A/N: Yes, yes. I'm back; just a burst of inspiration, ya know? Who knows how much longer I can ride out this sudden explosion of motivation. To spur it on, you should all review ;) Feel free to pester me if I start to get lazy and inactive, I totally need it.

Disclaimer: I do not own VA.

DPOV:

"Roza?" I called out softly, dropping my keys with a soft clink at the front door. I checked my watch and sighed. 11:30PM. I had missed the kids' bedtime again.

"Hey comrade," Rose whispered as she walked towards me. She looked tired; her shirt had unknown stains, her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"How was your day?" I asked, tipping her chin up for a chaste peck on the lips.

"The usual," she sighed, leaning into me. "What about you? Looks like you were busy, it's late."

"Yeah, Cordeau is on leave so I got pulled up to do all the paperwork. Lucky me," I said, giving her a small smile. She led me inside further and hung up my coat while I took off my shoes. "Hey, would you mind heating something up real quick while I hop in the shower?" I asked, rubbing my face tiredly.

"I was just going to head to bed though…" she groaned, pouting a little.

"Rose, please. I've been working my ass off these past few days and I am exhausted to the bone." I shot her a look and sighed. "Is a little something to eat too much to ask of you?"

Her jaw dropped and I winced, knowing I had stepped too far. "While you've been at work, I've been putting our two young children to bed and reading them both bedtime stories for hours because they don't want to fall asleep before their daddy gets home. I've been feeding a messy toddler and a princess with an attitude simultaneously because their daddy isn't around to feed one of them. I've even gone to a daddy-daughter donut day at school because their daddy is busy. And I have not ONCE complained, Dimitri Belikov, so don't you dare try to tell me that you are more tired than me. Good fucking night."

"Rose, wait," I said, reaching out to pull her towards me but she escaped my grasp and ran upstairs, slamming the door to our bedroom and locking it with a click.

I raked my fingers through my hair and sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. Knowing Rose, I figured she wouldn't let me into the bedroom for another half hour so I trudged into the kitchen and fixed myself a midnight snack. I half-heartedly ate some crackers and cheese, contemplating how I was going to make it up to Rose. I finally cleared my plate and dragged my feet up the stairs, reveling in what could be my last moments as a free man.

I rapped softly on the door with my knuckles, murmuring, "Roza? Open the door please." I heard the covers shifting and a pair of light feet shuffling across the carpet before the door unlocked. Before I could say anything, Rose moved further into the room and swiftly walked into the master bathroom. I cautiously followed her, eyeing for any signs of hostility.

"You should get ready for bed too," she said quietly, breaking the silence as she began her nighttime rituals. I nodded and grabbed a pair of clean boxers as well as pajama pants. To start our reconciliation, I opted to go shirtless and only wear flannel pajama pants; hopefully to lessen the blow of the fight by distracting Rose.

I padded up behind my wife and rested my chin on her shoulder, lightly placing my hands on her waist. I gave her cheek a few kisses and held her closer to my body, waiting for her reaction.

She glanced at me through the mirror and rolled her eyes. "I'm still mad," she commented, moving away to reach the lotion.

I groaned and prepared for the argument that was just bound to happen. "Rose, we went over this last week before I stepped in for Cordeau. I told you that I was going to have to work late and you said you were okay with it."

"That is not my problem with you and you know it. I'm bothered because you've been distant and to be honest, a little rude," she responded, going about her facial care routines.

"I don't think that's unreasonable, Rose. I've got a lot going on at work and my thoughts are usually preoccupied with how I'm going to make a living for our family, now that we only have one source of income."

"Are you blaming me for not working?" she asked, turning around angrily.

"Don't put words into my mouth. You know that's not what I meant," I said, raising my voice as well.

"Dimitri Belikov, so help me God, I will get Olena and your sisters to beat the living shit out of you. I have been busy taking care of our toddler and not to mention our daughter, who is in her developmental stages and needs attention too. I thought being a guardian would be my life, but after we had Lydia and Aleksandr, I knew that being a mother would always be my one and only priority and if that isn't the most kickass full-time job, then I don't know what is. I thought you would share this view 'cause you are the only person who I've loved enough to branch off of being a guardian for. I guess I was silly to think that," Rose said, silent tears rolling down her face as she stared at me, looking disappointed and quite frankly, a little broken.

I was about to respond when a little voice piped up behind me. "Mommy? Why are you crying? Why are you yelling?" Lydia asked, clutching her teddy to her chest and looking up at us with wide eyes. Her tears threatened to spill over as her lower lip trembled.

"Oh, honey, it's okay. Mommy is okay," Rose said, brushing the wetness from her cheeks and gathering our daughter into her arms. She stroked Lydia's soft hair and rocked her back and forth. "Everything is okay, right Daddy?" she asked me, giving me a pointed stare.

"Yes, of course. Mommy and I were just so excited to come see your ballet recital tomorrow that she started crying happy tears," I said, wincing as I realized how crazy that sounded.

Surprisingly, it did the trick and the big, crocodile tears stopped. "Time to go back to bed my love," Rose said, carrying Lydia back into her room.

I waited for Rose to come back into our bedroom before closing the door gently behind her.

"Rose, I-"

"Not in front of my children. You do not yell in front of the kids. I do not want them raised in a broken household like I was, I can't have that for my babies," Rose said, sobs starting to wrack her body.

I pulled my wife into a tight embrace and kissed the top of her head, murmuring sweet nothings. "It's okay, they know we love them. You are not your mother, Rose. You aren't your mom. I won't let that happen."

I led her into bed and we sat back on the headboard, my arms still around her. She snuggled into my chest and slowed her sniffles.

"I didn't mean it, you know. Any of it. You're doing the best you can and I love you," Rose whispered as she played with the ring on my left hand.

"I know," I whispered back, placing a loving kiss on her temple. "I love you too. And I shouldn't be so demanding. I know you work hard to be there for our kids and I can't even imagine how you do it."

"It's not too bad," she replied, a hint of a smile in her voice. "We made some really awesome babies."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I am ready to fall asleep. We have to be up earlier tomorrow to get ready for Lyd's ballet recital too, remember," I said, sliding under the covers.

I got a groan in reply and chuckled. "I love you Roza," I murmured, wiggling up to her back.

"I love you more, comrade."