Hello everyone! This is a (hopefully) longer and more mature version of my story Old Flame. It has the same basic plotline with a few minor changes. Here's a plot summary: At the end of the fight against the Strigoi in Shadow Kiss, Dimitri escaped the Strigoi and promptly left St. Vladimir's with Tasha as her guardian. Unbeknownst to him, he left more than just Rose behind. He returns with Tasha for a visit three years later to a small surprise.
Richelle Mead owns all rights to anything recognized from Vampire Academy.
I was sitting at my desk writing a report, when the door to my office was opened roughly. I jumped in shock when the door slammed into the wall, whirling to face the threat. Thankfully, there was no threat waiting for me in the doorway. Instead, I was facing my three-year-old daughter, Liliya. She put up a fake fighting stance, making me laugh at her attempt.
"Good job Lily-bug," I praised her, kneeling beside her and opening my arms for a hug. She immediately pounced, launching herself into my arms.
"I missed you Mama," she said to my shoulder. I laughed and squeezed her tighter.
"I missed you too Lily." Rising, I pulled her up with me to perch on my hip. Placing my reports in a file using one hand, I continued to catch up with my daughter after our brief separation. "How was daycare? Did you have fun with Uncle Christian, Ryan, and Bella?" She nodded and began chattering away about how her day went and how much fun she had playing with her cousins. Ryan and Rosabella Ozera-Dragomir were about 6 months younger than my daughter and also her best friends. Despite my protests, Lissa had insisted on naming her daughter after me. After my vehement refusal for her to name her daughter Rose or Rosemarie, I helped her settle on Rosabella instead. I refused a direct namesake to prevent confusion.
"Mama, can we go to Aunt Lissa's for dinner?" Lily asked, drawing my attention back to her. I began to refuse, saying that Lissa probably had plans, but my attempts at refusal were thwarted by Lily's puppy dog look. Unable to resist her big brown eyes and pouty lip, I groaned in defeat.
"I swear, you and that look will be the death of me, Liliya Marie," I told her. With a sigh, I took her to her room and changed her into a pair of dark jeans, a pink long-sleeved shirt, and pink winter boots, placing her dirty daytime clothes into the hamper in her room. She followed me back to my room where I changed from my guardian uniform into black jeans, a 3/4 sleeve aquamarine shirt and black winter boots. I helped Lily into her heavy black coat, pink scarf, and pink gloves before donning my own coat and scarf. Picking her up, I walked through the snow from the guardian's building to the Royal Moroi quarters. We immediately went to Lissa and Christian's apartment, and Lily knocked on the door. A minute later, Lissa opened the door with a frazzled look. Her look of frustration immediately fell to be replaced by one of joy when she saw Lily and I.
"I'm sorry for not asking if we could come Liss. This monster," I gestured to Lily, "used her puppy dog face on me." Lissa laughed and beckoned us inside.
"I don't mind Rose, honestly." Lissa said as she let us into the apartment. "I do have two other guests joining us. Christian invited them for dinner tonight." Her facial expression was off, and I noticed that the bond was blocked. Something told me that Lissa knew I wouldn't like her other dinner guests. I narrowed my eyes at her, telling her I would find out who the guests were. I helped Lily out of her winter clothes and her boots so she could play with Ryan and Bella. Once I removed my own coat, scarf, and boots, I turned to Lissa.
"Who exactly are your other guests for dinner?" I asked her, an underlying threat in my voice. She gulped before squaring her shoulders and facing me with a fearless expression.
"Christian invited Tasha over. She's in town for Christmas. Christian wanted to see her. She's bringing one of her guardians with her, but she didn't specify which one." I immediately put on my guardian mask to hide my feelings of panic. What if Tasha brought Dimitri as her guardian? What would I do if he recognized himself in Lily's hair or eyes? My worries must have shown on my face because Lissa hugged me. "I won't let him get to you Rose," she promised. "I'll help you." I nodded, relieved that I had her with me. Just then, Christian entered the room, an apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry Rose. I didn't think that Lily might want to come over…I can call Aunt Tasha and tell her something came up…" His sincere apology caused me to shake my head at him.
"No, I won't let my feelings get in the way of your family. I'll survive dinner." I had never been more thankful that Lissa and Christian knew the identity of Lily's father than at that moment.
I walked into the living room and spotted Lily and my godchildren playing what appeared to be house. It seemed that Lily had elected herself the role of "Mommy" and appointed Ryan "Daddy" and Bella "Baby". When the other two complained about the arrangement, Lily defended her decisions by stating that she was the oldest, so she could make the rules. I chuckled at her bossy antics and stood to the side, watching the children play.
By the time that the three kids were tiring of their game, the doorbell rang. I tensed slightly and sat on the couch as Christian answered the door. I heard sounds of greeting from the foyer. I tensed further, and Lily finally noticed my discomfort. She crawled into my lap and wrapped her arms around me, offering me comfort. I smiled and rubbed her back, letting her know I would be okay. Despite my assurances that I was okay, she stayed on my lap. Christian and Lissa reentered the living room, this time followed by Tasha and, to my chagrin, Dimitri.
"Rose!" Tasha said, smiling nicely at me. "It's been so long since I've seen you! How have you been?" I smiled a forced, polite smile back at her.
"I've been well Tasha. How about you?" I asked, rising with Lily on my hip. I freed my right arm so I could shake her hand in greeting, not wanting to actually hug her. She smiled and shook my hand, and I noticed that her handshake was weak.
"I'm good, thanks for asking." She replied. Once we got past the formalities, Tasha zeroed in on Lily in my arms. "Who is this cutie Rose?" Tasha asked.
"My name is Liliya, Lady Ozera," Lily answered, looking at Tasha. Tasha smiled at her.
"So polite. It's nice to meet you Liliya."
"Please call me Lily Lady Ozera. Everyone does, unless I'm in trouble." Tasha chuckled and turned to me.
"Whose is she Rose? I must compliment them for teaching her such impeccable manners." I stood to my full height and looked Tasha straight in the face.
"She's mine." Tasha and Dimitri looked shocked at this.
"If you don't mind my asking, who is her father?" Tasha asked diplomatically. I immediately turned away, shielding Lily with my body.
"That is none of your concern Tasha." Lissa looked at me.
"Rose? Are you okay?" I shook my head at her.
"We're going to go Lissa. I'm sorry for ruining your night, but I have reports to write." I set Lily on the floor and tried to grab her hand, walking toward the foyer and our coats. She ripped her hand out of mine and ran to Lissa, hugging her legs.
"Liliya, you have three seconds to get over here before I come get you myself." I threatened, turning to face my daughter.
"No! I want to stay here with Aunt Lissa! You said we could come to dinner and we haven't had dinner yet!" My face darkened and I stepped closer to her.
"One,"
"Mama, you promised me! I'm staying here!" Her voice rose in volume, and I rose my eyebrow questioningly, trying to keep my temper in check.
"Two,"
"No! I won't go!" Here she employed some choice Russian curse words that had me reaching to grab her and the adults' eyebrows to rise. I darted forward and jerked her arm, forcibly pulling her off of Lissa.
I yanked her closer to me and hissed angrily, "Who taught you those words?" I shook her arm a bit for emphasis. She winced and Lissa looked at me.
"Rose, you're hurting her." At Lissa's words, I relaxed my grip slightly.
"Go get your coat Liliya, we're leaving." I let go of her arm and she scurried out of the room and to the coat rack in the foyer. Shooting one last apologetic glance at everyone in the room, I followed Lily out of the room and into the foyer. I put on my winter clothes and left the apartment with Lily in tow. When I went to bed that night, the image of Dimitri's shocked face when I'd manhandled my daughter wouldn't leave my thoughts.
How was that? Please let me know in a review!
