"Let's go… we need to talk about something else." He got up and we walked towards the living room downstairs holding hands. I didn't want to let go because I might have fallen down the stairs without his support and because I had miss his warmth and touch.
When we walked into the living room everyone was there. Viktoria was kind of smiling while talking to Adrian and he had this weird expression on his face of adoration which Viktoria seemed to be oblivious to.
Tasha was talking to Olena and Dimitri's sisters like they had been friends forever and are just catching up now. My Mother was talking very seriously with the other Moroi and hugging Lissa who was still crying next to my Mother. Christian was beside Lissa talking on the phone.
Everyone turned their attention to us when we walked in. My Mother's face remained illegible and hard when she saw me with Dimitri and for some strange reason the Moroi also seemed to have a problem. I looked at them smugly for being with Dimitri again and not caring what my Mother or whoever else was staring at us were thinking.
We sat on the couch and my Mother was the first one to hug me. It almost felt like a real hug. Since I woke up a couple of hours ago I didn't let anyone talk to me till Oksana and Mark were here. Oksana offered to finish healing me and I accepted gladly though she warned me that the baby was a whole new deal that she couldn't heal. So I still had to be careful with the pregnancy.
"Rose I'm glad you're back" She whispered in my ear but her voice wasn't warm and cozy like when Olena talked to me.
"Me too" I answered coldly and she stepped back.
Dimitri squeezed my hand gesturing me to be more polite so I forced a smile and he sighed.
"Rose I'm sorry" I got this feeling of déjà vu from when she came into Dimitri's room and shoved me against the wall like a rag doll. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did before and I want you to know that I love you" She might have been waiting for tears, a real smile or something but that was definitely not going to happen. I might forgive her but I just don't forget.
"O.K. I love you too but you're going to have to accept who I want to be with and Dimitri is that someone." She looked like she wanted to bicker but she sighed and nodded looking not so nicely at Dimitri.
"I… We" She said glancing back at the Moroi. "Want you to come back to America with us. Both of you." She was crazy if she really thought I'd say yes.
"No, I'm not going back. I want to stay here with Dimitri and his family. I'm happier here that I've ever been in any other place." I said truthfully and my Mother threw a glance at Dimitri as if encouraging him to talk.
"We have to go back Roza… I already proved how capable of protecting you I am and I'm not testing that again by having you here unprotected. We have to go back." He didn't dare to look at me in the eye. I didn't want to have to go back to America. Where would we go? I'd be crazy to go to court and have to see the Queen Bitch every day, besides Lissa would be there and I was not ready to talk to her.
"No… Dimitri I don't want to go back. Besides where would we go? I'll be damned if I go to court with Queen Bit… Tatiana." I explained thinking that I had won but then the Moroi cleared his throat and I turned my attention to him.
He seemed very intimidating but I wasn't going to let him know that. I glared at him piercingly and he just smiled. No Moroi had even thought of my glare as funny, who the hell did he thought he was?
"I already arranged that. I'll provide you a house and Guardians patrolling at all times, consider it your wedding gift" He said looking at my ring. My Mother looked down and her eyes widened.
"You... you're getting married?" She asked me instead of Dimitri.
"Yes" He answered before I could reply something more inappropriate.
"Who the hell are you anyways? My damn fairy Godmother or something?" I said wanting to know the truth of this Moroi's generosity. I mean if he's my Mother's charge then there most be something going on between them.
"Roza! Don't talk to him… like that" Dimitri said. He was kind of acting weird around this Moroi.
"Rose he's Abe Mazur, your Father" Janine's words made me turned to her abruptly. Did she just say that he was… my Father?
"What the hell did you drink?" I asked her and she pressed her lips together.
"Rose I'm just telling you who your Father is, didn't you want to know?" She must have been trying to make a joke but failed miserably because the last thing I wanted to do was laugh.
"Yes but… he can't be" I said looking at him and then I realized that we did look alike. His skin and hair color were very much like mine. He dressed very formally and his clothes looked very expensive.
"He is, Roza" I looked at Dimitri who had the truth written all over his face and for the first time I believed my Mother but just because Dimitri had confirmed it. For the first time I looked at the Moroi like a Father but I just couldn't bring my self to say it. He smiled at me warmly and then he stood up with his arms open inviting me to hug him. I glanced at Dimitri who nodded with a small smile and helped to get up.
I took a step closer to Abe and hugged him. His embrace was comfortable and I felt like belonged there just like when I was in Dimitri's arms. It felt good to know who your Father is and have him with you.
"Kiz, I'm sorry I was never with you but your mother and I thought it would be better that way." Of course, Janine thought it would be good.
"I… Its ok… I think." I didn't know what else to say. I mean what should I say?
"I know it's not ok but… please allow me to give you protection and a place to live with… him." The way he said Dimitri's name was obvious he didn't like him that much. "And I'd really like to be a part of your life from now on… if you want that of course" I nodded because I really wanted him to be a part of my life. I wanted to have the opportunity to get to know him better and my baby to know who her grandfather is.
"I'd really like that" I said with a smile. He gave one last hug and we both sat down.
"The house is in Montana, close to the Academy though" That was fine with me so I looked at Dimitri and he shrugged.
"That's ok" I said resigned. There was nothing else I could do to make Dimitri or Janine that I wanted to stay here with Dimitri's family.
"I want to go with you Dimka" Viktoria said very determined and Dimitri turned his attention to his sister.
"Viktoria you have to go to school and…" Viktoria cut him off.
"I'll go to school at the academy, Mr. Mazur mentioned that the house was near the house is that right?" My Father nodded and Viktoria turned to Dimitri again. "See?"
"Mother?" Olena started a conversation with Dimitri and Viktoria in Russian so I didn't know what the hell they were talking. "Fine, I'll talk to headmistress Kirova about this and..." I cut him off.
"And she'll accept because she knows that Dimitri is the best Guardian so she'll be honored to have the next Belikov generation" I finished with a smile looking at Viktoria and when I turned to Dimitri he had a sad smile on his face.
"Perfect. I want to be close to you and Dimka Roza, I'll graduate this year and then I'll help you with the baby" She said very seriously and I nodded grateful that I'd have help with the baby.
"I'll take you back in my own jet, when would you have your stuff ready?" My Father asked and I sighed feeling more than defeated.
"We'll be ready for the day after tomorrow Mr. Mazur and we're grateful for your offer." Dimitri said politely. I looked at him with a What-the-hell? Look but he only shrugged.
"I'll be there for you Kiz, the whole time" My Father told me and a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. I knew that from now on it would be almost impossible to get him if my back and somehow I loved the thought of having him around.
"Thank you" I replied and somehow I felt like my Mother wanted to tell me something so I turned to her. "What is it?" I asked her, my voice serious and with no trace of humor or anything.
"I'm your Father's Guardian" she said fondly and I sighed.
"It was expected." I said under my breath.
"I would have been there anyway Rose." I smiled at her, a small smile.
"We should go now Janine, I have calls to make and things to arrange" He explained getting up. I got help from Dimitri and I got up too to give him a hug. He embraced in his arms with love and tenderness and once again I experienced that belonging feeling.
"Will you come tomorrow or till we have to leave?"I asked silently praying that he'd come tomorrow to spend the day with me. He smiled.
"I'll come tomorrow if you want me to" I nodded grinning.
"I'd love it if you come" He smiled too.
"It's settled then" He kissed me goodbye and then left with my Mother by his side. Before she left I gave her a hug.
I looked around the room and looked at Christian and Lissa. They were still talking but I had the urge to go and talk to her.
"Go Roza, I'll come back to you when you're done" He said from behind me and before unwrapping his arms from around my waist he kissed my cheek and then he left.
I sighed and walked over to my friend and her boyfriend knowing that I had a lot to apologize for and probably some begging to do. She had been my BFF since we re little but she had also been like a sister to me. But she had also become some sort of obstacle between Dimitri and me back at the academy. It had been mainly the fact that I was supposed to be her Guardian the reason why Dimitri and I hadn't been able to get our relationship to the next level. She had been our priority before the attack. After the attack Dimitri and me opened our eyes to see that life was something we had to live before it was over or cut short by someone else. Besides we love each other so much that we both left our duties as Guardians just so we'd be able to have a normal relationship by living among humans where we wouldn't be judged just because he was older than me and because we were both Damphirs.
Lissa let me go easily but I think that I still hold against her Dimitri's lack of confidence back at the academy and me holding back because I felt that somehow I had to be with her forever.
"Liss" I said in a small voice and she quickly turned around. She was confused , sad, depressed and guilty all at the same time and through our bond I could feel some darkness in her that was getting very bad for her to manage. But I was not going to take it from her this time. I felt it, the darkness I mean, trying to make its way into my body but I blocked Lissa's emotions from mine like I had been doing for the past couple of months. I wasn't going to endanger my life or the baby's for my Friend's. Not anymore.
"Rose I… I'm sorry" she cried and then tears began to run down her cheeks. I could only hug her and comfort her because I knew what she was feeling and also because I felt guilty for yelling at her earlier.
"Liss everything's ok between us ok? I'm sorry what I said early. I didn't really mean it you know? I had been very… worried for Dimitri and I snapped like a twig." I explained her as I patted her back. That seemed to calm her down a bit and she stopped crying long enough to pull back and look at me. I don't know what she saw in my eyes but it seemed to convince her.
"I thought you hated me Rose, I thought that you didn't want to be my friend anymore and I… I couldn't bear the though. Rose I love you like a sister… I'm sorry" She knew my reasons and I think that she heard very clearly what I yelled at her.
"Calm down Liss, 'Kay?" She nodded but I could still sense the darkness inside her.
"Rose… she has darkness… can you help her?" Christian pleaded me and I answered with a firm "No" at the same time Dimitri said the same thing from across the room. Christian's face darkened and he looked at me like I was some sort of bad person.
"She's been like this because of you. She was so worried about you and now you don't want to help her?" He said mad at me but I wasn't going to let guilt take over.
"I won't do it because I'm pregnant and if I take the darkness from her I don't know what I would do and that would risk my baby" I explained to him and he was about to keep going when Lissa interrupted him.
"I'm fine and she's right. She shouldn't take anything from me now" She looked so tired and worn out. "Let's go back to the hotel please, I'm very exhausted." She said and the exhaustion was obvious in her voice so Christian nodded.
Christian and Lissa left after saying their goodbyes.
I walked back to the living room where everyone was and sat on the couch. Dimitri was nowhere in sight, he must be in the kitchen. Oksana and Mark sat in front of me and as if I had yelled his name Dimitri came from the kitchen with Tasha behind him. She smiled at me, a real smile that told me she was happy to see me and I returned the smile with warmth.
Dimitri kissed Tasha on the cheek before she waved her goodbye to me and left and then Dimitri came and sat next to me.
"So now that you're going back we think that things will go ok with you and your baby Rosemarie." Mark began with a thoughtful expression. "I don't see what could go wrong if you are going to be Guarded and probably with feeders." Feeders. I shivered at the thought of sinking my fangs into someone else's throat and treat them like cattle. But it was for my baby so I'd probably do it but I wasn't going to like it.
"Don't worry Roza" Dimitri murmured in my ear reassuringly.
"We won't be able to visit anymore so this is our goodbye" Oksana continued and we said our goodbyes before they too left.
In the living room was only Adrian talking very excitedly with Viktoria and both of them were looking a little too thrilled about something or whatever they were talking about. Dimitri sighed watching them and I felt a pang of guilt for not telling him before about Viktoria's break up with Nikolai.
We both sat on the couch, well I actually sat on his lap and I must have looked very big.
"You knew didn't you?" I knew what he was talking about of course.
"She told me and made me promise not to say anything. I couldn't betray her trust." I answered looking into his eyes and sinking deeper into his warm brown eyes.
"I understand" He said also gazing at me adoringly.
Paul came running and gave Adrian a pillow and a blanket and Adrian smiled and messed up Paul's hair. Those two looked like they were old friends or something.
"He likes him?" I asked in disbelief.
"Well, Paul has his charm…" I cut him off.
"I mean that I can't believe Paul likes Adrian, he can be a pain in the ass when someone first meets him" I said joking and Dimitri chuckled.
"I know what you mean and before you ask he's staying here on the couch. He's been here since… what happened and I actually learned how do deal with him. I only thank God that he hasn't been drinking or smoking in front of Paul"
"He's been sober?" I asked not wanting to believe it.
"As surprising as it sounds he has." Dimitri also sounded surprised that that was even possible. "And all because of you" He finished and when I looked into his eyes I didn't see any of the jealousy or hatred that he felt whenever he was talking about Adrian. Instead there was gratitude. "He helped get you back Roza because he saw you as a friend and only that I no longer feel anything else but gratitude." He was telling the truth I could tell and I leaned closer to give him a kiss.
"You never had any reasons for not liking him, I never felt anything for him that wasn't love for a friend." I said teasingly and he laughed.
"Roza don't get me started…" He said chuckling and trailing kisses along my jaw and neck.
"I will get you started… let's go to bed its late" I said enthusiastically and he laughed.
We said good night to Dimitri's family and Adrian. Adrian was rather very interested in whatever Viktoria was saying and they were both very engrossed with each other laughing at their jokes and listening to each other's stories.
As Dimitri and I made our way towards our bedroom I couldn't stop thinking about the glances those two exchanged. Adrian wasn't the type of guy to get lost in a girl's eyes or gaze at her adoringly. Something was going ton and I think I know what it was. It was rather obvious actually.
When we were finally inside our bedroom I locked the door and then turned around to kiss Dimitri. He placed his hands on my hips and I placed my hands on his shoulders to keep him very close to me.
"I love you" I said and he stopped kissing me to look at in the eyes.
"I love you too, more than I thought I could love someone" Then he started kissing me again but hungrily and we both knew where this would probably lead to and I didn't want to stop. I spent time away from him and I wanted to make it up to both of us.
We both had in our minds the baby I was sure of that so he laid me on the bed gently, never taking his lips off mine or his hands off my body, which were suddenly wandering and caressing all over my body with love. I was so eager to take this to the next step but I also wanted to take my time with him.
We had been away from each other so I needed him and desired him. I removed my hands from his neck and started to slide his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. His lips found their way back to my mouth as he unbuttoned my jeans and also tossed them aside leaving me shivering from the cold but then I tangled my legs with his and I noticed that he still had his pants on so I started to take them off.
He helped me taking them completely off including his boxers. I ran my hands up and down his bare back making him shudder. I was still wearing my underwear and shirt so he took them off.
The feeling of his skin against mine send waves of fire through me making me want him even more, loving him even more, if that was possible. He was lifting most of his weight off me with his knees so I took advantage and wrapped my legs around his waist. He lifted me up and placed me on the middle of the bed with him hovering over me. I felt so safe and desirable in his arms.
He trailed kisses along my jaw and downward to my chest and breasts that somehow looked incredible better than before thanks to the pregnancy and were now the center of his attention. I held onto him letting him have his fun while I enjoyed but soon enough I was being consumed by the need of feeling him inside me and filling the emptiness I felt without him.
"Dimitri… please…" I pleaded and he made a sound low in his throat.
He went back to kissing me on the lips while we became one and the filling of him was overwhelming that I forgot even my name in those precious moments that I was sharing with him. I held on to him as if my life depended on it and then my mouth found its way to nibble at his neck and I could feel the pulse beneath his skin, the blood rushing through his veins.
Our breathing quickened when we were over the edge and at the same time we both found our release I sank my teeth into his flesh and he gasped surprised.
This wasn't the first time I had tasted his sweet blood but it felt like it was the first time all over again because this time it tasted sweeter and richer. It was like heaven. I didn't want to stop drinking because it was so delicious. I could feel his blood getting into my system and running through my own veins.
The baby felt it too because suddenly she started moving around enjoying the flavor just like I was. The pulse wasn't getting any weaker, it was still steady but I was very eager to keep drinking so I rolled over leaving Dimitri beneath and I was about to sink my teeth harder when I remembered.
Dimitri.
I was drinking from Dimitri and without permission or even warning. The whole time he never let go of my hips. He gripped them tighter and with little will power I had I managed to get away from him.
"Dimitri…? I'm… Dimitri!" He was looking at me in the eyes and he seemed hypnotized so I had to shake him a little to bring him back. He blinked several times and then his hand flew to his neck touching the two puncture marks that my fangs left on his neck. There was still blood but it was closing.
"Roza…" He said, his voice incredulous. I felt guilty for doing it.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bite you but I was hungry and…" He wiped away what must have been some blood from the corner of my mouth and cupped my cheek with the same hand.
Slowly and never tearing his eyes off me he moved me to his side. He wanted to keep watching me but I rolled to my side with my back to him not being able to look at him in the eyes anymore. Without looking at him I could tell that he was hurt by my sudden detachment towards him. But he didn't argue or anything, instead he only held me closer to him with his hand running up and down my belly.
I found the feeling of his hands soothing and it made feel a little bit better and not so disgusted with my self. It was still a shame the fact that this beautiful night with him where our need for each other was so strong that we gave in for a wonderful night that ended up in disaster. I shouldn't have bitten him, now he must hate me for almost treating him like a blood whore.
The fact that he wasn't pulling away from me disgusted with what I just did to him made me feel guiltier. But it was also giving me hope that someday he might be able to forgive me and not hate me for the rest of his life.
Slowly with horrible thoughts I fell asleep in his arms.
Sorry for disapearing for so long but I was kind of busy writing my own book. I was also wondering if you guys would like to read an alternative universe where Rose and Dimitri are humans instead of Damphirs and they meet in ormal circumstances someplace to later discover that he'd be her teacher when she goes back to school. Do you guys like that?
Please review and I'll update as soon as I can.