HELLO, MY AMAZING READERS! I hope you all had a great week! My week was busy! And next week is going to be even worse!

We moved into a new house on Monday! YAY! I got a promotion at work! Yay! My fiance is driving me crazy! Not yay, haha! For those of you in the United States, you know that Thanksgiving is next week. Yay! So yesterday, my wonderful fiance (please note the heavy sarcasm) told me that we will be hosting Thanksgiving Dinner for both our families. He and I both come from massive families, we each grew up with having about seventy-five to hundred people for holidays. Which means, that in our brand new home that still has boxes everywhere I will be cooking for over a hundred and fifty people! And he told me this YESTERDAY! One week before Thanksgiving! Ahhhh! So send me lots of good thoughts and prayers!

I am hoping to post a chapter next week! It is mostly done, so I should be able to finish it next week and post on Friday! But if it doesn't come Friday, it will be coming on Saturday! I promise! Thank you all for being so patient with me!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I hope you enjoyed your sneak peeks! Remember that reviewers get sneak peeks! :) If for some reason you did not receive a sneak peek, please message me! Mistakes do happen! Thank you to everyone who has added this story to your Favorites or Alerts!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :) Please forgive all mistakes :)

Chapter 13 RPOV

Dimitri and I both climbed out of the car. Him instantly grabbing my hand when I walked by him. The two of us heading inside to meet Abe Mazur, this would be fun.

We walked into the dinner and Dimitri headed to the corner both were two men sat. A taller man sat in the booth and looked very much on alert, I assumed he was Abe's Guardian. Another man sat on the inside of the booth so he was protected by the wall and his Guardian. It was a Guardian technique. The man was obviously Moroi and wore a very gaudy looking suit, nothing that I would have expected for a mobster. He wore a dark grey suit with a multicolor scarf tucked in, he also had a small gold hoop in his left earlobe. He was tan, a lot tanner than I would expect for someone who spends a majority of their time in Russia. He had a strong nose and dark eyes that looked like they could see right through you. Finally, his dark hair was slicked back. He must have been in his mid to late forties.

Dimitri led us over to the two men without saying a word.

"Dimitri," the man I assumed was Abe greeted. "Good to see you again. And you must be Rose," he said turning to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, please sit!"

Dimitri had me slid in first to the both and then sat next to me. His arm resting on the back of the booth around my shoulders. "Pavel, Abe," Dimitri greeted as we sat. "Good to see you both."

"So, Rose," Abe turned to me. "Tell me about yourself, I am curious to hear about the woman who captured Belikov's heart."

"There's not much to tell," I shrugged. "I've been at the academy since I was four, like many dhampirs. My best friend, Lissa, and I ran away from the academy during our sophomore year of high school and then Dimitri brought us back."

"Ahhh! You were the one that left with the Dragomir Princess," Abe said putting the pieces together. "I am sure you must have put up a fight when he brought you back. He's the kind that admires's talent. And lots of fire!"

I blushed a little at Abe's statement. "I mean, I did try to fight him," I shrugged trying to brush off the fact that I tried to take on a dozen trained Guardians. There was something about Abe that made me feel slightly uncomfortable, yet completely at ease at the same time. It was an odd feeling and it made me nervous.

"She tried to fight me and my whole team, over a dozen Guardians," Dimitri beamed at me as he spoke. "She had so much raw and natural talent. I admired her dedication to Vasilisa, she was willing to take on a losing battle to protect her friend."

"I wasn't that bad," I mumbled a little embarrassed at his praise.

"Sounds like he started falling for you a lot sooner than you thought," Abe teased me. "I am not surprised he fell for you, you are very beautiful."

"Thanks," I blushed slightly. I cleared my throat. "So, Dimitri says you need my help with something personal?"

"I am glad he warned you a little," Abe chuckled. "I am sure he was very surprised to find out my reason for coming to Montana."

"Just a tad," Dimitri said from beside me. "But you have been kind to my family and to me, especially offering me a position. So I happy to help you with this business."

"Thank you, Dimitri," Abe nodded to him before turning to look at me. "I am looking for my child. I had a wonderful two-year-long affair with a feisty young woman, and she had a child shortly after we ended things. But she never told me until she dropped them off at St. Vladimir's Academy. Now, my child will be graduating this year and I can legally begin speaking to them. It's been difficult because I doubt the woman used her last name or my last name, she wanted me to have no contact with them."

"Well, do you know if it's a boy or girl?" I asked him. I thought about the possibilities in my senior class. There was only two and one was a boy, the other a girl. It would be easy to narrow done if he knew the gender.

"I believe he has a son," Pavel spoke startling me. "I can't seem to picture Abe with a daughter."

Abe chuckled. "I don't know if it's a boy or girl," he explained to me. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, there are only two Moroi who don't know about their father," I explained to him. "And if you knew the gender it would narrow it down to one. I just thought we could get your child reunited with you quickly."

"Oh no! My child is a dhampir," Abe grinned at me showing his fangs. "I had an affair with a feisty young dhampir. She was young and full of life! Sweet and affectionate, with lots of public displays. She was beautiful and very much a loving woman. I am sure she was an amazing mother."

"Oh, well that makes it really difficult," I said thinking about the 103 dhampir students in my senior class. Over eighty percent didn't know their father, including myself. Though the way he described his lover made me immediately jump to the fact that she wasn't my mother.

"It does?" Abe asked me curiously.

I noticed Pavel purse his lips, I had a feeling he probably explained to Abe that it would be difficult. "More than eighty dhampirs in my senior class don't know who their father is," I explained.

"Unfortunately," Dimitri began. "Not many Moroi men stick around or many dhampir women are ashamed and they don't divulge details about their children's fathers. I just assumed it was a Moroi, I apologize. But I am sure we can still help you."

"Well, I am planning on staying in the states through St. Vlad's graduation," Abe explained. "After I find my child, I want to get to know them before they become a Guardian. Offer them another option if they don't want to be a Guardian. Really, just be the other parent, the parent I should have been from the beginning."

"Oh! Well, that's a relief for me," I told him honestly. Abe struck me as a man who preferred honesty. "I was wondering if Dimitri would go to Russia with you, I am glad he will be here through graduation."

I instantly relaxed when I heard Abe was going to stick around through graduation. It gave Dimitri and I time to figure out a plan. Well, a more permeant plan. I was terrified he would only be here for a month before he went back to Russia with Abe. I was so happy to know that we would be in the same place for the foreseeable future.

"Of course!" Abe exclaimed. "I want you both to be successful in your relationship! I have seen too many of my Guardians not have a personal life because of the job, I admire you for taking the leap of being together."

"Thank you, Abe," Dimitri told him. I rested my hand on Dimitri's thigh. I was so happy he had found this position.

"So, Rose," Pavel said after a few minutes of silence. "I thought I noticed a marking on your neck when you sat down. Your hair moved slightly so I wasn't sure."

I could feel my cheeks heating up. I was a little sensitive to the molnija on the back of my neck. They didn't symbolize glory, they symbolized the death of my friend. I understood so much more about my mother than I did before. I understood why she didn't make ties because it was so easy to lose people in our job. Even though I understood it, didn't mean I agreed with it.

"Umm yeah," I mumbled looking down at the table. Thankfully at that moment, the waitress came up to take our order. I quickly grabbed the menu looking it over. I was starving.

"I will have the oatmeal with a side of fruit and some coffee," Abe told the older waitress. She probably was in her fifties and had a very warm friendly presence. "And put it all on my card." Abe pulled out a black credit card and handed it to the waitress.

"You don't need to do that," Dimitri interjected.

"Belikov, let me give you some advice," Pavel spoke up. "If you dine out with Abe, he will always pay there is no way to talk him out of it. So don't fight, just say thank you."

"What can I get you?" The waitress asked Pavel, her eyes twinkling at his comment.

"I would like the steak and eggs breakfast platter, with potatoes, biscuits with gravy, and pancakes," Pavel answered. "And a cup of coffee, thank you."

"Roza?" Dimitri asked me before the waitress could take his order.

"Umm, can I have the southwestern omelet with extra cheese, potatoes, sausage, and white toast," I asked the waitress after taking a moment to look over the menu. If Abe was paying I didn't want to take advantage of his generosity but I also wanted to enjoy my meal.

"Sure hun, and to drink?" She asked me.

"Just water," I told her. I would love chocolate milk, but I didn't want to look like a child in front of Abe and Pavel.

"I will also do the steak and eggs breakfast platter, with potatoes and whole wheat toast," Dimitri said looking over the menu. "And I will do the fruit and oatmeal. I would love a cup of coffee and some water. Also, bring the lovely lady next to me chocolate milk, it's her favorite."

"You all work the night shift around here?" The waitress asked us. "We get a lot of you around here."

"Yes we do," Pavel said chuckling. "Could you tell because we all were ordering breakfast?"

"Yes, I could! Great, if you need anything else let me know," she said after writing everything down. She walked away to get our drinks.

"You didn't have to do that," I told Dimitri.

"You drink a glass of chocolate milk every morning," Dimitri said to me. "You should have your chocolate milk."

"Thank you," I told him blushing.

"So, you have a molnija?" Pavel asked me after a few minutes. "It's very rare now for unpromised dhampirs to have one. In my day it was uncommon but still, about one or two graduates would."

"I have two," I mumbled. "They are pretty recent."

"Ahhh," Pavel nodded looking at me for a few minutes. I watched as recognition crossed over his face before he spoke again. "I am sorry for your loss."

I gave him a quizzical look. "How did you know I lost someone?"

"When you have been a Guardian as long as me, you pick up the signs," Pavel told me. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, everyone loses friends and family in our business."

"Oh," I nodded at him. "Thank you." Pavel nodded to me with a small smile.

"So Belikov," Abe turned to Dimitri changing the subject. "Have you heard the latest gossip in Baia?"

"Not as much as you probably know," Dimitri chuckled. "Please inform me."

Abe then launched it to stories about many of Dimitri's former classmates. Along with many families, he grew up with. I could see Dimitri was enjoying himself and really liked hearing the fun stories Abe was telling him about his homeland. Abe was a very animated storyteller and I found myself getting lost in his stories.

The waitress brought our drinks and food, while Abe told stories. He even included some funny ones of Dimitri's family. I found myself wanting to meet the characters he was telling us about. And I wanted to go to Siberia, I wanted to see where Dimitri grew up.

I watched my man become much more animated than I had ever seen him with other people. My heart ached that he was so far from his family and friends. Part of me wanted to find an allocation for us to be in Russia and the other part wanted to stay and Guard Lissa. I had many mixed emotions, but I knew that whatever happened I wanted to be with Dimitri.

"What time are you meeting Lissa?" Dimitri asked me as we cuddled in his room. We had left Abe and Pavel a couple hours ago and we were currently curled up in bed. The plan was to take a nap, but that never happened.

"Around seven," I told him. "I know she and I need to talk but I don't want her to react like she did last time."

Lissa had such a negative reaction last time we talked about me and Dimitri. Granted she found out by accident, but still, she could have been a little more understanding. She hardly let me explain anything. Lissa had formulated an opinion about me and Dimitri and our relationship before she even talked to me. I didn't want that to happen tonight. Part of me was hoping she was going to be understanding and hear me out, but the other part of me thought she spent so much time coming up with her own ideas about my relationship. Lissa had trouble seeing past her own nose when it came to me.

"Completely understandable," Dimitri nodded. "I agree you need to talk to her but I don't want her to upset you."

"The only thing that will upset me is if she doesn't hear me out," I explained to him. "Let's not focus on that right now though, I just want to spend time with you."

"Pavel sent me my schedule for this week," Dimitri told me. "Apparently, Abe will be on campus on tonight to explain things to Guardian Petrov. He's also going to suggest I begin training you again, in addition to allowing his Guardians use of the gym. He wants his Guardians to help run drills in your classes, see if they can help narrow things down. Not to mention it helps keep his Guardians in-shape and their skills sharp."

"That's a good idea," I nodded thinking about it. If it was just me and Dimitri trying to find his child it would take forever! But with his other Guardians feeling things out that would be helpful. Not to mention it probably was more exciting for them than doing ward patrols or following Abe around.

"Yeah, plus all of his Guardians are Blood Masters," Dimitri explained to me. "It would do wonders for your senior class. I feel like your class doesn't get the same amount of rigor that I did in school."

"I wonder all the time how you got so good," I confessed to him. "I thought it was just you, I never thought that your classes were harsher and stricter."

I really did wonder how Dimitri got his current rank at such a young age. He was very young to be a Blood Master Level 7. I assumed it was because of his own raw talent, I knew our programming wasn't intense enough to produce that kind of ability. Yes, St. Basil's produced the top combat graduates, but they couldn't be that different. I never thought that Guardian training was deteriorating.

"Yeah, seems like your teachers don't teach the same way that mine did," he said thoughtfully. "Anyway, so that will be happening. Plus I think in a few weeks we won't have to sneak as much."

"I like that idea," I grinned at him. "I am glad you will be here for graduation too."

"Me too," Dimitri grinned at me and snuggled me closer to him. "I was going to ask to have leave to come to graduation but I am glad I don't have to."

"Do you think Abe is going to be generous with leave after I graduate?" I asked him curiously. I wasn't sure I wanted to guard Lissa but I didn't know what other options we had. Abe's Guardians were all ranked really high and I didn't think I would get the opportunity to be one of his Guardians just yet.

"I hope so," Dimitri nodded thinking about it. "But I think we need to go over our options just to be on the safe side, there might be a better option after you graduate."

"That's true," I nodded. "So we have a few hours before I need to meet Lissa, what do you want to do?"

"I am happy to just sit here with you," he told me as he adjusted our position on his bed. My back was to his chest and I was sitting between his legs, his arms wrapped around me and I felt him rest his chin on my chest.

"I like a man who settles," I giggled teasing him a little. "Have you told your family about me?"

Dimitri had mentioned a few times that he wanted me to meet his family. And we talked about me video chatting with them. But I had yet to know if he actually told his family about me. Part of me wished he did, the other part of me was terrified they would hate me so I liked staying in our little bubble.

"I haven't flat out said that we are in a relationship, though I believe my mother suspects and my grandmother knows for sure," he told me. One of his hands went to stroke up and down my side. It was really soft and loving.

"What about any of your friends from back home?" I asked him. I knew we needed to keep things quiet here but that didn't mean he couldn't tell his friends in Russia. Part of me hoped he had told them.

"I have told a few former classmates, I guess you could call them friends," Dimitri shrugged. "Ever since, Ivan I don't really make a lot of friends. Too scared that I will lose them."

"I've been feeling that way since Mason," I mumbled thinking about it. I was terrified of losing more people close to me. I wished I wasn't but the constant worry and fear were always there. It was the reason I had stepped up training so much.

"Anyway, I am not hiding us if that's what you are afraid of," Dimitri told me. "Which reminds me, we need to tell your mother about us."

"I am sorry, what?" I asked. "You want to tell my mother, Janine Hathaway, the most feared and respected female Guardian, that you are dating her underage daughter?"

"On second thought, we can wait awhile," Dimitri said his voice a lot stronger than I thought it would be.

"Yeah, probably a good idea," I chuckled at his reaction. Seemed like my big strong Guardian boyfriend was terrified of my mother. "We can tell her a few months after graduation."

"That sounds like a plan, make it sound like we just started seeing each other," Dimitri nodded, I felt his head drop and him resting his chin on my shoulder. He pulled me closer to him. "You know, we have a little time before you meet Lissa," he whispered huskily in my ear. He punctuated what he said with a few kisses on the side of my neck.

"We do," I breathed out. My mind running with the possibilities of what we could do in the time we had left. "What did you have in mind?"

The next thing I knew I was being tickled continuously. I could hear Dimitri's deep chuckle over my squeals. "Dimitri," I squealed and squirmed as he tickled me. I don't know how long he tickled me but it was nice to let off some steam and just play around. My sides hurt from laughing and moving around. And I could feel myself needing to pee.

Thankfully we were interrupted by a knock on the door. Dimitri pulled back and looked at me, the two of us breathing hard at our antics.

"I should probably get that," he said to me. Dimitri quickly got off the bed so he could answer the door.

I stood up and adjusted my clothes before heading out into the main room. It was probably better for me to be in the main room rather than the bedroom. I heard Dimitri talking but couldn't make out what he was saying. I then heard a female's voice, they were talking low so I couldn't make out who it was. I made myself comfortable on the couch, I figured Celeste probably was stopping by.

"Do you know what you have done?" I heard the female's voice shriek. I looked up and saw Alberta walk into the room, Dimitri trailing behind her. "Do you know what he is here for? Not only are you throwing away your career but you brought that snake of a man here!"

"Alberta, with all, do respect," Dimitri said. "It's not your place to say anything. You told me I needed to end my relationship with Rose or be fired. Well, I found another position and resigned, I get to keep my relationship."

"Do you know what he is going to do to her? I am telling you this is very bad and that horrid man is going to get you both killed," she shouted at Dimitri.

I guess Abe's reputation was as bad as Dimitri said it was. Thankfully Alberta hadn't noticed me and was still just focused on Dimitri.

"I don't think that's going to happen," Dimitri said calmly. "And I must tell you, that I have known Zmey for a very long time and he has always been good to my family. Not to mention he offered me a position that was almost double my previous salary."

"You know why he pays so well," Alberta countered. "It's because of all the illegal activities he makes you take part in. You don't know what that man is capable of."

"Alberta, there really isn't anything you can say to change my mind," Dimitri told her. "You gave me a choice, and I chose to be with Rose. I had to find a new job and I found one! I am sorry it doesn't fit in with your plans but that's what I chose!"

"You don't understand," Alberta said throwing her hands up in the air. "You are pushing her right to him! Janine gave me one job when she dropped Rose off, make sure she stayed safe! And you are thrusting her into his hands!"

"What?" I spoke up for the first time. Alberta whipped around and looked at me in shock. "You aren't making any sense."

Alberta looked at me and looked at Dimitri. She shook her head and walked out without another world. The whole interaction was so strange. Alberta wasn't making sense unless she really wanted to keep me and Dimitri apart. It was just so odd.

"That was strange," Dimitri said as he came to sit next to me. "I don't know why she is so obsessed with me working for Abe, it's not like it's any of her business."

"Same, and what was all that other talk? Was it about me?" I asked him as I snuggled under his arm that was draped over the back of the couch.

"I think so, she mentioned your mother," Dimitri commented. "I guess she thinks that Abe is going to be a bad influence on you and she is terrified of what Janine will think. I don't blame her though, Janine scares me."

"I didn't think about that," I chuckled thinking about it. Alberta was in-trusted with me when I was four years old. Last month I was almost killed and now my boyfriend was working for a mobster that no doubt had many enemies. It made sense that she was worried my mother would be upset with her.

"That's what I am here for," Dimitri teased me. "Looks like we don't have a lot of time now."

"Yeah, I need to head back to my room and get something things before I talk with Lissa," I told him as I checked my phone for the time.

"Do you want me to come with you?" He asked me. "It might make things easier if I am there too."

"Maybe, I can ask Lissa if it's okay with her," I told him. I saw Dimitri's point, it would be better if he was there. And Lissa would need to get used to seeing the two of us together. Plus if both Christian and Dimitri where there it wouldn't be as intense. Both could offer outside perspectives.

"It's up to you," Dimitri told me. "I don't have to be there."

"I want you there," I said to him. I took my phone out and quickly sent a texting asking her if Dimitri could come and also telling her that I wouldn't mind if Christian came. "Let's head to my room so I can change and grab a few things."

The two of us headed toward my room in silence. I would have loved to hold his hand but we were still trying to keep things on the down low. It was okay if people found out about us, but we wanted to put some distance between them finding out about us and Dimitri's resignation. We didn't need people like Jesse Zelkos causing trouble.

"When was the last time you did laundry?" Dimitri asked when we walked into my room. "You have to have a few weeks of clothes piled up here."

"I don't know," I shrugged thinking about it. Dimitri went to sit on the bed while I went to change clothes and grab a couple things. "I hate doing laundry."

"I know you do," Dimitri chuckled. I loved hearing his laugh, it had a way of wrapping around me and making me feel happy and loved. "Tomorrow I need to do laundry, why don't we do it together?"

"I guess we could," I shrugged thinking about it. I stripped off my top and quickly put on a t-shirt and grabbed an old sweatshirt. I had become much more comfortable changing in front of Dimitri. We had been moving slowly but he had seen me almost naked a couple times now.

"You look comfy," Dimitri commented as I slipped off my jeans. I had worn really nice casual clothes when we went to meet with Abe. And now for movie night with Lissa, I wanted to be super comfortable. "You should stay like that."

I laughed a little. "You think I should stay in my underwear?" I asked him as I went to put my leggings on.

"I mean, I wouldn't complain," Dimitri flirted with me. I grinned at him. Dimitri hardly really flirted the same way that men his age did, and I was really glad he was letting loose a little bit. I was glad I brought out the playful side of him.

"Maybe next weekend," I flirted back. "Have you seen my fuzzy socks?"

"On your desk," he chuckled. "I am moving the rest of the things from the cabin to my apartment this week. I think next weekend we should just spend the entire weekend together."

"I am down with that," I smiled at him as I went to put on my fuzzy socks. "Have you seen my snow boots? The short ones?"

"By the door," Dimitri shook his head. "I can cook for you again, maybe some Russian food?"

"Oh I like that idea," I told him as I tried to pull on my boots. "Ugh!" I huffed out as I tried to balance on one foot to get the other on.

"Would you like some help?" Dimitri asked me as he watched me almost fall twice.

"No," I grumbled finally getting my boots on. "Okay! I think I am ready!"

"Did Lissa message you back?" Dimitri asked as he stood up. "And did you want to grab snacks? I can get some from the Guardian lounge or the teacher's lounge?"

"Oh! Let me check," I said remembering I had messaged Lissa. I grabbed my phone and went to read the message she sent me. "And don't worry about snacks, Lissa always get's tons. Plus she told me she talked the cafeteria into sending up a few pizzas. They aren't as good as any delivery place, but they aren't bad."

Lissa
You can bring him.
Christian is coming.

"Okay, what did she say?" Dimitri asked me as I read the message.

"She said you can come and that Christian will be there too! Let's go!" I told him after typing a quick reply.

We walked through the dhampir dorms and campus silently. I loved talking with Dimitri but we didn't need to fill the silence with idle chatter. And it was sometimes comforting just to be quiet with someone. We made our way quickly through campus and were soon in the Moroi dorms. I was happy to note that most people were either at dinner or they were in one of the lounges, so we didn't run into anyone.

I knocked on Lissa's door and Dimitri shook Emil's hand. He was guarding the hallway. A hall monitor and a Guardian were on every floor of the Moroi dorms. Two Guardians if there was a royal in one of the rooms.

"Rose," Lissa greeted when she opened the door. "Guardian Belikov, please come in."

"Hey Lissa," I said pulling Dimitri inside. I kicked off my shoes and so did Dimitri. The two of us going to sit on the couch Lissa had in her room. Christian was on the bed, so I assumed he and Lissa would sit together.

"So, I have a few questions," Lissa began as she sat on the bed next to Christian.

I took a deep breath as I looked at her. Here we go, I thought. Lissa would either accept us or she wouldn't. By the end of the night, I would know if she and I were still friends.

I know I left it on another cliffy, but this chapter was longer! So I hope that makes up for it :) What did you all think of Abe and Rose's meeting? Everything you expected? I hope this also gives you all a little insight into Alberta a little bit, I promise more will come about her.

A lot of you will probably be confused and find something's odd about the Abe/Rose/Pavel first meeting. I promise more will be revealed soon, it will be much more OC. But I promise more will come on that later! Just stick with me! Don't judge Abe or Janine or Rose too harshly, all will be revealed in time! Please have confidence in me as an author :)

Please take a moment to review, the feedback helps me so much! It helps me stay motivated and helps me understand how you are feeling about the story :) Not to mention, reviewers get sneak peeks!

For all those in the United States, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)