Tristan was standing in front of a mirror as he was wearing his shirt. As he was fixing his cuff links he was watching his reflection in the mirror while thinking about everything that had happened recently. He never imagined to be able to call himself Vienna's boyfriend by the time this Friday night party had come around. He never though she was going to say yes to him. But she finally had.

Tristan took a deep breath and he thought back to the moments he had been lucky enough to share with her. He was relieved she had said yes to him. She hadnt given him a kiss but it didnt matter. He could wait. Now he wasnt sure when was the next time he was going to see Vienna after this party tonight. A long business trip was coming up unlike any other. He wondered if his father felt the same before he went on trips. Did he ever feel every glance at people he took could be his last time? That was how Tristan felt. He felt like there were possibilities he was going to not come back at all. But again his father had told him not to worry about death. His father had told him that trips were part of life and he was going to come back a changed man but it didnt mean he was going to change towards Vienna.

Tristan heard Vincenzo from outside "Tristan, what are you doing in there exactly? Dancing with the suit or wearing it? Come out. Will you? We need to go get lunch."

Vincenzo was in a rush to get out of the tailor shop. The boys had ordered suits and were now trying them on. It was rare for them to have parties often so they made the most of any chances they had at having fun. But of course Vincenzo wasnt in the mood. This was a friday afternoon. Their school had finished at lunch time giving them enough time to spend on shopping and having lunch before going to the party at the O'Neil mansion. Clarisa and Trent's birthdays were on saturday so it was a part weekend marking end of half terms exams and the oneil twin birthdays that weekend. But Vincenzo didnt care any more despite looking forward to the event. It was now meaningless to party since Letizia was not going to take part. She was at her home alone while he had to party.

Tristan opened the door and came out wearing the suit "Do you like it Vincenzo?"

Vicnenzo was leaning to the wall looking at Tristan up and down "You are asking me? Shouldnt you be asking this from your girlfriend?"

Tristan spoke "Well she is not here. I would have asked her if she was. Maybe I should try the grey one... Does she like grey? I go in and try the second suit and ask you." He then chuckled to himself as he turned around liking to annoy Vincenzo.

Vincenzo sighed in frustration and spoke firmly "You dare walk in there again, I would smash you up..."

Tristan laughed and turned around "Are you sure about that?... We cant get blood on th suits... Cheer up.... I wont go back in... So all set to go..."

Vincenzo retorted "Good choice." He then walked away leading them outside the shop. The boys were outside slowly joining in a circle in the shopping centre. Vincenzo didnt want to be there. he prefered to be with letizia at her home but of course, he couldnt. His father hd said no. He glanced at his father who was looking over the mall. He sighed. How long was his father going to take before he forgave Letizia? He had no idea.

Francesco was staring at his son from far as he was drinking from his glass. He was looking through the glass walls of one of his offices over his Members Only shopping centre on that friday afternoon. He looked around the the place and now he could see his daughter coming out of a shop alongside other girls as she was busy dress shopping. The girls seemed to be taking a break now sitting next to a set of steps leading to a water fountain as some of them went to get ice cream for the group. He smiled at how satisfied he was at this picture ... His daughter was safe and was allowed to have a normal life or rather a taste of it before she was immersed into life of business.

He was trying hard to protect his children from the realities of being a Rosario. He wanted them to have some normal teenage days unlike himself.

He then glanced back at the crowd of boys at the other side of shopping mall as they went to the sandwich stand and got on with drinking soda. The boys knew to keep their distance from his daughter in the shopping mall that belonged to him but he knew Tristan was going to surely approach Vienna. The young man was fine but he still wished Tristan didn't ask his daughter out so soon... He was not ready to see her have an O'Neil name hovering around her... It was too soon. But when was he ever ready for anything that life threw at him?

Ever since the day he was born Francesco remembered that his choices were never his own and he had to fight hard for the ones that became his choices. Francesco had to grow up fast and had to face and handle what he wasn't ready for. He was always pushed into a path and he had to fight for survival. Only when he had met Adele he had realise there was one choice in life that no one could take away from him. The choice of loving someone was his only. Even if his father pushed him into an arranged marriage, he still could not make him fall in love with a random woman ... When Francesco looked at his life, only his wife was truly what he had that he truly always wanted and of course the children that his wife carried for him were the most precious gems in his life .

He was hoping he could get his life to a level that his children could always make their own choices and they could ... almost .... They carried the curse of the Rosario name that came with wealth and power but also enemies. He was glad his sons were on his side and loyal to him. He needed them to protect each other and the family. Someone had to take care of this family when he was gone and he had full faith in his sons to do the job after he couldnt. Death could come to him any day.

Francesco heard Emanuelle's voice from bhind him " Francesco? Whats on your mind?" He was sitting on a sofa drinking from an Irish whiskey bottle that he had brought with himself to Francesco's office as he was flipping through the folder he had in front of him on his lap.

Francesco turned around " My sons..." He then turned back around looking outside the window.

Emanuelle took a sip from his whiskey bottle as he looked at Francesco. He sighed and put the bottle and the folder on the table and stood up "Well. That makes the two of us... I am thinking of your sons too... Especially the younger one..."

Francesco raised an eyebrow as he put his drink glass on the table and leaned to the wall staring at Emanuelle " Why would you think of my sons? Have they done something to offend you?"

Emanuelle shook his head as he walked slowly towards Francesco " No. they are quite diplomatic actually. Your older son my have been cursing me in his mind as I was talking to him on that day we put his girlfriend on trial... But no, I am not offended... Intrigued.. yes.. offended... no..."

Francesco found Emanuelle standing in front of him now " Then what's the issue?"

Emanuelle put his hands on his pockets as he stood in front of Francesco " You need to push Viggo harder. Someone needs to challenge your oldest son when you are unavailable."

Francesco spoke " Viggo can challenge him..."

Emanuelle spoke " I meant as an equal.. Viggo is not Costanzo ... you can't just give him the role of a lawyer or negotiator. Alexander is being trained by Antonio to be a negotiator and Stefano is learning all his father knows. Costanzo is already training a lawyer for you... If you have Stefano you won't need Viggo to hold his hand... You need Viggo in the hot seat alongside Vincenzo..."

Francesco spoke " Its not that simple... He doesn't want it... Viggo is not interested in leading...."

Emanuelle spoke " I am aware of that. He is not as ambitious as Vincenzo but he is capable... I have seen his report cards in Sancia's office. His scores are close to Vincenzo's. When I observe him I see a lot of you in him. I don't see Costanzo or Angelo in him at all... He needs to he put on the spot to be forced to make decisions. I can help you do that on our trip and I hope you let me..."

Francesco asked " Don't you have the same concerns for Trent? You don't push him..."

Enabuelle stated " Come on Francesco. We both know my wife is pushing him hard enough the Giovanni way. I won't give him more than he can handle ... Trent is also due to he challenged. He must be reliable and strong enough for Tristan. I would prepare him for that... But we are discussing Viggo here... You are not pushing him... You must...Before it's too late and your control over Vincenzo slips. That eldest son of yours could cause havoc and you know it. He is fearless, intelligent and knows how to cause destruction because you have taught him and he had your genes to thank for his gifts. But he needs someone who can challenge him...."

Francesco argued " Tristan can do that.."

Emanuelle shook his head " Tristan is not his blood. They can act like brothers but they are not. Your son called mine, a stranger earlier in his arguments. To your son, Tristan is not his blood so technically he is a a stranger but of course we know they are allies and brothers in many respects. Vincenzo is a complex one and you know it... No one can challenge him and have a chance of stopping him because he has a mindset no one can change... Viggo is the only one to do it..."

Francesco sighed " I will think about it."

Emanuelle asked " Which son worries you the most..."

Francesco sighed and walked to his liquor cabinet. He opened it and spoke " Neither. I want them to make their own mistakes and learn from it... Why would it worry me if my oldest son is falling for a troubled girl or when my youngest doesn't trust me enough to tell me everything that's happening to him..." He then chose a small vodka bottle and took it out of the cabinet " They are teenagers... They will grow out of it, whatever it maybe."

Emanuelle asked " You didn't grow out of anything... You fell for Adele and that remained that way... Neither did I fall out with Sancia."

Francesco opened the bottle and took a sip as he turned around. He nodded " There was no need for us to grow out of anything... life was decided for both of us... if your father killed your girl or if my father killed mine, we just had to move on... we would have been different people now but we would have learnt to accept it... If Letizia dies young then my son will move on... But he will not be the same..."

Emanuelle asked " I am glad we have that agreement. You know she can die young ... why not do something about it?..."

Francesco spoke " Why should I? Let my son learn his lesson... You know what they say... You can lead a horse to the water but You can't make the horse drink... We have lead this girl to water. We have given her a lifeline for the sake of my son.... But if she refuses to drink the water, then who's fault is that? My son needs to accept some people can be beyond saving if they are arrogant...I keep out of it and so should you. I have taught my son how to deal with his problems..."

Emanuelle walked closer to Francesco " I know your son is fully capable of dealing with problems... I don't dispute that... Vincenzo is not like other kids.... Your son might over throw you like how you did to your father. He is not the type to let you step aside."

Francesco hesistated to answer. He looked at O'Neil and stated " He will overthrow me. I can see him do it... I will cross that bridge when I get to it.....But we both know if I cant lead my organisation maybe i deserve to be overthrown.... My son is a Rosario. I have taught him to be loyal to his blood, be honourable to his family and be respectful to our allies. I see no signs of him ignoring my teachings... But if I do, then I would kick out whatever nonsense he has learnt from others... Do you have concerns regadring my son not being loyal to me?"

Emanuelle shook his head "No Francesco... This is not about him betraying you... Its not about hi hurting his blood... You have been a role model for your children and they are loyal to you ... But your oldest son is quite... how do I put it?.... He reminds me of your old man..." He then waited for Francesco's reaction. Someone had to say it.

Francesco surprised Emanuelle as turned around looking outside the window once again not allowing his friend to see his emotions that were everywhere. Francesco hesitated in asnwering and took a deep sigh. Seconds past in silence and then he spoke in a low voice "Vincenzo has his grandfather's genes alongside mine.... But Vincenzo is my child... I raised him.... He might have common grounds with my father... I cant change that.. But my son will take care of his family.... unlike my father.... Thats all I want from Vincenzo in this life. I want him to take care of his own.... I can't change his will because it is as strong as mine but I like to think i have taught him the value of family.... As long as he doesnt hurt his blood, he has done his duty as my son...."

Emanuelle sighed and walked closer to Francesco and stood behind him as he also looked into the distance through the window "We both worked hard to build our empires... Yet, I find that no matter what we have built, it counts as nothing if our children dont turn out how we wished for them to be.... Francesco, you dontd eserve to have to worry for what Vicnnezo is capable of doing when your retirement comes along... You need your younger son on Vincnezo's side... your son needs his equal... But you dont let Viggo challnege himself... He is more like you than you know..."

Francesco sighed "I want Viggo to be free... Vincenzo wants this life.. I let him follow my path... I allow him to do it because this is what he wants... But Viggo... is different... Adele has plans for him... She wants to send him to medical school..."

O'Neil laughed "Come on... Your son will refuse to go... Viggo is loyal to you... he wouldnt want to be a civilian no matter how badly your wife wants to send all your children to medical school hoping to put a cover over their eyes so they dont see the bloody side of your buisinss.... Its becasue she doesnt know how times are changing... you need your sons prepared to adapt your business with time... Some cant adapt so they are runninga way... Like how the McNamaras are running away to Australia... they want to get away... Buy a house somewhere remote and change their name living in peace... Some families are choosing to run away before the FBI comes knocking..."

Francesco turned to O'Neil as he spoke wth amusement "How is your younger son coping with that girl, Azurine leaving..."

Emanuelle nodded "What happened today is serious... it can change him..."

Francesco stated "You think? Teenagers can get over things fast... He wasnt so attached to that girl..."

Emanuelle spoke "I think he was, a little bit.... Now that the McNamaras are going on an exodus to Australia, my son would know what its like to lose touch with his ... second crush. Trent took a hard hit after Amethyst went into comma. I think he was attached to actions because Azurine did resemble Amethyst..."

Francesco eyed O'Neil " You are not meant to mention her name. Anna doesn't wish anyone to mention her..."

O'Neil spoke " There is a new doctor... O'Connor..,, Your love rival. He has a new treatment that is promising.... Her recovery can give my son hope..."

Francesco spoke " Sure ... If you like to believe that...He was no rival of mine... My wife didnt love him... Get your facts right.... Now I hope for Anna's sake it's true... Her marriage with Arturo is surviving but I think she is at breaking point. On the trip this month we can stop by and say hello to her..." Francesco then turned around looking outside window.

Emanuelle always found himself lucky to be on Francesco's side. He could see a caring side of him that not many got to see. They both had same family values. But for different reasons. O'Neil had a lovely perfect family who showered him with love and he dreamt of becoming like his father. In case of Francesco the opposite was true. Francesco was from a broken home and his father didn't know the meaning of love. And Francesco despised his father so much about how much he had hurt him and his brother as well as kicking his mother out of their lives. Francesco had dreamt of never becoming a man like his father. He wanted to be a better man than his father and having a family who loved him and didn't fear him like how he had feared his father all his life. They now were both proud of their sons hoping they got the message that family meant the most.

Emanuelle smiled as he saw his son walking in front of the group of boys towards girls. He commented " Our children seem to get along..."

Francesco narrowed his eyes " The young man knows I am here watching him and he walks to my daughter... Can't he keep away for more than an hour? This is my private shopping mall... I own it... The young man must watch his step on my property..."

Emanuelle wanted to laugh but tried to resist it as he heard the fury in Francesco's voice. He couldn't get used to this any time soon. He commented " Its broad daylight...Your sons are watching...Tristan knows Papa Rosario will go down there and kick his backside if he pushes his luck... My turn would soon come too to watch my daughter have  a date and I am glad its not your eldest son having eyes for her for now."