"Thanks, man. I just had to get out of there," Christian said his voice shaking as he and Dimitri walked away from the school. They'd barely made it two blocks when his phone started ringing.

"I don't want to talk to anyone," he said flatly.

Dimitri held out his hand and took the phone. "Lissa," he announced.

Christian shook his head, so Dimitri answered.

"Hi Lissa, Christian's taking some time. I'm going to take him to mine for the night – can you let his family know and smooth things over there?"

"Sure. But is he ok?" Lissa asked breathlessly. Dimitri looked across at his friend.

"Not really, but he will be," Dimitri replied.

The two walked in silence towards Dimitri's part of town. It was a long walk, but Christian needed the time to calm down.

"It's like I'm nothing. His life gets to move on like nothing happened. But something did happen. Me. He's probably right – I probably was better off growing up with Bunic and Bunica. But would it have killed him to stay in touch? Either of them? They didn't just choose to give me away; they chose to forget all about me."

Dimitri looked at Christian sadly. There was nothing to say. From his perspective, Christian was right.

"I'm sorry about that," Lucas said to Lissa and Rose, running his hand over his face in the same way Christian did when he was upset. "That was stupid of me."

"Yes, it was," Lissa said in a surprising display of temper.

"And you are?" Lucas asked wearily.

"Lissa Dragomir. Christian's girlfriend," she introduced herself, looking none too friendly.

"I'm sorry, Lissa. I didn't think he'd react that way."

"Gee. You just announced to the child you gave up as a newborn and didn't even recognize how proud and excited you are to be having a baby. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that might not go over too well! Even when he asked you why you came back, you said you wanted to see your mother. Your family. You wanted to tell them all about your new wife and your new child. Would it have killed you to pretend to have at least some interest in him?!"

"I am curious about him," Lucas defended. "It's really affected him, hasn't it?"

"Like you wouldn't believe," Lissa snapped. "He's never heard from you or his mother. Mr. and Mrs. Ozera have done a commendable job bringing him up, but he's always felt guilty about being a burden to them."

"Moira's never been in touch?" Lucas asked, sounding surprised.

"Not a word. He used to get Christmas cards from his maternal grandmother, and he and Mrs. Ozera bumped into her once when he was about eight. The cards stopped when he was about fourteen, and he's since learned his grandmother has Alzheimer's and is now living in a home. He's never heard anything from his mother or the rest of her family."

"I had no idea," Lucas said rubbing his face again.

"Well now you do," Lissa said, giving him a challenging look.

"I should never have come. It would be easier if I just left," he mumbled.

"Easier for you," Lissa agreed contemptuously.

"So I gave Lucas your cell number," Lissa said nervously to Christian the next morning before the homeroom bell rang.

"You did what?!" Christian exploded. "Why would you do something like that?!"

"He went back to your place after the reception to see your family, but you were at Dimitri's. He was hoping to see you, but he wanted to give you some time."

"How dare you?" Christian roared furiously, ignoring the curious looks from passersby in the corridor. "I don't want to see him, talk about him or think about him! What makes you think you have the right to interfere like that?! You're not my wife you know!"

"I'm sorry, Christian," Lissa said trying to cover up her hurt expression. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"Well, you didn't. I don't want to talk to him, and right now I don't want to talk to you!"

Giving Rose's hand a quick squeeze, Dimitri clapped his strong arm around Christian's shoulder and pulled him away from where the four of them had been standing. It looked as though Dimitri were taking Christian up to the roof, so Rose dragged Lissa into an empty classroom.

"He didn't mean it; he's just surprised," Rose said straight away.

"But he's right! I did overstep," Lissa wailed. "I just know how much his parents have hurt him. I thought this might help him heal."

"He knows that. He's just mouthing off because he's upset."

"I know. But I should have just left things alone," Lissa said remorsefully.

"Way to go. You keep that up you'll have no parents and no girlfriend," Dimitri said, going straight on the offensive as the two slumped against the heating unit on the school's roof.

"She should have left it alone," Christian growled.

"Maybe. But she didn't – and she didn't do it to fuck you off. She did it because she cares. And maybe she has a point? It might help to talk to him?"

"I just wish I understood," Christian muttered, all the fight going out of him. "I understand it must have been hard for my parents, but to never even check in on me? That's the part that hurts."

"I get it," Dimitri said patting Christian's back. "It was the same with my father after he left. He was just gone, and I couldn't understand how he could be part of my life and then not. I don't know if I'll ever see my father again, but you have a chance to see yours if you want to."

"What if he doesn't call?" Christian said quietly, voicing his greatest fear.

"I'm sure Lissa would have got his number, too. If you apologize profusely, she might even give it to you," Dimitri said, lifting an eyebrow meaningfully.

They made it through the morning classes, and lunch was a little tense, but things improved when Christian apologized to Lissa for losing his temper explaining he was upset at the situation, not her. As Dimitri had predicted, Lissa did have Lucas' number.

"He suggested he could come to town again in a week or two and you could go out to lunch with him if you wanted?"

"What's he like?" Christian asked nervously.

"Hard to tell. It had been a long time for him, and I think he was honestly overwhelmed."

Christian shrugged. "He wasn't the only one," he muttered under his breath.

Dimitri and Rose were sitting opposite Christian and Lissa when Christian noticed their rings.

"Matching rings?! Something we need to know?" he teased, looking to change the conversation.

Lissa's eyes dropped to their clasped hands and then back at Rose.

"They're promise rings. After everything that's happened, we felt it was time to declare ourselves to one another as committed and exclusive," Dimitri said lovingly, dropping a soft kiss into Rose's hair.

"After Tasha, you mean," Christian commented sadly.

Rose lifted her eyes to Dimitri's, giving him the smallest nod.

"Not just Tasha, Christian. Rose and I had a life changing experience a few weeks ago," Dimitri said quietly after checking to make sure the four of them would not be overheard.

Christian looked curious, lifting his eyebrows questioningly.

"I was pregnant, Christian," Rose said quietly. "We only knew for two weeks before I miscarried."

"A miscarriage? You didn't…" Christian trailed off suggestively.

"No!" Dimitri glared fiercely before his gaze softened. "Sorry I didn't tell you. By the time we knew and got our heads around it, the baby was gone." Dimitri's arm slipped around Rose's shoulder.

"Shit. Sorry man, sorry Rose," Christian said sincerely. "That's huge."

"Yes, it is. Anyway, it's made us realize a lot, including how much we love each other. We've given each other promise rings to signify our commitment and also in recognition of Sasha," Dimitri explained.

"Sasha?" Lissa said carefully. "You named the baby?"

"It was too early to know if it was a boy or a girl. We're too young, but it was still our baby, and we want to remember them," Rose said with a sad little smile, her fingers playing with the wedding band on her middle finger.

"It's a beautiful name, and your rings are beautiful, too," Lissa said lovingly.

The week passed quickly enough. Everyone was tiptoeing around Christian because of his loss and the scene with his father at the reception. Even those who didn't see it seemed to have heard about it.

"I think I'm ready to talk to him," Christian announced on Friday at lunchtime.

He didn't have to explain what he meant – he was sitting with Lissa, Rose, and Dimitri and they all knew.

"How do you want to go about it?" Lissa asked supportively.

"I thought I might text him and suggest we meet up somewhere halfway next weekend? Maybe Madison? That's about half way between here and there?"

"It's a long drive. You'd probably want to stay overnight," Lissa said cautiously.

"I thought we could make a bit of a road trip of it," Christian admitted sheepishly. "Together? Bunica still can't drive, so I could ask to borrow her car, and she's sure to say yes if she knows I'm going to see Lucas… I thought we could drive there on Friday after school, stay Friday night, see my father Saturday during the day, stay Saturday night and come home Sunday? After everything, I could use a getaway, and I thought it would be nice for us to have a couple of days alone together…"

Lissa smiled indulgently. "That sounds perfect, Christian," she simpered. Rose knew her best friend was already planning which sexy underwear to pack.

"I think it sets the right tone, meeting halfway," Rose said supportively, feeling more than a little envious. She'd kill for a weekend away like that with Dimitri, and her quick look at him showed he felt the same way. It had only been a week since they'd lost the baby – in fact, she'd only stopped bleeding yesterday although she was still wearing a panty liner for safety. But she craved the time alone with Dimitri, and he felt the same way.

"Oh my God – you two should totally come!" Lissa said in excitement, noticing the wistful look between Rose and Dimitri, but missing an exasperated one from Christian. "We could road trip there together and stay at the same motel. We'd do our own thing and have separate rooms of course," she said quickly seeing Christian's annoyed expression, "But it would be fun to drive there and back together."

"It's ok. We wouldn't want to gatecrash your weekend away," Rose said a little sadly.

Christian looked at his best friend and his girlfriend.

"Lissa's right," he said generously. "We could all go up there together. I think I'd like it to be just Lissa and me when I see Lucas, but it could be fun to all go away?"

Lissa gave him a huge hug and a kiss that was a little too hot for the St. Vladimir's cafeteria.

"Let's do it!" he said, even more enthusiastically after he pulled his lips from hers.

Christian pulled out his phone and with Lissa's help texted his father.

Hi Lucas, Lissa gave me your number. If you wanted to meet up and talk, I thought we could meet in Madison for lunch next Saturday? I'll need to check Bunica is ok with me borrowing her car, but let me know first if you're free. Christian

While Lissa and Christian were drafting the text, Rose and Dimitri were having a whispered half conversation – the upshot being they were in.

Lunch was almost finished when Lucas responded.

I'd like that. I'm free. Let me know when it's confirmed.

Rose was quiet when she got home. She had a snack in almost complete silence, earning her more than one concerned look from Janine.

"Ok, wee one. What is it? Are you worried about the doctor's tomorrow? I'll be right there with you."

"No, I'm alright about that. The bleeding has stopped, and actually, Dimitri said he would go with me so you and Tata can go to the farmer's market like usual."

"Oh, ok," Janine said, a little put out. She'd assumed her daughter would want her there for the follow-up appointment, but it looks like she was wrong. "So what is it, then?"

"I want to go away next weekend with Lissa, Christian, and Dimitri. Christian is going to Madison to meet up with his father. He wants Lissa and Dimitri there for moral support," she explained, decorating the truth just a little. "They're planning to leave on Friday night and come back Sunday, and I'd like to go with them."

Janine nodded, taking it all in.

"So how would it work?" she asked cautiously.

"Well Christian will borrow his grandmother's car. It's only a year or two old, so it has every safety feature," Rose said winningly. Janine just rolled her eyes.

"And?"

"So we thought we'd stay at a Motel 6 there? Christian has stayed there before on a trip with his grandparents and said it's basic but filled with young families."

"Who would stay where?" Janine asked, getting to the crux of the matter.

"I'd stay with Dimitri, and Lissa would stay with Christian," Rose admitted her eyes locked with her mother's. "It's not for that," she stressed. "I'm not ready for that yet, and Dimitri knows and understands. It's just been such a shitty few months. I just want to get away and be a normal teenager and just have some fun again."

Janine picked up Rose's empty plate and turned to put it into the dishwasher. She needed to take a moment to compose her thoughts.

"I'm glad you felt you could be honest with me," she said. "I'm not thrilled about the idea, but you're nearly eighteen, and I appreciate you not lying to me."

"So I can go?" Rose asked in confusion.

"I won't stop you," Janine said with an unhappy sigh. "But I want to make sure you have things in case you change your mind about being ready," she said, lifting her eyebrows suggestively.

"I will – but I don't think I'm going to be ready for that for quite a while yet," Rose admitted. "I'm too scared, Mom. I just want us to be close and talk. We still have things to work through after Sasha."

"What will you tell your father?" Janine asked.

"I don't want to lie to him. I'll just tell him I'm spending the weekend with Lissa," Rose said hopefully.

The next morning Dimitri arrived promptly at 10 am to collect Rose.

"Dimitri," Abe greeted, looking up from his weekend paper. "Where are you taking my little girl today?"

"Morning Mr. Mazur," Dimitri said formally. "There's a few stand-up comics along the riverside as part of a public exhibition this weekend. I thought Rozalia and I might go for a walk there and listen to them?"

Abe grunted begrudgingly. It was free, in public and involved a bit of exercise. There wasn't anything he could object to.

"What about food? You'll need to eat?" he challenged.

"Got that covered," Dimitri said winningly. "The food trucks can be a little dicey hygiene wise, and I wouldn't like to risk it, so I've brought us sandwiches and soda from home," he proudly announced.

Janine actually rolled her eyes at Rose. The nidorous food trucks at public events were another of Abe's favorite rants – and of course, he wasted no opportunity to launch in about their degeneracy.

"Why the need to buy overpriced food cooked in unsanitary conditions?! What's wrong with a homemade sandwich?!" Abe was almost bellowing by the time he was through.

"I agree, Mr. Mazur," Dimitri said seriously, giving Janine a smile and taking Rose by the arm and steering her out of the house.

"How the hell did you know about my father's issues with food trucks?" Rose laughed once they were on the sidewalk, her arm wrapped Dimitri's hips and his around her shoulder.

"I had no idea," Dimitri admitted. "I just thought if we were going away next weekend, I needed to save as much money as I could, and sandwiches made a cheap date," he ruefully admitted.

"Well Tata now thinks you're on his side," Rose giggled. "Between sharing his thoughts on shoddy contractors, food trucks and people ripping off old people, you've pretty much won him over. In fact, the only lecture you might be spared is the sins of the Russians," Rose teased.

"Is that really an issue for him?" Dimitri asked nervously.

"Hard to say. You're Orthodox and agree with him on everything else – so he might be willing to overlook it," Rose giggled.

"You're not making this easy on me," Dimitri smiled, but mentally thinking forward to the time when he might be asking Abe for something a lot more important than his opinion on takeaway food options.

They arrived at the doctor's a few minutes early. "Would you like me to come in with you, milaya?" Dimitri asked tenderly.

"Can you? I know it's a bit silly, but I'd like you there."

"Of course I will," Dimitri said gently, lifting her hand and gently kissing her promise ring.

"Rose," Dr. Olendzki greeted kindly when they walked into her appointment.

"Um, hi Dr. Olendzki. This is my boyfriend Dimitri, the baby's father. Is it ok if he's here?"

"Of course it is if you'd like him here," she said reassuringly giving them both an encouraging smile.

She went through a range of questions about Rose's bleeding, blood clots and pregnancy symptoms. Declaring everything looked normal for a natural miscarriage, she also arranged for more blood work to check the pregnancy hormone in Rose's blood.

"The clinic will call you tomorrow with the results. Have you considered contraception after your last visit?"

"Um, yeah… I have been taking the pill since Sunday morning."

"Ok. You can have intercourse anytime after you've stopped bleeding, and the pill you are on will protect you from pregnancy after seven consecutive days of taking it. However, I caution you to consider the emotional aspects of losing a child before you go into that aspect of things again. You might find it's weeks or even months before you want to be intimate again," she said delicately.

Dimitri took Rose's hand and held it between his own. "We're in no hurry," he said to the doctor. "Losing our baby has been a huge thing for both of us."