A young girl with dark curls and playful black eyes sat in a plush arm chair by the window in the corner with a thick leather bound book in her lap. She couldn't focus on the text. Her eyes kept straying towards the window. It was such a lovely day today. How could her tutor possibly expect her to be cooped up inside when the sky was so blue and the grass so green? She sighed.

She shut her book and stood from her chair. She took the servants exit to the orchard and sat beneath her favorite apple tree. She let out another sigh, this one of contentment. She leaned her head back, and above hung a mouthwatering red apple.

She reached out for it, but her finger tips barely brushed it. She hoisted herself up and climbed out onto the limb where the apple dangled tantalizingly. She stretched her hand out to grab it. Almost there, she thought. Just a little farther. She pulled herself farther out onto the branch.

A snapping sound filled her ears. She felt the distance between herself and the ground rapidly close. She squeezed her eyes shut and uttered a silent prayer. She never hit the ground. Instead she landed in the strong arms or a handsome youth with dark waves and bright green eyes.

"Stefan!" she exclaimed

"Now Rosetta, precious little Rosetta, you know better than to climb trees. Your governesses have told you time and time again."

"Oh, Stefan! I am not a child. You have no need to chastise me so."

"You are right. You are a woman. I suggest you begin behaving as one?"

"What if I do not want to?"

"Everyone must grow up sometime Rosetta. You know as well as I that Mother has prolonged your betrothal as long as she could. I fear you may be married off by the end of this coming summer, and no man is going to desire a child for a wife."

"I know," she sighed. "I will try my best." Stefan shot her a warm smile, and sat down beside her under the tree.

"Perhaps you can strike a bargain with Father. Perhaps he will allow you to choose the man."

"Do you truly believe so?" she asked hopefully. Stefan was about to reply when a figure a distance away called to them.

"Ho, there!" Rosetta looked up to see yet another youth with sleek jet black hair and a matching pair of eyes to her own. Only his were less playful and more mocking. Though, the bitter mocking seemed to dissolve when he saw her.

"Damon!" she exclaimed, eyes brightening. She leapt to her feet and sprinted into his arms. He lifted her up and spun her around, placing her gently on her feet.

"My, my! Look at you! Still the prettiest girl in all of Italy. But wait! What has become of my precious little sister? She has been replaced by a woman!" Rosetta giggled.

"Don't tease me so, Damon. I am still your little sister."

"A bride, a bride! We must make you a bride! Oh, and what a beautiful bride you shall be."

"Oh, Damon. Stefan and I were just discussing this."

"Were you?" Stefan got to his feet, but remained by the tree. Damon looked over at him, eyes glazing over with bitterness again.

"What brings you home so soon brother?" Damon shrugged.

"University just is not for me."

"Father will be furious." Another shrug. Stefan turned away, and made his way back inside Damon followed him with his eyes. He let out a sigh when Stefan was safely inside and out of earshot.

"He is still mad at me," Damon concluded. Rosetta nodded silently. "It wasn't my fault. She came to me." She nodded again. Damon sighed and held out his arm for her. "Come, let us catch up. I am not yet ready to face Father." Rosetta placed her hand in the crook of his arm and allowed him to lead her away from the orchard.

"So what is the real reason you are retuned home?"

"Ahhh…I lost my money to a Spaniard…and…there are not many women there." Damon cracked a smile. Rosetta smiled and shook her head.

"Women will be the death of you, big brother." Damon chuckled.

"Then I shall die a happy man."

"Oh, Damon!" Her voice had the pitch of a woman hearing of a scandal.

"Come out with me tonight. I want to introduce you to some friends of mine." Rosetta grinned.

"All right, but what about Father?"

"What of Father?" Damon raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I do not think he will allow it…not without supervision at least." Her cute little nose crinkled in frustration. Damon flashed his dazzling smile at his precious little sister.

"What Father does not know will not hurt him." Rosetta gasped, hand flying up to cover her mouth.

"You mean that I should deceive Father?" Damon shook his head.

"Not deceive, just mislead. There is a big difference there." Her face held all her uncertainty, and her brother could see it. She wanted to go, wanted to do something out of line for once. But she loved her father and was scared of him thinking badly of her.

"Father will not find out?" she asked nervously. Damon's smile widened as he shook his head slowly. Rosetta let out a loud sigh. "All right. I will go with you."

"Excellent."

"Can Stefan come too?" she asked innocently. Damon scoffed at the notion.

"Even if I wanted his company he would not come." She sighed.

"You are most likely right. Besides he is probably busy tonight with secret rendezvous. Oooops!" She turned to look up at her brother's reaction. He looked mildly curious.

"Rendezvous? With whom?" Rosetta looked nervous.

"Ummm…it is nothing." Damon arched an elegant eyebrow.

"I know you better than that, Rose. That was not nothing." Rosetta bit her lip. "Fine, do not tell me, but I will find out. You know I will."

"It is nothing, really."

"All right," he said, but he didn't sound convinced.

A round busty servant approached, a wide smile spread on her face upon seeing Damon. She curtsied before addressing them.

"Welcome home Master. Mistress," she curtsied. "Dinner is served in the main hall."

"Thank you," Rosetta said with a kind smile. The servant curtsied again and hurried away. "Are you ready for Father's fury?" she asked Damon. Damon exhaled.

"Is one ever prepared for the fury of their father?" Rosetta chuckled.

"It never seems to perturb you."

"That is because it does not." Damon looked down at his little sister's confused eyes and smiled warmly. "Do not worry your pretty little head over this. You know I can handle my own affairs." Rosetta nodded. "Hmmm." Annoyance danced on Damon's face. "We are late for dinner. I detest being late. Ah well, I am only human."

Damon entered the main hall with Rosetta in his arm. Giuseppe was sitting comfortably at the head of the table. Stefan sat to his left, and Isabella at the other end. Giuseppe looked up to see his young daughter in the arm of his eldest son. He beamed, pleased to see him.

"Welcome. Come, sit," he gestured. Damon led Rosetta to her seat on Isabella's right. He pulled out the seat for her, and she smiled her thanks. He then took his own seat beside his father. Stefan sat across from him looking smug. He knew as well as Damon that their father's cheer would not last long.

"What brings you home from University, son?" Giuseppe asked cutting into his meat. Stefan smirked and raised an eyebrow as if to say, "go on, tell him." Damon stared back at him. He flashed Stefan a smile before turning back to Giuseppe.

"Actually, Father, I have no intentions of going back." He spoke with such ease it astounded Rosetta and Stefan, though Stefan retained his smug expression. Isabella gasped in horror. Rosetta took her mother's hand and gave it a squeeze. Stefan's face was beginning to irk Damon. He guessed that that was what made him act the way he did that night.

"What do you mean you are not going back?" Giuseppe's fingers curled into a fist. His eldest son so often brought out the violence in him. He tended to test Giuseppe's temper.

"I would have thought that even you could comprehend such an elementary sentence as that, Father. Perhaps you would like it repeated in Latin? Hmm?" Rosetta gave a little start. Damon had never been so openly disrespectful to their father before. Stefan looked as if he were repulsed by such an idea. Isabella shook in her seat.

"Are you telling me that I, Giuseppe, Conte di Salvatore, will have to face my friends knowing my son is a scioparto? An idler who will make no useful contributions to Florence?"

"If what you mean by friends is those who fawn on you in hopes that you will lend them money then yes."

"Oh!" Isabella cried. Rosetta's eyes were now as round as a full moon. Stefan however became smugger with every passing word. Giuseppe had pushed back his chair as he rose to his feet.

"Sporco parassito!" he cried jabbing a finger at his first born. "Is it not enough that when you are at school you waste your time and my money?" Damon was taken aback, though as usual he didn't show it. "Oh, yes," Giuseppe ranted on. "I know all about the gambling, the jousting, the women. I also know that if it were not for your secretary and your tutors you would be failing every single course. But now? Now you mean to disgrace me utterly. And why? Why? So you can go back to your hunting and your hawking?"

"And my sister."

"Do not bring her into this!" Giuseppe boomed, slamming his fist hard on the table. Rosetta flinched and Isabella was in tears. "You will do nothing for her but corrupt her."

Just then there was a light step and a clearing of the throat from the doorway of the main hall.

"I beg your pardon." The voice was soft but clear, belonging to a female. "I did not mean to intrude." The girl took a few steps back as if to leave. Stefan could not restrain himself.

"Do not go," he called out. "Stay." He wanted to add more, to whisper a lover's words in her ear, but he could do no such thing in the presence of his father, or Damon. Calling out to her just then had probably given him away to Damon.

"Yes, stay," Giuseppe said brightening up. He sat back down. "Your father should be returning from business today. He will be joining us later. I am sure he would be delighted to see you."

Damon watched as the girl walked into the room. He was instantly taken with her. The way her golden hair shown in the candle light, how her deep violet eyes sparkled with wonder. Of course Stefan should fancy her so.

He heard a soft groan and turned to Stefan, expecting his brother to be wearing a scowl. But Stefan was looking at the girl. He glanced around the table to see who would appose such a beauty. He found his answer by his mother's side.

Rosetta's beautiful features were scrunched up in what could only be described as superior distaste. Damon recognized it as a look he often gave to Stefan. Perhaps, he thought, she was not so different from himself. It gave him a sort of pride to see this reaction come from his sister.

But he still wondered what it could be that could trigger such an emotion from her. It couldn't possibly be jealousy could it? No, his sister was capable of strong emotions, but never would jealousy be one of them. He was resolute in finding out what it was that was bothering Rosetta.

It would be much appreciated if any of the readers could give me an old german name for a male character. My friends and I can't come up with one and the character is currently called (insert) on paper. I'd like him to have an actual name before I post those chapters. So, if you have any suggestions please leave a comment. Also I don't plan on posting anymore chapters until i get at least 15 reviews. Thanks!