I'm back! I want to thank you all so much for all your support and messages the last few months, they have meant so much and I am incredibly grateful to have all of you supporting me. My mum had to, and still is, undergoing chemo, but we are all doing well. I'm posting this on Mother's day, because I wanted to dedicate this to my mum, who is the most incredible person I know. So thank you again, and please enjoy.

Dimitri was at the gym, when I arrived, stretching in the corner. I'd gone to another gym and done a warm up stretch. I was starting to wish I'd never made this deal, what if Dimitri could beat me? I'd be completely embarrassed and I'd never get to show him how sorry I really was.

As I stood there, 3 guardians strolled into the room, with two more wandering in a few minutes later. Soon quite a crowd had gathered, all of them eyeing me and Dimitri. I suppose that's what you get, when you challenge their boss to a fight in the middle of guardian HQ.

I checked my watch, it was time.

I strode over to Dimitri.

"Shall we start?"

"Sure." He said, walking over to the padded mats in the middle of the gym.

"You know the rules, first one to place a killing blow wins."

He nodded, starting to brace himself.

I didn't know whether to just start or make some declaration, everyone was staring at us. I could feel my cheeks getting warm.

"Let's start," I said, lunging forward and placing a blow on his arm. It wasn't particularly hard, but I needed to get him moving. He swung out, narrowly missing contact with my jaw; I darted around him, aiming for his ribs, which he dodged.

As we moved, I could tell something was off with Dimitri. He still fought like a god, with perfect form and amazing precision, but the fire that once burned in his eyes was gone. The passion, that once took my breath away, was gone. My heart sank. Did I do that?

Lost in thought, I failed to see Dimitri's next move. He struck out, his foot connecting with my side, pushing me back. It took everything I had not to stumble to the floor, and he could tell.

Focus Rose!

Rushing forward, he slid to the ground and spun his feet out, trying to sweep my legs out from underneath me. Instincts kicking in, I jumped just as his legs were about to make contact and folded forward, grabbing his ankles with my hands as I flipped over. Landing on my feet, I bent down and threw my hands from over my back to ground, still hold Dimitri's feet. He came flying over me and crashed to the ground.

The crowd around us gasped. I suspected that none of them had seen Dimitri thrown to the floor like that, especially not by someone my size. It was a move Master Gregori had taught me. Coming back to Court had made me realize just how rigid and uncreative their fighting styles were compared to the Complex's way of fighting.

Smirking, I moved back and allowed Dimitri to get to his feet. We both knew that I could have landed the final blow then and there, which I thought would have pissed him off, but instead he seemed just seemed confused.

He moved closer and we began circling each other again, each waiting for the other to make the first move. I thought for sure that Dimitri would try to get back on the offensive, but he was completely out of it. As we moved around one another, his gaze run up and down my body. But not in a sexual way, more in an analytical way. Still, having his eyes on me didn't help my concentration in the slightest, no matter the reason.

"What's with you?" I muttered, only loud enough for Dimitri to hear.

The question seemed to catch him off guard and I thought for a moment that he wouldn't answer.

"You've changed."

I frowned, not expecting to hear that.

"Is that a bad thing?" I mentally cringed. I didn't mean to say that out loud!

Dimitri's voice grew so low that I almost missed what he said.

"I'm still figuring that out."

My heart began to race faster. What was I doing? I needed to concentrate so that I could beat him. I needed to prove to both Dimitri and everyone here that the Complex members knew what they were doing and that we could help.

"Let me help you out then," I uttered as I threw myself forward, fist aimed at his face.

Dimitri acted fast and grabbed my arm, stepping to the side as he did. Using my speed against me, he turned so he faced my back and pushed me forward. I began to fall, but instead of bracing myself for impact, I tucked in my elbows and let myself roll onto the floor, then pushed myself up into a crouching position. Before Dimitri had a chance to react, I launched myself off the ground and pushed him to the ground. Landing heavily on top of him, I locked my legs with his and placed a hand over his heart. -

"Dead." Cheering broke out from the guardians surrounding us.

Dimitri didn't seem to hear them. He stared up at me in astonishment, and I stared back at him, relishing the opportunity just to look at him. A piece of my hair fell forward onto his face, and he reached out his hand and tucked it behind my ear.

Suddenly I felt the position we were in. I could feel his body beneath me and my cheeks were growing warm. I quickly jumped up, embarrassed.

"I'll give you tomorrow to gather your pride, and I'll see you the day after that for our first training session. Five o'clock at the far track. See you then." I strode off, doing my best not to look at the gaping crowd of guardians that surrounded us. Dimitri stayed where he was, flat on the ground.

That night Seth and Ian took me and Ivy out to celebrate my victory. Except it didn't really feel like a victory. Dimitri hated me, and rightly so, and now I was going to force him to spend almost every day with me. It was selfish of me, but I wasn't going to give it up. Did that make me a terrible person? I wasn't sure. I left dinner early and spent the rest of the night mindlessly watching re-runs of soap operas I had long ago lost the plotline of.

The next day dragged on as I made training plans for Dimitri and I. Around 4 I started to get nervous. Abe had sent a message saying to come to his house around 5:30 for dinner, and I was kicking myself for making the suggestion. I should have just left things as they were instead of trying to repair our relationship. Who knew when I'd be going back to the Complex or if Dimitri's Father would decide he wanted to torture me further. I must have tried on at least 10 different outfits before 5:15 came around, finally settling on a maroon long sleeved dress, with Ivy in her red overalls.

At 5:30 exactly I knocked on their door. My mother answered, and to my absolute surprise she had her hair down and was wearing black jeans and a checked shirt. She didn't smile at me, but I saw her expression soften as she looked at Ivy.

"Hi Mum."

"Rose." She nodded at me, before coming down to Ivy's height.

"Hi Ivy, I'm your grandma, it's lovely to meet you."

Ivy smiled shyly, and waved with one hand, the other clutching a handful of my dress.

"Why don't you come in?"

She showed us to the table, where Sebastian was already sitting and seated Ivy next to him, while allowing me to sit wherever I wanted. I chose the spot beside Ivy, so mom and Abe would have to sit directly across from me.

Sebastian waved eagerly at me, and I blew him a kiss. I spent the next five minutes in silence, as Mom had disappeared and Abe had yet to appear.

Finally they emerged, Mom carrying the plates and Abe carrying a pot of some sort. As he put it down on the table, I saw that it was lasagna.

"Hi Dad." I said, giving him a smile.

"Rose." He said, giving me the exact same greeting as Mom. It was like they had prepared exactly what to say to me.

He dished me up a plate and I dug in, knowing that if I stopped eating I'd actually have to talk to them. Ivy and Sebastian managed to babble together the entire meal, which distracted me from the time bomb that was ticking in front of us. I was going to be in so much trouble.

Once we were all finished, Mom suggested that the kids go watch some TV. They happily agreed, dancing off behind her. She got them settled and came back, sitting down and crossing her arms in front of me.

"So, I might as well get this thing started." I declared. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Ivy. I was scared about how you'd react. Is there anything else you want me to apologize for?"

"What did you just say?" My mother snapped, incredulous.

"Just tell me what I can do to make you happy. I don't think we can have another toxic meal like we just had. It's not good for me and it's definitely not good for Ivy to see her grandparents acting like this."

I don't know why I was so angry, I should be the one apologizing, but my mother had always made feel like this, like I had something to prove. I gritted my teeth and waited for her response.

She opened her mouth and then shut it. I could tell by the way she was clenching her fists that she wanted to punch me but was refraining.

Finally she let out a deep breath.

"I can't believe you just said that. I don't even know my granddaughter's full name! I don't even know how old she is! How the Hell do you expect me to be happy with what you've told me? I know nothing about you. Nothing. I don't even recognize you anymore. I don't recognize this cold heartless person."

"Mom!" I protested.

"Sorry Rose, but sorry just won't cut it." She flung her napkin down on the table, and stormed off. A few seconds later I heard a door slam.

"I'm sorry Dad." I said, looking down at the table.

"I can hardly judge. You didn't know I existed until you were 18. So what, you disappeared for five years? I did it for eighteen. But your mother is different, she loves you, no matter what you think. And it tore her apart when you went missing. But now you're back and she knows nothing about you, let alone her granddaughter. You're going to have to give her time, and do a hell of a lot better than a simple apology. "

I bit my lip, nodding softly. It was despicable the way I had acted, and I didn't really know how I was going to make it up to her. But I had to try.

"I'll go talk to her." I decided, pushing back my chair.

"Good decision, I'll go and check on the kids. "

Just as he was about to disappear into the TV room, I spoke up.

"It wasn't the same you know, what I did. I just disappeared, I didn't even say goodbye. I didn't think. I'm sorry about that, I truly am."

He smiled sadly at me and walked away.

I went down the corridor and knocked gently at the only closed door. No-one answered but I could hear stifled cries. I slowly opened the door and there was my mother, sitting on the bed and hugging a pillow, with tears streaming down her face. I had never seen her so vulnerable. What had I done to the brave and fearless Janine Hathaway? I sat next to her, careful not to touch her.

"Her full name is Ivana Vasilisa Bell. She is four years old. I love her more than anything in the world and I've always told her she got her stubbornness from her grandma."

"Really?" She said quietly.

"Yes. She reminds me a lot of you. I think you're going to love her." I gently placed my hand over hers. She didn't move away. "You're right. Sorry doesn't cut it, but I'm going to say it anyway. Because I'm so sorry, for all the pain I caused you, and I hope one day you'll forgive me."

"I will." She said, wrapping her free arm around me. "I'm already starting to."

"I love you mom."

"I love you too." She said, her voice breaking as she pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Now let's go finish this dinner." She wiped any remnants of her tears off her face, and rose off the bed, walking back into the dining room.

We spent the rest of the evening talking, and catching up. I explained my training programs, and she told me about everything that had happened at Court. We even discussed future playdates between Ivy and Sebastian and maybe even a coffee date between the two of us.

It was late before I left, but I was happy. Both Mom and Abe had hugged me before I left, and they both seemed a lot less tense than when I had arrived.

I hummed as I walked back to my room, holding a sleeping Ivy in my arms. She had fallen asleep about an hour before we left, Sebastian and her cuddled together on the couch, the Lion King blaring in the background.

I got back to my room, and with difficulty, shifted Ivy so I could reach my keys and not wake her in the process. I finally managed to fish them out of my bag and unlock the door. I barged through the door, barely managing not to hit Ivy's head on the doorframe.

I had just managed to lay Ivy down on the bed, when I heard a shuffling noise, in the corner. Immediately my hand went to my stake. I stayed near Ivy, and flicked on the bedside light. Sitting in the arm chair was Lissa, and she was fast asleep.

I slowly put down my stake and went over to wake her.

"Liss, Liss."I whispered shaking her. She jolted awake.

"Rose." She blinked her eyes sleepily. "Where were you?"

"I was at dinner with my parents. What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you, your friend next door let me in. I was going to wait up for you, but I must have fallen asleep."

"Where are your guardians?" I asked. I hadn't seen any sign of anyone when I'd come in.

"I sent them away. I told them that Rose Hathaway would protect me. They were very impressed."

I smiled at her. "Well what did you want to-"

A blaring noise interrupted me. The Stirgoi alarm.

"Please tell me this a drill." Lissa whimpered.

"I wish I could Liss, but this isn't a drill."

Cliff hanger! So I hope you enjoyed, and please leave me any suggestions of things you'd like to occur. I promise to update soon, and by soon I mean within a fortnight. (That's soon for me). Thanks to all of you, and have a great day.