The Mafia's Daughter

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie or that Dog with a Blog

A/N:

Chapter 28 (Closure)

"It's all over now…" Gabe stood before his parents graves with his family and Jo's family beside them. Jo held his hand and put her head to his shoulder. Ellen, Bennett, Tyler, and Chloe all gazed mournfully at the graves. They were unsure of what to say given they never really knew the Duncans, but they were there out of respect. PJ stood to Gabe's right, with Teddy standing beside him and holding onto Toby. Charlie stood in between them, looking at the graves with tearful eyes.

Teddy whimpered softly as she knelt beside the graves. "Toby these are your parents," she whispered. Toby turned his eyes to the grave. He was as silent as the air around them. "They were great people…" They were here one last time before their move to New York. Vitale had suggested the move and they accepted, Emmett and Damian, along with other members of the family were unloading the house for them. None of them could bear to enter that place again.

Vitale also spoke with Jo and her family about moving to New York, to be safer. They agreed, primarily because they also wanted to be close to those who helped save them. Teddy had said her goodbye to Spencer, he was moving to Boston anyway and things were too stressful now. Unfortunately she didn't want to work on a relationship right now.

PJ's face was tense as he eyed his father's grave, "Dad I promised you…I would take care of this family. I will." Teddy rose up beside him and looked up with deep sorrow. Gabe felt Jo squeeze his hand and looked over, she was giving him a reassuring look. It was a comfort for him. He felt PJ's hand on his shoulder and quickly looked back at his brother. "Gabe, have you and Jo discussed what you want to do?" He slowly nodded his head and closed his eyes, breathing out slowly as he recalled their crucial conversation.

"You were hurt?!" Jo exclaimed checking his scars. She began inspecting him the minute he made it back. She was thrilled at his return of course, there was no denying that. Tears welled up in her eyes as Gabe looked to her.

"Yeah…but I made it out. I had to."

"How bad was it?"

"Not too bad…" It wasn't the whole truth, but he didn't want to worry her too much. "I passed out from it and had to deal with surgery, but that was it." Jo let out a groan and began pacing the floor beside the bed. She ran her hand through her hair, whining softly.

She'd already been hugged to death by her family, the reunion was an emotional one where not a single dry eye existed. He let them reunite before actually doing anything with her. Already he had Bennett's approval to date his daughter, and that was a great thing indeed! Of course, he had to bear in mind that Bennett 'knew how to mind-fuck someone'. He had reassured the man that he would never do anything to hurt Jo.

"Jo, I…PJ posed a question for me." Jo stopped and turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "He asked me if I would consider not remaining in the mafia after all of this."

"He did?"

"Yeah…I don't know what to think about it though."

"Well why not? Gabe, it's a dangerous life." He bowed his head for a second. She put her hands to his shoulders and looked into his eyes. He gave her a subtle smile and she hugged him close. "I told you I don't want to lose you…you know what I think about that choice, I think…"

He smiled sheepishly and gently kissed her temple. "Never hurts to ask, though." Sure she didn't want him in the mafia anymore. This was not a surprise, it was rather obvious. "I will stay out if it's what you really want."

"Please. I just…if it's possible, I want a sense of normalcy, a life away from the mafia."

"I know…"

"It's been decided that I stay away from the mafia," Gabe replied. PJ smiled appreciatively and Jo kissed his jaw. He looked to his parents' grave markers and exhaled. They likely would have the same opinion, that he ought to stay out of the mafia. Not to mention, he didn't feel comfortable enough with it. Even though PJ could deal with it, it was still a hard strain even for him. That made it all the harder for Gabe. "I think living a normal life in New York will be just fine for me. Besides, it's all a bit too much, you know." PJ nodded and folded his arms.

"Yeah, I can accept that. I think you made the right decision."

"Same here," Skyler said from behind. The group turned to see Skyler walking towards them. Vitale was standing behind her, smiling at the group. PJ put an arm around her waist and she tenderly kissed his lips. "PJ worries too much about you, he's going to be worrying about all of you. I can't ask PJ not to be a part of the mafia, but you have an option."

"It's what mom and dad would have wanted," Gabe remarked. He turned back to their graves and frowned when he thought of his grandparents. Neither set of grandparents could help them, or really, wanted to help them. "We're all on our own, with PJ looking after us. I'm sure that being said, mom and dad probably would rather I be free from that life, right?"

It wasn't just that, it was the fact that it was his life that led to their deaths. It was his fault, if anyone's fault. Sure, he couldn't have known it, but he still felt like he had a bit of the blame. "If not for me, they'd still be here."

"Don't blame yourself," Jo started, "We're all to blame a little bit, I guess. It wasn't your fault…"

"I just hate what happened…I wish I could have done something to stop it."

"At least you have your siblings, Gabe."

"True, I guess…"

Vitale walked up beside him and bent over, setting a rose down between the two graves. The man rose up and the others looked up at him. "No matter what, we will be here for you. Always know you have a friend in us." Gabe nodded and the others murmured their agreements.

The murmurs died down and silence once again filled the air. Gabe felt his heartbeat slowly pounding within him. He couldn't stand his parents being gone, but at least, they were being given a proper chance to say goodbye. How else could he pay his respects?

He knelt beside their grave and slowly moved his fingers along the letters on their graves. His eyes welled up with tears and his heart began to race in his chest. "Mom, Dad, I love you…we all did, we're all going to miss you. We're going to do our best…to grow…watch over us…" It was going to be a long and hard road, but it was possible to heal from this. He knew they would.

He didn't want to say it like it was a bad thing, loving the daughter of the mafia may have led to their demise. No, that had to be unrelated. He made his mistakes, his parents paid the price for it, but he made things right by taking out the Beppe family. Now began the healing process.

Whatever it takes. That was his goal. To make it through life no matter what it took and no matter how he got there. Jo would be by his side, he was aware of that. Just as Skyler would be at PJ's side.

Gabe prayed that his parents were doing well in heaven, that they were smiling down on them and hopefully they could be proud. He was going to do everything to make sure they'd be proud of him. "Let's make a pact from here on out, that we'll always cherish Mom and Dad, always keep their memory in mind."

"Agreed." PJ smiled sadly and looked to the car in the distance. "Also, to keep everyone safe and protected. No matter what it takes…I'm not going to let you or Toby be influenced into the mafia. I'd rather keep my brothers away from it."

"A noble cause if any," Vitale replied. Gabe agreed, he saw nothing wrong with this policy. After all that happened, surely PJ wouldn't want to let them get involved in such a dangerous lifestyle. "Soon we should head to the airport, but I'll give you as much time as you need to mourn."

"Thank you."

As people started to leave, Gabe felt his brother put his arm around his shoulders. He looked up to his brother and saw PJ smirk. "You know Gabe, who would have thought we'd both wind up falling in love with someone tied to the mob?"

"I would never have dreamed it."

"Yeah. Let's make sure to take care of those girls, they're strong though."

"I'll say…you didn't see what Jo did to the guy that tried to nab her in that alleyway." PJ chuckled briefly and shook his head. Gabe looked over his shoulder and smiled at the car where everyone was waiting for them. "Now we just have to take care of Teddy, Charlie and Toby…it's not going to be easy on them…"

"No, but I have a feeling things are going to work out."

"Yeah. Me too…"

"Here's to the future, Bro." Gabe smiled as PJ pat his shoulder and walked towards the others. He gave one final wistful look to his parents' graves and closed his eyes, making a mental promise. He was promising that no matter what, he would never let harm come to his family again. PJ could become Don, but he'd be there for his siblings when PJ wasn't. That was his job now, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

He opened his eyes and turned back, smiling as he saw Jo in the distance waiting for him, waving. Beside her was Stan. She was happy to finally be free. What an experience, though. Falling for the daughter of the mafia. "Yeah, and I'd love her either way…" He gave one final parting prayer to his parents, then hurried after the others.

There it is, the final chapter. It's been fantastic and I hope to see all of you elsewhere one day ^_^ Thanks to all who hung around and enjoyed the tale!