Tania and a couple of other people were out front when they got to Eva's apartment building. When Tania saw Eva get out of the car she goes over to her.

"Sooo, how was the date?" Tania asks smirking at the flustered girl at her side.

"It's not over yet, I need to get some stuff from my apartment. I'll talk to you later," Eva says brushing off her friend and her enquiry.

Tania stands there just blinking at how Eva brushed her off.

Before Tristan can make his way over to Tania one of the guys that was talking to her before stops him. "Just what are your intentions towards Eva?" The guy demands of Tristan.

Tristan bristles at the way the man talks to him. There is no deference, no respect. Tristan narrows his eyes at him, "I don't think it's any of your business."

"Eva is my friend, and what's more, she's under my protection. That makes it my business." The man responds mildly but with a bit of heat of his own in his voice.

"Jamie, calm down, that's Tristan Wederer you're talking to." Tania's voice isn't panicked but it's getting close.

Her words also calm Tristan down. Eva had mentioned Jamie as being a friend as well as Tania's brother. He moves his hand away from his gun and lets it fall relaxed at his side.

At the same time Jamie widens his eyes and takes a step back. "No offence meant, Mr. Wederer, but Eva has been mistreated far too much in her life."

"No offence is taken. I thank you for looking after her. She is a special person. As for what my intentions are in regards to her, well that will depend on her. I would like to make her my girlfriend, but if she's not interested then I'll not be bothering her any more."

This stuns all those listening. They all know how special Eva is, but are surprised that the mafia don would recognize it as well.

"Tania, she's agreed to go with me on another date tomorrow. I want to take her to the amusement park, but I know that she won't be comfortable with so many people around her. I told her that I'll be taking Tom and that I'd ask you to go as well to help make her feel safe. Would you be willing to be Tom's date tomorrow?"

Tania looks shell shocked at his words. "You are taking Eva to an amusement park?"

"Yes, she's never been to one and well the truth is neither have I. I think it would be a fun time for her, but if you don't think she'd like it then I'll figure out something else."

"Oh, I think she'll have fun if the crowds don't send her into a panic attack. She's always had this yearning expression on her face when she's heard others talking about it. You do realize though, that a great many of the rides there will get you wet? They also have a swimming pool there. I don't think Eva even owns a swimsuit and if you didn't tell her to be prepared for water she might wear the shoes that will be ruined if they get wet. She can't afford to buy new ones either."

Tania hopes that Eva will forgive her for telling Tristan about that. She knows that Eva doesn't like telling people about how little money she has. Nor does she like having people buy things for her.

"Thank you, Tania, I wasn't aware of that. I will make sure that she has the appropriate clothing. So are you willing to go with us tomorrow?"

Tania hasn't been to the amusement park in years and the thought of going with Tom Jeppeson makes her smile. "I would love to, if Mr. Jeppeson won't mind taking me as his date."

"He won't. If you will give me your number, I'll have him call you and give you the details about when he'll pick you up and where we'll all be meeting." Tania gives Tristan her phone number. Not that she thinks he couldn't find out on his own. This is just easier.

"One last thing, Eva mentioned that there is a cafe not too far from here that you've talked about. Could you tell me where it is?"

"Yeah, of course," Tania says and wrinkles her face up in confusion. Why would he want to go to a run down cafe? "It's just two blocks west of here. You can't miss it. It'll be on your right side so if you walk you'll go right past it."

"Thank you, Tania, you've been very helpful. Have a nice night." Darkness has long since fallen.

"Word of warning, sir," Jamie tells him once Tania leaves shaking her head at the turn of events of this day.

"What's that, Jamie?"

"If you drive your car to the diner, it might not survive until you finish eating. If you walk you'll want to show your gun to keep the riff raff off of you. My guys won't touch you, but there are always fools and idiots around that will. I've already sent word out that you aren't to be touched. They know that Eva is off limits, but she still doesn't go out at night if she can help it. Although, not many would find her if she did."

"What do you mean?" Tristan is intrigued by this piece of information.

"When she was living on the street she learned how to be damn near invisible. She isn't seen or heard if she doesn't want to be. Unless she's distracted by something, then she's just like every one else. Cain taught her a few defensive moves before he left, but she still avoids problems by staying inside."

"Do you know why Cain left without telling her goodbye?" Tristan can't help but ask.

Jamie is blindsided by his question. "She told you about that?"

Tristan is impatient to have his question answered and nods, "She's told me most of her history. She said that she told me more than she's ever told any one before."

Jamie shakes his head to clear it. "If she told you that then she trusts you more than she's ever trusted any one before, not even Cain knows her full story. Why Cain left without telling her goodbye is one of the great mysteries that only he can tell her. I about decked him when I saw him afterwards. I told him how devastated she was. At least he looked remorseful about it, but it doesn't change the fact that he hurt her worse than even her parents did."

"You know where he is?" Tristan demands.

Jamie shakes his head. "No, but he's still in the city. He does underground fighting. He's sponsored by someone, but I don't know who. He wouldn't let me tell Eva either. Made me promise that I wouldn't. She'd want to see him fight and-" 

At that point Eva comes out and Jamie shuts up.

Taking his cue from Jamie, Tristan stops talking about that and nods his thanks. He has his own fighters in the underground. He hasn't been to see them for awhile. Maybe he'll take Eva and see if she can find her friend. She deserves the chance to find out why the hell he left her like that.

"Ready?" Tristan asks Eva as he takes the bag from her.

Eva smiles at him and nods. Tristan goes to his car and sets her bag inside. "It's only a couple of blocks from here. How about we walk there?"

Eva smiles at him and nods, but this time more hesitantly. "It's alright, Jamie talked to me about the idiots that don't listen." Tristan says and makes sure that his gun is visible enough that people will see it, but not enough that it will cause problems.

Much happier, Eva takes his hand and they start walking in the direction of the diner.

Jamie watches them leave and motions, two shadows separate from the main shadows that surround the building and follow the couple as they go down the sidewalk. He has no doubt that Tristan Wederer can defend himself. But this is the happiest he's ever seen Eva and he doesn't want her night ruined by people challenging Mr. Wederer.

"Cain, I would hate to be you if Mr. Wederer ever finds you." Jamie mutters to himself. He'd seen how Tristan had reacted to the news of Cain being in the city and belonging to the underground fighting. Tristan is far more protective of Eva than he'd ever imagined Tristan could be of any one. That's not his reputation. Tristan uses people, he doesn't care about them.

"Hope you know what you are doing, Eva. I don't think I could handle seeing you destroyed like that again." Jamie thinks to himself. But then again, he thinks it will be even worse if Tristan hurts her than when Cain had. She trusts Tristan more than she ever had Cain.

Once they are all out of sight he turns and goes inside. He just hopes Eva finally finds some happiness in her life. She deserves it. Even if he doesn't know her full story, he knows that much.