I looked at the sleeping boy next to me. He was alone and he knew it. I had a week until school started. I was the guardian of this little boy now. He was my 'son'. He hasn't cried for his mother since that night. He was strong. I pulled into my driveway, seeing the pink Ferrari. I shook Andrew gently. He opened his eyes. "Are we here?" he asked softly. I nodded.

"Yeah baby, we're here." I got out. He just stared at the house. I grabbed some of his bags. I opened his door. "I know this is strange and new… I promise you and I will be safe here." He met my eyes.

"Pinky swear?" he held up his pinky.

"I swear I will keep you safe no matter what." I wrapped my pinky around his. He got out, taking his bags with him to the front porch. I grabbed some of his other bags. I unlocked the door, letting him inside. "Do you like it?" he nodded, walking around. I walked into the living room, my mouth dropping. "Lissa!" I screamed. She pulled away from Christian. "Seriously? I leave for two months and you're cheating?" Andrew looked up at me worriedly.

"Rosie, who are they?"

"Andrew, this is my best friend Lissa and that's her…" I looked at them.

"Boyfriend Christian." Christian supplied. I sighed. "You're Andrew?" he nodded, hiding behind me slightly.

"This is new for him. Can you two just go?" I asked tiredly. They quickly left. I looked down at Andrew. "I don't really have a room for you right now, so you can have my bed and I'll sleep down here." I said.

"Rosie, I don't want to be alone." I bent to his level.

"You will never be alone. I told you, you have me." he nodded. He looked so fragile. I kissed his forehead. "I will never be your mother, but I will treat you like my son." I promised. I hugged, him hugging me back. "Let's go find which room you want." I took his hand and led him upstairs. He looked around him.

"Why isn't there any pictures of your family?"

"Because, people here think they're still alive… I don't want people feeling bad for me." he just stayed silent. "Do you want the room right next to mine?" he nodded. "So do you want to go shopping today or tomorrow?" I asked.

"I don't want to sleep." He whispered. I smiled at him.

"Today it is then… we can go to the mall." We headed back downstairs. "Want to take the BMW or Ferrari?" I offered. "They're fast." He laughed.

"Yeah." We got into my black Ferrari and I started the engine. "I love this car… so did Stevie." He said once we neared the mall.

"I know." I whispered, clearing my throat. "So what color do you want your room to be?"

"Orange, it's my favorite color." I smiled at him.

"I know, how could I forget." He smiled back at me. "Do you want your room to look like anything specific?"

"Basketball themed." He cheered. I laughed.

"I'm captain of my schools basketball team." I said, his mouth fell open.

"Really?"

"Yep, also soccer and cheer."

"Wow, maybe I will be captain of a basketball team someday." I grinned at him.

"You will." I laughed. "So I have the perfect idea for your room and I know just where to get everything."

…

We had everything shipped to my house. It would be there by tomorrow morning. We were now in a Staples looking at school supplies for him. "So what do you think?" I asked holding up the orange backpack with a basketball on the front.

"I like it." He put it in the cart. We had gotten school supplies and study supplies for the desk in his room, including a laptop. When we were walking out of the mall he stopped me. "Thank you."

"For what baby?" I asked.

"For taking me in." he whispered. I smiled at him.

"I wouldn't want it any other way." I promised. "I love having you around me." I kissed his forehead.

"Oh, look at that." His eight year old mind worked. He saw two little huskie puppies. "Can we get one?" his wide eyes asked. I wanted him happy again.

"Yes, we can." He dragged me inside the pet store. "If they pee in my car, you're cleaning it up." I warned, trying not to smile. He laughed.

"Okay, deal." We looked at the two puppies, the male and female.

"Hello, may I help you?" I looked at the teen boy.

"Yes, show us all of your puppies." I asked politely. He led us over to a display of Labrador puppies. Andrew was bouncing. "Are they from the same litter?" I asked. As the puppies jumped up towards us.

"No, those are from a separate litter." He pointed to the other yellow labs.

"Okay. Andrew, which one do you want?" he looked through the glass.

"That one." He pointed to the tiniest two in the back. A black lab and a chocolate.

"Can we have those two?" I asked, pointing to the two tiny creatures.

"Of course, is that all?" I shook my head.

"We'll be getting food and beds and stuff." He nodded and picked up the two puppies, heading to the counter. "Pick out whatever else you want."

…

I left him in the back yard with the puppies, playing. I told him to stay away from the pool while I quick ran next door. I knocked on the door. I looked back into my yard watching Andrew laugh and giggle. Olena opened the door a minute later. "Roza, you're back."

"Yeah, I got back earlier today actually." I smiled at her. "I'm so sorry about dinner. Some of my dad's men are heartless." She shook her head.

"It isn't your fault you grew up in that world."

"I know. I still feel bad." I heard a scream. I looked back to see Andrew being chased by the puppies. I laughed. "Sorry, I'm actually here to see Dimitri… can you get him for me?"

"Sure, come on in."

"I need to be able to watch Andrew." I said, pointing towards the little boy. She nodded.

"One moment then." She walked inside. I watched Andrew smile and chase the puppies. He looked happy.

"Roza?" I looked at Dimitri and smiled.

"Hey." I whispered.

"Hey." He met my eyes.

"I need to ask a favor."

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow morning a giant truck will be delivering a bed and paint and well a lot of stuff. I need your help decorating Andrew's room."

"Who?" he asked. I pointed to the little boy in my yard.

"He's an orphan." I whispered.

"The boy from the phone?" I nodded, meeting his eyes.

"I'm his mother now. I either adopted him, or left him with the state. I can't do that to him." I said. "Anyways, school starts in a week and I have to be at practice Monday… so I have two days to finish his room."

"You can't care for a child if you're all over the place."

"That's where you come in. Your nephew Paul is eight right?" he nodded. "Maybe Andrew can hang with you while I go through my normal routine. I have so much to do. I can't exactly have the spinach and tofu stuff anymore, it has to be kid friendly and now he has a schedule."

"You want my help?" he clarified.

"Yes." I pouted my lip.

"When is the truck arriving?"

"Thank you." I hugged him. He wrapped his arms around my waist. He smelled really good. "It'll arrive tomorrow morning around seven."

"Okay, I'll be there. Do you want help from Christian too?" I hesitated.

"He sort of scares Andrew." I muttered. He released me. I took a step back. "When I got back with him… we walked in on him and Liss sucking face. I rather not have him scarred for life." He laughed. "How long have they been together?"

"Aaron and Adrian barged in right after you left and she dumped him for being a jealous fool." I laughed. "Adrian is pissed at you for lying." He said in all seriousness.

"Yeah, well he can shove it up his ass." I muttered. "He knows I'll dump him in a second if he pisses me off." I sighed, looking back at Andrew. "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow morning." I smiled at him.

"Definitely."

…

I shot up as Andrew screamed. I shook him slightly. His eyes opened, tears pouring out of them. "Shh." I said as he clung to me, sobbing into my chest. He held on tightly, crying his little heart out.

"She's gone." He repeated over and over as he sobbed. I remember this stage of it. The only difference is he has someone there for him. I never did. I rubbed circles into his back as he cried himself back to sleep. I leaned back onto my pillows once more. I let the tears drop from my eyes. It's like it finally hit, almost a year later… they were gone and I couldn't do anything about it.

…

Andrew was over playing with Paul and them while I worked on his room. I thought it was best for him to have some fun. Now, Brownie and Bullet were running about in the now drying room, barking at cans of paint. I looked at Dimitri and smiled. "You're really pretty when you smile." He said. I blushed.

"Thank you." I looked back at Brownie who was scratching at my leg to get up. I pulled her up on my lap, scratching her behind her ears. "Do you think I'll be good at this?" I asked.

"I don't know you very well… but I saw how you looked at Andrew." He whispered.

"He was my baby sisters first love." I admitted.

"I thought you were an only child." He met my eyes.

"I am. She died a year ago in a car accident." I was tired of crying. I set Brownie down to let her run around.

"I'm sorry."

"Everyone always is. No one knows she's dead… no one here knows she was even alive." I took in a deep breath. It was getting hot out. I turned the fans on high, opening a window. "I don't like talking about it."

"That's okay." He whispered. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Let's continue now that the paint is dry." I got Andrew a queen size bed so he could sleep with the dogs no matter how big they got. We set the bed up, sliding it to the middle of the side wall. We worked together to get the room set up. Dimitri did the more handy work like hanging the little basketball hoop and the wall decorations. He set up the bathroom while I painted the basketball player on the wall. I was a talented artist I was just finishing the guys eyes when Dimitri finished.

"Wow." He stated, staring at the portrait of Michael Jordan. "You're talented."

"Thank you, thank you." I bowed dramatically. "I'm talented at many things." I said, walking past him. I started putting Andrew's clothes away in the closet.

"What else are you talented at?" Dimitri asked, helping me hang up things.

"You would be amazed." I smirked as I hung up some shirts. He stepped up behind me, his body against mine. He leaned down, whispering in my ear.

"Amaze me." I turned around to face him. Our chests were touching, our mouths close to each other. I reached my hand up, touching his cheek. I looked into his eyes, they were mesmerizing.

"I don't get why I like you so much." I whispered.

"Feelings mutual." His lips lowered towards mine, gently brushing. My hand slid into his long dark silk. I kissed him back with hunger.

"Rose?" Liss yelled from down the hall. I pushed Dimtiri away grudgingly.

"Yeah?" I called back.

"Where are you- oh." She must have seen the room. I licked my lips, looking up into his dark eyes. "Rose, I've been trying to… oh." She said again, staring at us. I turned to her.

"We were just putting Andrew's things away." I said, trying to calm my heartbeat.

"Okay… so there are two dogs here and a decorated room." She tried changing the subject.

"The brown one is Brownie and the other is Bullet… I thought they would help make Andrew feel more at home, less alone." I explained. She nodded. I looked back at Dimitri. "He and I were just…" I looked back at her. "Working on his room, like it?"

"Yes…" I cleared my throat, licking my lips. "I love the basketball guy." I raised my eyebrows at her.

"Thanks, I painted him."

"I didn't know you could do that." She walked over to him.

"Don't touch him, he's still wet." I warned her. She just backed away.

"Want any help?" I looked back at Dimitri again.

"I… uh… think we got it." I cleared my throat again. She smirked at me. "Plus, I know you just stopped by for Christian." Her face heated up. "I'll see you later?" she nodded and left. I looked back at him. "I'm going to go… uh… make the bed." I muttered, heading downstairs to grab the bedding. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." I muttered to myself as I reentered. I pulled the sheets tight across the bed, working fast. I heard Dimitri hang up clothes still. I quickly finished and looked around. I decided to set up his laptop and desk. I made quick work of that too and there wasn't anything left really. I put his trophies and pictures up around the room and set his book in the book shelf.

"Roza?" I looked at Dimitri as he stepped out of the closet. He walked over to me.

"Yes?" I asked. We just stared at each other for a long minute. Somehow we ended back up in that position. His lips were just a breath away. I looked up into his eyes, they were asking for permission. I numbly nodded. His lips moved to mine, hungry yet gentle. I wrapped my arms around his neck while he moved his to my waist, pulling me up. I wrapped my legs around his middle while his mouth devoured me. I moaned as his tongue massaged mine. I ran my hand through his hair, kissing him back with the same hunger. He shoved me against the closet door. I gasped as my back collided with it.

"You're so beautiful." He whispered once he pulled away. Our bodies were connected, not all physically, mentally and spiritually too. His lips moved back to mine, softer this time. I responded happily. His hand travelled my body, touching everywhere he could. I didn't mind. I moaned as he sucked on my neck. I gripped him closer to me, my chest heaving.

"Yo Dimka." We didn't look up. He continued his assault on my neck while I gasped for air. He moved back to my lips hungrily.

"Rose?" I knew that voice anywhere. I looked up at Adrian. Dimitri let me down. I looked at him, his eyes were pissed.

"Adrian." I stepped forward.

"You leave suddenly for two months and then you come back and cheat on me with a foreigner." He raised to a scream. "See how well your rep does without me."

"Adrian, stop okay." I followed him out the door, casting one glance back at Dimitri.

"Why?" he asked once I caught up to him. "You cheat on me. Was I not good enough?"

"You're over reacting. I forgave you all those months ago when you cheated." I yelled back at him.

"I at least hide it well." My mouth fell open.

"You said hide." I whispered after a moment. "Adrian you are still cheating on me?" I demanded, pushing him. "I put out and you still cheat on me?" I pushed him harder.

"What did I just walk in on?" he demanded.

"A mistake, I kissed him once. That's an issue if I'm cheating, but I walk into you bedroom while you're with another girl and that isn't an issue?" I demanded, screaming. "Get the fuck out and don't come back. You know I will do just fine without you. You want to know why?" I asked, stepping closer to him. "Because I'm not leaning on your status, you're leaning on mine. I'm number one in that school and that's why you stayed with me." I said simply. He stood there fuming. "I said leave." I stated. "LEAVE." I screeched. He slammed the door after him. I took a few calming breaths before heading back up the stairs. Liss, Christian, and Dimitri all stood there awkwardly. I looked around them. "So, I'm done with Andrew's room almost. You all can leave if you want too." I ended on a whisper. They all stayed there awkwardly. "If not, help."

"Yes ma'am."

…

I got out of my truck coated in sweat. I grabbed my gym bags and headed next door. I knocked politely. Olena opened the door, smiling as usual. I had to work tonight, so Andrew had to wait. "Andrew, Rosie is here."

"Rosie, Paul invited me to stay the night…" he had wide eyes.

"Is that alright with you Olena?" I asked. She nodded. "Are you going to be okay Andrew?" he knew what I was asking. He nodded and smiled. "Sure, you can grab your stuff and then head back over here. I have to shower and then work." Olena laughed.

"Such a busy girl." I nodded.

"I like it." I shrugged. Andrew and I headed back over it was the weekend before school started. I haven't talked to Dimitri or Christian or Lissa since they helped me finish Andrew's room. Andrew gave me a hug and kiss goodbye and ran back over to the Belikov's. I headed right for the shower. I had to be quick. I needed to get to the diner before I got in even more trouble. I changed into my uniform, buttoning up the long tee thing. It ended mid-thigh and was matched the theme of the diner. I wasn't sure the theme, but I put on my apron anyways and headed out the door.

…

"My name's Rose and I will be your server today." I looked at Aaron and Adrian. "What would you like to drink?" I asked keeping my tone neutral.

"Water." They both said. I wrote it down.

"Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?"

"Just the groovy burger and fries." Aaron said politely. I headed back to the counter, giving the cook their order, my night has just turned to shit. I had only a half hour left of my shift and now I had to deal with them. I took their waters over to them and returned to the counter. Izzy stood there in question.

"Baby girl, you're always happy when Adrian comes." I shrugged.

"We broke up." I said simply as the bell rang. I took them their food and walked back to Izzy. "He cheated and I did, I decided it was time to get rid of him." She frowned.

"Why don't you take off?" she offered. "You only have ten minutes anyways, I'll cover you."

"You sure?" she nodded. I smiled and timed myself out. I thanked her once more and headed out into the night. I got in my truck quickly, driving towards my house. It was ten at night and I was tired. When I unlocked the door Brownie and Bullet attacked me. I let them out back, turning on the lights. Thank god that they were house trained. I grabbed a bottle of water and an apple from the fridge. I let the puppies back in and let them follow me upstairs. I went into my epically decorated room. The puppies ran around, finally deciding on their beds. I opened my window, letting the cool night come in. I unbuttoned my uniform, letting it drop from my shoulders to the floor. I threw it in the green laundry basket next to the closet. I went through my nightly routine, readying myself for bed. I turned on the night time news, letting the boring sounds of Eva and Jacob fill my room.

I looked at the two sleeping puppies and smiled down at them. I grabbed my dad's t-shirt I had made for him all those years ago, wearing it as a sleep shirt. I missed him so much sometimes, but I also see what he and his business did. Now I was a mother because of it. I walked back down to the kitchen, recycling the water bottle and throwing the core of my apple out. I felt so empty in that moment. Andrew had been my family for the past two months, him not being here killed me. I took out my prescribed pills, swallowing them dry. One was for sleeping, I needed that one a lot. I headed back up to bed, looking out my open window. Everything clicked in that moment. When I was in my room and felt eyes on me… Dimitri's room was right across from mine. I shut the television off and climbed into bed, letting the medicine work through me. When darkness finally came… so did a dream.

…

I watched as Andrew walked with Paul to his class. He turned and waved to me one last time before disappearing inside the school. I drove to the high school campus. I grabbed my gym bag and book bag, heading to meet Lissa and Christian and our gang. I smiled as I got closer. "Hey." Liss hugged me. "Where have you been this past week?"

"Potty training two puppies and trying to find something Andrew likes."

"How's he adjusting?" I cleared my throat.

"He loves having Paul as his friend… I think he finally has someone that doesn't make him feel alone." I gripped my bag tighter. "I mean, he loves being around me… but his mother died because of my father, so it adds a little tension." I shrugged.

"It must be tough." Christian muttered.

"It's really tough losing people that matter more than the world to you."

"I know." I met his icy blue eyes. I nodded numbly.

"We should… get going." I came out of my funk, nodding towards the school.

"Let's go decorate our lockers." Liss tugged me along in front of everyone. I internally groaned. My locker was the same as before, zebra fur inside, neon shelves. We had the same lockers the four years we were here.

"I don't need any more things inside mine." She glared at me and I just unlocked the locker. I had pictures of Adrian and I together, smiling and kissing. I just stared at the photos a moment before taking them down. I sighed, ripping them up slowly. I looked next to me, seeing Liss doing the same thing. I took down the one of the four of us. "This is a great picture of us." I handed it to her. It was one in our bikinis and them in their swim trunks. "If only they weren't in it." I smirked at the picture.

"We do look hot though." She looked at my other photos. "At least now I know who the little boy is… who's the little girl?" I hesitated a moment.

"Her name's Stevie, she was Andrew's first love."

"What happened to her?"

"She died." I met her shocked eyes. "He would only ever talk to me about her. She was like my little sister back in California." That was twisted truth. I looked at the one of my parents and I when I was little. I touched their faces. I closed my locker, looking back at the gang. "So, school has officially started." I looked at Christian and Dimitri. "How does it feel being senior citizens?" I asked.

"Smart ass." Christian laughed. "I feel old when you put it that way." He hooked his arm around Lissa. "Ready to go?" he asked her. I was in AP classes, so I had a lot of classes with the seniors and advanced eleventh graders. Lissa too. I smirked as she looked at him all lovey dovey. They headed off down the hall. Eddie and Mia left and then it was Dimitri and I. "I've never seen her this happy… not even after her first time with Aaron."

"If you find someone that makes you happy, you should go for it."