When I woke up in Dimitri's arms, we were on a plane. The lights were dim and the people around us were sleeping. I sat up a little to get a better view of everything. "You don't have to wake up just yet, but we are just about there." Dimitri said smoothly. I rubbed my eyes and leaned back in the seat. I shut my eyes, relaxing.

I was gently awoken by Dimitri, who let me know we had landed. "We're home." He smiled, melting my heart. I looked around and I could recognize some landmarks, but it wasn't until the word home echoed in my head. We were in Russia.

Dimitri let go of my hand and pulled me into his arms. "I love you Roza and I think we should start our lives here, far away from all the bad memories." I smiled up at him as we hit the runway. I was barely jostled when we landed because Dimitri was holding me. I was thinking about what he had just told me.

Away from all the bad memories. There may not be any bad memories in Russia for him, but for me there were a few. I had to spend time with Dimitri's family grieving the loss of him. His family assumed he was dead and now we are here, showing up re-opening wounds with them after they already accepted the fact that Dimitri was gone.

I decided not to bring that up with Dimitri just yet. We pulled into the plane gate and the doors opened. Dimitri helped me up and we both got off. We walked quietly to the bag claim where Dimitri waited and got our bags. He carried them over to where I was standing and we walked outside.

Dimitri caught a cab for us and threw our bags in the trunk. I was already sitting down when Dimitri got in. The driver sped off asking us where we were headed. Dimitri spoke in Russian to the man and I guessed that he was telling him exactly where we were going.

We were in town before I knew it and all the lights were amazing. I leaned my head closer to the window, smiling. Dimitri glanced over at me and pulled my hand into his. "I knew you'd love it here." He said happily. I leaned into him and then sat up straight as we pulled in front of a cute little house.

The house didn't look familiar, but I could just not have remembered it. Dimitri got out first, rushing to get the bags. He walked over and stood close by my door as I got out. I shut the door behind me and looked at Dimitri who was now paying the cab driver and thanking him. I waved at the driver as a gesture of gratitude and turned towards the house. It was a nice looking house.

Dimitri let the bags sit on the sidewalk and unexpectedly picked me up. I tried to wriggle out of his arms, but to no avail. "Dimitri, what is this for?" I asked expectantly. He just grinned carrying me to the door and pulling out a key from his pocket. I stared at him. He quickly unlocked the door and stepped inside, still holding me. He said something in Russian to me, but of course I didn't understand it. "It means welcome home." He whispered, kissing me softly, while setting me back on my feet.

I squeezed his neck desperately, but he slid from my grip. "Go look around love, I'll be right back, I'm going to get our bags." He said, walking outside. I hesitated for a moment, but then took a few steps down the wide, nicely painted hallway. I stepped into the last room and stopped in the doorway when I saw it. The biggest, nicest bed I'd ever seen. It was like two king sized beds combined. I laughed to myself and finally stepped into the room.

The bed was really high, so I decided to make a run for it. I ran to the middle of the room and then hurled myself in the air, landing onto the extremely plush bed. I was laying out on my stomach, when I felt hands sliding up my sides. I shuddered with delight and turned over. "What do you think? It's all yours" He asked. I pinned him down by the shoulders and let my hair hang in his face. "It's all ours." I corrected. "It's perfect, absolutely perfect. My sweet, loving, beautiful, Dimka." I lulled.

He pulled my shirt off eagerly and I smiled at him. Everything came off after that and we had our first sex in our new Russian home. I had never felt this good in my life. It was like heaven had come crashing down right on top of me. I had Dimitri, I had a house, and I lived in Russia. I was glad the suffering had passed and we were staring new, away from the horrors of our pasts.

I woke up around eleven that night. I wondered if we could start living on a normal human schedule from now on, since we weren't as sensitive to light as Moroi were. I turned over looking into Dimitri's eyes. "Dimitri?" I asked. He looked over at me. "Yes love?" My heart skipped when he called me love. "Well I was wondering if we could maybe start living on human time." I suggested cautiously. He turned serious for a minute and then loosened again. "Yes, of course we can. If that's what you want."

I stared into his loving eyes and nodded. He winked at me, which made me laugh, and got out of the massive bed. I pulled the covers up to my chin and stared up at the decorated ceiling. It had little angels, or cupids, flying around the fluffiest white clouds. It was nice to look at.

As I was lying there staring up at the ceiling, Dimitri peaked his head out from the bathroom. He motioned his head towards him, which meant he wanted me to join him. I rolled upright and slid off the bed, stepping into the bathroom. The bathroom was also beautiful. A huge glass shower, jacuzzi, counter-top, and vanity, which was really cool. The toilet was automatic and there was even a huge linen closet. But besides all that, the vanity and jacuzzi sat on the purest crimson carpet. It made me feel like I was floating.

Dimitri was in the shower when I hopped in after marveling over my surroundings. He pulled me into him and ran his fingers through my drenched hair while I rubbed his back. It was all so romantic. He washed me and I washed him. We took our time, so we were able to spend innocently intimate time in our luxurious shower.

"Let's go enjoy the nightlife." He said into my ear. I laid my head on his shoulder briefly and he lifted my hand to his mouth, kissing the engagement ring he had given me a few weeks ago. I glanced down at it and then into his hypnotizing eyes. They were like pools of bliss, driving me mad with desire. He had to nudged me towards the door to break my gaze.

I walked out the front door first, Dimitri right behind me, turning to lock up our house. I was observing the nice surroundings when Dimitri came and grabbed my hand, guiding me slowly down the brightly lit street. "Where exactly are we going?" I asked eagerly. He chuckled softly and gave my hand an extra squeeze. "Take the lead stubborn." He teased.

Emphasizing his joke, I stopped walking and crossed my arms. "I'm not going anywhere." I said sternly, but obviously kidding, sticking my tongue out. He shrugged and started walking again. I laughed at him and began to walk again, but I heard footsteps behind me and tensed. I didn't have a stake, so I quickly assessed an alternative in my head. Dimitri stopped, glanced back and raised his brows.

"What's wrong?" He called out. I shook my head and walked to him. "I thought I heard footsteps." I told him. He looked back and scanned the area. "I don't see anyone." I looked around again, and then the instant nausea hit me. "Dimitri," I whispered, clutching my stomach, "Strigoi, close!" Dimitri sprang in front of me and pulled out a stake. I stood up straight, trying to ignore the nausea. A swarm of them charged at us.

First a woman, short, fast, and vicious. Her hair was wild, and her skin a sick tan color. She had blood smeared on her lips and her red eyes were piercing me. The woman hissed at me and dodged Dimitri. I did a sweep kick, which was unexpected. She fell to the ground but was on her feet quicker than she fell. I dodged her a few times before she finally got me and pinned me down. Her eyes were hurting me. I tried to look away, but they were staring directly into my own.

I closed my eyes for a split second before I opened them and a pair of hauntingly familiar red eyes were in place of the woman Strigoi's. I leaned as far back as the sidewalk allowed. And I kicked and screamed when I recognized the person pinning me down. It was Dimitri. I did the only thing I could manage, and that was cry. The memory of fighting so hard to get him back crushed me. To see his sinister, cold, and repulsive red eyes once again sent me into a painful abyss I was sure I'd never escape.

"Hello Roza." He growled, smiling nastily. "What's the matter you look upset. Don't you recognize me." I looked all around, trying to escape his gaze that was piercing my heart. Pierce my heart. I ran those words in my head as he tried to turn my face towards him, but before he could turn my eyes back to his, I saw the silver stake not too far from my reach. While I was being tortured with his horrible red gaze, I inched my hand closer to the stake. And as I picked it up, Dimitri plunged his fangs into my neck, causing me to scream louder then ever, I broke free and unexpectedly rammed the stake right into his heart.

Dimitri was startled and he fell back gasping. "Roza." He moaned. And the last thing I saw was Dimitri's beautiful brown eyes before I was shaken into reality and I saw my old, sweet, beautiful, amazing, Dimitri looking frightened and desperately clinging to my body.