Five years later....

Gabriel looked out over the skyline, from his office in New York. He kept thinking about how much his life had changed. As far as anyone was concerned. Gabriel Esposito died that night in the fire, but Gabe Edwards had been reborn. He looked at his wedding photo on his desk. Next to the birth of his little princess, his wedding to his songbird was the happiest day of his life. As he looked at the face of the man picture, he realized that he finally gotten used to having a different face.

He gave his life to Calliope, his beloved songbird. In doing so, he kept his promise. He gave up his dark empire, and they started a whole new life. He was also determined to keep his other promise to her. Even as adults, the mafia would never be a part of their children's lives.

Between all of the money that both he, and Rosy saved over the years. It was enough for the three of them to move to New York. It was soon after that, he was able to start an architectural firm. His designs were so unique, that it only took a couple of years for his business to flourish.

They had also found a special wild horse preserve for Onyx, outside of Pisa. It was a place for wild horses that had been illegally taken, or purchased. It was difficult for Cali to give up the horse, but it was her idea. She thought he would be happier there, as he would have a lot more room to run free.

Onyx had gone through too much conditioning to ever survive in the wild again. But there was plenty of open grassland for him to now run free. Besides, it would have been next to impossible to try and bring the horse to the US. However Gabriel did get his little princess her own little black pony, for her fourth birthday.

As he kept looking out over the skyline, his phone rang. The inner office phone ID showed that it was his secretary, Karen.

"Hello?" He replied, as he picked up the phone.

"Mr. Edwards." Karen answered. "Your most important clients are here."

"Send them in Karen." Gabriel told her as he couldn't help but smile. Soon the door swung open.

"Daddy!" His daughter, Ouriana cried, as she ran into his arms. He picked her up, and spun her around as they both giggled.

"Oh you're getting so big!" He playfully grunted.

"I swear she grows an inch a day." Cali added as she, and Rosy walked in the door.

"Guess what daddy?" Oriana said as her voice was full of excitement.

"What?" He inquired as he returned her look of enthusiasm.

"We tried on dresses for Aunt Rosy's wedding!" She told him, as as her little face practically beamed.

"You did!" He replied. "I bet you're going to be the prettiest flower girl of all time. You may turn out to be even prettier than the bride."

"Thanks Gabe." Rosy said as she flashed him a smirk.

"Anytime sis." Gabriel replied, as he laughed. "So am I to assume that this will be a small wedding, with not a lot of frills?"

"It's Rosy wedding." Cali told him, "What do you think?"

"I think poor Richard is going to have to get a second job, if he's marrying my sister." Gabriel laughed, he flashed them both a playful smile.

"Very funny!" Rosy replied, as she stuck out her tongue at him.

Cali began to laugh as well. "Careful." She told them. "I might have to separate the two of you."

"Oh please do!" Gabriel's jokingly exclaimed.

"Ori?" Cali began to ask. "Do you want to tell daddy what you told me?"

"What do you want to tell me?" He asked his daughter, as he couldn't help but smile at her.

"When I grow up, I want to draw buildings too." She began to tell her father. "So I can come to work with you everyday!"

"Oh sweetheart!" He cried as he was touched by what she had just said. "I would love that. But I'm not sure this is the job for you. You know what? You are a little songbird, like your mother. You are going to grow up to be a great Opera Singer."

"No." Ori replied as she scrunched up her face.

"No?" Gabriel responded, as he furrowed his brow. "Well then how about a lawyer? I don't know anyone who makes a better argument about staying up past her bedtime."

"No." Cali said as she chimed in, with a coy smile. "Her daddy, the judge, is just a big pushover."

"Oh, I think Mommy's on to us." He whispered, as he returned Cali's smile.

"I'm hungry." Said Rosy. "Where are we all going to eat?"

"It's on me." Gabriel replied. "Wherever you guys want to go, I'll take you to the best place in town."

"McDonalds!" Ori gleefully exclaimed.

"McDonalds?" Gabriel laughed. He then look at Cali who, shook her head as she smiled.

"Well I can't think of a finer eating establishment." Said Cali. "How about you Rosy?" Rosy had a smirk on her face, as she let out a small groan. "I guess I'll get a salad."

"Oh who are you kidding Rosy." Gabriel laughed. "You know you're going to get a Big Mac and fries, with a Diet Coke."

He then turned to Ouriana, and smiled.

"Princess." Gabriel began, as he slowly lowered her to the floor. "Why don't you show Aunt Rosy where the candy machine is." He then pulled out his wallet, and took out some bills. "Here's five dollars, so you can each pick something out. But remember, save it for after lunch. That goes for the both of you."

"Okay daddy." Ouriana said as Gabriel crouched down to hand her the bill. He eagerly embraced his daughter, as she threw her arms around his neck.

"What do you say?" Cali asked.

"Thank you!" Ouriana practically sang, as she placed a kiss against his cheek. I love you!" Gabriel's heart began to flutter at he was almost brought to tears.

"I love you too, Princess." He replied.

"Come on Aunt Rosy!" Ouriana gleefully said, as she grabbed Rosy's hand. Mommy, and Daddy want to be alone."

"Okay." Rosy laughed, as Ouriana lead her out the door. Cali then looked at Gabriel and smiled.

"You know you're spoiling her rotten." Cali said as she folder her arms, with a smirk upon her face.

"Nah." He replied. As he made his way over, and gently wrap his arms around her waste. "You can't spoil anything that sweet, it's impossible. Besides, with her baby brother on the way, I want her to always remember that she is extra special—even if she can't fly."

"Oh I think she knows." Cali replied. Gabriel just looked at her, as he couldn't help but smile.

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" He asked. "Our how much I love you?"

"Every time I look into Ori's eyes." Cali replied, she then furrowed her brow. "I'm surprised by your reaction, when Ori said she wanted to go to work with you everyday. I thought you'd be more thrilled by it."

"Well, she's four." He replied. "This week she wants to be an architect, next week she'll want to be the cat in a kibble commercial. I don't know. I think it has something to do with my father expecting me to run his empire. I want my daughter, and my son to follow their own paths. I don't want them to feel as though they are going to be forced, to take over the company. And if either of them wants to actually become an architect, it would build more character if they didn't work for me."

"I guess you're right." Said Cali. "Well, shall we go?"

"Why don't you go get Rosy, and Ori, and I'll meet you at the car downstairs." He said as he gave her a smile. "I just have some files to put away, I'll be down in five minutes."

"Okay." She replied with a a smile. All of a sudden her smile faded, and she leaned as she smash her lips into his. Soon they were locked within a passionate kiss. As she pulled away, they smiled at one anther.

"Ooh" he replied. "What was that for?"

"Just because I love you as much as I do." She cooed with a coy smile.

"I love you too, Songbird." He whispered, as placed his lips to her ear. "I will always protect you!"

"I'll meet you at the car." She whispered back. Cali then gave him a peck on the cheek, and walked out of the office. As Gabriel started putting his paperwork together, he couldn't help but be grateful for all that he had. At that moment, he heard his office door opened.

"Did you forget something sweetheart?" He asked as he turned around with a smile. But as he did, his smile began to fade. Standing in front of him was Victor, who was pointing a gun at him. Somehow he had survived the fire.

"Sorry to disappoint you, darling." Victor replied with a smile on his face. "You know, after you left, I had no trouble claiming your fallen empire. It was so easy to envelop it into the Sabino organization. Gabe Edwards? Are you stupid? do you have any idea how easy it was for me to find you? I've been waiting for this day for a long—"

Victor didn't even have a chance to finish his sentence, as his lifeless body fell to the floor. Gabriel had taken the gun, with the silencer out of his pocket so fast as he could. Victor never had a chance.

"Oh Victor." Gabriel sighed. "I'm afraid you've been watching too many gangster films. Rule number one of the mafia, never let the target see the fatal shot coming."

He then took out his smart phone to call one of his—business associates. "Hello?" The man answered on the other line.

"Christopher." Gabriel replied. "I'm going to lunch with my wife, sister, and daughter. I have a mess in the office, that needs to be cleaned up. See that it's taken care of before I get back."

"Right away Mr. Edwards." Christopher replied.

As Gabriel hung up the phone, he looked at himself in the mirror. He straightened both his lapels, as well as his tie. He had promised his Songbird that their children would never be involved the mafia. And he had promised her that he would leave his old empire behind, but he never promised her that he wouldn't start a new one.

As hard as he tried to avoid it, past enemies kept looking for him. Building a new empire was the only way he was going to protect his family. Maybe he could never truly leave his mafia past behind, but he was sure of one thing. His children would never be a part of it. Gabriel thought about how lucky he was, to have such a loving family waiting for him to go to lunch. He looked at his smiling reflection in the mirror, and gave it a quick wink. He left to have lunch with his family.