Lissa'sPOV
My classes for Mondays were supposedly easy ones. As I learned today, they would be easy because I would enjoy them so much. I only had introductory psychology and a creative writing subject all day. Being the first day, lectures were all that ran, but in the following weeks, both respective tute classes would also run on Mondays.
And it wasn't until halfway through the second creative writing tute 3 weeks after the alert from Rose that Dimitri got the call. The one that had his whole being relaxing minutely.
"They're safe," I said knowingly as I met him outside after first asking my tutor questions about our first assignment.
"Yes," Dimitri sighed in relief, "they are. Finally."
"Good. Now you can relax," I nodded towards the campus bar. Laughter escaped me at the sight of his genuinely horrified expression.
"No way, Lissa. I'm not taking you into a bar. Rose would have my head for it before your fiancé even spotted you looking at it."
"I was kidding, Dimitri. If I wasn't Rose would have called you before you even registered what I was nodding at." Next thing I know is Dimitri's cell goes off playing Rose's unique tone.
"Dimitri Belikov, you need to get a sense of humour, dry sarcasm won't get you by forever, especially if you want me to marry you," Rose screeched with laughter. "You and your son aren't getting any younger, babe."
"Seems my wife isn't getting much more serious, either," he retorted playfully as we moved to the refec for lunch.
Dimitri was met with what I guessed to be a jumbled string of curses. And by his face I was guessing they were Russian. He muttered in Russian what I worked out to be along the lines of never should have taught you, or something similar.
Shaking my head at the lovebirds' antics I worked my way through the cafeteria and found a small salad and yogurt for lunch for me. Dimitri was trailing me as usual but was too distracted by Rose's call and guarding me to actually pick up anything to eat. So, I decided I'd do it for him.
"On the phone again?" laughed Christian and Eddie as they joined Mason, Dimitri and me at a table.
"Rose says hi," Dimitri said distractedly before returning his attention to his fiancé.
"They were never like this at school," commented Mason.
Eddie thwacked him for me. "They couldn't be, you idiot," he retorted.
"Ten says they actually were when alone in training," offered Christian.
"Twenty says they were clingier," I wagered.
"Roza says you boys better cough up a twenty each 'cause Lissa was right," Dimitri informed before returning to his previous conversation. Their expressions were priceless. I grinned as they actually did hand over a twenty each. Not that I needed money from bets with friends.
"Hey guys!" Rose's voice came through Dimitri's iPhone's speakerphone. A second later a cry sounded from James. "You really should be here, Dimitri," muttered Rose.
"I know, but even if I could be, you wouldn't let me leave Lissa's side."
"Well, it seems your son has a different idea." A small plastic door opened and closed and I could just see Rose putting the bottle in the microwave while bouncing James on her hip.
"Apparently," the table laughed. James cried again, though I think this was more of a happy babble.
"I know, James, I know," cooed Dimitri. "Daddy loves you too."
Honestly, the sight and sound of the guardian god when he was the fabulous father was so different it was adorable and shocking. Just like Rose. In training or in battle, lethal as all hell. With each other and as parents, they were so soft sometimes (most of the time) that they were unrecognisable.
"How is he, Rose?" I asked.
Rose went silent before answering carefully. "He's been better, but he's good, settling into a routine."
"And your parents?" asked Mason.
"And your in-laws?" sniggered Eddie. He shot Dimitri an apologetic look before Dimitri could rip his head off for insulting his family.
"Mom's... managing? Abe's cracking it over Dimitri being gone for so long- it's not like I couldn't visit if it gets that bad. You're not so far away, it's just getting a baby out of the apartment at all is a challenge all its own. Getting James to see you will be hard, not impossible, just hard. And as for Olena, Eddie, don't diss in-laws, because Olena's been my lifeline lately. Showed my Mom a thing or two about parenting."
Dimitri grinned broadly. "I told you, Roza," he said smugly.
"Don't you start being a cocky jerk again, Comrade."
"Burned!" crowed Christian.
"Speak for yourself, fire-lighter. Lissa, honey, I honestly hope your Little Dragomirs favour water. Someone needs to put him out."
"Rose!" I exclaimed in offence. I hated their constant bickering. Although... she does have a point, and as much as I hate to admit it, it was one of her best backhanded Christian-insults. Her fire couldn't be put out, so she'd caught Christian there, he was comeback-less. It was hilarious, my hormones decided, so I laughed with her.