RPOV

Staring at the clock in Bash's dimly lit nursery, I began to wonder if this day would ever end.

From the moment that Peter Novak walked into my gym this morning, it had literally been one shit storm after the next.

And as if Dimitri going off the rails wasn't spectacle enough, I'd watched Olena lose her shit today as well.

I mean seriously, what the hell was that about?

I'd known the woman for 5 years and never once in all that time had I ever seen her be so hateful to another human being. The woman was practically a saint for crying out loud!

Her crazy outburst just didn't make any sense to me.

I tried questioning her about it once Ophelia scurried off, but she nearly bit MY head off in the process! In a clipped tone she told me if I wanted to know more, then I really ought to talk to Dimitri.

And I planned to.

At least I would once he got his ass home.

I was 10pm and I still hadn't heard a peep. Any longer and I was going to lose all my patience.

Ha!

Like I really had that much to begin with…

I'd spent the better part of our evening fielding calls from all our friends, and had to endure another lengthy lecture from my mother. In all honestly I would probably still be listening to her now if Abe hadn't intervened on my behalf. Once he made his position clear on thinking I was right to kick some ass, my mother shifted her annoyance onto him.

Poor Old Man

I should probably call and thank him for that tomorrow.

There was also the matter of our son who was still refusing to eat, and me without the faintest clue as to why. Olena kept insisting that I shouldn't be worried yet, but my instincts were screaming something different. Dimitri was probably the only person on the planet with a prayer of convincing me otherwise, but he was still currently missing in action.

What an asshole.

I get that he's upset about what happened earlier today, but would it kill the man to pick up the telephone?

"Is he out?" Olena asked softly after appearing in the doorway and I glanced down at the baby in my arms.

His perfectly pink lips formed the shape of an 'O', and his long lashes fluttered against his tiny cheeks.

3 months later and I still couldn't believe that Dimitri and I had made something so perfect.

"Yes" I told Olena, dragging my eyes away from Bash. "He tuckered himself out about 10 minutes ago."

Olena smiled fondly at her grandson as I gently laid him in his crib, and we both took a step back to admire him. Personally I could have stood there watching Sebastian sleep all night, but Olena's voice broke through the quiet surrounding us.

"I'm sorry about today, and for the way that I reacted. I never should have snapped at you like I did."

She was my mother in law and I loved her, so I would never say as much; but it definitely hurt my feelings earlier when she did.

"Don't worry about it" I lied smoothly as we exited Bash's room, and I quietly pulled the door closed behind us.

"That's kind of you Roza, but I was way out of line. However I would like to explain if you're still interested."

Hell yeah I was!

But something told me that this was going to get personal; maybe even too personal. And after a day that had filled with some many unpleasant surprises, did I really want to risk finding out anymore?

"I appreciate it Olena, truly I do. But an explanation really isn't necessary. Whatever your feelings toward Ophelia, they're completely your own business. You really don't owe me anything."

But Olena firmly shook her head in protest.

"But I do think it's necessary for a number of reasons; the most important of them being Dimitri. I know how worried you are, and I know I'm worried too; especially after seeing Ophelia. Her presence here really isn't good for him."

Okay, now I was more than a little intrigued.

"Tell me something Roza, how much do you know about Ophelia?"

"Not much" I admitted. "Only that she's Ivan's sister. But Dimitri mentioned they were all pretty close as kids."

Olena sighed heavily as we wandered into the kitchen, and then headed straight over to the wine rack.

"Have a seat" she instructed as she pulled down two glasses. "But first, I think we're going to need some wine."

2 hours and 2 bottles of wine later, I was left with more questions than answers.

"Are you alright Roza?" Olena asked softly, placing a kind hand over mine.

I thought about it for a moment and then turned to face her with uncertainty.

"Why the hell hasn't he ever told me all of this?"

I wasn't angry about the fact that he had a life before me. Lord knows I had a scandalous past all my own. But the difference here was Dimitri knew everything about mine.

"I can't speak for Dimka, but if I had to guess I'd say the pain. Maybe it was too painful for him to talk about."

Well tough shit!

Remembering Mason was always painful, but he made me talk about that.

Plus this was definitely something a wife ought to know about!

"Oh Roza" Olena sighed, picking up on my anger. "We both know what a private person Dimka is. He grew up the only man in a house full of women, and Ivan was the closest thing that boy had to a brother. After he died, he completely shut down, and even Ophelia couldn't bring him back again. Of course it was her fault that he died in the first place." She added bitterly. "They started fighting all the time, and then she called the engagement off. And that's when he transferred to St. Vladimir's."

Well this certainly put a few things in perspective.

Like why he felt so guilty over Ivan's demise; because he was off getting engaged to Ivan's sister.

Or why he fought our attraction for so long.

He knew Lissa would be his charge and what a relationship could cost him. He was so determined to never fail anyone again.

"What I'm trying to say is that the whole thing is pretty complicated. He loved Ophelia once, but he loved her brother more. And Ophelia is the reason Dimka lost him."

Even if it was true, it seemed an awfully cruel thing to say. I mean Ophelia lost her brother and the man that she loved. How would I feel if it had been Lissa and Dimitri?

I couldn't even imagine…

And in that moment, I felt horrible for Ophelia.

"I think I need some air." I told Olena, pushing my chair back from the table. "Would you mind keeping an ear out for Sebastian?"

Her sympathetic smile was all the answer that I needed.

Wandering aimlessly around court, I considered calling Lissa. There was a good chance that she was still up with the twins.

But then I thought about how hard trying to explain it all would be; especially when I barely understood myself.

So instead I kept walking until I wound up at the gym and figured this was good a place as any to work things out.

And if nothing else, at least it would give me the chance to hit something.

I didn't even bother changing before I started in on the punching bag; immediately feeling relief after one hit. It felt so good in fact, that I hit it again, and again, over and over, increasing speed. It wasn't until I heard a man clearing his voice from somewhere nearby, that I realized I wasn't in this gym alone.

Who the hell else would be in here at such an hour?

I glanced toward the sound and internally groaned when I found myself looked at Sasha Novak.

Well this is just great.

I guess it's time for round two with this asshole!

"Don't you think you've had enough fighting for one day?" He asked. "You should be home resting up for the next combine tomorrow morning."

"Yeah well it's kind of hard to sleep when you don't know where your husband is. Thanks to your son, his PTSD has returned with a vengeance."

And to my utter shock, the man actually looked contrite.

"Your face looks better" he remarked, as a way to change the subject. For some reason, he seemed less hostile than earlier.

"One of the perks of being friends with a spirit healer" I replied. "I don't suppose your son's got one of those on standby?"

"I'm afraid not" he said with a slight shake of his head. "Peter's never been very good at making friends."

"Really?" I answered dryly. "Well I can't imagine why."

After our brief encounter this morning, I had pegged him as a tight ass, so it took me by surprise when he cracked a smile.

"Guardian Hathaway" he sighed and his smile disappeared. "It would seem that I owe you an apology."

I'm sorry…what?

"It turns out I was wrong about my son. One of the guardians in attendance brought a video to my attention, and it corroborated the story that you told me.

Well no shit.

"The only reason your fighting escalated was self-defense."

Damn right it was!

And a slow goofy grin spread across my face.

Man I loved hearing that I was right…

"I know you think that I'm an asshole, and I haven't given you much reason not to. But I assure you, I'm not half as bad as you think. This whole transition has been difficult, and a little hard to swallow. Let's just say it's not bringing out the best in me."

I hated to admit it, but it was totally understand.

I mean we'd basically swooped in here and stolen this man's whole life's work. The smug and immature part of me wanted to rub my victory in his face, but the rational side of me insisted that I not push it.

"Well thank you Sir, I really appreciate you saying that. I'm sure I probably could have handled things differently too."

"Perhaps" he smiled kindly. "But you aren't entirely to blame. With your genetics, you were bound to be a hot head."

And now it was my turn to be amused.

"Ha! Don't let my mother hear you say that!"

And he visibly paled at the thought…

After sharing a good laugh, he sombered up a bit and I got the feeling there was something more he needed to say.

"Listen, about Belikov; well I was wondering if it was true. Have you really not heard anything from him all day?"

I wasn't sure I should be telling this to what was more or less a stranger, but the man genuinely seemed concerned about Dimitri.

"No, but this isn't the first time that this has happened. It's a thing he tends to when he's feeling overwhelmed. But it IS the first that he's done it in a while. Back home I would have gone out to look for him by now, but then I knew all of his hiding spots over there."

"I see" he said absently, rubbing his chin. "Do you mind if I ask you something else?"

I wasn't quite sure where he was going with this, but I reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Is he happy?" he asked. "Not this second of course. But in general, does he have a good life?"

Well that definitely wasn't the question I was expecting to hear, but since he asked, I took a moment to consider it.

I thought about our wedding and when I told him we were expecting.

He'd certainly seemed happy enough back then.

I thought of the look on his face when we became Juliet's God parents, and his unbridled joy at her christening.

A joy we would repeating again this Friday.

But most important of them all was the day that Bash was born, and the permanent sparkle in Dimitri's eye ever since.

Was our life together perfect?

Not by any means.

But it was genuine and messy and wonderful.

Like us.

After making a mental note to look into why he cared so much later, I decided it wouldn't kill me to give Novak an honest answer.

"The last five years haven't exactly been easy, but generally speaking, this is the happiest I've ever seen him."

Novak smiled fondly; clearly pleased that this was my answer. And with a nod of farewell, he silently exited the gym.

Okay, lots of new information to digest!

Dimitri and Ophelia were once engaged!

Novak might not be the bastard we all thought!

And Olena Belikova can hold a grudge. (Like any good Mama)

Sound off with your thoughts in the reviews.

Oh and for those of you worried about our dear brooding Dimitri, he will be back in the next chapter. : )