"I'm not meant to look sexy, Roza," Dimitri laughed, "I'm meant to look like a Guardian!"

"You are a Guardian. But there's no reason you can't be both," I laughed. "I've always liked the way you look in your uniform. It does things to me," I said with a giggle, lying on my stomach on the bed watching him.

The tailor smiled indulgently. A Dhampir woman in her sixties, she'd been here for the last half an hour measuring Dimitri in every possible place. He was obligingly standing in the middle of our room, in a pair of Y-front underwear, letting himself be measured.

"You must love your job," I muttered, as the tailor measured the inside of his leg, jotting the measurement down onto a notepad beside her.

"It's not without its compensations," she admitted coyly, looking Dimitri's hot body up and down and giving me a wink. She then asked Dimitri to put on his usual uniform, asking him where it irritated or didn't feel right, his preferred places to stow his stakes, and whether he wore a gun belt. Listening to his answers, and taking a few more measurements she was done.

"So is it a short or long term assignment?" she asked. "And just the Spring/Summer uniform or do you think you'll need the Winter uniform, too?"

Turning to look at me, Dimitri had a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I'll need winter uniforms, too," he told her, but looking at me. "As for the assignment? I think it might work out to be a permanent one?" he said, half question half statement.

"Great!" she said, completely missing the second conversation going on in front of her. "Then I'll make up the entire kit. I'll get the Spring uniforms ready first as I understand you'll need them right away. I'll send on the Winter uniforms once they're complete".

Thanking her, I walked her to the door as Dimitri headed back to our closet to get changed out of his old uniform.

"Don't worry, I promise he'll look very sexy in the new uniforms," she said with a smile. "They'll fit perfectly," she assured me, a wicked glimmer in her eyes.

"Good!" I grinned. Leaning in, I whispered one more request of her.

"You've got it," she said with a smile, before following one of the Guardians flanking our door upstairs to where my mother was waiting for her fitting. I wondered whether Abe would be watching her get measured and whether seeing Mom in uniform did things to him, too?

Back in our suite, Dimitri was sitting on the sofa looking out over the ocean. Patting the seat beside me, he held his arms open for me to cuddle with him. My back to his chest, his chin resting on my shoulder, he said: "So tell me about this dream walking." Much to my surprise, he didn't sound at all cross, more curious.

I quickly outlined what it was and how it worked. I did leave out the compromising outfits Adrian sometimes imagined me in. Adrian wasn't an idiot; I think he appreciated Dimitri would tear him limb from limb if he ever disclosed that aspect of things.

"You're not worried about it?" I asked curiously, but not without relief.

"I was, but then Pavel talked to me," he admitted.

"Oh?"

"He asked me what exactly was upsetting me about it, and I couldn't answer him," Dimitri explained. "I know you love me. And even though Adrian gave it his best shot, you still chose an uncertain future with me over everything he could offer. He's been a good friend to you, even if he did hope it could be more."

I turned in his arms, smiling then kissing him.

"The only reason I didn't tell you is because I thought it would upset you," I confessed.

"I trust you, milaya. And I trust that if there were something I needed to know you'd tell me," Dimitri added, kissing my hair and gently rubbing his hand up and down my thigh. We cuddled not saying a lot for a while.

"We've got a few hours where no one needs us," Dimitri started uncertainly. "I had something in mind…" he said.

"Oh do you now?" I asked playfully.

"Roza you're incorrigible!" he said. "I had something different in mind. I was wondering whether you'd like to meet my family?"

"Meet your family?" I squealed. "Are they here?!"

"No. But I thought I could Skype them. I checked with Pavel, and they run the computer through a VPN so our whereabouts won't be disclosed. I usually ring or Skype my family once a week. They knew I was going on a field trip so I couldn't call them last week, but they'll be gathered expecting my call this afternoon," Dimitri explained. "A lot has happened and I feel it's time for them to meet you," he said nervously.

Flinging my arms around his neck, I covered him with kisses.

"So I take it you'd like to meet them?" he asked in amusement.

"Yep! Oh God! What am I going to wear?" I said, suddenly worried.

"Wear whatever, they won't care," he said kindly. "They've already heard a lot about you," he confessed.

"Do they know about us?"

"No. Well I've not told them, but it hasn't escaped their attention that you're the only person I talk about during my calls," he said blushing a little. "I want to tell them we're in love and that we're together," he said shyly. "And I should probably tell them that I have left the academy, how and why I will be returning, that I'm working for Abe, that he's your father and that we're soul mates," he added.

"What if they don't like me?" I said, suddenly rather nervous.

"They'll love you, milaya. Because I do," Dimitri said simply, leaning his forehead against mine. "I'm so proud to be introducing you to them. I hope you like them" he said apprehensively.

"They're your family. I'll love them," I promised. "You go get the laptop and get it set up. I want to go get ready!" I said, racing to the bathroom and getting out my makeup bag, applying mascara, lip gloss and brushing my hair. Minutes later he was back in the bedroom with Dimitri and Pavel, the latter setting up the laptop on the coffee table.

"While we'll be revealing Mr. Mazur as your father in the next day or two, we'd still like to keep this location secret. Please don't say anything which might give them an indication of where you are," Pavel cautioned me. I nodded, too nervous now to speak. "And please impress on your family the need for discretion," he continued, speaking to Dimitri, now. Dimitri nodded, thanking Pavel. "Good luck," Pavel said kindly, looking at how nervous yet excited we both were.

We decided Dimitri would start the conversation without me in frame. He was going to explain what had happened and then introduce me. He was just about to place the call when I realized in the background of the shot was our huge bed – complete with rumpled sheets.

"DIMITRI!" I squealed, "You can't let them see that!"

Looking around, Dimitri muttered something in Russian, before moving along the sofa, angling the laptop screen so the background was a blank wall, showing him from mid-chest upwards.

"They speak English, too," he explained, "But we usually talk in Russian. I'll start in Russian, and we'll switch to English once I introduce you, is that ok?"

I nodded, sitting on the other side of the sofa, my feet across Dimitri's lap, as he entered the details and placed the video call. It was answered almost immediately, and I could hear lots of voices greeting him. Dimitri looked relaxed, happy and animated. Despite his recent advances, I still wasn't used to seeing him like this in front of anyone else but me. I couldn't understand what was being said, but it looked as though they were having general conversation first. After a few minutes, Dimitri said something and they were quiet. He spoke for quite a while, one hand stroking my feet where they lay across his lap.

I heard the occasional question, but for the main part, it was him talking. A little later I heard him say 'Roza.' After that, there were more questions, and my name was said a lot. Looking at my Russian God, I could see he was nervous but also excited. He had the softest smile on his face as he briefly looked over at me. I think he must have been telling them about us. There were squeals of excitement, and my name was said more, but then Dimitri continued in Russian, suddenly more serious. I heard him say 'Strigoi' and then later 'Vladimir's.' The questions were coming thick and fast now. Dimitri held up his hand, and they quietened, him continuing to speak in Russian. I couldn't pick up much, except for Roza, when I heard him say 'Zmey.'

The questions flew at him then, and he was answering them as quickly as they came. He seemed almost amused. A little later I heard 'Baba' and 'Roza' in the same sentence. I think he was telling them Abe was my Dad. There was silence for a moment and then a slew of more questions. Dimitri was laughing then. There was a minute or two more of conversation before he switched to English.

"She's here now if you want to meet her?" he said with a look of nervous pride on his face.

"Of course we do!" I heard an accented woman's voice answer.

"Hang on," he said, reaching out to grab my hand. I swung my feet from his lap, moving over to sit beside him. Dimitri leaned forward, pushing the laptop further back on the table, so we were both in frame, and then draped his arm possessively around my shoulders before leaning over to kiss me gently near my temple. I could see a little picture of the two of us in the top of the screen, but in the main part of the frame were five women. Three were younger, the one in the middle was older and obviously his Mom, beside her an older lady who must be his Babushka, Yeva.

"Hello, I'm Rose," I said nervously.

"Aww Dimitri, she's gorgeous!" his Mom said looking at us with a huge grin. Dimitri's sisters were chatting excitedly in Russian behind her. "Rose? I hear you've stolen our boy's heart?" she continued smiling.

"I have," I nodded, also smiling, "but I plan to keep it safe," I promised, turning to look at him tenderly.

I almost forgot the laptop for a moment as Dimitri leaned forward, kissing me gently. However, the cheering from the speakers reminded me we still had company. Putting my head against his chest in embarrassment, Dimitri gently chided his family, "Shh you guys. I don't want you scaring her off!" They laughed good-naturedly. Dimitri then properly introduced me to his sisters, mother and grandmother. We chatted for a little while, Dimitri sitting back with a grin while his sisters and Mom asked me questions and answered mine. I noticed Yeva wasn't saying anything, and I was starting to worry she might not approve of me.

Holding up her hand, the rest of the family fell silent. Outside of the field of the camera, I felt Dimitri squeeze my hand supportively.

"Roza! I'm glad he finally had the courage to see what's been right in front of him!" she said with a cackle. "There are obstacles to be overcome, but I see your love will burn hot and bright like the sun. But remember with light there is also dark, and it's very dark indeed before the dawn Roza," she finished enigmatically. I had no idea what she meant, but I thanked her anyway.

We talked for a little more, half in English half in Russian. In the end, we said our goodbyes with a promise to call again next week. Before he ended the call, Dimitri had a couple of final things to say in Russian to his mother. I wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed important. She just nodded, smiling.

Closing the laptop lid he announced, "They loved you!"

"Really? I was so nervous! And what did Yeva mean?" I asked.

"Who knows?" Dimitri laughed. "A lot of what she says doesn't make sense!"

"Are you sure they approve of me?" I asked him shyly. "They all seemed so lovely," I added.

"They did, milaya. I think they've known for a while that I'm in love with you. They've been dying to meet you."

"Did you tell them about standing down as a Guardian and working for Abe to protect me?"

"I did, and they understand. I think being Zmey's daughter has them a little freaked, though," he added chuckling. Climbing onto Dimitri's lap, I draped my arms around his neck while he put his around my waist, pulling me to him. "They'd like us to visit. Soon. After graduation, if we can," he whispered.

"I'd like that," I replied, threading my fingers through his.