Adele was deep in thought sitting in the party room waiting for Francesco to finish his meeting. She felt torn. On one hand she wanted to protest to Francesco to not allow Tristan near their daughter. But on the other hand she couldn't possibly deny that her daughter liked Tristan. It was impossible to deny. That was why Francesco hadn't rejected Tristan. Vienna wouldn't have wanted him to be rejected and to Francesco he was worthy to date their daughter.

Adele looked at her watch. It was time to go. She saw no sign of Francesco coming back from his meeting but she saw her daughter coming back down the stairs as Tristan was walking behind her with his stony face. His eyes were hardened and he was looking around the room as though looking to find anyone who dared be of any threat to Vienna.

As Vienna approached her mother, Tristan walked behind her.

Adele really needed a drink. She picked up her apple juice glass and took a sip as her daughter approached her alongside Tristan.

Vienna smiled at her mother and sat down behind the table next to her mother " Mum... You look tired..."

Tristan politely came close towering behind Vienna " Hello Mrs Rosario."

Adele gave him a forced smile. At least he wasn't holding her daughter's hand in front of her. He was wise to behave himself. She asked " How are you Tristan? Take a seat please."

Tristan took his seat and sat down with a polite smile " Thank you Mrs Rosario."

Adele spoke with almost accusing tone "I see you have asked my daughter to your first date.... My husband told me you asked for permission to take her to the roof... May I ask what you were upto?"

Tristan smiled " Mrs Rosario. I wish I could take her to the moon but the roof had to suffice. We only watched the stars using a telescope..."

Adele admired how charming and sincere the young man was. She wanted to find one flaw in him and she couldn't put her finger on it. It was with the exception of one issue. He was a future crime lord just like Vincenzo and it bothered her. Adele asked " Young man... Where are you asking to take my daughter next?"

Tristan stated " Ice skating..."

Adele raised an eyebrow " In the middle of summer?"

Tristan nodded " Yes. My father owns an ice skating rink close to our compound."

Adele couldn't believe the coincidence. Francesco also took her to an ice rink once when they were dating. She sighed " And what are your plans for future?"

Vienna who had been nervously listening to her mother questioning Tristan, gulped and looked at Tristan. She knew this was a key question. Her mother had a problem with him being a criminal.

Tristan looked at Vienna and gave her a reassuring smile. He then looked into Adele's eyes and responded with promise behind each word " My plans for future are ... ensuring that I spend all my years of training, experience of being mentored by my father and all the power I have on making sure Vienna is safe. I would make sure she has no threats to her happiness and I would not show mercy to anyone who dares to think of hurting her. My plan is to be strong enough to protect Vienna and to make sure she is comfortable and has everything she needs in her life. Everything I do in my life is for her. My life belongs to her. I would do anything to make her happy..."

Adele spoke before being able to stop herself " What if her happiness meant that you had to leave her? What if her safety depended on you leaving her forever and give her up?"

Vienna gasped and turned to her mother with disbelief. She was touched by how sincere Tristan had spoken but was outraged at how her mother was not giving Tristan a chance. He had hardly taken her on one date and he had not once tried to pressure her to get close to him or kiss him. He was as honourable, gentle and respectful as always. Vienna may have been inexperienced with boys but she understood what it meant when a boy didn't pressure a girl. She asked " Mother... I don't think it's necessary to ask him this..."

Tristan looked at Vienna and was not happy that she seemed tense. He spoke " Vienna. Remember I said I will fight for you... Don't worry. Your mother asked a good question." Tristan then looked into Adele's eyes and without meaning to, he intimidated her with his intense stare making her tense up. He spoke words that had meaning behind them " In that case... Vienna must ask me to leave. I won't leave her unless she asks me to. If that is her sole request I would leave but ... I would fight to make her love me until I take my last breath."

Adele was frozen in the spot and affected by the tense conversation but retorted instinctively "What if she loved another and she could be happier with another? What if not only she asked you to leave, she moved on? Would you stop fighting?"

Tristan's eyes hardened with a dangerous glint in his eyes "Anyone who is to touch Vienna has to go through me... The Rosario name is a curse and comes with enemies just like how the Giovanni and O'Neil names come with unwanted hatred and nemesis. Mrs Rosario ... May I have permission to be perfectly honest with you?"

Adele nodded and whispered "Yes, young man... Honesty is what I wish to hear and is all I expect from you..."

Tristan tried to compose himself and not let the words flow in a hrash tone. He took a deep breath and stated firmly in a low tone "I apologise for being too honest.... If anyone touches Vienna except me, they maybe signing their death warrant.... If Vienna falls in love with another and rejects me .... then .... she must ask him to come after me and kill me because I would kill him in the most painful way possible if I catch him... I respect Vienna's wishes but ... if the one she chooses to spend her life with is weak enough to be eliminated by me, then he is not strong enough to protect Vienna. If he can die at my hands then he exposes Vienna to danger. She can get hurt if the one she chooses is not capable of surviving..." He then didnt wait to hear Adele's response. He stood up "It was nice to speak to you maa'm. Have a good night." He then turned to Vienna and took her hand in his and planted a gentle kiss on her hand. He then looked into her eyes "I will see you in school tomorrow Vienna..."

Vienna swallowed hard as she felt his breath against her face. She sucked in a breath as she watched him walk away with his usual elegance after he gave her a reassuring polite smile.

Tristan had to walk away against his better judgement. he was no where near finished with his arguments. But he was threatened in broad daylight by Adele Rosario. He didnt think he wanted to remain in front of Vienna and scare her if he carried on speaking truthfully. He had tried to put it lightly in front of Vienna. He was never going to stop fighting for Vienna and everyone had to know that but of course Adele Rosario had no idea what he was capable of and who he was. Maybe she thought he was less of a criminal than he truly was.

Vienna looked at her mother worriedly. She looked too pale. "What if she fainted?" She thought to herself.

Adele looked frozen and was looking at Tristan's form leaving their sight deep in thought in silence. She gave out a shaky breath and looked at her daughter. She couldnt endure his intimidating presence for minutes. How could her daughter endure him as her boyfriend. She felt sorry for her daughter. She breathed "Sweetie, are you alright?"

The question threw Vienna off "Mum? How do you mean? I am ok..."

Adele took a deep breath as she saw her husband coming through the door into the party room. Obviously the meeting was over. Adele saw herself when she saw her daughter... She badly wanted her daughter to be free of this crime life. She didnt want her daughter to worry about her man not coming home everytime he left the house like how she was. But her dreams were becoming dashed right in front of her now. Tristan reminded her of the bitter truth. He daughter was a Rosario, no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she could never have a normal life. She fought tears from coming into her eyes. When she looked at Francesco she felt warm. She didnt want to cry when she saw her husband's form approaching. His existance made her feel assured. He made all problems sound easy. When he spoke, he assured her so well, she feared nothing.

Francesco walked to his wife and kissed her forehead. He then saw his sons approaching. He turned to Vienna "Princess, why dont you go to sit in the car with your brothers. Your mother and I need to say goodbye to the hosts and we will be in the car in a few minutes."

Vienna nodded and walked away reluctantly. She wouyld have given anything to find out what her parents thought of everything happening that night. But she was also grateful, they did not talk about Tristan with her. She would have been feeling too shy to talk about him. So she gladly joined her brothers and walked away with them.

Francesco hugged Adele tightly "Are you alright sweetheart?"

Adele nodded weakly "How did your meeting go?"

Francesco stated "It was fine. How did your meeting go with Tristan?"

Adele asked "How do you know we talked?"

Francesco stated "Sweetheart, guards are everywhere. I dont leave you unwatched anywhere. So how did it go? Did he say anything to upset you?" His tone turned serious.

Adele sighed "No.. He is a fine young man... He speaks perfectly, acts perfectly... He is Emanuelle's son....But I am tired Francesco.. I truly am... I dont even know what to think... This is too much to take for me... How can Vienna cope when I cant get my head around this... She is only 14.."

Francesco gave Adele a weak smile"Sweetheart, Vienna follows the rules and can follow anything we ask of her but we cant expect our daughter to  change how she feels just because we may feel going out with Tristan is inconvenient and too early. She could say no and she didnt when he bent down on one knee and asked her out. Dont forget, they are just teenagers and they act their age. I will make sure I keep an eye on our daughter and Tristan... But Tristan is Emanuelle's son as you said... He knows honour. He lives by it... Nothing will be happening that our daughter cant handle... I have faith in our daughter. The daughter that we have raised knows how to say no...." He then gave Emnauelle a hard look as he approached him and his wife interrupting them.

Emanuelle was smiling as he was holding his wife's waist walking towards Adele and Francesco with a drink in his hand. As he appraoched he spoke "Irish cream whiskey.. My favourite... Would you like to make a toast with your red wine on the table to my future daughter in law and my son? What do you say?"

Francesco shook his head "Adele and I were just leaving. We just need to say goodbye to the hosts..."

Emanuelle took a sip from his drink and then chuckled "How about a toast tomorrow night at our house.... Sancia and I would love to have you for dinner. Bring the kids too... They can spend some time.. studying together... Our home belongs to our future daughter in law..." Emanuelle was pushing Francesco's buttons. He was not going to let this go. His son had proven victorious. His son was worthy of a Rosario and even Francesco with all his strict rules for his daughter was unable to deny it. Francesco wanted to spill blood by the way of the look in his eyes directed at Emanuelle and he could bring it on for all Emanuelle knew. He was not going to change the subject. He had too much fun looking at Francesco's hard expression. He couldnt deny that his son was perfect. No one could.

Sancia was trying hard to thread carefully there as she was looking between her husband and Francesco who was looking at her husband like he wanted to snap his neck. She nodded quickly and looked at Adele "Sure. Please do come to our home. It would be wonderful to catch up with you Adele."

Adele leaned closer to Francesco hoping Francesco didnt hit Emanuelle. She could see it coming.

Francesco narrowed his eyes " My wife and I are unavailable tomorrow night but if there are any changes I would inform you... But Tristan is welcome to drop by my office anytime from now on. It would be a pleasure to remind the young man of my rules and expectations. Good night Emanuelle."

Tristan watched Francesco walk away as his father laughed and shook his head watching Francesco walk away. Only his father got away with laughing and joking with Francesco Rosario to this extent. if anyone else mentioned his daughter and joked around, he was sure they were not going to live long. Tristan looked outside the window watching Vienna standing next to the car with her brothers who were busy talking and ignoring her presence. He wished they paid more attention to Vienna. Was she being taken care of? He was frustrated. All he wanted to do was to be there for her but he was not allowed to be that close. He would have given anything to spend an hour longer on the rooftop with her. Every moment he spent with her was magical.

Tristan felt his heart jump as he felt her stare on himself. She saw him behind the window. Their eyes locked. He saw her give her brothers a look and then looking back at him as though making her decision. She bit her lip making him groan. He was willing to die for the chance to taste her lips one day. He watched her walk away from the car to the building. He wondered why she came back. Her parents were now speaking to his grandparents and about to come down to the front yard of the masnion. Then he saw her brightening up the room as she walked in. She was looking at him. She walked to the quiet corner where he was standing. She reached into her purse and took out something.

Vienna took a deep breath as she took out the object nervously from her purse. What if he didnt like it? She appraoched him as he was staring at her silently. He gave her a warm smile. "Vienna You are back... What can I do for you?"

Vienna handed a box to him "This is for you..." She then smiled shyly "Good night." She then walked away.

Tristan watched her walk out of the room in awe. He didnt stop her. He just wished she could stay longer. After she left, he opened the box. It was an army plate pendant. His name was printed on one side and her name on the other... They were one... That was what it meant to him. But it could be opened. He opened the plate and saw a mini drawing of himself and a mini drawing of a portrait of Vienna inside the plate pendant. The images printed hidden inside the plate were her drawings. He closed the pendent shut and he wore the plate around his neck and vowed to never take it off.