Well, I've never been to Russia, sadly. But I'm going to do my best to write this chapter… wish me luck!

Oh and I don't really know where in St. Petersburg they live… Heh.. Sorry.

Dimitri and I took a bus to Palace Square to begin our tour. We got out of the bus at Palace Square and I gasped. Dimitri chuckled. I was staring at a huge column in front of a large palace like building. It was beautiful.

"Alexander Column. It was built by Auguste de Montferrand in 1830- 1834. It stands 83 feet and 6 inches tall. It is-" I cut off tour guide Dimitri.

"Dimitri, stop being such a know-it-all and let me enjoy the sights." I said. He chuckled and held my hand. I strolled closer to the column. There were many people around it and a small fence so that you couldn't touch it or climb on it.

I stared at it silently for a few minutes. Dimitri looked like he wanted to tell me something, but he was holding it back. I sighed.

"Spit it out already." I said.

"Okay, so The Alexander Column weighs 600 tons, that's 1,322,760 pounds!" Dimitri said, excitedly. I laughed and moved closer to the monument. I still held his hand as I admired the angle on top of the column.

"My father used to bring me here when I was little." Dimitri said softly. I looked at him. He looked a bit sad.

"Is your father alive?"

"Yes, he's still tainting the earth, with his foul presence." Dimitri sneered. I cocked my head.

"What happened?" I asked, curiously.

"He beat my mother. He hurt her for 13 years. And then I wouldn't let it happen any long. I gave him… a taste of his own medicine." Dimitri said with a little nod. My mouth gapped open.

"Jesus. You were a bad ass even when you were a kid!" I exclaimed. Dimitri chuckled.

"What about your father? You never talk about your parents or your family. Wait… Oh I'm so sorry, I forgot that you were in foster care!" Dimitri said with wide eyes. I shook my head and laughed.

"No no it's okay. I have a mom and a dad. Well, I have a mom. But I've never met my dad…" Dimitri looked at my with a funny look. "I got kicked out of the academy, as you know, and my mom has a super secret government job. No one knows who my dad is, so I was put into foster care. And then I ran away. And here we are." I said with a smile. Dimitri nodded.

"Oh. I suppose never knowing your father is better than having a horrible one." I shrugged.

" I don't think so. I always wonder if he would have been cool. Was he a cop? Was he a secret agent like my mom? Why did he leave? Was it my fault?" I asked, a bit sadly at the end. Dimitri wrapped his arm around my shoulder and led me away from the statue.

"It couldn't be your fault, Roza. You were just a baby. And he was a fool to leave you." He murmured as we walked down the street. I shrugged.

"No, big loss. I got everything I needed from the academy. Fighting skills, my education, my amazing social graces, and friends." I grinned. "And Russia gave me you, so I suppose my life is perfect now." I leaned up and kissed him. He kissed me back, heartily. Finally he pulled away and we started walking again.

"I have a few more things to show you." He grinned down at me and I nodded eagerly. We followed the road and it turned into a thick forest of trees. We walked in between the trees silently. When we came out on the other side of the trees there was another large, beautiful statue.

It was a man on a horse, on a large rock. The statue was completely made of bronze.

"Wow…" I whispered as I moved towards it. On the rock was inscribed "Petro Primo Catarina Secunda"

"That's not Russian… What does it say?" I asked Dimitri.

" 'To Peter the First from Catherine the Second.' The statue was a gift from Catherine to Peter. Lovely, isn't it?" I nodded wordlessly.

"The rock is a single piece of red granite that was molded to look like a cliff. There is a legend that while this statue still stands in the center of the city, St. Petersburg will not be attacked by our enemies." Dimitri said proudly. I laughed.

"Ya, I'm sure that's true." I giggled. He looked hurt. "I'm sorry." I said with a hug. He hugged me back tightly. Suddenly he stiffened.

"Mr. Mazur, what a pleasant surprise." Dimitri said in a voice that didn't sound very pleasant at all. I wiggled out of Dimitri's arms and turned to see who was there. There was an older man who wore an ascot and gold jewelry. He was handsome in a scary way. Next to him stood a younger man who looked only a few years older than me. He had tussled brown hair and he had a 'just rolled out of bed' look to him, but it was cute. He grinned at me.

"Hey there, sweetie." He winked at me. I blushed.

"Hi."

"Master Belikov-" Dimitri cut off the older man with a laugh.

"Please, Abe, it's Dimitri." He said with a grin. Abe nodded with a smile.

"Dimitri, this is my young friend Adrian Ivashkov. He's interested in martial arts, and I told him that if he wanted to take classes you were the one to go to. Just a funny coincidence, I suppose." Abe Mazur said, with a slightly scary smile on his face.

Dimitri smiled. "How thoughtful, but I'm rather busy at the moment. Maybe I could give you my card and you can stop by or call later, Mr. Ivashkov?" Dimitri asked, letting go of my hand to reach into his pocket. Abe answered.

"No, may we join you? Adrian has been wanting to look about the city also. Unless you are on a date." Abe winked at me. I blushed deeper.

"No, it's fine." I blurted, before Dimitri could say anything. Adrian laughed. He moved closer to me and put his arm over my shoulder, leading me closer to the statue.

"Did you know that Peter's horse is stepping on a snake that represents his enemies?" Adrian whispered huskily in my ear. I shivered. I was enchanted by his soft voice.

"No." I whispered.

"Catherine the Second had this built for Peter the First as a tribute." Adrian said, in the same low voice. "Did you know that?"

"No.." Dimitri scoffed.

"Rose, I already told you that." He said, a bit annoyed. I broke out of the trance and looked back at him. I smiled.

"Yes, but he said it sexier." I giggled and Adrian laughed, too.

Dimitri glared. I grinned and wiggled out from under Adrian's arm and flitted over to Dimitri. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pushed my lips to his. He kissed me back softly. I wanted to sink into him. I heard a low chuckle behind me. Dimitri pulled away first and I whimpered.

He smiled and patted my head. I let go of him and turned around to face the other men. Abe was chuckling and Adrian was scowling.

"On with our tour then?" Abe asked. I nodded and Abe swept his arm the way that Dimitri had came.

"I know a delightful boutique not far from here. Can't just show her old dusty statues, Dimitri." He smiled at laughed at Dimitri. Dimitri scowled for a moment but followed us.

2 hours later

"Dimitri, make him stop." I whined, pulling at the tight dress. Dimitri looked up from his magazine and shrugged.

"If Mr. Ivashkov and Mr. Mazur feel like wasting their money on things that you will probably never wear, let them." He said simply and went back to his magazine. Abe's face brightened.

"See, Dimitri said it's okay." He said like a child. I growled under my breath as Abe signaled a sales woman.

"Yes, sir?" The older woman asked.

"We will be taking the green one that she has on in a size 6 and the purple one in a size 6." Abe said cheerfully.

"6? Abe! I'm at least an 8!" I squeaked. Abe just grinned.

"6 will be just fine thank you." He said to the woman and winked at her. She blushed, nodded and left.

"Now, out of that dress and try on… This one." He held up a short red spaghetti strap one. It was cute… but I would never tell him that. I snatched it from him.

"Fine." I growled and stomped into the dressing room. I could have sworn I heard Dimitri chuckling.

Back Home another 2 hours later

I collapsed on the couch with a groan.

"My feet hurt from those god awful heels he made me wear. He actually had the nerve to throw away my sneakers!" I grumbled. Dimitri sat on the opposite couch and laughed.

"Adrian is quite the character, it seems." He smiled apologetically at me.

"Where did you put the dresses?" I asked, sitting up instantly.

"Kitchen table." Dimitri stretched out on the couch. I got up and went into the living room and found the big bag. Abe had bought me 2 dresses and Adrian had bought me 12. Some were cute, others ugly, and a few were okay. I sorted through them. I put the ugly ones in a pile and took out the two that I liked.

The first was the short red one Abe had me try on, and the second was a longer sundress that reached my knees. It was a light blue color with spaghetti straps. Adrian said it looked "absolutely stunning" on me. It hid my large breasts a little and showed off my shoulders. I like it.

I put the 10 dresses Adrian had gotten me that I didn't like into a pile and Abe's in another.

"Hey, have you got any boxes for shipping?" I called to Dimitri.

"Storage closet next to my room." He called back. I went and got two boxes. I had the reject dresses in there nicely when the buzzer went off, signaling there was someone at the door downstairs.

"I'll get it."

I bounded down the stairs, barefoot. I opened the door into the lobby and went to the glass door. I opened it and stood in shock.

"Close your mouth, Rosemarie, it's unprofessional." The woman with red-brown hair snapped. I closed my mouth.

"Won't you invite me in?" I moved from the door and held it for her. She walked in and I shut the door.

"Really, did the finest academy in America teach you no manners at all? Why did I waste money sending you there then?" I was silent, for a change, and shrugged.

"Oh. Happy Birthday, by the way." I found my voice.

"Sorry, mom. You're a day late." I said, bitterly. "Party already ended."

"Oh I heard about your party." She glanced at the stairs. I turned and saw Dimitri standing there in jeans and a tee, hair rumpled (he must've fallen asleep). He looked confused.

"I actually didn't have a party for your information." I snapped at her. To Dimitri I said: "This is my… mother." He walked towards us and held out his hand.

"Mrs. Hathaway. Nice to meet you. I've heard great things." He smiled dazzlingly. She shook his hand with a soft smile. I snorted.

"Since when do "stupid bitch" and "crappy mother" count as good things, Dimitri?" I asked, with a glare.

He scowled down at me.

"Roza." He hissed. I shrugged and turned back to my mom.

"What do you want?"

"I came to take you going back to the academy."

I lost my smirk and my legs felt limp.

"What?" I said, shocked.

Tear, Tear.

It wasn't perfect.

I know.

It was short.

I know.

It didn't have enough about Russia.

I know.

I should work harder.

I know.

I took too long.

I know.

REVIEW! Please! Or I'll cry and I'm an ugly crier..