Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns VA and its characters. Plot is all I own. No infringement intended.

"I'm sorry, you want what?" Dimitri paces in the office running his hands through his hair wondering how they got here.

"Can we be friends with benefits?" Rose had asked him all those years ago. Dimitri should have said no. He should have been the voice of reason like he has always been. But even he lacked control sometimes especially when it came to Rose. She could ask him to jump, and he wouldn't even ask how high. He would just do it. And it wasn't like he didn't want more of her. Throughout high school, Dimitri had the attention of several girls. They liked the Russian guy with the sexy accent. He liked some of them too, but none of them had come close to Rose. The way she made him feel. Complete. He is complete with her. Even before their relationship turned sexual, he could count on her being there for him through the mischief and the consequences. She knew what was in his heart, or so he thought.

Rose bites on her lower lip and evades making eye contact with Dimitri. As soon as the words had left her mouth, Rose wanted to take it back. He had stared up at her still on his lap after sex with his mouth open in shock. It wasn't the best time to do it, Rose knew, but he had opened a can of worms. So, Rose had jumped out of his lap and gotten dressed. She tried to dismiss it and leave, but Dimitri hadn't let her. Whether she wanted to or not, now she had to go through with her decision.

"I just mean…" Rose begins rubbing her sweaty palms nervously. "I think we should talk tomorrow."

"Over breakfast, huh?" Dimitri chuckles humorlessly rubbing his chin. "Were you going to tell me after pancakes and bacon?"

"And some coffee," Rose adds laughing nervously. When Dimitri says nothing and simply looks at her, she sighs and stands up. She begins to move toward him, to close the ocean between them, but stops unsure if he'll allow her to touch him. "I just meant I want to end this arrangement. I don't want to lose you though. You're my best friend." She pauses considering what he said. "What did you mean when you say you want more? More as in with another person or…" with me, she finishes in her head unable to say the words out loud and set herself up for rejection.

When Rose and Janine moved to Boston after the divorce, Rose was very damaged. She was young, but she was smart. She understood she would never see her father again. Her parents fought constantly over nothing until one day Janine grew tired. Janine refused to raise Rose in a toxic environment. As Rose and Dimitri grew closer, she spoke of the times her parents woke her up with the yelling.

"I don't ever want to be in a relationship," Rose had told Dimitri one night after take-out, movies, and sex. "I wouldn't know how to function with such a shitty example I got from my parents."

"You would," Dimitri replied tracing patterns on her shoulder. "I think knowing how bad it could be, can keep you from making the same mistakes they did. Besides, look at me. I didn't have the best example either, but I want that. I want to one day have a wife and children. The fact that my father was an asshole doesn't stop me from having dreams."

Dreams Rose could never make come true. As her best friend, she owed it to him to set him free. To let him live his best life with someone who deserves him and is not damaged. Someone who knows what they want.

"I meant I want more with you," Dimitri pulls her out of her thoughts with his confession.

"Me?" Rose gasps. "Why would you want me? You know I'm fucked up!"

"No," Dimitri shakes his head and places his hands on each side of her face. "You think you are, but you're not. You're not Janine or Abe."

"Dimitri, I can't." She pulls away from him. "I can't be who you want me to be. I'm not wife material…"

"I'm not asking you to marry me," Dimitri replies once again running his hand through his hair. "I'm asking you to give me, to give us,a chance. Let's do the date thing. Let's figure it out together. We're already halfway there, Rose. You know me like the back of your hand. I can read you as easy as my Western novels. We've been in a relationship for ten years, unofficially, yes but we've not dated anyone else. What does that tell you? We're meant for each other. I know you care about me just as much as I care about you. Please. Don't run away. Don't be afraid to be with me."

"I can't… I…" Rose whimpers.

Dimitri presses his forehead against hers. "Roza, I love you." He whispers. "I have loved you for a long time. When we met, I thought you would be a pain in my ass. Always running around getting yourself into trouble, and I had to come save you. I was right. You were my pain in the ass. But I never imagined how you could change my life. I'm braver and selfless because of you. Because you give so much of yourself without thought. Because you fight for those who can't. And God, you're beautiful, so beautiful it hurts me. Rose, give me a chance to show you, to prove I won't hurt you. Ever. I'll always take care of you, remember?"

Rose shakes her head as her tears flow freely and silently down her cheeks. In her heart, she knows he's right. They have been in love for too long, and she has always wondered what it would be like to make it official. Would they make it through the week without screaming at each other? Would they move in together? Will she ever feel ready for marriage and family? Her brain says no. The logical and terrified part of her brain warn her against everything he promises. Surely, Abe promised Janine to never hurt her. Abe must have promised to always take care of them both; he must have sworn eternal love for Janine Hathaway. But Abe broke that promise. He broke Janine's heart and Rose's.

"Rose," Dimitri wipes her tears with his thumb. "You don't have to give me an answer right now. I can wait. I'll wait for you for as long as you need me to. We'll have breakfast tomorrow. We can talk more just please don't end this. Not yet."

Rose sniffles and finally looks up at Dimitri. She sees hope and fear in his chocolate eyes. Hope that she might be the one he has always dreamed of, and fear that he might lose her. Rose grips his hand in hers and kisses his palm. Before she can give him an answer, the rattling of the door handle followed by a persistent knock breaks their bubble. They had forgotten they were at the police station.

"One second!" Dimitri shouts followed by Russian curses under his breath. "Sorry, Roza. We will have to pick this up soon. Breakfast at your place or mine?"

"Mine," she sighs defeated. Dimitri is just as stubborn as she is. He won't give up easily. "Send me a list of ingredients."

"No," Dimitri smiles relieved she has given him the chance to present his case. "I'll get everything tonight. Go home and rest. Do you have to work today?"

Rose shakes her head. "Doctor Ivashkov sent me home for the day because I helped with your witness."

"Perfect," Dimitri kisses her lips chastely holding her face in his hands gently as if she could crumble under his touch. Rose responds just as softly. They have kissed like this before, but for some reason it feels different. It feels right. "Get some rest, love. You look like hell."

Rose snorts. "Look who's talking. The guy with the bloodstained shirt."

Dimitri chuckles and opens his mouth to respond, but the person waiting outside his office is losing their patience. The intruder taps on the window impatiently making the glass shake. Dimitri groans and pulls away from Rose. In two strides, he's at the door. He takes a moment to look around his office for anything that may look out of place but mostly giving time for Rose to compose herself. She nods when she smooths her hair as much as possible and wipes all tears from her face. Dimitri swings the door open ready to strangle whoever interrupted this very important moment.

"What the hell, Dimitri?" Galina pushes the door open all the way and enters uninvited. "I hate waiting… Who is this?" Galina points a perfect manicured nail towards Rose.

Rose crosses her arms defensively not liking the way this woman talks to Dimitri. She looks the woman up and down, assessing her. Grudgingly, Rose admits to herself that the woman is beautiful in a stuck-up way. The woman is thin and tall or maybe it's the killer stiletto heels she wears. Her hair cascades down in gold waves to her chest cladded in a black, tight pant suit.

"Please come in, Galina," Dimitri mutters as he makes his way to Rose. He stands next to her placing his hand on her lower back. "This is Rose Hathaway. She's a nurse and a very… close friend." He finishes inadequately as he is unsure what he and Rose are now. "Rose, this Galina Liski. She's the DA."

"How cute," Galina replies curling her red coated lips a little. "Is this your childhood friend?"

"Yes," Dimitri gazes lovingly at Rose, which Galina notices.

"Cute," Galina repeats gazing at her watch. "Make her leave. We have much to discuss, Dimitri."

"Excuse me?" Rose snorts. "This is Dimitri's office. He decides who stays and who leaves. But it so happens that I was just leaving."

"Well, good," Galina replies giving Rose a sickly-sweet smile. "Shut the door on your way out, friend."

Without another word, Galina sits on the chair Dimitri and Rose had sex a while ago. Dimitri and Rose share a knowing look and smile enjoying their secret. With a sigh, Rose makes for the door knowing she can't start anything with a DA. Mostly because it might affect Dimitri. He walks her out of his office, closing the door behind him to properly say goodbye. Usually, they make sure no one sees them being overly affectionate, but Dimitri no longer cares who sees. He holds Rose close placing his hands on her lower back and kisses her. As their lips move softly, Rose throws caution to the wind and buries her hands in Dimitri's hair finally releasing it completely from his messy ponytail. Her cheeks blush with the warmth of his body and the exhilarating thought that everyone is watching them. Everyone will soon know of them and their relationship. Everyone will know Dimitri is hers alone. Maybe.

All too soon, they break apart to breathe. Dimitri gazes into her eyes with a love-sick and joyous smile on his lips. Rose loves seeing him this happy, and she only hopes she won't have to break his heart later.

"I will see you soon," Dimitri promises giving her one last quick kiss. "I love you."

Before Rose can reply, Dimitri rushes back into his office. He catches Galina by the window looking through the blinds. She says nothing at being caught spying on Dimitri and Rose. Galina continues watching Rose make her way through the lobby with several officers and receptionists watching her leave no doubt speaking of her kiss with Detective Belikov.

"I guess you two are very close," Galina comments finally tearing away from the window and crossing her arms over her chest. "Very dear friends indeed."

"Very personal indeed," replies Dimitri lowering himself into his own chair waiting for Galina to get on with whatever was so important a minute ago he had to send Rose away.

"Isn't she a little too young for you?" Galina makes her way towards Dimitri stopping behind him. She places her hands on his shoulders rubbing his tense muscles.

"She's only a couple years younger not that it should be your business, Galina," Dimitri shrugs her hands off. "Let's keep this professional."

Galina snorts very unlady like. "Fine. Just remember," she leans down to whisper in his ear. "I'm here when you finally realize your little friend is not enough for you."

Dimitri abruptly sits up practically pushing Galina away. He spins around to face her. "Please keep your opinions to yourself." His jaw twitches. "Whatever happens between Rose and me, it's between us. Regardless if she is my friend or lover, she's special to me, and you'll do well to respect her. Now, if you have business to discuss, my door is always open otherwise keep your distance, Galina. I have told you many times you and I can only be friends."

"I was kidding," Galina places her hand on her chest and gasps as if offended. "Relax, Detective Belikov. I certainly wouldn't put our careers in jeopardy for a fling. You're right. Let's discuss business."

Dimitri doesn't sit until Galina moves away from him. She pulls out an envelope from her Louis Vuitton briefcase. Acting as if nothing had happened, Galina slides the envelope to Dimitri.

"Your witness spoke to a sketch artist. This portrait matches our body in the morgue."

"So, we have our killer?" Dimitri frowns as he looks at the sketch. "Do we have a name?"

"Not yet. I figured that's for you to find out. I only came to warn you we're letting your witness go. We have nothing to hold him, so if you want to question him, you better go now." She looks at her watch. "You have about an hour before he's free."

"Thanks," Dimitri nods already getting to his feet. "I'll talk to him and send you an email with the details."

"Be careful," Galina calls over her shoulder as Dimitri makes his way out of his office. "I mean with your Rose. It's my job to read people, to watch for signs of guilt. She looked scared as hell. You're intense and mature, Dimitri. She might not be able to handle that."

"No offense," Dimitri turns to glare at Galina. "Stick to persecuting criminals." He slams the door shut.

Feeling too wound up, Rose knows she won't go home and sleep. There's too much to process. She never expected Dimitri to fall in love with her. She never felt good enough for him. He's gorgeous, a true gentleman, kind, strong, sexy and everything any girl would want in a man. All Rose has going for her is her beauty. Everyone keeps telling her how selfless she is, but they don't know how selfish she truly is. Afraid of losing Dimitri, she came up with their friends with benefits arrangement only to keep him from finding true love. Of course, he claims to have found love but for how long? How long before he realizes Rose really doesn't know how to do relationships? How long before he breaks his promise, or she breaks his heart?

Unable to calm her raging mind, Rose decides to go see the only person who might make up her mind once and for all. The one person she could always count on to tell it like it is and not sugarcoat it like Lissa or be a hopeless romantic like Sydney. Rose uses her spare key to let herself into her mother's house. It had been a while since she set foot in the house. Not because Rose didn't want to see her mother. College and working at the hospital took a lot of Rose's time. Usually her mother came to Rose's apartment to check on her and occasionally bring a casserole Janine had found online and managed to butcher. However, it's the thought that counts, and Rose knows she's lucky to have Janine as her mother. If anyone will have wisdom to help Rose decide, it will be Janine Hathaway.

"Hello?" Rose calls out as she takes her shoes off at the entrance. It was a gesture instilled in her not by Janine, but by Olena Belikova. Rose makes a note to pop in next door to check on Olena and the girls after seeing her mother. "Mom?"

"Rose?" Janine calls from the den. "Darling is that you?"

"Hi, mom," Rose smiles rounding the corner to the den. She finds Janine with her laptop on the glass table and a ball of yarn on the floor. "Don't tell me you're trying to crochet?"

"I have to master it by the time I'm sixty," Janine pauses the video and sets her tools down.

"Which is when, next year?" Rose chuckles sitting down next to her mother.

"Is that any way to speak to your mother whom you have neglected?" Janine pulls Rose in for a hug. "Are you okay?"

Rose shrugs. "Tired as hell. I just got off a sixteen something hour shift."

Janine nods. "Want something to eat? I just made some gluten free muffins."

"No, thanks. I'm not hungry."

"Oh," Janine puts her hand on Rose's forehead. "You must be sick darling."

"I think your daughter, the nurse, would know if she was sick," Rose rolls her eyes but lets her mother keep fussing. It's nice to be taken care of for once.

The Hathaways end up at the kitchen picking at the gluten free muffins and drinking green tea to pass the time. Since Rose moved out, Janine had been trying to stay busy learning and trying new things. Most of the time, those things ended in disaster or the trash. They never lasted before Janine moved onto something else. As Janine recounted her latest attempts at eating healthy and crocheting, Rose nodded and listened laughing as her mother showed the misshapen socks and hats she had thus far made.

"What brings you here, though?" Janine asks as she throws away the remaining muffins. "I doubt you came for my cooking or my socks."

Rose keeps picking at her muffin avoiding eye contact. "I just wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine, darling. I'm not an old woman incapable of taking care of herself, yet."

"I know," Rose nods popping a piece of the muffin in her mouth. "I just wanted to make sure. Do you still go to Zumba with Olena?"

"Of course, every Thursday and Tuesday. We're getting better." Janine winks showing off some of her moves. When Rose doesn't smile or crack a joke at Janine's expense, the concerned mother finally decides it's time to get her daughter talking. "All right. Obviously, something is going on. Talk to me, Rosemarie Mazur Hathaway."

When Janine used Rose's full name, which Abe chose, Rose knew it was serious, and there was no way Rose would get to leave without spilling the beans. Of course, why else had Rose come for if not to spill the beans?

"What happened between you and the old man?" Rose meets her mother's eyes and sees the hurt in Janine's face. "I don't mean to bring up bad memories or anything, I just… I just need to know why it didn't work. Was it my fault?"

"Oh, darling," Janine grabs Rose's hand in hers and kisses it. "No. No, never. Your father and I just… We didn't work out, honey. We were young fresh out of high school when I found out about you. His parents hated me for derailing him from going to school, and that didn't help."

"So, it was me," Rose chuckles and shakes her head.

"Rose, no." Janine replies fervently. "You had no choice. Your father and I were irresponsible. We were… In love. God, were we in love. Just crazy about each other. We couldn't stop, well, you know. It was like fire burning deep and fast." She falls silent. "We loved each other and you, of course. We got married at eighteen, moved into a crappy house, dealt with bills and raising you when we had no idea what we were doing until your father finally made it. He managed to make his own business and get us out of poverty. But it was too late. Our marriage was in ashes. All the things we said to each other, we couldn't take back. It was nothing you did, Rose. It was us. We didn't know any better."

"Do you ever regret it?" Rose asks quietly unsure if she could trust her voice. The knot in her throat was getting bigger with Janine's every word. "I mean, do you regret Abe or… me?"

"No," Janine walks around the kitchen island and pulls Rose in for a hug. "I don't regret Abe or you. You're the best thing that's happened to us. I do regret not working harder. Relationships are hard, Rose. It takes work. I wish Abe and I had made it work. I really do. I just hope we didn't ruin relationships for you. You've always been so cynical of love. That's no way to live, baby. Don't be afraid to love and be loved."

Seeing Janine put things into perspective for Rose. Without even knowing it, Janine helped Rose make a decision. They talked more about the hospital, Lissa and Christian finally moving in together, Sydney and her mysterious man finally coming out in public, and Dimitri. Speaking of Dimitri made Rose nervous. She didn't mention the shooting just in case Dimitri's family didn't know. It should come from him. Together, Rose and Janine headed next door to visit the Belikovas. Viktoria and Paul, Dimitri's nephew, had been over the moon to see Rose. Eventually, exhaustion caught up with Rose and all she wanted was her bed. With lots of kisses and promises to visit more often, Rose makes her way home. She fumbles with the keys to her apartment complex and drops them. With a curse, Rose bends down to pick them up. In that moment, the hair on the back of her neck rises. Slowly, she gets up and looks up and down the street. Several of her neighbors are making their way home. A couple of kids toss a ball in the middle of the street jumping out of the way when cars honk at them to get out of the way. The cat lady from down the street comes out to feed her strays. Overall, nothing out of the ordinary, but she feels something, someone, watching her. With a shiver and a shrug, she finally goes inside and heads straight for bed without taking her scrubs or shoes off. Dreamland claims her before her head hits the pillow.

Dimitri lets himself into his mother's house. He sets a bag of groceries on the counter and sets out to find the women of the house. First, he finds his grandmother, Yeva, in her rocking chair with her eyes closed.

"Rose was here," Yeva says as Dimitri turns to leave. "Lovely girl. I've always liked her."

Dimitri kisses the top of Yeva's head. "You have a funny way of showing it. You hit her with your cane constantly."

"Only when she was being hardheaded." Yeva smiles fondly. "She wasn't hardheaded today. It's about time." She squeezes his hand.

"Babushka," Dimitri shakes his head in amusement. "I don't know what you're saying half the time. Where's mama?"

"Dimka," Olena calls from the front door. "I saw your car outside from Janine's house. This is lovely. Rose was here, too." She finishes pulling her son in for a hug.

"I've been told," Dimitri kisses his mother. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she smacks his shoulder. "But you… You didn't tell me you were in a shot out."

"He's always in a shot out," Yeva replies waving her hand in the air dismissively. "But he'll always come back."

"Anyway," Olena sighs. "Don't keep things from me, Dimka."

"Sorry, mama," he kisses her hand and smiles mischievously. "Actually, there is something I wanted to talk to you about."

Olena sits next to Yeva in the living room. Dimitri paces back and forth suddenly nervous. Rose hasn't given him an answer so perhaps announcing he loves her to his family is presumptuous. But he cannot contain his excitement. Besides, he wants his mother's and grandmother's blessing in pursuing a relationship with someone they know and love. It shouldn't be too hard.

"I'm in love," he begins earning a gasp. "Her name is..."

"Rose," Yeva chimes in.

"Yes," Dimitri rolls his eyes. Of course, Yeva would know. "Rose. I've been in love with her for a while. I have asked her to give me a chance. I ask your blessing." He looks at Olena at the last part. "You already love her, and I just want to know our relationship will be received with open arms."

Olena says nothing for a while. "She is too young," Olena finally says. "Are you sure she's ready?"

"Mama," Dimitri sighs a little annoyed wondering why everyone seems concerned with Rose's age. "She's twenty-eight. Only a couple years younger than me. Besides, age is just a number."

"Sure, but… I don't know, Dimitri. I do love her, but she's always working…"

"I'm always working," Dimitri scoffs trying to keep calm. "We're committed to our careers, yes, but I know relationships take work too."

"Does she?" Olena raises her eyebrows. "She's never been in a relationship."

"Neither have I. Nothing serious besides if you must know, we've been together for ten years." He explains his arrangement leaving out the explicit details. He hadn't intended to reveal his private life with Rose. "I love her, and I know she loves me too."

"I cannot believe you were this foolish," Olena chastises. "How could you think an arrangement like that would end well? Of course, you would fall in love with her! You've loved her since you were a kid following her around. You always said, 'oh mama, I'm only keeping her safe.'"

"I was," Dimitri chuckles recalling how everyone called him Rose's shadow. "She had a knack for getting in trouble."

"She still does," Olena grabs her son's hand and sighs. "But you love her, so who am I to get in the way? I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I do."

"He does," Yeva says at the same time as Dimitri.

After speaking to the girls for a while, Dimitri kissed them all goodnight and headed to Rose's apartment. Inside, he puts groceries away as silently as he can. When he came in, all the lights were off, so he assumed Rose was sleeping. Done in the kitchen, Dimitri makes his way to Rose's bedroom. He turns the bedside lamp on and finds her fully clothed. With a quiet chuckle, he removes her shoes and works on removing her clothing without waking her up. She must be exhausted because she doesn't even stir. He knows she likes to sleep with one of his shirts and just her underwear. Once she's comfortable, Dimitri lays down beside her and pulls her into his arms.

"I love you, Roza," he says into her hair before drifting off to sleep himself.

The smell of bacon wakes Rose. She groans as she stretches, her tense muscles screaming at her. Her eyes flutter open and finds a glass of water on the beside table. Dimitri. He knows she drinks water first thing in the morning. He would know that after all those years together. His words echo back in that moment.

"We've been in a relationship for ten years," he had said yesterday.

Her eyes begin to glisten with tears as the emotions hit her hard like a ton of bricks. It's true. They've been together. Somewhere along the arrangement, the lines blurred or perhaps they had always been blurred. What started as a crush turned into something more the night of prom ten years ago. How could she be so stupid? She did know him like the back of her hand, and he read her like an open book. He knew how she liked to sleep for fuck's sake!

With that realization, Rose wipes her face and drinks her glass of water. Quietly, she makes her way to the bathroom where she inspects herself. She has looked better, but she can tell there's something different in her eyes. Hope? Rose smiles. Yes, it feels right. There's hope she hasn't been damaged beyond repair. And even if she's damaged, he wants her. He knows everything about her. They're best friends and more. No one will compare to him. She will literally do anything for him. Walk on broken glass for miles just to get to him. Except, she doesn't have to do that. All she must do is go into that kitchen and tell him.

Rose watches him whistle and slave over the stove working on her bacon. "Dimitri," she calls softly stepping into the kitchen.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Dimitri calls looking up briefly. His heart sinks when he sees her tear stained face. He shuts the stove off and rushes to her side. "Rose? Roza? Are you okay? Talk to me."

"Yes," she whispers looking into his eyes and caressing his lips with her fingertips. "Yes."

Dimitri frowns. "Yes, you're okay?"

Rose steps back and without another word, takes her shirt off exposing her naked breasts to him and taking her underwear off. She stands fully naked and nervous. Even though, she's been naked countless times, this feels different. It's not just physical nakedness, it's emotional. She's exposing her heart to him, letting him in all the way.

"Roza?" Dimitri licks his lips unsure if he should be concerned or aroused.

"Yes, to you," she steps back into his arms. "Yes, to us."

AN: So no lemon in this one. Sorry! I do promise two next chapter. Thanks for your love for the story. I appreciate every single one of you!