Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

Author's note: I actually had a friend do what I wrote with Zak, Rose, and Abe. And the child just turned 4 a couple of weeks ago and he took it just like I wrote.

Chapter 2- 4 years later

Shortly after Zak Ashton Mazur was born, dad and I decided it was best if we say he was my younger brother in public but in private amongst friends and him, he was my son. It was mainly because Baba had money and if we say he was mine, people knew I was taken and would know I was raped and all my friends and he was doing all they can so it would not get out. All Baba had to say he put his emotions with one-night stands and he was a result. Nevertheless, we just told Zak I was his sister, deciding when the time was right we would tell him, which happened when he turned four and we explained why which was incredibly hard to do to a 4 year old. However, he quickly started calling me mommy and Baba grandpa or Dede. We both thought this was good; it gave me time to get use to men more. My friends were able to hug me and some men that I have gotten to know were able to get a few feet to me but a stranger? No, you could just forget it. Sydney and Adrian were expecting their first child, she was only 7 months but we do not know the sex of the baby, they did not want to know.

I got my own apartment when Zak turned three. It was a two-bedroom apartment, Zak lived with Baba until I was able to handle living on my own and after Adrian, Mason, Eddie, and Lissa all helped me paint, organize, or move things inside the room that was his. I could only afford an apartment with one bathroom and the place itself was small but doable to live in. No one still knew what happened there, wasn't a trail because the man was dead and the cops asked questions but only when everyone was out of the room. At least they had tried; I would not speak to them.

Lissa and Christian live in the apartment building next door that was, basically, a continuation of this building. Lissa and I both work at a night club that Baba help built and owned with us. You would think I made a lot of money and I do, but most of it goes for Zak, food, bills, and clothing. Christian works for us as a bartender, Mason and Eddie are the security; Sydney and Adrian are bartenders sometimes but had jobs of their own. This place is runed by all of the friends. We hired a few outsiders during weeknights or when we needed a fill in but most every night we have six, above 18, high schoolers that work as waiters. 3 waitress; Jill, Mia, Lexi and 3 waiters; Cameron, Andrew, Evan we wanted to keep the waiters matched so we had the flow of males and females 'interested' to keep coming here. All waiters understand the drunken tendencies as we warn them and had them practice on night and they were perfectly okay with it.

All the waiters come from the same school and pretty much come straight from school here, do homework clean and hanging out. We like them doing schoolwork because as high schoolers Baba wanted to make sure they were still passing classes, he actually had me fire two employees because they were failing a class or classes for weeks and could not bring up the grade. That had them in good sync with each other as they worked and the atmosphere with the workers were fantastic, they hang out with us most of the time because we were all working together all the time.

Since I was one of the main owners, I rarely leave my office during business hours. I come out only when needed, to help behind the bar if there was an overflow of 'clients.' Lissa helps with waitressing a lot of the time. Back to my office, my office was sound proof so I could not hear any of the music being played and I thank that. I had a small bed in the corner or the room for Zak to sleep in, I have multiple locks on my office door, and only Lissa, Adrian, and Baba had keys to every single lock on the door. Anything could happen in a bar and I was more than prepared for it. Shortly after Zak was born and I got all my body mass back I started working out, taking different defense classes, and to go with the defense classes I had my own trainer in the area. Attacking me and helping me use the moves I learned on someone in different ways from how he attacked me. Nick was his name and he understood where I was coming from with not wanting people to touch me as he sat down one day before we actually started asking why I wanted him as a trainer.

My response was "I was 16 when I was kidnapped. I stayed there for year before I was finally found. He raped me repeatedly and now I have a child by him. I just want to learn how to use the moves I am learning on someone that is bigger, stronger than I am. The class is all girls and I do not have problems with touching girls or beating them up. It's the men." The whole time Nick listened and nods asking question after question about moves I knew and how far along I was in the defense classes so he knew where to pick up. He said that I probably needed to work out longer and harder to become stronger and fast in my movements when fighting with him. He promised repeatedly that he was not going to truly hurt me and always remember that when we were fighting. In addition, it had helped, he has been my trainer ever since. Well now, I help him teach more often than not for movements when needed, you can never have enough money.

Zak and I were now on our way home. Late at night as always and he fell asleep. I placed him in his car seat and drove to the apartment buildings quickly. When we got there, I picked him up holding him in front of me with his head on my shoulder as he mumbled tiredly about being awake and wanted to sleep. It was midnight, so I knew no one would be in the hallways. As I stepped up to my door, I started looking for my keys and ran into someone. Gasping I quickly back away a few feet, well more than a few feet.

"I am so sorry." I finally looked up to this tall man. Shoulder length brown hair, brown chocolate eyes, and he was muscular. I shallow; he was intimidating I moved Zak so he was on my hip unconsciously protecting him from the man. The man made a funny face before he glared and I glared back. He was standing in front of my apartment door so I couldn't get passed him in any way.

"Um, you're kind of in the way of me entering my home. Can you move?" He looked at the door next to him and nods. Moving slightly over, enough space for me to squeeze through but for me it was not enough.

"Can you move more?" I guess he could tell I was terrified and he moved. As I unlocked the door, the man stepped more down the hall before stopping.

"I am Dimitri, your new neighbor." He inclined his head to the door that was in front of mine; I nod and turn to him.

"Hi. I am Rose and this sleeping boy in my son Zak. Welcome to the building but I should really put him to bed." He nods and walks away while I stepped into my apartment. Once I shut the door I breathed a sigh of relief and walked Zak to his bedroom, undressed him, and dressed him in his red pajamas. I kissed his forehead and went to my room to sleep.

I woke up to Zak next to me in bed cuddling to my side. I started to run my fingers in his hair that he got from the Mazur side. Zak had a mixture of my dark olive skin to his father's pale olive skin. Zak had his father's eyes thank god though; I did not see a trace of his fathers 'evil eyes'. Zak had this sort of innocence that neither his father nor I had. He had a puppy dogface you want to give him anything he wanted, when he asked. I kissed his forehead and climbed out of bed, realizing he only comes in my bed when he hears me having a nightmare. Which are most nights, he just knows mommy is scared and needs someone with her. I pulled my waist length hair into a ponytail and started making Zak some breakfast. Eggs, toast, and his choice or orange juice or milk. By time, I finished and cleaned the dishes that I cooked in. Zak walked in rubbing his eyes and almost in a zombie like state sat in his usual chair to eat. I grabbed a mug and made myself Hot Chocolate with a doughnut. Watching him clean his plate and placed it in the sink then walked off. I knew better than say anything in the morning as much like his mom he was not a morning person. He came back; we changed our clothes and sat in the living room as I cleaned more and took my shower then joined him on the couch.

At about lunchtime there was knock in the door, I peeked through the peephole. Dimitri and another man with brownish blonde hair and blues eyes next him. I unlocked all the locks and opened the door.

"Hello?" I opened it slightly and leaned against the door, so they really only saw me, not the baseball bat that was next to me. I was never taking any chances ever again.

"Yes. Hi. We are your new neighbors from across the hall… I am Ivan." The man, Ivan stuck his hand and I stared at it. Zak decided to make an appearance, glared at Ivan's hand, and decided to open his mouth. Which helped but I did not want the random men looking at me as if I was crazy.

"Mommy doesn't like to be touched." Ivan dropped his hand, smiled at Zak and kneeled down to his level.

"I am Ivan, what is your name?"

"Zak." Ivan looked up at me and smiled. I was still slightly alarmed but I knew most men would not try anything with a child involved.

"Your son is cute." I just nod. "Anyways…" He let it brought probably noticing I was not going to talk yet until they tell why they are at my door. "We kind of got locked out. Can we use your phone to call the building tenant?" I looked down at Zak then back at the men. Slowly nodding and opening the door. They both stepped in.

Both of them glancing around before I shut locked, and bolted the door closed. Zak came back with the phone. "Here." Then walked away to finish watching his cartoons. I stayed with Dimitri and Ivan even though I was terrified now. Ivan made the call with Dimitri looking around but not moving.

"Husband not home?" I shook my head.

"Don't have one." He nods and looks towards the living room where Zak was.

"Where is his father?"

"Dead." I whispered. Having a moment of flash back when I saw his face and how bloody and the gaping hole in his temple. Dimitri let it drop as he focused on Ivan. Zak came running to me with my cell phone in hand.

"Uncle Adrian wants to know if he could come into work today." I nod my thanks to Zak and took the phone, Zak ran back into the living room down the hall.

"You don't have to ask, just show up and work."

"Thanks Little Dancer." He has been calling me since he found out, when we were younger, like five up to the age of 16 I had danced. Dancing was something to do at first, but then it helped with putting my feelings into something.

"No problem. Hey, I have a question. How is Sydney with the morning sickness?" I smirked when he groaned.

"I need alone time. Everything is revolved around her. With throwing up, wanting her back, feet, ankles, legs massage all the time. God! I even entered a conversation about nails! Rose nails!" I chuckled at how desperate he sounded.

"So alone time is coming in to work? Why don't you go to your other job…I don't know where you sit and paint?"

"My work is at home, where she is." I laughed and nod, though, he could not see me.

"Just think Adrian. I did not have anyone their like that for me. Moreover, you are the one who got your wife pregnant. That is your job. She is carrying your child the least you could do is give massages all the time, and put up with the random emotions she has."

"You don't live with her." He grumbled and I smiled.

"I will be expecting a 'Thank you Rose for letting me get out of helping my pregnant wife.' Besides she cannot be that bad."

"Oh but she is. Anyways eight sound good, what job?"

"The usual you'll be bartending with Christian."

"So flirt the whole night? Awesome."

"Remind me why I hire you part time?"

"My awesomely good looks that-"

"Adrian!" Sydney cut him off as I hear him start cursing.

"Gotta go Little Dancer. Sydney wants pickles and ice cream."

"Eek. That is gross." He laughs as he says bye and I still have a grossed out look on my face. When I look at Ivan he was no off the phone staring at me with an amused look.

"What?" I asked placing my phone down and looking at Dimitri who was giving me the same look of amusement.

"Where do you work?"

"Guardians. It is a club probably about five miles away from here. I technically own it."

"Need more people? We had to move, but we didn't have time to set up jobs before we got here."

"What did you do before you got here?" Slightly interested, considering Baba was just telling me to hire more security and another bartender that is not a part time worker.

"I was a waiter at a high end restaurant." Ivan said shrugging.

"And you?" I turned towards Dimitri hand on my hips.

"I taught Defense Classes." I nod and keep my face neutral. Leaning against the island in the kitchen.

"Usually before I hire anyone I give them a practice run of the job. And to see if you fit into my atmosphere we had going."

"Atmosphere? And how many people work there?"

"Atmosphere of the work environment. Seeing if you got along with everyone else. 11 full timers, including me. 14 if you want to count the part timers."

"Who does what jobs?"

"Security, which you would be good at" I pointed at Dimitri. "I have two of them; Mason and Eddie. One main bartender, Christian. Ivan I think you can help him. Lissa is one of my co-owner but she helps with everything. I have six waiters. The two part timers are bartenders when needed. What are your guy's ages?"

"We're 28, why?" Ivan looked confused. I smiled.

"All current workers are no older than 24. Age does not affect a job. However, closer to age you are the easier it is to get along with the people you work with. Sometimes." I added as an afterthought.

"Oh? Ages?"

"All my waiters are 18. Still in high school. Lissa, Christian, Mason, and Eddie are 22. Adrian and Sydney are 23. I, myself, am 21. My father owns the whole building but I control everything. He is basically there to make sure the building will not get shut down if we failed to make a bill on time or anything that goes wrong he takes care of it. Other than that he does nothing, wait no. He gives me tips on how to run the business and how to help my business stay where it is. Therefore, you could call him my boss. But he only knows Lissa, Mason, Eddie, Adrian, and Sydney as we all grew up together and he really doesn't care about anything else unless you have an attachment to me."

Before Ivan could ask me another question Zak walked in. "Mommy I'm hungry." I nod and move- the best I could around the kitchen with maximum space between me and the guys.

"What do you want to eat?" I asked already knowing the answer, but still asked just in case.

"Grilled Chesse and a class of orange juice, please." I nod again and go to work. Zak sat at the table waiting patiently for me to be done.

"You guys hungry? I can cook more grilled Chesse." I did not turn around as I watched and waited for the bread to brown slightly and flip to the other side to cook while placing the Chesse on the brown side to cook.

"We're good." I nod and in no time, Zak's grill cheese was fixed, along with his glass of orange juice.

"So what did the building tenant say?"

"We have to wait till morning for him." I look at my watch, realizing I had to go into work soon. Zak finished and placed the plate and the now empty cup in the sink. I watched him wash his hands to get the grease off his hands. Zak knew the time he had to start getting ready to go to work with me so he went to get ready. I quickly wash everything I used and he ate off while he did.

"I have to leave to go to work. If you want the test run tonight you can come with and introduce yourself so if you get the job, which you'll know by morning, everyone will know you." They nod and Zak comes back with his Batman backpack, I checked everything inside. It was filled with toys, colors and coloring books, his leapfrog tablet, and his video game.

"Ready to go?" He nods as I help him zip up, as it was getting close to December and the temperature was dropping. He hand his backpack around one shoulder and waited for me to put on my shoes to go.

"You guys coming?" Dimitri and Ivan looked at each other and nod.

So that is how I ended up in a car with two men scared to death that something will happen within the five miles of driving. Ivan was in front, next to me and Zak was in back glaring at Ivan. Zak knows to an extent I do not like men I don't trust to touch me and his glare, which he got from me, seemed like he was ready to yell at Ivan if he got any closer to me. As I parked in the owner space, I climbed out helping Zak along the way and walked in. As predicted pretty much everyone was here except the high school kids who should be in school for thirty more minutes.

"Hey everyone. This might be new help if they pass." Everyone nods and finished what they were doing before walking over to the boys and me. Zak was already in my office, I knew that much. All the guys told them there name and what they do here while Ivan and Dimitri nods and introduced themselves.

"So Rose, which jobs are they trying to get?" Lissa asks stepping in front of me.

"Ivan, I think would be good working with Christian at the bar. Dimitri, security." She nods and goes back on the stage where the DJ music was at and started playing music. Low enough, just to have something for us to listen to. Everyone knew the lyrics and started singing along while I turned to Christian, Mason, and Eddie.

"Christian, Mase, Eddie show them the ropes of the job. They will be doing everything tonight. I'll be in my office." I left with that knowing I could trust them with giving mini-training and their ideas if they could be worked with. Zak was in the corner on his bed coloring something. He had this real look of concentration look on his face; his tongue sticking out, eyebrows furrowed, and his hand was scribbling away.

-From Damaged to Refined-

Since I drove Ivan and Dimitri here, I had to wait until the club fully closed because they were still tactically working. My office had many TVs behind a wall to hide them, so I watched them as they worked. Were two fights that Mason made Dimitri break it up to see how he handled the situation. I watched Ivan flirt and serve drinks, while learning little entertaining tips from Christian and Adrian to do while he made the drinks. Ivan did not seem to have any trouble with fitting in with anyone. Dimitri's job was to act intimidating and watch the waiters and the whole club to keep everyone safe, so being nice was not on the list during work. Before work actually ended, I called Eddie, Mason, Christian, and Adrian to ask them what they thought about Dimitri and Ivan working here.

Adrian instantly loved Ivan and I knew they got along great because they were so much alike. Christian, though a little cold to people, liked Ivan because then Christian could stop pretending to flirt with anyone who was not Lissa. Mason and Eddie came to the same conclusion. Dimitri had what it took to be a 'bouncer', what I like to call security. The way he handled the fights were a little off but they said they could help with that if he gets the job. Even when they were teaching during the few hours they had he was a little cold but paid attention, asked questions, then seemed to loosen up before work started.

By the end of the night we have came to the decision on to hire them or not. However, they cannot tell them the answer until tomorrow to I can tell the dress code and rules.