Dimitri had decided that he was done ignoring his feelings. At least when it was just him and Rose. And Christian. He was trying to nudge Rose into the realization that she needed to tell Lissa about them. More than that, she needed to realize that they were perfect together and perfect for each other.

Dimitri was cunning. He started out with little things and moved his way up. When they were alone, some part of him was always touching some part of her. Holding her hand, pressing his leg against hers when they sat near each other. Playing with the ends of her hair. He advanced to wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Rose was becoming complacent. Dimitri's affection was becoming a norm that Rose got used to way too easily.

When they were in the company of others, Dimitri would discreetly lay his hand on her thigh under the table. Though the first time she nearly choked on her food, Rose didn't remove his hand.

He of course never did anything openly in front of Lissa or Eddie. He was trying to nudge Rose, not give her a violent shove.

Rose grew more and more comfortable with Dimitri constantly showering her with affection. She found herself craving it. That's when he took it to he next level. He started kissing her good morning and good night when they swapped shifts. It was only a brush of his lips on her cheek. But even that small gesture, always caught Rose's breath. It never went beyond that. He wanted Rose to be the one to take the next step.

Rose and Dimitri decided to resume their training. They were both adults and rigorous training could potentially be the difference between life and death. Rose had still kept up sparring and running with Eddie. As did Dimitri. But nothing was quite like going up against each other.

They'd taken to the park again, using the secluded patch of grass as their sparring ring. They'd been at it for a while, all sweaty and hyped up, when Rose pinned Dimitri. "I'm glad we decided to do this again", she smiled smugly. Her palm was pressed over Dimitri's heart, simulating a staking and her victory.

Dimitri flipped Rose over his head and onto her back, then rolled backwards so he was the one on top now, as she squealed in surprise. "Me too", he smiled. He pressed her body down with his massive frame, her arms were pinned over her head, his face was too close to hers and yet not close enough.

"Hey, no fair!" Rose whined. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Who said I was fighting fair?", he asked mischievously.

"Dimitri Belikov doesn't play dirty", Rose answered. "That's more my thing", she smirked.

"Well, maybe you're just rubbing off on me?" he shrugged despite the position his body was in.

"Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" Rose was taunting him. No one could push his buttons like she could and she knew it. She lifted her head from the ground, her lips ghosting over his, but never really touching. When he leaned forward, she pulled back. The cherry on top was when she thrust her hips upwards. That tiny bit of friction to his groin caused Dimitri to completely lose his composure. He let out an audible groan as his eyes shut. That was the opportune moment Rose rolled them sideways so she was on top again, straddling his hips with both hands pressing down on his chest.

"DEAD!", she declared.

Dimitri smiled up at her and caught her wrists. He let his eyes wander over her body to where their hips were connected before he met her gaze. He smirked, "Suddenly dying does seem too bad".

It had been weeks since the attack, but Rose could still very clearly remember the feeling of dread when Dimitri's blood soaked shirt was being removed, revealing the gaping wound on his torso. She swallowed hard. "Don't say that".

The seriousness in Rose's voice caused Dimitri to sober up. "I'm sorry, Roza. I didn't mean anything by it".

"I know", she took a cleansing breath. "But you don't know what it was like seeing you like that".

She pushed down on his chest and made to get up, but Dimitri caught her by the by the waist, his thumbs just grazing the sides of her breasts. "Yes I do", he said seriously. "Remember Natalie? Or Spokane?" He cupped her cheek. "I remember vividly watching you hurt and not knowing whether you'd make it or not, on more than one occasion".

"But I was just a novice back then", Rose whispered, "And you're not supposed to get hurt, because you're a - ". She cut herself off and broke eye-contact, feeling silly and childish.

"Because I'm a god?" Dimitri asked.

Rose stared back in surprise. Till that moment, she wasn't entirely sure that Dimitri knew that was his nickname back at St. Vlad's. Oh, he definitely knew. And he hated it. On some level it was quite the ego boost, but mostly, Dimitri hated it.

"Well, yeah", she admitted, "you're supposed to be invincible".

"Roza, you beat me all the time". He rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone, thinking of how she beat him even now, in awe. "Does that make you a god, too?"

Rose had never thought of it that way. Dimitri was trying to make a point. He was only human, he could falter, he could fall, he could be killed. However that is not how Rose saw it.

"I guess it does", she grinned, smug as a bug and held her head up higher.

Dimitri right out laughed, the sound of it wrapping Rose like a blanket. "I've missed that. The sound of your laugh".

Dimitri smiled again. He sat up and pressed his forehead to hers. But he had to ask. It was on the tip of his tongue. He was sure he'd ruin their moment but he needed to know. It was stupid really, but it felt like the question would burn through his head it wasn't spoken aloud. Even though he knew the outcome wouldn't be good, he asked anyway. "If I died, would you have told Lissa about us?" The question was so much more loaded than the tone of his voice made it out be be. And of course, he was right - it did ruin their moment.

Rose's expression soured. "That is not fair, comrade". She tried to get off his lap, and this time Dimitri let her. She crossed her arms over her chest and started walking back to the apartment. "It's getting late and I have classes".

Dimitri wanted to smack himself. If his legs weren't so long, he'd have to jog to keep up with Rose's pace.

Rose was consumed by his question. She couldn't stop thinking about it. Would she have told Lissa? If Dimitri had died, could she tell her best friend that the man who died was a man she was hopelessly in love with? That the man of her dreams was a man she had no business lusting after let alone get involved with? Would Lissa see it as an elicit inappropriate relationship with an older man?

Rose figured she probably would have told Lissa as she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep her emotions in check if she lost him. Truth be told, if Rose had lost him, she'd have fallen apart. She'd have told Lissa about a side of Dimitri that only she got to see. She'd have told Lissa how they got each other, how they worried about each other, how they loved each other. She would make sure Lissa knew just how special what they had was and how dear Dimitri was to her. She'd tell Lissa about how they were together, about how gentle he could be and yet still be demanding and strong. She'd tell Lissa he had a secret smile, reserved only for her. She'd tell Lissa… everything. Well, maybe not everything; some things she'd keep for herself, something only she and Dimitri shared.

Halfway back to the apartment Rose froze.

Anxious that something was wrong, Dimitri stepped in front of Rose and cupped her cheek. "Roza?" he asked with concern.

She stared into those beautiful brown orbs of his that she loved so much and nodded. "Yeah".

Dimitri raised his eyebrow.

"Yes", Rose repeated. "I would have told Lissa".

Dimitri didn't smile. In a surprise move, Rose leaned into him and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her body tightly against his.

He didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed in her answer. She shouldn't have to wait for me to die to be able to tell her best friend about me, Dimitri thought.

He would have been shocked to know that Rose was thinking the same thing.

Rose pulled back first. But she didn't go too far. She laced her fingers with Dimitri's. He stared down at their joined hands, completely taken by surprise at the feeling of wholeness he got, just because it was Rose who initiated. The rest of the walk back, they held hands and let go only when they reached the apartment.

"Hi, Rose". Lissa smiled. "We just got a text that the professor called in sick, so we don't have classes till twelve".

"Great", Rose smiled widely. "We were probably gonna be late today anyway", she chuckled.

Rose followed Dimitri down the hall, not too closely. She got to her door when Dimitri got to his. They shared a glance before each entered their own bedroom.

Rose didn't hesitate when she marched right to the bathroom, all the way through to Dimitri's room.

"Roza?" Dimitri questioned. In the brief moment he was in his room, he'd managed to take his shirt off.

Rose didn't talk. She shoved him onto to his bed and climbed onto his lap, straddling him. Her tongue was down his throat before he had a chance to even register what she was doing. And he still kissed her back just as fervently. Her body moulded to his. His hands were everywhere, all at once.

Rose was the one who initiated the kiss and Rose was the one who stopped the kiss. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips were swollen, her eyes sparkled. She swallowed hard. "I'm going to tell Lissa".

"But?" Dimitri knew her all too well.

"I have no idea how we're going to make this work. I know you'd said we'd figure something out, but I can't lose Lissa. I just can't. She's not only my moroi, she's family. She's all I've got".

"Not anymore", Dimitri said with such conviction that Rose's heart skipped a beat. "So long as there is breath in my body and blood pumping in my veins, you are not alone, Roza".

Rose's heart swelled. "But", she closed both of her eyes. "I need more time. To mentally prepare". Rose opened one eye, checking Dimitri's response. When she was sure he wasn't angry with her, she opened the other eye as well.

"How much time?"

Rose shook her head, "I don't know."

"Days? weeks? Years? Give me some timeframe", he requested though in all honesty, he'd wait for her forever and day if need be.

"Not years", was all she could answer.

Dimitri nodded, accepting the answer and leaned forward to continue their make out session. But Rose leaned back.
"And." Rose continued, "I need you to promise me something".

Dimitri sat back up. "Anything".

"Hear me out first", Rose said.

At this Dimitri knew it was serious and that he wouldn't like it.

Rose bit her lip. "I need you to promise me that if anything happens while we're both protecting Lissa, she is your first priority".

Immediately, Dimitri knew what Rose was asking. She was asking him to throw his body between Lissa and a strigoi. He couldn't look at Rose after that request. She was asking something he couldn't give. He gently removed her from his lap and placed her on the bed. He leaned is elbows on his knees and dropped his head in his hands, with his fingers in his hair.

"Roza-"

"You don't have to answer now", Rose said. She knew what she was asking was probably one of the most difficult things he'd ever have to consider doing.

"Please don't ask this of me", he whispered.

"I need to know that you loving me doesn't get her killed". She moved from the bed and kneeled between Dimitri's legs so she was face to face with him. She pushed a stray lock of hair behind his ear. "Take your time and think about it". She kissed his forehead. "You know where to find me".

Dimitri hated what Rose was asking of him. He was tormented by it for days. He loved her more than he ever thought it was possible to love another human being. The simple truth was, Dimitri didn't want to put anyone else first. He didn't know if he'd be able to live with himself if his charge died on his watch because he was too distracted to do his job. He didn't know if he would blame Rose and grow to resent her because of it, but he was sure that Rose would never forgive him.

On the other hand, he wasn't sure if he knew how to live in a world without Rose in it. If it were any other random charge, he would never agree to it. They come first or not, if their charge wasn't like family, Dimitri wouldn't hesitate to save Rose if the occasion called for it. How far he had fallen.

How could he ever put any life above his Roza's? And yet, that wasn't really what she was asking him to do. Rose was asking for his trust. She needed him to trust her to do what he trained her for. To fight, to win, to survive. Still, he didn't know if he could turn off his instincts to protect the love of his life.

Fate is not without a sense of irony. It hadn't even been a week since Rose asked Dimitri to put Lissa first in the event of a strigoi attack, yet here they were. Attacked by strigoi.

There was only one class that required Rose and Lissa to participate in group functions. It was mandatory and counted as part of their final grade. So when a member of their scholastic group volunteered to host their first meeting, the girls really had no choice but to attend, even though it was well into the evening hours. Being the studious guardians they were, Rose and Dimitri knew they were both required for this protection detail.

It was the first time any one of them was out and about, outside the wards, since Christian and Dimitri were attacked. So Rose, Lissa and Dimitri being attacked on their way home was really quite ironic, in a situational irony kind of way.

Walking home through the park was a much shorter route than walking around the park in the well lit semi-busy street. It was only a few minutes walk. And the chances of strigoi finding them were slim, especially considering what they'd already gone through.

Or so they thought. The park was deserted and dark at this time of night. And so it was easy for the strigoi to spot them. Rose's early warning nausea was the only thing that saved them that night.

Rose and Dimitri pulled out their stakes and place Lissa between them and continued moving forward at an increased pace. Even so, they knew they could never outrun a strigoi.

Mid step, 2 strigoi appeared before them. A male and a female. The male was as big as Dimitri, while the female was of average build.

Two against two isn't that bad, Rose thought. Dimitri came up against 3 strigoi and survived. Though he was with a fire user…

It was only natural the ruly male squared off against Dimitri, while the female engaged Rose. In Rose and Dimitri's mind it made sense for the first few blows that were traded, until they came to the realization that they were being played by the strigoi.

The strigoi were testing for weaknesses. They took Dimitri for the bigger threat and in a synchronized move, switched between them, so Rose was facing Goliath and Dimitri went up against she-strigoi. She-strigoi was the older of the two and by the way she was kicking Dimitri's ass, she was ancient, powerful and skilled.

Rose was fairing better than Dimitri. She was used to taking on opponents much larger than herself. And Goliath wasn't very fast for a strigoi.

Dimitri had taken too many hits. He was out of commission. Rose didn't have time to even wonder what condition he was in. Especially since she was still griping with Goliath and she-strigoi was closing in on Lissa.

With determination that could only be brought by a desperate need to save a loved one, Rose staked Goliath and put herself between Lissa and she-strigoi just in time to take the brunt of her attack. Rose was slammed into a nearby tree. She quickly stood took a battle stance in front of her opponent.

Rose didn't have time to think, she didn't have time for fear. If she did, she'd have been paralyzed. The ancient took Dimitri down alone and she was already pretty beat up, having taken on Goliath.

Unbeknownst to her or she-strigoi, Lissa was taking action. She knew if they had any chance of making it out of this alive, they needed as much fighting power as they could get. She prayed that Dimitri was still breathing as she placed her hands on him and let her healing magic do it's work.

Rose was taking hit after hit. She-strigoi was pure evil, toying with Rose like a plaything. She was busy, about to sink her fangs into Rose's neck and didn't notice the dhampir poised with a stake behind her. With an unyielding plunge, Dimitri rammed his stake through her evil strigoi heart. She-strigoi dropped to the group in a lifeless heap. Dimitri caught Rose in his arms before she fell. She wasn't conscious and he had no idea how she held on as long as she did.

He didn't know what condition she was in, but Dimitri needed to get Rose and Lissa back to the wards. Lissa was weak from using spirit to heal him and Rose had blacked out. He threw Rose over his shoulder and with an arm around Lissa's waist to support her weight, they made a run for the apartment building.

Lissa had the good sense to trigger a silent alarm on her phone as soon as they encountered the strigoi. Her phone sent out a destress call to the nearest guardian, which was Eddie. But he was too far away to get there in time. He caught them mid run to the wards.

"Take the princess", Dimitri ordered Eddie.

"Are you sure?" Eddie asked. Rose was the heavier of the two and she was completely immobile. Eddie figured since he was fresh and unharmed, he could do more good by taking Rose, rather than Dimitri who was just in battle continue to carry her.

"Take the princess and get to the wards", Dimitri answered more aggressively than he intended to.

Eddie didn't question him again and did as he was told.

Christian was waiting just inside the wards, pacing back and forth, worried out of his mind. When he saw Lissa, he couldn't wait and he ran to her. "Lissa!"

Christian took her back to the wards. They were only a few feet away. Eddie turned to help Dimitri, but again he refused.

Inside, Dimitri laid Rose gently on the couch and sat across from her on the coffee table.

"I need blood", Lissa mumbled. "I need blood to heal Rose".

Eddie took Rose's hand in his and looked her over. "Her pulse is strong. She's pretty beat up, but she'll live".

"I need to heal her", Lissa insisted.

"We're not scheduled for a feeder till tomorrow", Chris answered.

"Take mine", Dimitri said. They all stared at him, shellshocked. He reached his arm out to Lissa. "Drink".

"Dimitri, this is crazy", Eddie tried to be the voice of reason.

Dimitri looked at him, almost mad. "You weren't there, you didn't see. That strigoi threw her around like a rag doll. By all rights it's a miracle she's still breathing on her own", he turned back to Lissa, "Take what you need".

Lissa didn't hesitate. Dimitri didn't let out a hiss as her fangs broke his skin. He tried not to get euphoric from the venom, but there was nothing he could do to avoid it…

Eddie handed him a bottle of water from the kitchen. At the very least, he figured Dimitri should hydrate.

Lissa only took enough so she could heal Rose. But it was enough venom to get Dimitri high. His pupils were blown. His worry for Rose defused from near crippling to hovering in the back of his mind.

Even high as a kite, he was still sensible Dimitri. "How long with this last?", he blinked rapidly.

Eddie rolled his eyes. It was really a question Dimitri should have asked before he let Lissa drink his blood.

"With the amount she took", Chris answered, "three or four hours. You might want to try and sleep it off".

Lissa went to Rose, placed a hand on her forehead and one on her abdomen, though it really didn't matter, and healed her. To any onlooker, it didn't look like she was doing anything. But Dimitri was right, Rose was severely injured and non of them knew the extent until Lissa almost collapsed.

"There's something really wrong with her", Lissa panted.

"Did you fix it? Fix her?" Dimitri spluttered.

"Yes, she's going to be okay".

He retook his position on the coffee table opposite Rose. "Thank you", Dimitri said to Lissa who was now seated on the long sofa, at Rose's feet. She was almost asleep.

"Come on, let's get you to bed", Christian tugged Lissa to her feet. She didn't want to leave Rose but she was in no shape to argue.

"You should go to sleep too, Dimitri", Eddie said gently, when Chris and Lissa were gone. "I'll guard tonight".

Dimitri chuckled. "I'm not leaving her". He took Rose's hand in his and kissed her knuckles. He whispered something in Russian, but even by the tone of his voice, Eddie could tell it was anything but professional.

Eddie knew there was no reasoning with the 6 foot 7, high as a kite guardian. Eddie grabbed Rose's blanket off her bed and returned to cover her with it. He found Dimitri about to fall over with sleep but braced himself and shook awake. It would have been funny if it weren't so sad.

"You really should lie down", Eddie tried again.

Dimitri shrugged. He pushed the coffee table back and laid down on the floor, parallel to Rose. He played with the bit of her hair that hung off the side of the sofa. "We should take off her shoes", Dimitri yawned, "so she's more comfortable".

Seeing that Dimitri was far beyond gone, Eddie pulled Rose's shoes and socks off. Eddie didn't have the heart to leave him like that on the floor, so he got Dimitri's blanket and pillow from his bed and tucked him in, like he did for Rose.

Eddie sent messages to HQ and the alchemists with coordinates from Lissa silent alarm, siting that full reports would be sent once the guardians had recuperated, no substitute was required. At least Eddie prayed none would be needed.

Rose woke with a start. She sat up on the couch, bracing herself for an attack, but all she was met with was the familiar face of one of her best friends - Eddie Castile.

"It's ok", he tried to sooth Rose. "You're alright".

"Lissa?"

"She's in bed, resting".

Rose looked around the room.

"Dimitri's fine too", Eddie answered her unspoken question. "He just went to grab a shower and a change of clothes. He'll be back any minute. He didn't want to leave your side, but I told him you wouldn't want to see him the way he was".

Rose swallow. "How was he?"

Eddie handed her a glass of water with she gulped greedily. "Dirty, torn clothes. He looked a mess".

Rose nodded.

"Rose, what the hell is going on between you two?" Eddie asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about", she answered flatly, in a manner that almost fell rehearsed.

"Wow", Eddie leaned back. "I never thought you'd lie right to my face". When Rose crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him blankly it was clear that she wasn't going to answer, so he did the talking instead. "Rose, Dimitri was like a pitbull last night - relentless. He carried you in, wouldn't let anyone near you, save for Lissa to heal you. He slept right here", he gestured to the empty space beside the sofa, "on the floor, by your side. So I know there's something going on here! I just don't know if it's one sided or not".

"What happened last night?" Rose was almost afraid to ask.

Eddie almost didn't want to tell her, so she wouldn't have time to work out a story. But Rose was like a sister to him. A sister he always indulged, one who he could never say no to. "I don't know all the facts, Lissa was pretty out of it, and Dimitri wasn't talking much after he offered her his blood".

Rose held up her hand. "Wait, Dimitri let Lissa drink from him?"

Eddie told Rose everything he knew about what had transpired the previous night, from Lissa's alarm blaring on his phone, to Dimitri carrying her and lugging Lissa towards the apartment building, to Lissa needing blood to heal Rose, to Dimitri offering it, to Lissa healing her. Eddie made sure to emphasize to Rose that he tried to help Dimitri carry her or take care of her, but there was no reasoning with him. Lastly he told Rose about the way Dimitri held and kissed her hand while he was probably too high to care there was an audience. "You want to tell me again how there's nothing going on?" he accused.

It was then that Dimitri entered the room. Rose's mouth dried upon seeing him. He no doubt heard at least some of what Eddie had said. Rose didn't break eye contact with Dimitri when she answered Eddie, "There's nothing going on between me and Dimitri".

Dimitri was not only mad, he was disappointed. He clenched his fists. "Eddie, can you give us a minute?"

Eddie looked to Rose for confirmation and excused himself with a slight nod of her head. Now he was sure there was something going on, which probably wasn't any of his business, but now more than anything else, he was worried for Rose. On the way out, he stared Dimitri down. In as much as you can stare down a 6 foot 7 Russian. "I don't care who you are, you hurt her, I hurt you". Eddie was very serious.

Dimitri almost laughed. She was the one constantly hurting him.

"Why didn't you just tell him?" Dimitri gestured to the spot Eddie vacated.

"I'm not sure that there's anything to tell", Rose answered.

"Don't." Dimitri shook his head. "Don't start this again. You swore to me that you'd tell Lissa, that we'd try to make this work".

"I did. But I also needed to know that you could put Lissa first". She let the rest of the sentence hanging the air, her intent was clear.

"I did put her first!" Dimitri tried not to raise his voice.

"Then how am I still alive?"

"Do you want to be dead?!" Dimitri ran his fingers through his wet hair roughly. "Honestly, sometimes I think you have a death wish".

"No. But you obviously had the opportunity to escape with Lissa and yet you didn't! Instead of getting her to safety, you let me slow you down".

Dimitri clenched his teeth. "Those strigoi were dead and you were injured. I wasn't going to leave you there, so stop asking me to! I. Put. Her. First. When it counted most."

Their argument was stopped short when Lissa barged into the living room and flung herself at Rose. "I was so scared, Rose!".

"It's alright, you're safe", Rose stroked her hair.

"I wasn't scared for me! I was scared for you, Rose!"

"Hey Dimitri", Christian joined them, "Help me with out with breakfast, please?"

As soon as the boys were gone Rose asked Lissa to fill in the blanks for her.

She started out stating, "You and Dimitri were incredible". Then Lissa proceeded to recount the events as she saw them. When she was done, Rose stared at her shocked.

"Liss, that was BADASS!" Rose was cheering on her friend for having the sense and the courage to stay and heal Dimitri, rather than to try to run and hide. "You saved us, Lissa. How about that? A moroi saving her guardians".

"I didn't save you, I just gave you a fighting chance", Lissa said solemnly.

"If more moroi would act the way you and Sparky did in the face of strigoi, a lot more lives would be saved, and strigoi numbers would drop. Don't sell yourself short, Lissa the Valiant".

"Rose stop", Lissa blushed at the compliment.

"No Lissa, you're the savior of the story. You healed Dimitri, because of that he was able to finish off an ancient and get you to safety. And you healed me. But-".

"But?" Lissa's jade eyes shown with concern.

"You and Dimitri should have left me behind".

Lissa gasped. "What is the matter with you?!". If Lissa hadn't spend so much effort in healing Rose, she would have slapped some sense into her.

"It's protocol".

"I don't give a shit about protocol".

Whoa! She means business, Rose thought, Lissa never curses.

"Even if Dimitri would have wanted to do that, which he didn't because that's no the kind of man he is, I wouldn't have allowed it!"

Rose could clearly see Lissa channeling her inner queen.

"Rose, I don't want you to ever say anything like that again". If Rose thought her highness was done, she was mistaken. "What would you have done if the tables were turned? If it was Dimitri unconscious on the ground? I mean I know he's bigger and heavier and it's foolish to think you could fireman-carry him, but you're Rose Hathaway. You would have come up with something. I refuse to believe you wold have left him behind".

For a fraction of a second, Rose doubted that. In all honesty she didn't know what the fuck she would do if their roles were reversed.

Dimitri swung the kitchen door open. "Breakfast is ready". He managed to catch the end of Rose and Lissa's conversation. He too wondered what Rose would have done. He pushed the thought out of his mind immediately, not willing to face the possibility that Rose may well have left him for dead. Though in all fairness, what else could she have done?

Lissa smiled brightly at Dimitri. She rose from the couch and caught him completely off guard in a bear hug. "Thank you, Dimitri".

Dimitri awkwardly returned the hug. "You don't have to thank me".

"Yes I do. I know didn't have to carry Rose back to safety. It's against protocol or whatever. So, thank you. I mean I know you didn't do it for me. But I am still in debt all the same". Lissa entered the kitchen and let the door swing shut behind her.

"Come on, Rose", Dimitri said. "You need to eat".

"I need to shower", she countered.

"Eat first, then shower", he ordered. It was on the tip of his tongue, he wanted to add that he'd be more than willing to help her shower if she needed, but he thought better of it. No sense in getting another ass kicking.
As Rose approached the kitchen, Dimitri didn't let her pass. He pulled him to her in a fierce embrace. One Rose was reluctant to pull back from. "I thought I lost you, Roza".

"I thought I lost you too, comrade". Rose was assaulted with the image of Dimitri lying on the ground face down, not knowing if he was alive or not. Her hands fisted in the sides of Dimitri's shirt. He kissed her temple. They stayed like that for as long as they dared. Later they would need to send in a report and get back to their regular shift schedule. Dimitri knew Rose was far from over her whole 'you should have left me' episode, nor had she relented from the promise she asked him to make. But for a few brief moments they lived in a small bubble of relief and solace, holding each other.

A/N:

Wow! that took me forever to write! between a house guest and the holiday, I didn't have any time to write! This was literally written 2-3 paragraphs at a time! trying to steal time between the kids and the family and work.

But it's finally here!

I hoped you like it! I'd love it if you let me know in the reviews!

Don't forget to favorite and follow!

Cheers!

K