A/N

Hola, guys! Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave me a review on the last chapter, you have no idea how much I appreciate it! It was in no way my usual amount though, have I lost some people along the way?

That said, I do not and will not tolerate anyone insulting my beta, she knows what she's doing, it is the reason she has so many amazing stories and readers on this site, and anyone who says otherwise needs to get a life. Sorry, but it needed to be said.

Mitrioselove I don't even know what to say to you! Well there's always thank you, so thank you for your amazing editing, for your protectiveness of me and this story, and for all the amazing encouragement! You are phenomenal in the true sense of the word!

VA and it's characters belong to the talented Richelle Mead, I only hope that I can be as good as she is someday! And maybe own Dimitri… :D

In The Rain.

Chapter 12.

Lissa was about ready to rip every strand of her hair out, though it would be a shame since it was so pretty. She could not believe the tension between her two guardians. She wondered what the hell was going on. They had never been like this before. It was suffocating in a way it had never been during the entire week, which was why when Friday rolled around she was thankful. Actually, she was a bit more than thankful. She was ecstatic.

Of course, if she was lucky there would be moments where the tension was not as bad, and then there were those moments where it faded completely. It was honestly the most confusing thing ever. Moments like those were literally the highlight of her day, she would even question if she had been imagining it, but then it would come back it always came back.

In those moments when the tension faded Rose wasn't worrying about whatever the hell was going on with her and Adrian, she was just Rose her carefree best friend. And that was good, no great. Lissa just wanted her friend back, but it seemed like she was miles and miles away.

Dimitri reverted to the Russian she had met on that first day, the anti social man everyone knew to stay away from. The loaner who no one thought of disrespecting, he was alone but he was great at what he did. But Lissa had always known that beneath that facade there was a guy who was carefree and fun loving. She had been proven right on one of those nights when every guardian who worked with Abe went out for dinner and drinks. Unfortunately, moments like those did not happen often. Lissa wished they could, they needed breaks, times where they could human too.

And so, most of her daily outings were strained and tense so much so that she was tempted to pull a blade out and swipe at the air sure that the tension would certainly be cut and she would finally be able to breathe easy. She just wanted some peace and quiet, which was odd since they never said anything. Though they did not say anything their silence spoke so very much.

It had been a week since the accident, a week since she found out that she was pregnant, and a week since her brother, sister-in-law and boyfriend had been in the hospital. Nothing much had changed in that time, Christian still didn't know about the unborn child growing inside of Lissa's body and neither did anyone else say for Rose. She still went to bed alone except for those nights when she really could not take it anymore and went over to her parent's house, or to Rose's where they would have sleepovers like they used to, going all out with their old make up kits and watching movies and eating popcorn and sweets, until they would eventually fall asleep on the blanket covered floor.

Areya though she was doing a lot better still had moments where she would refuse to do anything but cry for her parents and sometimes, ok most times, that pain came out in bursts of anger and many tantrums. Lissa had never known a child so small could cause so much damage. Something that made Lissa loathe whoever had been responsible for making the little girl hurt. Not only Areya, but the rest of the family as well. The pure unadulterated anger and hatred she felt whenever she thought of it was akin to something dark and slippery, and more times than she cared to admit she would find herself in the gym pounding the punching bag because if she did nothing she was sure she would lose her mind… .

As the time passed, Lissa could feel the hopelessness taking over. She fought hard against it but there were times when she just could not. Times when she was sure that the rest of her family would not be coming back, and though she hated thinking like that, she just could not help it. Things were still not looking up, and she hated to but she had to prepare for the worse.

Not when people kept looking at her with pity and sympathy, they shot those same looks at Areya but the girl was too young to understand what they meant. There were times when those burning stares and whispers drove her crazy. She knew she should not let them get to her, but well she couldn't really help it. It was times like those when she locked herself in her office at work, both to get away from Rose and Dimitri, and because she was feeling antisocial toward everyone and knew that if she stuck around, she would unintentionally snap at someone who did not deserve her anger.

She knew her family was extremely worried about her, but she didn't want to tell them what was really wrong, or well right. Because Lissa knew that her parents wanted another grandchild, one that Andre and Andrea was going to give them but that had obviously not gone as planned. Lissa felt like she needed to tell Christian first, well after Rose, and probably wait for a bit until she knew that her baby would be ok.

But the thing was that Lissa knew that she was slowly losing that battle especially when more than one member of her family had at some point seen her puke her guts out, and Areya had alerted Rhea that there was something wrong with her aunt. If their suspicions were not peaked before it sure as hell was now. Lissa was trying to hide it, but it was as if her body was going against everything she wanted.

Lissa knew the nearly 2 year old had not meant to make things harder on her; she had only been trying to help unknowingly complicating things further. But Areya had always been really bright for her age; she had a better vocabulary than other children her age. The fact that she knew her parents' absence was uncommon and had obviously interpreted it as a bad thing was proof enough of that.

"Lissa, are you even listening to me?" Lissa looked up into Rose's dark eyes.

She looked tired, and Lissa wanted to tell her to go home but she knew better. Rose was a stubborn hard headed ass who listened to no one and backed down from nothing. The girl did nothing she didn't want to do, and no one could make her. It was why Lissa had yet to sit down with her and ask her what was really bothering her. She wanted to know but she knew better than to think Rose would tell.

I guess that's all part of the Hathaway and Mazur charm, Lissa mentally thought.

"I… what?" Lissa felt bad; apparently Rose wasn't the only one who didn't listen. But she was just so tired, and nauseous. Rose's mouth opened as she said something but Lissa was no longer listening.

"Rose... hold that thought." It was all she could say before her hand flew to her mouth and she took off in the general direction of the bathroom.

Rose wasted no time going after her. Good thing too, because Lissa felt a bit light headed and was sure that Rose's hands on her shoulders was the only reason why she didn't fall over. Her friend held her hair back and rubbed soothing circles on her back as she lost the contents of her stomach. And when Lissa was satisfied, Rose handed her a pack of gum saying:

"Something tells me you're going to need that." Lissa shot her a grateful smile.

"You have no idea." Rose rolled her eyes, but she was glad to help. She had been worried about her friend, and if giving her a pack of gum would make that smile Rose knew and loved come over her face, then she really didn't mind.

Rose knew that things had not been as easy as Lissa wanted. Lissa wanted Rose and everyone else to believe, and Rose had somehow been convinced that Lissa would let all of Rose's problems go. But she also knew that Lissa didn't buy her 'it's just Adrian's sudden departure that's got me all worked up' story. The girl was far too perceptive for her own good, and she obviously did not want to add to Rose's stress.

"Hey Rose?" They had been walking through the halls of guardian HQ in the direction of Lissa's office when Lissa suddenly spoke up. Rose looked over at her and was caught in those jade pools.

"I have my doctor's appointment today, and I was just wondering, well, I… Since you're the only one who knows…" Rose grabbed Lissa's hand and squeezed. She knew what her friend was trying to ask, and she was honored that she was asking her. She did not even know why Lissa was hesitating. Did she really think that Rose would say no?

"Of course, Liss. I would love to go with you." Lissa's eyes glazed over with unshed tears as she stopped and pulled Rose into a hug right there in the middle of the corridor.

"Really? You would go with me?" Rose's only answer was a nod. "Thanks Rose. You have no idea how much it means that you would go."

"Did you honestly think I would let you face some sterile hospital room by yourself? Dam Liss, it really hurts that you think so little of me!" Rose grinned feeling proud that she had accomplished her goal when Lissa giggled and her mood lifted.

"But," Rose said, and Lissa's eyes narrowed. "Dimitri has to go with us."

As much as Rose wished that was not true, she knew that if they left the building without informing the Russian he would have their heads. And so would her parents, Lissa had agreed to having two guardians, and as much as Rose did not like it, Dimitri Belikov was the one Lissa had chosen.

Not only that but with the recent murders happening, Lissa needed all the protection she could get and Rose honestly couldn't think of anyone who could do a better job than the Russian war God reincarnated also known as Dimitri. But when Lissa sighed, Rose looked over at her.

"What? You're the one who chose him, Liss. What's the problem?" Lissa sighed again before answering.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Rose's eyes narrowed. This was definitely not nothing. But when Lissa opened the door to her office, grabbed her purse and took off toward Dimitri's office dragging Rose along, she knew better than to argue.

Dimitri raked his fingers through his hair for the millionth time. Man he was fucking tired, he felt like he had not felt in weeks. Which actually was probably true. He wanted so bad to head home, but his sense of duty came first. He had to protect Lissa and if that meant working alongside the woman who had the power to drive him to hell and back in seconds, then so be it.

Not only that, he had a lot of paper work to finish up before going home for the weekend, and with every single guardian in Montana on high alert because of the recent murders, Dimitri knew that he could easily be called in to work when he would usually have the weekend off. I hoped he could at least get one day off, one day to himself but he knew better.

And to make matters worse, his newest charge came with a forbidden partner. He had tried so hard to not let his thoughts roam to her but it was no use. Rose was always on his mind no matter what was happening. Now especially since he had to see her on a daily basis. It was pure torture to be around her, to see what was right in his grasp but he could not hold it. What was worse was that he had had her, on more than on occasion.

The knock that sounded on his door snapped him out of his head, but it took another knock before he got out of the chair and walked over to the door. He yanked it open and resisted the urge to swear at the sight before him. Rose stood there looking tired but sexy as hell. His traitorous eyes did a sweep over her body paying special attention to those curves which her clingy jeans did nothing to hide. The black flannel shirt she wore clung to her body like a glove, her dark locks were pulled up in a bun, but some unruly strands fell loosely in her face. Dimitri's hands itched to brush those strands of hair from her beautiful face, but by some miracle he resisted. And he realized that Rose wasn't the only one at his door. Lissa stood beside her looking a bit nervous.

"Can I help you?" His voice sounded cold to his own ears, but what the hell was he to do when his entire being burnt for the woman he wanted but could not have?

Dimitri had gone into this whatever mood he had been in from the moment Rose had told him she would never see him again. Rose and him had a knowing that he would be nothing but the other man, but despite expecting it; it turned out to be a harder pill to swallow than he had initially thought. Lissa shot him a confused look, the poor girl probably had no idea what the hell was going on. But it was not his story to tell. Lissa was Rose's best friend; she would tell her if she wanted to.

"Yeah," Rose said cautiously Her eyes studying his face just a bit long to make sure he wasn't going to bite her head off. "Lissa has to leave and we wanted to know if you would accompany us." Well shit, did he have to go and be all silent and broody? Now Rose was walking on eggshells around him and he didn't like it, but what was he to do?

It wasn't like he could just forgive her for had been the one to end them, if there had even been a them to begin with. Well he could forgive her, and in a way already had. But some part of him did not want to admit that once again, he had forgiven the goddess that was Rose Hathaway. She had hurt him, and yet still he wanted her. Was willing to take the pain and hurting that came with being with her.

He wasn't even hurt anymore, just pissed off. But there was something more there as well, something he could not name, something he would not dwell on. Because he had meant what he had told her when they rescued Mia.

If Adrian made her happy, then he would respect her relationship, no matter how hard it was. But the thing was that she did not look like she was happy. At least not during this week. Something was wrong, Dimitri knew it but still, he was a bit skeptical and he had every right to be. There were times when reading Rose was like trying to read fine print with your eyes closed, totally and completely impossible...

"Hello, Dimitri?" He looked up and right into the concern gazes of Rose and Lissa. Rose was concerned about him? He was probably being stupid, but his heart flipped as he looked into those soft brown eyes.

"Ok, yeah let's go." With those words, the moment of being trapped in Rose's eyes was gone and he followed her and Lissa out of the office and down to the underground garage.

When Rose just handed him the keys to the car instead of fighting for them their fingers brushing for just a second, Dimitri had to fight hard against that urge he had to wrap her up in his arms. Their fingers had touched for a mere second, but there was no denying the electric shocks that shot up his arm and hers too if the way she had pulled away was any indication.

She looked so defeated as their eyes met for the briefest of moments, and the fact that she didn't even put up a fight about driving was proof enough that all was not as peachy like she was trying to make everyone believe, but then she blinked and it was gone. Dimitri was in awe how she could just do that, how she could just pretend that everything was just peachy and fine. With a sigh, Dimitri followed her to the car and climbed in after her, his gaze glued to the gentle sway of her plump ass as she walked.

Rose hated how awkward and strange her relationship with Dimitri had become. It had only been getting worse as the week went by, but then there were those moments like the one they had just shared. Those moments when he looked at her like a friend, like how he used to look at her before they slept together.

Did I really have to go and ruin it with my stupid seduction? Her mind was reeling and she once again was so confused.

Those moments had been few and far in between, but they were the moments Rose looked forward to the most. They were the highlight of her day, but still she was miserable because as stated before, moments like those didn't happen very often and when they did happen they were fleeting.

It was during some of these moments that Rose realized just how amazing Dimitri was. He would tell her tales about Russia and even some about his family. It was as though Dimitri was all it took for her worry about the route her life was taking to fade away. The man was truly amazing and Rose felt bad after hurting him. She had not meant to, but yet she was paying for that everyday and she would not blame him if he turned and went in the opposite direction.

Actually, she would applaud him. The man did not deserve her baggage...

They arrived at the doctor's office in record time, and Lissa was called in right away. Apparently, no one else was pregnant and needed to be checked out. The doctor was a nice enough woman with warm brown eyes, but the thing that threw Rose off was the slight Russian accent she picked up as the doctor spoke.

Jesus, was the universe mocking her?

The routine steps were carried out, the very detailed check-up; the follow up tests which confirmed that Lissa was indeed pregnant, and then the ultrasound. The doctor squirted the gel like substance on Lissa's belly first warning that it was cold. Lissa's answering flinch as it came in contact with her skin proved the doctor right.

It took a few minutes of moving the machine around, but before long, the sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room and all eyes were glued to the monitor. The doctor went about pointing out the parts of the baby to Lissa and Rose as well, but Rose wasn't listening. Lissa's eyes glazed over with unshed tears as the doctor spoke, but Rose found herself wondering if she would ever be in Lissa's position.

She was happy for her friend, don't get her wrong but she could not help but wonder. Wonder if she would ever have children of her own. Maybe not, seeing as how the universe did not seem to care about what she wanted. Not only that she truly could not see herself having a baby with Adrian. The man she could was one she had pushed away. Someone that she knew she should never go back to, why she did not know.

That's no one else's fault but your own. Her own mind was now mocking her.

Once the doctor was done speaking and Lissa was done half sobbing and half giggling, she ran out of the room still blissfully happy and straight toward Dimitri the sonogram in her hand being waved like a flag in the Russian's face. Rose could not help but laugh at the look of utter shock that came over Dimitri's face as she waited to collect Lissa's prenatal vitamins.

But then the world stopped as Dimitri shot Lissa a smile. The head of every female in the room turned in his direction, but Dimitri did not seem to notice. Or maybe he just did not care. Instead, he congratulated her on her new baby. He was sweet and caring, and had even pulled her into a hug. A hug Rose envied with all her might.

Later that day, Rose was about to enter the gym because she was far too restless to do anything. She needed to burn off some of that pent up energy or nothing would get done. But as she passed by the glass walls, her eyes zoned in on the man putting himself through a punishing work out.

Even though she could not see his face, Rose was sure she knew who that man was. Black t-shirt damp with perspiration clung to a muscular back and shoulders which flexed as he moved, his fists pounding the punching bag with blow after blow. His hair was damp and fell messily around his face.

And just like that, her eyes were glued.

Pure feminine pleasure coursed through her as she remembered how Dimitri's eyes had trailed up and down her body as she waited outside his office. It was as though his gaze caressed her just like his skilfull hands had. One toned leg shot out with blinding speed and connected with the punching bag sending a loud thud through the room despite the blasting music as the punching bag swung wildly on impact.

Well shit, her panties were completely ruined now. What the hell was wrong with. How could Rose let this man have this effect on her. Especially since she had told herself time and time again that she had chosen Adrian.

It was probably not the best idea she'd ever had, but Rose found herself pushing the sliding glass doors opened and stepping inside. Instantly, Dimitri whirled around to face her, eyes nearly as black as charcoal narrowing dangerously. Battle lust shining brightly in those usually warm brown pools.

What was even crazier was that she felt no fear, only an overwhelming lust that threatened to send her falling to her knees.

The fact that they had shared some rather hot moments right in that very gym sure as hell did not help matters.

A flash of liquid heat pooled between her thighs as she thought of how Dimitri had pushed her inside the supply closet and had kissed her with so much fever. She was sure she had died and gone to heaven. That wasn't even the only fiery moment they had shared in that gym, it seemed as though whenever they were alone Dimitri's hands or lips would be on her body and they always seemed to pick right up where they left off. She did not even fight him. She could not even fight him.

They'd had sex again during the past week, but this time it was different. No strings attached. This time it was just them coming together for a few minutes of pleasure, each knowing that when the high of orgasmic bliss was over they would each walk away as if none of it had happened, and the guilt would come back with a vengeance but right now Rose did not care. Her body was on fire, and every single fibre of her being burnt for the man who had her captured in his smoldering gaze.

In the next second Dimitri was standing before her, his hands resting on her shoulders as he led her into the room where the training mats and other equipment were stored. This was their secret. Though they denied themselves any other time, in the gym they could not. It was the reason Dimitri hated himself, and the reason Rose could not think. He threw her down roughly on the stack of mats his own body coming down to cover hers as his lips met hers in a demanding kiss.

His tongue swept out pushing against her lips demanding entrance, entrance which Rose gave him without much of a fight. Dimitri's probing tongue explored every inch of her mouth a promise of what was to come, spinning a tail of true pleasure through Rose's body. Just like every other time. Rose had tried so hard not to think of the next time it would happen, but it was there now and there was no looking back.

His hands roughly grabbed her breasts, molding and squeezing until her nipples were fully erect peaks straining against her shirt and bra begging to be touched further adding to Rose's need. Dimitri's name left her lips in a moan and the Russian sex god made his presence known.

"What do you want?" His voice was low yet hard, his eyes gleaming with something almost other worldly.

He had done this every time. It confused Rose, but Dimitri knew what he was doing. He knew he should let her go but he could not. During this intimate time Dimitri tried to make her see that she belonged with him. He tried to convince her with his body that he was made for her. But he also let himself go, not caring about anything but the moments he could get with her.

His fierceness was something that would have scared any sane person, but Rose was apparently too far gone because all she felt was a burning desire for the man she knew she should not want but wanted anyway...

A/N

OMG I bet you are all thinking is this what we think it is? Well, maybe. Filler chapter I know, but still what did you all think? Should I pick up where I left off and do a lemon next chapter? We may or may not have hit a turning point, and I know people hate the Rodrian aspect of things, but have no fear, you all should know that I love Romitri way too much to break them up… Or do I?

So tell me, do you guys want to know what Adrian is up to? You want to know where he has gone don't you? Let me know in a review. Also tell me if you want a lemon!

Review lovelies, and Dimitri just might take you into the supply closet… :D

XX

Roza