A/N: Hello everyone! I wrote most of this in my Chinese class, but finished the chapter today. Fun fact! I searched up Dimitri's background, since he is a real person that existed, and so the names of his parents are accurate. That's all I'll say for now since I'm in a hurry to visit my mom. I'll update again very soon!

Chapter 25

There was a silence inside the mansion. Gentle gusts of air conditioning breezed through the massive rooms, touching the ceilings and collecting over the cool floors.

Dimitri shuffled through his room, a thick blanket wrapped over his shoulders. He shivered as his bare feet stepped against the icy floors. He swore he could see his own breath at times. His teeth clicked together now and then, the small chattering noise making him feel even more cold.

He finally reached his destination. He saw the thermostat with relief, then turned the air conditioning all the way off. He turned the heat up. He knew it take ages before the massive place got warm again, but it was nearing Halloween and the weather was descending fast. Especially in Northern Wisconsin, when snow would fall until it covered the top of your head. The weather was at its state where it dropped drastically in temperature, but snow was nonexistent still. Now, it was dead, crunchy leaves and thin layers of frost.

About a month has passed since Dimitri and Jim's getaway to Six Flags, where it was warm and sunny. Now, he wished for that again, even if a scorching sunburn was threatening to ruin his skin. It sounded nice compared to the bone-chilling cold that had settled in Eagle River.

Dimitri sat in one of the rooms of his massive house. It was one of the living-room type areas. It looked foreign, and he figured his mom had redecorated for the season. He hasn't been in this room for some time. He huddled closer to the leather chair he sat in, sipping his steaming hot chocolate for comfort. He watched football on the wide, glossy TV with little interest. It was chilly outside, he was wrapped up in a bathrobe and blankets, huddled close to his mug of hot chocolate... fall could be nice sometimes.

"Dimitri."

Dimitri's head snapped up. He looked over his shoulder, seeing his father standing there. He was dressed casually for once, but that was because the day was quiet, with barely any business to do.

"Hey, dad," Dimitri greeted his father lazily, sinking back into his chair. "What's up?"

His father walked over to the chair next to him, sitting down and watching the television for a moment before turning to his son. "Not much. How's Jim doing?"

Dimitri was a bit surprised, only because his parents never really cared about his personal life. He smiled a bit. "He's doing well. He learned how to make pie recently. All I've been eating lately is cherry pie."

"It's an excitement only a baker can understand," Nikolai sighed. "Once you learn to make something new, you just want to show off to everyone."

"I've learned," Dimitri laughed, then turned slightly to his dad. "Is mom like that?"

"Sometimes, Valentina can be that way," he shrugged. "She doesn't have the need to cook now with our hired chefs in the kitchen, but sometimes she finds joy in making traditional Russian dishes."

Dimitri had never had his mother's cooking. It's simply something he's never had to experience.

A silence fell between the two that Dimitri didn't find too unsettling. It was almost normal for them to get quiet. They barely spoke to one another nowadays, since Dimitri was obviously older and distracted with other things. Other things, meaning Jim.

Now, Dimitri was hearing it. The small intakes of breath, the pause and sigh afterwords. The frustration began to settle between them, and Dimitri's irritation began to pick at him. It was tickling the side of his head and he shot glances towards his dad. Why must his father do this?

"If you want to say something," Dimitri finally broke the ice, "Say it. Stop hesitating."

"Dimitri," Nikolai hissed, but reluctantly gave in. "Valentina and I have talked."

Dimitiri narrowed his caramel-colored eyes. "And?" He knew nothing good was coming out of this. Was it going to be lecture about going to the army? It seems like all they wanted to do was send their son away... and it always hurt Dimitri.

"How long do you think it will last?"

Dimitri was confused, but slowly, a stinging feeling settled in his heart. "What... do you mean?"

"With Jim." Nikolai's deep blue eyes darkened. Dimitri tensed. He was serious. Though, Dimitri was serious, too. He swallowed away the shock and sat up straighter.

"I can't imagine myself with anyone else," Dimitri defended, and his father's expression did not change. "And I won't allow myself to let him go."

"Your dedication is strong," his father spoke softly, and Dimitri knew it was the calm before the storm. He was beginning to get nervous. His foot bounced against the hardwood floor.

"I will never betray him," Dimitri solidified his point.

"Dimitri, you're our only child." Here we go, Dimitri thought with dread. He didn't respond, he only listened, for now. "Our family holds lots of potential."

"Then why don't you have more children," Dimitri mumbled through gritted teeth. Nikolai sighed.

"You know your mother cannot afford to do that anymore."

"Then why didn't you do it earlier?" Dimitri challenged. "Why didn't you consider the possibility that maybe your son will be gay?"

"No parent thinks of that upon the birth of their firstborn," Nikolai snapped. "It was only natural to assume you would grow to find a wonderful woman and pass on the genes."

"Pass on the genes," Dimitri spat. "Please. That's really all you ever cared about, you and mom both."

Nikolai looked hurt, his stern expression melting for a moment. "Dimitri, we love you."

"Then why do you make me feel like shit?" Dimitri replied, a small waver in his tone, but he swallowed it down. He had to be strong. His eyebrows scrunched together. "Why do you have to pressure me with these things? I can't control who I love. I'm sorry it couldn't be a rich, curvy woman, but Jim is all I want and all I ever will want. Nobody can change that."

Nikolai was silent for a bit. He dropped his head, rubbing his forehead with his rough fingers. "Dimitri, you're no longer a child..."

"Exactly," Dimitri retorted. "I'm an adult, and I know what I am and what I feel. I'm not a confused little boy." He stood up, staring down his father. "I am in love with Jim Hawkins, and no matter what you do or who you set me up with, no one else will shatter who I truly am."

Dimitri left the room, leaving an icy cold emptiness behind him. Nikolai shivered. He needed to turn up the heat.