Zach and Emilia walked around the gardens out front , it was very calm and peaceful. Carlos and Rose lived in a secluded area and it was just relaxing.

"So childhood trauma?" Zach finally asked, he got the impression that was the reason she didn't talk and why Damon of all people was super overprotective.

It was very un-damon like.

Emilia stared at him, sensing her discomfort Zach spoke again "my mother isn't the best" he admitted feeling bad he spoke about her.

Emilia gave him a confused look, she took out her notebook and leaned it on the wall to write a response.

How come? Are you okay now? What is your dad like, he's not bad to is he?

"Id rather not talk about how, just she was neglectful, she never hit me and I don't think it was entirely her fault, she had a lot going on. I'm okay now. And yes my dad is okay. I'm adopted you see, that's why I snapped at you, it wasn't about you not being part of the family, it was about me. Family gatherings are always stressful, I keep waiting for my dad to say he doesn't want me anymore or for Xavier to tell me I'm not his brother. Damn I'm sorry I'm going on to much now" Zach explained.

Emilia responded by hugging him. After the hug she then quickly wrote

I'm sorry you had to go through that, yes I have trauma as you loosely put it but please don't tell, only Damon and my dad know

"Oh of course, I'll never tell anyone and if you want to talk we can, wait do you have your phone with you" Zach replied.

Emilia nodded, she didn't like using her phone hence why she used a notebook, it was easier for her too. She hadn't used a phone until about a month ago.

She still didn't think she deserved one or anything really.

"Great, can I put my number in your phone" he asked.

She nodded and gave him her phone.

Zach was quick to put his number in, he paused as a message appeared on her screen

"Um you got a message" he said awkwardly handing it back.

Emilia opened it and saw it was Sophia on the group chat

Emilia was confused by this

Emilia was confused so she did as Sophia said and a tiny smile made a way onto its face.

Whoever Lexi's mystery bully was had commented.

It's not professional to bring your family along for a job interview especially if it's at a strip club

"What" Zach asked.

Emilia decided to show him and Zach and as soon as he read it he burst out laughing

"Oh my god, that's amazing" he said laughing.

"I wonder if she knows" he added through laughter.

Emilia smiled it would be funny to see her face.

"Come on Dante and Marco will love this" Zach said cheerily. He didn't even realise that he had taken her hand and was happily walking back to the back garden.

This time when they reached the back garden, Mason, Xavier, Enzo and Damon had joined Marco, Dante, Matteo and Lexi by the pool.

Alessandro, Adrian, Leo, Lucy, Carlos and Rose all sat at the other end on the sofas drinking and talking.

Zach hesitated before they were about to reach the boys, and Lexi.

"Am I okay to share this" he asked.

Emilia nodded, she wouldn't be suprised if he had something to do with it in all honesty.

"We are back" Zach yelled at his cousins and brother.

"Ugh shut your fucking mouth" Xavier said.

Damons eyes went straight to their hands but then he turned darkly to Xavier "watch your mouth, I don't want to hear that kind of language" he warned.

"He's just a bully, I don't know how I put up with him sometimes" Zach was dramatic about it all, enjoying the fact his brother had just been told off.

"Come sit with me Emilia" Damon said ignoring his cousins and their antics.

Emilia nodded and sat by Damon who was glad to have her back.

"Hey you can't abandon me like that" Zach said sitting down in the other spare seat next to Marco.

Marco still hadn't accepted the twins. He simply didn't like them.

"We have something to show you guys" Zach said looking at Emilia as gain for her approval. She nodded so he continued.

"Um well actually it might not be a good idea" Zach said realising that his brother would think it was cruel, Enzo wouldn't find it amusing and Marco seemed to want to be anywhere but here, and the rest were her brothers, no doubt they would get angry at him.

Emilia realized Zach's hesitancy was because he didn't know how they would react so she quietly got out her phone and showed Damon the comment section.

Damon of course had seen it. He had been the one to write it.

Dante had wanted to write something and Damon looked over and saw it wasn't good enough so he had corrected it.

Reading it back it was quite funny.

He would have to tell dad later about the pictures because although she was dressed her poses weren't appropriate for online or at all.

"Its not professional to bring your family along for a job interview especially if it's at a strip club " Damon read out loud.

Dante burst out laughing.

Matteo laughed slightly.

"Guys it's not funny" Mason said but he too started to laugh.

Lexi's face went red. She was pissed now, Emilia dared to show him that comment, she would get payback.

The cousins were confused but had smiles on their faces, all put Noah who was laughing again.

From across the garden the adults looked on

"It's lovely to see all my grandkids in one place and they are all getting along" Rose said.

"Kids it's time for food" she then called.

Emilia was looking forward to trying Rose's food since everyone said it was good.

Lexi was glaring daggers at her sister for humiliating her like that. She would get her revenge after.

They all walked over to their parents. Damon was trailing behind slightly as he was talking to Dante.

Emilia saw he was talking but still behind her so she took it as an opportunity. She wrote out

Do you have to walk behind me like a stalker

Damon looked up and read the note, even Dante who was stood right next to him saw and he laughed. He didn't know that it was a continuous joke between them.

"Why you little brat" Damon said and sped up his walk towards her.

She quickly wrote:

Like you could do anything if you caught me

And also walked faster.

She saw Alesandro talking to Carlos as he helped him with the food. She didn't think to much about it, she simply ran and his behind him especially since Damon had nearly caught her.

"What is it bambina" Alesandro asked pulling her into a side hug.

He already knew it was Damon and they were both doing the stalker joke or something like that.

. Emilia quickly wrote a reply

He's trying to be scary but he really just looks weird and he made me run with my arm.

Alesandro chuckled when he read it, even Carlos who looked over and saw it, smiled to himself. She had no idea who they were and it was amusing yet adorable.

"Oh no we can't have that can we" Alesandro said.

Emilia shook her head.

"Damon stop messing with Emilia" he said to Damon who was stood waiting.

"You little brat" he muttered when he realized she had told on him.

Emilia flipped the pages back to when she called him a stalker.

"God your such a brat, get over here" he said.

Emilia did as he said once she realised he didn't have any bad intentions.

"Remember how I said I'd get you back later well that payback has just gotten a whole lot worse" he whispered.

A flash of fear crossed her face, only Damon noticed but he was quick to reassure her

"Remember you're safe with me darling"

he whispered so only she heard, he wanted to reassure her, he wouldn't do anything to hurt her or put her in danger. Once she nodded and he saw she was okay, he spoke again

"Now you little brat, let's go get some, I can't have you go hungry" he then guided her away to the table of food.

"So that's a different version of Damon" Carlos said after his two grandchildren dissapeared.

"It is isn't it" Alesandro smiled fondly.

"I like it. He's more human" Carlos said. He had been the Mafia boss himself long ago and was certainly cruel but seeing Damon in his element was almost like getting tortured yourself. He was glad his eldest grandson was finally not a sadistic bastard 24/7.