Chapter 25: The Gift

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

So are you all ready for the big reveal? Are you ready to find out what Babushka gave Dimitri and decipher her cryptic message? Hope you like it!

RPOV

I'd spent the rest of the morning organizing my room a bit and then I took a short nap. I was lying on my bed listening to my IPOD when there was a knock at the door. I quickly checked to see where Lissa was. It wasn't her she was with Christian of course. Those two were like rabbits

I opened the door and was slightly surprised to see my Russian God standing before me.

I stood there for a minute before regaining my composure.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

I glanced out into the hallway. There was no one around.

"Sure." I said opening the door wider so he could enter.

He'd never been in my room before and I was glad I'd tidied up a little this morning.

I shut the door and before I could turn around he had his arms around me in a tight embrace.

"I missed you my Roza." He breathed sexily against my neck. It sent tingles down my spine.

I turned around to face him. "I missed you too Comrade." I said.

He kissed me softly on the lips and then moved over to sit down on the edge of my bed.

He motioned for me to sit next to him.
"We need to talk Roza." He said.

Oh my God was this it? Was he going to can me right here in my own room? My heart rate started spiraling out of control and I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. Of course he wouldn't have broken up with me at his mother's house or on the plane ride home he was worried about what the others would think.

I was so lost in my state of panic that I didn't notice him calling my name.
"Roza?" he asked with concern. "Are you alright?"

"Just get it over with." I said snapping back into the present.

"Get what over with?" he asked perplexed.

"The whole we can't be together because it's wrong and we have a duty to fulfill and blah blah blah." I said hoping he'd just rip the band aid off quickly. The tension was beginning to wear on me.

"Roza after everything you still think I don't want to be with you?" he asked hurt evident in his voice.

I couldn't look at him.

"Look at me Rose." He said sternly. He grabbed my chin and lifted my face to meet his gaze.

"I braved the wrath of Janine Hathaway, took three Royal Moroi out of the country on a Strigoi hunt, got threatened by a mobster and spent the last week worried sick that I'd never see the love of my life again and you doubt me?"

His eyes were so filled with love and desire that I couldn't help feeling a little giddy.

"I'm sorry." I said. "I don't mean to doubt you. It's just that no one has ever loved me before." I said in a whisper.

He drew me close to his chest. "You are my everything Roza. My heart belongs to you and only you. Forever." He whispered against my ear kissing me softly on my forehead.

"And it isn't true that no one has ever loved you Rose." He said.

"Lissa loves you like a sister. Despite what you think you know your mother loves you. Hell even Ivashkov is in love with you." He said with a chuckle.

I laughed. "You're not going to hurt him are you?"

"No, but I want to punch him every time I catch him looking at you." He admitted.

"You have nothing to worry about Comrade. только ваши (only yours)" I said with a smile.

He laughed. "Who has been teaching you Russian?" he asked.

"The internet."

"Always full of surprises aren't you Roza."

"Well you won't teach me." I pouted.

"All in good time." He said.

"Rose. I meant it when I said we need to talk."

"Okay." I replied.

"What about?"

"What happened to Galina and the other Strigoi?" he asked.

I was so hoping he wasn't going to ask that.

"I don't know. They left me in the basement and they left. They didn't come back so I escaped." I said hoping he would buy it.

He had that look on his face that told me he knew I was lying. Damn it why is he so good at reading me.

"Tell me the truth Roza."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I insisted trying my hardest to convince him. I wish I could use compulsion.

He sighed and took my hand in his.
"Rose I know you are going to think I am giving you a Zen lesson, but it is very important that you tell me what exactly happened with the Strigoi. They are still out there somewhere and by keeping secrets you are putting yourself and Lissa in danger. They obviously had a plan and it failed. Is there anything you know that could stop them before attacking again?" he asked in his mentor tone.

I groaned. "I was their big plan and it failed can't we just leave it at that?"

"Why don't you want me to know?" he asked his face thoughtful.

"Did they do something to you?"

"Something like what?" I asked still trying to get out of explaining.

He had this look of pure anguish on his face as he asked me the next question.

"Did they, did he… Did he touch you?" he sputtered.

"Touch me?" I asked confused.

He looked as if he were going to be sick waiting for my answer.

My eyes widened as I got the meaning behind his words.

"Oh touch me as in.. sexually?" I asked.

He took a deep breath. His fists were clenched. "Yes."

I looked at him with love. "No nothing like that." I said honestly.

He let out the breath he was holding and ran his hand through his hair.

He muttered something in Russian.

"I'm getting hungry Comrade can we talk about this some other time?" I asked praying it wouldn't come up again.

He sighed. "Go eat with your friend's. I'll be back later." He said kissing my cheek softly.

I hated lying to him, but I didn't want anyone to know about the Strigoi blood. They'd think I was a blood whore or worse that I was part Strigoi or that I was a freak because I didn't turn.

My head hurts. I thought as I walked towards the cafeteria. Lissa, Christian and Eddie were already there.

"Hey Rose I got you a plate." Called Lissa.

"Great I'm starved." I said plopping down beside her and stuffing down the plate of mac and cheese that she'd gotten for me.

"So Sparky did you know Lissa thinks you look like Robert Pattinson?" I asked with a smirk.

Rose you are so mean! Why did you tell him that? Asked Lissa through the bond.

I know I'm really evil aren't I? Just thought I'd have a little fun with him.

"Seriously what is it with girls and that guy? I mean he's not even a real vampire." Griped Christian.

"Oh yea and you're the big bad." I joked. Eddie and Lissa both busted out laughing.

Adrian came in a few minutes later looking slightly more disheveled than usual.

"Hey Adrian what's up?" I asked.

"Hey Little Dhampir." He slurred obviously more than a little drunk.

"Woah lay off the Vodka." I cried covering my nose as he bent down to kiss me on the cheek.

"Sorry I had to make up for lost time." He said with a grin.

"By the way." He whispered. "The Russian cornered me. He was asking all kinds of questions about the Strigoi."

I put my head in my hands. Why won't he give it up already? I thought.

DPOV

I walked back to Roza's room for the second time today only it was just after curfew. The guardian on duty at the desk wasn't paying a lick of attention to who was coming or going. He was too busy text messaging his girlfriend or something.

This time I used my key to enter. Rose was already in bed snuggled tightly under the covers. I knew she was fake sleeping though her breathing was very uneven.

I really wished she'd just tell me whatever it was she was hiding from me. I'd figure it out eventually, but I couldn't figure out why she didn't trust me with it.

Besides there were other things I needed to speak to her about mainly something Babushka had implied.

I locked the door behind me, slipped off my pants and shoes and climbed into bed next to her. I pulled her close against my chest and kissed the back of her neck. I'd spoken with Kirova earlier. All of the guardian's involved in the battle would be receiving a battle star molnija mark. It would signify that they had been in a battle and had killed too many Strigoi to count.

Rose would be getting one as well as Christian if he wanted one. It was highly unusual that they would give a mark to a Moroi, but the Queen had okayed it.

"Roza I whispered against her neck. I know you are not asleep." She tensed up a little.

"If you are going to pretend than I am just going to have to entice you to open your eyes." I said huskily in her ear.

I put my hands on her hips and pulled her tightly against my growing erection. My lips caressed her ear, her cheek and then her lips.

"Ugh." She moaned in pleasure. "Alright Comrade I'm awake." She groaned.

"That's more like it." I said with a smirk.

She pushed against me seductively. I groaned. We couldn't do this again. Not right now. As much as I wanted to be with her I needed to have some self control.

"What's the matter Comrade?" she asked with a pout.

"Roza there's something I need to talk to you about." I said pulling myself up into a sitting position and turning on the lamp on her bedside table. I pulled her up with me and sat with her against my chest.

"Okay." She said. "Shoot."

"When Babushka spoke to you did she mention anything about our relationship?" I asked wondering if she'd said anything to Rose.

"Yea I told you she said we were Kindred." She replied.

"Yes, I know that, but I was talking about anything more important? God I really wished we didn't have to talk about this, but it was necessary.

She relented. "Fine, she told me that I was going to give you a gift. A special one. But honestly Comrade I have no idea what she was babbling about. I have no idea what I would buy you for a gift so she must be mistaken." She said irritably.

I laughed internally. She always took things so literally.

"Roza I don't think she was talking about buying me something." I said softly comprehending what Babushka had meant by "gift"

She turned her head so I could see her face. She looked confused, but her eyes were curious.

"Well then I really have no clue." She said exasperated

"Do you?" she asked eying me carefully.

"I think so." I replied. Babushka was right this would be a very special gift, but we were not ready for this particular gift right now.

I just needed to get this out in the open.

"Rose as I was leaving Babushka told me you were special. She said that you are young and not to rush things."

"Okay." She said still confused.

I sighed. "I didn't know what that meant either until she threw this at me." I said pulling the box out of my pocket and handing it to her.

She turned the box over and looked at it carefully. Her face scrunched up.

"Comrade. You know I don't speak Russian. I have no idea what this is?" she said.

"They're prophylactics Roza." I explained with a slight grimace.

She stared blankly at me.

"CONDOMS ROSE!! THEY'RE CONDOMS." I said loudly frustrated at having to explain this to her.

Her eyes widened. "Why would she give you condoms?"

I groaned. "Roza Roza Roza." I said.

So now that you know what she gave him what are your thoughts? I'm dying to hear them so please review!!!