*Ten years later*

"When I grow up, I want to be exactly like Sophie." Isabella stated with a proud grin on her face. She ran over to her older sister and hugged her tight.

Sophie laughed and tried pushing her away but the ten year-old girl held on tight. "Izzie," she grabbed Isabella's hand and pushed them down.

Isabella pouted. "Sophie." she whined.

"Mom, Izzie's clinging onto me again." Sophie looked at her mother with pleading eyes but everyone could see the crease on her lips. Sophie loved her little sister even though she knew how different they were from each other.

Ashley and Alessio never hid the truth from her. They told her everything and helped her understand it as best as they could. Sophie therefore had never had an issue with the two people who she considered her parents.

Ashley laughed and walked over to them. She knelt down next to Isabella and poked her nose. "You love Sophie, don't you?"

Isabella furiously nodded her head. She grinned at her older sister and reached her hands out for her.

Sophie rolled her eyes and grabbed her sister nonetheless. Despite being only thirteen, Sophie had grew up quickly physically and mentally, always acting older than her age. She knew everything that happened around her and learned at a young age to appreciate everything she got.

Isabella, on the other hand, had always been the baby of the family. She loved everyone and knew how much she was loved. It wasn't hard for her to get her way. It was something that she had picked up from her grandfather.

It wasn't until three years ago that Isabella found the true meaning of sacrifice and the love that a father has for his child.

Nevertheless, she never failed to smile and never failed to put a smile on her loved ones' faces.

Ashley looked at her family with a happy smile. Feeling an arm around her shoulder, she looked up and leaned into her husband's embrace.

"Wake me up if this is just a dream," Alessio muttered. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

Ashley laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Both of them watched as Sophie twirled Isabella around in her arms while Isabella's laugh rang out through the house.

"It's not." Ashley smiled.

The doorbell rang. Sophie placed Isabella down on the ground who ran towards the door.

Rolling her eyes at her daughter, Ashley removed herself from Alessio and walked towards the front door. She smiled, seeing that Isabella had waited for her. She knelt down and Isabella got on her back, gripping her neck.

"Grandpa!" Isabella exclaimed, reaching her hand out as her eyes caught sight of him.

Antonio grinned at his youngest granddaughter and removed her from Ashley's back. He twirled her around. "My little piccola. You've gotten so big." he said, placing her back down.

Ashley laughed and hugged the woman the stood next to him. "Hi Elena."

Elena smiled and hugged her back. Pulling away, she placed her hand in Antonio's and grinned down at Isabella. She handed a box to her. "Happy tenth birthday, my love."

Isabella grinned and grabbed the box. She shouted a thank you before running inside the house, shouting for her sister.

Ashley looked down and raised her eyebrows up at their intertwined hands but refrained from saying anything. She opened the door wider. "Come in."

"Is anyone else here yet?"

Ashley shook her head and smiled. "Just you two so far."

Antonio smiled and touched her cheek gently. "How are you doing, tesoro?"

Ashley looked at Isabella who chatted happily to her sister about her new present. She sighed. "It's been hard. Especially on Izzie."

Alessio came over and grabbed her hand into his. He looked at her father. "She still cries at night and is still sleeping with us." He looked at Isabella with a somber expression. "Her nightmares are getting better though."

Elena sighed and she looked towards the giggling girls. "Dante's death would not be forgotten. We will get our justice."

Antonio nodded his head. He nudged his arm to the kitchen. "Let's not talk about this right now. Shall we?"

Ashley smiled weakly and walked in. She grabbed Isabella's shoulder . "What did nonno and nonna give you?"

Isabella held up a white teddy bear. She grinned and hugged her close to her chest. "Momma?"

"Yeah?"

"He's going to protect me from now on. I'm going to call him Dimitri."

Ashley laughed and pulled out a chair for Isabella who sat there happily. She sat down next to her. "Why Dimitri?"

Isabella looked at the bear. "It reminds me of daddy Dante." she whispered.

Ashley's heart broke for her daughter. She kissed Isabella's head. "Daddy Dante will be so proud of you."

Isabella looked up at her mother through her lashes. "Really?"

Ashley nodded her head and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Really."

"Izzie! Your favorite uncle Frankie is here! I come baring gifts." Frankie shouted as he ran into the kitchen. In one hand held a satchel of wrapped boxes while in the other, he clutched the hand of his four year-old daughter.

"Frankie," William, his fiancee, came in the room with his arms crossed against his chest. "Slow down."

Frankie rolled his eyes and flipped his middle finger up.

"Not now babe. Later." William winked at Frankie who grew as red as a tomato.

"I swear to god, can we kill him already?" Samuel came into view with a scowl on his face. He glared at Frankie. "You almost killed us, you piece of sh—"

"Language." Mayla scolded him, slapping him across his chest with her present for Isabella.

"It seems as though everyone is here." Alessio commented with an exasperated sigh. "Sit down so we can eat."

Everyone took their seats and the food was soon passed around.

Laughters filled the table as they recounted stories about Isabella.

Ashley looked around the table with a smile on her face. Her family.

Everything was perfect.

She looked at the end of the table seeing the vacant seat at the other end of the table and sighed.

Well, almost everything.

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