Vincent was at his wit's end as he ran all over the opera house. He first checked inside for them, but when he hadn't found them anywhere, he decided to go outside. He spotted Stella and Rolando standing outside waving to a man and woman who walked away before they walked down the steps. It seemed they were formal with them and had known them. It wasn't like he cared. He had more important things to worry about.

Rolando was laughing, his eyes bright and sparkling. "I forgot how hilarious François Baker can be and don't get me started on his wife Susan. They are a pair no doubt. I had missed them and it is great to see them again. I do hope to spend more time with them, with you if you would like to." He was glad to meet an old friend of his.

Stella softly laughed along with him, smiling gently. She was glad he was reconnecting with his old friends. "Yes, they always had spoken of how they missed you and hoped to meet up with you one day soon. They hadn't seen you since that last Winter Gala eleven years ago. I am glad he understood why you stayed behind." It had been years since they had seen each other in person

Rolando gave a dreamy look as he thought back to that time. "Ah yes. That was a glorious night. I remember it as if it was yesterday. We didn't have a care in the world until Medusa crashed it. I am glad you weren't there my dear, it wasn't a great time." He sighed heavily, but he was glad the Rosenbergs had survived.

Stella placed her hand on his arm. "That is all in the past now. They are alive and doing well. Just focus on the fond memories and not what Medusa had done. It was a good thing I wasn't there or else I would have been not the nicest, unlike my sister. Oh, in speaking, Susan and I were childhood friends and schoolmates. I don't believe I ever told you that." She reminded him with a gentle nudge.

Vincent began to run over to them pushing through the clusters of people. Of course, he didn't get some nice words for what he was doing, but it was something he needed to do. "Rolando!" He yelled cupping his hands around his mouth before he flew down the stairs with wide panicked eyes. He wasn't one to freak but he had no idea where Risa had gone off to.

Rolando suddenly became serious when he turned and saw the boy. "Vincent? Is something wrong? How did it go with Risa meeting them and you returning the locket? Did it go marvelous?" He asked curiously, keeping an optimistic attitude about how things went down.

Vincent shook his head, handing his head down in shame. "It was far from that. No, it didn't go well at all, Rolando. It was a huge mess!" He admitted, feeling guilty for how things went down. Now he had to tell Rolando what happened and he wasn't sure if he could get the right words out.

Rolando gave him a soft look, what did he mean by no? "No? What on earth does it mean? What happened Vincent?" He asked, placing his hands in his coat pockets. What had gone down for Risa to leave and Vincent looked all sad? He had never seen him this sad. It was something new.

Vincent rubbed the side of his neck. He hated being this way but he was upset over how everything happened. "I messed up big time. I couldn't get Risa to meet them. I tried but things didn't go so well from that point on. I couldn't clarify anything! It was a huge mess!" He chewed the inside of his lip as he spoke slowly and softly, wanting to keep his voice down so no one could beat him.

Rolando couldn't understand what went wrong. It didn't seem Vincent used her to get the money. If he had he would only be bitter and not this broken. He couldn't put together what could make Vincent act this way. "Why not?" He asked softly, placing a hand on his back. He never feared something of this proportion could have happened.

Vincent let out a huff of air, since it was cold outside you could see the cloud of white air from his breath. "I and she agreed she would stay outside until after I returned the locket. Stella was right, he blew up at me and took everything I said out of proportion. Risa overheard everything and believed Nathan. I didn't get any chance to explain myself to either. I even admitted at first I wanted to use her for the reward money but I chose not to. She said a lot of things, they might have been hurtful but they were true." He explained.

Stella felt horrible that Nathan ended up blowing up. She knew if she had stayed things would have turned out differently. She couldn't blame herself, it wasn't her fault, nor was it Vincent's. "Oh, Vincent, it'll be okay. Don't give yourself a rough time over something beyond your control. I only regret leaving, maybe if I was there things wouldn't have turned this way." She sadly spoke, pulling her coat closer around her neck.

Vincent shook his head, he didn't want Stella blaming herself for what happened. "Stella, I should have had her come in with me and not done it the way I did. She ran off and I don't know where she went. Nathan threatened to have his guards throw me out and he never wants to see me again." He regretted the choice he had made.

Rolando hugged the boy from his side. He was showing how mature he was. This was a huge step up from how he was. "Maybe she'll forgive you and you'll have a second chance -" He began to try and help him feel better. Sadly what he was going to say wouldn't be spoken since Vincent had cut him off.

Vincent didn't want him to make things better. He knew he had consequences for his actions. He was willing to accept them. It was what he knew he ought to do. "No, she won't. I'll never have a second chance. I mess up big time. She made it clear she never wants to see or hear from me again. I need to accept that." He moved away from Rolando and hugged him.

Rolando shook his head slowly and sighed gently. He had to know this next question because knowing Vincent when something went wrong, his first idea was to run away. "What will you do now while you are here? Since you won't be spending time with Risa, I have many things to do besides help her find her family."

Vincent truthfully didn't know what he was going to do. He had a few ideas on what, but what he had planned was to do with Risa. "I will stay for a while. I need to talk to my father and mother to get some answers I need like Risa needs her answers." He needed to tie up some loose ends. He needed to focus on himself for once.

Rolando walked back over and rested his hand on his shoulder. "Come on Vincent, let's go back to the hotel and we can talk more about it. You can just get it all out there alright? It will be good for you to talk it out." He asked, knowing getting out of the cold would be a start. Then helping Vincent talk through his feelings would do him some great good.

Vincent nodded, beginning to walk down the steps. "Alright Rolando, I can do that. I will need your help since I know nowhere to start." He admitted he needed help and this was the first time he had done so. For some odd reason, it was life, a burden had been lifted off his chest.

Stella smiled following the boys since she would also be going to the hotel. "I have a feeling I know where she is at. I will go talk to Risa if she is still up. I will try and smooth everything out for you if I can. Don't worry about anything, I will handle this." She insisted, getting into the carriage and sitting down.

Once Rolando and Vincent made it to the hotel, Vincent only went to his room long enough to change into something comfortable. He had to get out of this suit, it was not his forte. He wasn't a suit guy, more of a relaxed shirt and pants guy, nothing fancy and only comfy. He had outdone himself this time. He didn't know why he cared all of a sudden about how she felt.

Then he was out the door and knocking on Rolando's. He had a lot to get off his chest. Rolando offered to listen, which he was most grateful for. Thinking about it made him sick, and he wasn't used to this type of sickness. "Rolando, it's me, can I come in?" He asked, his voice unusually soft.

Rolando heard the knock on his door and walked over opening the door. "Hello, Vincent. You're ready to talk it out?" He asked, closing the door behind Vincent as he had walked straight into the room. "I am more than willing to listen if you still want to."

Vincent sat down on the edge of the bed and placed his hands on his lap. "I have been thinking about what I have done. I'm not going to apologize until Risa is ready to hear it but I already have most of what I will say in my head." He fiddled with his fingers as he spoke. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't as uncomfortable with Risa's words echoing in his mind.

Rolando sat down beside him and gave him a pat on the back. "Good for you Vincent," He was so proud that he was going to apologize. He was surprised to see this side of him, but he was glad Vincent was finally confiding in him. "but that takes time. How much time are you going to wait for her? It could take days or weeks or even months or years."

Vincent looked down at his lap and closed his eyes tightly. "All I know is that I think it is time to turn over a new leaf and make amends to all those I hurt. If Risa still doesn't want to talk to me by the time I leave for Canada, I will send her a letter." It was going to be a long list. Thank goodness he kept track of everyone he dealt with.

Rolando furrowed his eyebrows at what Vincent was getting at. "Are you going back to Canada? Why? Your family is here and I'm here for the time being. What are you going to do?" He asked, yes he may have been a little curious by asking those questions. He just wanted to make sure.

Vincent opened his eyes and let out a soft huff of air. "I need to help with the restoration of the palace and make amends back in Canada. In-person after I send a letter or make a call to them. It is the least I can do for all the wrong I have done." He looked up at the man he called his guardian, the man who raised him.

What all of a sudden came over him? He truthfully didn't know. He just felt it was something he ought to do. Risa's words were like rocks, falling on top of him, growing heavier by the minute. He had never had anything backfire like the meeting with Nathan did. He was always getting out of Messing and clarifying, but this time he wasn't able to.

He wouldn't say he was a changed man overnight or just in that small amount of time. It had always been there, that part of him, but he chose to build a wall and keep it hidden. He never wanted to feel vulnerable like he was feeling now. Now that he was a more human side of him was breaking out and that wall he tried to keep up was starting to crumble down around him.

Rolando gave a soft smile as he rested his hand on his shoulders. "Vincent, I am going, to be honest. It is obvious that you care about Risa, it may not be in a romantic way, but as a friend. And as a friend, when you hurt someone, you do everything in your power to not give up in fighting for them." He did always give good advice, it was the advice he had gotten from his mother.

Vincent shook his head, using his hand to rub his forehead. He understood that but he couldn't do everything in his power if Risa made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. "Rolando, we all know I don't have friends. Risa isn't my friend. I don't like trusting people and I certainly don't like being honest with my feelings - but you may have a point. If I am going to turn over a new leaf, I should look at it from a friendship point of view." This was the first time he had admitted it.

Rolando was proud of him, maybe this happened for a reason. Even if it wasn't planned, this made a huge change in Vincent he was shocked by. "That is a start. We all must start somewhere and once you get into that friendship mindset you use your imagination to find ways to make it up and show how sorry you feel."

Vincent wasn't that type of guy. Things didn't come easy to him, especially with using his imagination. Well, if it was a plan for money he didn't hesitate. But as for his feelings? That was something he hadn't experienced before. "That is not my forte, so I may need some help. I was never good with using my imagination unless money was involved. I lack certain skills." He admitted making various hand gestures.

Rolando gave a soft chuckle. That was nothing he couldn't help with. He always knew that if you lacked in some way, you needed to find someone who made up for it. "Well, I can help in every way I can. It is finally time for me to be a guardian and you to listen." He gently nudged him with a soft smile.

Vincent simply nodded. It was something he had never truly done. He had always rebelled and never listened to Rolando. He thought he knew better and wasn't going to listen to anyone. "I promise I will do my best and listen." He meant his words. Perhaps being open and relying on someone else wasn't such a bad idea.

Rolando was proud of the boy. Perhaps he did retain some of what he had tried to teach him over the years. It was always there, just locked away. "Oh, that reminds me, Stella is taking Risa out for a day in Paris tomorrow, she told me on our way here. I could ask her to ask some questions about how she feels and she can relay them to me so we can understand where her head is at."

Vincent was surprised. He really shouldn't have been since that was how Rolando was. He cared about everyone, even him. "Really? Why would Stella do that? Especially for me after what I did to Risa." He didn't understand why he was helping him after what he had done.

Rolando knew it wasn't his intention and it was just something that was beyond their control. "Because Vincent, she knows you never meant to hurt her. Nathan took things out of proportion and everything blew up over nothing." Stella had warned them, and after all, they had been put through, he didn't blame him for blowing up to a certain extent.

He then paused, seeing Vincent was no longer wanting to continue the subject. He didn't blame him. "I'm going to ask Stella in a few weeks, on the anniversary of when we met as younglings, to marry me. I have been preparing for years for this moment." This was the first time he had said it out loud.

Vincent looked up at him with surprised eyes but a small smile grew on his lips. "Rolando, I'm so happy for you. It is about time you two get married, you have been in love for centuries. But are you going to propose with a ring or?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. He knew Rolando and Stella were the least traditional in that aspect.

Rolando was amused that he had asked that type of question. "Stella isn't your typical girl, she never wanted a flashy ring. She doesn't even wear jewelry. Just us holding hands, confessing our love is enough. We don't need jewelry to tell the world we are married, out of love for each other will show it." They both were simple people.

Vincent couldn't help but admit it was sweet. He had never given love much thought but he wished to someday have something like that. "I am going to admit, that is sappy. To each their own I suppose. As long as she says yes and you two are happy, that is all that matters right?"

Rolando nodded, it was the only thing that mattered to him. "Yes, that is all that matters. This has been a long time coming. Finally, things are aligning up and I can finally marry the girl of my dreams. It is never too late, you know." He had this dreamy look in his eyes as he spoke about marrying Stella.

Vincent was just glad someone was getting a happy ending. There were so many unhappy endings for a lot of people, him and Risa especially. She still hadn't found her family and he had yet to make amends with everyone, and the chances are they wouldn't listen. "Don't forget to invite me to the wedding."

Rolando chuckled, patting the young man on his back. "You will be involved in the wedding. You will be my best man! That is if you will accept." He asked. He didn't have many close friends, and the only person he could think of was Vincent. He wouldn't have any groomsmen, because he hadn't been in touch with anyone in a long time. Besides, asking his old friends without at least visiting them would be rude.

Vincent was touched that Rolando wanted him to be his best man. He would have thought it would have been Nathan. He never thought Rolando would have asked him. "I would be honored too." He managed to reply. He felt beyond honored that he wanted him to be his best man. He knew if he had asked him a few days ago, he would have turned it down. Perhaps he was slowly starting to grow as a person.

Rolando smiled gently, pulling out his pocket watch and looking at the time before closing it back and setting it down beside him. "It is getting late. If you're going to see your father and your mother, then you need to get some rest. You no doubt will have a big day ahead of you." He did hope Vincent followed through with his plans.

Vincent stood up and hugged him tightly before turning towards the door. He was beginning to show and be grateful for Rolando and all he had done for him. "Goodnight Rolando, see you tomorrow at breakfast if I manage to catch you at breakfast." He paused at the door so his guardian could also tell him goodnight.

Rolando was surprised by the hug but grateful for it and returned it but hugged a little tighter. He pulled away and patted his shoulders. "Goodnight Vincent, I am sure we will catch each other if you wake up early enough." He teased gently. He knew the boy tended to sleep in unless he had to be up early, he was not an early bird.

Vincent gave him one last smile before he made his way out the door and to his room. He was quite tired of what had happened, but his mind probably wouldn't turn off. Either way, he had to try, he had a big day tomorrow and it was already getting late. He knew he had messed up and even with what Rolando said, he didn't know if he would ever make things right with Risa. What was done was done, no one could help, only he could try and make things right when the time came.

Meanwhile, Stella had made her way up to Risa's door. The number matches what Rolando had said. It was across the hall from Vincent and Rolando's. Although wasn't sure why he had put her room this far away, she figured whatever his reason was, it was coming in handy right about now. She gently knocked on the door hoping she was disturbing her and it wasn't a bad time. Perhaps she should have called beforehand.

Risa sat up in bed, a bit startled, but soon realized it maybe was Vincent. "Go away, Vincent! Leave me alone! I don't want to see you right now, you'll just make it worse!" She yelled at the door getting ready to toss a pillow at the door. She was in no mood to hear him pathetically apologize for all he had done when he wasn't truly sorry. At least not in her eyes.

Stella was surprised, this was worse than she had thought. She shook her head with a sigh. "It's Stella. I heard about what happened and was wondering if we could talk? If not, I understand." She said, placing her hand on the door and leaning closer to hear what Risa would say next. It was the least she could do and be an ear for Risa to lean on.

Risa got up out of bed and walked over to the door. She placed her hand on the knob and turned it, opening it up. "Sorry, Stella. I am still in a bad mood and figured it was Vincent coming to apologize. Come in." She stepped out of the way so Stella could come into the room. She did feel a little bad for thinking it was Vincent.

Stella walked into the room and turned towards the girl. She didn't feel hurt by her tone or her words. She understood why she would be so upset. "It is alright, I am sorry if I disturbed you while you were sleeping." She could tell the bed was messed up, her hair was a bit messy, her eyes were quite sleepy-looking and she was in her pajamas.

Risa waved her off, closing the door and walking back on her bed, and getting under the covers. "I wasn't that sleepy, more like I was just asleep from the exhaustion of crying. You didn't disturb me. It is probably for the best you are here. I don't feel like being alone right now." She explained, patting the bed beside her.

Stella walked over and sat down on the other side of the bed. "I don't blame you. I came by to see how you were doing and was wondering if I would like to talk to you about what happened?" She asked softly, hoping that she wasn't stepping out of bounds and pressuring her into expressing how she felt. She knew that getting it out would be good for Risa.

Risa was glad she had asked because she needed to get it out. It was nice talking to Loyal but Loyal wanted someone who could sympathize and understand how she was feeling. "I would love to! I can't keep this to myself and Loyal may be a good listener but she can't talk to me about it." She knew from Rolando if you ever wanted to confide in someone, Stella was the one to give good advice and keep secrets.

Stella smiled fondly as she sat down on the foot of the bed where Risa patted. "Ah yes, dogs can be good listeners, but they can't offer competing words as people can. Unless someone can speak with them, but that is fictitious thinking. So, what do you have on your mind?" She inspired, crossing her ankles.

Risa paused for a moment but then began to vent. "How could he lie to me? Why did he lie to me? Why did he hide it from me?" She wiped her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. "He was going to use me to get the reward money. To convince those poor people into thinking I am their daughter when they have been through enough heartbreak as it was. There is no way I could be Clarissa, it just is impossible!"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm her shaky voice. "I still don't understand how he thought I would go along with it because I don't know who my family is. I can't say for sure and did he think they would recognize me as their daughter? It couldn't happen like that. It is too cliche and what you read in books. It's not reality. Too much time has passed and people change." She said, pushing her hair behind her ear.

She gripped the sheets on her bed and closed her eyes. "What he did was unforgivable. I don't ever want to see him again, I could care less what happens to him. I am done with him. He means nothing to me. I never want to hear his name. Hear his voice. I want to forget who he is and that I ever knew him." She managed to get out without crying.

Stella felt so bad for the girl, she looked so hurt. She was pouring herself out and being vulnerable. She was in pain and what he needed was someone to listen to her. To comfort her. She knew Risa didn't have that growing up. From what Rolando had said that Risa had told him, Mrs. Hemmingworth wasn't a touchy-feely person.

She rubbed her back, hoping that it would soothe her as she cried. "I am so sorry that happened. I can't answer any of those questions. I can say maybe you should ask him and everything is forgivable, Risa." She softly spoke, pulling a clean handkerchief from her purse and offering it out to Risa.

Risa shook her head at what Stella had said and taken the handkerchief, dabbing her eyes then blowing her nose. "I don't know if I can forgive him. How can I forgive him when he did this to me? How can I forgive someone that lied straight to my face? Then thought that he would never need to come clean about it and tried to backtrack? " She exclaimed angrily.

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "Did he think that I would never find out? Did he think that it wouldn't have been brought up by Nathan? If you look at it, he had a point." She truthfully thought Nathan was right in all he said. She wasn't being open-minded and considerate to what Vincent was trying to say. She already judged him and she was sticking to it.

She sighed heavily and wiped her eyes with a tissue. "Vincent only agreed for money. Who else would he help? He has always been enthralled with money. I get he was orphaned and had a rough childhood, but he had Rolando, I had no one. Did I turn out as he did? No. Our situation may have been a little different, but we were both orphaned, I had nothing, he had everything. Yet he still was driven by greed and wanted nothing but money." She grumbled, gripping the comforter on her bed.

She groaned, flopping back on the bed and covered her face up with her hands. "Ugh, I will never understand his logic." She was frustrated. So, what she was saying may not have made complete sense, she was more or so just getting everything out. It was all over the place but she had all these feelings locked away she needed out.

Stella gave a solemn nod at what she had said, it was a nod that she heard her not that she agreed. "Risa, I can't answer that. All I can say is forgiveness not only helps heal your heart but also helps heal the other person's wounds too. True closure is that of forgiveness. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you are okay with what they did, it simply shows you are moving on with your life and hold no ill will towards that person." She sincerely examined, hoping that Risa understood what she was getting out.

Risa understood what she said and it did make sense but it just wasn't something she could do right now or perhaps never. She was too hurt and her heart hardened to even think about forgiveness. "I don't know Stella, I need time to hurt to feel this pain. I may be able to forgive in the future, but right now? No way. I can not, with a clear conscience, forgive him for what he did. He betrayed me. I trusted him and he broke it. I just need to do this in my own time and heal in my way."

Stella couldn't hold that against her, all had their way of dealing with pain. "It is fine to feel that way but please don't wait too long to forgive him. For tonight just please get some rest and forget about it. " She reminded her. She just didn't want her to get sick mulling over what happened.

Risa simply nodded. She knew she wasn't going to get out of it. She did know that one day she would have to, but for now, she just couldn't. "I won't." Her answer may have been short but it wasn't convincing, although she tried to say it in the sincerest way possible.

Stella then had a thought she had forgotten to ask. She knew she had asked Risa if she wanted a tour but she never specified when. "How about I come back in the morning and we'll do things around Paris to take your mind off Vincent?" Exploring a new city and indulging in the culture would do Risa some good. That would give her something to look forward to.

Risa nodded, she loved the sound of that. It would do a lot of good for her and hey, maybe she could make a friend or two. "That sounds great. I could use some time to take my mind off all that happened. I have been wanting to explore Paris, but I don't want to be a typical tourist." She had heard about how some tourists could be ignorant and she did not want to be that.

Stella understood where she was coming from. Sometimes, tourists get a bad rap because of a select few. However, she knew Risa wouldn't do anything wrong. "There is nothing wrong with being a typical tourist, as long as you respect our culture and appreciate it, there is nothing wrong. Just don't be like those tourists who act like we're stupid and uncultured compared to, let's say, Americans."

Risa had heard about them, but couldn't say one way or another. "Americans are an odd bunch. Not all of them, but just the ones that are all high strung on their democracy and American pride. Of course, I haven't met any Americans, well, if you count the men on the ship to Russia. But that isn't the best example." They were the few bad apples that couldn't be categorized with everyone else.

Stella chuckled softly. Risa was no doubt cute when she went on a rambling spree. "You may meet your fair share of diverse people here! Besides, I have a feeling you will quite easily make friends. After all, you are a very friendly person." She noted with a soft smile. She hoped that helped Risa feel a bit better.

Risa covered her mouth as she yawned. She had been trying to stay away to speak with Stella, but it was catching up with her. "I feel so exhausted I could sleep the whole night without waking once." The last time she had gotten a goodnight's rest was at Marie and Randolph's. She could get used to that.

Stella stood up and walked towards the door. She took that as her cue to leave Risa for the night. "Take care Risa, sleep well. Goodnight." She said, hoping she would sleep peacefully tonight even with all that had happened. She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it. She glanced at Loyal who was already sound asleep, snoring and dreaming about whatever dogs dreamt about.

Risa smiled and laid down in her bed, pulling the covers up under her chin. "Goodnight Stella, sleep well yourself." She mumbled as she watched her leave the room and it locked behind her. It didn't take that long and she was out like a light. Sleeping soundly without any dreams coming into her head. Perhaps she'd get a decent amount of sleep with all that had happened.

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A/N:
I am so on a roll, another one done! Of course it took two days only because I was busy but hey. I am very proud of myself and how many chapters I have gotten done so far! Soon this book will be completed and I will feel very accomplished!

Chapter talk:
I really couldn't separate this into two separate chapters since each of them was too short for a chapter. Now together and bracketed off read the limit just a little bit over 3 and 1/2k words so forgive me if you find it rather odd. I truthfully didn't want them together but I have no choice not too.

Not to mention I didn't really have a lot of inspiration on this chapter but it was something I needed to have. I wanted to show this part because let's admit it, after Risa ran off we needed to see Vincent tell Rolando and Stella.

And lastly, anything else I forgot to ask away my pals. I am happy to answer anything!

In closing, all rude, impolite and mean comments will be replied to in a diplomatic way, reported or deleted if I feel like it is attacking me personally.

Thanks for reading!