Okay, so we reached 100+ reviews after the last chapter, so as promised, I have included a surprise POV.
I forgot to add the Disclaimer on the last couple of chapters, but none of the characters except Julia belong to me. They belong to the one and only richelle mead.
Enjoy!
Rose POV
Previously:
Dimitri picked me up from Lissa's about an hour before lunch. He drove about 45 minutes to a small diner on the outskirts of town. It was ironically close to the place that housed the party where we met. The name of the diner was Olena's Diner. There weren't many cars around, and the place looked almost deserted. I wondered if the food was any good.
"This is my mother's diner. I wanted you to try the food, but I made sure to bring you on a day that my mother and sisters wouldn't be scheduled to work. I don't want you to feel pressured by meeting them."
His admission startled me. I hadn't expected him to bring me to his family's diner. Hell, to be perfectly honest, I hadn't even considered meeting his family yet, even though the only person in my family that he hasn't met was my mom.
We walked into the diner and took a seat. We weren't sitting for very long when a young woman hollered out to us.
"Dimka!"
I looked up at the woman that was hurriedly walking towards Dimitri and I. She has blonde hair that came down past her slim shoulders, a pale complexion, and she wore glasses over her bright blue eyes. She was very pretty, and I found myself feeling slightly jealous because she definitely seemed to know my date. I turned my attention to Dimitri and whispered.
"What kind of name is Dimka?"
"Russian nickname."
His reply was quick, but the blonde woman had made it to our table before he finished. She spoke to him as if I wasn't sitting there.
"Vika is in the back with Christian. She showed up a few minutes ago, so I didn't have time to call you to warn you."
Vika? Who is Vika? And who is this woman?
"Thank you, Beth. Rose, this is Beth. Beth, this is Rose."
I decided to be nice since I didn't really know her. After all, she could just be someone from Dimitri's family. We shared polite greetings, and she left to get back to work. Dimitri spoke, pulling me from my thoughts about who Beth was to Dimitri.
"I'm so sorry, Rose. None of my family was supposed to be here today so that you wouldn't be pressured by meeting them, but my sister came in today anyway."
His sister? Oh! Vika. That makes sense, I guess. I started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Don't worry about it, comrade. I'm okay with meeting your sister. You've already met half of my family. Meeting your sister won't be that bad."
"You say that because you haven't met her yet. Viktoria can be a bit... much sometimes."
Just then, a young woman that resembled Dimitri in a lot of ways walked up behind him while she made a motion for me to be quiet. I complied, but I couldn't help the small smile that slid across my face.
Dimitri tensed as she got closer. Before she could touch his shoulder, his hand reached up and grabbed hers.
"Gotcha." Dimitri said as he turned around to look at her.
"Dimka, you're no fun. Even your girlfriend here thought it would've been funny," the girl who I assumed was Vika complained.
"And you weren't supposed to work today. What are you doing here?"
"I came in to talk to Christian about his party this weekend since I'm helping plan it." The girl smirked. "Are you going to introduce me to your girlfriend or should I introduce myself?"
Girlfriend? Had Dimitri told his family that I was his girlfriend? The thought excited me and made me nervous at the same time. Dimitri turned his attention back to me.
"Rose, this is my wonderful little sister, Viktoria, and Vika, this is Rose."
Viktoria looked shocked at first as she stared between Dimitri and I. She started spitting out Russian. I'm guessing that neither of them knew that I understood and spoke fluent Russian.
"She's the one that you have been looking for, isn't she? You finally found her. When and how? Why didn't you tell me?"
Dimitri replied in Russian. "She's my business partner's daughter. That's how I found her. We are trying to take things slow. That's why I brought her here on a day that none of you were supposed to be here."
The fact that neither sibling knew that I understood their conversation amused me. From the sounds of it, Dimitri hadn't told his family that he'd 'found' me, but apparently they, or at least Viktoria, knew that he had looked for me. Dimitri looked at me and I decided to put them at of their misery. I spoke to Viktoria in Russian.
"It's nice to meet you, Viktoria. I tried to tell him that I didn't mind that you were here. I mean, he's met my father and my daughter. It's only fair that I get to meet his sister."
Viktoria looked like her eyes were about to pop out of her head at the mention of my daughter. Our conversation switched back to English.
"You have a daughter?"
Dimitri shot me a look. Now, I knew for sure that he hadn't told his family that he had 'found' me.
"Yes, I do."
Vika smirked. "That's cool. Mama is always hounding Dimka here to find a good girl to give her grandkids. If you marry my brother, Mama would happily claim you and your daughter as family."
I blushed. If only she knew that my daughter was also her brother's daughter. I hope that Viktoria is telling the truth about their mother accepting both Julia and I as family. Well, at least Julia. She deserves to be accepted by her father and his family. Dimitri seemed upset by Viktoria's statement.
"Vika!" He exclaimed. "Could you please keep your thoughts to yourself?" He turned his attention to me. "I'll be right back. I need a moment to talk to Vika."
I laughed lightly. "I'm not going anywhere."
Dimitri grabbed his sister by the arm and dragged her away from the table.
They were gone for a while, so when Beth came back to our table, I told her where Dimitri was and ordered my food. She offered to get his favorite for him. Before she left to put in our order, she explained to me that she basically grew up with Dimitri and his family, and that they were basically adopted cousins. That relieved the slight bit of jealousy that I was feeling towards her earlier, and she left me alone once again. Finally, Dimitri and Viktoria walked back up. They both looked relieved to see me sitting here. Viktoria spoke.
"I just wanted to come tell you that I'm sorry about what I said earlier about marrying my brother. I'm a little blunt sometimes and I've made it a habit to run off any girls that aren't worthy of my brother. Considering that you're still sitting here after I said all of that, I already like you."
I blushed. "Like I said before, Dimitri has already met my father and my daughter. Considering who my father is, and what he knows, I figured that he deserves a chance without me running out on him again."
Viktoria laughed and we talked for a little bit longer while Dimitri seemed to tune us out. At least until Viktoria invited me to the party that she was helping Christian, one of the chefs here at Olena's Diner, throw.
I told her that I would love to come, but that I'd have to find a babysitter. She told me to bring Julia and even Lissa. Dimitri joined the conversation and kept trying to convince me that I didn't have to meet his family yet if I wasn't ready.
I told them that I'd think about it. Viktoria finally said her goodbyes, and Beth brought out our food. I explained that I had ordered and Beth ordered for him. He was fine with that.
We talked all the way through lunch. I told him about Julia and my family. He told me about his family. He has the sisters. Two older, Sonja and Karolina, and one younger, Viktoria. He told me about his mother Olena and his grandmother, Yeva. I really enjoyed lunch with Dimitri.
When we finished lunch, we got in Dimitri's car, and I let myself fall into my thoughts. Before I realized what happened, one of my thoughts slipped out of my mouth.
"When are you going to tell your family about Julia and me?"
Well, so much for taking things slow.
"Tonight. That's what Vika and I were talking about in the kitchen. I told her that I had an announcement for the family, but she thinks it's about the partnership."
Oh. I was going to ask him to meet Julia tonight. Again, my mouth started moving before I could stop it.
"Do you want to officially meet your daughter before you go home then? If this is too soon, you don't have to, but I was planning on telling her who you were tonight. I thought-"
He interrupted my rambling. "I'd be honored to meet my daughter."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
I called my father and told him my plans. He agreed to meet us at my house. After that, Dimitri and I made small talk about Julia and other small things. Dimitri's face lit up every time we talked about our daughter, so I knew that I was doing the right thing. I just hipped that Julia would take it well.
When the car fellback into a comfortable silence, I thought back to the only time that Julia had ever asked about her father.
Flashback
I had just picked up Julia from daycare. She told me that her class had talked about heros that day. She told me that I was her hero because I took care of her and that she wanted to be just like me some day. Soon after, she got really quiet, something that she only did if she was deep in thought.
"What are you thinking about so hard, Jay?"
I instantly regretted asking.
"Why don't I have a daddy like the other kids in my class?"
I didn't know what to say or how to explain her father to her.
"Baby girl, you do have a daddy. He's just not around right now. I will have to explain it better when you get a bit older."
Her tiny shoulders slumped in defeat. "Okay, Mommy." My heart broke for her. I knew what it was like to grow up without a father.
"Jay, baby, tell me how you are feeling about this. I want to help because I know this is bothering you."
"I just want to have a daddy like the kids in my class. They said that daddy's hold you and read to you before bed and play with you just because that's what daddy's do."
Again, my heart broke. "I'm so sorry, Jay. I'll do all of those things if you want." I tried to lighten the mood by talking about my dad. "Jay, did you know that when I was little, my daddy was not around either. He was gone just like your daddy is, but he came back to me. Now he does everything that he can to make me and you very happy. Maybe your daddy will come back for you too, like mine did."
That seemed to lift her spirit, and we continued on to other topics.
End of flashback
That was about 7 months ago, and we haven't talked about her daddy since then. I could only hope that she still wanted to meet him.
We pulled up to my house, and Abe's car was already in the driveway. I squeezed Dimitri's hand to reassure him that this would be okay. We both got out of the car, but I asked him to stay in the living room with Abe until I brought Julia down from her room. I wanted to talk to her first. Abe spoke.
"You ready for this, kiz?"
"As ready as I can be, Baba."
I walked upstairs to Julia's bedroom and I knocked lightly on the door. I heard Julia mumble out a 'come in' so I opened the door and walked in. Once she seen who I was, she jumped up from her toys, and tackled my legs.
"Mommy!"
"Hey, baby girl, how was your day?"
"It was fun, Momma. I got to help bake some cookies. They were really good!"
She let go of my legs and I sat on the edge of her bed.
"That sounds like fun. Jay, baby, come sit with me for a minute. I need to talk to you about something."
She moved over to me and I pulled her into my lap. She didn't say anything so I spoke first.
"Do you remember that day that you asked me about your daddy?" She nodded and stared at me, but didn't speak. I spoke again.
"Do you still want to meet him, your daddy, I mean? Do you still want him to come back to you and to spend time with you like you said before?"
Her face lit up. "Yes, Mommy! I do! Do I finally get to have a daddy? Did he come back to me like your daddy did for you? When can I see him? I'm so excited!"
I cut off her rambling by putting my finger over her mouth to tell her to use her inside voice. She quieted instantly.
"Yes, you do. He's excited to meet you too. He's actually downstairs right now, waiting for me to finish talking to you."
She started squirming in my lap. "Can I go see him now? Please mommy?"
I held onto her firmly. "Hold on, Jay. Do you remember the other day when we went to grandpa's office?"
She nodded. "When grandpa's new partner was there. I went to eat with grandpa by myself that day."
I nodded. "Yes, you did. Do you remember grandpa's new business partner?"
She nodded again. "His name was Mr. Belikov. What about him, Momma?"
"Well, baby girl, Mr. Belikov is your daddy."
"So, I've already met my daddy? Why didn't you tell me before, Mommy?"
I knew this was coming.
"Yes, but he didn't know that you were his daughter when you met him. He knows now and he wants to be a daddy to you like he couldn't be before. Now, let's go downstairs so you can officially meet your daddy."
"Okay, Mommy!"
Julia POV (surprise!)
I was spending the day at Grandma and Grandpa's when grandpa came in and told me that I was going home early. I was upset about this until grandpa told me that mommy was bringing home a surprise for me. Grandpa wouldn't tell me what it was.
Grandpa took me home, and I went to my room to play with my toys. I was not playing for very long when someone knocked on my door. I told them to come in and I looked up to see my mommy standing there. I ran and grabbed her legs.
"Mommy!"
"Hey, baby girl, how was your day?" Mommy asked.
"It was fun, Momma. I got to help bake some cookies. They were really good!"
I let go of her legs legs and she went to sit on my bed.
"That sounds like fun. Jay, baby, come sit with me for a minute. I need to talk to you about something."
I wonder if this is about my surprise. I let mommy pull me into her lap. I like it when she holds me in her lap. Mommy started talking.
"Do you remember that day that you asked me about your daddy?"
I nodded. I thought about my daddy a lot, but when I asked about it that one day, I knew that it made my mommy sad. I didn't bring it up any more because I don't like it when mommy is sad. Mommy started taking again.
"Do you still want to meet him, your daddy, I mean? Do you still want him to come back to you and to spend time with you like you said before?"
My face lit up, and I replied excitedly. "Yes, Mommy! I do! Do I finally get to have a daddy? Did he come back to me like your daddy did for you? When can I see him? I'm so excited!"
I was so excited! If my surprise was my daddy then I'd be happy forever. Mommy made me be quiet by putting her finger over my mouth like she does whenever I use my outside voice inside. I'm quiet almost instantly.
"Yes, you do. He's excited to meet you too. He's actually downstairs right now, waiting for me to finish talking to you."
I started moving on mommy's lap, excited to go downstairs and meet my daddy. "Can I go see him now? Please mommy?"
I stopped moving. It was no use. Mommy held me tight and she started talking again. "Hold on, Jay. Do you remember the other day when we went to grandpa's office?"
I nodded. "When grandpa's new partner was there. I went to eat with grandpa by myself that day."
She nodded. "Yes, you did. Do you remember grandpa's new business partner?"
I nodded again. "His name was Mr. Belikov. What about him, Momma?"
"Well, baby girl, Mr. Belikov is your daddy."
What? No! How did I meet my daddy and not even know it.
"So, I've already met my daddy? Why didn't you tell me before, Mommy?"
Mommy looked upset now.
"Yes, but he didn't know that you were his daughter when you met him. He knows now and he wants to be a daddy to you like he couldn't be before. Now, let's go downstairs so you can officially meet your daddy."
"Okay, Mommy!"
I got up and went downstairs with mommy. I started to get nervous. What if daddy doesn't like me?
We walked into the living room where daddy and grandpa were at. All of my nervousness disappeared when daddy looked at me. He crouched down and opened his arms to me. I walked over to him and let myself fall into his arms. I noticed that there were some tears in his face.
"Don't cry daddy. I already love you like I love mommy. Just please don't leave me again."
"I love you too Julia. I'll never leave you or your mommy ever again. I'm sorry that I haven't been a good daddy to you, but I'm going to change that. I promise."
I didn't know what to say. I was happy. I finally had the daddy that I've been wanting and I was not going to let him leave me or mommy ever again.
After a few minutes, daddy asked me about my day and about my toys and friends. I told him about everything. Mommy helped me tell some stories, and grandpa left. He promised to be back later.
After a while, daddy explained that he had to leave because he had to go see his mommy and his sisters. He told me that he wasn't leaving for good, just for a little while and I was okay with that.
I finally had a daddy. And I still have my mommy. I am now the happiest little girl alive!