So wifi sucks but my brother made a hotspot out of his phone. He had basically unlimited data, so thanks bro. Totally sleep deprived. On holiday in a cabin with three small children (my 11 month old, my brothers 10 month old and his 2 year old son), spells sleep deprivation. Not the smartest idea we have had. When one would finally sleep the other would go off.

Chapter 7:

RPOV

Eric, Lera and Sasha were already at what I assumed was the kitchen table. Lera and Sasha were wolfing down their food and Eric was simply admiring the view as he was taking small and civilized bites of his own food.

"There is some food on the counter, and there is milk in the fridge."

Eric informed me, never taking his eyes off of Lera who looked at him with a mix of love and annoyance. I bet there is something going on there.

I grabbed some food and sat down next to my children and started to inhale the food. We must have looked comical, three in a row, almost completely in sync with scoffing down anything eatable in sight. If there was a sport of synchronized eating, we would have won.

Dimitri came in and I saw him staring at the tree of us. For the first time in days he didn't seem to be repulsed by my presence and even had a sort of fondness in his eyes. When his gaze travelled to Eric who had a similar look, his eyes darkened and honed in on him. I could hear a growl escape his throat and recognized it as overly protective. Yeah definitely something going on between Eric and Lera.

"I was thinking maybe the four of us could do something together today. Adrian said Dani would need a few days to recuperate before she can send us to our own time and I would like to get to know my own children a little."

I said a little hesitant to hear their and Dimitri's reaction.

They looked from Dimitri to me and back.

"That would be amazing. I would actually like to get to know you two as well."

Lera said.

"So anything you two want to do?"

Lera shared a look with Sasha and he nodded.

"Well there is something we have always liked to do with you guys, but never could."

I nodded, urging her to continue. I was expecting maybe some childhood fantasies about us taking them to the park or reading a bedtime story. Those were certainly the fantasize I had as a child when I was thinking of spending time with my mother. But their answer shouldn't have surprised me.

"We would like to train with you."

I looked over at Dimitri. He seemed a little hesitant but after the guilt he felt this morning he couldn't refuse them.

"We would love too."

And with that it was settled. After breakfast they gave us some training gear to wear and they led us to the gym at court. I had only been here once before but I doubt that it had looked like this. Part of the roof had collapsed and the back wall was non-existent. Probably why the roof had collapsed. But there were mats on the floor, dummies in the rear and some training stations at the back. All the ingredients one would need for training.

"Let's warm up first with a run."

Dimitri said and all three of us nodded.

We ran across court. I had to focus on my running because if I would pay too much attention to court I would keel over from depression. This is the world my children lived in. We would have to change this.

Lera and Sasha were up ahead setting the pace and it was a brisk pace too. But they didn't seem to notice, they were happily conversing with one another as if they were walking instead of running. But I was well trained and could keep up with them. I saw Dimitri wasn't having any problems either, his long legs meant it wasn't taking so much effort on his part anyway.

We got back to the gym after about a five mile run. A little longer then my usual round but not tiring yet.

"You kept up with running?"

Dimitri asked as we entered the gym again.

I nodded. I would never stop running, not only was Dimitri right in teaching me how to run, it was also a vital part of surviving. But Dimitri seemed shocked I would keep up with a practice that he had taught me and might remind me of him. He was an idiot. Thinking of him didn't hurt half as much as not thinking off him. I desperately held on to anything I could from a time with Dimitri were we happy.

"So Dad, I have always wanted to know how you did this one move."

Sasha started to explain which move he meant and I saw Dimitri being pulled out of his own depressive thoughts and into mentor mode. I didn't know if Sasha did it on purpose but when he looked over to me and winked I knew he had been.

Dimitri was explaining how to do the move and correct him when he did it wrong. I knew the move well. It was a move he used often against me because it took advantage of his height. It would have been difficult to execute for me, but for Sasha it would be perfect.

"You know he is going to use that in a fight with me now, right."

Lera was standing next to me her arms crossed over her chest.

"Come on I'll show you a move to counter it."

I showed Lera how to deal with Sasha's extended reach. When I was done her eyes shown bright. One part adoration for her mother and fierce warrior she was always told I was, and one part mischief because I just handed her the tools to take her brother down.

After about half an hour Sasha and Dimitri came over to us.

"Yo big sis, Totally going to take you down. Dad showed me this awesome move."

He had the biggest grin on his face and I even Dimitri was smiling.

"Nu-uh. Mom showed me how to counter it. So I am still going to wipe the floor with you."

He was interested in the challenge.

They moved down to the mat and started without a word between them. The one knowing exactly what the other wanted and was doing. The easy way they moved together showed how often they trained together.

Dimitri and I were standing to the side a little apart. We were watching them with pride, but we were watching each other awkwardly. Normally I would stand closer to him, probably make an inappropriate comment and Dimitri would sigh but still have a ghost of a smile on his face. But now he just kept looking over at me but not knowing what to say. I was rubbing my arm awkwardly trying to find use for the idle limp that wanted nothing more than to simply hold his hand.

They were mostly just using their own techniques trying to find an opening to use the ones we taught them. Sasha saw an opening and went for it. Lera tried to counter but both of them missed the mark.

I guess we would have to show them. Almost in a similar matter to Lera and Sasha we moved in sync to the mat. I didn't even ask him if he wanted to show them, we just did it.

Once on the mat, there was a strange silence that didn't used to be there. I hated that it was there. Even when I was frustrated with Dimitri, even when I was angry we always were able to relate to each other in sparring. But I suppose the events of the last few months were too strong to ignore even here.

He had to start and perform the move. He first did it in slow motion so Sasha could see his movements clearly and for me to move slowly as well so Lera could follow mine. It is very similar to how we used to train. Whenever he used to show me a new technique he would start out slow so I could adjust. It was no different now.

Once they nodded they got it we picked up the pace. He would charge and I would counter, he would counter in return and before we know it we were sparring. The sensation was awfully freeing. If we couldn't get our feelings out with our voices we would use our bodies. The rhythm came easily, as if our bodies remembered that they belonged together.

It had never been our bodies that were the problem. It had been us, trying to stay away from each other for Lissa, trying to do the right thing. Trying to kill each other. Maybe we should just let our bodies do the talking. We seemed to be much better at it. Also Dimitri couldn't piss me off by saying he should stay away for my own protection and I couldn't say something that made Dimitri retreat.

We needed this. This small sense of normalcy.

I was starting to enjoy this. It had been a long time since Dimitri and I sparred. Fighting to the death, sure that wasn't so long ago but sparring like this had been a while and I felt complete.

I felt Lera's and Sasha's gaze as they bored into us. I wondered if they were focused on our fighting styles or on the fact we seemed to be in sync now rather than trying to avoid the other.

The pace was picking up and we were in the home stretch now. I really needed this win. I really wanted to take some aggression out on Dimitri and show him I was capable of handling my own shit and I didn't need him to make decisions for me.

I kicked his legs from under him and he plummeted to ground. I was on top of him straddling him before he had a chance to get up or move away. I placed my hand over his heart.

"Dead."

I whispered breathlessly. I was bend over him, my one hand next to his face keeping from crashing into him and the other still placed over his heart. I could feel his heartrate going haywire. The same was happening to mine. They seemed to be beating in sync. Treacherous bodies of ours. I was reminded of the last time we were in this kind of position after sparring when he attacked me in the field test. And I think he was reminded too. For the first time since he was turned back he didn't have guilt in his eyes but lust. At first he was focusing on my face at least, well probably my swollen lips, but I saw his gaze dip towards the swell of my breast where they were moving up and down in a rigorous pace after our sparring match.

He caught himself starring and looked the other way. The clear arousal in his eyes once again replaced by shame and guilt.

My own lust in my eyes was replaced by anger as I got up. I tried to hide it but I think it seeped through. I saw Dimitri slumping even more, no doubt taking my anger was a reaction to his lustful eyes rather these eyes of a man ashamed.

"Well that was fun. I worked up quite an appetite. Let's eat."

I didn't wait for anyone to respond, I simply walked out the door. Hoping I would have calmed down by the time we reached the kitchen.