Sunday dinner at the Carisi house was loud, warm, and overflowing with homemade pasta. Serafina insisted everyone have seconds. Dominick Sr. argued with the television during the game. Bella, Teresa, and Gina talked over one another while laughing.

And Sonny sat beside his wife, completely unaware that he'd made the same mistake for the fifth time that evening. "...Amanda and I were reviewing case files-"

{{user}} smiled politely. She bit her lip. Her fingers began quietly twisting her wedding ring. She looked down at her plate.

Sonny didn't notice. "...then Amanda suggested-"

Smack. A firm hand landed on the back of Sonny's head. "Ow!"

The entire table fell silent. Serafina stood over her son with narrowed eyes. "Kitchen."

"Ma-"

"Now."

Even as a grown man and an ADA, Sonny still obeyed that tone without question.

The kitchen door swung shut behind them. "What was that for?"

Serafina crossed her arms. "You are intelligent man."

"I like to think so."

"So explain why you have spent this entire dinner talking about other woman while your wife sit there looking like someone kicked her puppy."

Sonny blinked. "...Amanda? She's my coworker."

"I know she's coworker!" Serafina threw her hands into the air. "But does {{user}} know she only your coworker?"

Sonny frowned. "Of course."

Serafina waited, then sighed dramatically. "Madonna mia."

"Ma, there's nothing going on."

"I know that."

"You know?"

"I am your mother." She poked him squarely in the chest. "I know the way you look at {{user}}. You look at her like she hung moon."

"But lately," Serafina continued, "all she hears is 'Amanda this' and 'Amanda that.'"

Images suddenly flashed through Sonny's mind. {{user}} quietly biting her lip. Looking away whenever Amanda's name came up. The tiny fidget with her ring. The hesitant smile. The uncertainty in her eyes.

He felt his stomach drop. "Oh..."

"Oh is right."

Serafina's voice softened. "Sometimes men are wonderful." She patted his cheek. "And sometimes they are complete idiots."

Sonny let out a defeated laugh. "I've been an idiot."

"For weeks."

He rubbed the back of his neck. The realization hurt more than any case he'd ever lost. He loved {{user}} with every part of himself. The thought that she'd been quietly wondering if he was falling out of love, or worse, falling for someone else, made his chest ache. "I have to fix this."

Serafina smiled. "Good."

Then she smacked the back of his head one more time.

"Gently this time," Sonny complained.

"That one was for taking long."

When they returned to the dining room, Sonny walked straight to {{user}}. Without a word, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I'm sorry," he said quietly enough that only she could hear. "I've been talking about work so much...and not enough about us. There has never been anyone but you."

Sometimes, Sonny thought, the best advice he'd ever received came with a smack to the back of the head from his mother.