Please see AN at the end of this chapter

Chapter 25 – My Milaya

Dimitri POV

I looked up to see my son point his finger accusatorily at me. "Daddy did it."

Roza turned to me. "Dimitri? Why in the hell would you cut his curls?"

"Oh please, he looked like a little girl. It was embarrassing."

Roza gasped at Viktoria's rude words regarding Z. She picked him up shielding him protectively. I know she meant well, but he was still going to be able to hear our argument.

"Viktoria! Stop it. What is your problem?"

"I look like a girl?" Z asked mortified.

"NO!" Roza and I both say at the same time. Z's watery look broke my heart.

"I'm out of here. I have to work out. I don't get a lot of practice since I'm covering someone's post who ran off because her life is so hard." Viktoria flared her arms dramatically and I jumped in-between her and Roza.

I didn't really think Roza would try anything with Z in her arms, but I wanted myself as a buffer instead of my son, just in case. The two of them glaring at each other was not how I wanted their relationship to start. Damn it! I finally get Roza back and Viktoria has to act like a nine year old.

I hug Roza and Z, knowing it will calm her. Viktoria huffed at Roza and went to the guest room to get changed for her work out. I scurried Roza and Z in my room to diffuse the situation.

"Why is Aunt Ikki so mean today?" Z straddled Roza playing with her hair. He kept inspecting her. I know how he felt. It was like he couldn't stop touching her - believing she was finally here back in our lives - in our home. I know son I can't believe it myself.

"I'm not sure Z."

"She needs a time out." He stated as a matter of fact. Roza and I chuckled at Z.

Roza hugged him and tackled him on my bed. The sight before me was irresistible. I couldn't help it, I jumped on the bed with them, playing in their tackle game while I smothered both of them with kisses.

"Hey, you can't kiss Roza. She has a boyfriend."

"Who?'

"Jake, he's you boyfriend. Right?"

Roza and I spent the next hour explaining everything to Z. I was conservative with our 'talk', but truthful since I know he understands more than people realize and is bright for his young age.

"So, Roza gets to live here wif us?'

"Uh... " Roza gave me a panicked look.

"Well Z, we're together as a couple, but we aren't living together."

"How come? Adri and Anni live together."

"Uh... " Roza gave me another panicked look while I explained to Z that not all boyfriends and girlfriends live together. He wasn't really buying it, but was hungry so he relented.

We made a small lunch and I could tell Z was tired.

He put his plate in the sink, thanking me for the food. Then he sauntered up to my girl. His big browns eyes shining with love. "Laya, will you rub back while I take my nap."

She rubbed her hands through his hair, or should I say lack of hair, "Of course, baby."

Z rubbed his eyes as Roza picked him and he snuggled him into her. His face was pressed into her neck and I swear I saw him inhale. I love Roza's scent, too. It looks like it was a comfort to Z as well.

I laid on my bed reading one of my favorite western novels for the hundredth time, trying to pass the time while Roza put Z down. She snuck into my room and I pretended not to notice her. She stripped rather showily in my room, put one of my worn workout t-shirts on and curled up next to me on the bed.

She kissed my neck, flicking her tongue over my pulse point.

I couldn't hold in the moan that fought its way out of my mouth. She took the book out of my hand, set it down on the nightstand, and started kissing me.

I rolled her over and kissed her. "I want nothing more than to rip that t-shirt off and make love to you, but I think we need to talk."

"Okay."

"So, Viktoria."

A little grimace passed over her face. "I thought all the Belikovs loved me, but I guess I found one that doesn't sing my praises?"

How to explain this to her? "I think Viktoria is jealous of you."

She looked at me in shock. "Why would she be jealous of me?"

"She took over your post at the daycare and all the kids can't stop talking about you. Plus Z thinks you hung the moon, and it used to be Viktoria that hung the moon in his eyes. So, yes, I think she's jealous."

"Huh." I could tell she was processing. "I see. But why in the hell did you cut his hair? You know you aren't off the hook for that one. And now he's worried he looks like a girl!."

It was my turn to grimace. "A few people said some stuff about his hair over the last few weeks. It was looking a little straggly and I started to get worried it was too long and that I was one of those fathers who didn't cut their kids hair.

"Viktoria agreed it was a little long and scrappy looking. I wanted to just trim it, but the girl was a little over zealous. It'll grow back."

"That's the great thing about hair." Roza ran her hands through my hair. "It'll grow back. Sorry I flipped out. I just loved his hair and he doesn't look like a girl at all."

"I know. I don't know why I let those few people get to me."

She caressed my face. "So, what are we going to do about your sister hating me?"

"I don't think she hates you, I think she's just jealous. Viktoria has always been the baby in our family and is used to the spotlight. She'll come around. I know once you guys get to know each other, you'll be close."

"I hope so." She snuggled into me. "Let's take a nap."

I usually wasn't so lazy, but Roza and I didn't get a lot of sleep and I wanted to lay with my girl and feel close to her. She spooned into me and we fell asleep together.

Zander always thought he could sneak up on me. He was sitting next to me on the bed staring just a few inches from my face.

"Daddy, you up?"

I couldn't fight my smile. Roza was snuggled into me and Z was poking my face trying to get me to wake up. "Yes Z, I'm up." I opened my eyes to see him leaning over me.

Roza stirred and moaned a little. I wondered if she was dreaming about me.

"Is she having a nightmare?" Z asked.

"I don't know, son."

He must have decided it was time to get Roza up because he poked her face. I could tell she was awake when I saw a smile tug at her lips. With lightening fast speed, Roza pulled Z into her arms and started tickling him.

They were both giggling and smiling and the sound went right to my heart. "Laya, stop. I got to go potty."

"Off you go." She patted him on the butt and he ran off to use my restroom.

"Son, wash your hands," I hollered after him.

Roza looked up at me with sleeping eyes. "Mmm, I can't remember the last time I took a nap. Jet lag really got to me."

I pulled Roza's hair aside and kissed her neck. "And we didn't get much sleep last night." Gazes locked, our eyes filled with lust remembering our time together last night.

"I want to spend every night like that for the rest of my life," I declared to her. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Don't be sad, my Roza." I wiped her tear away.

"I'm anything but sad." She rewarded me with one of her smiles.

But nothing kills a romantic moment like a three year old. Z ran up and jumped on the bed. "S'not fair. I want to nap in here with Laya."

"Z, you want to make cookies?"

"Yay!" Z did his little happy dance, not realizing Roza was diverting his attention away from his question.

"Make them now, but no cookies until after we eat dinner."

"Okay, Daddy."

I ruffled Z's hair and we went off to the kitchen.

Viktoria came in looking sullen and guilty while Roza and Z were finishing up the cookies.

She nervously put her hand on her forehead pulling her bangs away from her face. "Hey Rose can I talk to you for a minute?" I knew my sister and she seemed to be ready to apologize.

Roza looked at me, probably not sure what to do. I gave her a nod and she returned it with a watery smile. "Sure."

They went outside and when they came back in, they both looked a little worn out, but seemed to be happy and amicable. We had a nice family dinner and Z ensured he ate his share of cookies for dessert.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roza and I spent the next few weeks in pure bliss.

Since Roza and and Viktoria had made peace, they had actually started to get along with one another, as I originally suspected they would. They shared the shifts at the daycare. Roza worked Tuesdays and Thursdays and the rest of the time worked with us on the OMP training program. Lissa, Adrian and Oksana were getting the mind reading and compulsion down.

Things were going so well it scared me a little. It was like I was waiting for the last shoe to drop. Roza didn't move into my place yet, but we spent practically every night together.

We hadn't talked about living together completely, but I was planning on asking her to move into my place and then Viktoria could officially have her apartment. I had my suspicions Viktoria was seeing someone, but every time I asked her, she ignored me and changed the subject. She was an adult so I didn't push her too much, but I was determined to get the story. My big brother tendencies were kicking in.

Roza would wake early every morning and sneak off to the guest room. I told her it wasn't necessary, but she insisted on wanting to ease Z into our relationship. It made her happy and nothing was better, or sexier, than a happy Roza.

In a few days, Momma and Yeva were coming for a visit so we needed to chat about our sleeping arrangements. I was not ready to give up sleeping with Roza by my side, but I know she didn't want to be in my bed with Momma and Yeva here. I was in deep thought about how I was going to broach this subject with her when she interrupted my musings.

"Hey, gorgeous, what's wrong?" Roza walked into our room ready for bed after putting Z down for the night. Tonight he only wanted Roza to tuck him in.

I couldn't help but smile at her. "Nothing's wrong. Did he go down okay?"

"Yes, but he brought up a subject and…"

"What, is something wrong?"

"He asked me to be his everyday mom." She looked at me a nervously.

I nodded and sat next to her taking her hand rubbing small circles trying to organize my thoughts.

"Why don't you seem surprised?" She asked.

"Because he's been asking me since about the first day he met you if you'd be his everyday mom. When you knew how to make cookies, the deal was sealed."

I smiled at Roza, but she still appeared distressed.

"What's wrong Roza?"

She turned towards me and took my hands. "I never thought I'd be anyone's mom, and it's a little surreal for me."

I must have frowned because Roza traced her finger around my lips. "Hey, don't be sad. I want nothing more than to be that little boy's mom. I love him more than anything, but what if…"

"What Roza? What's wrong?"

"Comrade, what if I suck? I mean, I really didn't have a mom, so I'm not sure I'm the best role model."

I couldn't help it, I laughed out loud.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Why are you laughing at me, mister?"

I shook my head. I had to hug her, "Roza you're already the best mom in the world. What do you think you've been doing since you met Z. You're already his mom."

She pulled away and looked at me. "You really think so?"

"No, I know so." I kissed her with all the passion and love I had in my body.

"Wow. What was that for?"

"To let you know that not only are you the best mom around, but you're also the sexiest mom around."

Roza pinned me on the bed and showed me just how sexy a mom could be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day Eddie and I ran out to get everyone lunch. I was a little put out that Roza didn't want to come with me. She, Lissa and Oksana were doing some scrapbooking stuff. Eddie and I walked in comfortable silence. Lately he was quieter than normal and I wondered what was going on with him.

We left the cantina with our food and ran into Janine, Roza's mom.

"Guardian Belikov, a word please?"

"Sure." I looked at Eddie.

"Don't worry, I got the food. I'll meet you back there." I handed the big box of food off to him and watched him walk away.

"Guardian Hathaway, what can I do for you?"

"Cut the crap, Dimitri."

"Okay?"

She fidgeted. "I need to talk to you."

I'd never seen Guardian Hathaway so nervous. "Yes, you said that. Would you like to go somewhere more private?"

"Yes, please. It's in regards to Rosemarie." It was weird to hear someone call Roza by her full name. I kind of liked it, but to me she will always be my Roza.

I followed her to a bench outside the Court Guardian offices.

"Is there a problem, I mean with Roza?"

"No, not really." She looked terrified. I was starting to get a weird feeling in my stomach, like something was not right in my world and I knew it pertained to Roza.

"And…"

"I wasn't happy about Rosemarie and you getting together at first. I know she was crushed by your actions earlier and then with Jake…" She rubbed hands on her pants nervously. "But, now I see. I know my daughter, even if she thinks I don't know her like a mother should, I do know her, and she's happy with you and your son."

"Thank you, Guardian Hathaway. Is that your way of giving me, us, your blessing?"

"In a way, I guess it is. But I need your help."

"Is it in regards to Roza?"

"Yes." She was really going to make me pull this out of her wasn't she?

"And what can I do to help my girlfriend?"

Her head snapped to mine. "I guess I hadn't realized you put titles on your relationship."

"Yes we have." I wasn't going to elaborate any further as it was not my place. If Roza wanted to give her more details, she could.

"I've recently been in contact with Rosemarie's father."

That got my attention. I studied her eyes and body language to see if I could get more out of her than her few short words.

"And he wants to meet Roza?" My Roza.

"He wants to be part of her life." What the hell did that mean?

"Well, I think that's up to my girlfriend whether she wants that or not."

"And that's what I need your help with."

I laughed without humor. A few short weeks ago she bitched me out and threatened my life and my manhood if I hurt Roza, and now she wants my help.

"I see. And what do you want me to do?"

"Well - I'm going to have dinner with her tonight and I wanted to know if you could come and help ease the shock for her. Be there for her."

"Why would it be a shock?" I held my hands up to stop her. "Scratch that, don't tell me. I don't want to know. I can't keep anything from Roza and this all needs to come from you."

"You won't tell her about what I'm going to say, will you?" She looked panicked and small. I'd never seen her vulnerable. This was all getting to her. Her armor had cracked.

I rubbed my chin in deep thought. I didn't want to keep things from Roza, but she needed to hear this from her mother.

"Yes, I'll keep the goal of this meeting to myself. I'll only tell her you asked me to join you two tonight. He's not going to be there is he?"

"No, no. Not yet. I need to tell her," a small smile tugged on her lips. "I mean, he wants to be there, but I told him he had to wait."

Shit, she still has feelings for him. I felt it in my bones that this was not going to be the happy reunion Janine imagined. My poor girl, I'm not sure how much more angst she can take.

"Yes, I think it would be best if he weren't there."

She nodded. "Dimitri, I love that little boy of yours and I'd love for him to come, but it might get ugly and – "

"No worries, say no more. I would never put him or Roza in that situation. I'll ask his aunt and uncle to watch him."

"Thank you Dimitri, I'll see you tonight at the café."

"Okay, good- bye Guardian Hathaway."

"And Dimitri, I'm using your first name, please use mine."

"Okay." She gave me a stiff nod, put her mask back in place and turned to walk off.

As I walked towards my love, I was getting a feeling that shoe was about to drop. I don't know how she was going to take the news that her father, now, after all this time, wants to be part of her life. And what was with that smile Janine had? Could she possibly still be romantic with this man?

As I walked, I tried to remember that Roza and I loved each other. We'd been through hell and back. Surely, we could handle her father, a Moroi. How much trouble could he be?

I know it has been forever and I am so sorry. Still not done with my other story, but much closer and I couldn't stay away from this story, it was calling to me.

Authors Note:

Finally an update! I might have lost from readers and I am sorry for that, but if you're still sticking with me I need your help. I wrote this chapter as a transition, but tell me what you'd like to see from this story. I have a few ideas, but I am curious how far you guys want me to go with this.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and asked very nicely to update. I had a tad bit of writers block and the encouragement helped!

Thanks to Bibi7 and ruthless527 for being great helpers with pre-reading and lending their beta skills.

NEW STORY – My dear friend and biggest cheerleader has a new story. It's called My Wild Amish Rose, by ruthless527. She has written some great stuff, this story is only a few chapters in, and I am already hooked.

Lastly, I am going to do a one shot for charity - it will be the lemon that Rose and Dimitri share between chapters 23 and 24. It's my first time writing a lemon so I am a bit nervous, but a few folks have asked for a lemon outtake. See info below on the charity:

Project Team Beta is holding a Back to School Fundraiser. It's a tough time now, and teachers and students everywhere are being affected. With just a minimum donation of $5.00, you can play a part in helping a classroom, and in return, receive a compilation of stories written by your fellow fandom authors. For more information, visit the PTB Site. www(dot)projectteambeta(dot)com