A Family Dinner (Friday, afternoon)

[Sharise]

[lol Hopefully Teddy can charm his way out.]

Teddy wasn't surprised by any of the events that had happened so far. In fact, he felt that things were going better than expected. Even Tin's question wasn't a shock.

"No." Teddy made a point not to sound offended or angry in anyway. "I want to own a restaurant." As strange as it may have sounded, it was the truth. A secret Teddy always had was that he loved to cook, and he was good at it. "Of course, it may take me awhile to get my business degree. Tuition is so expensive these days." He shook his head and took a sip of water. Most of his friends were getting free rides through college. But not him.

[Cres]

[[he's doing a marvellous job at it! ]]

Tin raised his brows, rather surprised to hear that the boy indeed had plans. Well, maybe it wasn't a highly educated job, but then again, high education wasn't the main point. And restaurant business, when successful, was certainly very stabile.

Mrs Rosacci got very excited.

"Oh, a restaurant? How wonderful!" she exclaimed. "What on earth made you interested in that? I would never have guessed!"

[Sharise]

Teddy smiled, a little relieved by the Rosaccis' reactions. "In all honesty," He shrugged. "I have no idea."

He looked at his plate, then back at Mrs. Rosacci. "I've just always liked cooking." There was a smile on his face as he spoke.

[Cres]

Mrs Rosacci's smile widened and she pulled herself up from the chair, coming over to Teddy and hugging her in her own overflowing manner.

"Oh I do love you, my boy! I've tried to get my Sweetheart interested in cooking, but though she does fine food she just won't share my passion! Isn't this a priceless boy, Tinny?"

Tin had to smile as well.

"Quite," he had to agree. Now his face was getting more interested, however. "You know, Teddy, if you are really serious about this restaurant business, I might be able to help you. I have connections."

Dan sulked. He didn't like the way his family was starting to like Teddy. He was personally still suspicious.

[Sharise]

Teddy smiled brightly and hugged Mrs. Rosacci. Sweetheart's family was starting to really warm up to him. Even Dan had shut up, though he doubted it would last.

"That is a very generous offer." Teddy was blown away, and it showed. "But I couldn't..." He shook his head, unsure of what to say. I mean yes, he'd obviously pay Tin back... but what if things failed to take off? What if the restaurant was a flop? It would take him years to pay off his debts.

[Cres]

Mrs Rosacci, who was still standing beside Teddy's chair, looked at her husband with a smile, though there was the slightest reserved look on her face.

"Why, that's generous indeed, Tin," she said as she returned to her seat. She knew about the way Tin would most likely be helping Teddy, and she wasn't certain if she liked the idea. Secretly she had always hoped that Sweetheart would find her way out of the family business, as Tin rather had a soft spot on his daughter and was fully willing to let her go, even if he rather saw Sweetheart married off to a decent Italian guy like the tradition was. Sweetheart's mother wasn't sure if she was happy to think that Teddy would be meddled into the family business.

"Yes," Tin said, his thoughts going a totally different route. He didn't want to lose Sweetheart, which was one reason he had been so eagerly introducing her to Italian boys he liked, and who had close connections to the mafia. But if he couldn't pull Sweetheart to those boys, perhaps he could pull the chosen one of her heart into the family? He certainly decided to try.

The thought that Sweetheart and Teddy might yet break up didn't concern him much. It would be all too easy to get rid of Teddy later, if his daughter ended up breaking up with him.

"Of course you could," Tin said calmly. "We can talk more about it some time, when you have figured out what kind of a restaurant you'd like to set up and all that. For now, I might be able to arrange a job for you in a restaurant, to get you introduced to the business. I have a few friends."

Dan was silent, unsure how he should react to this. He guessed as well what his father was doing, but wasn't sure if he liked it or not. On the one hand, it might guarantee Sweetheart a good life if she really would end up married with Teddy. But on the other hand he couldn't stand the thought that his sister would be drawn into the business as well. He couldn't make up his mind.

[[hmmm... a rather interesting twist could develop about this restaurant business. What do you think? And I was thinking, if you'll want Teddy to follow up on Tin's offer and take a job at a restaurant, it could be Cara's family business. It's already established that they have connections to the Rosacci family.]]

[Sharise]

[It would be interesting. >:} We shall see. Mwahah]

Teddy sat there, dumbfounded. "I don't know what to say." He smiled and shook his head. "No one's ever offered to help me in such an amazing way."

And to Teddy, it was amazing. Less than an hour ago, Tin didn't even remember him. And now, he was offering him a job and help with starting his own business. In the boy's mind, there was nothing fishy about this. He didn't know about the Rosacci family business.

[Cres]

Sweetheart was nothing but dumbfounded though happy. She could say nothing. What was her father doing? Why was he suddenly so nice? Not that she minded. She was so happy that Teddy seemed to have made such a good impression on her family.

"Just say yes or no," Tin said with a nonchalant shrug and a bit of a smile as he put another piece of the roast into his mouth.

Mrs Rosacci glanced at her daughter. She saw the love shining in Sweetheart's eyes as the girl looked at Teddy, waiting for his reply. She saw how utterly happy she was at that moment. And in her mind she sighed and sent a short prayer to the saints to bless her choice. Then she smiled more openly.

"I will be happy to help with the legal matters," she put in. "And don't worry, Teddy, I won't charge a fee for a family friend."

Dan slumped back in his chair and continued to eat with a rather sour look on his face. Oh well. Let them do what they willed. He couldn't really say anything anymore without appearing petty or revealing his family, and he knew better than to do that.

[Sharise]

Teddy smiled brightly. "Well then," He looked at Sweetheart and then back to Tin. "Yes."

He felt so proud that he had been accepted into the family. His future seemed to be looking up, which meant he could take care of Sweetheart. If things worked out, they wouldn't have a single worry in the world.

[Cres]

Sweetheart couldn't help but let out a little squeal of delight and jump to hug Teddy tightly. She was so happy about how everything was going. She completely forgot herself and pulled her head up from the hug and kissed Teddy affectionately on the cheek.

Tin observed his daughter's reaction with one slightly raised eyebrow.

Dan scowled.

Mrs Rosacci hid her smile behind a glass of wine.

[Sharise]

Sweetheart's reaction only furthered Teddy's delight, and he soon found himself too lost in the moment to care who was watching. He held the girl in a tight embrace, and kissed her on the cheek just as affectionately. He hadn't been this happy in a long time. And it showed.

[Cres]

[[lol Oh-oh.... ]]


Sweetheart was too happy to think about her parents watching as Teddy kissed her as well. She only smiled happily.

Tin's brows had furrowed at this point. Now, if that wasn't a sign of dating, then what was?

Mrs Rosacci, for her part, continued smiling behind her wine glass, pretending to take a long sip. She felt it was adorable. In her mind she was beginning to picture the wedding. She wondered how many people would be coming from Teddy's side.

Dan scowled even more, and would have said something had not one of the twins beat him to it.

"Sweetheart and Teddy sitting in a tree," they started to chant, "k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sweetheart with the baby carriage!"

Then they giggled, looking at Sweetheart and Teddy deviously.

[Sharise]

Teddy's eyes went wide and he slowly turned to look at the triplets. He was suddenly all too aware of the eyes that were on Sweetheart and him.

His mouth opened as if he were going to speak, but then closed. After a minute, he couldn't help but to start laughing. He wasn't sure if it was from shock or pure amusement.

[Cres]

Teddy's laughter seemed to smooth over the momentarily raised tension. Sweetheart, blushing, released her hands from around Teddy and returned them to her lap, looking rather embarrassed, but smiling as well. She felt hot to the very tips of her ears - she never had been good at hiding her embarrassment or other feelings.

Tin still remained a little more serious, but a smile went over his lips as well.

"Just so long as the baby carriage comes after the marriage," he said, just a slight dry warning tone in his voice.

Mrs Rosacci looked at her husband reproachfully.

"Now, Tin-dear, don't say such things! I'm sure I've taught my daughter well enough."

The twins giggled even if they didn't quite understand the deeper implications of the conversation betweent he adults. Only Dan's eyes remained dark as he stared right into Teddy. The way Sweetheart blushed even more and turned her eyes away made the watchful brother suspicious.

Just what had the two done that night Dan had fetched Sweetheart from Teddy's apartment?

[Sharise]

Teddy nodded in agreement. There was still a hint of a smile on his features. Tin's comment hadn't caught him off guard, which was a shock in itself.

Without anything to say, Teddy took another bite of food and chased it down with some water. He was surprised Dan hadn't spoken yet.