A/N:
Hello lovelies!
Told you wouldn't be gone for long!
I started this story a long time ago. I wrote the first few chapters before I even started working on Slayers, but somehow I just wasn't feeling it, so I put it aside. Now that Slayers is done, I am very much feeling this story!
The first chapter is kind of like background and set up the rest of the story. The rest of the story will have more of a one-shot feel to it. They can be stand alone-ish… with the proper background. There will be time line continuity from one one-shot to the next. But each one shot will be short and there may be large time gaps between them. Of course their focus will be our favorite couple.
In advance I'd like to also mention that there is no posting schedule at all for this. And overall it's not going to have the volume of a full story. Lastly, since I already started it, the first 2-3 chapter will fly out rather quickly.
So, you have been warned.
I hope you like! Let me know in the comments!
And if you liked it, maybe give it a follow and a fave?
Thanks,
K
PS - the plot of Shadow kissed didn't take place. There was no attack, Dimitri wasn't turned and the night in the cabin never happened.
Rose Hathaway had graduated at the top of her class from St. Vladimir's academy. She made the trials look like they were a breeze and she now held the highest trial scores in the history of the academy, bar none. So it really wasn't surprising when she was appointed Lissa's guardian.
Rose was ecstatic when the announcement was made at graduation. Lissa, her best friend and bond mate, was filled with joy. And Dimitri Belikov, Rose's dutiful mentor, couldn't have been prouder.
Rose learned early on in life that everything worth having came with a price. She used to think that becoming Lissa's guardian was at the expense of her adolescence and enjoying her youth, instead spending her time training. She guessed it would someday be at the expense of her own life. But she never thought it would come at the expense of her heart.
After the announcement that Rose was slated to guard the last Dragomir, she ran to Dimitri's open arms. To onlookers it was a congratulatory hug between proud mentor and studious novice. But in truth, it was that Rose wanted to share her happiest moment with the person closest to her, other than her bond mate.
In turn, Dimitri's pride went far beyond that of a mentor. He had spent more time with Rose than any other person he came into contact with. In the time he had trained Rose, Dimitri came to think of her as his confidant, his friend, his equal.
Early on in their relationship, Rose was sure she had a crush on Dimitri. After the incident with strigoi-Natalie and the events that transpired on the night of the Equinox Dance, Rose was sure she loved him. And she knew she wasn't the only on with feeling. Dimitri cared for her as well. But she also knew they couldn't be together. Rose would replay what he had said to her the night Natalie nearly killed her over and over again in her head. If I let myself love you I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.
After Mason's death in spokane, Dimitri turned down Tasha's once in a life time offer and all but admitted he was in love with Rose. With that, Rose knew her love was not unrequited. So the announcement of Rose becoming Lissa's guardian was bitter sweet as it meant she and Dimitri would be guarding partners. It was technically the end of what could have been between them. Not that it was unexpected. They knew all along whatever happened between them was doomed from the start. That's why they never acted on their feelings, other than the rare stolen kiss or the occasional moments they shared while training.
They were both under no illusions. They knew what the allocation meant. They accepted their fate of star crossed lovers. Lissa would always come first. And they would never be together.
In the months after graduation, Lissa and Christian stayed at Court. It took major groveling but Lissa managed to persuade Chris to go to Leigh in the fall with her, so preparations were made.
One of these preparations included Dimitri and Rose petitioned for a guardian to be assigned to Christian. They needed the extra manpower since they would be living outside the moroi community. It took some doing, but in the end, Eddie Castile was assigned to guard Christian Ozera.
Then there was the question of finding the proper accommodations. They needed an apartment big enough to house 2 moroi and 3 dhampir. The queen insisted on helping Lissa and promised that everything would be to her liking. Lissa didn't want to offend the queen so she reluctantly agreed.
During their time at Court, Dimitri and Rose were rostered to the main security detail as well as any functions that Lissa needed accompanying to. Which meant that for a few months, till they went to Leigh, Rose and Dimitri had a lot of free time on their hands. Rose spent most of it with Lissa anyway, shopping and planning for their move in the fall.
Since Lissa and Christian would be living together at Leigh along with Rose, Dimitri and Eddie, Lissa insisted that they all spend as much time together as possible, getting to know each other better before moving in together, despite the close connection they all had. Well, all aside from Dimitri. Rose and Lissa were like sisters, Eddie and Rose grew up together and considered each other family. Christian, Lissa, and Eddie had grown close during their last months at St. Vlad's after Spokane and the field experience. And despite their constant bickering, Rose and Chris would do anything for each other. The odd man out was Dimitri. While they all respected him and looked up to him, they weren't as easy going with him as they were with each other. Accept for Rose, who adored him. In any case, it was important to Lissa that Dimitri bonded with them as well.
Eddie, Chris and Dimitri had guys' nights at least once a week. On other occasions, Rose, Dimitri and Eddie went out - just the guardians - for stake dinners in Dhampir size portions. Every Sunday the all had brunch together. Lissa made sure no one was on shift so they could be together.
Since Dimitri was the older more experienced guardian, Rose and Eddie took their cues from him. When Dimitri suggested that they train together on a regular basis it seemed fitting. Eddie was excited to learn from the Russian god that Rose couldn't shut up about. He idolized the man.
Rose suspected that Dimitri may have been using Eddie as a buffer. She was a little jealous about sharing Dimitri, but having a buffer was for the best. Besides, she loved Eddie like a brother.
Another suggestion Dimitri had was to practice guarding technique, as a unit, in the field, meaning outside of the wards. He planned an excursion for all guardians and their moroi during the day and another drill at night. Lissa of course jumped at the opportunity of a "field trip". She relished in shopping delight.
As it were, Rose and Dimitri saw each other almost every day during their stint at Court. Whether is was training or "getting to know you" sessions Lissa planned. But Rose and Dimitri also got together independently every now and again. And only in public. They'd meet up at a cafe for hot chocolate or at the bakery for doughnuts. Dimitri introduced Rose to black bread at the local Russian restaurant. It's not as good as mama's, he said; but it was the most delicious thing Rose had ever tasted.
They never discussed their feelings. It was a silent agreement that they needed to keep their feelings in check and never allow it to go any further than friendship. Yet somehow, despite keeping their distance physically, they grew closer and closer with each passing day.
Moving day was not as unpleasant as Rose thought it would be. None of them had had the time or the inclination to accumulate too much junk at Court and most of what they needed was newly bought and sent directly to their new accommodation, so there weren't many boxes beyond suitcases and suitcases of clothes, shoes and accessories.
The apartment that was secured for them was huge. Rose had to hand it to the queen, she was a mega bitch, but she knew how to pick 'em. The living room was large and already fully furnished. It felt light and airy. There were big bay windows that overlooked a park behind the apartment complex. There was a swinging door that lead to the kitchen just like Rose and Lissa used to see in sitcoms from the 90s while they lived in Portland. The kitchen too had all the fix ins. Any kitchen appliance known to man was present.
The apartment had 5 bedrooms. A master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, 2 bedrooms that were connected by a shared bathroom, another large bedroom and a smaller bedroom both serviced by the bathroom at the end of the hall.
The apartment complex was walking distance from campus. The best thing about the apartment was that in was situated in a complex building protected by wards.
Lissa and Christian got the master suite. No one wanted the small room. And Rose decided she needed one of the rooms attached to the bathroom. Leaving it completely up to chance, Eddie and Dimitri flipped a coin to see who would get the bedroom that shared a bathroom with Rose and who would get the bedroom with a bathroom down the hall. Dimitri won (or lost depending on how to look at it) and he and Rose would share a bathroom while Eddie would get the other room. For a moment, Dimitri considered letting Eddie have the room, but Rose and Dimitri would be the ones always switching shifts between them, so this was in fact the more logical choice.
The last and smallest room was designated as a spare bedroom in case they had company.
.
The 5 unit occupants got into a rhythm fairly quickly as soon as school started. Rose and Eddie were Lissa and Christain's near guards. While Dimitri was technically far guard, he usually spent the day catching up on sleep since he took the night shifts on himself, allowing Rose and Eddie to sleep so they could actually study with their moroi and get an education.
Once school started Rose and Dimitri hardly ever saw each other anymore. Their training together was cut to twice a week due to time constraints imposed by studies. They traded shifts every morning and every night. Dimitri would stay awake late so he could see Rose in the morning for a little while longer. Rose stayed up before bed because she was never quite ready to say good night to Dimitri.
