Hey everyone, This is the first fanfic I've posted. I've written a few but I've never been game enough to send them! =) Any feedback would be *really* appreciated!! Please let me know what you think!! Thanks! Hope you enjoy it... La Vita è Bella by Sarah He lifted the squirming being carefully from the baby seat, placing her securely on his hip. He eyed Mac, easily reading the lines of worry on her brow. He bumped the card door closed with his hip, pushing his sunnies up onto his hairline, before reaching instinctively for her hand. Mac seemd to glance at Caley, then at Pete pushing a smile onto her face. "Hey," he said catching her chin as she tried to turn away to cover her fears, "doesn't matter what happens in there right? You said it yourself." Mac nodded sighing, gripping Pete's hand tighter, before reaching for the tiny gate that had squeaked for as long as she could remember. A lump rose in her throat as Pete knocked softly on the door, giving her a weak reassuring glance. "They mustn't be home," Mac said quickly, pulling slightly on Pete's wrist, but the door opened slowly before she could escape. "Eleanor?" Mac spun back around and glanced at Pete warily before allowing herself to look her mother in the eye. "Yeah... hi Mum," she gulped as her mother looked Pete up and down before turning back questioningly to Mac. "And this is?" Mac stood infuriated at her mothers turned up nose. What right did she have to judge them? "Peter," she said sofly squeezing his hand, allowing a small smile to cross her face, "My husband." Her mother, always a woman of great pride and dignity, barely battered an eyelash, glancing from Mac to Pete, then to the child resting calmly in Pete's arms pulling gently on his shirt collar. "And this is my..." Mac bit her lip, clenching Petes hand even tighter, "OUR daughter Caley." Her mother nodded, smiling briefly at Pete more in politeness than in care, leading them through the house to the veranda where they stood in an awkward silence. "How old is she?" Her mother asked gesturing vaguely in Caley's direction, as though unable to actually look at her grandchild. "5 months and 2 days," Pete said grinning broadly as he slipped a hand around Macs waist, letting it rest comfortably on her hip. "And you've been married...?" Ruth asked her nose tilting up to try and regain some dignity. Macs stern and stubborn expression lifted momentarily, a small smile creeping onto her face, "a year tomorrow week." "I see," she murmured, eyebrows raised obviously calculating the dates. "Bloody hell! You're not the virgin Mary either, Mum. What right have you got to be all 'oh I see' with me??" Mac inhaled deeply, holding eye contact and daring her mother to back down. Pete shifted Caley gently in his arms, placing a firmer grip on Mac's hip trying to calm her down. Her mother glared icily at Mac, "Eleanor..." she began in the tone Mac remembered only too well. 'Eleanor you're not going out,' 'Eleanor you're going to study law,' 'Eleanor you're not moving to Melbourne.' "Mum, I don't need your approval to be happy," She stated firmly. She turned to Pete murmuring stiffly, "Can we please go?" Pete nodded instantly, trying to absorb all that was going on around him. "Can I at least hold my only grandchild?" Ruth asked addressing Pete, not looking Mac in the eye. Pete glanced panicking at Mac tightening his grip around Caley who reacted by squirming in his arms. Mac watched her mother, all the hatred from over the years building up again. She looked away quickly, nodding to Pete who handed Caley carefully to Ruth, the distrust obvious. Caley wriggled for a moment in her hold before gazing curiously up at Ruth. She let out a short cry, squirming to try and get a glimpse of a familiar face. She began to whimper, kicking softly, her eyes filling with tears. "What's wrong with her?" Ruth asked shoving Caley back into Petes arms. "She doesn't like strangers," Mac stated quietly, turning and following the well-worn narrow path around the house back towards the gate trusting Pete was following. Pete glanced awkwardly at Ruth, unsure quite what was happening. "I'm not a stranger. I'm her grandmother," Ruth said sharply, her face stone cold. Pete shrugged, almost apologetically, Caley once again in his arms content, before following the path Mac had taken catching up to her as she reached the gate. He put an arm around her shoulder supportively, kissing her cheek softly. They walked in silence towards the rented car, Pete carefully placing Caley into the babyseat. Pushing the door closed again he took Mac's hands in his, watching her until she would hold his gaze. "I'm sorry I conned you into coming here," he said softly, tucking some stray hairs back into place behind her ear. "Hey, it doesn't matter what happened in their right?" She asked forcing a brave smile. Pete nodded, pulling her into a firm hug, "love ya heaps. You know that right?" Mac smiled, this time more genuine, "oh I think I might remember hearing you say that once or twice before..." she laughed softly, "I love you too Pete." He kissed her gently on the lips before opening the car door for her, "Your limousine mademoiselle," he said faking a french accent. "Why thankyou," She grinned, patting him softly on the stomach. "I've only got one question." Pete grinned closing her door, then resting on the frame of the opened window. "How on earth did you not end up a complete bitch?" Mac laughed whacking him through the window in mock-offense mimicking her mother, "how dare you speak to someone of my class like that!" He turned to make his way to the other side of the car pausing, turning once more to face her again. "I'm sorry I assumed I could be the only one to have crap parents." She smiled, "you're forgiven." He squeezed her hand before climbing into the car never wanting to have to see Mac go through that again. That was the only advantage of his father being dead he thought with a sigh. He smiled at Mac beside him, the smile turning into a huge grin as he saw Caley in the back, sucking contentedly on her sock. Life was pretty good. fin.