I decided to give you guys an extremely long chapter (for me anyways) in order to make up for my absence. It is 9 pages and 3,800 words! I have a feeling that anyone who is still reading this will definitely enjoy this chapter! It gives a little insight into Dimitri AND Rose's mind and reveals a tiny bit of Roses' past and home life. PLUS there's a little part at the end that I think people will definitely like!

I was looking through old chapters and I'm not sure I've ever mentioned that there is a slight age difference between Rose and Dimitri and Tasha. Rose is 18 and just graduated, Dimitri is 22, and Tasha is 20. The Belikovs wanted to go to her graduation but didn't have the money. I'm not sure if anyone remembers what I had originally had Dimitri's job but I have changed it to part time Firefighter and part time self-defense teacher. It was an EMT but I decided that he's better as a firefighter…plus I don't know if there are any stories with him as a fighter and if I do a sequel it could add to the drama!

I also just remembered I forgot to mention Karolina being pregnant with Zoya ( I honestly can't remember who had which kid so I am just giving one to each). It doesn't really come into play in this chapter but I just realized I had forgotten about it so sorry about that.

Lastly thank you to:

Dimkaisshmexy24

Miia. S

Hushhushmygoddess

Do'B

MarijaV

ElEnA-NeNa

RozaRocks

Evy201

Angelbbaby

Radioactive Hearts

LexiSoulsister

Usually I try to reply to each review personally but since this chapter came on so suddenly I didn't really have a chance to this time. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, alerted, or just read the story. All the reviews have been so helpful and quite a few have given me new ideas so please feel free to keep it up! Well thanks to this Authors Note I'm now at 10 pages so I'm going to shut up now and as always please R&R

A few minutes later I heard her music start blaring and watched the blinds close.

"Viktoria!" I yelled frustrated knowing she wouldn't hear me.

"Roza?" hollered Dimitri following the sound of my voice. I quickly lay back down and debated revealing myself or to keep hiding. I quickly realized I would be stuck up here if I kept hiding, but I'd have to jump if I revealed myself, which I did not want to do…maybe Dimitri could come up with an alternative solution.

"Up here!" I called back. I sat up so he would see me and crawled over to the edge.

"Why are you up there?" he asked confused.

"Well I was hiding until Vika just locked me out here," I said nonchalantly.

"Did she do it on purpose?" he asked confused.

"No I don't think she saw me. But as soon as I noticed the window close, her music started and now she can't hear me."

"I'll go see if I can get her to open it up," he said walking to the back door.

"Good luck," I muttered. A few minutes later he reappeared with no Viktoria in sight. "No luck?"

"Apparently she left but, accidentally locked her door. The only people with a key are Mama and Yeva and both aren't around."

"Well great! I'm freaking stuck up here!"

"Climb down," he said as if it was an everyday thing to jump off of a freaking roof!

"Easy for you to say Comrade you're not the one up here," I said peeking off the edge just to shy back away from it.

"Why did you hide on the roof if you're scared of heights?"

"Who said I'm scared?" I said not wanting to admit I was terrified of heights.

"Roza I can read you like an open book and you're terrified but won't admit it!" he said with a smug chuckle.

"Hey I'm Rose Hathaway I ain't scared of nothing!" I told him purposely talking hick to mess with Dimitri, he hates it when I speak 'improper' and hates it even more when I say ain't.

"Rose, you're killing me here! Haven't I taught you anything?"

"Guess it's a good thing you're not my teacher huh?" I joked. Dimitri was studying to be an English teacher until he decided that just wasn't him, now he's a part time firefighter.

"Yep…now are you just going to stand up there forever?...Oh I think I smell some fresh black bread that mama left in the oven…"

"You're so cruel!" I said knowing he was taunting me with food.

"I'm cruel because you got yourself stuck on the roof? That makes sense."

"Well what am I supposed to do? I'm sure as hell not jumping," I said.

"Shimmy down the drain pipe or something. Aren't you supposed to be the kid who snuck out ALL the time?"

"Yea from the first story or with a ladder! I am not shimmying down anything!"

"Come on Roza I'll be right here to catch you if you fall,"

"Did you forget I have a sprained wrist? That sounds like a smart plan! Don't you have a ladder?"

"We loaned it to some friends who are out of town right now, just get as far down as you can then jump and I'll catch you."

"Promise?" I asked terrified. It wouldn't be so bad if there was something I could actually climb down but there was nothing besides a drain pipe that didn't look very sturdy.

"I promise Roza," he said sincerely.

I started towards the drain pipe and grabbed on for dear life. I slowly started making my way down when I felt the pipe start moving. I quickly stopped moving.

"Roza you're going to have to jump down,"

"Uh-uh!" I said shaking my head.

"Come on Rose it's not that far plus I'm right here to catch you ," I guess he could see the resignation in my eyes because then he started counting. "1…2…3…Jump!" I quickly let go and was relieved to find myself cradled in Dimitri's warm arms.

"You caught me!" I said softly.

"I told you I would didn't I? I'll always catch you," he said his eyes boring into mine. I was just about to lean up when we heard Paul from inside.

"Uncle Dimka is Aunty Rose down yet?" he hollered.

"Yea Paulie we'll be right in!" I hollered as Dimitri set me back down. "No one hears of this! If anyone asks I jumped down fearlessly, can't be ruining my rep." I said with a smile.

"Yes ma'am," he said with a chuckle. As we walked in Vika conveniently entered the front door. I knew she had probably been spying the whole time, dang it! Dimitri went into the kitchen with Paul and I just glared at Viktoria.

"Odd timing Viktoria," I said giving her a suspicious look. She looked confused then put on what was supposed to be an innocent face.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you just happen to come back home right after I get off the damn roof!"

"You were on the roof?" she asked giving me a playful wink.

"Yea guess you couldn't hear me cause of your loud music!" I told her playing along in case Dimitri could hear.

"Oh yea I forgot I left that on. Come upstairs with me to turn it off," she said heading up the stairs. When she got to her door she was just about to grab the handle when I spoke up.

"Wait don't you need the key? Dimitri said it was locked," I asked confused. She gave me a weird look then turned the knob and swung the door open.

"It wasn't locked. I was going to lock it but I forgot in my hurry to get out of here. I remembered when I was already in hiding and it was too late then. I figured that would ruin my plan but apparently it didn't."

"Wait so the door was never locked yet Dimitri told me it was? Damn him, I bet he just wanted to laugh at me!" I said frustrated.

"Or he just wanted the chance to be your knight in shining armor and catch you when you jumped! The chance to hold you in his arms without anyone getting mad or upset!" she said with a look of wistful romance in her eyes.

"Ok back to planet earth Vika. I seriously doubt that was the reason. He is ENGAGED why would he want to be my knight or want to 'hold me in his arms'?" I said trying not to believe her words. I couldn't get my hopes up like that.

"Oh yea just like he so did NOT want to kiss you when you were in his arms!" she said sarcastically. "I know my big brother and he is in love with you and just won't admit it! You need to get on the same page here so you can help me break him and Tasha up!"

I admired her hope in happy ever afters but I've seen and experienced too many heartbreaks and unhappy relationships to have the same kind of hope as her. Plus it just wouldn't be right.

"Ok we discussed this no attempting to break them up until we have proof the baby isn't his. Plus you're assuming I'm in love with him, I said that I might possibly like him as more than a friend but nothing more," I said defensively. She looked at me and rose one eyebrow giving me a look to say 'really?'

"Do you think I'm stupid Rosemarie Hathaway?" she said fiercely.

"No?"

"Maybe no one else has noticed it but I certainly have and you my dear are head over heels for him," she said firmly.

"Am not!" I argued.

"How many times have you almost kissed?"

"A few. But it doesn't mean anything!"

"Roza, even almost kisses mean everything," she said bluntly,

"Whatever I'm hungry and done with this conversation. No plotting to break them up without just cause!" I told her heading for the door.

"True love is a just cause!" she retorted.

"A better reason than that Vika and you know what I mean!" I said pulling the door open and walking into the hallway.

"You'll admit it one day!" she hollered after me. About then Dimitri came up the stairs and gave me a weird look.

"What is she hollering about now?" he asked nodding his head towards the room I just came out of.

"Who knows with her probably some new fashion trend, I was tuning her out," I said playing it off.

"Well anyways, Paul is wondering if you wanted to play some board games with us?"

"Sure let's go!" I said heading for the stairs. "I'm RED!" I hollered.

"You don't even know what we're playing," laughed Dimitri.

"Well if it involves pieces I'm red! Unless it's clue then I'm either Scarlett or Professor Plum!" I told him leaving no room for arguments. By then we were in the living room where Paul was already setting up some game.

"Ready for me to kick your butt mister?" I asked Paul with a fake mean look on my face.

"Good luck Aunty Rose but I'm the best at this game!" he said smugly.

"Oh is that right?" I asked lifting my eyebrows, "We'll just have to see about that!"

(Some time later that evening)

The rest of the afternoon went on like that. we kept playing all sorts of games with Paul and would occasionally get other people to play with us. He was right, he was the best at the games, but it kind of helped that occasionally we would purposely mess up for him.

We had eaten dinner a little while ago and everyone was heading their separate ways. Sonya and Karolina were in the living room, Paul was already in bed, Vika had went out with a friend, Yeva had disappeared like usual and Olena and my mom were in the kitchen talking. I think Dimitri had gone to his room but I'm not sure. I was in the living room with Sonya and Karolina but they were talking about some show I had never heard of so I decided to go out on the back porch swing and call Lissa. I had asked Olena about her coming and she said it was ok so Liss was planning on coming in two days. I opened the door and took a step when I heard a loud sigh. I turned and saw Dimitri on the porch swing with his head in his hands.

"Everything ok Comrade?" I asked.

"Yes…no…I'm not sure," he said.

"Well you can only pick one," I told him as I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Let's walk to the park," I suggested knowing that's where we always go to talk.

"It's just Tasha. She's pissed about your little stunt earlier and who knows what she'll pull now."

"Sorry," I said but we both knew I didn't fully mean it. He gave me a look as if to say 'really?' "Why does everyone keep giving me that look today? I am sorry about her stressing you out because I pissed her off."

"Don't be sorry. As bad as it is to admit, I actually enjoyed today it was kind of nice just relaxing and playing games with Paul all day. What was even nicer was kicking your butt all day!" he said with a half smile.

"Oh whatever Comrade! I totally destroyed you!" We sat there for a few seconds before I spoke up again. "Can I ask you something without you getting mad?"

"Of course," he said without a doubt.

"Is it worth it? Being with her just for this kids sake? You can't honestly tell me you're happy with her."

"I can't just leave her Rose, she is carrying my baby. Plus the baby deserves to have a real family."

"Maybe it does deserve a real family but does it deserve to grow up in an unhappy environment. If you're unhappy, Tasha will get unhappy and with both parents being unhappy it can sometimes do more damage."

"I do love her, I'm just not sure I love her like I should."

"Well I admire you for that because I don't see anything to love," I joked. He gave me a look about to reprimand me but I cut him off first. "Obviously you must see something in her that nobody else does but, is it enough to kind of love her? Look at me Stans been in my life since I was a little girl and I should look at him as a father but between him and my mom, their lack of love and unhappiness has just made me bitter and resent them…among other reasons."

"I'm nothing like Stan," he said. By now we had reached the park and I went over to the swings and sat down while Dimitri sat on the one next to me.

"No you're nothing like Stan but that's beside the point. I've grown up with them so unhappy it just makes me unhappy. Why do you think my mom travels so much for work? Because she's so unhappy at home she can't stay there. The happiest I've ever seen her is when she's here for the summer. I mean hey maybe you could be the happiest couple in the world one day but is that a risk you want to take?" I asked looking him dead in the eye.

"I don't know I feel like I should but I just don't know right now."

"Well I'm not trying to talk you out of it I'm just saying have you really thought about in the long run? You said yourself you're not sure if you even love her like you should. What happens if years from now you meet someone that you're 100% sure is the one but it's too late? What if it happens to Tasha? Are you prepared for that?" I asked but I had to look away when I mentioned him falling for someone else. It's one thing to know he's with Tasha whom he does not love but another to think of him actually falling in love with some complete stranger. Just mentioning it I felt a sharp pain in my chest but I quickly shoved it aside and focused back t our conversation.

"How'd you get so wise? Hard to believe you're just eighteen," he asked giving me a half grin.

"Well I'm just good like that!" I said with a chuckle. His face went back to mostly serious again and I looked back at him.

"Can I ask you something and you give me an honest answer?"

"Depends on what it is," I said uneasily.

"Oh no we can't have a conversation about my entire love life then me not be able to even ask you a question without getting an honest answer, it's your turn now." He said. It's really no use in trying to lie to him anyways so I just shrugged.

"Fine I'll tell the truth," I said in defeat.

"How are things at home?" he asked softly.

"Same as usual. I'm never good enough and sleeping with half of the school if not the whole school. Nothing really new."

"Why won't you tell your mom that he says those things to you?" He asked.

"Because with her job I hardly see her as it is, why ruin what little time we have together by telling her that her husband is a bastard…plus she'll never believe me. He's always on his best behavior when she's around. Hell I wouldn't believe me if I was her after the show he puts on in front of her."

"She's your mother Rose, she'll believe you."

"I tried once…she didn't believe me and we just ended up fighting, it ended with her call me an ungrateful brat and me calling her an emotionless bitch. Luckily we eventually got over it and I've never brought it up again."

"You know what he tells you are all lies right?" he asked knowing about my self-esteem problems due to years of Stan telling me I was a useless selfish whore.

"It's hard to believe that after hearing it for so long but I'm trying. It's easier now that you know so I have someone I can talk to about everything but it's still really hard somedays…especially after, you know. Like I said though, I'm trying. Being here really helps."

"That's good. I'm glad you confided in me." he said softly.

"Honestly, I'm not sure why you're so easy to talk to. I've known Lissa my whole life and not once have I ever told her about Stan. She knows I'm unhappy at home but not why."

"Has he hit you again?"

"He tried once, but I used my awesome ninja skills to dodge it then kneed him in the crotch so hard he fell to the ground. I told him if he ever tried again I'd cut his balls off in his sleep. Since then he hasn't tried again."

"I'm proud of you, but awesome ninja skills? You're far away from being a ninja," he said with a laugh trying to somewhat lighten the mood.

"Oh yea?" I asked before trying to surprise him by jumping up and throwing a punch to his arm. He quickly blocked it and stood up so I of course tried again. This of course led to a light sparring match neither of us hitting hard. As usual within a few minutes he had me pinned on the ground panting. "Damn you! You could at least let me win one time!"

"That's no fun though" he said with a chuckle. Just like that the heavy atmosphere was lifted and we were joking and taunting each other again. He stood up and held out a hand to me. I looked at it suspiciously before trying something I had seen on tv once. I grabbed his hand and as I pretended to pull up I kicked the back of his knees and pulled his arm successfully making him fall. The stupid part of my plan is I didn't really think about where he would fall, next thing I knew a huge Russian was heading straight for me. I closed my eyes and braced for an impact that never came.

"Nice try," he chuckled. I looked up to see his face about a foot maybe less away from mine. He had somehow managed to bring his arms down (and not sprain them) preventing him from falling on me. He was close enough however that his legs were touching mine and I could feel his breath on my face.

"It was worth a shot," I muttered with a faint smile, feeling my heart start speeding up. Without knowing for sure who moved first, I'm pretty sure it was me, within a second our lips were touching and shots of electricity was running through my veins. It started off slow but then got a little more heated. Without realizing it I had brought my hands up and tangled them in his hair. He had brought up one of his hands and was cradling my face.

"Rose! Dimitri!" a voice hollered that sounded vaguely familiar. That jerked us back into reality. Quickly Dimitri shot up and I followed.

"That shouldn't have happened," he said.

"I know I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…I just got caught up in the moment. Can we just pretend that never happened? I mean we are just best friends it's not like I like you like that or you like me like that right?" I said rambling and also lying like crazy. That kiss had been amazing, electrifying, and so much more, not that you'd hear me admit that.

"Yea of course, it never happened." He agreed. I felt my heart drop a little at him not denying what I said and agreeing to just brush it off so easily but what did I expect? Him to tell me that he did actually like me like that? because that was never going to happen.

"There you two are!" said Vika coming up towards us. "Mama sent me to look for you two when you just disappeared and didn't answer your phones, I think she's a bit paranoid after what happed last night."

"Sorry, we decided to take a walk and I guess forgot to tell anybody." I told her. We started walking back to the house. Dimitri was in front by a few steps and Vika was beside me. she gave me a look that told me she saw everything and I just shook my head telling her not to bring it up tonight. When we got to the house I told everyone that I was worn out and ready for bed so I went straight up stairs, changed, and laid down.

I laid there just replaying our conversations and that kiss over and over again. Before I knew it I had a few tears leaking down my face. I guess I finally proved my point, there was no way Dimitri had any sort of romantic feelings in me. How else could he have brushed it off that easily? 'You brushed it off just as easily,' said a voice in my head. That was different though, I was trying to give him an out and protect myself…not that it did much good. I know I said we should just forget it ever happened but how the hell do you forget the BEST kiss of your life! How are we supposed to pretend that it never happened? I don't know how easily I can manage that but I guess I'll have to try.

What have I gotten myself into now?