After their time on the London Eye, Amar drove Tris and Tobias to Harrods. Thanks to Lauren, Tris knew that the exchange rate and tax made London an expensive place to shop. She had firmly told both Tobias and Amar that she didn't want to spend Tobias' money, or their limited time together, on shopping. Tobias agreed, but insisted on one trip to Harrods since it was such an iconic place, and because she could buy souvenirs there.

Several hours later the couple emerged from the department store, Tobias looking victorious. He'd managed to wear Tris down and let him buy her some things...

First, the minute she was done buying souvenirs and chocolate for her friends, Tobias had insisted that they stop at Prada. He bought Tris a grey handbag - something more suitable for spring than the black Louis Vuitton he'd bought her in New York. She protested, then pouted, but he did it anyway.

Next, they walked past a gorgeous pink leather jacket, and since everything pink reminded him of Tris, Tobias stopped to get a closer look. He insisted that Tris try it on. She resisted, so he stopped in the middle of the store, took both of her hands in his, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I love you," he said. "I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime, and the thing that makes me the happiest is to spend it on you. I can't be there with you every day, but every time you look in the mirror, I want you to remember that you are loved. Every time Christina says something about your shoes, you should remember that I want to give you the best of everything, because you are the best of everything. When the wind blows and your jacket keeps you warm, that's me. It tears me apart that I can't be there every day. Things are a poor substitute, but they represent my love and care for you.

"I promise that we won't spend this trip shopping - we'll spend it making memories. But just this afternoon, let me buy a few things to spoil the woman I love."

He was so sincere and eloquent that Tris caved in. She threw her arms around Tobias and hugged him. "I hope you know that I love you for you, not for your money or the things you buy me," Tris said.

"I do," Tobias promised, holding her close. "We were eating pizza in Chicago when you told me that if I lost everything, I'd still have you. The day we arrived in New York you said you were proud of me. Your Valentine's box said that even though we were apart, I was worth every kilometer. You learned to say 'I love you' in Albanian. You love me well, Beatrice Prior. You love me like no one ever has."

Tris realized in that moment just how much her words and encouragement meant to Tobias. From what she knew of his childhood, Tobias' parents had been less than affectionate - even before his mother died and Marcus became physically abusive. Nannies had come and gone. The only steady presence in his life had been Amar, and his support and affection had been tempered by the nature of their employee-employer relationship. Tobias was starving for love, affection, and someone to believe in him. She vowed in her heart to do and say more to give him the love he needed and deserved.

By the time they left Harrods, Tris was the new owner of the grey Prada handbag and pink leather jacket, plus a dressy pink sleeveless blouse with a twist in the neckline, a black and white sleeveless polka dot blouse with a self-fabric bow, a very sexy pink silk and lace nightie, two new bikinis, and a strapless romper-style bathing suit coverup.

The bathing suits and romper she was sending home with Tobias after their London trip. She told him that it signified her promise to come to Albania for the summer.

.

After a stop at the hotel to freshen up and change, Tris and Tobias went out for dinner. After dinner they locked themselves in the hotel suite, and Tris modeled her new nightgown before they used several of the condoms in the nightstand.

.

On Monday the couple slept in again. This time Tobias was diligent about not leaving Tris to wake up alone. They took a long, steamy shower together, then ate a light breakfast in the suite.

George was due to arrive in the early afternoon. Amar drove Tris and Tobias to the Tate Modern art museum. Neither of them were big fans of modern art, but they enjoyed the people watching and saw a few Picassos and other familiar artists' works.

A boat ran between the Tate Modern and the Tate Britain museums, so Tris and Tobias rode from one to the other. They grabbed a quick lunch near the Britain, then wandered through the galleries of works by British artists.

Amar came for them in the late afternoon. When they walked out of the museum hand-in-hand, Tris and Tobias saw the car, and two men standing on the sidewalk beside it.

The first thing Tris noticed was that George was taller than Amar - not surprising since Amar was several inches under six feet tall. Both were fit and athletic, though Amar had more of a stocky wrestler's body type while George was lean. She estimated that they were both in their forties. Both had dark hair, though Amar looked more European whereas George had slightly Asian features. He wore his straight hair long and pulled into a ponytail. His slightly slanted eyes crinkled in the corners, making Tris think that he smiled a lot.

Indeed, when the couple approached, George's face lit up with a broad grin. "Tobias!" the tattoo artist greeted joyfully.

"George!" Tobias said, reaching to shake the older man's hand. "I trust you had a good flight?"

"I did," George said. "Thank you for the ticket."

"Of course," Tobias said. "We're glad you could be here."

"You must be Tris," George added before Tobias had a chance to introduce his girlfriend. "Amar and Tobias have told me all about you."

George leaned toward Tris and greeted her with a kiss on each cheek, making her giggle. When he raised an eyebrow at her giggle, Tris blushed.

"Sorry," she said. "I just felt very American for a minute there. Midwesterners don't kiss anyone but babies, lovers, and maybe their own grandmother."

"I'm sorry," George said sincerely.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Tris said warmly as she placed a hand on George's arm. "I should be the one apologizing. You were kind and I laughed at you. I haven't traveled much - well, not really at all, so a lot of customs are new to me.

"In fact, I had kind of a funny experience on the airplane coming here. I'd never flown until I met Tobias, and my flight here was my first commercial trip. When the stewardess showed me to my cubicle in first class she was kind of snooty to me. When she asked if it was my first time in first class I told her that we have our own jet, so it was actually my first time flying commercial. The look on her face was priceless - it sure shut her up!"

Tris and the two older men laughed, but Tobias looked upset. Tris noticed, and feared that she had gone too far with her claim that 'we have a jet.' When George and Tobias went around to get in on the other side of the car, Tris put her hand on Amar's arm.

"I like George," she said quietly, but with feeling. "He's very nice, and I can tell that he's a caring man who smiles a lot. Tobias seemed comfortable, too, until I told my little story. Did I overstep?"

"You're fine," Amar assured her. "I think I know what happened. I'll fix it."

Meanwhile in the car, George pointed to Amar and Tris. "What are they doing?" he asked Tobias.

"This is what they do," Tobias said. "They spent a lot of time together in New York. He helped her pick up some Albanian and navigate some unfamiliar situations. She treats him like an old friend. They also gang up on me sometimes."

"For your benefit," George said, thinking about the many stories Amar brought back from the American trip.

Tobias shrugged as Amar helped Tris into the car. He knew their little conversations were for his benefit. In fact, he'd never been happier. But he was still perturbed about the way the flight attendant had treated Tris.

Tris stayed firmly in her seat, hands in her lap and eyes downcast as Amar pulled into traffic.

"Whatfarë të shqetëson?" (What's bothering you?) Amar asked Tobias in a voice of gentle concern.

"Asgjë," (Nothing) Tobias said. "Please speak English."

"Tris mendon se je zemëruar me të," (Tris thinks that you are angry with her), Amar said, ignoring the instruction to speak English.

Tobias snapped his gaze to Tris and mentally chastised himself when he saw that Amar was right. He reached for her hand. "I'm so sorry that woman was rude to you," he said. "I knew I should have sent the jet."

Tris' eyes went wide. That's what he's upset about? she thought to herself.

"Tobias, don't be silly," she said, squeezing his hand. "You can't fire every flight attendant that's rude to me." They chuckled thinking about Nita and the way she had squawked when Amar dismissed her on their first trip. "They were very nice after that, and hopefully it made her think twice about judging people."

In the front seat, George patted Amar's knee. "Ju bëni një punë të mirë duke u kujdesur për to" (You do a good job taking care of them), he said quietly.

"Ata janë të mirë për njëri-tjetrin," Amar said. "Mund të jetë e vështirë sepse jeta e tyre ka qenë kaq e ndryshme. Familja e saj nuk është e pasur, kështu që ajo ndjehet sikur nuk i përket. Familja e tij ishte e dashur, kështu që ai nuk është gjithmonë i mirë në komunikimin e asaj që po mendon."
(They are good for each other, but it can be difficult because their lives have been so different. Her family is not wealthy, so she feels like she doesn't belong. His family was unloving, so he's not always good at communicating what he thinks.)

"Ata janë me fat që ju mund t'i ndihmoni ata. Me pelqen me te vertete. Ajo është shumë e sjellshme, dhe vetëm pak gjallë."
(I really like her. She is very sweet, and a little feisty,) George replied.

.

Back at the hotel, the two couples went their separate ways to rest and get ready for dinner. They reconvened at the designated time, and Amar drove them to the famous Coppa Club, where he and Tobias had reserved a private table with two cozy upholstered benches in an outdoor plastic bubble that resembled a clear glass igloo.

Tris, Tobias, Amar, and George enjoyed getting to know one another over a delicious dinner in the unique atmosphere of a literal private bubble. Amar told stories about Tobias when he was young. George told stories about crazy things that happened at the tattoo shop. The two older men told Tris about how they met one another and fell in love. Tobias and Tris snuggled together on the bench on their side of the table. Tris felt like she was having dinner with her boyfriend's family, and she couldn't stop smiling.

"So you're really coming to Albania this summer?" George asked Tris.

"That's the plan," Tris said. "School gets out in May, and I don't have summer classes. I'm going to quit my job in the coffee shop and jet off to the Adriatic to be a kept woman."

"You work?" George asked when the laughter died down. "Or was that a joke?"

"I have a job at the coffee shop on campus," Tris explained. "I make espresso drinks and smoothies, stock shelves, run the cash register, wipe down tables, that kind of thing."

"You're dating the wealthiest man in Albania, and you wipe tables in a college coffee shop?" George pressed, still unsure if Tris was joking.

"I'm not a kept woman yet," Tris replied with a smirk. "When I'm not traveling the world with these two, I'm just an American college student. I live in a dorm room that's smaller than Tobias' closet - and I share it with my best friend. We go to class, do homework, and work part-time jobs."

Tris took a sip of her wine. "It's kind of like I have two different lives," she said. "With Tobias I travel, wear designer clothes, and eat at the finest restaurants. When I get home, I leave a lot of that in storage at my parents' house and go back to carrying a backpack full of books and eating in the cafeteria. My friends know I'm dating Tobias, but I haven't told them much about his life."

"Why not?" Amar pressed, hoping Tris' explanation would lift the dark expression he saw growing on Tobias' face.

"For one thing," Tris began, "I don't want the attention. I don't like people prying into my private life, and I don't want anyone to break into my dorm room because they think I have something valuable they can steal. But the bigger issue is my friends. They all know the 'Four' story - about the email. Tobias' family history isn't any of their business, so they don't know that the man I met over winter break is the same person who sent me that email a few years ago.

"I love him," Tris said firmly to the men across the table. "And I don't want to hear people doubt him because of a past he couldn't control.

"I don't care what Marcus was like, because Tobias is nothing like that," she spat, her voice becoming more passionate with each word. "Of course his father's abuse affected him, but it certainly didn't damage him. In fact, it made him gentler and more sensitive to what others go through. I don't care if he's rich, because Tobias is so. much. more. than his businesses or bank account."

Tris' eyes blazed and her voice became louder as she continued her monologue. "Everything he has been through has worked together to create this incredible, caring, intelligent and handsome man who is making the world a better place. I love him for who he is, and he's more than good to me. That's all my friends need to know. That's all anyone needs to know. I won't see him misjudged by anyone. I know this man, and I trust him with my life."

Tris swiped at her eyes. She hadn't meant to get so riled up, but she was protective of Tobias, and once she got on a roll the words just poured out. Across the table, George swallowed hard and looked at Amar, who had tears rolling down his cheeks. He passed a napkin to his partner, and the two men shared a tender look.

Tobias sat stunned. Tris protected him, even from her own friends. She defended him, believed in him, and loved him. He wanted to climb up on the roof and yell, collapse on the floor and sob, or take her right there on the table. But he couldn't do or say anything; he just stared at the top of Tris' head with his mouth hanging open.

"Merrni frymë," (Breathe) George said to Tobias.

Tobias tried, but his lungs were too full to take in more air and too empty to let any out. He was a starving man who had suddenly been stuffed with a banquet of rich food. His life had gone from empty to overflowing, and he didn't know how to process it.

Seeing the look of concern on George's face, Tris turned to face her boyfriend. "Tobias," she said gently. Getting no reaction, she tried an Albanian term that Rebekah had taught her. "T'keqen," she said, "të dua. Look at me, please Tobias. You're starting to scare me."

Amar and George started when they heard the apt moniker. 'T'keqen' meant 'Sweetheart,' but it's origin was in an expression that indicated the desire to take away evil meant for the loved one - exactly what the older men saw Tris' love doing for Tobias.

Tris' anxious voice broke through Tobias' mental fog. He felt her small, warm hands on his cheeks and inhaled deeply. "You love me," Tobias breathed.

"I love you," Tris confirmed.

"You're not ashamed of me?" Tobias asked.

"Never," Tris promised.

Tobias lifted Tris onto his lap and put his arms around her. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart as it calmed back to a normal pace.

"I love you, too," Tobias said after a few minutes.

"I know," Tris told him. "You show me every day. Even when we're on opposite sides of the world."

.

For the rest of the week, Tris and Tobias saw the sights of London by day, then dismissed Amar and locked themselves in the hotel suite after dinner. George made jokes about 'chaperoning their honeymoon,' but behind closed doors he and Amar worried about what would happen when Tris went back to America and Tobias had to go home without her. "Their boy" had never been in love before, and, thanks to his childhood, he was clinging to the feeling like a drowning man with a life preserver.

Tobias made good on his promise not to take Tris shopping again. They walked the streets of London together and took photos at one of the iconic red telephone booths. They saw a few of the sites made famous by the Harry Potter books and movies. They watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace, and visited Westminster Abbey. They stuck with their personal tradition and had pizza at one of the highest rated pizzerias in London, though both agreed that it ranked lower than New York or Chicago. They ate at the best restaurants each evening, then spent the nights making love and sleeping in each other's arms.

.

On Saturday morning Tris woke up early. Though she tried to relax and go back to sleep, she couldn't stop thinking about leaving Tobias. Two long months of school stood between her and summer in Albania, and she already couldn't imagine leaving again in the fall for another year apart. She wondered if it would always be this way between them or if she and Tobias would one day at least live on the same continent, maybe even in the same house.

Tris wasn't one to say 'I love you' flippantly. She had boyfriends in her past, a few of whom she'd been intimate with, but she had never told any of them that she loved them. What she had with Tobias was different, precious, and she knew she wanted to be with him for the long haul. But forever with Tobias would come with a steep price. Tris had dreamed of traveling the world, but she never even considered emigrating. Marrying Tobias would mean leaving her country, her family, and her friends. It would mean learning a new language and a new culture. Sure, she had enjoyed picking up some Albanian and reading about the country, but making it her home was a different level altogether. If things worked out with Tobias, that would be her only option.

"Tris?" Tobias said, startling her out of her heavy thoughts. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Tris lied. "Just a weird dream. I'm fine."

"You should get in the shower," Tobias said, though he made no effort to unwrap the arms that held her to his chest. "Amar will be here to finish packing your things soon."

Tris wiggled out of Tobias' grasp. She was wearing the pink silk and lace nightie that Tobias bought for her at Harrods, and he stared at her barely-covered backside as she walked to the bathroom. When she was out of sight, Tobias sighed. He obviously knew better, but he was tempted to throw Tris on his jet and take her home with him instead of sending her back to Chicago.

A soft wad of pink silk bounced off his chest. Tobias grabbed the nightgown. "Take that home with you," Tris called from the bathroom. "I don't need anything that sexy if you're not with me. Keep it with the new bikinis and the swimsuit cover-up until I join you this summer."

Tobias lifted the nightgown to his face and inhaled Tris' familiar sweet fragrance. May couldn't come soon enough.