We had left Pa in the study making his calls, he was right, he was best placed to deal with Sigma Beta but I hated that it hadn't been something we could deal with ourselves.

I could hear Viri's voice mixed with Ma's in the kitchen as they cooked together and I felt myself smile, she fit so well with us all and so quickly. Despite her initial reluctance to engage with each of us, once she had let us in, she had done so fully.

I wondered how she would react to her father appearing tonight, she knew about Leo but I didn't know if she realised exactly who would be arriving for dinner. Should we tell her, or would it be better to let everything just play out.

"Boys set the table" Ma called, having seen us all watching them from the doorway. Viri blushing as she sent us a little wave before turning back to whatever she was making. It all smelt lovely and judging by the amount of pans on the go they were cooking up a feast.

"Ma, Can I help?" I ask from the doorway after the others had moved to follow Ma's instruction, I saw her check round and nod. pointing me to the work top by Viri.

"Cut that bread and put it in these baskets, then can you put some water jugs on the table, then grab a couple of bottles of wine up from the cellar, when you have done that I will have some more for you... and don't interfere with Viri, she is busy" Ma rushes out and I laugh, maybe this wasn't the easy option and I should have stayed with my brothers.

As soon as Ma's back was turned, I quickly dropped a kiss on Viri's head as she worked, making her giggle quietly. "You okay?" I whisper and she nods, casting a quick glance Ma's way, lifting a sliver of what she was chopping to my lips to feed it to me, my eyes held hers and I could see the heat in them as my lips closed around the morsel and her fingers. I let my tongue circle her finger, licking away the sticky honeyed fruit concoction, and she bit her lip to hold in her groan as I gently nip before letting her free.

"Ma, these are done" she calls stepping back and lifting the dish to put it with the other amazing looking food.

"The bread Raven!" Ma reminds me and I grin as I get to work. We work around each other in silence as Ma gives directions, though I take very opportunity I can to brush up against Viri. I briefly see my brothers look in but they just laugh and head away again, then Pa appears.

"How are we doing?" he asks and Ma confirms everything is ready, "Raven and Viridian wash up please, I think its best if you greet our guests" he instructs as Ma hisses at him about his lack of warning and rushes off to wash up herself.

"Come on baby" I take her hand and lead her to the downstairs cloakroom, sharing the sink with her as we wash out hands, I can see some of her nerves have returned and again I drop a kiss on her forehead, she shivers and that spark of heat reignites in her eyes.

"You are a tease" she accuses me with a grin, her nerves gone now and that was what I wanted.

We hear the door bell chime and I grin as I guide her along to the door, pulling it open with a flourish and waiting for her to catch on. "Dad, Uncle Luca, what are you doing here?" she gasps spotting them stood beside Leo and Dom.

"What no welcome for us?" Dom teases her and she growls at him.

"What is going on" her hands have dropped to her hips as she glares at them all.

"Baby we should let them in" I remind her quietly and she turns her glare on my, a finger coming up to poke me in the chest.

"You knew they were all here and you said nothing to me" she growled again, causing Leo to laugh out loud as she focused her rage my way.

"They are just looking out for you" I remind her, taking hold of the prodding finger and pulling her into my arms, not caring about her watching family.

"You met them all earlier?" she whispered to me and I nodded.

"Yes"

"And you survived?" she asked carefully, looking up at me again I nodded.

"Yes"

"Oh No, your parents, what will they think?" she hisses out and this time I can't stop the grin from splitting my face.

"Baby, they already know who was coming, I'm sorry I didn't warn you" I wait until I feel her relax against me before I look back at her family, twisting her in my arms so she is facing them.

"Welcome, do come in" I greet them politely making Viri snort as we take a step back together and they step inside. I shut the door before I release her and watch as she heads straight for her fathers arms, before her uncle and cousins join in the group hug.

I clear my throat as I notice Pa and Ma appear, my brothers behind them. "Mr Waters, let me introduce you to my family" I say out loud as they all look at me.

"Relax" her Uncle Luca tells me, stepping forward his hand out. "Grant and Louisa Steele, I am Luca, this is Viri's father Augustus, and my sons Leo and Dominic, and you boys are Grey, Ash and Jett, we met Raven earlier"

I watched bemused as everyone shakes hands before my mother steps in "Augustus, its a pleasure to meet you, I am a huge fan of your work" she links her arm through his and guides him into the lounge, the rest of us following. Viri taking the opportunity to smack her cousins as they pass her, her scowl at them promising more to come, but they just laugh at her.

"Why are you here Dad?" she asks when we are all seated

"We were invited to dinner" he replies and she growls again, making her cousins laugh as her father holds his hands up in peace.

"We had to check out everything was okay, your security was reporting some alarming changes in your behaviour, your mother would kill me if anything happened to you" he explained.

"Okay but why bring Uncle Luca, Leo and Dom?" she mutters back at him and he smiles at her.

"They were already here when I arrived, the boys are thinking of enrolling here" he tells her

"No way!" Viri objects jumping to her feet and glaring at her family as I exchange worried looks with my brothers. "Dad you can't let them do this to me, you promised"

"I did but it was only if everything went smoothly and you were safe" her father gaze scanned over us all "You are not safe and we will protect you"

"Sir, with all respect we will look after Viri" I tell him getting to my feet and pulling her into my arms.

"Given that you boys are the reason she has these problems, I don't think I will take your words seriously" her father bites out.

'Dad, stop it" Viri tells him, pulling out of my arms and moving to perch on the coffee table in front of him, her hands taking his as she looks up at him. "Dad, its not all their fault" I can't help but grin at her words "but I like them, really like them and I want to stay and see how it all pans out, and I can't do that if the boys are here, they will interfere in everything"

"Viri, you are not safe" he argues

"Then make it safe, please" she whispers but we all hear her.

"Sir, you're right its our fault but it wasn't done on purpose and we will do everything we can to make it right, our father has started to sort our Sigma Beta and I know you were dealing with St John, that just leaves the jealousy from other students and to be honest Sir, I think that will all blow over, once they see just how wonderful Viri is." I say into the silence, as I keep all my focus on him. He is the one with the power to take Viri away from us.

"Perhaps we should start again" Pa says loudly. "Lets discuss what we can do to make this all right and where we go from there"

"I agree" Luka responds leaning forward. "Raven, take Viri back to your seat, I'd rather have her out of swinging range" he laughs as she scowls at him and starts to talk.

"Hush baby, let's hear what they have to say" I whisper to her guiding her back to the sofa and down between Ash and I.