A/N: Anybody have suggestions for the next chapter or future chapters?
Disclaimer: I do not own VA.
I groaned as I awoke to the screams of Lydia. She was a month old now and was quite the fussy baby. Dimitri woke as well, rubbing his eyes sleepily as our daughter kept voicing her frustrations in incomprehensible wails through the baby monitor.
"I'll get her," he volunteered, sliding out of our bed in his sweatpants. A few minutes later, he brought back a tearful but quiet Lydia in his arms. I took her from him, tickling her tiny stomach.
"Hi baby," I murmured as she latched onto my breast. "Mommy and Daddy would love it if you would sleep through the night."
Dimitri chuckled softly and stroked her tiny feet gently, marveling at how tiny they were. Lydia's big brown eyes blinked up at me, her mouth still sucking on my breast. I smiled and leaned against Dimitri's shoulder as she finished up her nighttime feeding.
I rocked her to sleep and then walked into the nursery, soothing her as she fussed when I set her down into her crib. I turned the white noise machine on before exiting the room. I climbed into the warm bed next to my husband, sighing as I closed my eyes. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before Lydia woke again.
"Tired?" Dimitri asked, wrapping his arms around my waist. I snuggled into his chest.
"So tired," I murmured, drifting off into sleep with Dimitri stroking my hair comfortingly.
Another month passed by and Lydia's insistent midnight cries decreased dramatically, much to the relief of Dimitri and I. She grew more and more each day and I loved watching every second of it.
"Who's at the door?" I asked. It was a bright summer day and we weren't expecting anyone.
"Guardian Callahan," Dimitri responded before opening the door. I heard them greet each other and Dimitri welcoming him in.
"Guardian Callahan, what brings you here?" I asked politely, rising from the couch with Lydia cradled protectively in my arms.
"I'm here with news from St. Vladimir's," he said. I motioned for him and Dimitri to sit down in the armchairs across from me.
After they were seated, Guardian Callahan began. "There's a ceremony over at St. Vladimir's, for the new recruits coming in the fall. However, we need an experienced guardian to be present at the event. We would ask both of you to attend, but since Guardian Hathaway has an infant, we are only asking for Guardian Belikov. So, Guardian Belikov, would you do us the honor of welcoming our initiates? It'll be about a week long."
I spoke up. "This is a big topic that I think we need to discuss as a family. Could we get back to you?"
'Of course," he responded. We said our farewells and Guardian Callahan left.
After I closed the door, I joined Dimitri back on the couch.
"Do you want to go?" I asked, not sure where to start.
"Yes, but I don't want to leave you and Lydia. Would you be okay with me leaving for an entire week?
"Well, I obviously don't want you to leave. But if you really want to, I'll be fine for a week."
"Thank you," he said, kissing my lips softly. "Let me call Guardian Callahan to see when I'm supposed to leave."
A couple minutes later, he came back with a not so happy look on his face. "I leave tomorrow," he said with a heavy heart.
"Hey, don't worry about me. You go have fun," I told him with a small smile.
"Are you sure?" he asked, searching my eyes with concern.
"Positive," I said, trying to sound cheery. I hated that he was going to be gone for an entire week, but he deserved a little break. He hadn't been sleeping well from stress and taking care of Lydia.
The next morning, his bags were packed and wheeled to the front door.
"I love you and so does Lydia," I said, giving him one last hug. He smiled as he placed a kiss on our daughter's head.
"I love you too and I promise that I will be back on Saturday," he said before climbing into the car. I waved as he pulled out of the driveway and watched as he disappeared from view.
A week dragged by and on Saturday, I was more than ready to see the love of my life once again. I made his favorite dinner, lit candles around the dining room and turned some romantic music on. I was in the middle of pouring two glasses of wine when my phone started to buzz with a call.
"Hello?"
"Hey baby," Dimitri breathed. I smiled, happy to hear his voice.
"Has the plane landed already?" I asked, glancing at the clock. It was six o'clock, but his flight wasn't supposed to arrive until six forty-five.
"Um, about that…" he said, trailing off. My eyes widened at his words.
"What? What happened?" I inquired, pressing him for details.
"I was invited by an old friend of mine, Guardian Seamoor, to a guardians-only event tomorrow and everyone was really excited to see me so I said yes. I won't be back until Monday," he said meekly. My bottom lip started to tremble.
"What the hell? You texted me nonstop this week, telling me that you wanted to come home as soon as possible, but now you want to stay there? What's going on?" A tear slid down my cheek, but I couldn't help it. I was more than a little upset.
"I'm sorry Roza, I couldn't say no to them. They're a really important group of people to me," he said, his voice pleading for forgiveness.
"Don't you Roza me," I said angrily. "I'm sure they're important to you. More important than your wife and your two month old child. I was really looking forward to seeing you today Dimitri," I cried.
"I know you were and I'm so sorry. Look, I have to go, a friend is taking me to dinner. I love you and I miss you," he said hurriedly.
"Whatever. I'll see you on Monday or whenever you decide to come back," I bit out before throwing my phone across the room. I fed Lydia and set her down for a nap before sadly eating dinner alone. I blew out all the candles and climbed into bed, feeling more lonely than ever before. Just before I was about to drift off, I heard an insistent beeping downstairs. I jumped out of bed to retrieve my phone before it woke Lydia up.
I picked up my surprisingly unharmed phone and checked the screen. Three texts flashed across the screen.
I love you and I'm so sorry. ~D
Please, I need you to forgive me Roza. ~D
I can't sleep without you beside me. ~D
I snorted sarcastically before bursting into tears. He was being so sweet and I knew I shouldn't be too mad at him for not coming home sooner. I crawled back into the empty bed, sniffling. I thought of how I would make it up to him before I fell into a restless slumber.
"Ugh, men," I cried as I put my face in my hands the next morning.
"What's wrong?" Lissa asked as she busied herself in my kitchen.
"Well you know how Dimitri and I had that whole argument about him not coming home sooner?" She nodded.
"He's being so sweet now and it's making me feel guilty. I don't know what to do," I groaned.
"Let me see," she said, prying my phone from my fingers. Her eyes skimmed the other two texts he had sent overnight.
I miss holding you in my arms at night. ~D (2:04 AM)
Missing you like crazy. I love you and Lydia. ~D (3:34 AM)
"Wow, talk about bipolar," she said, rolling her eyes.
"But that's the thing! I think I'm the bipolar one. I overreacted when he told me he wasn't coming home, then I was angry, then I was sad, and now I feel guilty." I closed my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh.
"Rose, why don't you just apologize when he gets back? You guys fight and make up 24/7. This time isn't any different," she snorted. "I should know. I can hear the make up sex from my house."
I let out a small laugh. "That sounds like a good plan. I'm going to go feed Lydia and maybe write something nice for him. I'll see you later though?"
"Sure. Good luck," she said before skipping back to her house.
On Monday, I woke up feeling happier and more optimistic than ever. I changed into a pretty sundress and let my hair down in loose waves, just the way I knew would drive Dimitri insane with lust. I searched up how to make bliny and four failed attempts later, I managed to create a stack of the Russian pancakes. I set out some jam and started the coffee machine when I heard the thud of bags in the front hallway. I pretended to be scavenging the cupboard for something as Dimitri walked into the kitchen.
He looked like hell. His hair wasn't tied back and it was everywhere. There were bags under his tired eyes and his face was pale from fatigue. He hadn't shaved and I could see stubble on his chin and jawline.
"Hey," he finally said, sighing.
"Hi," I said. He sighed again in exasperation.
"Roza, I'm so sorry. I know I let you down and words cannot express how much I regret staying there," he said, coming over to me.
"I know. I got all the texts," I said with a small smile. "I missed you and I'm sorry too," I murmured as he wrapped me up into his arms.
"Is that bliny?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"I wanted to make it up to you for overreacting," I said sheepishly. He grabbed me again and planted a tender kiss on my lips.
"You are the most amazing wife I could ask for," he breathed, running his hands down the length of my body.
"I've missed you so much milaya," he said as I moaned from the pleasure he was causing in me.
"We'd better save this for the bedroom," I joked as I pulled away breathlessly.
"This is far from over," he said, swatting my ass playfully. We made our way up the stairs to wake Lydia from her seemingly endless slumber.
"Hi baby," Dimitri cooed. "Daddy's home."
Lydia's eyes fluttered open and she started waving her chubby legs and arms in excitement as she caught sight of her father. Dimitri scooped her up and placed kisses all over her face.
"I'm never leaving you two," he whispered as he pulled me in for a family hug.
A/N: So sorry for the late update. I hope you'll forgive me.
