A lot of the stories in fanfiction are from Rose's pov. I am a Rose and Dimitri die hard fan but I have read a few stories from Rose's POV where Rose and Dimitri do not get back together after he is restored to a Dhampir state and it got me thinking. Wondering how Dimitri would deal with his life after having been Strigoi. I was thinking that his life would need a distraction or a hobby. Otherwise he would constantly be thinking and rehashing the past. This is my first fan fic so please let me know how I am doing. If you see where I can improve or if I'm making some stupid mistake over and over again then I clearly have no clue what I am doing and I need you to put me out of my misery or at the very least tell me so I can fix it. I'm still learning how this website works. Thanks.
A Special Thank You to Debbie Kelly for your support and encouragement. **MUAH**
This world and some of the characters belong to the wonderful Richelle Mead. I own nothing except the storyline and the other characters that aren't in any of her books.
Dimitri's POV
I've been at St Basil's for almost three years now. Viktoria will be graduating this year and with the extra training sessions I have been having with her, she is fierce. Being able to see my family on a somewhat regular basis has been comforting for me. It gives me some measure of peace. I thought seeing them for the first time after being restored a Dhampir was going to be...complicated. I should have known better. Yeva knew. She always knows. I was grateful. It made it less awkward for me and a lot less scary for them.
The academy has changed a lot since I was a student here. It's a lot more like the Royal Court now. More people living and working here. There are even a few stores, a couple of restaurants, a spa and a really great coffee house at the west end near guest housing, which has tripled in size. The increase is size started after Princess Dragomir became queen. Since the offensive majic program started out at St Basil and her husband Christian Ozera is in charge of the program, she visit's often.
Rose of course is the queens primary guardian. I heard that she married Lord Ozera's guardian last year and even though they always accompany the queen and Lord Ozera when they visit, I make sure I'm visiting my family during their stay. I don't want to dig up any bad memories for her or myself. Remembering what I did to her is just too painful for me. I don't think I could ever see her again without reliving it all over. I am glad she is happy though. It's all I ever wanted for her.
Oh man, this insomnia is messing me up. Either I can't sleep or I'm having nightmares. I can't remember the last time I had a really good nights sleep. Even when I go home to visit my family, the night sweats and horrible dreams follow me.
Since I follow the same nocturnal schedule as the students my first class isn't until 8pm when school starts. Here I am wide awake at 4pm. Well at least there's still daylight out. I guess I'll hit the coffee shop and enjoy the sun before it sets.
As I walk in, I'm greeted by the owner, Crystal. I think that's her name. I really need to remember it. She's always been very nice to me. I hate that a lot of the students make fun of her because she is overweight. Moroi have always been thin and the Dhampirs here go through so many training and workout sessions that they are in excellent physical shape. She's human and the minority here as it is but to be ridiculed because of her weight is just not right.
"Good morning Guardian Belikov", she greets me. "You're up early again today". Yep, her name tag says Crystal. I can't help but smile at her. Her smile is always so contagious.
"Good morning Crystal. I've always been an early riser", I told her. It's true and a lot better than seeming like a freak because I can't sleep. I've been in here a lot lately in the early morning hours. School runs from 8pm to 3am and since the school cafeteria accommodates the students for breakfast lunch and dinner they are open from 6:30pm to 7am. Crystal's shop is open from 3am to 8pm. Their times overlap which works out perfect for me. I can get coffee or hot chocolate 24/7.
Crystal's POV
Oh wow. Here comes Guardian Belikov again. Sheesh CC hold it together. Oh my God. Heart, will you please slow down. Every time I see that man my pulse rate goes up a notch or two. He is drop your panties sexy. Today is the day. I'm going to ask him today. He seems like a nice guy. He would probably help me right? It's not like I'm a total dork to hang out with. Well ok, I guess I can be kind of a geek sometimes but I'm not that bad. He's what, 27 I think I heard, so he's only 2 years older than me. He'll probably help me. If I can ask him without passing out. I'll ask him before he leaves. Or maybe I'll follow him out. That way no one can over hear our conversation.
We say our good mornings and I ask him, "Would you like coffee this morning or a double hot chocolate?"
"I think I'll have the hot chocolate, thank you" he says with that smile that makes my heart stop.
I keep it together long enough to say, "Sure thing. I'll be right back."
As I'm making his hot chocolate, just the way he likes it, I hear, "Hey CC, can I get some more coffee please."
"Be right there" I holler back. Illiana was sitting between where I was and where Guardian Belikov was sitting so I stopped at her table first and poured her some more coffee, then made my way back to him.
DPOV
Her hot chocolate is the best. I'm looking forward to it. I supposed I have gotten used to coming in here every morning lately. Especially if I've just had a nightmare. Crystal is always so happy all the time and she is usually humming a tune. It makes for a calming atmosphere. Almost engulfing me. It feels good…soothing. Thinking about that makes me smile. I just heard another customer call out to her but It didn't sound like she said Crystal. I should ask her about that.
She sets my hot chocolate on the table in front of me so I asked, "Hey Crystal, do you mind if I ask you something?"
She says, "Nope" popping on the P, "Go right ahead and ask me anything you want. I'm an open book." That makes me smile again.
"I heard that other customer call you but the name she used was different. I was just wondering what she said?"
"Oh, since I was a kid people have called me CC. You can call me CC if you like."
"I would like that, thank you" I tell her "and I think I've been coming in here long enough that you should call me Dimitri." Wow, her face really lights up when she smiles.
"I would like that very much Guard…Dimitri. Thank you."
CC's POV
I set his hot chocolate on the table and he starts asking me about my name. Oh man, there is that smile again. I swear I can feel it in my toes when he smiles like that. Oh come on CC stop getting all weak in the knees. Keep it together girl. Go back to the kitchen. Keep yourself busy.
From the kitchen I hear the bell on the register and I look up to see Suzy cashing out Dimitri. Now is my chance. I need to ask him today. I follow him outside, "Dimitri?" He turns and smiles at me. Oh knees, don't fail me now.
"I was wondering if I could ask you something. Kind of a favor or maybe more like a job. I could pay you by the hour or the day or whatever you want. I just really need to start something and I don't want to put it off any longer and I can't do it alone. I'm really not bad company to be around. It wouldn't be tortuous for you or anything. I don't think. I don't know."
Oh man, I'm so nervous and it's making me ramble and I feel traitorous tears starting to pool in my eyes. Jeez Louise, don't cry. Oh God, please don't cry. Oh crap. I am such a geek.
"You know what? Forget it. It's cool. Really. I don't want to bother you. I'm sorry. Have a great day." I turn and start walking back to the shop.
"CC?" Oh man, his voice is so sexy. I stop walking but can't seem to turn back around to face him. Oh shit, I don't think I can face him now. My eyes are closed but I feel a shadow loom over me. I'm only 5'5". He's gotta be at least a foot or more taller than me. When I opened my eyes I saw that he had walked back to me and was standing right in front of me, blocking the sun.
"Where are you going? If you need to ask me something, please continue" he politely asked me.
I sighed heavy. "It's just that…I am so tired of feeling like an outsider. I mean, you probably have no idea what it's like to be a social reject but it's exhausting. It's bad enough that there are only a handful of humans here that aren't feeders, but being overweight just makes me a double outcast. Everyone here looks so perfect. I don't expect any miracles or anything. I just don't want to stand out so much."
"CC, what are you trying to ask me?"
"I wanted to know if you would help me get healthy? If you would teach me how to properly exercise and work out. Help me make better choices and help me stick with it. I realize that it's asking a lot and if you don't want to do it, really I understand. We probably would have to spend a lot of time together and I don't want to cramp your style or anything. I mean, look at me…it could take a while. I just figured with the way you look, you must know what you're doing right. I mean you look like a Russian God or something."
Oh shit! Did I just say that out loud. He isn't saying anything. That can't be good. "Look. It's cool. Don't sweat it. So ah, I'll see ya tomorrow. Right? Alrighty then." I start to walk away again.
"When do we start?" He yelled out to me.
I turn back to him, "What? Seriously? You'll help me?" I reach up and put my arms around his neck hugging him and thanking him. Oh my god he smells so good. He's is really rigid though so I'm guessing this is not a good idea. Just as I start to pull back he puts his arms on my back and returns the embrace. Wow, his arms feel really strong and warm. My back feels like it's on fire where he's placed them. Oh yeah, I could stand here a while but he's pulling back so I better let go.
"Of course I will help you. You don't have to pay me. You make the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. I would be happy to help you. When do you want to start?"
"You think I make the best hot chocolate? You can have as much as you want. Coffee too. On the house for life. I really want to start as soon as possible if that's ok with you."
"My last class finishes at 3am. We could start today after school if you want."
"The only thing about that is that there are so many people everywhere at that time. Could we maybe do it early in the morning when there aren't so many people up and about? Maybe before you start school?"
"That would be fine. Why don't you meet me at the track tomorrow morning say 5pm. Wear some comfortable clothes and running shoes."
"I will be there. Thank you so very much Dimitri. I really appreciate this."
I'm going to change the work schedule to cover my shifts. I think maybe I will just help out when needed and spend some time on myself for a while. I went back into the shop and upstairs to my loft apartment above it. I'm going to try and stay up as long as I can and turn my schedule around to match his. But later, I'm gonna fall asleep with the smell of his aftershave on my mind. I can't wait for tomorrow.
DPOV
After I paid for the hot chocolate I left and started walking to my office in the gym. I heard my name being called and when I turned I saw CC walking towards me. I couldn't help but smile. She started to ask me something but man, could she talk fast. I couldn't make out half of what she was saying and before I knew it she turned and started walking away.
"CC?" I stopped her. She was just standing there though so I walked over to her and stood in front of her.
"Where are you going? If you need to ask me something, please continue." I hoped I didn't sound rude but I wanted to know what she was trying to ask me.
She let out a heavy sign and started rambling on about being a social reject and an outcast. Wow, I don't really know what her situation feels like but believe me, I know about being a social outcast. I still couldn't figure out though what she was trying to ask me.
"CC, what are you trying to ask me?"
She is asking me to help her work out. She wants to start healthy living and learning how to exercise. That's great. She is surprising. That is wonderful. What? What did she say? Did she just say I looked like a Russian God? As I'm trying to replay her words in my head, which is really difficult because she talks so fast, I look up and she is walking away again.
"When do we start?" I yelled to her.
She turned back to me and she looked like she was shocked. Then she did something totally unexpected and it was my turn to be shocked. She reached up and hugged me. I was stunned. I don't know, maybe because I hadn't really had any physical contact except for my family or sparring in the gym in over three years. I was totally caught off guard. She started to pull back when I put my arms around her and hugged her back. Her elbow length red hair smelled like vanilla frosting and the way the sun brought out the strawberry streaks and made her freckles on her cheeks show was really nice.
I stepped back and said "Of course I will help you. You don't have to pay me. You make the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. I would be happy to help you. When do you want to start?"
She seemed happy that I like her hot chocolate and we decided to start first thing tomorrow morning. I told her to meet me at the track at 5pm and to wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. After we parted I went to my office in the gym to prepare for my first class. I will see her tomorrow and…I don't know…I have a good feeling about this
So, I don't know. I thought I'd give it a try. Please let me know what you think. Thanks, Jo.
