He pulled away a minute later, just enough so that he could lean his forehead against hers.
"Mummyyy." Dimitri smiled as he heard Rosie's footsteps grow louder, and he moved away from Erin in time for her to enter the room. Erin smiled at him, and let her daughter run into her arms, lifting her up and setting her on the kitchen island.
She turned to her, and Dimitri came closer, leaning against the counter next to Rosie. Erin whispered something in her daughter's ear, and the young girl tugged at the bottom of his shirt. He looked down, took the tiny outstretched hand in his, and then met the girl's gaze.
Erin looked to Dimitri, "Rosie's going to give you a tour of the house whilst I do a few things. Then we'll order some food."
He smiled at Erin for a moment, and gave her a nod; he certainly had nothing better to do. Rosie clung onto him as he scooped her into his arms the same way he had when putting her to bed those few short months ago. She squealed and laughed as he carried her up the stairs, simultaneously tickling her and planting the small feet on the floor of the landing.
She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards her bedroom, smiling toothily as she introduced him to each of her teddies individually, and nodded with satisfaction as he was polite enough to offer a shake of the hand to each.
Next up was the bathroom, guest bedroom, master bedroom, and office. "Which room did you like the best?" she asked as they padded back down the stairs.
"The pink one, was that yours?" Dimitri asked knowingly, shooting a smile at Erin as she appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. "Sorted?" he asked.
She gave a light nod and smiled at Rosie. "What are we eating Rose?"
Rosie immediately turned to Dimitri. "Dee?"
He shook his head. "Up to you darling."
Erin smiled at him as Rosie strode through to the kitchen. "She must really like you. I don't think she's ever asked a guest for their opinion before."
Dimitri laughed, mocking himself as he realised he hoped that was true. He rested a hand on her back as they all leant over the menu that Rosie had picked out; pizza.
Rosie rattled off what sounded like her usual order. "Dee?" Erin turned to him.
He shrugged. "I'll have what you're having."
She nodded and made the call as Rosie ran upstairs to change into pyjamas.
The delivery arrived just after half past six. Dimitri blocked off the front door as he insisted on paying for the meal, and enlisted Rosie to 'help' with the boxes.
There was a constant flow of conversation as they ate. Dimitri asked about school, and Rosie chatted excitedly, pleased to have a new and apparently interested person to whom she could retell every story of the last six months. Dimitri may have met Rosie before, but today seemed different. From the amount of energy she had, you'd never know that she had been having trouble sleeping.
They finished the meal with ice cream on the sofa, and by the time they'd stopped eating, they were all feeling thoroughly bloated. "I'll do that," Dimitri said as Erin moved to clear the dirty bowls.
She patted his arms away with a hand and made off with them before he had a chance to stop her. "Rosie, bed," she called behind her as she left the room.
Rosie looked up to Dimitri as though expecting him to offer a different solution to the complex problem that is bedtime. After a shrug, he once again found himself being dragged up the stairs by the girl as she headed to the bathroom. She ordered him to wait as she brushed her teeth, then continued to tow him until he found himself in the master bedroom. "I thought this was your mum's room?" He took the room in again; neutral colours, oak dresser, double bed with more pillows than a middle-class department store.
She nodded. "Mum let's me sleep in here when I have nightmares."
Dimitri nodded as Rosie's face began to show a new wave of vulnerability. The smile faded, the brow creased, and the shy young girl he'd met the first time he'd laid eyes on her returned in an instant. His mind flashed back to the image of when he had retrieved her from where she had been held. He shook the thought away and turned to leave as Rosie snuggled under the covers, but she wasn't letting him get away that easily.
She made a dissatisfied sound and he turned back into the room.
He watched her for a moment, noticing as her eyes glazed over in anticipation of the dreams that would haunt her in her sleep. "You want me to stay with you for a bit?" He quickly thought of Erin downstairs and whether she would be okay with this; too late to retract the offer. Rosie gave him little choice as she slowly nodded, a single tear dangerously close to overflowing and trickling down her rosy cheek.
Two minutes later he lay face up in the middle of Erin's bed, a sleeping Rosie once again snuggled into his side, his arm wrapped around her. Dimitri could see from the depth of her sleep that she had been more tired than she'd let on. Her eyes had fluttered shut and her breathing grew deep almost instantly. He doubted that the saying, 'out like a light,' had ever been more appropriate.
Dimitri could feel her breaths relaxing him, and he struggled against his tired eyes until the resistance was hopeless. They flickered shut and he too, fell into a deep sleep.
A/N: If you're still reading, thanks for sticking with us. Please take a few seconds to leave a review, and thank you to all those who have already – and are continuing to - let me know what you think.