionate and more in love with each other than ever before. True, just like every marriage, their also had its ups and downs, but their love for each other was never questioned. “We should so go on some getaway weekend, just the two of us? And,” she wishfully laughed at the thought, “never ever leave the bed.”

With a look of defeat in his tired blue eyes, Reese watched as Rowan ran down the stairs passing his mother. There were good days and not so good days when Rowan wanted to be good. He was capable, he just chose not to be - why did that remind him of someone, they really were far too much alike. That look of defeat easily turned into a short snort. Just what he needed his wife to come in and save the day or rather save him. “I was this close– this close babe..” He was tired, but more than anything amused by his son’s actions. Reese never knew how to handle defeat well, even from his own children.

“Sounds like a plan?” Reese answered with a soft chuckle. But he’d accept it for now as being able to steal a moment or two for himself sounded rather nice. With having children, all of Reese’s routine went out of the window. In fact once having them there was no routine to be had. In the start it was frustrating but he understood it came with the territory and he wanted this life. Some parts of it however, he could do without. Reese could hear the enthusiasm in her voice, and truthfully he wanted to ignore it all, just for the day. Putting a bit of space between the two, to fully look at his wife’s face he could tell today would be one of those days. There was a definite change in him, in the past he didn’t care about a thing. He wasn’t careless per se, but he didn’t spend time thinking about his actions as long as the message got across nicely. Now he found himself walking a thin line and he of course hated it. Dare say, he missed those days, but he loved his family more.

“I’ll go have breakfast with Ro and then I’m going on a quick run.” He spoke as if everything were normal for them. A normal morning in their household, breakfast with his son and a kiss from his wife. If only Reese’s eyes matched his tone of voice. It was like clock work, when she became upset, it always managed to tick him off. Sometimes a quick kiss on the cheek or a babe I’m going out for a run could mean he was going to break someone’s legs or worse. Whatever was necessary to make wrongs –right. “–But I wanted to see Sienna when she gets up, she could have breakfast with us?” That charming smile of his appeared, if it wasn’t obvious enough that little girl had stolen his heart.

Quickly giving her husband a small nod while a light smile followed. “Yeah, but you should wake her up,” softly replying as if her only concern today were her family’s breakfast, Jennifer noticed just how different Reese’s voice was. It was normal, the words that he was letting out, but the tone of his voice, it was colored quite seriously. The thing was, a devil was onto them, and despite all of her efforts, it was following their every step, getting deeper into their lives, the life of the whole family. “By the way,” Jennifer looked at Reese, “I think we should try talk to her? About her morning visits to our bedroom?” Their four year old loved waking up her parents in the dawn, getting a cuddle session with them, only to fall asleep quickly in between them, which Jennifer, of course, loved, but she also wanted to have a morning or two with Reese only. It were things like those that reminded her how in some ways, they were just an ordinary family. And the young boss was thankful for it.

Early November. 

Finding love was quite the adventure, in fact he was still on that ride and enjoyed it more with each day. How unexpected was it to find someone that could bear his darkness enough to see his light – and there was a fair amount he held onto as it was all he knew. Those long struggles were a distant memory, fatherhood had taken him by storm. The weight of that darkness couldn’t be felt when he looked into the eyes of someone so innocent. Half him, half her, but still his wife’s twin. Reese felt a bit more grounded and he was certainly mesmerized by his Sienna.

– Although the tension was running high in the house. Reese felt it, and was sure Jennifer had with the special elections coming up. Certain trial dates coming up far too quickly. The tension could be felt by the two, however neither would show it in front of Sienna or Rowan. It was just a normal Saturday for them and mommy and daddy acted no different for them. He still was there to tuck them in at night and was one of the first faces they saw in the morning. Could there be a day when they wouldn’t see him or Jennifer - it was a thought he held in the back of his mind. Once unimaginable, but with the changing times even he could not be too sure, or too cocky. The times were changing. Powers shifting and the family he started to realise was going to have to make some necessary moves to stay in control of it all.  And if there was one constant factor in all of this, he’d do anything to make sure his family was safe. Joseph’s wise words now coming to fruition, Reese was learning more and more on how to separate the two lives. One had to have many faces in this lifestyle and after watching his wife take on that task - how right Joseph was. But also it was his job to help make the transition smoother. Nevertheless they’d both be learning how to be in this world together.

– The tooth fairy couldn’t possibly know the worth of the Steele-Genovese tooth, it was a discussion he didn’t think he’d be having with a six year old. Correction six and half. Yet, somehow it was his morning along with running after a toddler that did not like clothes no matter how nice. They just had to have that in common and how it came to bite him in the ass later. These were actually mornings he enjoyed, before everything else would set in and he had to put on another face. By no means was fatherhood a piece of cake, but he definitely preferred it. After calling Rowan by his full name, it usually did the trick and Reese didn’t know how he felt about having a dad tone. Somethings about fatherhood did leave him uneasy. Rowan could do nothing but laugh uncontrollably and wonder over to a spent Reese - they shared the same smile. “I hope you have this much energy for your mother tomorrow.” Of course it was only met with more laughter from Rowan. There was no way Reese would miss a morning of this.

For someone who used to was known for their rather long sleeping habits, Jennifer had certainly forgotten that feeling. Nowadays, she sometimes was even getting up earlier than her husband. It all started with the birth of their son, but then her career took over and to find the right balance between her role as a mother and wife, and the role of the boss, certain things had to suffer, sleep being one of them. But, Jennifer wasn’t complaining, never would because she truly had everything she wanted, and difficulties, well, they were expected, no? It was certainly quite easier for a man to be the boss, to be the one to take care of the business, while the family matters were left in the hands of his wife. Yes, it was indeed easier, but it wasn’t a life that was meant for Jennifer - and she would never want it. She loved power, the feeling of being the one in charge, pulling all the strings, but she knew that nothing of that would be possible without having such a strong support from Reese, in every way she could imagine. 

When she heard the commotion coming up from the upstairs, she knew that one of her children, definitely Rowan if you asked her, had to be up, because even though Jennifer loved trouble, her son was a troublemaker, very much like his father. Sometimes it seemed to her that trouble and energy were running through his veins, never being able to be stopped, but even more so, Rowan knew that that smile of his, could get him away with anything. Sienna on the other hand, was very much like Jennifer, from her looks all the way to her personality, and it was incredible to see just how much she had her father wrapped around her little finger. It was certain that their lives were enriched due to their children, having them being the biggest adventure of their lives, the most frightening and serious one at the same time. When it was just the two of them, things were easier, it was easier to go after things they wanted, because who could do something to Reese & Jennifer? Many tried, all of them failed, but now the stakes were higher. Rowan and Sienna, they were their everything, their reason to live, to fight, to kill. They were everything their love was and meant, in flesh and body. 

She gave him plenty to think about. The schools to consider - along with every other important decision they would have to make. Reese definitely felt she she was right. He just didn’t want to get his hopes up, let alone hers with them discussing their child’s future. How could he not notice the excitement in her voice as it matched his own. It was all something to think about, and soon enough they’d be in Athens and would have their answers. From there everything would change. “Sounds like a plan?” Their children learning Italian in their first years was he expected. He imagined it’d be something close to a sin if they went their entire lives not knowing it. However, it was something he couldn’t wait to witness himself. Would they grasp it quickly? Having all the conversations with their grandparents, it was all so easy to imagine. Plus it was comforting in knowing they would have an actual family to grow close to, already they would have a better life than him. “If–” Nodding along to every word of hers, of course this made him laugh because she was never shy with her words. “I have a few conditions, but we can work something out,” Reese shrugged, only teasing her. The topic of security was inescapable when a Genovese was in question. He never imagined his future kids needing bodyguards, it was very different from how he grew up. “That would get on my nerves, to have someone follow my every move. It makes me appreciate the freedom I got from my parents.” Granted his parents had very busy careers which was why he became so independent. Just thinking of someone always being there left him feeling smothered. But it was for their own protection, being in the lifestyle such as theirs it was necessary. “So you knowingly escaped those that were put in place to protect you – why doesn’t that surprise me Genovese?” He didn’t blame her he would have done the same, yet knowing her record with danger was it the smartest choice. Placing judgement aside, Reese thought of the different times he witnessed Joseph’s temper. Sometimes directed at him, he realized it was something Genovese fought with keeping in control. Just when you thought you scratched the surface, they left you with another mystery. Never could you be bored with this family. “What? Actually I was thinking of what excuse to say to your mother so I could leave early. And of course I thought of you, that’s why I had to get out of there, that room with those people. All of a sudden I felt like I couldn’t breathe–” He opted for the truth. With such a confession there wasn’t a bit of sadness to it since his attempts to leave her in the past had been pointless. “You were right, I wanted to run.” He still ended up right there with her, having to face his feelings. Reese remembered how the air left him when he heard her voice that night in the gardens. Thinking it was god’s idea of a cruel joke. Reese took his time ending that kiss of theirs, but he had to or it could lead to other things. And believe it or not he didn’t want to miss their flight to Athens, “What am I going to do with you?” Reese touched her chin, a grin at his lips he found those brown eyes of hers. She was the one that was unbelievable, always kept him guessing. Getting to his feet, he felt the need to put some distance between the two. It wasn’t that he didn’t have the willpower but there were far too many things they still had to do. Reese held out his hand to pull her up as well. “I know I’m irresistible and all, but you should probably eat something –although it’s more than likely cold by now, and we still have somewhere else to be.”

Usually this kind of back and forth banter could go on forever, if they allowed it. But her response was spot on, and he had no desire to dispute it. “No, I know it won’t stop them. I kind of hope they won’t go down the exact path we did.” Shaking his head, not too often did Reese look at himself and realize how stubborn he was. Naturally, his kid would be - it was in their DNA. Thus it was pointless to imagine them being able to control their kids in any way. Reese could only hope love was kind to them. “Probably not, but would you really harm the father of your child?” Innocently, speaking. Reese had even more time to calm himself from that bit of laughter. Truly never a dull moment. “Okay, I was definitely joking about the kindergarten thing. And we don’t even know if they are coming yet? Can we get to Athens first and then plan their first years?” Her excitement made him smile, yet they weren’t even sure there was a baby. Reese could be hopeful but he was also not one to get his hopes up. He found himself going back and forth with excitement and the other possible reality. All current paths led to Jennifer being pregnant but what if she wasn’t. “That is a lot,” Reese was taking it all in, of what would happen with their child. “Did that ever bother you? Having someone always there?” With all the talk of security, Reese at one point thought it was excessive. But, that was a thought he had a long time ago, while working for Gambino. He was new to the city and wondered why on earth did two spoiled kids need twenty four hour security. Once it set in what he was apart of - a lot of his previous questions now answered. Before he knew it he was a part of the talks to keep those kids safe. But to have his own, where would he even start? “I know, I like to be dramatic.” He was more often than he would ever admit it. But he understood how Joseph worked. Not claiming to be an expert or anything but with Joseph it was the little gestures one should notice. “And I know that too, he never lets me forget how without notice I can go missing, and he’s always so casual about it. It’s terrifying with how calm he always is. –And I’ve been around Gambino, and Colomba, and neither one of them can threaten your life like your father.” Speaking as if it was all normal, which for them it was normal. His and Jennifer’s father relationship was a tricky one, but he knew there was respect there. Reese nodding to her words while she got comfortable in his arms, they were suppose to be packing for Athens. Getting ready for the next part of their trip, but this moment seemed perfect as it was. That night she spoke of, he remembered not wanting to go at all. The need for closure unwanted. The safest thing for him to do was to focus on other things like Philadelphia, or Brooke. Reese somewhere along the way stopped trusting his heart - what made him, him was lost for a moment. “Thank god, Genovese.” Giving her a smile that finally reached his eyes, he placed a kiss to her temple. It was pointless, he’d always love her. He rested his chin on her shoulder for moment, truly excited for what was to come with her. “Damn, how did I get so lucky?” Sealing those words with a simple kiss.

“Well?” Her response could be seen as perfect, for a person that wasn’t him. Crossing his arms in front of him, he let that response sit with him for a moment. “I’m sorry what were you about to say?” Of course he found this all funny, he didn’t even care what others thought. Yet he was quite interested in knowing what she would say. Reese tried his best to cover the increasing grin, his eyes gave away how he appreciated the reminder. “Fine. Let’s cancel dating altogether. I can live with that.” Whatever to help him sleep at night, he was open to. It was a bit frightening that he was starting to think like a dad. He felt a bit uneasy at the thought of putting a car seat in his Audi and of course baby proofing everything else. But it was hilarious to imagine him being so protective, he almost felt bad for their future children. “As if I need to ask your father—” To know how truthful her words were. He almost fell over. Reese could hardly make it through that sentence before he started laughing. Shortly after he collected himself, avoiding Jennifer’s eyes. “God, have I told you how grateful I am for your parents? Also I love you.” A quick save, but she walked right into that one. Truthfully, it was easier to joke around about everything for Reese. Something he realized he wouldn’t be able to do for much longer. If she was pregnant, he would have to think about what kind of parent he would be and all the changes to come. It was overwhelming and scary when factoring in their lifestyle. Yet he welcomed the challenge, “What I can imagine is our kid being surrounded by their family. You and I are already thinking of their protection, look at us. Probably thinking of the security detail when they go to kindergarten. Imagine what your parents will do, your siblings and everyone else. I have my worries, but knowing we have so many people in our corner, I can breath a bit easier. They’ll be well taken care of.” She had to know him, he didn’t work to well with fears. Her latest confession was surprising. Perhaps he knew her parents were more accepting of him, that time Joseph tried to kill him was so far in the past. Those bruises long gone. However it was nice to hear it. “So David gets the good guy compliment and I got Reese is Reese? Your father has such a way with words.” Genuinely curious, yet Reese had been with this family long enough to know how they worked with compliments. “I guess that is as good as I’m going to get. And I can’t get anything in writing with this family so he’ll probably conveniently forget he ever said that. Story of my life.” Reese shook his head, it was all amusing to him. He wasn’t so much surprised her family took out bets on them. Reese had been a part of this family long enough to learn them and their ways. “That doesn’t surprise me at all, but were they wrong?” Not in the slightest. 

“Me in the house with not one but three Genovese women, huh? I did not think that through..” Reese sighed loudly. He wasn’t even speaking to Jennifer, but to himself in general as the image went through his head. He was sure he could handle it, but did he want to test those waters so soon? Of course not. But he couldn’t say that aloud to Jennifer, “What are you trying to say? That I’m wrapped around your finger?” Reese tried to sound offended. He was slightly - but he also didn’t want to admit that perhaps there was some truth to her statement. “–on second thought don’t bother to answer that. For your information, I plan to be fair and stern, like first rule? They can’t date until they are your age, that’s fair?” He had a feeling Joseph would agree with him, which he realized may be a card he could use in the future. It also hit him at once, that he wouldn’t be able to get any advice on parenthood from his own parents. But, in typical Reese fashion he quickly shoved that thought out of his mind. It made him breath a bit easier knowing Jennifer was on the same page as he. Her safety came in the first place, but he was also well aware of Jennifer ending up in the craziest scenarios. Sometimes he could predict them, sometimes he was just as surprised as the rest. But if he learned anything from Sean, you have to stay on your feet around a Genovese. They may have been wiser than most, but danger followed them around like an old friend. “I don’t know? something tells me we should give ourselves more credit than this. We’ve survived a lot, I think we can handle what else comes our way, like a baby.” Reese had to take a short breath after that. While he was excited about the future, he was definitely nervous. “Your parents?” They were something he hadn’t thought much about. It’d be a lie to say they didn’t make him nervous too. “You don’t think they’ll see this as too fast?” It was a thought. Reese could only imagine what they’d think after learning about them marrying in Santorini, and to add a baby to that. “That’s something I’d like to see, Michael interacting with children.” The guy had no filter. Granted Michael already had two from a previous marriage, but Reese didn’t know that guy or how different he was from the current one. 

There was some confused on his face once he realized what he had said to her. Babies, he couldn’t believe the word came out of his mouth. Reese was always the advocate for them taking things slow, even slower if possible. Yet that was never their reality or pace they tended to take, but still he had to try. “Well what if you’re carrying more than one? Anything’s possible right?” He looked around them, at the entire suite. Their life together was more than enough for him to believe those words of his. He had to laugh at her teasing words, truly she was the jokester of the two. Reese could feel his hands trembling at the thought of it all. What had they done? For the most part he had fallen quiet, which wasn’t strange on his part at all. His eyes fell on Jennifer the moment she moved closer to him. He couldn’t stop looking at her - taking turns from those brown eyes to her stomach. That signature grin of his present behind his eyes. Reese simply needed a moment or two to process it all. When she found his hands, he knew she’d feel them trembling. He thought about hiding it, feeling the need to be stronger for them both. Reese could not imagine what was going on in her head. Coming to from his own thoughts, they both at the very same time looked at her stomach. With a simple nod, he agreed with her on them marrying in Santorini and leaving for New York sooner. “Also no more jumping off of cliffs, agreed?” Pregnant or not. He made sure to catch her eyes as his were serious. But what was he most excited to witness, them having his eyes or maybe Jennifer’s. Honestly, he couldn’t pinpoint one thing, and he still didn’t want to get his hopes up. “It’s possible. But I’ve always loved your brown eyes–.” To see them on a little boy or girl that was a mix of them would probably take his breath away. He remembered noticing Jennifer’s for the first time, when they were in central park, as she revealed to him her desire to take her father’s place. “With your looks and my sense of humor, they’ll be a handful.” Probably knowing how to talk their way out of everything. Reese closed off that bit of space between the two and kissed her for the first time on the lips. “But any combination of us will be a handful so..,” Cupping her face in his hands, he laughed into the second small kiss - showing how excited he was. “Are we really sure we know what we’re getting ourselves into?” The third was a kiss to her forehead. Again Reese thought of how their story was never predictable nor ordinary.

“Fair enough,” Reese prayed it would not go that far, to put him in a place between his brother and his fiancee.  Still, he wasn’t certain who would be standing beside him - but he would be lying if he did not think of his younger brother first. But he appreciated Jennifer in allowing Nathan to be a part of the day. Funny, who would have took Reese for a traditionalist? He somewhat cringed at the idea of him following anyone’s tradition. Also he could not believe he was about to get married. This was not the same person that came to New York years ago, always thinking and believing he needed no one. His entire world changed and no matter how much he tried to fight it, he matured and gained things he never imagined he could have. To have a family of his own was something out a dream, for people like him. Perhaps, her nerves were getting the best of her, Reese could not focus on one emotion to feel. Truthfully, the entire time she spoke his eyes glued to the wall in front of him. Off in trance, it was as if it was all setting in what was happening to them. The trance broke when he heard her ask was it selfish of them to bring a child into the world, specifically their world. How was he to answer that, Reese had not a clue. Maybe she was right, that their lives were far too dangerous for a family. And yet, Reese thought of how they never let the chaos of it all stop them from being together, from building a future. “Honestly, I don’t know if it is right to bring a kid into our world. I’m a target, I’m a capo..” Reese mindlessly shrugged at the declaration. He didn’t care what could happen to him. “–but you’ll become an even bigger one once you take his place.” There was a hint of sadness in his tone. The need to protect her would be even stronger with her accepting the position. It was a lot to consider, and he didn’t want to make promises he couldn’t keep. But a family was what they wanted. “Exactly, there is always risks. Whether you’re boss of the family or a lawyer in some firm something could happen to us. I don’t want to live my life afraid to take the next step. Whatever happens, we’ll face it. that I can be sure of, like we’ve done everything else. I’m terrified of being someone’s father but I want this baby, or babies, I don’t care?” He hated the uncertainty of it all, it scared the hell out of him because what if they were making the wrong choices. But who knew the answers to everything? He too released an empty laugh, but the spark of hope returned soon after. Finally, he looked up at Jennifer from her place on the bed. “I said with you, I’d take on anything, I meant that.”