A/N: Well my friends, here's chapter four! Sorry about the delay! It took me longer to finish it then I expected! Also! No one has guessed any of the songs that I used so far... I mean in my story Dear Roza at the end I give a lot of hints...

Well anyway! Without further ado...

Chapter four - He Gets That From Me

One Year Later….

~.*.~

"Aleksandr Dimitri Belikov! You better get your ass up and out of that bed this instant or so help me, I will come in there and drag you out!" I screamed from the kitchen at mine and Dimitri's fifteen – practically sixteen year old son, as I reached for the Frosted Flakes in the pantry and before grabbing a bowl from the cabinet. Placing them on the counter in front of me and glancing at the clock on the wall, I screamed the last thing I knew would get him up for sure. "You're going to be late for school!" That was immediately followed by a 'Thunk', a groan of pain, and a string of Russian curse words, before I soon heard the running of feet. 'He is definitely my child,' I thought with a sigh, I let a small chuckle out as I shook my head, staring off into space out the little window above the kitchen sink. 'Never wanting to get up out of bed, almost always late for something, and sugar first thing in the morning… Right, Comrade?'

"Mom…?" I heard from behind me, causing me to reach up quickly wiping the tear from my face before turning around and facing my son.

"Yes, Alec?" I answered him as I placed the bowl of cereal on the counter with the milk before telling him to eat, not looking at him, busying myself with straightening up my papers that were lying on the said counter, scattered.

"I love you," He said from where he now sat at the table.

My hands stopped moving causing me to look at him, a small smile made its way onto my face without any effort. I put the papers in my hands down, before walking over to him and standing beside him. So glad that he was sitting and not standing because he was definitely his father's child with how tall he grew over the last couple of months. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him to me I buried my face in his hair – the Mazur hair, thick wavy dark brown hair. "I love you, too, Alec." I said with a sniffle, scrunching eyes closed hoping to prevent the tears that wanted to fall, from falling. After a moment he returned it, we stood there holding each other as if our lives depended on it for a moment. With one last squeeze, I put my hands on his shoulders and moved him so I could look at him. I watched as the rays of the sun came through the window above the sink and hit his face, bringing out the freckles on his face, a rare trait in Moroi and Dhampir.

Though you could see he was gaining muscle quickly from all the training he does at school, he was still in the last stages of that awkward faze. He was tall just like his father, but had those knobby knees.

'He is going to be one hell of a Guardian, and I could be any more proud of him. That he is our son, Dimitri.'

"Go on, eat. You have to be at school soon, and you're still not dressed."

Soon he was finished and ready for school, and we were out the door.

"Alec!" We turned our heads, at the sound, to see Lissa and Christian's son, Andre Dragomir walking this way waving his hand above his head, blond hair and jade green eyes shining in very last rays of light.

He turned to me with a small smile, "well I got to go, Mom." He said before giving me another hug and running off, the opposite direction then me. "Mom!" I heard him call shortly afterwards. Turning I saw that sad smile of his. "I miss him, too. I wish every day that he was here with us." He said before leaving with Andre. I stood there for I don't know how long trying my best not cry. 'But then there are moments, like now, that I see you in him, Comrade... God I miss you, Dimitri.'

~.*.~

Instead of going to the gym area that I was assigned for my class, I went straight to the Headmistress' Office. Yes I know – me Rose Belikov – voluntarily going to the Headmistress's Office. Knocking three times on the doors once I had arrived, I was told to come in and I did. There sitting behind her desk was Lissa, her long blond hair was loose and laying on the desk as she bent over some papers she was working on. "One moment and I will be right with you, Rose."

"Take your time, Liss." I said, walking over to the wall that had photos on it. Went she took over as Headmistress, Lissa kept the room the same as Kirova – only adding personal touches here and there, like the photos.

I immediately went over to the one that had the whole gang in it, a family photo if you will. It had been taken about a year or so after Lissa had been crowned, and everyone had gone to Baia. The Belikov's, were to the right with Viktoria on the left of them, next to me, with our arms around each other shoulder and Dimitri's arm awkwardly around my waist at the same time. Lissa, Christian, Abe, Janine, Eddie and Mia in the middle row; with Adrian, Sydney and Jill in the last row up front. It was in the middle of November and I could remember freezing my ass off and complaining about it. Dimitri just shook his head and took his duster off before wrapping me and Viktoria in it right before the picture was taken – giving that look that said 'Don't even think about taking that off'. So I had accepted the duster and put my arm around Vika's shoulder.

Just before the photo was being taken, Vika and I shared a look – telling me she was thinking the same as me. Nodding to each, we let out a small evil chuckle that had everyone just shaking their heads at.

Just as one of the Lissa's Guardians pressed the button on the camera, Vika and I made faces at the camera. Dimitri's reaction had been to just shake his head fondly, while muttering.

I reached up and traced Dimitri's face. 'I wish you were here so much, Comrade.'

"Rose?" I heard from behind me and looked at my best friend and sister in all but blood. I watched as she reached up and wiped something from my face, a tear had escaped. "I miss him, too. It's not the same without him here. You're not the same without him here."

"I miss him so much, Liss. That's why I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I… I took the day off and spent some time up there today." The tears were silently flowing at this point; it took all of my control to not break down sobbing in her arms.

"Sure, I'll get another Guardian to cover for you today. I know! I'll get Stan!" She said with a small laugh, getting a watery one from me. Ah, yes Stan. He was still teaching and guarding even at his age. He refused to retire while there was a Hathaway still here, even though technically it was Belikov, in school. Said that he would see Alec through and then retire; Lissa couldn't refuse him his request.

"Thank you, Lissa," I said turning to walk away, but didn't get far before I felt her pull me back and crush me into a hug.

"You're more than welcome," She whispered in me ear, before pulling back and looking me in the eye. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No," I told her, pleading with her with my eyes. "I want to be alone. Just for a little while."

"Okay, sweetie, but you call me if you want some company I'll be there before you know it. Okay?"

"You're the best Liss." I said with a smile.

~.*.~

Stopping at the cabin that was out home, I to grab the album I was messing with last night, when I saw it. I couldn't help but run my hand over the glass front of the box that contained it – Dimitri's Stake. Now normally a Guardian is buried with their stakes unless said Guardian has other wishes. In this case Dimitri had wanted me to have it, so when he was buried he was buried with a new one and I was given his. Next to it on the mantle, where I had put it, was the album and a letter from Dimitri with 'Roza' written across the front in his neat handwriting. I ran my fingers over it – knowing exactly what it says – before I grabbed it and took it out anyway, a sudden longing to read the words he had written me. I carefully opened the flap on the back before just as carefully taking the letter out and flipping it open, I let my eyes run over the words I had memorized quickly before closing it and replacing it on the mantel; before heading out.

The cemetery wasn't that far away just on the other side of campus, really by the church. Walking the familiar path, I quickly came upon the grave that I wanted.

"Hey, there Comrade," I said looking at the stone in front of me, as I knelt down not caring as my pants got wet from the snow, and cleared it off. I wasn't sure what to say, but after a moment I opened my mouth and it all just poured out. "Why does it have to hurt? Why does missing you have to hurt so much?"

~.*.~

"Oh, Roza, what am I going to do with you?"

I tapped my chin with my index finger, a fake thinking expression my face, pretending to actually think about it. "Hmmm," I said before suddenly I jumping at him; knowing that he would catch me. "Love me!"

As he did he spun me around, the landscape of the field around us was white from the knee deep, well at least to me , snow. Snow that was falling was caught in his hair and eye lashes. My glove hidden hands were around Dimitri's neck and thrown back, as I let out a little squeal and laughter as I moved. "Dimitri!" I squeaked, snow falling on my face.

"Is that so?" He answered as he stopped the spinning causing me to look at him, the corner of his lips twitching. Putting his forehead on mine; his face broke out into that heart stopping breath taking smile that I fell in love with. "I think I can do that," Was his response, before giving me a chaste kiss on my lips. His chocolate brown eyes, shined with happiness and love.

~.*.~

"Hey, Comrade," I called from where I stood a few feet behind couch where he sat. I was nervous, you could hear it in my voice despite my trying to hide it and not let it show. I could help but be. My hand clutched around the little white object in my hand. At first I thought it was wrong, so I did it again, and again. I couldn't be… But Dr. Olendzki had confirmed it two days ago. She had also done some research when she had heard Dimitri and I had gotten engaged, thinking that maybe there could be to in the future if we had ever wondered or wanted to.

So when she confirmed it two days ago she told what she had found. That it was possible, extremely difficult and rare, but it is possible. But she said with the amount of Spirit over the years that Dimitri and I had been exposed to, she thinks that it helped our case.

I still couldn't help but be nervous; it was the moment of truth.

"Roza…?" A hand on my shoulder brought me back to the present and I looked into Dimitri's worried eyes.

"I…" I couldn't do it. I, Rose Belikov, was chickening out. I hadn't told anyone – not even Lissa, and the only one who knew was Dr. Olendzki. "Never mind, it's not important, Comrade." Before rushing out of the house before he could stop me, but I wasn't fast enough. He grabbed my arm turned me around, and led me to the couch where he had been sitting mere moments ago. I kept my eyes on the floor – I couldn't look at him.

He brought his hand up and moved my head up so that I was looking him in the eyes. "You're nervous about something, Roza. Please tell me." He asked me his voice gentle, kind and loving.

After a moment of reading his eyes, I opened my mouth. "If I tell you, please promise me that you will keep an open mind and let me explain afterwards, Dimitri."

Calling him Dimitri, just him to stop and think. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. "I promise, Roza."

"I'm pregnant, Comrade." I told him with as much confidence as I could. "I swear, Dimitri, that I never once cheated on you." I finished before explain what Dr. Olendzki had found.

And after a moment of silence as what I told him sunk in, I saw the brightest smile I that I had only seen twice before, appear on his face. Before I knew it his lips were on mine and he was picking me up and spinning me around. When he stopped spinning me around, he carried me to our room and laid me down in the middle of our bed, lying next to me he held me close to him with his hand on my stomach.

~.*.~

"Alec sat there, this morning, with the bowl in front of him and started telling me all about his day yesterday, since I was gone at a function with Lissa; only pausing briefly to take a bite of his food. I couldn't keep the smile off of my face, as he told me how Andre had to hold him, unsuccessfully I might add, back from starting a fight with Jessie Zeklos' son, Matt. When Matt – I swear that kid takes after his no good father – was hounding another Dhampir girl in his class. Alec decked him a good one, I couldn't be prouder of Alec though in that moment." I said with a chuckle. "I hate to say it again, Comrade. He is definitely my son and he is going to be one hell of a Guardian – I couldn't be prouder of him." Shaking my head, a small smile appeared on my face.

"I watched him be so animated, I couldn't help but laugh, I had to keep telling him to hurry up and eat. Talk and talk – never missing a beat, he gets that from me. I watched as that light in those big brown eyes shine, your eyes, I swear that kid has me in the palm of his hands. And I swear sometimes, it's just like you're here again. That crooked little smile of his is a carbon copy of yours… the one I fell in love with." I laughed. "There is denying he's your child, either, Dimitri. From the westerns he reads and watches to the duster that he wears. He definitely gets that from you."

I could feel the tears coming, as I tried to hold them back with a deep breath. "I don't know what I'd do without him, he's all that's holding me here…"

I paused; I felt a small tear filled smile grew on my face. "Christmas had just passed; we spent it in Baia. Everyone was there: Lissa and Christian, Adrian and Sydney – who really are perfect for each other, even after all these years. Eddie and Mia were there, as well as my mom and dad. But anyway, you know that old guitar of yours – the one that you always left in Russia? Olena gave it to him this year as a Christmas present, after always catching him fiddling with it." I reached up to wipe a stray tear from my eye, with my right hand quickly. As I brought it down, placing it on the stone in front of me; wiping more snow before tracing the engravings on it. I ran my thumb over the name with nothing but love. As I dropped my back down I continued. "He's had it for a week and he's already taught himself how to play – melting my heart every time I hear him; just like you did when you played for me."

I looked down at the book in my lap again for a brief moment before opening it and flipping through it. Looking at all the pictures in it, I ran a hand over a picture of Dimitri, Alec, and me. "He tells me he loves me every day – even if we had a fight – especially then." I gave a quick and watery laugh. "He definitely has my sense of humor though, but he always knows when to make me laugh, when all I want to just curl up and cry – he's got your timing. He's everything to me now… he's all I got left you."

"He gets that from you…." I wiped another tear quickly from my face. "Yeah, he gets that from you…"

"Last night as I past his room, I heard Alec praying before going to bed. He said, 'Lord, me and mama will make it through. And tell daddy we'll be okay'. He misses you terribly. I do too, Comrade. He gets that from me." I barely managed to finish talking before the sobs broke free, and couldn't help but grabbing the stone in front of me before doubling over in tears. "Why!? Why did you have to die!? Why did it have to be you!? Why did you have to go, Dimitri!? Huh, Comrade! Answer me! Please!" I shouted at no one and not for the first time, before lying down on the ground in front of the stone, curling up into a ball. Tears staining my face, as they ran down. I don't know how long I lay there on the ground like that, but soon that bout of tears dried up in the cold wind. Even after only a year, the thought of him gone could make break down into tears.

"I can't believe it's been a year, Comrade, since the day that Strigoi took you from me." I tears running freely down my face again, my sight was blurry from the tears. "The pain is fresh every day. I can't go a second without missing you, without the pain of you not being here. Some days it's worse than others and some days I want to join you. But then I remember Alec…He's been my rock and only real reason to stay."

Looking up at the stone as I lay there, in the snow getting wet, I just stare at it. And for a moment there I thought I could feel Dimitri's arms around me. "I remember going on that road trip to see Arthur Schoenberg, and the five hours of nothing but 80's music – the first song was about how the radio had kill the video – I had wished someone would the radio. I also remember making the snow angels at the gas station, how I told you that I wouldn't leave until you made one beside me. And how when he plopped down and didn't move it looked more like a crime scene outline then and angel."

I shifted my gaze to the sky with my eyes going straight to the full moon above. That's what Dimitri was – is – to me, my moon. Filling up my life like the does the night sky; but it seemed like was a constant new moon. Where no matter where you looked you couldn't find it but you knew it was there; somewhere.

~.*.~

I couldn't believe we had been married ten years as of today. As we lay in bed I couldn't help but think how wonderful those ten years had been; Dimitri's hand drawing random shapes on my bare lower back. The light from the moon shining in through the window giving the room an ethereal glow and feel to it; I couldn't be happier than right now. "I wish we could stay just like this."

Hearing him chuckle it turned my head upwards to look at him. "That would be nice, but we have responsibilities – like Alec."

"I know, I just wish that we could grow old together and not have to worry about dying suddenly."

"I know, Roza. I wish the same."

"But you know what, Comrade? I would do everything all over again without hesitation."

"So would, Roza, so would I." He said leaning down and kissing me on the head.

~.*.~

"I remember idly wondering and asking you, about living up in the mountains, with you away from it all. When Avery had used it again me, she had brought out an ache that had developed when I was told that you had been turned by Mason; an ache that's back with force. I wish you were here to take that ache away, like you did when I got you back – even if you didn't want anything to do with me. I miss you, Dimitri, so much. That ache gets worse and worse as time goes by. I have a feeling that I'm not going to be here much longer, and that I will be joining you soon."

Looking up into the sky I looked at the stars, watching them sparkle. "I wish you were here, Dimitri." I said as I got up and stared down, and with the album in hand and another swipe of my along the top of the stone; I turned and left.

Here Lies
Dimitri Belikov
Guardian, Friend, Son, Brother, Father, Husband
Loved, Loyal, and Brave
Вечная служба
Serviciul veșnică
Eternal Service
1984-2024