Sophia

Three years later

It's been three years today since that fateful day. The day when Damon killed Russo.

So much has changed since then. Enzo has taken over and became the Don since he was the second in command to Damon and today is my last day in this mansion I came to call as home.

I still remember the day I came here with Marc, I was so mesmerized by the beauty of this mansion amidst the woods.

I stepped in the living room and the memories of my first night here came back to me.

I could see Damon sitting on the couch keeping me trapped in the hypnotism of his blue eyes. It's like it was yesterday. I even remembered his slap. I laughed thinking of that day, I couldn't have imagined myself then, loving that man so much who slapped me on the first day he saw me. He was so dangerous so arrogant and rude. In a way it was his job. He had to be that stern being the Mafia Don. He can't be tender but his vengeance and hatred had made him merciless towards everyone. Even toward those whom he loved. Enzo always says that if you don't kill first they will kill you. Still Enzo is not that short tempered as was the Don he has succeeded. Damon's temper was something. I still have some scars to prove that. My hand went to my collar bone where he engraved his initials. Sometimes I think our love was so toxic yet so safe. There was so much fear in me from Damon yet I never felt more safe than with him.

I remembered his voice calling me Doll. I smiled thinking of our time in that wooden cabin. Till death do us apart. A tear rolled down my eyes as I lost myself in the memories of that day when my marriage became more than just his punishment. When this mansion became my home in every sense.

I went to the garden in the shack. I wanted to breathe in every ounce of air of this place before I leave it for good.

I remembered the time I spend here with him. Here only he told me about his pain, about his family, about Laeila. I spend some happy times with Alysia and Caprice too here. The good thing is I am not loosing them. I maybe far from Alysia but she will always be my family and now quite literally because today we all celebrating a non toxic love story. The whole garden is decorated and I couldn't imagine a better wedding venue for Alysia and Chuck.

I can't believe but somehow this happened and today is their wedding. Everything was so haywire since the moment Damon and Ric got into surgery. My life was turned upside down in one moment, the moment he fell on the ground after asking me about his brother.

Ric slipped into coma and Caprice was so broken at the news. I used to spend most of my time with her in the hospital. It took eight months for him to get back on his feet and for whole eight months, Caprice didn't come home. In a way she shifted her clothes and everything in that hospital room and made it her home. She lived there with him, used to talk to him whole day without getting so much as a nod from him in response. Yet she not for once lost her hope that he will come back to life. The whole hospital had came to recognize her as Ricardo's crazy girlfriend who just don't seem to leave.

Alysia fell all alone in this with her studies, Julio's betrayal and the fact that Damon killed him, it was all so overwhelming for her and Chuck became the support I should be. I asked him to stay here only. After everything, I couldn't risk him staying alone. Though after Russo there weren't many threats but you never know who decides to pick up a fight in this world.

Chuck being here brought them close. He gave her the shoulder to cry on, the friend to share with and the partner who made her laugh. They grew closer and when Chuck proposed her on their graduation she said yes making me the happiest person on earth. I mean what would be better if my best friend became my sister in law.

I was too much caught up with Ricardo and Caprice along with Enzo's transition as the Don that I was not available for her. I never could have imagined it would be that tedious to take the hold of everything that Damon was handling without Enzo. I thought you can become Don overnight. Isn't that's how Damon became but maybe when you transfer things it's more corporate and it seems there was a lot that Damon was taking care alone and Enzo need to get the hold of it. Not only of the things Damon was looking after but also Ric.

Enzo is not like Damon, he is not a ruthless Don. I mean he is brave, strong and can easily beat anyone to everyone in fight. I remembered Damon told me once that only Enzo could defeat him in the fight but unlike Damon, Enzo was not that intense and broody. He was a charmer. A playboy who still do not fail to bring a new girl every time he comes here and God he loves each of them equally. I laughed at the fact.

I sat at the floor thinking about so much has happened here. I remembered the day I sat here cursing the fact that I can never be free from him, that I am just a gift and will never have anything to call mine. My hand went to my necklace that how I felt trapped in it and now I can't imagine a day not wearing it. I remembered that day he told me in his office that one day I will see I am much more than just a gift and he was correct. I eventually came to see that. I remembered his grilled cheese sandwich and the day we had here, he made me forgot Russo and all his threats so easily.

"Signorina, shall we put lilies, orchids, daffodils or peonies as the centerpiece." I heard a maid asking me with bunch of flowers in her hand. Signorina, I was so used to be called as Donna that for a moment I didn't realize she is talking to me but then I reminded myself that this is right, better. "Signorina?" she asked again reminding me that she is waiting for my answer. "Yeah - white lilies and blue orchids." I took from her hand and make the bunch with the mix "Here" I gave her told her to put the combine flowers in the round glass pots on the tables. It will go with the drapes. Though Caprice was planning the wedding as expected but I guess she is busy packing that's why she is not here giving hell to all of them who are decorating.

Tomorrow we will be leaving for Rome. It would be strange living outside New York, but Ricardo is right. No way we can stay away from Mafia if we keep on living here. I am excited too to see Damon's homeland though he never lived there yet the lineage is Italian. Its a good thing that I learned Italian in all these years. It will help me settling in this new life.

Chuck and Alysia however, will stay here. They are in their last year of college from NYU and Chuck has already taken up a job in a publishing house and Alysia too will be starting to work in a diner at Manhattan as the hostess in couple of weeks. They have even rented an apartment in Brooklyn. I must say Chuck has put his life together pretty well.

"Someone's feeling nostalgic" I turned to the voice who brings an instant smile on my face. "What can I say Don, I have so many memories to drown in" I said getting up. It been three years yet it felt strange addressing someone else as Don than Damon. Enzo laughed and hugged me and I hugged him back. There was a time when I can't even think of hugging him scared of the consequences but its not like that anymore. He has been my biggest strength in everything we went through and I can count on him. "Excited for Rome? I will miss you though" he said breaking the hug. "Then come with us" I said for like hundredth time for him come along. I don't understand why he do not want leave Mafia. "And let everything that Damon and I built go to trash." he retorted the same reason "What have you built, its not like you did some charity. So what if it is trash, this is the chance to come clean. Take it. Come with me." I said to him. He smiled and cupped my cheeks "Just because I am here doesn't mean I am not with you Soph. You will always have me." He said in his ever loving tone and I nodded in response. I know I am not loosing him but still long distance drifts you apart and that scares me. However, he is so sure that this won't happen with us.

"Signorina -" "Its Donna" Enzo cut off the maid. "Its not Donna anymore" I retorted punching him lightly on the chest and turned towards the maid who called me. She held up her hands with two ring baskets one with the miniature couple and one with the dove nest "The dove one" I told her with a smile and she left. "It will always be Donna, why you make them address you differently. You are still our Queen Soph" he said "awww Enzo I know you love me, but see its not our wedding" I said playfully implying that I am not a Don's wife anymore to be called as Donna. He laughed shaking his head but he always insisted everyone to call me Donna and I otherwise. Well it won't be a fight from tomorrow. That send a little pang to my stomach that there won't be any fights from tomorrow. I will be gone and he will stay here. We won't fight anymore, play anymore or for that matter I am sure we won't talk anymore too, atleast not this much

"Laeila! Laeila! Laeila where are you?" I heard Alysia came running searching for my daughter breaking my thoughts.

I never knew that the moment I followed Damon and Enzo in the factory I was pregnant already. Had I known I would have controlled myself to make the most stupidest decision of my life. Everyone tries to convince me that it wasn't my fault what happened there but I can never get over the fact that he knelt in front of his arch enemy because of me. I can never forget that moment and can never stop blaming myself for that.

The day she was born, the moment I held my daughter in my arms I remembered how Damon has said the day when I got to know about my miscarriage that I will have my child one day. That he wants our daughter to look like me. I smiled thinking about our conversation when she looked at me with her bright blue eyes just like Damon I remembered him saying that he will have to kill so many boys who would drool over her if our girl had his eyes. But that's all I wanted. That my child is healthy and has eyes like him. I named our daughter Laeila because I know how much Damon loved Laeila.

"Why is the bride out running? Why aren't you getting ready? Has your maid of honor completely forgotten what her duties are?" I rushed to Alysia. I mean where is Caprice, I am handling the decorations and she is not even getting Alysia ready "I haven't forgotten anything, your little chipmunk has taken her veil and now we are not able to find her" I heard Caprice with her hands on her waist. Enzo and I laughed hard, this is not unexpected. Laeila is so handful, I never saw a more notorious kid in my life, not that I saw many but Chuck was not like that neither was I. Ric says Laeila was, and since we named her after her she is just following the footsteps of her aunt.

"Well she is out. Went to the boutique, getting her dress exchanged again" I told them "Again" I heard Caprice sighing with frustration. " No, no-no you don't get to sigh. Its all your influence, you teach her all the time about fashion and stuff." I said to Caprice I mean she is just three years old and this is the third time she is getting it exchanged, because she selects a dress bring it home and then changes her mood. I mean why is she even selecting the dress herself. Spoilt brat I must say. I could have never thought that my child would be so spoiled but she is, thanks to this family who are all available at her beck and call. It's just me who she is a bit scared of but they all save her eveytime before I punish her. I get looks from everyone on scolding her. They don't understand it is important. I maybe a bit strict with her but I love her too. Rather I love her more than anything in this world. She is my lifeline but I can't let her have everything. She needs to learn the importance of earning things. Life won't be easy after all for her too. It never is.

"Mommmmm!!!" and here she comes screaming. We all turned to her and she was running to us with her new outfit bag wearing Alysia's big veil. We all laughed looking at her getting tangled in the fabric but not taking it off and it came beneath her foot making her fall. Enzo and I rushed towards her to pick her up but before she could fall Chuck picked her up in his arms saving her from getting hurt.

I sat beside her checking her for injuries "You okay cupcake?" I said to her worried.

"Yup she is" he said crouching down and I hugged her in an instant. No matter how strict mom I am, I can't see her getting hurt. She is the only thing I have of our love, no matter how toxic that was, it will always be the only love story I will ever have.