*WARNING – This story contains unsettling topics such as domestic abuse and rape*

Disclaimer: I do not own VA. If you recognize something, it probably isn't mine.

Rose POV

"Rose, there's a bloke at the door." I tear my eyes off the sleeping infant in my arms and I momentarily reenter reality. It's so easy to get lost in her cute little face. Jeremy's words register in my mind as I notice him standing in the doorway of my bedroom. He's nervous and trying to act nonchalant, but he's failing miserably. This can't be good. "He says his name is Eric."

I can feel the blood drain from my face instantly. I carefully stand and place my little angel in her crib. "I'll take care of it."

He grabs my arm as I try to pass him. "You don't have to go, Rose. You and Lennox could stay here for as long as you want. Say the word and I'll get rid of that guy."

I give him a small smile. "I appreciate it, Jeremy, really." And I do. He took me in when no one else would and he kept both of us safe. "I will always be grateful, but-"

"But it's time to go home?" he asks softly. I nod slightly and he smiles. "I understand." Before I know what I'm even doing, I throw my arms around him in a bone crushing hug. For once I'm actually speechless, so I settle on kissing his cheek to say the words I can't speak. I look between him and my baby for a second before he once again saves me. "I'll pack up her things. Go."

I give him one of my dazzling grins before I walk downstairs towards the one and only Eric Dragomir.

The Dragomirs have been my family for as long as I remember. I met Lissa in kindergarten when I threw a book at our teacher and ever since we've been best friends. Her family sort of took me in as one of their own when my mother was out of town, which was pretty much all the time. When I ran away I knew they'd take it hard and I always thought they'd look for me, but I never really expected them to track me down.

Looks like I was wrong.

"Rose, is that really you?" Eric demands as soon as I walk out the front door.

Some people never change. "Hello, Mr. Dragomir," I respond teasingly. He always hated it when I called him that.

Surprisingly, he laughs wholeheartedly at my antics before pulling me into a hug. When he finally lets me go, he asks the words I've dreaded for over a year. "Are you ready to come home?"

"It's, um… It's complicated," I reply. It sounds so lame, I know, but I don't know how else to put it. He crosses his arms in front of him and waits for a more solid explanation. He deserves so much more than that, all the Dragomirs do, I just don't know how to put it into words. "I…"

"Is it the boy who opened the door?"

What? Where would he get that idea? "No." He looks towards me in disbelief and I have no choice but to ignore it. "I… I have someone I'd like you to meet."

He gives me an encouraging smile as I lead him through the small house to my room. I quietly slip inside and my eyes are greeted by the startling blue orbs of my now awake daughter. She's sitting in her crib, just waiting patiently for me to hold her in my arms. My little angel. "Mr. Dragomir," I proudly say when I open the door for him, "I want you to meet Lennox."

I don't really know what I was expecting. Anger. A damnation to hell. Maybe some shouting. Whatever it was, it didn't happen. He didn't give me a look of disgust or ask any questions. Instead, he gives my little girl the trademark Dragomir smile.

I know everything's going to be okay.

"She looks just like you, Rose." I can't help it. I grin at his words.

I never thought I would be accepted.

If I had known it would have been like this, I would have never run away.

"I can't do this," I admit as soon as we pull into the driveway. Butterflies swirl in my stomach and I suddenly can't breathe. This isn't normal.

I should just go back.

I should have never thought I could come back here.

Eric smiles at me encouragingly before he gets out of the car. I follow pursuit, carefully unbuckling a sleeping Lennox's car seat and look over to Eric who has grabbed our bags.

"Welcome home, Rose," he grins before heading inside.

I take a few deep breathes before following him. I have no doubt that my best friend is on the other side of the door just waiting to pounce.

Andre's probably there, too, and Rhea.

My family.

Maybe I can do this.

With one more deep breath, I find the courage to walk to the door and see what awaits us.

Just like I thought, the Dragomirs are waiting for me.

Lissa grins as she screams my name and throws herself towards me. I somehow manage to put the car seat down before she reaches me. "Rose, I've missed you so much!"

I wrap my arms around her small, thin body. "I know, Liss. I've missed you, too!"

"Lissa," Rhea interrupts, "it's my turn!" My best friend reluctantly lets me go before her mother steps forward to hug me. "Never run off like that again, Rose."

"I won't."

"Promise me."

I fake a dramatic sigh and pretend to contemplate it as Rhea lets me go and playfully glares at me. "I promise, Rhea." She gives me a warm smile before walking towards her husband.

The only person left is the one and only Andre Dragomir. Things were a little awkward between us, or at least, I've always felt that way. Don't get me wrong, I love Andre, but he's always been a player. As we got older, he would hit on me or just stare at me.

He wasn't the only one.

It seemed like every guy did it and it was nice, back then, to be noticed. But not anymore.

I don't think I can handle it.

Andre starts to run his neck to relieve some of the awkward tension in the air. "Rose," he tells me, "you're looking good."

"Thanks," I quickly reply.

"Hey, um, Rose?" Lissa asks. Thank God! "Aren't you forgetting to introduce us to someone?" She gestures to my sleeping daughter and I smile.

I lean down and pick her up without waking her. "Dragomirs, this is Lennox Hathaway, my daughter."

Lissa and Rhea rust forward, both with large smiles on their faces, to see the newest member of the family. Eric grins from where he stands and Andre… Andre doesn't move. I don't even think he blinks.

That can't be healthy.

"She's beautiful, Rose!" Lissa exclaims. Rhea agrees quickly, and just like that, Lennox and I are a part of the family.

It's almost like I never left.

Almost.

"I'll take your stuff up to your room," Eric volunteers as he comes back towards us. Andre offers to do it instead and I internally cringe. He grabs my bags as the rest of the Dragomirs give me another hug. "Get some sleep, Rose. Tomorrow you're going back to the academy."

What?

The academy?

No.

I can't go back there.

I-

I can't.

Fuck.

A/N: Hey guys! I've been MIA for the last few years, but I realized how badly I missed both writing and all of you wonderful readers. I've had this story partially written since 2014 and I thought it was finally time to get back on here. My updates will not be the most frequent. I'm a junior in university with two part time jobs, a teaching apprenticeship, two shows to assistant stage manage, and a full load of classes. But I have the entire story mapped out, so I will try my hardest to get you updates when I have the time.

As always, leave a review.

-V.M.