Vienna was sat on a desk in the classroom waiting for Tristan to get her a drink for the break time. She blushed at the memory of their kissing session. Tristan loved holding her a lot. The simplest actions by her turned him on. As she was looking around class, she noticed a knock on the door. Tristan never knocked. She called out " Come in."

The door opened and the last person she expected to see showed up at the door. She gasped " You are here. When did you arrive." She then got off the desk and walked to his cousin but he took a few steps backwards as he put his hand up. He spoke with a smile " Hi there Vienna... Your man told me you are here so I came here to greet you but I don't want to get a black eye. It's almost Christmas. So let's not hug."

Vienna shook her head as she walked to him and embraced him in a tight hug " Stop it Austin. He won't give you a black eye."

Austin replied " Everyone wants to punch me if they get an excuse."

Vienna replied " You are the cause of it. You clash with the boys." She then pulled away and took a step back " How long are you staying this christmas? "

Austin replied "I am in New York this week and next week in Washington DC, then its back and forth until the end of Christmas holidays. Thats when I am going back to Italy. I was lucky I caught the early flight today. The flight after me has delays it seems. Tristan told me. He said his sister will be delayed because Vincenzo thinks so."

Vienna asked " How is your mother?"

Austin looked around " You shouldn't be asking about her. Your father pretends she doesn't exist. She flew to Washington DC of course to see my grandparents. I am here to see my father. But he seems to be away on call. I just thought I show up in school even though our exams in Italy finishes well before advent starts. I can always do some independent study in the library while I wait around and kill time. Why not? Then I go back and forth."

Vienna looked at him with sympathy "I am so sorry Austin. I know this must be hard for you to be caught in the middle. Give it time. Your mother is the American ambassador in Italy. My mother doesnt tell me much about why my father has banned your mother from our home. She says we cant talk about Elise O'Brien, the daughter of Senator O'Brien. There is history there. At least your father is allowed to see you. My uncle Angelo has missed you."

Austin smiled sadly "I missed him too. Do you know how long I have waited to go to a baseball game with him? At least my parents are not divorced. I dont know how they keep the marriage together. My father even keeps telling my mother to quit her ambassador job and come back to America. But she feels better this way away from it all. My parents are not divorced but they are as good as."

Vienna asked in a whisper "Where are you this christmas? You are not in Washington DC. are you?"

Austin "Nodded. I am. I will be dining with white house personnel the day after christmas. Oh well. My grandparents invited my father and his family which includes yours. My father said he can come but not his family. Oh boy. They dont know what your father does. My grandparents think, he is a normal business man."

Vienna shrugged "They have nothing on my father. No proof. No evidence to pin on him. Lets keep it that way." She emphesised on her last words.

Austin caught the emphasis and sighed "Come on Vienna. You do know my lips are sealed and so is my mother's. She owes her life to Patricia Rosario, your father's aunt and also your aunt Anna Rosario has been so good to us in Italy. My mother would never tell anyone about what your family does. If she wasnted to betray your family she would have done it by now. But what about me? You think I would betray my own blood? You do. Dont you?"

Vienna replied "Rosarios are not your blood."

Austin argued "But you are. I am never going to betray your father or any Rosarios."

Vienna stated "But others are fair game. You say it yourself. You want to study law and then apply to be an FBI special agent or investigator. You had work experience at the white house and FBI. You have more lined up this summer too. You want to catch criminals."

Austin stated "Well, an FBI head investigator who's wife is part of the white house security team is my godfather. He sorted it out for me... But its not what you think. I just like to serve my country in some way and joining FBI is one way. It hasnt happened yet. I might become a senator. I just want to make a change and make people's lives better. Thats all. I didn't say I am catching the mob... They would be caught by themselves. Anyone who leaves any evidence behind is caught. Fact."

Vienna spoke "What about the O'Neils..."

Austin stated "What about them? Nobody has anything on them either... I checked...."

Vienna raised an eyebrow "Excuse me? You checked? Where?"

Austin shrugged " Around... They have files on all millionaires and billionaires trying to find any inconsistency in their finances and links. Its mostly dead ends but they are closing in on some. You know the McNamaras? They closed in on them so they moved to Australia. Also Niall's family left to Australia to cover up some tracks..."

Vienna replied "Niall and Azurine's family may move back."

Austin replied "Sure. When they can be sure FBI lost any tracks of their families. Niall is safe I think. But Azurin's mother was abit careless and left some witness alive or half dead rather. So here we go. As long as there is no evidence people are safe."

Just then the door opened and Tristan enetered with two drinks in his hand. As Austin turned around, he asked Vienna "Has he been bothering you Vienna?"

Vienna smiled and side stepped Austin as she walked to Tristan "No. We just were having a nice chat." She then took the drink "Thank you Tristan."

Tristan smiled and took a sip from his drink as he looked past Vienna to Austin who was standing there silently " Do you want to lend a hand in judging the projects for the students in years below us?"

Austin nodded "Might do that. I am just killing time until my father comes back."

Tristan stated "It can be a while. He is busy."

Austin sighed "I know. He has time for everyone. He is there for the whole world and its ironic he doesnt have much time left for me. See you around." He then walked away to the door and left silently.

Tristan turned to Vienna "Why do you look worried Vienna?"

Vienna had just watched him leave and was still looking at the door "I feel sorry for him."

Tristan stated "Dont. He can handle it. He is an O'Brien. Not a Lombardi."

Vienna looked up "He has both family names on the birth certificate. Doesnt he?"

Tristan pulled a chair for Vienna "Sit down Vienna. We need to talk."

Vienna sat down as she was having her drink while Tristan sat opposite her on a desk "Well. Here is the issue I have... He is not like a Lombardi. He is like his mother. He is tough. His mother mostly raised him. Dont feel sorry for him. He is not a tortured soul unlike what you think. Your uncle Angelo had an affair with Elize O'Brien on the day your uncle Costanzo married or rather he pretended he did. He runs away and then he is allowed to get married. I see no sympathy here at all. Your aunt Elize should have been killed by your father but, your father lets her live. Everyone thinks its because she was pregnant. Maybe. Maybe not. I think its because of your mother... Here we go. He could be dead if your father had his way. But Austin is alive and kicking and he could wipe us all out in the FBI. So dont feel sorry for him."

Vienna objected "He wont sell us to FBI."

Tristan took a sip from his drink "He won't? or he can't? He has no evidence. Not yet."

Vienna spoke "He won't betray us."

Tristan nodded "True. He has no intention of doing it now. But if I find out he does, I will kill him. So always remember he was meant to be dead but your father spared his life. I won't."

Vienna put her empty cup down inside a bin and stood up as she looked into Tristan's eye "He is my cousin..."

Tristan agreed "Yes he is... But. He is not allowed to hurt you. If he does dream of it he is dead. My people are watching him in FBI actually. He looked at our files. Found nothing. But didn't say anything when he was questioned. My father tests him through his agents. For now he is in fact on our side. He plays the part too. He is the perfect American. A senator's grandson. For now he is not trying to betray us. But if he does, he dies. Dont shed any tears for him ever if he gives me a reason to shoot him."

Vienna replied "Tristan... Dont talk like this... He is my cousin."

Tristan stated "And you are my girl". He then drank from his cup and put the empty cup away in the bin. He then glanced at Vienna "You are my girl. You belong to me... I protect you."

Vienna shook her head "I dont like how you speak about Austin. Its not his fault who he is related to.... But he is not a traitor."

Tristan took a step closer to Vienna "I know. Thats why he is alive for now. But I will discard of him Vienna if he becomes a threat, he is dead."

Vienna narrowed her eyes "He is not a threat yet." She then turned around and walked away.

Tristan raised an eyebrow "Where are you going? Break hasnt finished. We have plenty of time."

Vienna put her hand on the door knob "I need to go to the ladies room.... I want to be early to my next class. So I dont get detention."

Tristan smiled "The next class is here with me. Remember. You are presenting to me... Be on time."

Vienna sighed and left. She went to the ladies room and then came back. She entered the classroom and found Tristan gone. That was good. She needed time to set up. She started to draw diagrams on the chalk board from her design and then prepared her notes. He kept her waiting on purpose. But when the bell rang, Tristan came back in but he was not playful any more and he was in lecture mode. He entered class, closed the door as he was carrying his note pad. He stated "I will stand at the back of class. You have time to present but I will stop you when its time to stop and will ask you some questions. Are you ready?"

Vienna watched him walked to the end of classroom standing leaning to the wall with his smirk. Vienna nodded "Of course. I am ready." She then cleared her throat and started her presentation. She kept going and Tristan didn't interrupt her but she paused as she saw the trouble sign. He was smiling as he was writing. That was a bad sign.

Tristan noticed her hesitance " Continue." He then looked at his watch " You have two more minutes."

Vienna reluctantly carried on and to her annoyance he was writing with a smile. He must have found some big errors.

When she finished, Tristan didn't disappoint and asked her questions left and right. She was getting annoyed with all questions. She complained " You didn't ask others so many questions."

Tristan asked " Do you want me to fail you completely making you choose another project to finish this week?"

Vienna put her hands on her hips " No."

Tristan shrugged " Then answer the questions."

Vienna had worked so hard. She explained "Fine. Let me draw a diagram to explain my budget plan for this."

Tristan watched with admiration how much Vienna had changed. She could do so much reasoning and negotiation if she was pushed for it. She just didn't feel the need to exercise it. This school had prepared everyone to take on challenges and Vienna was indeed a gifted one. No wonder Vincenzo wanted to expose her to all the business. But he still didn't want her to be pushed that far. The cruel side was for him to deal with. Not for her.

As Vienna was writing she felt him beside her. She turned to him" Are you happy with my explanation on the board?"

Tristan leaned to the black board and looked into her eyes " I am happy for sure. But you need to check your calculations one more time. I can help you."

Vienna put the chalk away and crossed her arms over her chest " I don't want any help. Just tell me which section and I will fix it."

Tristan declared " I wasn't asking Vienna. I am the guest lecturer and tell you, I pass you with corrections. It's on my terms. I will help you in the library today. If you object then I give you detention at lunch time with me."

Vienna sighed " Fine. I don't object."

Tristan nodded " Good. Now, back to some important topic. You promised me another date. Go out with me on Sunday after church. That's the end of assessment week. Everyone else is going out."

Vienna asked " Where?"

Tristan replied " Is that a yes?"

Vienna asked " When have I ever said no to a date?" She then turned and walked away " I should go to the lab. It's getting late. If you have passed me, I can go."

Tristan chuckled " You go when I sign the papers."

Vienna turned " You will sign now?"

Tristan put his hands behind his neck as he leaned back to the wall " If you convince me. Otherwise you stay until I am convinced. I am an examiner."

Vienna walked to him " Tristan...."

Tristan hearing his name off her lips was all he needed " Saying my name is a bonus. Anything else?"

Vienna shook her head as she stood in front of him " Tristan. Enough. How many times do I have to say it. I belong to you and you belong to me."

Tristan took her hand in his " Forever." He then leaned close and kissed her lips gently as Vienna automatically wrapped her arms around his neck.

Tristan wrapped his arms around her waist and then lifted her up as he kept on kissing her lips. He sat her down on a desk and pulled away slightly " You are mine Vienna. Say it."

Vienna chuckled " I am yours after we marry after college."

Tristan narrowed his eyes " Don't tease me." He then attached his lips to hers in a possessive and lengthy kiss letting her know she was always his.