A/N - Annnnnd im back again! Life has been serious kicking my ass and raising the stress levels. What I wouldn't give to be stressed out by exams or guardian trials instead. Told you I wont leave my story unfinished, its just taken me a little longer to get the pieces together this month. A huge thankyou to all my beautiful writers, reviewers and followers. A special shout out to my sisters that have been by my side lately - Linseyvwvaobsessed, MeekshVA, Echoes of a Bird of Prey and for the Caribbean sunshine, my amazing beta roza m belicova. Go read and review their stories because they are people I call awesome friends.
Lastly, Romitri99 had created 'They Come First' 2015 awards. Go over to her bio and vote for your favorite writers, stories and more! There are so many categories and I really think she needs a best reviewer award. You guys are the reason I keep going. I'll try my best not to let you wait too long for the next chapter.

Oh, so close to 200 reviews...what will I give to reviewer number 200?! *hint, hint*

Disclaimer - I do not own/create Vampire Academy, if I had that power then I would re-create my current world! Missing the time spent waiting for more news about VA and Bloodlines. Have they put it all to rest?

Chapter 21

DPOV

The sound of the water streaming in the shower downstairs woke me from my delightful dream of those brown eyes and running my hand through that silky long hair. Even though I'd opened my eyes, it still took me a few seconds to come back to reality.
I looked over at my clock, and couldn't help the confused frown even if I wanted to. 5:20am glared back, well short of my 6am alarm. It was too early for Ivan to be up. It had long become my usual morning ritual to bang on his bedroom door to start his day. I was certain that by now that I'd become his personal wake up call.

It was unlikely that one of Ivan's late night conquests was using the shower; they most often used the front door after the bedroom door. I shrugged off the thought and headed downstairs since I had time for a morning coffee. That didn't really happen often; I much preferred the extra couple minutes of sleep. I mean it wasn't as if I couldn't get a coffee at work.

Reaching over to turn the kettle on and prepare my mug of coffee, I saw the bathroom door open slowly in the corner of my eye. I looked up to see a surprisingly young looking woman with short brown hair, the slight curls framing her face nicely.
She wore a small black jacket and black ¾ pants; and held a pair of black pumps in her hands. It was easy to recognize them; they were the same kind of shoes my sister Viktoria and her friends were always obsessing over in those fashion magazines. She was slightly shorter than Roza but lacked the
toned curvy figure that stuck in my head each time I thought of my brown haired beauty.

She picked up a pair of thin glasses from the lounge and placed them on her face, making her look surprisingly smart. I wondered what a girl like this was doing with Ivan. Ivan might've been my best friend, but his type didn't exactly include those with intelligence and those who would recognize his player tendencies.

She gazed at me confidently, giving me a chillingly devilish grin before walking out the front door. That girl sent shivers up my spine, but not in a good way, something was definitely off. I shrugged off the thought for another time and returned to making myself a coffee. I figured Ivan would need a caffeine hit after his late night antics so I pulled out a second mug.

I knocked on Ivan's bedroom door, opened it slightly and held the mug of steaming coffee through the gap. I heard movement, someone crawling out of bed and felt the mug taken from my hand before the door opened to reveal my sleepy Russian friend.
"Hey, did you see Natalie?" Ivan whispered before taking a sip from his mug.

"About yay high" I replied as I hovered my hand at my chest to show him her height. "Short brown hair, pretty, too smart to be a notch on your belt?"
Ivan cocked his head to the side as if I had just insulted him making me roll my eyes.
"What?" I asked, looking down at my own mug. "That's not the first night you have spent with her, definitely making her more than your typical one night stand! What's up with that Iv?"

Ivan simply shrugged his shoulders. "I can't really explain it; I like her ok, but….. Oh D, the things she does in bed man, they should be illegal. Actually, in some states, I'm sure they are." Ivan reflected his thoughts with a stupid grin on his face.

"But…" I encouraged him to continue. He took another sip of coffee and looked at me like a confused schoolboy.
"But, there are times when all she wants to do is talk, like get to know me." He suddenly looked serious.
"D, you know that getting to know someone is code for relationship."

I honestly had no answer for that one, as I wasn't the one to council Ivan in the subject of either women or relationships. I may have been raised in a house full of women and had learnt how to console an upset one but relationships were a whole different world. I had been so focused on my
career that dating hadn't crossed my mind in some time. Even the silk black sheet set that Ivan bought me for Christmas, he said would 'guarantee' action in the bedroom; still remained unpacked.

I supposed that wasn't really true anymore, because now, I did think of dating. But when I thought of dating, there was only one woman I saw by my side. It didn't even matter that there was a lot about her that I still didn't know.

The one thing I did know about, was working out…and I could guarantee it would clear your head. Right now, that was exactly what I needed and Ivan too apparently.
"Come on, you can spot me in a weights session." I took the empty mug from Ivan and proceeded to drain my own.
Turning around to head back down to the kitchen I heard Ivan yell. "Yeah D, I'm coming."

With a smirk and an opening that I couldn't ignore I replied "Yeah, yeah! I heard that enough times last night. Don't forget Iv, thin walls." His only answer was a pillow aimed right at my head, which I managed to dodge.
With my friend returning to his normal spirits, I dropped the 2 coffee mugs in the dishwasher and took off to my room, getting ready to focus on something rather than someone else.

"18, 19 and 20. Well done D!" Ivan reached down from above me, collecting the weights bar and placed it securely back on the holding bar of the bench press.

"So you know a bit about my nightly tryst and you even met her," He said. "Well, you sort of did. When do I get to hear more about the lovely Rose?"
I simply smirked at my friend, reached over for two 75 pound dumbbells which I kept next to me, laid back down on the bench and continued my workout routine with a chest fly. Ivan began counting as I lifted the weights from outstretched arms to just over my chest.

"1…..2…oh come on D!" He exclaimed suddenly. I raised one eyebrow at him and continued the count in my head.
"I take it from the heavy weights you're lifting this morning, you didn't get lucky last night?" I paused mid fly raise and narrowed my eyes. Ivan was lucky he was my best friend.

"It's not like that, you know I'm not like that." I breathed through gritted teeth. Ivan raised his hands in surrender and spoke with a soft voice.

"I'm sorry Dimitri, I know you man. I saw the way you were looking at her all afternoon. " He paused and lowered his hands. "And frankly it worries me." I raised my weights above my chest for the final count of 20 and sat up slowly, completing my chest repetitions.

Ivan took the weights from my hands and placed them back on the weights stand before turning back to me and continuing. "We've known each other since forever and when you fall for a girl bro, you fall hard. I just don't want to see you get hurt." Ivan took a breath while I squeezed out the last of my water from my drink bottle.
"At least let me look into her background to make sure you're being careful," He said seriously.

I choked out a small laugh thinking of all the late night visits Ivan has had, and he was worried about me being careful?!
"Careful? Ivan, I hope you know the meaning of the word! I think the world can only handle one Ivan right now!"

We both laughed and the atmosphere between us returned to a relaxed one.
"Come on; let's finish this off with a 10 mile run." I said. Ivan shrugged his shoulders in agreement and followed me over to the treadmill.

Breaking into a slow jog, I couldn't help but think more about what Ivan had said, about how this girl made me feel. Everything always went back to her ever since I'd met her that night in the club.

The kiss last night, her silk hair and soft skin made everything in me want her more. I had to see her again and not for a night. I just longed to be in her company, to be holding her close against me. I smiled at the thought of her laugh, the way she looked at me curiously with her beautiful brown eyes
when we talked about my family.

I wanted them to meet her, I knew Viktoria would love Rose; they already had so much in common. Sonja and Karo would welcome her as Mama would. I could already see Rose and I playing with my niece and nephew, they would adore her as I did. Damn it, sometimes I hated when Ivan was right.

It was true. I really did like this girl, yes enough to take her home. I wanted my family to see the girl who, just the thought of, made my heart skip a beat and made me feel so young and indestructible.

In our line of work, Ivan and I had seen too much of the evil nature that we were capable of, that I don't take anything for granted. It was then I made my decision; I was not letting this girl get away.

It was mid-morning by the time I finally finished my paperwork. I still didn't know why they called it paperwork; everything was typed up and available at the push of a button.

Stan cut us a lot of slack in the way we worked, but he was strict when it came to the reports. By the time we bring the case, the perpetrator and the evidence to the defense attorney, Stan insisted we had reports and evidence from the first moment we lay our eyes on the suspect.

I heard Ivan typing away furiously as Sydney came bounding up the hallway, with a smile covering her young face. From over my shoulder I heard Ivan call to her.
"Syd, it is way too early on a Monday morning to be that happy! Would this have anything to do with your weekend or namely yesterday afternoon?"
Leave it to Ivan, I thought.

I interrupted with a more important question. "Sydney, it is indeed too early Monday morning, why are you not at school?" I saw her smile fall instantly from her lips and an exasperated look come across her face. "Jeez, you guys are just like the brothers I never had." She rolled her eyes at me and continued.

"Stan and my father wanted those samples processed and identified as soon as possible. All my advanced Calculus homework is done; I have two study periods and Biology. Chemical and drug analysis my father is happy with, Human biology and reproduction…..hmmm not so much."
Sydney turned to glance across at the cubicle opposite Ivan and myself.

"Um, I actually came looking for Christian. Do you know where he is? I need his help with something."
Ivan spoke quietly "Yep, he's right there." nodding towards Christian's desk. I turned to look but all I saw, like Sydney, was the edge of his desk and the back of his chair, which appeared empty. Ivan grabbed the back of my chair and rolled me backwards, towards him so I could lean back and peer around the partition between desks.

"See, the squirt is there. Boy is on his cell again!" I turned around to see a playful yet plotting look in his eye, and a smile that reached his eyes.
With a slight warning in my voice I murmured to my friend "Behave buddy, the week is still young!"

I turned back to Sydney. "Speaking of which, yes Syd, you're like our little sister, a point I may have to remind Adrian of."
Sydney looked at me with a mix of fear and shock. "Oh no you won't Dimitri. And just so you know, Adrian was a complete gentleman last night. He walked me to my car and didn't try anything."

She looked down at her feet and whispered quietly "Actually, I thought he would have tried more than a kiss on the cheek." This confession surprised me too since Adrian clearly couldn't focus on anyone else yesterday. Clearing her throat, Sydney returned to the professional no-nonsense Sydney we all knew.
With a shrug of her shoulders she continued, "Well, I suppose I'm just not his type."

Ivan's groan of impatience made us both jump. "Are you both kidding me?" He ran his hand through his short hair, exasperated.
"D, you don't fall for every pretty girl that bats her eye lashes at you so there must be something special about this one, right?" He paused for a moment and stared at me. "Then tell her and soon!" He turned to Sydney next.
"I've been out with Adrian enough times to know when he's not interested, when he's playing and when he's drunk. Yesterday, he was most definitely none of those. Call him, meet up for lunch. He's usually free early in the week, that's when he's bugging me to catch up. He works at a bar Syd, Mondays and Tuesdays are like his weekend."

He grabbed his empty coffee mug and turned to leave. He briefly turned around to face us, pointing one finger at each of us. "You guys have got it bad!"

He started walking off, and once he was out in the hallway, I heard him yell back "This is why I don't do relationships." I looked pointedly at Sydney before I stood up. "Hmm he may have a point."
She said nothing, only nodded and followed my lead.
She and I lent over the partition of Christian's desk and caught him mid-type. Today I was surprised to catch him actually working.

"Christian, can I borrow your cell?" I held out my hand and without hesitation, Christian handed his cell over.

I saw the questioning look on his face but he didn't ask, he didn't have time as Sydney sat down at his desk. "Christian, have you ever hacked into Juvie records? I need to have a look at something," She said.
I wondered back to my desk, sat down in my chair and holding Christians cell, I began to type.

Lissa, if you're reading this, can you please pass your phone to Rose for a minute.
Roza. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon yesterday. Never have I been kept on my toes so much around someone who takes my breath away. I wouldn't have wished for it any other way.
I hope to see you again and tell you in person how the rain last night did nothing to wash you from my
memory. I can only hope to have more moments in your company.
Yours, Dimitri.

I pressed send and sat back. Ivan was right, Rose was different from other girls, she was so much more and I couldn't, no didn't want to lose my chance at letting her know. After 20 minutes without a reply, I felt my heart sink a little.

"Hey, the girl is probably in class, don't sweat it." I looked up to see Ivan smiling over a fresh cup of coffee. I returned a forced smile and heard Christian finishing up with Sydney.
"I'll have those files sent over from the Medical Examiner's office by lunch and the other request..." Christian smirked. "I'll get onto that straight away."

As Sydney sauntered off down the hall, Christian turned to me and I returned his cell. I nodded to him in thanks but when Christian spoke, it wasn't to query me.

"So Sydney thinks she may be onto something." He said to us. "She wants to review the autopsy reports and look into the background of one Jesse Zeklos. She says that if she is right, she'll catch us up to speed but right now all she has is a theory."

Ivan resumed his position at his desk but before he returned to his paperwork he spoke what we were all thinking. "Yeah, but when is Sydney ever off the mark?"

I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock; I had been staring at the computer for what seemed like hours and hadn't noticed my stomach grumbling as lunchtime had approached. Rereading through all these case files hadn't given me a clue as to what or who to focus on next. It had simply made me
angrier that this unidentified subject had gotten away with taking so many girls off the street unnoticed for so long.

I felt a jab of fingers in my ribs and a whisper in my ear. "Hottie at 12 o'clock, oh shit, is that Rose?"
Just the mention of her name automatically drew a smile on my face, ear to ear. I raised my head to peer down the long corridor leading to our desk, to a female walking towards us, swaying her hips.

She wore black pumps that suited her long legs, a very short black skirt and a smooth white shirt. Lacking the curves that I had felt when holding my Roza, having much lighter and straighter brown hair, when the blue-grey eyes looked brightly at me, I realized it was only Avery.

I sat back in my chair and turned to Ivan as my smile dropped. "Not funny
Ivan." I grumbled unhappily.
Ivan's smirk turned into pure laughter as he tried to string a sentence together between bouts of laughter. "Oh…oh yes it was…your face…lit up like…a damn…Christmas tree!"

I had to admit my friend's laughter was infectious. I felt my smile return as Avery approached us holding a package.
"Delivery for Christian, Dimitri." She said sweetly.

I took the package and thanked her. Unexpectedly, Avery spoke again. "Um, have you guys had lunch yet? If not, Dimitri I could go grab you something?"
I was unsure what to say, since she hadn't moved her gaze from me since she arrived.

"Thank you Avery, but Ivan and I were just about to head out and grab lunch. We have some errands to run." I didn't miss her smile drop or her eyes fall to the floor for that matter. She nodded and without any further replies, she turned to leave.

I looked down at the package and noticed it was from the Medical Examiner's office. I shouted across to Christian perched at his desk but noticed his fingers busily typing away on his cell. I shook my head and reached for the phone to alert Sydney that her requested files had arrived.

"Hey Ivan," I called over my shoulder. I didn't say anything further, just nodded towards Christian who was lost in his own world and within seconds, Ivan was creeping up behind him. Too much computer time and no food had made Ivan and I very restless. We preferred to be out in the field, where the action was, doing something, rather than bound to our desks.

I couldn't deny Ivan the chance to mess with Christian, just a little bit. I mean, how could we? now when he was so distracted. As we crept closer I didn't realize he was now talking on his cell, presumably to Lissa.

"You got my text…this afternoon…I'll meet you out front…" Christian was saying. I was about to tell Ivan to hold up, but he lunged before I could get a single word out.

Without warning, Ivan leapt forward wrapping one arm around Christian's chest and one around his neck. In the commotion, Christian dropped his cell on the desk, which I hastily retrieved. Suddenly, it crossed my mind that Lissa might be there with Rose; and if so, I would take Ivan's advice and tell her. Well, ask her out properly I suppose.

"What the hell?" Christian screamed in surprise looking at me then surrendered his resistance once he figured out who he was braced against. "Damn it Ivan, your timing sucks." Christian grumbled. "I was on the phone man!" I held the cell to my ear and raised my finger to my lips indicating silence, to my friends.

"Hello?" I heard a high voice that I recognized instantly as belonging to Lissa.
"Hello Lissa?" I spoke softly as to not alarm her.
"Oh, hi?" She replied with question in her voice.
"Don't be alarmed but Christian is a little preoccupied right now. Although it shouldn't take him too long to wiggle out of Ivan's headlock," I said to Lissa. I tried hard to remain serious looking at the hold Ivan had around Christian, right in the middle of our workplace.

"Wait, what?" was the confused reply. "Can I talk to Rose for a minute?" I heard murmuring in the background as Lissa explained the situation to Rose.

I didn't expect to hear Rose say 'he's not my boyfriend' and even more surprised as to how it felt, like a punch to the stomach. Well at least the subject appeared open for discussion.

"Um hello?" Oh, I would never tire of hearing her sweet, angelic voice.
"Hello Roza. How's your day?" I intentionally put a deeper accent into each word.
"Dimitri, working hard are we?" I could hear her smile and my mind spun back to her beautiful lips in the kitchen devouring the strawberry.

"So, I'm not your boyfriend huh?" I hadn't exactly meant to say that, but I was glad I had. I didn't realize how much I wanted to be hers and for her to be mine right now.
"Well we didn't really discuss much last night now did we?" Rose asked cheekily

"No, I guess not." The phone went silent for a moment and I thought, it's now or never. I took a quick breath and practically blurted out my next words before I got nervous and changed my mind.

"So would you like to be? My girlfriend, I mean." I couldn't help it. I held my breath as I waited for her response.

"That depends," She said simply. Her answer only increased my curiosity. I wanted to give her the world as cheesy as that was; she only needed to say the word and it would be hers.
"On what may I ask, Roza?" I said quietly, letting her name roll off my tongue.

"On how much influence you have over your best friend. In convincing Ivan to let Christian go."
I smiled, I would do almost anything to talk to this girl all day and if seeing her again meant the end of Ivan's fun, well, Ivan will live. Me on the other hand, living without her wasn't much of a life if you asked me. I couldn't believe and I had no idea how I'd done it before.

I pulled the cell away from my ear and looked up at my best friend. "Ivan, let him go."
Ivan looked surprised then sulkily at me. I rolled my eyes. "Yes really…you've had your fun."
Christian looked relieved to be free again, and rubbed his neck.
"Christian I'll give your cell back in a minute." I returned my focus back to the cell and hoping on the other end of the line, remained my Roza.

"Roza, Christian is free to annoy Lissa again," I said.
"Thank you Dimitri!" I could hear the smile and a slight giggle in her voice.

"So, are you going to answer my question?" This girl was without a doubt, frustrating, but that's what drew me further to her. I loved a challenge and my Roza provided that and so much more.

"Well, would you like me to be?" She answered my questions with yet another question. She was a hard one to figure out, but I was a determined person when it came to the mysterious.

I cocked my head in thought of where, if anywhere, this conversation was going when for the 3rd time; Ivan was trying to distract my attention.
"…..Ivan, shut up or I'll tell Mama it was you who broke her vase!" He looked guilty and I rolled my eyes yet again. "Yeah that's what I thought."
Whatever he wanted could wait until I had my answer from my brown haired vixen.
"Yes Roza, I'd like you to be." I didn't hesitate with my answer. I knew what I wanted and I knew Rose had that same drive.

"Well, I'll have to think about it. I mean, decisions like this shouldn't be made over the phone." Jeez, she was really holding out on me. Did she really not feel anything last night?
"So what are you doing this afternoon?" I thought that if she wanted to talk in person, then that's what I would give her.

"Well Dimitri, my calendar is quite full. Let me see if I can fit you in?" Wow, she sounded serious, damn, how much competition did I have? It didn't matter, I decided, I could guarantee those high school boys couldn't make a body disappear like I could!
"Dimitri, just kidding! I have no plans today. Pick me up after school?" I released a breath I didn't know I was holding in anticipation.
"Dimitri!" I heard my name yelled, and I recognized the voice of an annoyed boss and I knew I had to end this call quickly, as much as it pained me to let her go right now.
"Roza, I have to go. 3pm, I'll be waiting. Goodbye Roza."
"Goodbye Dimitri."

I ended the call, held the phone out for Christian, who snatched it back without hesitation and looked towards the thunderous voice. Stan stood at our desk, arms folded at his chest scowling at us all.
"Belikov, I pay you to work not to chat to your girlfriend." He boomed and I couldn't help but wondered what had him in such a bad mood.
I opened my mouth to protest anyway. "She's not my..." But was hastily cut off.

"Meeting, 1 hour, I want all your notes on this Jesse and the trouble he is causing me!" Stan instructed and without waiting for an answer, he turned and stormed down the corridor to his office.

"Sorry, D. I tried to warn you!" I shook my head at Ivan, an indication that it didn't worry me. Seeing that I really wasn't worried, he took the conversation down another road.
"Damn, I wonder what's bugging the boss. Think he knows something new D?" He questioned, watching our boss as he entered his office, slamming the door behind him. We both cringed at the sound that vibrated down the corridor.

"Not sure but I have a feeling we are about to find out." I looked down at my watch then back to Ivan with a smile. "But we have an hour till we have to worry about that and I have an errand to run."
Ivan raised his eyebrow at me. "Yeah, about that. I thought that was just an excuse to blow off Avery?"

I grabbed my jacket off the back of my chair along with my wallet and keys. "Now, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't get Rose a birthday gift?" Ivan relaxed his tight lipped concerned into a smile.
"Come on, we'll grab a feed while we're out." I said while pushing Ivan out from our desks and into the corridor.