Title: On the First Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me...
Author: TheCoffeeShopMuse
Background: It's our favorite couple's first Christmas together as the Belikovs, and Dimitri may have gone a little crazy with Rose's gift...
"Vika, please tell me you got it all done," I said sternly into the phone as I FaceTimed with my sister. My eyes attempted to scan the background behind her face, only making out a fully stocked fireplace, sone lights, and part of a Christmas tree. She stood in the middle of the room, looking very pleased with herself. "Brother," she grinned, "don't worry, it's all sorted out. This place is a magical winter wonderland, if I do say so myself."
Her words gave me hope, after all, I just wanted the best Christmas celebration for Roza and I, our first as a married couple.
"And if Roza hates it, then she can't really leave you anyway. Too expensive, you know? It'd be cheaper to just live with you and secretly plot your murder.
"Vika!" I groaned as my sister cackled on my screen, pleased with herself.
I was less amused.
"Don't worry brother, Roza will love it, I'm sure of it. What girl doesn't like a huge grand gesture?
Well, Roza might not like this huge grand gesture, considering it would take her away from Lissa for most of Christmas and New Years, stretching until Russian Christmas.
This whole idea had started last year, when we had made a quick trip to Russia at the beginning of the year...
"Katya, get back here!" I yelled as I chased after my newest niece, now an active toddler with a penchant to try to sneak off while adults' backs were turned. I could hear Roza behind me, laughing as she caught up to us. I caught Katya just as she was about to go deeper in the woods. She laughed joyously, clapping her chubby hands.
"Again, again uncle! Again!"
I blew out a breath while Roza gave Katya an indulgent smile. "I think we found her new favorite game to play with her favorite uncle!" She smiled brightly as the toddler let out a loud squeal, seeming to agree with her. I looked down at my overexcited niece to see her gazing up at Rose adoringly. And why wouldn't she? Though she was the first to announce her lack of experience with children, she took to them naturally, and delighted them with the games and stories she had to share.
"No, not again," I chuckled as Katya suddenly let loose a wide yawn. "We have to get you home for your nap."
"No…" she protested tiredly, her little eyes already starting to droop.
"Yes," Roza responded, laughing softly as the little girl yawned widely again.
"Come on," I adjusted Katya in my arms, "let's head home. Do you want to walk back through town or go around?"
"Let's go around," Roza smiled as she linked our arms together, pressing herself against my side.
We had been at the market buying some last minute items that Mama needed for dinner before Katya decided to play her game of hide and seek with us. Roza loved exploring Baia, seeing everything, and getting to know the culture; seeing her accept my hometown made me love her even more. As headed back toward my mother's house, Roza stopped suddenly with a small tug at my sleeve.
"Comrade," she breathed out. I looked toward the direction she was gazing at to see what the cause of her reaction was. Standing a few feet away from us was a little cabin, not unlike the one at the Academy.
"Isn't it lovely? Something right out of a winter wonderland," she whispered.
In all honesty, the cabin was rather old looking, though I supposed that added to its whimsy. The wooden exterior seemed to be in fine shape. It had arched windows, and a thatched roof, truly making the cabin look like something out of a medieval fairy tale, along with the stone fence around it. I suddenly had a thought, a vision in my head of another life. A life where Roza and I weren't guardians, a simpler life where we had no obligations, to pressures, no scorn on our relationship. A life where we would prepare dinner together every night and relax by a fireplace before retiring to bed.
I shook my head to clear away those thoughts. In truth, while that life would have been nice, I also suspected that Roza and I would have gotten bored very easily. Besides, any life was fine as long as I had her by my side.
We stood for a few minutes admiring the quaint looking cabin before heading back to our Katya down for her nap. For the next several days we would walk by the cabin, dreaming of what could be. Then, two days before we were about to head back to the States, Yeva yanked me aside.
"You want the cabin, boy?"
"Babushka, you know I do," not even fazed she knew my thoughts. "But you also know that it's not possible for me and Roz-" I was cut off as she smacked me with her cane.
"Let me tell you a story boy, about that cabin. Long, long ago, Luba and her Gregori lived there. She was lovely, and he loved her. He came from nothing, but she did not care, she wanted him. They loved each other dearly, and while love is fanciful and can make one feel warm within, it does not protect from the physical cold. It was autumn when Gregori knew he had to provide for his woman somehow, they could not go on living in the communal farm house with his family. One day, as he was out gathering firewood in preparation for the coming cold, he came upon a meadow at the edge of the wood, lush and full of life. It was at that moment he was struck with inspiration, and he knew what he needed to do. Gregori was a fine builder and craftsman, sneaking out over the months, determined to build his woman a home for them and their future family. He worked tirelessly, for months: only choosing the best wood for his construction, solidly hammering each plank into place, as to not left a hint of cold sneak into their home, ensuring the roof was sturdy for his love, and finally constructing the windows, so that his Luba may delight in the wonders of Mother Nature.
By the time the early frost arrived, he had completed his masterpiece. As he brought his Luda out to the meadow to show her his work, he grew nervous. What if she thought it was too small? What if it was not extravagant enough for her? What if she hated it, and laughed at him?
He needed not to worry though, because he moment she set her gaze upon the cabin, she fell in love with the home her husband had made for her, and even deeper in love with the man who held her heart. They shared many years of laughter and joy in that house, and in it their love only grew stronger and deeper. They welcomed their first child in that cabin, and their second, before the arrival of a third child forced them to move. But there was no doubt that that cabin held years of love, warmth, and family. No one has moved in there since, not seeing anything special about the structure, not seeing the specialness of the cabin...until you and your Roza." Yeva's eyes held a glint of a sparkle, before she patted me on the back and went on her way.
One walk later, I found myself in front of the cabin, and I knew why I wanted to do.
The inside was as charming as the outside, and surprisingly bigger than I had imagined. There was a large living area combined with a dining room. The kitchen was located at the front of the house, overlooking the meadow, and the two bedrooms, although not huge, were enough for Roza and I. The cabin also seemed to contain special little touches, little odd nooks and details that I could see Roza and I exploring. It needed a lot of work though. Structurally, everything was sound, the foundation still sturdy, the roof holding up well and the panelling truly at strong as my grandmother said it was. However, the windows would have to be replaced due to the years of grime that had built up. Most of the plumbing and heating would have to be upgraded, and the steps leading to the cabin and to the backyard would have to be replaced. I also decided a coat of paint would do the place well.
Roza and I had already purchased our own apartment, on the grounds of Court, but in a more secluded corner, away from the Palace and Guardian housing. Of course, Lissa had offered us more lavish accommodations within the Palace grounds, but both Roza and I declined. We wanted our own little place to call our own, where we could be alone together, free to be ourselves without several other guardians and servants around at all time. It was also important for me that I be able to pay for it, to provide for Roza, with no outside help from the Queen or my new wealthy father-in-law
But this cabin...this cabin could be the perfect vacation home for us, a little get away when we were visiting my family; close enough we could walk to visit them, but not in the same house.
I could do this. I could give us our cabin.
Then came the hard part.
Keeping the secret from Rose.
After we arrived back in the States, I had to admit that I needed help to pull the whole thing off.
And so I enlisted Lissa and Christian, smartly. Lissa, after she stopped gushing over the idea, and after I insisted I did not need a construction and design team to help me, simply gave me some design ideas she knew Rose would like. She also suddenly came up with a ton of work for herself, and thus, for Rose, keeping her busy for most of the year. Christian, in the other hand, was my ticket to Russia. As his Guardian, I was needed at his side at all times, including all the trips to Europe he suddenly planned, in order to better facilitate the rolling out of the Moroi Defensive Magic program that had been introduced by our new Queen. During our multiple trips, we always made time for me to return to Baia and work on the cabin, with Christian and either Mikhail or one of Abe's Guardians, whoever accompanied us on the trip, assisting. For the most part though, I did most of the work myself. It was the way I wanted it to be. As the end of the year approached I had to enlist the help of my family, after swearing them to secrecy of course. Mama, Sonya and Karo bought most of the finishing touches: the couch, chairs, pillows, utensils and bedding, setting it up for us. When Vika came home for the holidays from St Petersburg, where she was guarding a Moroi, she insisted on contributing as well; dragging Nikolai out in search of a small Christmas tree for our living room, and decorating the space with various lights. Of course, it was hard keeping it all from Roza, having to keep a straight face when she grumbled about being away from one another for her another trip. It would all be worth it in the end.
I gazed down upon the photo Vika had just sent me. She and Nikolai managed to erect the tree, and she had placed bags upon bags of ornaments and decorations under the tree, waiting for our arrival so that me and a Roza could decorate our first tree together, as a married couple. Mama had also promised to drop off food and drink for us the day of our arrival. It was basically all set up.
Now I just needed to bring her.
"Hey," my wife greeted me with a sweet smile as she came through the door of our apartment, turning to hang up her coat.
"Actually, you're going to want to keep that on," I replied.
She stopped short, and then took in my appearance, from the sweats I had on for the long flight, to my coat and the luggage by my side. "What's going on?"
"We're starting our Christmas vacation early this year. I've already cleared it with Hans and Lissa. We are free to go. Our flight's at midnight."
I was prepared to fight.
I was prepared for her to protest leaving Lissa.
I was even prepared with a list of reasons why we should go.
What i was not prepared for was my dear Roza to simply say…
"Okay. Let me grab a bigger coat. I trust you packed my bags, Comrade?" Her eyes zeroing in on her suitcase by my side. "There better be actual clothes in there, not just lingerie."
"I-you...you're not going to argue? About this? About leaving Lissa?" I gaped at her.
"Comrade, it's our first year as a married couple, and I'm pretty sure I spent more time with my best friend than my husband this year. That's not right. You made sure there was cover for her, right?"
"I-yes. Cleared it all with Hans."
"Okay then, and we're going to Russia?"
"Yes…"
"Good, I'm looking forward to your mom's cooking! Let me change and we'll go!"
I gaped after my wife's lovely figure as she shut the door to our bedroom behind her.
Oh Roza, always full of surprises.
"I'm so excited," she whispered as we sat in our seats aboard the plane. "Our first Christmas as a married couple!"
I smiled down at her tenderly.
"That's right Guardian Belikova. Our first Christmas." Bending down, I captured her sweet lips with min, and settled in for the plane ride.
"I don't understand," Roza repeated again, pouting as she touched the blindfold I had put on her. "Why aren't we going to your mother's house? Where else would we go? Where are we going to stay?"
"It's a surprise, Roza," I sighed, looking up as Vika and Sonya drove past us, on the way to the cabin with our bags. I didn't want to cary either of our bags, and thus recruited my sisters to drive over, beating us there, deposit our bags, and then leave us be in the cabin.
Our cabin.
"Are we almost there yet?" Roza huffed as she attempted to snuggle deeper into me for warmth.
"Actually," I paused to take a breath, looking up at the cabin, fully illuminated in Christmas lights. "We're here." And with that, I whisked the blindfold off her face.
I glanced down quickly, watching as she blinked several times before a look of complete delight and wonder spread across Roza's face as she took it all in. Everything, from the new steps, to the fairy lights a draped atop the fence, to the Christmas lights in the windows illuminating a bare Christmas tree. A wreth, complete with bow, hung on the door. "Oh Dimitri!" She gasped in wonder, "did you rent this place out for us?" I wrapped my arm around her waist and cleared my throat.
"No, I rebuilt it for us. It's our vacation home."
"You did what?" Roza said in a way that betrayed no emotion, positive or negative. Her face too, was expressionless.
"I-uh," I fished the key from my pocket. "This place is ours, Roza. I saw how much you loved the cabin when we were here last year, so I fixed it up for us. So that we could have a home away from home."
"Dimitri…what have you done?" she whispered, as she took in the whole scene, face still expressionless.
"I'm sorry," I blurted out. "I'm sorry I didn't discuss this with you, Roza. I thought you'd like it, but you obviously don't. Is it too small? Too old? I'm sor-"
"Dimitri," Roza looked me right in the eye, a blinding smile overtaking her face. "You built us a cabin?"
"Yes, I did."
And with that, my wife flung herself into my arms, knocking us both into the snow while she peppered my face with kisses.
"I"
Kiss.
"Have"
Kiss.
"The"
Kiss.
"Best."
Kiss.
"Husband"
Kiss.
"Ever."
This time, I recaptured her lips, as a fire roared to life within both of us. Within moments we were both gasping and wriggling in the snow, desperate to get closer to one another…
And then a snowball hit the side of my face.
"Stop being inappropriate you two!" Vika hollered as Sonya howled in the driver's seat. The two waved before speeding off into the night.
"Come on," I groaned as Roza brushed the icy wetness from my cheek. "Let me show you the inside."
Going to the door, I inserted the key in the lock, letting the door swing open, and the light bathe over us. Roza could not look more beautiful at the moment, her eyes child like and wondrous as she took it all in; from the dinner table that was set up for two, the bags of ornaments, the roaring fire, and the food warming in the oven.
She took it all in, overwhelmed.
I quickly swung her up in my arms and spun her around, making her giggle, facing toward the tree that still needed to be decorated. I put her back on her feet and cupped her face in my hands.
"Mrs. Belikova, Merry Christmas. What do you say we decorate the tree together?"
Roza was totally speechless, having spotted the army of decorations waiting for us. Her mouth fell open and then shut closed quite a few times. After a while, I actually started to wonder if I had broken my wife, if I had pulled too big of a surprise.
Ad then the flood gates opened.
"How? When? How did I not know? Oh my God, is this what you were actually doing all those trips to Europe? Did Liss know? She had to, sometimes I caught her just staring at me looking like she was going to explode. And that means Christian must have-"
Question after question came out, making my head spin. So I did the only thing I could think of, and pulled her to me, and kissed her.
Hard, until we were both dizzy and drunk from our love.
"Yes, most of the time I was with Christian on those trips, I was actually here. Lissa gave me some design ideas, and kept you busy while Christian helped me craft a reason to come here and continue fixing this place up. Trust me, it was not easy to keep this a secret. I had to call in my family for backup, in the end. I just wanted to give you the perfect gift, Roza. A place we could call our own when we visited. A place we could make memories in."
"Oh Comrade, we've only been married for almost a year now, and this is what you do for the first Christmas? How are you gonna top yourself?" She teased, before giving me another firm kiss. "It's not too small, or too old. It's everything I didn't know I wanted in a cabin, and then some. And Comrade?"
"Hmm?
"It's perfect because you're here with me, and we can enjoy it together."
"I couldn't agree more Roza," I replied softly as she looked at me with all the love in the world.
"Now, what so you say we eat some of you mom's stew that I smell, and then we can decorate the tree while you tell me about what you did to fix this place up? And afterwards, if you're a good boy, I'll lie under the tree...and you can unwrap me?"
I groaned at the thought as Roza smirked, rubbing my back seductively.
"That sounds absolutely perfect, Roza."