Dimitri POV

I was away again, and neither of us were faring very well, which was surprising considering how many months I was away the first time.

Then again, we talked every day and got to see each other a lot more. In the middle of the night she would call me sometimes, and of course I would answer (how could I not?). But it was one night in particular that would always stick with me: It was 3:42 on a Sunday and I knew for a fact that she had an exam the next day (courtesy of Vasilissa) and I was exhausted from Sonya's tests and Adrian's bullshit. But she called and so I answered, just happy to hear her voice.

"Babe, I know that it's late but I swear to god if this computer doesn't work I'm going to throw it out the window." She answered, before I could even get in a hello.

"What's wrong with it?" I replied smiling, my voice sounding hoarse.

She sighed,"I'm trying to watch a movie and it just keeps buffering, no matter how many times I refresh the page."

"Is it on one of those websites you and Christian are always trying to get Lissa to use?"

"If you mean the illegal ones then definitely not," she said slyly.

I chuckled, "Maybe that's a sign telling you not to use those types of sites."

"Wow comrade, resorting to 'signs' ? I never thought I'd see the day where Dimitri Belikov doesn't have a fortune cookie saying locked and loaded," she gasped, "Whatever will the world do now?

How will anyone survive?"

"Well shit, you found out my secret."

"Swearing too?" She whispers, "Is this how the apocalypse starts?"

"I think I'm feeling the tremors right now, better duck and cover" I replied, sarcastically.

"You mean I have to fend for myself, you aren't coming to rescue me?" Rose yawned, "How will I ever survive, How will I fight off the suitors without you here?"

"If I didn't know any better, I would've thought you'd been watching westerns again," I smugly said.

"No response, Cowboy," Rose quickly replied.

That was the only good part about being apart for so long. Rose would get into this funk where the only thing she would be able to watch was Western movies. She was currently in the process of looking for a Russian Western movie, which I would pay great money to see her watch.

I chalked the whole thing up to her missing me too much. But as soon as I got back it was like she completely forgot who John Wayne was. Whenever I asked about it, she pretended to think I was confusing Bruce Wayne with John.

But unbeknownst to her, I had a man on the inside. Or a woman on the inside, Vasilissa told me everything. She thought it was hilarious, plus it would be a crime if I never knew Rose's secret passion for Westerns.

"Not even a little 'Yee Haw' ?" I asked nicely.

"I swear to god if you ever hear me 'Yee Haw' that's how you know that I've either lost it or some western ghost has taken over my body," She replied.

I could feel the smirk on her face from here.

"So does that mean If I get you a cowboy outfit that you won't wear it?" I asked, sitting up in bed.

"I wouldn't be caught dea-" She paused, calculating, "What kind of outfit are we talking about Comrade?"

"Oh you know, something accurate to the time period," I grinned, "Short, lacy, maybe a cowboy hat, maybe topless."

"Comrade you're ridiculous." Her giggle, even from thousands of miles away, was contagious. "But I mean if that's really what you want, then I'll only judge you forever."

"Hey it's only fair, I choose to marry a woman who can't even fess up to her secret affair with Cowboys on the big screen," I teased.

"Why should I? I have my own right here." She sighed, "If only he were right here….How much longer are you gone for?" She asked seriously, for the first time tonight.

I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face, "I've got one month and 14 days left."

"So enough time for me to come for a weekend? Or two?" She replied, yawning again.

I smiled, "More than enough time, I'll just have to tell my girlfriend to be scarce."

"Oh true, give me her number. I'll text her the dates and the number of the grief counselor she'll need when I'm done with her," Rose countered. "I miss you Comrade, so much."

"I miss you more than you'll ever know Rosa, I love you."

"I should let you go back to sleep," She yawned.

"I should let you go to sleep," I yawned back.

"We are really great at sleeping aren't we." She barely got out between yawns.

"Only the best, I'm going to go now, I love you Rosa," I said.

"Wait! We haven't even talked about what I actually called you for," Rose rushed, I could imagine her jumping to sit up at the realisation.

"Oh so there was a point to this conversation?" I laughed to myself.

"Yes, and a very important one. I'm supposed to go cake tasting tomorrow with Chris and Lissa. I'm afraid I'll get distracted by all the cakes and not make a decision or put it off and I really can't -"

I cut Rose off, feeling that a word vomit storm was about to fall out of her mouth and through the phone.

"Roza, you are going to be a great cake picker-outer. Just like you'll be a great wife, because all you have to do is be you. And to be honest, I don't think you could be anyone but you if you tried."

Her sigh was deep enough to let me know that my comment had just eased something inside her, it had lifted off a weight that she should never again have to bear; the feeling of inadequacy was gone.

"I like you Comrade"

"I like you too"

"Don't forget to text me your girlfriend's number," Rose said yawning once again.

"Typing it right now," I replied closing my eyes and rolling over in my bed, "now go to bed."

"Ya ya ya, I will. Goodnight babe. Love you."

"I love you too."

Rose POV

I saw a sight I never would've imagined. Even if If I was high off acid or something, my brain would never imagine this.

Dimitri was listening to Childish Gambino. What the actual fuck?