Chapter 14: Working Together

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

DPOV

I mulled over what she'd said to me for the rest of the morning. She'd sad she didn't trust me and that she was afraid that I'd leave them again. Did she say them? I scratched my head. She did. She must have been confused mixing me up with him. Damn him whoever he was for doing this to her. Her heart was so damaged I didn't know if I'd ever be able break through the walls she'd put up. I knew that part of it was my fault and it killed me to know that I was to blame for pretty much everything that had gone wrong in her life. If I hadn't left her she wouldn't have turned to him in a moment of weakness. I'd practically thrown her head first into his bed, but then again could I really call that beautiful little girl a mistake? I'd only known her a short time and I couldn't imagine life without her. No, she was definitely not a mistake, just unplanned perfection.

I eventually decided I needed to get out of here for a while. I cleared the breakfast tray and decided to stick to my original plan to see Hans.

"Guardian Belikov, it's good to see you. Your reputation preceeds you," he greeted me.

"I trust that you and Lady Ozera are enjoying your stay at court?"

"Yes, we are thank you. Actually Lady Ozera has made plans to stay her indefinitely and because my one on one services will not be necessary due to the wards I thought I would see about taking some shifts and pulling my weight around here."

"Excellent idea, we could always use another body around here to help pick up the slack."

"Great, I can start as soon as tonight," I told him eager for a distraction.

"Well actually I am not in charge of guardian assignments anymore. You'll have to speak with the head guardian," he responded.

"Okay can you point me in the right direction?" I asked.

"Sure, go home," he told me.

I looked at him puzzled. "You are staying with Princess Dragomir and Lord Ozera are you not?
"For the time being."

"Good then you must run into Guardian Hathaway since she lives next door. She is in charge of all guardian assignments," he informed me much to my chagrin.

"Rose Hathaway?"

"Yes Hathaway Junior, your former student. Interesting to see them surpass us isn't it?"

My face fell. "Thank you," I responded as I headed back in the direction I came from. I was thrilled that Rose had done so well for herself, but I don't know how I would feel having her for a supervisor. I guess I'd have to take my chances now that the tables were turned.

As I passed the children's playground I heard a voice call out to me.

"Mr. Dimka come and play with us!" Lexie called out. I looked over to where she was playing in the sand waving her little hands in the air . Lissa was there pushing Andree on the baby swings along with Adrian and Abe who seemed chummy.

"Yes Belikov please join us," Abe called out waving me over.

I walked over to where they were and stood uncomfortable next to Abe.

"Mr. Mazur," I greeted him shaking his hand as a sign of peace. I nodded at Adrian.

"So good to see you again boy. How's the family back in Baia? I haven't been there in a while."

"They're doing well. My sister Viktoria graduated from the academy and is serving as a guardian for a Conta Lord." I replied.

"Good for her. I am always glad to see female Dhampirs choose the guardian lifestyle. Children can be a blessing," he said pointing to Lexie, but sometimes a higher calling is in order. I am so proud that my daughter has become one of the most well known guardians in the world, yet still has time to raise her daughter." The smile on his face and the warm tone in his voice when he spoke of Rose and Lexie was unremarkable.

"You care for them a lot," he stated as he regarded me closely.

"Yes I do." I decided it was better to be up front with him than to deny my feelings for Rose. They were blatently obvious anyhow.

"She's been hurt. She never would give me the bastard's name, but I urge you to be careful. She's very fragile and I wouldn't want to see her get hurt again." His voice held an even tone, but I was quite sure there was an underlying threat to his comment.

Adrian smirked and suddenly his words came back to me. "Rose won't be the only one you have to deal with," he'd said. I'm guessing now that he was referring to Abe hunting me down for sport if I hurt Rose. Great just one more thing stacked against me.

"Mr. Dimka, grandpa, come watch me on the swings," Lexie called dropping her sand bucket and shovel and grabbing one of each of our hands trying to pull us with her.

"Can you push me Mr. Dimka," she asked as she situated herself on one of the swings.

"I'd be happy to," I responded. I gave her a push and she pumped her little legs until she was going higher. Every once in a while I'd give her another gentle push and she'd squeal in delight. She sure had long legs for a child of her age. Rose wasn't that tall. She must have gotten them from her father. I mused as I continued to push her.

"This is so much fun," she called out. "I wish Mommy was here."

As if there was a genie on hand granting wishes Rose appeared in my peripheral vision.

"Hey," she said. "Mind if I join you?"

"Of course not Roza," I told her. She sat down on the swing next to Lexie.

"I need a push," she said smirking at me.

I chuckled a little, but complied. The two of them continued to swing asking me to push them higher until Tasha, Christian and eventually Janine arrived and we all headed home for dinner.

While the rest were hovering in the kitchen and getting things ready I pulled Rose aside.

"Hey I wanted to ask you something," I told her nervously. She nodded.

"I want to pick up some shifts around the court while I'm here and I heard you were the one to talk to about it." I was slightly aware that she could say no just to make my life more difficult or she could place me with ward inspection which was usually for new guardians who'd just graduated or punishment for those who had not performed well in their duties.

"Sure, I have a few shifts available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from seven to three in the booth at the front gates if you want."
"That sounds perfect," I replied. I should have figured she'd be professional. She'd never indicated anything to the contrary.

When I showed up for my first shift on Monday I met up with Eddie at the front gates. We would be receiving guests and making sure all of their paperwork was in order. All in all it wasn't a bad place to be and the day passed rather quickly. When I showed up Wednesday I worked with Eddie again. He'd been slow to warm up to me at first, probably because he knew what I did to Rose, but by the end of the day Wednesday we were chatting like old friends. I'd found out so much more than I ever wanted to know about his relationship with Mia Rinaldi. It was quite interesting to get some perspective on a non-traditional relationship though. If Rose ever succumbed to my advances we would have one of those untraditional relationships even more so than Eddie and Mia's. Throw the fact that I'd be raising another man's child into the mix and that spelled out unconventional. Now if only I could earn her forgiveness.

Friday when I showed up I didn't see Eddie. I assumed he'd be here, but I hadn't thought to ask. I grabbed my morning coffee and headed into the booth we worked in. I was startled to see that my guarding partner was already here and most definitely female. She was bent over a box of paperwork sifting through it obviously searching for something in particular. She was very good looking at least from the back. I wasn't trying to check her out or anything, but female guardians were rare and she intrigued me. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun on the top of her head revealing two battle stars and more molnija than I could count. She must be a real badass.

"Is there something I can help you find?" I asked clearing my throat alerting her to my presence.
"Nope, I think I've got it,"she said turning around.

"Roza?" Damn she had far more kills than I'd originally expected. I'd known she was decorated when I'd fought her in the gym, but I hadn't gotten a real good look until just now.

"Hmm?" she asked clutching the paper she'd been looking for between her teeth.

"Nothing I just didn't expect you here." To say the least I hadn't expected her to give me a shift where we'd be alone together for eight whole hours. It was a dream come true, for me anyways.

"Where else would I be? This is my shift," she replied like it was nothing.

"Yes, but I thought you were avoiding me?" She laughed at my comment.

"That was the original plan, but let's just say that the guy who was on the shift before you was a total pig and I was tired of dealing with his sexual comments and fending off his wandering hands." She rolled her eyes picking up a folder and putting the papers she'd just picked up inside.

"I see." When I found out who that Guardian was we were going to have some nice one on one time with in the gym with him as my punching bag.

"Fridays are usually pretty dead in the mornings. There are usually a lot of departures, but very few arrivals until after five." She tucked the pen she'd been writing with into her bun and damn did she look sexy even in her plain black guardian attire I could still imagine the way she'd looked beneath them the night we made love.

"Dimitri? Are you paying attention?" she asked tapping her foot impatiently.

"Yes, sorry it won't happen again," I apologized. I really needed to keep myself strictly professional while we were working together. If I let my mind wander like I just had it would be torturous to resist her in such an enclosed area. Her scent already permeated the air in the tiny cubicle.

I began to look forward to our Friday's together. It was warm outside, but there was a fan that provided enough ventilation so that it was actually cool where we were working. Sometimes the mornings were so dull that I'd catch myself fantasizing about our life together, us living together in a house just the three of us. Waking up next to her everyday, making pancakes for Lexie. I knew it was pointless because besides that one kiss we'd shared and her admission that she still felt for me there hadn't been any indications that she was any closer to forgiving me than she had been the day I arrived.

I sighed in frustration as I readied myself for work. It was again Friday and I thought I'd do something special for Rose today. I stopped by the bakery and picked up a few chocolate croissants and some mocha chillers. Rose loved those I'd seen her lusting after one the other day on television. I would have made her hot cocoa for old times sake, but it was too warm outside being that it was July.

"Hey," she greeted me not looking up from her pile of papers as I entered the booth.

"Do I smell chocolate?" she asked sniffing the air, her beautiful lips breaking into a smile.

"I know you're always running late in the morning and that cereal was today's choice for breakfast so I thought I'd get something better," I told her pulling the croissants out of the bag.

She eyed me cautiously. "You're really going to refuse chocolate croissants just because I'm the one who brought them? Rose how many times do I have to say it, sometimes a donut is just a donut! Besides I thought we were at least on good enough terms to eat pastries and drink coffee together," I stated hoping she hadn't changed her mind about being civil.

Her face softened a little. "No you're right, I'm just being stupid. I'm sorry, now hand over the chiller," she commanded with a smile.

"As you wish Head Guardian Hathaway," I teased.

"And don't you forget it," she added stuffing half the croissant in her mouth while groaning with pleasure. I had to bite my fist to keep from assaulting her with my lips. This was going to be so much more difficult than I'd originally thought.

Rose and I had been working together on Fridays for several weeks now. Things had been slightly awkward at the beginning, but after the day I brought the croissants she loosened up a bit. It was funny how she was the one who was always trying to loosen me up while I was her mentor and now that she was my boss I was trying to do the same.

It had even come to the point where we could laugh and joke around like friends making fun of some of the haughtier royals and their fancy entourages. She'd even gone as far as suggesting we go to the gym and spar a few times after work. She had learned so much in my absence that we were a frighteningly even match. Today as we headed to the gym I was rehearsing what I was going to say to her in my head. I loved seeing her at work, but other than that I hadn't really seen her unless I'd tag along purposely with Tasha over to Lissa and Christian's for dinner. They all knew I did it to see Rose and didn't seem to mind . Lissa said I was always welcome, but I really wanted to get her alone.

Tonight though, I was going to ask her over to my place. Tasha had found a house and despite her protests I'd decided that I would move into guardian housing. I had a nice one bedroom loft with a small kitchenette, a living area and a private bath. It was nothing to speak of, but it was home.

"Point," she called as she clocked me in the ribs. I was having trouble focusing because I was so nerved up about asking her to dinner.

After another few minutes of sparring she was able to pin me down.

"Well either you were going easy on me or you've lost your touch Comrade," she said still hovering over me. God I wanted to grab her and kiss her right here and now and her calling me Comrade really fueled my lust. We hadn't kissed since that day she'd brought me breakfast and we hadn't really spoken about it either although I felt things were improving between us. It showed in the fact that she'd begun using her old nickname for me again. As much as I'd hated it back then it rang beautifully in my ears as it rolled off her tongue just now.

A moment passed between us and indecision flashed through her eyes as she pulled herself off of me and helped me to my feet.

"Uh Rose, I was uh wondering if you were you know busy tonight?" I asked stumbling over my words.

"I don't think so why?" she asked.

"I just thought maybe you could uh come over and I could make you dinner," I blurted out quickly. She looked a little apprehensive for a minute and I knew she was going to say it was too soon. I should have waited or thought up something different.

"Oh uh I guess that would be okay," she said. "I'll just have to see if Lissa wouldn't mind feeding Lexie dinner and putting her to bed. Adrian is having dinner with his parents tonight." Agitation shot through me as she mentioned Ivashkov playing daddy to her daughter. Wait did she just say yes? I did an internal happy dance.

"How is seven?" she asked.

"Great," I responded.
"Okay see you then," she said.

My heart was racing. She said yes. Rose was coming to my place for dinner. We'd be alone no friends, no family no kids, just the two of us. Suddenly my palms got all sweaty and I began to feel sick.

What do I make for dinner? What should I wear? Was she closer to forgiving me? I need to clean up the place. I hurried home to get things ready.

So any ideas for their date? Why is he freaking out like a little girl? LOL! Do you think it's too soon? Should they kiss? Should she forgive him? Some think she should tell him before they reunite, some don't….lots to ponder.

Review and you might get a PG lemon in the next chapter=)