This chapter is dedicated to rupunzel0703 whose birthday was on my last update! Enjoy! And happy belated Birthday! Thank you for the awesome reviews and the support!
Rose's POV
I may have not ever lost anyone close to me, but I had been to more funerals than I would have liked to. In my line of work I was usually being handed a murder case, or a missing persons file. Murders were in a way easier. You knew they were dead, and it was all about finding the person who had committed the crime. About finding justice for the person that was killed before their time. The family would be there, but for the most part they left you alone. You worked on the file like a robot, trying to piece together the many clues handed to you.
With a missing persons case you held out hope that you would find was a chance they could be alive, and my work could potentially save their lives. Their families were a lot more involved, because they too hoped their loved one would be coming back, alive. There were times when I would think I was so close to finding them alive. Usually it ended the same way though. Their body would be discovered by some unsuspecting person, and the missing person would become a murder case. Those were the hardest, because in a way you become attached.
Sonya may not have been missing, but I had grown attached. She was in a coma, but was still alive. I wanted nothing more than to find justice for her. A woman who had just been coming back from work, a woman that had a small child, a loving family. A family that I without trying had grown close to. A family that had excepted me with no questions asked. A family that now was suffering. In a matter of moments Jesse had come crashing into Sonya's world and made her and her family suffer. They all suffered in a way no one should ever have to.
All it takes is one bad mistake or action from another person. I had been learning this a lot more now recently. I may have thought I was the good guy but in a way I was bad, evil in a way. Something I was working hard to fix. I wanted to be a better person. Someone people could look up to and not just as an agent. I still strongly believed there was nothing wrong with having sex, with needing sex. But I had since learned that the way I was acting and treating people was what had made it so wrong.
"Sonya was the most amazing sister anyone could ever have." Dimitri's voice was soft, but carried delicately through the small church. "She picked on me to no end. But always urged me to be a better man. She always told me she believed every person had another half out there" He looked down his eyes sad, full of hurt, it took everything in me to not run up and comfort him.
"I would laugh at her, tell her I was fine. Tell her that I believed that some people were destined to be alone. She knew better though. She always pushed and pushed." His eyes looked around the church and landed on me. "My sister told me just a few months ago that something big was going to happen to me. That change was coming. She told me a story about how she believed every person was made with another half. That someone out there was holding the missing puzzle piece. She was so certain that some day I would bump into that person and never look back." He took a deep breath and a sad smile crossed his lips.
"She was right. She had been right all along." He drew in another breath, though this one was a lot more ragged.
I could tell the emotions were overwhelming him, and I could no longer stay in my seat. I stood up and walked up the aisle, eyes set on the man who needed me. As soon as I neared him he extended his hand out to me. I could hear his mother's cries, as he opened his mouth to continue.
"Sonya told me I would become a real man someday. That I would see my purpose in life. I thought I had it all figured out. I thought she was wrong. But then I met Roza." His eyes locked with mine, and he smiled.
"Sonya was right. And I hope she's somewhere now yelling and squealing about it. She will be greatly missed. My sister was well loved. Because her heart was always in the right place." He pulled me to his side, walking back to our seats.
Burying Sonya had to be the hardest thing I had to watch and witness. She was an innocent woman. A woman I had sadly never been able to meet. After hearing so much about her though, I felt like I knew her. I was happy I had been able to find Jesse, but sad that she was gone. Now I had to make sure she got justice, and I was going to do everything possible in order to do so.
Dimitri's POV
"My boy, may I have a word." I was walking back to my car where Roza was waiting when my mother stopped me.
"Of course mama." I took in her sad face and pulled her towards me.
Her small arms barely made their way around my waist. I smiled thinking about how Rose had the same problem. Though it was hard to find anyone who could compare to my height and size. But mama had never seemed so small to me before. She had always been strong, so powerful. I knew losing Sonya would be hard on her, I just did not know how hard.
"I'm here mama. I'm not leaving." Her soft sobs could be felt against my chest and I knew she was living every mother's worst nightmare.
No parent ever wanted to bury their child. I had seen others have to go through this, but I never thought my family would have to endure this pain. I never thought my wonderful loving mother would have to shed so many tears. There was nothing more that I wanted but to make her smile. I knew it would be a while though, she needed time.
"Oh Dimitri." She pulled away her hand reaching up to cup my cheek, I bent down to make sure she could do as she pleased.
"It's going to be fine. We will make it through this together. And I swear I will do everything in my power to make sure justice is served." She closed her eyes shaking her head.
"Try not to tire yourself out too much son." Her eyes softened. "I know justice will served Dimitri. What I need is for you to take care of yourself. You and that woman who seems to be rather smitten with you."
I pulled away a bit embarrassed. With everything that had been happening lately I had yet to formally introduce Roza to the family as my girlfriend. It was odd to think of her as that, but we had talked briefly and decided that we were in a relationship. Titles seemed so trivial but it was what we were, boyfriend and girlfriend. To me it sounded so high school, but at the same time it felt so right.
"Mama we are in love." I grabbed her hands and a small smile crossed my face until I looked behind her to my sisters grave.
"She would be so happy. She always talked about how much she wanted to see you in love. I know she is smiling down on all of us. She would want us happy, she would want us to not dwell on her death. It is hard for me to accept but I know my daughter, I raised her well." Tears sprang into her eyes and I pulled her into a hug again.
"I love you mama. I know I never said it much, if at all, but I mean it I love you." I lifted her chin so she could look at me. "You're a wonderful woman, and I am proud to be your son."
"I love you too my boy." She smiled and pushed me away. "Go home with Rose. Be happy."
Viktoria walked by that moment and grabbed my mother's arm. My little family walked away oddly enough with small smiles on their faces. Losing Sonya was a horrific event in our lives, but we had been raised to be strong. Mama had raised us knowing nothing was permanent, that life was short. We would live our lives now to our fullest, for Sonya.
"Mason said he made some supper for us." I had just closed the door to my car as Rose reached over and took my hand in hers.
"He didn't have to do that." She shrugged and linked our fingers.
"He left it in the fridge, so we can heat it up." Her nose scrunched up, she must have been thinking hard. I left her to her thoughts as I put the car in drive and headed to her house. After a while she spoke again.
"I have been thinking a lot these last couple days." She sighed lightly, and pulled her hand out of mine so she could play with the ends of her hair.
"What have you been thinking about?" I looked sideways as the light turned green and saw her fidgeting a bit.
"Well I mean we have taken some big steps here lately." She closed her eyes and opened them quickly. "I never thought all of this would happen to me. You know?" She turned towards me and I nodded.
"I know what you mean. It all feels so, I don't know surreal." A smile crossed her face and she seemed to grow more confident.
"I want you to move in with me Dimitri. I know its like sudden but for a while there we were spending ever night together and well I..." She trailed off biting her lips as she started to go back in her shell.
"You what Roza?" I had made it to her house and parked the car. So I took the time to turn towards her and finding her eyes.
"I really like it you know? There was something about waking up next to you that was just..."
"Amazing." I finished for her and she smiled.
"Yea amazing." I grabbed her face in my hands a smile crossing my own features.
"Thank you Roza. For everything. You have no idea how thankful I am for you." She leaned into my touch and I continued. "I would love to move in with you. I really would, but I think there is something we need to do before I take that step don't you think?" Her nose scrunched up in that cute way of hers and I smiled reassuring her.
"And what's that?" She pulled away eyeing me suspiciously and I laughed.
"I believe you owe me an answer to a question I asked you what seems like forever ago." Her eyes narrowed in confusion and then it hit her.
"A date?" I nodded and she laughed along with me. "I'd love a date."
"Me too. Maybe during this date we can straighten everything out. Talk?" She smiled at me nodding happily. Everything seemed to finally be settling down, and for that I was thankful for.
Rose's POV
I woke up the following Monday with a smile on my face. Dimitri and I had yet to go on our date but we had it planned for the following weekend. He refused to tell me what he had planned and for the first time ever I was fine not knowing. We had spent the weekend alone in my house, exploring even further the depth of our emotions. After our date, as promised Dimitri was going to move in. He had put his penthouse for sale, and soon we would be merging our household items. The thought brightened my day even more. Who would have thought something like this would be making me happy.
It was strange feeling this way about one person. It was as if I could not be without him, and every moment spent apart was just pure torture. I had read plenty of times about teenage crushes, I had laughed at them, the obsession that over took their minds. But yet here I was in love like a schoolgirl and I cared not about anything anyone would think or say.
I had a full day planned out, most of it revolving around hanging out with my father. I had some questions to ask him and he needed to answer them for me. I was still wondering if he knew all along what I was, what I had been. It was strange to think that he did, but did nothing to stop it. I understood I was an adult, but I was his daughter. I could have caused a hell of a mess.
"So I'll see you tonight." Dimitri stood in front of me decked out in a full suit. He had a meeting with a new DA that was dying to take him on their team.
"Yea, I don't have much going on in the office right now. Thankfully things are slow. Plus, Abe seems to know I need some space." He nodded and leaned in for a kiss, one I returned without any thought at all.
"Alright well, I'll see you later." We both stood there slightly awkward. This relationship thing was so new to us, that we were even questioning if we were saying goodbye correctly. We both smiled again, and he went to walk away, as I headed back to my closet.
"Roza." I turned around to see him standing at the door shifting slightly on his heels.
"Yes?" He smiled a huge grin and opened his mouth.
"I love you." The words looked so amazing coming out of his mouth. It was even more thrilling that they were directed at me.
"I love you too." With that he nodded and walked out leaving me in my happy daze.
Walking into the office again for the first time since everything had gone down was slightly frightening. I had no idea what people had been saying. I mean it must have been hard for them to think and know that Rose Hathaway was in love. Everyone here seemed to think I was a cold heartless bitch, and in a way I use to be. I was mean to everyone, it was hard to believe that anyone would want to be with me.
"So you and Belikov." I was stopped in my tracks by a rather daring looking Ralph.
"Get out of my way." I had no time to deal with him, and his retarded ways. I hated Ralph and always had. He had hit on my a few times, so I had hit him back, figuratively.
"I mean isn't that against the company policies. Going on with the office attorney?" My eyes snapped up and met with his accusing ones.
"I believe it is none of your fucking business Ralph. Now get the fuck out of my way." He moved out of my way but a smirk was on his lips, I wanted to smack him so badly at that moment.
"Your time has come Hathaway. You really think being boss's daughter was going to save you from everything." Before I could answer he laughed and quickly walked away.
I ran my hand through my hair before I looked up, it seemed as though everyone had been listening in. Not only that most of them were wearing smug faces. What the fuck was wrong with these people. I shook my head and went straight for my fathers office. I knew if I told him he would set them all in their places.
"Hey Abe, what the fu..." I was stopped when I noticed two people in his office. Both sporting internal affairs badges. This was not good, not good at all.
"Ah my Rosemarie. I would like you to meet Aaron Voda and Natalie Dashkov. They are from internal affairs and would like to have a short conversation with you." I was sure my fear for losing my job was clear on my face.
FBI internal affairs people were brutal. They did not care about anything but bringing down the person in question. I had seen these people at work, and I actually loved watching them. I just never thought they would some day be coming in after me. I had no idea why they were actually here. Yes, Dimitri and I were dating, it was frowned upon but not against any rules or regulations. He worked for the DA and I worked for well the agency.
"Ah yes Miss Hathaway, please have a seat." Aaron pointed to the empty chair, his face stoic. I did not like the way they dropped my agent title. I had worked hard for it. But I sat down anyways, I knew better than to fight with these people.
"We have had a few complaints Miss Hathaway. All of which we are taking very seriously. You do know what this means do you not?" Natalie had taken the role of leader and was clearly judging me over the thick frame of her glasses.
"Yes I do. May I ask what I am being investigated for?" I swallowed thickly, well knowing they were going to drag Dimitri into this, something I was hoping would not happen. He had already gotten a dent on his record, he could not afford anymore.
"Jesse Zelkos lawyer has come forth letting us know that you are very close to the Belikov family. So much so that you are dating Dimitri Belikov. Do you know that working on his sisters case, then arresting the main suspect is against policy, and warrants an investigation from internal affairs." God was I not going to catch a break.
I knew how this was going to end. And I so did not need this right now. Everything had seemed to be looking up. And honestly I had thought I would catch a break. Someone clearly was out to get me, and I had had enough. First Dimitri and now me. I was certain who had done this were surely trying to save their own butts, and I their asses were mine.
Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter... It was less than usual so I am going to ask are we getting sick of this story? I was going to end it sooner but people wanted it a bit longer... I don't want to be boring anyone?
So what did you think? Internal affairs is now on Rose? Can she ever catch a break? Do you know who probably said something? Will she get out of this? And does anyone want the date?