Saying that the mansion was huge was an understatement. It was more accurate to say that it was gargantuan. It stood high up on a mountain, overlooking the city of Milan and the hills and cliffs surrounding it. On the other side was the sea, the waves crashing onto the side of the cliffs and rocks the mansion looked over.

The group of five (Snowy, and a very cranky Captain included) walked up to the two giant dark oak double doors. Tintin turned around to face the group. "Well, I hope you all have a marvelous time. Captain, please try not to be so cross and steer clear of the liquor table. Celia, I hope you have a lovely time. Keep an eye on Snowy for me. Snowy, be a good boy. And Riley..." He stopped, looking at how beautiful she looked with her hair in a bun, and light makeup. "Uh-erm...have a lovely time." He said, scratching the back of his neck and once again facing the door. He straightened his suit jacket, and timidly knocked on the door.

A middle aged, short man with a black com over, wearing a suit opened the door. "Ah, halo signor Tintin, velcome to ze party of Signora Castifiore! I zee you have brought zome guests, no? Please, ztep inside" he said, stepping to the side and allowing them to enter. They stepped inside, the warm atmosphere of the party reaching their souls. The pleasant sound of people laughing and talking pleasantly, and the faint music of the nearby orchestra extended to their ears.

Bianca Castifiore noticed them enter, and dismissed the group of paparazzi around her asking her questions for their magazines and newspapers. She sauntered over to them, her magenta gown swishing as she did, the paparazzi following behind her closely, like puppies to their mother. "Ah! Signor Tintin and Signor Fanbox! How are you darlings?" She said, extending her arms out in a boisterous fashion.

"We are wonderful signora, and we are most grateful to be in your presence tonight." Tintin said, hands folded behind his back.

"Wonderful darlings! Wonderful! Ah, and I see that you have brought dates no?". She said, gesturing to Riley and Celia.

Tintin's eyes went wide and he took a sharp intake of air. "Uhm, no! No, no, they are just friends signora." He said smiling. Riley's face fell a little. 'Is that really all he thinks of me? No, no, I'm just overreacting. We are just friends anyways.' She thought to herself.

"Well, alright my friends. Enjoy the gala! I must get back to the boys," she said gesturing to the paparazzi behind her, "Adieu!" She said with a flick of her hand, turning and sauntering back to the flashing of cameras.

Riley watched her as she left. She had such an air about her, she just seems like the person your eyes immediately went to in a room full of people. She turned to talk to Tintin, but had noticed that he had wondered off to talk with another man she didn't recognize. She looked for Celia, but she was off with Snowy, surrounded by cute boys ogling over him. Or her, she couldn't tell. She didn't have to look for the Captain, she knew where he was, no liquor being one of Tintin's biggest no no's for him. That's when she noticed she was all by herself. She felt awkward and...anxious. The music and talking turned into a big ball of unease in her stomach. She turned around, and saw an archway off to the side of the house away from the ballroom and onto a balcony. She promptly headed towards it and walked outside.

The fresh cool night air permeated her senses. It cleared her mind and she took a deep breath of it. She felt much safer on the balcony. There was no one there that could mess with her or worse. She leaned on the marble railing, her forearms supporting her weight, and she put her head on them.

"Nice night huh." She jumped, though the voice was quite familiar. She clutched at her chest, "Tintin. You scared me."

"I apologize. I didn't mean to. I don't blame you for being out here, the night is so beautiful, why would you want to spend it cooped up talking to a bunch of people you don't know." He said walking over to the balcony and matching her prior stance. She joined him and looked up.

"I guess you're right y'know. The stars are pretty cool out here." Se said.

"Mhm." Tintin mumbled in response. A silence became present between them. Not an awkward one, just a peaceful lull where they were both content in enjoying the night air. That is until Tintin broke the silence.

"So, tell me about yourself," he shifted his body to face her, leaning on his elbow, "about where you grew up, and your parents and what not."

Riley turned to face him as well. She looked at him foe a moment, meeting his gaze, then smiled. "Alright, I grew up in California. I met Celia in Kindergarten and we became best friends." She finished, looking at him for a response. He merely twisted his hand in a circle, urging her on. "um...I've lived in about four foster homes." She said, her voice dropping slightly, almost to a whisper.

Tintin nodded and hummed an "oh.". It was a minute before her continued. "Wait, you're an orphan?"

"No, but it felt that way. My mom was deemed...unfit to raise me or something." She said, blowing it off as if she was just telling a story from a few days ago or something.

"I see." Said Tintin. "My father was similar."

"In what way?" She asked.

"In the way that he was unfit to raise me. Or be around anyone for that matter." He finished.

"Why, was he a drunk, or did he beat you, or was he neglectful or di-"

"All of the above" he cut her off.

"Oh." she said. Now it was her turn to be quite. Another silence was present, but this one different. This one somehow...loud, and taking up space, as if it were a sword hanging above their heads.

"Riley, do you know why I became a journalist?" Tintin asked.

"No."

"It was for my mother, Riley. I'm making sure that evil people can't do evil things, like what happened to her."

"What happened to her?"

Tintin was silent for a moment, as if contemplating whether or not it would be a good idea to give her such a vital peace of his life and soul.

"My father murdered her." He said, quietly and quickly, lest someone else see his vulnerability.

Riley stood motionless. She expected the worst, but was silently hoping for the best. Unfortunately, her gut was right. She looked at him, his eyes focusing on something invisible off in the distance.

"I'm so sorry, Tintin." She said. Resting a hand on his back.

"Oh, it's alright. It was quite a long while ago and I've come to terms with it.". He said, grabbing her hand, rubbing circle into it.

This shot electricity into both of their beings. The music of the orchestra once again permeated the air around them. He brought their clasped hands up, and grabbed her other hand and put it on his shoulder. "W-would you l-like to d-dance with m-me." He asked shakily.

"Sure" she said, grabbing his hand and setting it gently ln her waist. They began to slowly sway, letting the music guide them, and they slowly got closer until their bodies were pressed together. Slowly, and timidly, Riley set her head on his shoulder. Their hands unclasped, allowing both of her hands to rest around his neck, and his hand to go on the other side of her waist. They continued to sway until Riley looked up at him. Tintin panicked at first, hoping that he hadn't stepped on her foot, but it melted away when he saw her smile. They looked at each other for a moment, before Tintin noticed that she was leaning towards him, closing her eyes. It was even later before he noticed that he was subconsciously doing the same thing, and closing his eyes, he leaned in. He could feel her warm breath on his lips as-

BANG!

They jumped apart, eyes wide. They jerked their heads towards the ballroom, hearing screaming and cries before-

BANG! BANG!

Two more gunshots were sounded. Tintin and Riley looked at each other panicked before Tintin braced her shoulders and said "Stay here"

He ran towards the ballroom at top speed, but he stopped halfway there. He then turned and ran back to the balcony. He once again braced her shoulders and chastely pressed his lips to her left cheek. He smiled a sad smile at her, and once again ran back towards the ballroom.

Riley touched her cheek where the kiss' ghost dwelled. All of a sudden a thought snapped her mind to attention. 'Celia!'

She ran towards the ballroom as well, towards the screaming and cries of fear.

A/N: Well, how did you like that? A nice long chapter just for you guys! I'm sorry for making it a cliffhanger, and I'm sorry for the lead on kiss not kiss thing, but don't worry because I will personally make sure all loose ends are tied up by the end of the fanfic! Hope to post again soon, and please, I would love to know if I suck at this or not, so just write a little review down there in that review box thingy. Thanks guys! Until next time!