Road to Respect ~ Sopranos

Chapter 24

Talia

Tony and Carmela threw a welcome party for Furio and Felix at their house, which meant the entire LaRocca clan was there. Usually parties didn't really affect her, but Joseph was another story entirely. Talia knew he hated these sorts of things, but he put up with it because Angie was there, and she brought Mateo since Carla was out of town on business.

Joey was over in the corner with little Richie and Felix, talking about something, occasionally Joey would tickle or look over his son with a loving smile and kiss his cheek. "I swear Carmela, I don't how you managed to make that boy into what he is now." Ro said. Talia was in the kitchen with Ro and Carmela, fixing up some snacks for people to munch on. "After everything you told me about his mother and father." She put her hand on her heart. "It's heartbreaking."

"He was always a good kid." Carmela shrugged with a fond smile. Talia knew Carmela and Joey were close. "He called me ma once or twice last year. I wish he would visit more often."

Ro hummed and looked back over to Joey, seconds later she gasped. "Oh my god." She said quietly. "Look... look. Look!"

Talia looked over to where Ro was looking and saw Felix now holding Richie and Joey holding Mateo. Angie was walking upstairs, most likely to the bathroom. "What?" Carmela asked.

"Look at what Joey's doing." Ro said with wide eyes. "He's holding Matteo just as he did Richie." Joey then leaned down and kissed Mateo's cheek, making Talia rub her head. Most of the people were talking amongst themselves so no one was paying attention. "And look at the two of them. Mateo and Richie could be twins."

Carmela's eyes widened and she looked at Talia who didn't look surprised at all. "You knew."

"Of course I knew." Talia shrugged. "Matteo looks just like Alex when he was born, and all us LaRocca's look the same. I was just hoping he was from Uncle Antonio."

"Oh my god." Carmela rubbed her face. "Meadow was so heart broken when he found out Adriana was pregnant." Talia kept her face blank as she looked over to Meadow who was walking over. Meadow had the pregnancy glow already and was wearing a very loose shirt to hide her baby bump that hasn't even showed up yet. "And with Angie?"

"To be frank I'm a little jealous." Ro said while sipping wine. Carmela looked at her with a horrified look. "What?"

"He's basically my son, Rosalie."

"Well, he's obviously into older women." Ro shrugged, making Talia chuckle. "I've hit a dry spell with Jackie being gone, maybe Joey and I could-"

"We are not talking about this at all." Carmela said sternly.

"Talking about what?" Meadow asks as she walks over.

Carmela looked panicked but Talia smirked. "Rosalie wants to fuck Joseph."

"Talia!" Carmela said in surprise while looking horrified. Ro's face was burning red with embarrassment, but Meadow was chuckling.

"You can ask him if you want." Meadow shrugged as she opened the fridge. She pulled out a beer and turned to see Carmela and Ro looking surprised and confused. "We have a sort of... arrangement. It's don't ask, don't tell unless children are involved."

"What?" Carmela looked very confused. "You're just... okay with that? Both of you just cheating on each other."

"Only he's seeing other people, and I don't really think of it as cheating." Meadow shrugged. "Sure, I was angry at first but then... I don't know... I just sort of let it go."

"Him cheating?" Ro asked, still very confused.

"Well, he's going to do it anyway whether or not I'm with him." Meadow explained. "And he's sweet and kind to me and when we are together he's completely devoted to me."