Disclaimer!: I do not own the characters of VA. I only use them to play.
A/N: Well this is my first published Fanfic. I know it isn't very good but I hope you all like it! Please Review! 3 With much Love, Izabella 3
With Every Kiss.
Rose was in an abusive relationship. Dimitri just got out of a bad one. What happens when the two of them meet at a bar one night? Rated M for a reason people! Abuse and Lemons! You have been warned! R/D One shot!
Lissa: "So what are you gonna do Rose? You can't let Jesse get away with this."
Rose: "I know but... I love him... What am I supposed to do?" She absent mindedly rubs her bruses.
Lissa: "I don't know sweetie but I do know if he ever puts his hands on you in front of me I WILL hurt him."
Rose: "I know you will Liss..." Tears start falling from Rose's eyes.
Lissa: "I love you and you know that. But I have to get to work. I'll call you later and we can go out. Okay?"
Rose: "I love you too Liss... Okay... I'll see you later..." Rose said in a small voice.
They hugged eachother goodbye and Lissa left the coffee shop. Rose finished her coffee and stood up to leave when she saw Jesse.
'Oh please don't let him see me... Please...' She thought to herself.
Jesse: "Rose! What are you doing here?"
Rose: "I was having coffee with Lissa before she went to work. Where I thought you were..." Rose figited with her sleeve. 'If only people knew what horrible things were under these sleeves...' She thought.
Jesse: "I was just heading to work. Can we go outside and talk for some privacy please?"
Rose: "Um... Sure..." She hesitated.
They walked outside and around the corner of the building.
Jesse: "What the fuck are you doing hanging out with Lissa? How many times do I have to tell you that I do NOT want you hanging out with her?" He yelled with spit flying in her face.
Rose: "Jesse she's my best friend... I've known her since first grade... Please... Please stop... Please don't do this..." She started to cry.
Jesse: "I don't give a flying fuck how long you've known her. I don't want her in you're life!"
Rose: "But why?... What did Liss ever do to you?..."
Jesse: "I just don't like the fucking bitch. And don't question me!" He slapped her across the face.
Rose: "Please! I'm sorry!..." She cried out.
People started looking in their direction.
Jesse: "We'll finish this conversation after I get home. Now go home and do not text that bitch Lissa."
Rose: "Okay Jesse... I wont..."
Jesse: "Good."
Jesse walked off and Rose walked the other way. When she got home she walked into their bedroom and started to pack. She was going to do it. She was going to leave. She packed enough for a few days and headed to Lissa's. She knew Christian would be home and he would let her in. She left Lissa a text saying she was going to her house. When she got there Christian opened the door to a crying Rose.
Christian: "Rose oh my god are you okay? What's wrong?"
Rose: "I need a place to stay for a few days... I need to get away from Jesse... Please... Can I please stay here?..."
Christian: "He hit you again didn't he..." He stated not asked.
Rose: "yes..." She cried harder.
Christian: "Come here sweetie." He pulled her in and hugged her.
Even though they act like they hate eachothers guts, she's like his sister.
Rose: "I don't know what to do Chris... I love him... But look..." She pulled up her sleeves.
Christian gasped.
Christian: "What the fuck? Where is that worthless asshole?" He was pissed now. Fierious.
Rose: "He's at work... I left when he left..."
Christian: "Good. Come on. Lets go put you're stuff in the guest room."
They unpacked everything and Rose decided to take a bubble bath and relax.
Later that day.
Lissa: "Baby I'm home! Where are you?"
Christian: "In the livingroom babe!"
Lissa walked into the livingroom. Christian and Rose were watching TV.
Lissa: "Rose what are you doing here?"
Rose: "He was at the coffee shop... He ran into me right after you left... He slapped me in the face for hanging out with you... So I left..." She started to cry for the tenth time today.
Lissa: "Aww! Sweetheart I'm so sorry!" She ran over to Rose and hugged her tight.
Rose: "It's not you're fault Liss... But lets go get drunk... I need to be numb..."
Lissa: "Okay sweetie lets go get dressed. Baby do you want to come with? In case Jesse shows up?"
Christian: "Yeah. If he hits either one of you he'll be on a hospital bed."
Lissa: "Aww you're so sexy when you're protective." She winked and smiled.
Rose: "Not to ruin anything for you guys... But... Abused girl crying her eyes out here... I don't need to add throwing up from you're gooshyness to it..."
Everyone laughed.
Lissa: "Okay. Lets go get dressed!"
They all got dressed and headed to their favorite bar called "The Red Lion Pub". Once inside they sat at their booth and the bartender Eddie walked up.
Eddie: "Hey guys. What can I get for you today?"
Lissa: "Hey Eddie! I want a Martini please."
Christian: "Bud Light please."
Eddie: "What about you Rose?"
Rose: "Vodka please."
Eddie: "Okay I'll be right back with you're drinks. Hey sis are you okay?"
Rose: "I'm fine... Jesse hit me again... So I left... I'm staying with Lissa and Christian..."
Eddie: "Does he not realize that you're big brother WILL kill him? If he shows up tonight he's dead. I'm sorry Rose I know you love him but he's dead. NO ONE touches my little sister!"
Rose: "I know Ed... I know... Just please keep an eye out for him... He hates when I hang out with Liss... Trust me... I got slapped for it this morning..."
Eddie: "WHAT?"
Random costumer: "Hey! Can we get some service please?"
Eddie: "I'll be right there sir! Hey sis I'll be back I have to go get this assholes order then grab yours. Love you. Cheer up. You're safe. I promise."
Rose: "I know Bubba. I know... Love you too."
Eddie walked over to the other table. A few minutes later he brought them their drinks. Rose downed hers and asked for another one.
An hour later.
Rose was on her 8th glass of Vodka. She was gone.
Lissa: "Rose? Are you okay?"
Rose: "I'm fine! I just can't feel ANYTHING!" She says loudly and laughs.
Eddie: "Rose are you alright? Do I need to get you home?"
Rose: "NO! Please please please don't make me go home... PLEASE!" She starts crying hard like she's terrified.
Eddie: "Shit..."
Eddie runs to their booth.
Eddie: "Hey. Hey. Rose. I didn't mean Jesse's house. I meant Lissa's. Hey. I would never make you go back there. I promise. Come here." He pulled her close and hugged her tight. "It's okay Rose. It's okay. Stop crying. You're safe. I promise."
Lissa: "Um. I think I need to get Christian home. He's gone. Do you want me to take Rose too? Or do you want her to stay here with you and you can bring her to the house when you get off?"
Rose: "I want to stay with Eddie... Eddie please let me stay with you..."
Eddie: "She can stay here Liss."
Lissa: "Okay. I'll see you later Rose."
Rose: "Bye Lissa!" Rose yelled.
Eddie: "Okay Rose come sit up at the bar Okay? Please stay up here."
Rose: "Okay."
They walked up to the bar and Rose asked for a glass of water. Eddie gave it to her and she chugged it. She looked around the room and then at the guy next to her. He was HOT!
Rose: "Hey." She tried to smile.
Mr. Hottie: "Hello." He said with a frown on his face.
Rose: "Are you okay?"
Mr. Hottie: "No. But I'll be fine."
Rose: "Are you sure? You look like you're really upset."
Mr. Hottie: "Well so do you. So what's wrong with you?"
Rose: "Life."
Mr. Hottie: "Same here... Hey Eddie can I get another one?"
Eddie: "Sure Dimitri. Russian Vodka right?"
Dimitri: "Yes please."
'Oh my god will you listen to that beautiful Russian accent.' Rose thought.
Rose: "I like you're accent!" She blurted before she could stop herself. "Oops! Sorry."
Dimitri: "It's fine. And thank you." He said and laughed.
'Oh my god I love his laugh.' She thought.
Rose: "I'm Rose. Eddie's my brother."
Dimitri: "I'm Dimitri. And I know. I heard you two talking."
Rose: "Wait... That means you heard me freaking out..." She got worried.
Dimitri: "Yeah. But it's okay. It happens when you're drunk and scared of something. So what happened anyway? If I may ask."
Rose: "Um... It's a long story..." She chewed on her lip.
Dimitri: "I like long stories."
Rose: "Well... It's about my boyfriend... Well... I guess I should say EX boyfriend..."
Dimitri: "He hits you doesn't he?"
Rose: "How did you know?"
Dimitri: "You're wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer. Plus you're covered from head to toe. Most beautiful girls like you show off their bodies."
Rose: "Wow..."
Dimitri: "So I take that as I was right?"
Rose: "Yes..."
Dimitri: "Well it's good that you left him then. No woman should be beaten up. He's not a man. He's a little boy."
Rose: "That's what Eddie says."
Dimitri: "Well you're brother is a smart man."
Rose: "Wait. How do you now Eddie other than the whole bartender thing?"
Dimitri: "We were in High school together. I was two years behind him. But we were in ROTC together. Well before he quit ROTC."
Rose: "OH! Now I remember seeing you at the functions. You were the transfer student. I was a Freshmen when you were a Sophmore."
Dimitri: "Yeah."
Rose: "Well I told you what was wrong with me. Will you tell me what's wrong with you?"
Dimitri: "Me and my girlfriend of three years just split up... She cheated on me.. I left."
Rose: "Oh I'm so sorry to hear that!"
Dimitri: "It's fine. We weren't really happy anyway."
Rose: "Then why are you upset?"
Dimitri: "I just waisted three years of my life."
Rose: "Oh."
Dimitri: "Yeah." They both laugh.
Eddie: "Rose I just found out I have to stay until morning... Do you want me to call you a cab or something?"
Rose: "No I can just stay here... I don't want to be out alone..."
Dimitri: "Do you want me to take her Eddie? I'm not sober enough to drive but I can ride in the cab with her. Unless you want me to take her to the appartment instead."
Rose: "Wait... You're his new roommate?"
Eddie: "Yeah. We kept in touch after school. He needed a place to live cheap and I needed a roommate."
Rose: "Oh..."
Dimitri: "Yeah. So?"
Eddie: "Rose will you feel safer at Lissa's or my place? Jesse doesn't know where I live... And I would feel better if you were with someone bigger than Christian." He laughed.
Rose: "Will I be safe at you're place?" She asked Eddie looking at Dimiti out of the corner of her eye.
Eddie: "Yes Rose you will be safe with Dimitri. He's a good guy. I trust him."
Rose: "Okay... As long as you trust him... But where would I sleep? You only have two bedrooms..."
Eddie: "You can sleep in my room. And yes before you ask my bed is clean."
They all laugh.
Rose: "Okay. Night Ed. Love you."
Eddie: "Night Rose. Love you too." They hugged eachother. "Hey Dimitri. Keep my baby sister safe."
Dimitri: "I will Eddie. Goodnight."
They caught a cab and headed to Dimitri and Eddie's appartment. Rose checked her phone. Twenty three text messages from Jesse and ten missed calls. Now she was really scared.
Dimitri: "Hey. What's wrong Roza?"
Rose: "Roza?"
Dimitri: "It's Russian for Rose."
Rose: "Oh..."
Dimitri: "Yes. So you didn't answer my question. What's wrong?"
Rose: "Oh... Yeah..." She handed him her phone.
Dimitri: "What the hell?" He started speaking in Russian. Rose guessed it was so that she didn't know what he was saying."
Rose: "What did you say?"
Dimitri: "Oh. I was just saying... Wow he's possesive."
Rose: "Don't lie... You can tell me the truth..."
Dimitri: "Okay... I said what a dick. How is he going to treat such a beautiful, amazing girl like this? It's fucked up and horrible. Why did you ever even date him?"
Rose: "I met him in my Senior year of High school. He was the guy every girl wanted. He was sweet to me at first... Then he started yelling... Then six months ago he started hitting me... Just little slaps at first... Then full on fists and-"
Dimitri: "Okay please stop. I get it." He put his hand up to silence her.
Rose: "Sorry..."
Dimitri: "You don't have to apologize to me."
The cab stopped before Rose could answer him. They got out and Dimitri paid the cab driver.
Dimitri: "Thank you."
Cab driver: "No problem. Thats a beautiful girl you have there."
Dimitri: "Oh she's not my girl."
Cab driver: "Damn. Thats too bad."
Dimitri closed the cab door and they headed up the steps. Dimitri unlocked the appartment door and put a hand out for Rose to go first.
Dimitri: "Ladies first."
Rose: "Thanks..."
They went inside and Rose plopped down on the couch. She had been here alot before Jesse started hitting her and pushing everyone out of her life. Before he became controlling.
Dimitri: "Hey. Are you hungry? Have you eaten yet?"
Rose: "A little... But I don't want to eat you're food..."
Dimitri: "Well guess what. Drinking on an empty stomache isn't a very good idea. So. I'm making food for me anyway. I'll just make extra and either you can eat it, or it can be put in the fridge where it will go bad and I end up throwing it away." He said in a teasing tone.
Rose: "Are you trying to guilt me into eating?" She laughed.
Dimitri: "Depends. Is it working?"
Rose: "A little bit.. Maybe.." She smiled.
Dimitri: "There we go. Theres that beautiful smile." He smiled back.
Rose: "Okay fine. I'll eat."
Dimitri: "Good. Because if you didn't I would be forced to tell you're brother." He stuck his tongue out at her.
Rose: "Hey I'm Twenty one. He can't make me do anything I don't want. And I'm too old to get spankens... Well from my brother anyway." They both laughed.
Dimitri: "Okay. How does frozen Pizza sound? It's easy, quick and very good."
Rose: "Oooo yummy."
Dimitri headed into the kitchen and grabbed a Pizza out of the freezer. He set the oven to pre heat and went back into the livingroom. Where he found Rose crying.
Dimitri: "Roza. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Rose: "Look at my phone... He texted again... He knew I was at the bar..."
Dimitri: "Did he follow you or something?" He looked at the phone.
'Rose I swear if you really got drunk and left with some guy I will find you. You think I've been bad so far? Just wait until you get home. You're such a whore! Who would leave a bar with some random guy when they have a great one at home waiting for them? Fucking SLUT! The longer you take to get home the worse it will be when you finally do!'
Dimitri: "Wow. Now he's threatening you over text? And calling you names? Yeah now I understand why Eddie hates his guts." He started talking in Russian again and started pacing.
Rose: "Dimitri... Please calm down..." She started crying harder.
Dimitri instantly stopped pacing and slowly walked over to her. She flinched.
Dimitri: "I'm sorry Roza. Am I scaring you? I'm not trying to. I just want nothing more then to beat his ass up and keep him away from you. I'm sorry for scaring you Roza."
Rose: "It's... F-fi-fine..." She managed between sobs.
Dimitri sat down next to her and pulled her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and started shhing.
Dimitri: "It's okay Roza. You're safe. I wont let anything happen to you. I promise."
Rose: "I... K-kn-know..."
They sat like that for what seemed like hours. Dimitri had made the Pizza and they both ate it. Rose wanted to lay down so Dimitri showed her Eddie's room. apparently they had switched. Dimitri headed to his room after making sure she was okay and put on his flannel pajama pants. He was laying in bed when his door creaked.
Rose: "Dimitri?... Are you awake?..."
Dimitri: "Yes Roza. What's wrong?"
Rose: "I'm too scared to sleep alone... I know this is weird... But I feel safe when you're around... Can I sleep with you tonight?..." She was silently crying.
Dimitri: "Of course Roza."
Rose: "Thank you..." She crawled into his bed and layed down.
Dimitri covered her up and layed back on one of the pillows.
Rose: "Dimitri?..." She whispered.
Dimitri: "Yes Roza?" He whispered back.
Rose: "You told me my name in Russian. What's yours?..."
Dimitri: "Dimka."
Rose: "Dimka..." She whispered.
Dimitri smiled hearing it come out of her mouth. He loved the way it sounded.
Rose scooted back and rolled over so she was facing him.
Rose: "Dimitri?..." She whispered again.
Dimitri: "Yes Roza." He said laughing.
Rose: "Can I cuddle with you?... You don't have to say yes... It's just a question..."
Dimitri: "Yes Roza. You may."
Rose snuggled up to him. She sighed in contentment.
Dimitri just watched her. He couldn't help but smile. It was like he never wanted her to move. He never wanted her to leave this place. She fit so perfectly.
Dimitri: "Roza?..." He whispered.
Rose: "Yes Dimitri?" She silently giggled.
Dimitri: "May I ask you something?"
Rose: "Sure. Ask me anything."
Dimitri: "May I... Nevermind..."
Rose: "May you what? Come on. Tell me." 'Please say may I kiss you. Please say may I kiss you.' She chanted in her head.
Dimitri: "May I... May I kiss you?..." He hesitated.
Rose: "Of course Comrade."
Dimitri: "Comrade?" He asked lifting his brow.
'I wonder how he does that and if he could teach me that...' She thought.
Rose: "I don't know. It just feels like it fits I guess."
Dimitri: "Okay. Comrade it is then." He said smiling.
Rose: "Soooo... I thought you wanted to kiss me."
Dimitri: "I do. I have all night."
Rose: "Well then do i-"
Dimitri's lips lightly touched hers silencing her words. She slipped both hands into his shoulder length brown hair and kissed him back. He kissed her softly and pulled back.
Rose: "Wow."
Dimitri: "What?" He smiled.
Rose: "No one has ever kissed me that sweetly before."
Dimitri: "Really?"
Rose: "Yeah... Jesse always was rough... Always... He never made anything sweet or romantic..."
Dimitri: "Well I always make things sweet and romantic. As should every other guy. I mean yes, occasionally things are allowed to get rough but only if both parties agree." He softly rubbed his hand up and down her arm.
Rose: "I agree.." She smiled a bit.
Dimitri: "Roza? May I kiss you again?"
Rose didn't even answer him. She just slowly leaned closer and softly kissed him. He licked her bottom lip asking for enterence. Rose slightly opened her lips and let him in. He tasted so good. He explored her mouth for a minute and pulled away. He kissed from her lips to her ear slowly. Giving her time to protest. He continued down to her neck and left trails of soft kisses. Rose sighed. Dimitri pulled away.
Dimitri: "I'm sorry."
Rose: "Why?"
Dimitri: "I didn't mean to go to far."
Rose: "You didn't."
Dimitri: "Then why did you sigh?"
Rose: "Because... I liked it..."
Dimitri: "Oh. Okay." He smiled a little bit.
He kissed her softly again. This time without asking. She didn't pull away so he kept going.
Dimitri: "Roza if at any point I go too far just tell me and I'll stop. I promise."
Rose: "Okay."
She pulled his face to hers again. They kissed and his lips trailed down to her neck again. He softly nipped the skin on her neck. She groaned. Rose pulled his head up and kissed from his lips to his ear and gently nipped his earlobe getting a soft moan out of him.
Dimitri: "I wouldn't do that if I were you Roza."
Rose: "Did I find a spot?" She smirked.
Dimitri: "Yes you did. The biggest one at that."
Rose nipped it again. He growled.
Rose: "If I go too far. Tell me. Okay?"
Dimitri: "I highly doubt you can go farther then I honestly want right now Roza."
Rose: "Mmm really?"
Dimitri: "Yes."
Rose: "Me too." She said in a teasing tone.
Dimitri: "Really?" He looked up at her.
Rose: "Yes. Can I honestly tell you something?"
Dimitri: "Of course Roza. You can tell me anything."
Rose: "He hasn't done anything sexual with me in a year... And he wont let me do it myself... He's torturing me... All because he is sleeping with alot of girls... So he doesn't need it from me..."
Dimitri: "You're kidding right?"
Rose: "No... Sadly I'm not..."
Dimitri: "Wow. He's a dick. You deserve so much better Roza."
Rose: "Are you sure about that?"
Dimitri: "Yes Roza. Please. Can I show you what you truly deserve? How you should truly be treated?"
Rose: "Yes. Please."
Dimitri kissed her softly and sat both of them up. He slowly pulled her long sleeve shirt off and and gasped at her tits. Rose smiled. She knew that would happen. She mimicked him and pulled his T-shirt off. Her jaw dropped. He was gorgeous. He had the body of a God. Muscular arms, abs, that V she loves on men. 'Wow.' She thought. He pulled her attention back to him and started making out with her. She pulled away and kissed up his face to his ear again and nipped it. He growled and rolled them over. Careful not to put all of his weight on her. He kissed from her forehead, down her face, down her neck, down her chest and stopped at the space between her breasts. He kissed the left one softly and lightly licked her nipple making her jerk. He lightly pinched the other nipple. Then he switched. lightly kissing the right one and licking it and softly pinching the left. She moaned a little. He started moving slowly again. Leaving soft hot trails down her belly. Her eyes fluttered closed. He kissed down her left leg all the way to her toes. Then did the same to the right leg. He came back up and kissed her left arm from her shoulder to her finger tips. Then did the same to her right. He came back to her lips and kissed her softly again.
Rose: "Dimitri?"
Dimitri: "Yes my Roza?"
Rose: "Will you have sex with me?"
Dimitri: "Of course my beauty."
Dimitri went down and pulled down the sweat pants he let her borrow. Then stood up and and threw them to the floor. He glanced at her to make sure she was serious. She nodded as if knowing what he was asking. He pulled down her panties and smiled at the beautiful image in front of him. She sat up and crawled to the foot of the bed. She pulled at the band at the top of his Pajama pants as if asking him. He nodded. She pulled them and his boxers off. He spang to attention. 'Oh my god!' She thought. Her jaw dropped and she gasped.
Dimitri: "Is everything okay Roza?"
Rose: "Yes. I'm just going to have to adjust."
Dimitri: "We'll go slow Roza. I promise."
Rose: "I trust you."
Dimitri smiled and walked to the bedside table. He opened it and pulled out a condom. He layed it on the bed and then climbed up the foot. He bent her knees and lowered his head. He slipped one finger in slowly. 'Oh God she's tight' He thought. He slowly pulled out and back in. He let his tongue slide over her sensitive spot and slowly started to eat her out. She knotted her fingers in his hair. She started to moan. He started to move his fingers and tongue at a faster pace. She moaned more and her fist tightened in his hair. He kept eating her out for a few more minutes until she pulled him up and started kissing him hard.
Rose: "Dimitri... Please."
Dimitri sat up and picked up the condom. He opened it and slid it on. He slowly lowered himself giving her another chance to protest but she just bit her lip and closed her eyes waiting for the slight pain. He let the tip slowly slide in and she gasped. He waited a few seconds and let a little more slide in. She wimpered for a minute until the pain faded. He slid a little more in and this time she pushed him. She cried out in pain.
Dimitri: "It's okay Roza. It will only hurt for a minute. It's okay Baby."
Rose stopped wimpering and started shifting uncomfortably. Dimitri slowly started moving in and out. Rose winced at first but then started to moan.
Rose: "Faster Dimitri."
Dimitri started moving faster. He was slowly getting deeper and deeper. Her body adjusting to his size.
Dimitri: "Roza. You're so tight."
Rose moaned and grabbed his face. She pulled him in for a kiss and let go.
Rose: "Dimitri." She moaned.
Dimitri: "Roza." He moaned back.
Rose felt her stomache lightly tightening. Wanted the relief she started rocking her hips in time with his.
Dimitri: "Rose. I want you ontop of me."
He rolled them over so that she was ontop. She slid him back inside her. Easier now that she was so wet. She started bouncing fast. Seeking her release.
Dimitri: "Roza. Roza please cum for me."
Rose: "I'm so close." She moaned.
Dimitri reached between their bodies and started rubbing her clit as she bounced. He put his other hand on her hip and gripped it.
Rose: "Dimitri I'm so close."
Dimitri: "Cum for me my Roza. Cum for me please." He felt himself getting really close.
He rubbed her clit faster. He removed his hand from her hip and sat up to suck and nibble her nipple. Rose moaned loud. He bucked against her bouncing motions.
Rose: "Dimitriiiii!" She cried out his name as she felt her orgasm hit.
Dimitri kept moving seeking his release and letting her ride out her orgasm.
Dimitri: "Roza!" He called out when his hit.
They both fell limp. Both panting. Rose rolled off of him and layed next to him on the bed. She looked at him and smiled.
Dimitri: "What?"
Rose: "What now?"
Dimitri: "What do you mean what now?"
Rose: "I mean what happens now?"
Dimitri: "I don't know. But I do know I will always protect you. And I never want to see you with any other man. I just can't. I know this is very odd but... I feel like you're mine."
Rose: "Me too... I feel like you've always been mine. I don't know why though..."
Dimitri: "Maybe it's just meant to be. Who knows."
Rose: "Maybe you're right."
Dimitri: "Be mine... Leave Jesse... And just be mine... I'll always keep you safe. I promise. You will always be safe my Roza."
Rose: "I will be yours. And I know I'm safe with you. I trust you Comrade." She smiled up at him.
They lay in bed cuddling and fell asleep in their own personal Heaven. Safe and Happy.
A/N: Sooo tell me what you thought and if you think I should make it a full blown story or keep it as a one shot in a Review! All opinions welcome! Thank you SO much for reading! 3