This chapter is so much more interesting than the last one, I promise! Please R&R! I've made a minor edit, seriously I just changed a word...

Stiva was already awake and eating breakfast when I got downstairs the next morning. I got some fruit and a yoghurt and sat opposite him.

"Alexander still asleep?" he asked.

"Yeah. He sleeps right the way through most days. Mum will probably get him up when she gets here if he's still asleep."

"I can look after him if you want."

"He's shy around strangers," I said with a small smile. "But once he's been around you for a few hours he'll warm up to you."

"Oh."

I quickly ate my breakfast and then got my stake belt out of the safe. There were a few different pouches on it – the stake sheath obviously, the gun holster and ammunition cartridges, a set of hand cuffs, very basic first aid things (one small bandage, a few plasters and a pair of scissors) and my set of keys was tucked away not able to jangle in a pocket. I had a few keys – house, windows and a few for various doors my rounds took me through. I was the head of that particular part of the round so where as everyone else had to sign keys in and out I had them all the time. I had other bits and bobs stashed away too, but I was pretty sure the only reason I carried a packet of tissues was because I was a mother.

When I was at home the belt was locked in the safe, but when I was off duty but out and about it was with me. It was like being a police officer. They had a duty to do and they had to act when needed to even if they were off the clock. Well, I had a duty to do as well. Mum said it wasn't healthy, but Dad understood. He was exactly the same. Even when he came here he had his belt with him. He generally put it on top of the fridge.

I closed the cupboard door that hid the safe from view. I wasn't trying to hide it, it just looked a bit like a monstrosity in my sleek, modern kitchen. I slung the belt around my waist and pulled some trainers on.

"What happened to the uniform?" Stiva asked.

"Not officially on duty. Still get paid though."

"Nice."

"Yeah."

"Jasmine!" Mum softly called and walked through to the kitchen. "Morning. Hi, Stiva."

"Do you mind if I go early? I need to talk some sense into Hans," I said.

"Sure, go."

"Ok, I'll get the monster up."

I hurried up the stairs and into Alexander's room. As usual he'd kicked the covers off in the night, but he was clutching his blanket to his front. He slept on his side so it wasn't much use in keeping him warm, but he never felt cool to the touch. I knelt next to him and brushed some hair from his face. My little boy. My angel little boy.

"Alexander," I softly said and gently shook him awake. "Alexander, it's time to get up."

He stirred and opened his eyes. "Mumma."

"Yeah, Mumma's here."

He reached out to me. I picked him up and let him rest his head on my shoulder. "Love Mumma."

"I love you too, Alexander," I murmured and walked back down stairs.

He stirred a little more as I walked. "Hungry," he said.

"Babushka will get you some breakfast."

"Mumma make breakfast. Pwees."

I smiled giving in completely. "Ok, I'll make breakfast, but then I have to go and see Uncle Dimka."

"Unca Dima well?"

"Not yet."

"Pisur?"

"Yes, I'll take your picture."

I walked into the kitchen and made his breakfast while holding him. It was a skill I'd quickly learned and wasn't going to stop using any time soon. As soon as he was happy with his breakfast I kissed him goodbye, picked up my iPod, Alexander's picture and a book that was lying around and hurried out.

As soon as I got to the guardian building I went over to Hans' office. He was sat looking at a snow globe on his desk. The figures inside were Belle and the Beast. I had never asked him about it, but assumed it was from a niece or nephew.

"Hans?" I asked.

He looked up wearily. "Come in."

I sat down without invitation. "Are we good?" I asked. "You were abrupt on the phone last night."

He sighed. "I don't like her dictating what my people do."

"So we're good?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Good. When's Dimka getting out of the cell?"

"When we know he's safe."

"Hans, he is safe," I said with a sigh. "I know you've got to think about everyone's safety, but, please give him some freedom. It'll help him. Make him feel worth while again and let him know people care about him."

"Damnit, Jazz, I don't know what happened," he snapped.

I didn't take it personally. I hardly knew what happened, just the basic mechanics of it and that Dimka was alive again. Hans knew exactly the same as me, maybe a little more since he'd been there, but I didn't take his words to heart. If I were in his place or if this was anyone else I'd probably be being jstu as cautios as he was.

"Just… Talk to him for five minutes. The sooner you do that the sooner you'll understand."

"I can't just let him waltz around like nothing happened!" he exclaimed and banged his palm on the desk. His face was heating up and his lips were thinning. Suddenly I was glad I'd closed the door.

"I'm not saying take his guard down."

He frowned and his colour almost instantly returned to normal in surprise. "You're not?"

"Dude, I know how the guardians work." I sighed. "He won't go out and viciously attack someone on purpose or anything like that. But he's… sensitive, confused. If someone freaks him out or says something against someone he cares about he might flip and not be able to hold back." I still felt utterly horrible saying it and it like I was betraying him, but someone had to keep an open mind here. I just wished it wasn't me. "I don't like saying it, but it's the truth. I know him better than anyone. He's not going to go hurt someone on purpose, but if something sets him off… Well, right now I'm not sure what will happen."

He sighed and puffed out his cheeks letting the air out slowly. I waited for him to make his mind up impatiently. Slowly he got up.

"Have you even been to sleep yet?" I asked.

"No. And that's probably the only reason I'm listening to you so much."

He walked out of the office, down to the cells and straight over to Dimitri. He was awake and sitting in the sunlight. I felt my heart go light when I saw him, glad that he was still here and ok and that this wasn't a dream.

"Dimitri."

"Guardian Croft."

I watched Hans study my friend. His eyes narrowed for only a moment before he relaxed and then sighed. He bit his lip and then straightened up.

"Ok," he said to me.

"Ok?" I asked.

"Ok, I believe you." He turned look up the corridor. "Dwight, open the door," he called.

A moment later the lock clicked. Hans opened the door. "Come out. We've got a room for you."

"Sir?" one of the guardians on watch asked.

"You heard me. Guardian Belikov is being moved to one of our suspect rooms," he said firmly.

I saw the sparkle of a smile in the guardian's eye.

Dimitri was still in the cell looking unsure. I stepped in there but he backed away with fright in his eyes.

"Hey, it's ok," I soothed.

"What if I hurt someone?" he asked.

"I never said you were free, Belikov. For now you're going to be confined to your room and the guard will still be posted outside," Hans said flatly.

If those words hadn't calmed Dimitri I would have kicked him into Sunday a year from now even if he was my boss. Dimitri eased up and nodded. He walked out of the cell and into the corridor looking around like it was some new place he was amazed to see. I stood next to him and waited for him to take the first step forward. He did a moment later and the guardians fell around him, three in front and three behind. I walked close to him so that he knew that he wasn't alone. Hans walked a little further off.

We went down a bland corridor and up a set of bland stairs to a section of the building which had been turned into small rooms for people who were suspected of committing a crime. I'd never been in any of the rooms but the sight that met me wasn't unsurprising. It was a small room painted a really boring shade of off white and there was a narrow bed along one wall with a small bed side table next to it. In the corner there was a chair and a door which led to a small bathroom. There was only a small shower, a loo and a sink in there. Above the sink was a mirror and both rooms were lit with fluorescents.

"I'll get someone to send some bedding up," Hans said. "Do you want some breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry," Dimka said.

"Have you actually eaten yet?" I asked.

He shook his head.

I turned to Hans. "Some water and something plain, like bread and butter or shortbread?"

He nodded and backed out of the room.

"I'm not hungry," Dimitri said.

"You don't have to eat it now," I said. I looked around. "I know it's not much, but I am trying."

"I know."

He sat on the edge of the bed looking morose. I sat on the chair bringing it next to the bedside table and fiddled with my iPod for the moment. I put "Boogie Wonderland" on and put the volume on full so that the music softly pervaded the room through the earphones. Dimitri looked at the iPod for a moment but then looked away. I took the picture Alexander drew out of a pocket of my belt and gave it to him.

"It's you," I said.

He studied it a bit more.

"Since you came over he's been asking about you. Asking when you're going to come back."

"He should be asking questions about Ivan," he said dismissively and put the picture next to the iPod.

"He's only nearly two. Ivan isn't here, but he's met you and seen you and…" I swallowed the lump that caught in my throat. "He'll ask questions about his dad when he's older. For now, you're the only guy he's met who's the same age as me."

"I'll never replace his dad."

"No, you won't. But you're the only father figure who's not his granddad he's going to have."

He didn't reply to that but said, "I bet you wish it was him."

I sighed and a tear rolled free. "Yeah I wish it was him as well."

"Not instead of me?"

I sighed. "The selfish part of my wishes it was him instead, sure. I wouldn't love him if I didn't. But I freed his soul and I've made peace with that. If it was him I'd wish it was you too."

"But not instead," he whispered.

"No," I whispered. "But only because he's my – he was my husband. It's not that I love you any less than I should, I just always loved him more."

He didn't reply but stayed quiet for five or so minutes digesting that. "I wish it was him instead so that you could be happy."

I smiled and a few more tears escaped. He was being selfless again and it was so, so good to see. "Of course you do. But I am happy. I've got him in my head and my heart and I have my son and now you're back. I'm happier than I've been for a long time."

There was a knock at the door. Dimka just looked at it.

"Answer it then," I said.

He got up and opened the door. I didn't see who was there.

"Bedding and some food and water," the female voice said.

Dimitri balanced everything perfectly and brought it all in. I moved the things from the small table and he put the tray on it. There was a jug of ice water and a few glasses, a loaf of bread and some small packets of butter, the kind you got with jacket potatoes, and an un-opened box of shortbread.

He quickly made the bed and then sat back down. The place looked a little less Spartan already. His eyes strayed over to the biscuits and he slowly opened them. He pulled the trey out but turned a little green when he saw the food. He put the trey back in the box and put the opened end against the wall so that they didn't go stale quickly. He poured himself some water and sipped at it.

"Stiva's here. Inna's on her way," I said.

His hand began to shake and he quickly put the glass down. "I don't… I can't."

I nodded. "Ok. I told Stiva it might take a while before you're up to seeing him."

He nodded.

"And I called your Mum. I had to stop her getting on a plane there and then. She's anxious about you."

He nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem. Do you think you'll feel up to calling her anytime soon?"

He looked at me in alarm for a second but then controlled it. "Not now."

"Whenever you're ready. I'll be with you if you want."

He nodded. "Thank you."

"Stop saying thank you," I said with a roll of my eyes. "It's what friends do for one another."

"We're still friends?" he asked.

"No. You're more like a brother."

There was another knock at the door. "Princess Vasilisa's here."

Dimitri looked at me in slight distress.

"I've gotta stay, dude."

He looked worse.

"It's ok. I'll just deafen myself," I picked up the iPod and put the earphones in with a wince. It was excruciating so I turned it down a bit. I picked the book I'd put in the window sill up.

Dimitri said something but I still couldn't lip read Russian so I just gestured for him to open the door.

Today Lissa was in jeans, t-shirt and trainers and had left her hair down. She beamed when she saw Dimitri and pulled him in for a hug. He hugged her back fiercely and a moment later they sat down. I turned my eyes to the book. I'd picked it up because it was thick and only now did I realise I'd not long finished reading it. Still it was Game of Thrones so I happily turned to the front guessing that I was going to learn something I'd either missed the first time round or had forgotten.

Even as I read I kept an eye on Dimka and Lissa. I knew that nothing was going to happen, but I waned to keep an eye on my friend all the same. He cried a bit and she was there to comfort him which made me really jealous and I wanted to rip her away from him so I could be the one to gently smooth his hair and wipe his tears away. But it was clear that he needed her so I let her stay.

They talked for about half an hour before I saw that the conversation had stopped and he was looking at the wall. Lissa looked worriedly at him, squeezed his arm and then quietly walked out.

I turned my iPod off and took the ear phones out. I sat in silence for a while, but then my stomach grumbled. Dimitri turned to me.

"I forgot you were here," he said.

"I'm good at being quiet."

He looked back to the wall and I sat in silence for another little while.

"What you were talking about with Lissa, whatever it was, why can't you talk to me about it?" I asked.

He sighed. "Do you know what a Spirit Bond is?"

I tilted my head to the side. "Like what Rose and Lissa have?"

He nodded. "We don't have one of those, but it's like we're bonded now I'm back. I… I need her."

"Oh."

He looked over to me. "You're jealous?" he asked knowing that he was bang on the money.

"I like to call it overprotective," I said in a light voice. "I know she isn't going to hurt you, and she's here to help, but you're my best friend and I hardly know her."

"She's wonderful," he said softly. "She saved me."

"And I will always be thankful for that," I said just as softly. "I'm going to get you some shower stuff," I announced. "And clean clothes."

He sat up properly. "I can ask the guardians –"

"Nonsense," I dismissed. I smiled. "You need a shave."

He ran his hand over his chin. There was three day old stubble there. "I needed a shave before I was… Thank -" he cut himself off remembering what I said about saying thank you.

"A comb too," I jested and took a photo of him on my phone and showed it to him.

He cringed a little. I smiled and got up from the chair.

"I will pay you back," he said.

"All your money went to your mum," I said. "I made sure of that when she told me the guardian's hadn't told her but Rose. I think they spent it doing up the house."

"Good," he said.

"Ok, so I'll be back in about an hour hopefully with something that fits."

"Mama said she was going to chop me off at the knees once," he said.

I smirked. "Yeah, but then shorts wouldn't fit you. See you soon."