In all these years, Firenze hadn't changed much. The mornings were warm and the air smelled sweet of flowers and freshly prepared dyes.

The blacksmiths got up fairly early and were already hammering. The sounds of metal clanged along with a bell chiming in a nearby church.

Children rushed out from their houses to play on the streets while their mothers cautioned them to be safe and not dirty the clothes. Then the Mothers gathered up for a brief chat before they went about their daily chores.

The Vecchio market was still there and the shopkeepers made their way to their respective stalls carrying boxes of produce.

Claudia walked by all the bustle and made her way to the empty bench near the stalls.

She intended to purchase cloth and laces to make Isabetta a new dress but the Tailor's had yet to open for business.

She sat down on the sun-warmed wooden bench and stroked her knee.

It wasn't even winter yet and her joints were already aching. She put a lock of grey hair behind her ear and frowned. Her hair had required a lot of time to stay in a proper bun, but despite her efforts, they rarely behave and came loose at the slightest touch of breeze.

Claudia sighed and leaned back on the bench, smoothing the stubborn wrinkle in her white dress with an olive green skirt.

A group of three young minstrels entered the market area and she groaned inwardly. In all these years, the music and songs hadn't changed either. If anything, their songs had gotten worse.

Dressed in grey tights and feathery caps, they strummed their fingers on the strings of the lute and started to sing.

"La Bella Firenze... La Bella vita..."

An old man dressed in a grey robe entered through the passage and put his hand on one of the lutes.

"That is terrible!" He scolded.

"But Padre..." The young minstrel pouted.

"Play the songs I've taught you." The old man said. "I spent years playing in these streets and I will not let you ruin my reputation."

"Bene." The minstrel groaned. "Raggazi... Uno... Due... Tre.."

"Somewhere over the rooftops..."

Claudia giggled and turned away to see a beautiful you g girl of about fifteen, emerge from her house. Her hair was curly and of a soft brown shade. Her eye were large and hazel, a small nose and had a pink pouty mouth.

Dressed in a white and gold dress, she made her way to a group of girls her own age who were waiting for her and together they headed to the stall selling jewelry.

She could hear them laughing from here and Claudia immediately found herself remembering the time she was fifteen and would go shopping with her friends.

A slow smile spread on her face. She had been so happy and free then, unaware that tragedy would befall her soon. Everything was beautiful and made her happy and the only concern she would have was the color of clothes she would wear the next day and show off to her friends. That and the boys of Firenze.

A boy who looked about seventeen sauntered towards the girls. He was dressed in freshly dyed dark blue shirt and pants with a black cap. He wore a brown vest over his shirt, which he adjusted as he made his way to the girls.

"Buongiorno, Bella." He said in a melodic tone.

The group of girls started to giggle and greeted him in return.

Claudia shook her head, still smiling. The men in Firenze were incorrigible. She still remembered how Duccio had flirted with her all those years ago. He had been so charming and sweet and had a rose for each of her friends and a large one for her.

"A beautiful day, is it not?" A man asked. He came to sit beside her.

Claudia gave him a sideways glance and smiled. He was dressed in a white robe with orange lapels and golden lace. His eyes were old yet friendly and the grey flicks in his hair emphasized his good looks.

"I suppose so." She said, still watching the boy trying to woo the girl with curly brown hair.

"But this beautiful morning is nothing compared to the beauty you hold." He said.

Claudia's first reaction was to smile and blush which she suppressed by looking away.

"You flatter me." She said coyly.

"On the contrary, I only speak the truth." He leaned towards her and Claudia saw a single red rose in his hand.

"This is beautiful." She said. "Where did you find it?"

"In the depths of pure love." He replied.

Claudia laughed and took the rose from him. "Poetry doesn't suit you."

"I can fail only so many times before I enchant you." He shrugged. Then he turned his head sideways to smile at her. "Are you here all alone?"

"For now." She said. "My husband has gone off in search of the depths of pure love for a rose."

Machiavelli laughed then, put his finger under her chin and brought her forward. He was about to lean in to kiss her, when she put a hand on his chest.

"No. People might see us." She said.

Machiavelli put his hand over hers and smiled. "Let them." He kissed her slowly, savoring her lips and caressing her cheek softly.

Claudia moaned and then pulled away. "The people will laugh at us."

"Because we're old?"

Claudia nodded.

"And in love." He pushed a lock of her greying hair behind the ear. Then leaned over the back of the bench with his arm and turned to her. "I thought you didn't care what people thought of you."

Claudia could feel her cheeks getting warm. "No, but I...our daughter is here. Not in front of her."

Machiavelli looked to where the brown curly haired girl was standing and giggling as the boy took her hand and kissed it.

"She looks so much like you." He said.

"She has your eyes and intellect." She said.

A boy entered into the area and glanced all around him in anger. He looked to be the same age as the other boy and when he saw him, the boy stormed towards him with clenched fists.

Machiavelli groaned. "That maybe so. But our son has your family's blood raging through his veins."

"Oh, Bernardo!" Claudia said as she saw her son push the boy aside.

"Stay away from my sister!" He yelled.

Isabetta came forward. "Bernardo! No! We were just talking!"

Machiavelli sighed. "Were your brothers like that as well?"

"Worse." Claudia said. "Ezio mercilessly beat up Duccio once. I mean I told him to..."

Machiavelli raised an eyebrow. "So if we had met under different circumstances and had tried wooing you then..."

Claudia giggled. "You wouldn't have had a chance. Federico and Ezio wouldn't let you get near me."

"Then I would have to change my tactics." He said.

"Still wouldn't work. If we had met then, there was no way we could be married then." She said.

"I would have befriended them to get to you." He winked.

Claudia laughed and shook her head, then felt her smile fade away. "I miss them." She said. "They would never let you come near me, but I... I would..."

"Of course." Machiavelli said, kissing her forehead.

Before them, Bernardo lunged at the boy, then straddled him on the ground and punched him while Isabetta cried for him to stop.

"I should go stop him." Machiavelli said.

Claudia nodded and then watched her husband pull his son up and scold him. The boy on the ground, spat out blood and then fled from the area while Isabetta screamed that no one would ever marry her.

Claudia gave a short laugh and then she gazed at the small house near the travel stall.

This was where Leonardo's studio used to be. He had passed away months back and her heart still ached for her friend who had done so much for her. He had been her friend and family and without his help and advice, she would never have found the courage to love Machiavelli.

"Madre!" Isabetta cried and Claudia shook herself from her thoughts and got up from the bench.

"I'm coming." She said, quickly making her way to her family.

Author's Note: ...and...DONE! Finally! It took more than a year, but I finally finished writing this story with a lot of help and encouragement from my readers. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Without your reviews/messages/favorites and follows, I wouldn't have been able to work on this. 100 chapters! I don't think I've ever written such a long story nor could ever write another one.

Once again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed MaClaudia's journey :)