Hello, my little lovelies! Here it is, the next chapter. Had to do some mushy things here. The next chapter is already underway. Woohoo!

And for those from my favourite country in the world, I hope you had a fabulous Canada Day.

And for my southern neighbours, I hope you all have a lovely Independence Day . . .

Does anyone else find it strange that these to dates are so close together even though their just under a hundred years apart. Hmmm. . .

Anywho.

Cheerio and Enjoy,

Alle99

Chapter Four: Mazur, Hathaway and Belikov

*********DPOV*********

Never in my life had I seen my mother looked so shocked. "Dimka . . ."

After that she didn't speak, she simply charged at me, holding me in an embrace that I hadn't felt in way too long. Over my mother's shoulder, I could see Rose being bombarded by the rest of my family. Paul was wrapped around her waist, and Zoya had taken it upon herself to wrap around one of Rose's legs.

Sonya and Karolina were talking a mile a minute, but Viktoria was staying back and almost looked ashamed of something. I wonder what that could be about.

Just then Rose came up to her, trying to nudge some sort of response out of her sad face. Suddenly, Victoria wrapped herself around Roza, almost like she was trying to crush her, murmuring "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Rather than looking shocked, Rose just held her silently and let my sister cry into her shoulder. Apparently they had some kind of issue that needed solving.

Abruptly, my grandmother came up beside me, nodding to herself. Whether I was willing to admit it or not, she always carried around an air of wisdom, I suppose it came from her abilities.

"Are you going to invite us inside or are we all going to stand here like doodoo's waiting for extinction?"

She may speak roughly, but I knew I still didn't have to worry about my grandmother's mind. "Please, come in Babushka, everyone. Welcome to our home."

*********Abe POV*********

These last few months had been full of revelations. First, actually being able to interact with my daughter on a regular basis. That was wonderful. Though I couldn't really love the circumstances that brought me to her, but some things really couldn't be helped. Second, finding out just how deeply sorry I am to have left her. She may not let her own feelings show often, but in the few moments that I have seen her exposed, it makes me wish that I could have been there so she wouldn't have been so alone in the world.

But what shocks - and pleases me - the most is being able to reconnect with Janine. I've been keeping tabs on her for years, keeping watch over her, just like Rose. She may be a guardian, but I bet she doesn't know she has two guards of her own.

Speaking of which, I can see her now, staring off into space as she drank her coffee. She was sitting at the window of a coffee shop and I couldn't resist going inside. Though her hair was longer when I first met her, it still shone brightly, glimmering even though it was dark outside. A few wrinkles were starting to show around her eyes, and she looked too tired for her thirty-eight years.

Still, she was beautiful beyond belief. Courageous when it was called for. Dangerous when necessary. And the one thing my life had been missing for almost twenty years. But not anymore. And never again.

"Hello, Janine."

*********Janine POV*********

"Hello, Janine."

I could recognize that voice from anywhere. The father of my child. The love I had to leave behind.

"Ibrahim."

He hadn't changed that much over the years. He seemed more sure of himself, more confident in his own knowledge and power. Not that he hadn't had it before. It had been what drew me to him.

"You seemed you were off in dreamland, Janie. Thinking of something special?"

I sighed, then gave a small laugh. "Just the craziness that is our daughter."

"Yes, she certainly can be a handful. But I think that's part of her charm."

I looked at him in shock. "Her charm? What charm does she have?"

"Her grace doesn't come from being quiet, Janie." Ibrahim had now sat down beside me. "She has a fire that you don't see very often. A passion for life and living that I suppose comes from having knowing what it is like to die-" Did he notice his own little shiver when he spoke of his daughter's death "-not only once but twice. I think that there are a great number of people in our world take life for granted, Moroi especially. She never had that luxury. She's known from far too young an age what its like to have your life choices stripped away."

I sighed again. "Yes, and now she has a special someone that's taking up her time, and he's completely infatuated with her. Before you know it she will be going completely insane-" I was really starting to ramble now. "And then they'll get married before you know it and they'll be trying for kids. Sure, people say its impossible, but look at the crazy things those two have already done and-"

I was stopped with a hand over my mouth and a pair of brown eyes staring me down. "Janie, take a deep breath."

Breathing deeply, Ibrahim took his hand off my mouth. "Your thinking a mile a minute here. Rose and Dimitri are fine just the way they are. Sure they'll get married soon, but it's not going to happen yet. But I don't think that's what is really bothering you. What's really on you mind?"

The problem with you, Ibrahim, is you know me too damn well. "She's moving away from us Abe. We've both finally starting to have decent relationships with our child, but she's slipping away. She's an adult now, and as much as we want to think otherwise, she's moving on into a family of her own. We are going to matter less and less, until we have nothing at all."

"You know, she really doesn't think that way." A voice rang out from behind me.

Any predictions anyone. I feel that this is needed, but the next chapter will not be published until 25 reviews are given.

Please and thank you.

;)