Chapter 25: The Day I Fell in Love

Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy and all its characters and such… I can only imagine what it would be like to own a hot Russian!

Here is an extra long chapter to make up for my slacking. I had some serious writer's block which has now been cured. I am almost finished working out the end of the story. There will probably be around 5 chapters left. Not too sure at this point. Keep reading and reviewing. I appreciate every one of you who reads.

APOV

I was really beginning to worry about Rose. She was holding so much on her shoulders. She'd been sexually assaulted, given birth under less than normal circumstances, been at the hospital around the clock and still had the threat of Zeklos and his crew on her tail. I'm surprised she hadn't imploded yet.

She'd asked me to visit her dreams quite frequently lately. I knew that Belikov didn't like when I did, but I couldn't deny her requests. She was after all my best friend. The first time she asked me was right after Alisa was born. She was a wreck that night. They'd sedated her and I just went in for a quick visit to make sure she was okay. She'd all but fallen apart in my arms. Sobs wracked her body and she shook continuously. I was really starting to worry that she'd finally cracked under the pressure. It had taken her what seemed like hours to calm down enough for her to even speak.

Ever since that night I had gone into her dreams nightly at her request. She was late tonight. I hoped to God it was because she and Belikov were back to their usual horny selves. Dear God I never thought I'd see the day when I wanted Rose to be with another man, but it has happened.

She'd had such fears about resuming intimacy with him thinking she was damaged after what Zeklos had done to her. It had taken everything I had to convince her otherwise. Deep down I knew she knew she didn't do anything wrong, but being assaulted like that especially by someone you know can be a very traumatic experience.

She'd nearly bitten my head off when I suggested she talk to Dimitri about her fears. She'd said if she wanted him to know then she would have spoken to him about it already. I feared for my life of what she would do to me if I suggested she see a therapist. She'd probably kick my ass in our dreams and in real life. I loved having Rose as my best friend, but the fact that she could kick my ass was not always one of my favorite things about her. Sure I found it arousing, but still. That is probably one of the things that attracted me to Viktoria as well. She and Rose are a lot alike.

Finally I was able to sense that she had fallen asleep. As usual I brought her to my grandmother's garden. This was a favorite of hers. Over the years I'd taken her back to the ski lodge where we'd first met, Disneyland, China, the North Pole, any place I could think of that would interest her, but we found that the simplest places were always best for our serious talks.

"Hey," I said walking over to join her on the bench as per usual.

She was smiling. This was new. Usually she was irritable or preoccupied. It was the first time I'd seen a genuine smile on her face since before the attack, other than when she was looking at Alisa that is.

"Hey Adrian." She patted the seat next to her and I gladly complied by sitting down.

She grabbed my hand as she usually did and rested her head on my shoulder.

"So I take it you and your loving husband are back to your normal routine?" I queried.

"That we are," she said sighing in contentment.

"What changed your mind?" The last time we'd spoken she was terrified at the thought of resuming intimacy with him.

"You and Lissa," She replied. I knew Lissa was planning on confronting Rose about it sooner or later. I just didn't think it would be this soon.

"She showed up this morning with bags of sexy lingere amongst other things demanding that Dimitri and I get it on tonight," She said with a laugh.

I couldn't help but chuckle a little at the thought of sweet little Lissa, Queen of all the Moroi bringing over bags of sex toys to try and convince her best friend to get some action. It really was comical if you stop and think about it.

"Sounds like an interesting day you had. So at the risk of sounding like a perv, how did it go?"

"Just like you said it would. He loves me and nothing has changed. It was like we'd never been apart," She said with a grin.

"Okay okay you can stop there. I definitely don't want to hear all the gory details," I stopped her.

"Like I would tell you. You know I don't want to know what you and Viktoria do so why would I tell you about us? Besides we already had an audience." She blushed.

I let out a guffaw. "Lissa was there?"

"Yup, you know how fond we are of our ménage a trois," She joked.

"Hey now why can't I be bonded to Dimitri?" I asked playfully. That would be rather interesting.

"Geez, still trying to get in my pants Ivashkov," She groaned punching my shoulder hard.

"Well I did father a child with you and all." I joked.

"Funny. Don't say that around Dimitri unless you have a death wish," She warned. I knew it was the truth.

We bantered for a little while longer and called it a night.

"Thanks Adrian you've been a big help. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have a friend like you to listen." She hugged me tightly.

"Anything for you my Little Dhampir," I told her and I meant it. I really would do anything for that woman. Even though I'd moved on and fallen in love with someone else. Rose would always hold a special place in my heart. She was the first person on this earth that I'd ever truly loved.

"I love you," She told me as the dream began to fade.

"I love you too Little Dhampir," I said kissing her cheek softly.

RPOV

"So I was thinking Calla Lillies for the bridesmaids, Roses for myself and the groomsmen's boutineres. Rose, are you paying attention?"

Lissa's voice snapped me to attention. We were at the tailor's being fitted for our dresses. We'd had to start over again with mine because the first one had been made to fit someone who was eight months pregnant.

"I hear you Liss Calla Lillies for the bridesmaids and Roses for you and the groomsmen," I parroted back to her what she'd just said. The wedding was still nearly a month away and the wedding mania was in full swing. Alisa had been home for two weeks now and everything seemed quite ordinary. We were all thinking the same thing though. This was the calm before the storm. We knew something was coming we just didn't know when or what.

I had never doubted that Dimitri would be a good father, but in reality he had taken to it like a fish takes to water. Lissa had agreed to both of us working part time instead of me being off all the time and Dimitri working all the time. He'd suggested it so he could spend time with our daughter. It was really a great idea. It gave me a chance to get out of the house a little and him a chance to bond with our daughter. I'd usually come home to him holding her in the chair both half asleep while some sporting event played in the background. It was heartwarming.

"Ouch," I squealed as the seamstress poked me with a needle yet again. Damn snotty Moroi Bitch. Yes she was the same one who'd fitted me for the gown for my mother's wedding.

Gosh Rose it's just a little pin prick. You'd think after experiencing childbirth you'd be able to handle a little needle. Lissa mocked me.

Oh yea well at least I took it like a man. You were the one screaming your head off my dear Queen. I jabbed her.

Hey that isn't fair. I'm not conditioned for such harsh pain like you and Dimitri are. She huffed. The seamstress no doubt wondering what had upset her as our fighting was done internally.

I just laughed.

It's not all it's cracked up to be.

Finally the fitting was over and I was able to put my comfortable clothing back on. Lissa had finally agreed reluctantly that I could wear my Guardian attire to work as long as there weren't any council meetings or any important royals scheduled to visit.

"Hey you wanna grab some lunch before going back to work?" She asked.

"Sure," I think we've got some time. We headed off to our favorite corner café both ordering sandwiches and coffees.

"Oh how good it feels to finally be able to drink as much coffee as I want," I groaned sipping my favorite dark roast.

"You act like you were pregnant for years," She said taking a bite of her sandwich while rolling her eyes as me.

"Think of it this way. Coffee is to me what blood is to you. How would you like it if someone told you that you couldn't have blood for nine months?"

"Touche,." She said with a horrified look on her face.

"That's what I thought." I smirked at her.

"So how is Sparky holding up about the wedding now that Tasha is gone?" I asked. I was truly worried that he wouldn't be able to handle it. Whether he liked to admit it or not underneath his thick skin Sparky had sensitive feelings. I knew he was still hurting. I just didn't know what to do to help him.

"He says he's fine, but you know he holds things in." She replied sadly. "He really doesn't have that much family coming to the wedding. Princess Ozera and her husband are it. I think they are coming more out of obligation because I am their Queen, not because of him."

She had tears in her eyes as she spoke and my heart broke for Christian. It seemed like he couldn't catch a break in life. We ate quietly for a few minutes.

"Have you given any thought to who will walk you down the aisle?" I asked breaking the silence. Lissa seemed quite pleased at the change of subject.

"Well I have given it a lot of thought and if you are okay with it I thought I might ask Abe, but only if it is okay with you. I don't want to like steal your dad or anything," She rushed out.

I felt her anxiety about asking me for fear that it would make me mad.

"Liss you're like my sister and I know my parents think of you like a daughter. I'm sure Abe would love to walk you down the aisle and as for me I would feel honored that you'd even think of us as your true family," I told her honestly.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you," She cried in excitement throwing her arms around me from across the table locking me in what I fondly refer to as a Lissa death grip. In reality it was more like a light squeeze, but I liked to let her think she was strong.

"Hey I'm not that weak," She scoffed pulling away. She'd obviously been easedropping on my thoughts.

"That's what you get for being nosy." I pointed my finger at her.

We finished lunch and headed back to her office to finish up the busy work. We still hadn't figured out who had broken into the cemetery. Nothing seemed to be missing that we knew of, but it still seemed odd. Before the whole Jesse thing we'd written it off as a prank, but now anything that was out of the ordinary was treated as a threat and was thoroughly investigated by the royal guard.

After a long afternoon of monotonous paperwork and two three way conference calls it was time to call it quits. I walked Lissa home and trudged slowly to our door. I entered to find Dimitri hard at work in the kitchen. The aroma that engulfed me as I came closer was mouthwatering. There was soft music and candles illuminated the room. The lights were dimmed and the table was set for two. Dimitri was humming along to the radio and he was wearing an apron. Alisa was propped up in her bouncer on top of the island. She smiled and shook her little fist as she noticed me.

"Something smells heavenly," I said making my presence known.

Dimitri turned around. He had a huge smile on his face. "Dobre vecher Milaya," He said sweeping me off my feet and kissing me affectionately before setting me back on the ground.

"Someone's in a good mood. What's the occasion?" I asked hoping I hadn't forgotten anything important. I knew it wasn't our anniversary and it wasn't either of our birthdays. Hmmm.

"Today is a very special occasion isn't it maya dorogaya dotchka," He cooed tickling Alisa's tummy.

She giggled and spit bubbles at him in response. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Care to share the occasion?" I asked more than a little curious.

"Today is the fifth anniversary of the day I fell in love with the most beautiful woman on earth." He looked at me with such adoration in his eyes as he spoke.

A sob caught in my throat. "You remember the day you fell in love with me?" I choked.

"Of course I do. I had been trying to deny it for some time, but eventually after you kissed me in the gym that day I could deny it no longer." He said stunning me into silence.

I all but threw myself into his arms assaulting him with my lips. He responded hungrily his hands reaching back to pull the tie out of my hair letting it cascade down my back. He knotted his fingers in it and pulled me closer never breaking contact. A few minutes later I pulled away as our daughter's cries reminded us that we had an audience.

"This is far from over Roza," He whispered swatting my butt playfully as he returned to his cooking.

I fed Alisa while he finished dinner. Several minutes later there was a tossed salad, lasagna and cheesy garlic bread on the table.

"Have I ever told you how much I appreciate you?" I asked him as we ate the meal he prepared by candlelight.

"I believe you've mentioned it on occasion." His face crinkled into that dashing smile he reserved only for me and my heart melted.

After dinner we settled Alisa into bed. Dimitri read to her from a Russian children's book that I of course could only vaguely catch the gist of. He was so sweet with her. She rarely fussed on nights he lulled her to sleep with his soft words.

We retired to our room where Dimitri lit a fire in our newly installed fireplace. Lissa had it put in when we'd had the remodeling done from the water damage. I'd insisted that it was too much, but nights like tonight made me thankful for her generosity.

Dimitri made short work of our clothes and soon he was lying me against a large throw pillow. I moaned as we became one. My husband sure was one for the romantic gestures. When I'd first met him I'd never thought him the romantic type. Boy was I wrong I thought as the fire crackled in the background and the light illuminated his beautiful face.

"You're the only one," He whispered as he drew himself in and out of me clutching my body against his tightly. I could feel his muscles rippling with each measured thrust.

Tears sprang from my eyes as I murmured my love for him. Soon after, we reached our release both falling asleep tangled in each other's arms naked in front of the dying fire. One thing was for sure. The fire we had for each other would never be extinguished.

Awww isn't it terribly sweet how I give you this awesomely romantic chapter and then all of the sudden someone dies? Oops have I said too much? Review if you want them all to live! =)

Here's the Russian translation for those of you who want it…

Dobre vecher Milaya- Good evening my sweet

Maya Dorogaya Dotchka- My dear daughter