Rose's Point of View.
Saying goodbye to the Belikov's was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, and I've faced a lot of difficult challenges in my short life. There were many tears shed and hugs given, even Yeva seemed to have tears in her eyes when she hugged me goodbye.
Vika was the hardest to say goodbye to, she had made me feel so at home here, she had become such a close friend, and I would really miss her. "Promise we'll have weekly phone calls, Roza." She begged before pulling me into a bone crushing hug, I promised her we would still talk all the time.
Paul was next; he leapt into my arms and sent me stumbling back into the nearest wall. "Sorry Auntie Roza, I'll just miss you so much." He mumbled as his bottom lip started to wobble.
"I know Paul, I'll miss you too."
It was even harder to watch Dimtiri's goodbyes with his family, if I was going to miss them, then surely he would even more. For some reason it made me feel almost guilty that we had to leave.
Olena was driving us to the airport, so thank God I didn't have to say goodbye to her just yet, her farewell would surely be the hardest of them all.
And so I swallowed past the lump that had formed in my throat as I climbed into the back of the Belikov's old car. And I didn't let myself look back through the rear-window, even though I knew the family were all waving us goodbye from the side of the street. Surely, if I saw them all waving goodbye, I would jump out of the car and refuse to go back to America at all.
I was also grateful that Abe wasn't here to see us off, saying goodbye to that many people at once would have just been overwhelming. Abe came round yesterday to say goodbye to Dimitri and I. It was strange how much our relationship had developed since I'd been here, I didn't even know he existed before I came here!
Despite the difficult goodbye I shared with my dad, I had a feeling I would be seeing him again, he was a mysterious man, and I got the feeling he had a habit of turning up unexpected.
Dimitri and Olena were making small talk in the front of the car while I simply stared out of the window watching the trees fly past.
I was pulled out of my daydream when I felt pressure on my thigh; I looked up to see Dimitri looking back at me with concern in his eyes. "Are you alright, Roza?"
I nodded before I started speaking. "Yeah, just going to miss Baia, that's all. I'm sorry we have to go back." He smiled sympathetically at me.
"I know Roza, I'm sorry too." He said before turning back and facing the front of the car.
Olena spoke up then. "I've packed you both some blackbread, I know how hungry you can get Roza, and it's such a long flight."
"Thank you, Olena. You've been so good to me."
"You're a part of our family now Roza, whether you realise it or not." She said her tone motherly and comforting.
"Things sure will be boring for you guys without Roza there getting into trouble." Dimitri said with a teasing tone to his voice. I leant forward and smacked his arm, making him laugh even more.
The rest of the journey went much the same way, until we had reached the airport and it was finally time to say goodbye to Olena. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for how difficult this was going to be before climbing out of the car.
Dimitri got the bags out of the boot of the car while I pulled Olena into a fierce hug, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I've never hugged my own mother like this before, Olena. You've been more of a mother to me than she ever has, and it means so much to me." I whispered as we clung to each other tightly.
"I know, Roza. And you are like a daughter to me, I'm so glad you are a part of our lives." She said, and I could tell she was being completely honest.
It was time for Dimitri to say goodbye to his mother, I knew it would be difficult, and so I took a step back and averted my eyes, wanting to give them what little privacy I could.
The love of my life pulled his mother in for a tight hug, and I knew she was crying again. "Make sure you look after each other." She said, before they both spoke rapidly in Russian to one another. Damn, I need to learn Russian.
We watched Olena drive off and then it all became real, we were going back to America.
I sighed and looked up to Dimitri's face, I could tell he was putting on a brave face, but I knew how difficult the goodbyes were for him too.
I stood up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. I was about to pull away when he snaked his hand into my hair and held me closer for another moment. "I love you, Comrade."
His smile lit up the whole airport car park. "I love you too, Roza, more than you could possibly know." I smiled and looked away; I could feel myself blushing ever so slightly. I had never been someone who was easily embarrassed, but when it came to Dimitri I was a blushing mess.
I hopped out of his embrace and took his hand into my own instead, where we made our way into the airport.
Going through security was always the worst and dullest part, I always felt nervous going through the scanner-thing, even though I knew I had nothing to hide or be worried about. I would have been worried about our stakes getting through security, but Dimitri had already explained that they don't set the scanners off; I can't remember how they manage that, I guess I wasn't listening.
The rest was just waiting around to board the plane, that time soon passed as well, Dimitri and I had McDonald's to pass the time.
I found myself clinging to Dimitri's hand at every chance I could, I knew these were the last few hours we would get to spend behaving like a proper couple, soon we would be back to mentor and student, I couldn't bring myself to think about that for too long.
Before I knew it we were boarding the plane, Dimitri being the true gentleman he is, let me have the window seat, and so I eagerly watched out of the window as the trees and the cars became smaller and smaller until they were absolutely nothing. I subconsciously rubbed Oksana's ring on my finger, and I almost felt it throbbing like it did at random times, I knew the magic inside it must have been doing something, and I was once again grateful that she had given it to me.
Seeing the cars and the people shrink into complete nothingness made me realise how small and insignificant our lives are compared to the size of the whole world. I felt Dimitri kill my cheek and I was soon pulled out of my wandering thoughts. "What are you thinking about?" He asked with an amused smile on his God-like face.
I couldn't help but smile back at him, it was contagious. "Nothing." I said.
I could tell Dimitri knew I wasn't telling him the whole truth, and I was grateful he didn't pester me for answers, instead he simply kissed me gently, and it was exactly what I needed right now.
"Why don't you go to sleep, Roza. It's going to be a long flight." He said as he took out a western novel from the pocket of his duster.
I nodded and rested my head against his shoulder; I began reading the book along with him, but found my eyes closing on their own accord before I got to the end of the first page.
It felt like I had only just closed my eyes when Dimitri gently shook my shoulder and began pressing light kisses to my neck. "Roza," He muttered in my ear. "We're landing soon; I thought you might want to look out the window again." I smiled and thanked him.
"I can't believe I slept for so long, you're very comfy, Comrade." He simply chuckled and smiled.
I once again stared out of the window as we descended through the clouds and suddenly we were approaching the ground. I couldn't help the smile that pasted itself onto my face as we hit the ground, it was exhilarating.
Dimitri kissed me as I turned to face him. "Welcome home." He whispered against my lips.
"Is it home?" I asked before I could think about what I was saying.
He frowned ever so slightly before speaking. "Of course it is."
I sighed but didn't say any more.
Dimitri held me against his side as we exited the plane, as well as while we were waiting for our luggage to come around the carousel. I think Dimitri secretly wanted to make the most of our time together before we went back to the Academy, we certainly made the most of it last night.
Dimitri and I had just walked out of the airport, still holding my hand, when suddenly Alberta came into my line of sight. Why the hell was she at the airport? I ripped my hand out of Dimitri's.
I saw him turn to face me with a look of concern on his face, I had seen her before he did. "Alberta?!" I shouted.
She was already smiling at me when I shouted her name, crap, had she seen Dimitri and I holding hands? She walked towards us at a brisk pace and opened her arms out to me; I quickly walked forward and hugged her tight. I hadn't realised how much I had missed her. "It's good to have you back, Rose." She said as she pulled away.
"It's good to be back." I lied.
She stepped back and shook Dimitri's hand; they both had smiles on their faces despite the formal gesture. "It's good to see you, Belikov."
"You too, Petrov." He replied.
"For God's sake, Dimitri, how many times do I need to tell you to call me Alberta?" She asked with a teasing tone in her voice as she took my bag and started pulling it to what I assumed was the car we would be driving back in.
"How come you're picking us up?" I asked curiously.
"Well, classes don't start for another few days, and I had the night off anyway so I thought I'd save Belikov paying for a taxi and drive you myself, I was looking forward to hearing about your trip anyway." With a knowing glance over her shoulder.
Dimitri coughed awkwardly before changing the subject. "How is the Princess doing?" He asked Alberta as we got into the sleek black car.
Alberta and I looked at each other and both rolled our eyes at the same time. "You know she's fine Dimitri, I have a pretty efficient way of checking her wellbeing." I said in a teasing tone as he turned around to playfully glare at me.
"I see some things never change." Alberta commented.
The playful chatter went on as we left the airport car park and began driving down familiar roads back to the Academy.
Lissa knew I was coming back home today, and I could feel her excitement pulsing through the bond, I figured now would be a good time to check in on her. I took a deep breath and slipped into her mind, the next time I blinked I was looking through her eyes, she was in her dorm room back in the Academy with Christian, Eddie and even Adrian, and they were all eagerly awaiting my arrival.
Seeing them all there waiting for me made me realise that it wouldn't be so bad being back in America, sure I would miss Baia and I knew that would always be a form of home to me, but I had come to realise that wherever the people I loved were, that was where my home was.
There we have Chapter 29! I hadn't meant for this chapter to be so long, I had meant to end it as soon as they landed, but I got carried away! That does mean that the next chapter will most likely be shorter, and I think that Chapter 30 will most likely be the last one! Thank you so much to everyone who has favourited, followed and reviewed this story, I appreciate every single one of you! I'm so excited to start writing my next story! Please let me know what you thought of the chapter, I really hope you enjoyed it!
