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Chapter 25

Dimitri POV

"You wanted to see me, sir?" I said as I entered Abe Mazur's office. Calling him 'sir' seemed like a safer option – he was only just barely refraining from killing me painfully. I could see that dangerous look in his eyes that made people fear him so.

"Yes, Belikov. Sit." He commanded.

I obliged and sat in the chair opposite his own.

"I trust Rose is ok?" He asked me.

"Yes, sir. Her bruises have healed up completely and she seems in good form." I said. I didn't know why I was being so formal with him. He stood up from his seat.

Yes, I did.

He moved around me and shut the door of the office.

"Belikov, what are your intentions with my daughter?" He asked me, looking me straight in the eye.

Suddenly, I didn't feel so fearful. Looking into his eyes, I didn't see Abe Mazur, frightening mobster and FBI Agent. I saw Abe Mazur, man who was trying to protect his child from harm. It was one of the things I swore to do for my own baby until the day I die.

All I had to do was to tell the truth.

"I love her. I love her more than I have ever loved anyone in my life. I want to be there for her, and care for her and our baby until I stop breathing. I will die before I would let something happen to either of them." I said, meeting his gaze; my eyes silently begging him to believe me.

Abe stared at me, scrutinizing me for a few moments. Then he spoke.

"You know, Belikov, usually I would take much more drastic measures to ensure that you were telling the truth, but I can see. I can see the honesty in your eyes. You love her. I believe you Belikov."

I stared at him, slightly shocked. I knew this talk had been coming but I had also expected him to rough me up a bit – a lot actually.

"Don't make me regret it." He warned. "Rose may have made me promise to not hurt you, but don't think I won't if you hurt her."

"I will never hurt her, sir, and thank you, for understanding."

"I may have understood your situation but don't expect to get the same treatment from Rose's mother. She has a much more dangerous reputation than me, and a lot less self-control." He added, meeting my eyes. I could see slight amusement in his eyes as he warned me.

"Thanks for the warning. I'll thread carefully, sir." I said to him and made to stand up.

"That would be a wise move, Belikov. Now it's best you leave, I have a ton of work to do."

I opened his office door and was just leaving when he called to me.

"Oh and Belikov, call me Abe." He said and went back to his work.

I shut the door behind me and couldn't help but smile to myself.

If I was not mistaken, I think, I think – I may have just been approved by Abe Mazur.

"You blocking the door." A cold voice said from in front of me.

Rose's mother was standing there, obviously trying to get into Abe's office. I hadn't even noticed her approaching.

"Sorry." I apologised. "I didn't see you there."

"Bad move on your part." She commented…and the punched me in the stomach.

For someone so small, I wasn't expecting so much power.

I couldn't help but groan in pain.

"You deserved that." She said, and I guess, if I was in her position, I would have thought so too.

"Listen to me Belikov," she said, threateningly. "You ever hurt my daughter, I will rip you apart, limb from limb."

"I understand." I said. I had already managed to get Abe to believe me; I wasn't sure I could do it again. "But I love her; and I would die before I ever even thought about hurting her."

Janine Hathaway just stared at me for a few moments.

"Ok." She said. I breathed a sigh of relief. "But I'm still going to give you a reminder of what will happen if you do." She said and raised her fist again, this time aiming for my face.

Thankfully, Abe chose this moment to walk out of his office.

"Janine," he said and grabbed her still raised fist. "I've already talked to him. He knows exactly what will happen if he dares hurt Rose." He said and looked at me warningly.

"Belikov, please leave and go look after my daughter while I have a chat with my ex-wife, here." He said and started dragging Janine, to her displeasure, into his office.

I nodded and left quickly before Janine could break out of Abe's grip.

I jumped into my car and quickly drove down the road.

When I was sure I was safe, I pulled in.

Putting my face in my hands, I breathed two deep breaths. At least that was over with. I needed a couple of minutes to think. I still had to tell me family. I knew I would feel less overwhelmed when they knew. Up until Roza, they were the most important people in my life, and I had never kept anything from them – especially not something this big.

Everywhere I looked, I saw children. I saw a man holding his little girls hand, a man pushing his little boy on the swing. It was a constant reminder of the greatest gift I was going to get in about 7 months. As excited and happy as I was, I was nervous. I had thought about being a father…one day. I didn't think it would happen this quickly.

I wasn't regretting it. I couldn't ever regret meeting Roza and making our little angel. If I could go back in time, I'd do it all over again.

It just surprised me, how much I loved the baby inside Roza, and how little time it had taken me to fall in love with my Roza. It also scared me.

It was all happening very fast and I was just worried that I wouldn't deal with it all well. But this was Roza. I would deal with it to the best of my ability. She deserved that. Our baby deserved that.

Our baby.

The sound of that was like music to my ears.

I couldn't wait to meet him or her. Or feel him or her kicking through Roza's still-flat belly.

The day after tomorrow, I would be going with Rose to the doctor's appointment, where I would get to see and hear my baby for the first time.

I lifted my head from my hands and decided to not think about the future. Right now, all I wanted to do was get back home to my gorgeous girlfriend.

When I arrived back home, I noticed the TV was on. She must have woken while I was gone.

However, when I reached the couch, I noticed that she was asleep, all wrapped up in the quilt from the bed.

She was so beautiful, even in her sleep.

I gently removed the empty mug and the hot water bottle from her hands and placed them on the coffee table. I picked up the remote that was left there and switched off the TV, before picking her up off the couch and carrying her to the bedroom. I lay her down and tucked the duvet in around her.

I then climbed in myself and held her tightly in my arms.

I never wanted to ever let her go.

Rose POV

I woke feeling stuffy and clammy. Dimitri's arms were still around me.

"Dimitri" I said and shook him, trying to wake him.

"Roza? You ok?" he asked me groggily, his voice coated in sleep. Judging by the darkness from outside, it was definitely the middle of the night.

How could I have slept that long?

"I feel hot." I said, waving my hand in front of my face in an attempt to cool myself down.

Dimitri put his hand on my forehead, checking my temperature.

"You're a little warm." He commented. "Do you feel sick?"

"No, just really hot." I replied, pushing the quilt off me.

"I'll get you a cold drink, ok?" He said and got up.

"Thank you." I said quietly as he went to the kitchen.

I stood up from the bed and quickly took off my pyjama pants. I was now only wearing Dimitri's shirt but it came down to my thighs so I didn't feel naked.

Dimitri returned with a glass of water with ice in it in one hand, and a damp face cloth in the other.

"Here." He said and handed me the drink. I took a few sips and enjoyed the cool feeling.

He placed the damp cloth on the back of my neck. It felt so good.

"Are you ok?" He asked me again.

"Yeah I'm fine." I replied. I held his hand in mine. "Thank you."

"That's why I'm here." He said, joking a little and then pecking my lips.

"You want to go back to bed?" he asked me.

I realised how tired my body actually felt. How I could sleep anymore, I won't ever understand.

"Yeah." Was all I said and moved the cloth from the back of my neck so I could lie down. When I had, I placed the cloth on my forehead and closed my eyes. I could feel Dimitri moving around quietly and suddenly I felt a soft, but light blanket being placed over me instead the puffy quilt.

"Thank you, Comrade." I mumbled to him. I felt him kiss my forehead and the bed dipped slightly on one side as he climbed back in. He stayed over his side though so that I didn't have his body heat heating me up.

As much as I appreciated it, I missed his arms around me. I wouldn't be able to sleep though so I just dealt with it.

I woke the next morning when I heard Dimitri bustling around the room.

"Morning comrade" I croaked out.

He looked up at me.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" he asked me.

"No I've had enough asleep." I said and sat up, rubbing my eyes.

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm good." I said and smiled at him. He really was very sweet.

"It's a gorgeous day outside. Do you want to go to the beach?" He asked me.

"Ooh yes!" That sounded really good. I hadn't been to the beach for so long. "Can I bring Lissa?"

"Sure. Ivan will probably want to come as well." He said.

"Yeah and if Lissa comes, so will Christian. He and Ivan should get along." I said.

"You go call Lissa and I'll get some food ready to bring."

I dialled Lissa and asked her if she and Christian wanted to join us.

"Yes of course Rose! We haven't been to the beach in ages!" She said excitedly.

"Great. I have to come back to the apartment to change and stuff so I'll see you in a bit, ok?" I said.

"Ok, see you then." She said and we hung up.

I walked out to the kitchen to find both Dimitri and Ivan chatting in the kitchen.

"Hello Rose." Ivan said when he saw me and winked.

"I didn't hear anyone at the door." I commented.

"That's because he didn't knock…again." Dimitri said, organising the last of the food.

I laughed. "I need to get back to my place to get my stuff." I said to Dimitri.

"I can bring you." Ivan said, getting up off the stool by the counter. "You get ready and then Dimitri and I will pick up you and your friends in a while."

"Sounds like a plan." I commented. "Thanks."

"See you in a while" I said and hugged Dimitri from behind.

"We'll pick you up in an hour ok?" he said to me.

"I'll be ready!" I said and Ivan and I left the apartment.

The drive to mine and Lissa's place was filled with light banter and joking. I really enjoyed Ivan's company. He was fun and easy to get along with.

"Thanks Ivan, I'll see you in a while." I sat as I climbed out of the car.

"You will." He replied and sped off in the other direction. I laughed to myself and went inside.

"Lissa, I'm home!" I called.

"Hey Rose." She hugged me. "I feel like I haven't seen you in so long. You're too busy for me now that you have a boyfriend…" She joked.

"…and a bun in the oven." Christian added.

I ignored him.

"I'll talk to you in sec, I just have to get ready." I said to Lissa.

I went into my room and pulled out my scarlet bikini. Thank god my stomach was still flat. I might as well enjoy it will I could. I put on the bikini and pulled on a loose shirt over it, along with my favourite pair of denim shorts.

An hour later, Dimitri and Ivan picked us up and the 5 of us headed to the beach.

Short AN - I'm pretty sure I know how many babies Rose is going to have and what gender but let me know what you guys would like to see them have – please! :)