Here's another instalment for you all. I hope you're still enjoying my story. Things will start up soon, I just need to get the story line moving in a certain direction.... Keep pressing that little green button down the bottom... I love reading your reviews. Keep 'em comin'.

VA Chapter 25

I came out of the gym to meet Abe, but my mind was still thinking about what I'd rather be doing if he hadn't so rudely interrupted.

"Hi Baba." He smiled at my greeting. I'd done a little research on the Turkish language and it was rather confusing, but I wanted to try this out, it was actually getting easier thinking of him as my father, he'd done a lot for me in the short time he'd been in my life. He could be so aloof with me sometimes, but I knew that he'd be there for me if I asked him to, and even if I didn't.

"Hello Kiz." And I knew that mean daughter, so I was happy that I'd got Baba right. "That was nice. So, unexpected..." I saw the wink as he said this, so I held back the comment that nearly slipped out. "I'd like to go for a walk if you wouldn't mind. Just to talk."

"Yeah, that's okay. Anywhere in particular?"

"No. Not really." He was wearing his trademark tailored pants and shirt, and he even had the same long dark coat that he had on the night he took me to Baia, but he didn't need to wear a scarf, it wasn't cold enough. We started walking towards the trees and just talked. He wanted to know things like my favourite color, favourite foods etc... He was really interested and was the only other person since Dimitri, to be genuinely interested in me for no other sake than to get to know me, it was a wonderful experience. We walked for nearly two hours and I was having such a great time. "Thank you dad." I said on our way back to the dorms.

"What for?"

"For wanting to know me. It means a lot. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a part of me who wanted to know you, what you were like." There was a question that I'd asked a few people about my father and no-one would give me an answer, so I decided that I would ask Abe himself..... "Baba, what do you do?" I didn't look at him; I just looked to the ground.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, I've asked a few people and no-one will tell me. Nearly everyone I see or speak to seems scared of you, and I'd like to know why that is?"

"Does it matter?" He was being rather evasive, so I decided to risk a glance; I wanted to know what his face showed.

But there was nothing.....as I'd expected. "No, it doesn't matter. For a long time, I hated my mother for abandoning me. When she'd speak about her Strigoi kills, I thought she was bragging, I hated the way she was so distant from me and how she spoke to others, but I've gained a new insight into her over the last six months or so. I've found myself proud of her, proud that I have such a badass for a mother, and now I have a badass as a father too!" He smiled at that... "It sort of explains a lot about myself. I don't feel like there's something wrong with me, like I've always thought. It would just be nice to know you....better."

I didn't know if putting it that way would make him tell me, if it didn't, well that was okay. I didn't really need to know.

"I learnt a long time ago that as a non-royal, if I wanted to stay alive, then I had to look after myself. No-one was going to do it for me." He looked so far away as he said this, like he was remembering something. A hard look crossed over his face. "I learnt that to not only survive, but to get respect, sometimes things had to be done that may not be.....legal. It wasn't long before I gained a reputation."

I thought about this for a minute or two, it sounded as if there were a story behind his need for survival. I couldn't comprehend Abe ever needing to be looked after. I looked at him and wanted to say something, so the only thing I could say was.... "One day, I hope you'll be able to tell me the story behind that...."

He stopped and looked at me. "What makes you think there's a story there?"

"I heard what you said, and if you ever feel like telling me more, I'd love to hear it." He studied me for a minute and shook his head.

"It's getting late, we should be getting back. Do you have any plans with your friends?"

"No, not really." My thoughts instantly going to Dimitri.

"Rose, I know what it means to you to have Dimitri back, no-one should ever lose a love like that, but don't forget your other friends, they love you just as much."

Whoa! Who was this man? He was definitely a different man to the one who I met in Baia. "I won't forget them." I said. We got back to the Dhampir dorms and Abe said goodnight and went back to the guest building and I went up to my room. I'd had a good time, even though I didn't actually expect to.

I opened my door and turned on the light. Sitting on my bed was a white rectangular box. It was shiny, about two inches thick and tied with a blood red ribbon. It had a card slipped under the ribbon. I opened the envelope and in it was an unsigned card which read:

I saw this and thought of you,
I'd love to know what it looks like on.

I instantly had a smile. I opened the box and inside was the most beautiful negligee I've ever seen. I haven't seen all that many, but wow, this one was cute. It was a powder blue two piece set, not too much lace but very sexy. I decided that now was as good a time as any so I went downstairs to the guardian on duty and put on my best panicked face and told him that I had to see Dimitri and it was urgent. Well, it wasn't a lie..... He needed to see something in my room.

I went back and got changed, in the dark and waited by the door.

It wasn't long before I heard a knock. I didn't answer and then the door handle started to turn. It opened just a bit.... "Roza?" my heart thumped.... "Roza, are you alright?" I was standing against the wall as he came into the room so he didn't see me.

"I'm alright, and I love it" I said softly. He spun around to look at me. Even though it was dark in the room, the moonlight coming through my window was bright enough for his sharp Dhampir eyes. He just stood there looking over every inch of me.

"Mmm, me too." He whispered with a smile. "So, I'm gathering there is no emergency?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that exactly.... but can I ask why we're still talking?" He took a deep breath in and crossed the six feet between us in one stride. He wrapped his arms around my body and I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. He was now no longer talking as his mouth was otherwise engaged.

"So, does it look like you thought it would?" I asked coming up for air.

"What?"

"My present...."

"What present?" he asked. Suddenly I became soberly aware that he didn't know what I was talking about, and then it clicked....he didn't send the negligee.... I was so mad I thought my eyeballs were going to burst. "Oh! This present?" he asked while touching the lace edges.... He looked into my eyes for a moment as I still couldn't think straight enough to speak. "No, I didn't send it." Then a smile stretched across his face. "But, no use wasting it." The lace had no chance against the strength of my Russian God! He put one hand around each shoulder strap and tore that negligee in half! It took me by such a surprise I gasped out loud, and he laughed. The negligee was soon a forgotten pile on the floor.

That night was unbelievable. After we made love, we laid in each other's arms. I was in absolute bliss. "I'm so sorry Dimitri." I said.

"What for darling?"

"I thought it was from you. Do you really think they'll put me in jail if I beat him to a pulp?" He genuinely laughed.... "No, I serious! He's gone too far this time."

"Don't worry about it my sweet. I have a better idea in mind."

"Oh really? What do you have planned?"

"I'll show you in the morning. For now, I just want to hold you in my arms for the rest of the night." I couldn't believe it. He was going to stay the night. This was definitely NOT being good. I had the feeling that I was leading him astray....he was so straight laced when I first met him, never one to break the rules. Now, not only was he breaking the rules, but he was breaking his own rules too..... We fell asleep holding each other and it was wonderful.

In the morning, I opened my eyes and Dimitri was lying on his side staring at me. "Good morning handsome." I said smiling. "You know......I think I like waking up to your face, I think it's something that I would like to do each morning. What do you say?"

"I think I'd like that too, because that means that I get to watch you sleep and do this." Then he bent down and kissed me. I didn't let it go too far as I was desperate to brush my morning breath away. "But first things first..." He got out of bed and picked up Adrian's 'present', he walked over to the box and put the now destroyed negligee back in. He then went over to my desk and found a pen and paper. With a smile on his face, he came back over to the bed and showed me what he wrote......

Thank you so much for your gift,
I can tell you that it did look as good on as you'd hoped for.
Too good actually, I couldn't control myself. It came off real easy....
Dimitri.
P.S. We'd like a black one next time if you don't mind....

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.....It didn't work!

"I'll have it delivered to him this morning..." said Dimitri.