Yoko Shimomura - Dearly Beloved

When Victor received his order from Viola a few days ago, he ensured to keep his promise and stayed by her side. He could feel her uneasiness from the mysterious woman who walks in and out of the house, cleaning and cooking while Falcone only looked on with a small smile. He took on fewer jobs from the Don himself to keep to Viola's order, her wish. The hitman could tell easily that the most frustrating thing for Viola was that her guardian was focusing on his ward less.

Viola wasn't frustrated because of the lack of attention.

Viola was frustrated because the leader of the pack, was slipping in his duties. Since this Liza walked in, Falcone concentrated less on business, became less observant of his surroundings and whispers. Where he was lacking, Viola was behind picking up the pieces, the last situation a van full of Falcone's money blown sky high.

It was another rainy day. Viola as per usual was in her music room playing on her piano, Victor keeping to his job and sitting beside her, trying to cheer her up by trying to learn a piece of music. "No, you keep hitting C," Viola said through laughter, leaning over him to show which key he needed to hit.

"I wanted to change it, call it a remix. Isn't that what the kids call it?" Victor joked back.

"If you want to make it sound off then yeah, you're heading in the wrong direction," Viola replied with a chuckle. Victor laughed and leaned over her, hitting the higher notes. "Now you're just not trying, and taking my half of the piano!"

"Oh damn, you saw through my plan." Victor replied, adding a dramatic sigh at the end.

"What was your plan?"

Victor wasn't one for public display of affection, but at this moment, just the two of them, he made an exception. "I wanted…to display affection." He whispered.

Even though they were courting, and have been for nearly a month, and the furthest they have gone in displaying was holding hands and hugs. Even those were behind closed empty doors or under tables. Viola couldn't help smile at him as he gently tapped the piano keys, knowing he always should his affection to her best he could. Before Viola could think it through, Viola leaned closer to him and gently placed her lips on his cheek.

It made them both freeze at that moment until Viola pulled away and Victor turned to look at her. "I'm sorry, that was probably to forward. I should-" Viola began talking but stopped when Victor placed his lips on her forehead.

Victor slightly pulled away to look in Viola's eyes. They smiled softly to each other, this new sign of affection so strange for them both, so different from the moments in the past where they nearly kissed, but felt more special, more meaningful than those moments combined. "I liked that," Victor whispered their thoughts.

Viola smiled a little wider as her answer, but their peace soon broken when they heard a knock on the door. Moving slightly away from each other, Viola called out, "Come in!" Marina and Lilly walked in, shutting the door behind them. "Did you find out anything?" Viola asked them.

"Oh yeah, we did," Marina replied with a smirk, leaning on the piano.

"Thank you for putting your necks out for this, but you three are the only ones I trust," Viola replied.

Lilly came to the group with a chair and sat down, "It's no problem. To start off with, the people of Gotham – and somehow Maroni – assume Falcone still has full control of his people and power, but there are whispers. What doesn't help however is those crazy ass crimes that get told on the television."

"That's good at least. So long as those whispers don't turn to shouts we're okay." Viola mumbled to herself, tapping a piano key gently, understanding where Lilly came from, remembering the last criminal who handed out poison that made people inhumanly strong, to then make them frail and die only a few hours later. "And Fish?"

"Ah, now those whispers are more cocky convocations." Marina inputted.

"Oh?"

"We met up with some of Fish's lackeys and after a few glasses got their tongues wagging." Marina continued. "This Oswald Cobblepot that was meant to die by the police, but alive and working for Maroni knows a lot of Fish's goings on. He is important. Highly."

"So we need to talk to him, find out what he knows." Viola cut in.

Lilly nodded, "It will be tricky, with the GCPD running around after these crimes, Maroni getting itchy for a fight, Fish being a snake and Cobblepot in all of this."

"Plus this mystery woman confusing the boss," Victor spoke up.

"Oh!" Exclaimed Lilly and Marina at the same time. They gave a brief look at each other then looked back to Victor and Viola, Lilly carried on speaking. "Fish hired a female singer recently."

"What's so special about this singer?" Victor asked.

"She hasn't done a performance since she was hired, and that was a few weeks back," Lilly answered. "One day a woman walks in, dark haired and had a gothic look going on. Next day, she's in again, all bruised up. A few days later, she's back, bruises and cuts gone, hair now a lighter colour, almost blonde. Scrapped the goth clothes-"

"For pastel, light clothes that make her look like a respectful woman," Viola whispered. "This woman is in my house."

"And, to top it all off, we went digging through Falcone's possessions." Marina spoke up, rummaging through her pockets as she spoke, "It was tough, but we got this when he went for a walk with Liza. Take a look on the back of it." Marina handed over a photograph to Viola, who looked down at it with Victor.

The photo showed a black and white still of a boy around seven years of age, standing proudly with his mother, who was sitting on a chair and had one of his hands cradled in her lap. Her smile was soft but full of love as she looked at the boy. Viola flipped the photo over and read the handwriting. Francesca Falcone and Carmine Falcone (Aged 7). Viola flipped the photo back to the image and looked at the beautiful woman, then it all clicked into place.

"He's not infatuated with her. He's in love but not by lust. He's got the love of a little boy to a mother." Viola said gently, stroking the photo gently. "She reminds him of her mother." They were all silent for a moment, not knowing what to say. But nothing was said when they heard a commotion in the house. Viola stood and slipped the photo into her trouser pocket.

Straightening her white blouse, Viola spoke, "This does not leave this room. I will have this sorted by nightfall." Lilly and Marina nodded and left the room. Victor stood and followed Viola towards a room where they could hear talking.

Victor stopped her before walking in, "Remember I'm by your side." He whispered to Viola, who smiled at him and gently kissed his cheek. Turning back to the doors, Viola swung them open to see Falcone at the end of the table, with the infamous Cobblepot.

"Viola. Zsasz." Falcone greeted. "We were just finishing up. Cobblepot, meet my ward and hitman. Viola, Victor, this is Oswald Cobblepot."

"The infamous Cobblepot who seems to be in everyone's way and the one everyone wants at the same time," Viola commented, walking further into the room.

Cobblepot gave a nervous smile to Viola. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Viola sat in the chair opposite him, Victor taking his place behind her. "A pleasure Cobblepot. Maybe one day we can meet over dinner and learn more about each other." Viola proposed with a smile.

"I would like that." Cobblepot nodded with a smile.

"Good. I will call with details, have a pleasant day." Viola ended the convocation with a smile. The trio waited in silence as Oswald Cobblepot was escorted from the room.

"I have a lunch meeting with the extended family. If you don't wish to come, I will be back by nightfall." Falcone said after a moment of silence. This was Viola's chance. A chance to begin righting things.

"We need to talk Falcone," Viola said, watching from her seat as he began to leave.

"I have no time to waste."

"Please, Carmine," Viola said more gently, watching the Don stop just before the door. "This is important."

Falcone turned back to his ward and look in the scene before him. "Last time you called me Carmine was when I told you I wanted you to be my ward, to be under my care. Since then it has been Falcone." He paused as he walked slowly to the seat Cobblepot sat in. "I remember the girl who was curious about the world. Who learnt and wondered as she grew. Who entered my world with small steps, and now become the woman before me. A woman who secrets weapons are not guns, but words. A woman who has taken control of my work, and has the protection and devotion of one of the most famous hitmen of Gotham." Falcone had taken his seat during his talk and looked at his ward. "I feel there has been a rift between us."

"There has, and I'm sorry for using your names against Carmine, but I did this is in case situations got dire. Just like this." Viola replied. She then went into her tale, telling the Don of all she knew. Once she reached the end, she gently pulled the photo out of her pocket and slid it across the table. "Fish has you hooked, line and nearly sinker. She wants you and Maroni to start a war and both come out dead. She wants to be out on top."

Falcone stared at the photo as Viola spoke. When she was done, he looked slowly up to his ward and hitman. After a moment, he whispered, "I have been made a fool. For too long. I am sorry my dear, I should have seen it."

"I would have done the same if someone tried the same with me."

"It is time I took control back, with your help of course. The both of you." Falcone gave a small smile as the two nodded. "For now, we act as this convocation never took place, until I say it's time. So, how about lunch?"

"I do have a new dress that needs to be worn," Viola replied with a smile. "May it be too forward if I ask Victor to attend?" Falcone looked at them both and with a smile nodded.

After their talk, Victor waited outside Viola's room as she changed into her dress. He has gone to his room quickly to make himself presented and armed. However, he was unprepared for when she walked out and looked at him with baited breath. The dress was strapless and reached her feet, flaring out at the end. There was a slit that showed Viola's left leg and the base colour a deep blue colour. As per usual, there were no sequins or fur sewn on the edges or for detail, just a plain look.

Except it worked for Viola.

"Beautiful," Victor whispered. Viola gave him a shy smile as he held his arm out for her to take taking note of her white, neat nail polish. Meeting Falcone downstairs, they made their way to a restaurant under Falcone's territory. Walking into a private room, the trio watched as all the close 'family' members stood to Falcone's attention.

"Please, sit everyone," Falcone said, walking to the head of the table and after helping Viola sit in her chair, Victor opposite her, Falcone sat at the end of the table. Everyone at the table sat in silence as the waiters came in with the main course, setting it in front of everyone. Viola looked at all the people at the table, including Fish, looking at Victor last, who was smirking at her.

Once the food was served, everyone began eating and after a few minutes, Falcone stood, walked over to the man beside Viola and taking out his gun, shot him in the head, making everyone except Victor and Viola stop eating and look. "I'm sorry for shocking you but let me provide context here. The armoury was meant to be protected, but this is the result of the failure. Whoever else was involved will wish for a swift death. In the meantime we must do what we can for the family, all your tariffs will rise by twenty-five percent."

Falcone paused to sit down in his seat once more. "Only until the reserves are built up again."

"In all honesty, that high boss." Nikolai, who was beside Victor who rolled his eyes, inputted.

"Do you think I'm being fair Fish?" Falcone asked the woman in red.

Fish took a moment and looked at Falcone, ignoring everyone else's gaze, especially Viola, "We sink or…we swim together, as a family."

"You could all learn from Fish, but all of you could learn more from Viola," Falcone replied, then turned to his ward to clasp her hand lovingly. Viola smiled at him and turned to Fish, seeing her glare at the other end of the table and finding satisfaction in it. With his other hand, Falcone summoned the waiters and kept his hand clasped with Viola's.

Viola kept her smile up as the lunch reached its conclusion, knowing that the tables were beginning to turn on poor old Fish. She caught Victor's gaze and saw amusement and admiration in his eyes.

First I'd like to say well done to someone who commented about the whole 'Falcone', 'Carmine' Viola does. A last mechanism for her to get his attention might be manipulation, but eh, this is Gotham. Also, I know (and had this planned) that there hasn't been a lot of mentions of other characters and crimes in Gotham at the moment. This is to convey Viola been stuck, or not fully knowing what is happening, but after this plan from Liza and Fish, all that and future chapters will change. Stay tuned also further progress in Viola and Victor's relationship.