collateral chaos

Nineteen

"What's the status of the Estate?" Sadie asks over the radio. Wilhelm, one of the men who stayed back, answers.

"Clear, no intrusions."

"Check the perimeter again, we're on our way back," She orders as the SUVs begin driving.

"Yes, Madame."

Sadie puts her radio away. She sits in the front passenger seat with Luca, Matteo, and Thea in the back. Bella rides in another SUV with Giovanni, who is unaware of the situation at hand. He just babbles as Bella holds him.

"Mom?" Luca says.

"Yes, my love?"

"Are we going home?" He asks. Matteo's head lies on his shoulder, asleep with his thumb in his mouth.

"Yes. We're going home," She answers, "Try to rest now, I'll wake you when we get back."

Luca lies his head back and Thea does too, the two older kids feeling safe once again.

***

When they arrive back at the Estate, they find it unharmed. The Russian mafia chose not to attack the Estate and personally attack Sadie's family. She won't let it go unnoticed. But for now, she needs to make her family feel safe.

She carries a sleeping Matteo into the house when Thea asks, "Can I sleep with you?"

Luca looks at his moms with the same pleading expression that Thea has. Bella looks at Sadie for approval. She says, "Yes, but get some pajamas on first. I'll go with you."

She walks to the elevator with her three older kids while Bella goes to their room to put Giovanni down again. The bodyguards follow Sadie and the children.

"They're gonna sleep with us, take the night off," Sadie instructs.

"Thank you, Madame," they answer. The body guards go straight to their mini-apartment to sleep while the kids go to theirs. The window in the living room has been replaced and Sadie no long worries about her children sleeping up here. But for tonight at least, they can stay with Sadie and Bella in their room. They do have a California King.

Sadie changes Matteo into some pajamas without waking the boy, only stirring in his sleep when she pulls at his limbs to get the clothing on.

When they go back downstairs, Bella is in bed already, with Giovanni in his bassinet. Luca and Thea climb into bed, with Thea lying next to Bella, then Luca, and then Matteo. Sadie sandwiches her children into their bed.

Sadie turns off her lamp and sighs, ready for slumber to take her on a journey into her subconscious.

"Mama?" Thea whispers in the darkness. Bella rubs her back.

"Yes?"

"I can't sleep."

"Just close your eyes. You're safe in here," She whispers. Silence fills the room. To help her children sleep, Bella starts singing, "The birds have left their trees. The light pours onto me. I can feel you lying there on your own."

Sadie listens to her girlfriend as she continues, lulling her children to sleep, "We got here the hard way. All those words that we exchange. Is it any wonder things get broke?"

Sadie recognizes the song and takes over, "'Cause in my heart and in my head, I'll never take back the things I said. So high above, I feel it coming down. She said in my heart and in my head, tell me why this has to end. Oh no, oh no..."

Bella can't see Sadie but she knows that the redhead is aware of their relationship and the difficulties that are rising. Sadie sings to her girlfriend as a cry to tell her that she will never give up on them. She'll never regret meeting Bella and falling in love with her.