"...." Dom was silent for a moment, before he laid back down on the couch, getting comfortable.

And it didn't take long, to understate it.

Within 2 minutes of him laying down, his eyes had closed, and she could tell that he was WELL on his way to a night of deep sleep.

However, he opened one eye, and extended a hand towards her.

"Don't let me sleep for TOO long." he told her.

"Please. No longer than necessary." he finished, before fully passing out, his arm flopping down to the floor.

"Huh?" Jaden asked.

"Noon?" he asked further, checking the clock.

"Uhhh... yeah, sure." he said. "Shouldn't be a problem." he said further.

"Do you mean at your place?" he asked.

"Yes." Sydney responded.

"Why the sudden invite, if I may ask?" Jaden then inquired.

"Uhhhh... right then." Jaden replied.

"I... I will be there, then." he told her.

"I admit, I'm VERY curious as to what you're talking about, but it's not TOO long." he muttered.

"...wait..." he then said.

"Wasn't tonight a drinking night for you?" he asked.

"Is... everything all right?" he then asked her, a bit of concern in his tone.

"All right then." Jaden replied.

"You have me even MORE curious now." he admitted.

"But I'll see you at noon." he told her.

"I'll mana right into the den." he said.

"...." he was then silent, before she heard some rustling.

"...yep. Not busy. I'll be there no issues."

Jaden looked at his phone for a moment, silent in his confusion.

".....hm." he mumbled.

".....interesting." he said, scratching his head a little.

Sure enough, around noon, and after he'd finished his lengthy morning routine, he appeared in a portal in Sydney's den, stepping out into the room.

As soon as he did, he froze for a moment, looking around.

'...what the...?' he thought, narrowing his eyes.

'This... someone... is here.' he realised, going on full alert and starting to search the room.

Jaden was searching around the room, before pausing and looking at her.

"...eh?" he muttered.

"A Cuban sandwich?" he asked.

"That's... a bit odd." he commented. "Specifying THAT kinda sandwich, that is." he then clarified.

He then sighed, shook his head, and continued to look around.

"Damn it." he muttered.

"I can smell them. Where are they?" he grumbled, growing a bit unimpressed.

Jaden could hear the ire in his mother's tone.

But he could also hear that she was sincere when she said that all would be answered in the kitchen.

"....uh..." he mumbled.

"Y... yeah." he said, before stopping his search and making his way towards where she was, and the kitchen... and then marvelling at the spread.

"Oh, wow." he muttered.

"This is one hell of a spread." he commented.

"One could make some amazing sandwiches here."

Jaden raised an eyebrow.

"Ah.... huh." he said.

"Right." he muttered.

"So... this 'Nico' is the one you want me to meet, I assume." he commented.

"Are they the one I sense?" he asked.

Jaden sighed and nodded.

"Yes." he replied.

"I do." he said, accepting a mug when it was handed to him.

"....so... why?" he asked.

"Why should I meet this 'Nico'?" he asked her.

"You're never one to introduce me to others. Why the sudden change? What makes this person so different?"

"...." Jaden was silent for a moment.

"Uhhhhh..." he mumbled.

"Nnnnnnnnno." he then said.

"No. No, you have not." he admitted, thinking about it.

"Why?" he asked.

"Why DID we live in Italy for so damned long?"