Chapter Twenty Six.

A.N. Lol, Viktoria is not a perv, insane or mentally challenged! :D I don't think I conveyed her very well at the end of the last chapter; she was simply worried because Rose wasn't answering any of her questions/comments. That's why she pulled back the curtain, to check that Rose was okay. Not to catch a sneaky glimpse or anything like that! :D

Also, please note: For the purposes of this story, the annulment of Rose and Adrian's marriage is going to happen pretty quickly. I'm not going to make the process take a year or more.

Claire95 – trust your intuition!

Sarah Ozera – I'm glad that you liked it!

DXR – Everything you said I agree with! :D

Jbowencox – thank you, and I hope you like it! xx

Rose POV.

"…Rose, you ugly slag. Give me my fucking daughter back." Adrian hiccupped and slurred another load of drunken expletives down the phone.

"Adrian, you're drunk. I'm not talking to you when you're like this. Goodbye."

My tone of voice was stern as I hung up and put the phone back into the handset. He'd been doing this for the past two weeks, calling me at all sorts of crazy hours to either demand that we returned Katrina, or to hurl abuse at me through the phone, and I was close to reaching my breaking point.

It had started on the night that I deliberately waited for Camille in the playground after picking up Tom. I didn't want Adrian knowing where I was living, and so had handed her a letter to pass on, informing him that I was applying for an annulment, and that there was a high chance he'd be contacted in order for it to go through. I hadn't expected Camille to give him the letter, but she had, and that night he'd been cruel and malicious with his words.

Having Dimitri by my side helped, but it had still stung to hear Adrian tell me that I was an ugly, easy lay, and that it didn't matter whether we annulled the marriage or not, because Dimitri would soon realise what a waste of space I was.

Dimitri had pulled the phone from my hands, hung up and then kissed me hard. In that moment, I needed physical reassurance that he wasn't going to turn his back on me, and he made sure I got it. As he gently removed both of our clothes, he whispered sweet snippets of the memories we'd built up together.

As we'd moved against each other, he'd held me close and kissed away my fears.

And in the afterglow, he'd looked me straight in the eye, and said his wedding vows before he pulled me in tightly to his chest and promised me over and over again, that he couldn't wait to become 'Mr. Hathaway', lulling me into sleep with a smile on my face.

After the first few phone calls, Dimitri had gone out and bought us a brand new house phone, with a special recording feature. So far, we had about ten various nuisance calls from Adrian, along with a written diary of the day and times that he'd called.

It had been three months since Dimitri had proposed, and at times it seemed like we were living in a mad house. We spoke to his family every week, to discuss any new plans and ideas. We were budgeting every single aspect of our lives, to save as much money as quickly as possible, and we were working as much as possible, whilst still being there for the kids.

The annulment was going to cost us close to two hundred pounds, but the prices varied with each tribunal. We were lucky that we weren't being charged over four hundred like other tribunals charged. The annulment process itself had been going pretty well. I'd gone to the church where Adrian and I had had our wedding, and discussed my options with the parish priest. He'd found our marriage record, and after talking through everything, he'd confirmed that our marriage could be considered invalid for several reasons. Adrian hadn't been, and still wasn't a Catholic, and he hadn't had the intention to marry me for life, be faithful to me and be open to children'. He didn't accept our children, and I know that if I hadn't been firm in my decision to go through with my first pregnancy, regardless of whether he stayed with me or not, he would have pushed me into having an abortion.

To start off the process I'd had to submit a written testimony, and a list of people who were familiar with the marriage. As far as I knew, the only people who knew about it were Adrian, Camille, Adrian's two friends who'd been witnesses at our wedding and myself. I didn't know where his friends now lived, or if they were even still alive, but had written their names down and left it down to the priest to contact them if the need arose. I highly doubted that they'd be willing to answer any questions about me or my marriage to Adrian, but I pushed those niggling worries out of my mind.

As expected, the tribunal panel had contacted Adrian, and surprisingly, he'd co-operated with them. Apparently he just wanted what was 'best for both parties', and to move on with his life. I didn't doubt that he wanted me out of his hair permanently, but I knew better than to believe that he wanted what was best for me, or my kids.

We'd recently been to another tribunal session, where the churches representative had tried to argue for the validity of the marriage. But from the murmurings of the tribunal, it seemed that both mine and Adrian's church advocates, who represented us in front of the tribunal, might have done a pretty good job of arguing our case.

After the tribunal announced their decision, it would still have to be reviewed by a second, different tribunal. However, if the first tribunal agreed that our marriage was invalid, I hoped that it would incline the second tribunal into agreeing with their verdict slightly more as well.

If all went well, and the process remained moving at such a speedy pace, I'd be free to marry Dimitri within another six months.

The Saturday morning post had just arrived, and as usual, was filled with bills.

I sighed as I opened them, not even bothering to look at who'd sent each one. They all had the same greedy demands for money.

"DIMITRI!"

There was a loud thump and a muttered string of curses from the kitchen for a moment before my fiancé burst into the hallway, wide-eyed and alert.

"What? What happened?"

I shrieked again and waved the bright white sheet of paper around as I stared at him in shock.

"They said yes."

"They? Who said yes, Roza?"

"They said yes. The tribunal. We have to go to an official meeting, but here's the letter that states it in black and white. It's official."

His jaw dropped, before his face split into a wide grin as he pulled me into his arms to swing me around the hallway.

"It's really done? We can set a date for the wedding?"

I nodded and kissed him fiercely before I pulled back. "Yes."

Dimitri laughed happily and leant in for another kiss before he rested his forehead against mine.

"I love you."

"I love you too." An errant thought popped into my head, and I loosened my hold around his neck so that he'd put me back down on the floor. "We have to tell your family!"

Olena and the rest of the Belikov's had been ecstatic with the news, and had hung up excitedly once the conversation had finished, as they babbled to each other in rapid Russian about the cost of flights and new clothes.

"Have you thought of a date?" Dimitri's voice was a low murmur in my ear as he kissed my cheek.

Yes, amongst other things.

"I have." I smiled as I turned to look at him. "Have you?"

"A few, but they're all the clichéd ones, like Valentine's Day. I want our day to be special."

I grinned and kissed his chin. "The one I've thought of, though clichéd, will be special to us." His brows wrinkled as he tried to work out what I was hinting at. The day that we met at night school. September the twenty-sixth."

His eyes widened. That's barely six months, Roza."

"I know. But we've been saving for the best part of a year, and the dress that I've seen isn't 'designer', so it's not as expensive as they can be. We've got quite a lot of money saved up, and we don't need to book a reception hall that's massive and costly, because we don't really have that many people to invite."

Only if you keep chickening out.

He stared at me for a long minute before he nodded and grinned. "If things get tight, I can always bump up the rent on the flat."

My eyes widened at his deviousness, before I burst out laughing. "That's so cheeky. For your tenants' sake, I think we'll manage."

"We need to write a guest list."

"We have to do something else first."

It's now or never, Rose!

I took a deep breath "Let's do it."

A wolfish grin popped up onto Dimitri's face as he started to undo his shirt buttons. "Okay."

"Not that." I giggled and reached out to hold his hands still.

"Then do what?" Dimitri looked confused, and interested.

"Go and see Lissa. I can't get married –again- to the love of my life, without my best friend there. Let's get the kids, and go right now."

"Wait- shouldn't you try to find out where she is first? Then write to her or call her, before you just randomly show up?"

I shook my head. "If we don't pack an overnight bag and leave before I see sense, I know that I'll never have the guts to go and try to see her again. Please, Dimitri?"

"Okay. You tell the kids, and I'll get the car sorted."

"Is this it?" Dimitri's voice was awed as we pulled up beside the three storey townhouse. "It's… impressive for someone so young."

I laughed. "Lissa's parents are rich. Like super rich. Her dad's a local MP, and her mum is a highly ranked doctor. They earn tons. This is their house. If they remember me, and don't hate me, I think they might tell me Lissa's address."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Do you want me to come with you?"

I looked into the back of the car, and had to bite back a laugh. All of the kids were fast asleep and sprawled out in their seats.

"I think it'd be better if you stayed here in case they wake up." I leant in and kissed him softly. "I'll be okay."

He smiled and tenderly brushed the hair out of my face. "Okay. Wave if you need me."

"I will do. I love you."

"I love you too." He grinned and kissed me again before I got out of the car.

My heart thumped wildly in my chest as I stepped up onto the doorstep, and pressed the bell. Somewhere in the house, it rang shrilly for a few moments, before the sound died out.

"I've got it!" A woman's voice echoed from somewhere inside, and my stomach twisted.

This was it. No turning back.

The door swung open, and my jaw dropped.

My best friend was stood in front of me and seemingly hadn't aged a day. She had the same slim, model like figure, the same poker straight, shiny, platinum blonde, shoulder length hair, the exact same peaches and cream complexion, and the same huge, jade green eyes that seemed to sparkle. The only give away to her age, were the almost invisible laughter lines around her eyes, and the glittering engagement ring, and shiny gold wedding ring that adorned the fourth finger of her left hand.

"Lissa?"

The woman inside stared at me for a moment, and then gasped as recognition dawned across her face.

"Rose? Is that- is that really you?"

My throat closed up as I nodded. "It's me. Surprise." My smile was watery, and my voice hoarse as I waved, somewhat meekly.

"ROSE!"

Lissa's voice was a shriek as she lunged forwards, wrapping her arms around my neck as tightly as possible while she buried her face in my hair. "It's you! It really is you. Thank God. You're really here."

Heavy tears trickled down my cheeks as I hugged her back fiercely and I nodded. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I didn't keep in touch. I'm a horrible friend, and- and- I'm just so happy to see you again and that you don't hate me."

"Of course I don't hate you." Her lower lips trembled as she stared at me as though I was going to disappear at any second. "You're my best friend. I missed you, and then I couldn't get in touch with you and I got so worried-" Her voice cut off as a small sob escaped.

"I'm sorry, Liss."

"It's okay. Just- just-" She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. "Don't do it again."

"I won't, I promise." I hiccupped and we both laughed before hugging each other and bursting into tears again.

We were both bawling like a pair of babies when another voice sounded from inside the house.

"Lissa? Honey? Who's at the door?"

We both sniffled, and then wiped at our soaked cheeks before turning to face… "Christian?" My jaw dropped for the second time that day.

Lissa grinned and then motioned towards the guy standing in the doorway. "Rose, you remember Christian Ozera? From sixth form?"

I nodded. Yep, it was him alright. Same jet black hair, and ice-blue eyes, as well as the tall, spindly build that had caught Lissa's interest back in college.

Speaking of which, she'd released me, and moved towards him. I watched in shock as she curled up against his side, and he kissed the top of her head affectionately before he lifted his left hand to run it through her hair. Something on his hand shone in the afternoon sunlight.

"You married Christian?"

It was like the years hadn't passed between us. My voice was scandalised as my eyes flickered between them, while Lissa's clouded over in adoration.

"Yeah." Her voice was dreamy as she stared up at him, and she blushed when his gaze met her own.

"Seriously, Lissa? Christian Ozera? Christian, the loner who used to listen to emo music all the time? The one who you were crushing on for the entire two years of sixth form? That Christian Ozera?"

She nodded happily and I gaped. "Gosh, Liss. And I thought that the only way you could go was up."

She rolled her eyes at me, but still nuzzled even closer to Christian as he smirked at me.

"Jealous because you missed your chance, Hathaway?"

I snorted. "Please. I've moved onto better, and what I'm sure are bigger things."

Lissa giggled at the underlying meaning behind my words, but then what I'd actually said registered in her mind. "What do you mean you've moved on? Where are Adrian and my niece?" I swallowed as her eyes focussed on the car. "That's not Adrian. That hottie-"

Christian coughed and Lissa blushed.

I breathed in deeply before I turned and waved at Dimitri. He nodded back and I watched as he checked on the kids before he opened the car door and got out.

Lissa gasped, and even Christian let out a low whistle as Dimitri unfolded his long body from the cramped confines of the car and stretched before making his way over to where we stood.

"Damn, Rose. He's, he's- Christian, cover your ears." Christian raised his eyebrows at his wife's demand, but did as she said. "He's sex on legs! Where the hell did you find him?" Her gaze turned hungry as he walked up to us and I giggled.

Lissa poked Christian as Dimitri wrapped his arm around my waist. "You need to start working out."

"What? Just because Rose got some muscle man? Babe, you always said you loved my shape!"

"Yeah, that was until I saw what I've been missing out on. Tomorrow, you're signing up for boxing lessons, and weightlifting sessions, and anything else that'll build those muscles of yours."

I laughed, and Christian shot me a sour look.

"Liss, Christian, I'd like to introduce my fiancé. Dimitri Belikov."

Dimitri smiled and held out his hand. "Pleased to meet-"

"Fiancé!" Lissa's voice was a shriek as she grabbed my left hand and held it up to the fading sunlight, causing the gems to sparkle. "We have so much to catch up on. And a wedding to plan!"

I was towed over the threshold of the door by my best friend.

"Liss, wait. The kids-"

She stopped short and turned on her heel to stare at me, her jade green eyes piercing into mine. "Kids? As in, plural?"

I nodded.

"You are in so much shit, Rosemarie Hathaway!"

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Lissa never swore, and when she did, it was such a contrast to her innocent 'girl next door vibe' that the effect was hilarious.

"It's not funny!"

I laughed harder, and she dragged me into the house after glaring at her husband. "Dimitri, give Christian your car keys. He can get the kids. He needs to build up the muscle!"

Christian's voice paled at his wife's orders as Dimitri shrugged and handed over the keys.

"You married her."

Okay, so I kinda messed up the timeline for this story. :( If it's worked out properly, they've been together for just under three years. Ages (In case anyone was confused like I was, lol.) Sophia is 6. Tom is 8, Alyssa and Katrina are 13. Rose, Lissa and Christian are 31 and Dimitri is 38.