I called Stiva to meet me in the shopping district. Even now I was amazed that there was a miniature mall here. It was linked with the spar and leisure facilities, but still, a mall. Mum came with him and Inna was with them too.

She squealed and crushed me into a hug. We'd not seen each other since graduation either, but she didn't cry. She had a much more important question. "How is he?"

"He's got a proper room!" I crowed and then told them what had happened.

Stiva asked a bunch of questions about my meeting with Hans which Inna listened impatiently to, she just wanted me to tell her about Dimka. When I got to that part we all stopped walking without really realising and when my story wrapped up we began to slowly walk again. I was pushing the pushchair and Alexander was sitting quietly as we walked into a men's clothing store.

We wondered around for a while getting a few things – trousers, jeans, joggers, t-shirts, a jumper and underwear (we left that to Stiva) and quickly paid. Inna got him a belt and some slippers. Stiva got him a dressing gown. I wasn't sure he was going to go in for the lime green colour all that much, but we thought it might make him smile.

We were on our way to the drug store when Inna whacked my arm a couple of times.

"What?" I asked.

She pointed to a window. In it was a mannequin wearing a leather duster.

"We so have to do this," I said.

"I've spent virtually none of my wages this year, I'll get it," Stiva said and strode into the shop.

Mum, Inna and I followed brusquely. Inside there was a lot of leather coats, belts, gloves, corsets and shoes and boots. I grinned thinking Dimka would be in heaven here. Stiva accosted the only staff member we could see and asked for the coat in the window.

"It's a long one," she said.

"Our friend's tall," he said.

She looked between all of us, but her eyes landed on me. "Dimitri Belikov?" she asked.

"Yeah."

Her blue eyes widened and she gasped. "I heard he was back but I wasn't sure I believed it. Is he really dhampir again?"

"Yes," we all said.

"Then take it. No charge. He saved me from a strigoi once. At the resort in Idaho."

I looked at her a little more, but the ginger hair and the thin lips weren't ringing any bells.

"Zoey Jones," she said. "Will you tell him I said hi?"

I smiled. "Of course."

"Thanks. Oh!" she scurried away and came back with some expensive looking aftershave. "When he was here for Victor's trial he bought some of this."

"Thank you," I said.

"If he wants anything else be sure to come back, won't you?"

"You can count on it," Stiva said. "Thank you."

"No problem."

We walked out with the coat tucked under the push chair and headed over to the drug store. Since I'd done shopping for Dimka before now I was left to pick things up while the others waited outside with Alexander. I got all the things he liked and then looked down at the basket wondering if his new skin would react to it all so I got some baby soap and shampoo too. When I picked up the razor – I got an electric one he could use in the shower which the guardians were sure not to object to – I got some baby moisturiser too.

"How vain do you think he is?" Inna asked.

"Comb!" I gasped and shoved the bags in her arms and dashed back into the shop.

I was back out a moment later with not just the comb, but tooth brush, paste, a bar of soap, soap dish and a couple of cups. Mum raised her eyebrows at me.

"I think I have everything now. And you've seen those suspect rooms. They're awful!"

"He'll be out of there soon, Jasmine," she assured me.

"I know, but I hate it!" I exclaimed. "He deserves so much more than what he's got."

"Then go give him his stuff," Inna said and gave me all the bags. "If you've forgotten anything else give us a call and we'll pick it up."

I nodded. "You be ok with Alexander?" I asked Mum.

"Just go, Jasmine," she smiled and pushed me in the right direction.

I turned back round and kissed Alexander's head. "I'll be back soon."

"Bye," he said. "Love Unca Dima."

"I'll pass it on," I said and tweaked his nose.

"Dimitrivica!" Hans barked as soon as I was in line with his office.

I spun on my heel and walked over. "Sir?" I asked.

"What is all of that?"

"Clothes for Dimitri, toiletries, a leather duster. Nothing you wouldn't approve of."

He looked to the sky. "Him and his dusters. Nothing sharp?"

"No," I said slowly. "I know better than that."

"Fine," he said and waved a dismissive hand.

I hurried up to Dimitri's room and knocked on the door. He opened it.

"Hi," I grinned.

"You weren't long," he said and let me in.

I put the bags on the bed and he closed the door. "We got you a few things, but look at this," I said and held the duster up. I peered round the side of it. "Cool huh?"

"You shouldn't have."

"Actually Stiva was going to, but the lady in the shop, Zoey Jones who you save from a strigoi in Idaho, she didn't make us pay. She say's hi."

He walked over and took it from me. "That was generous of her." He carefully folded it up and passed it back to me. "But please take it back."

"Why?" I asked completely baffled.

"I do not need charity."

"Dude, Stiva was going to pay for it. Either way you've got the coat."

"Please take it back," he said.

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Fine." I turned to the other bags. "We got you a few bits of everything, I hope it all fits. The trousers were five inches too long on Stiva, so they might fit."

"Baby shampoo?" he asked holding up the Johnson's bottle.

"Well, you've got a new stomach so why not skin?" I asked. "I wasn't sure if the other stuff would, you know…" I was so not going into rash territory with him. "I had to get an electric razor," I apologised.

"It's fine," he said and studied everything. He looked a little more like Dimka now.

I sniffed, trying to make it inconspicuous, but failed. He turned sharply to me looking aggrieved and panicked. I waved him off and took a moment to get myself back under control.

"I'm sorry," I said and wiped my eyes.

"What did I say?" he asked.

"Nothing! I just… It's stupid, but…" I sniffed some more and wiped a tear away. "It just feels like a dream you know? And… and… it's like you won't be here again if I leave and go to sleep."

He pulled me into a hug. I hadn't expected it and yelped. I didn't care a moment later that the door was flung open and one of the guardians barged in. I waved him off and then wrapped my arms around my very best friend.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jazz," he murmured.

"Me either."

He held me for a moment longer and then quickly let me go and stepped away. He cleared his throat and looked at the floor.

"Thanks," I said. "So I'm going to leave you to grab a shower and I'll be back tomorrow with Lissa."

"You don't need to accompany her," he said.

"Maybe not. But I want to. She doesn't have an official guardian I know something about anymore."

"Janine's watching over her."

"Great, now she's got backup," I smiled.

"You've got Alexander to think about," he protested.

"Mum's ok to have him for a few hours. She normally does."

"Jasmine, you don't need to protect her from me!" he snapped.

I frowned. "I know that."

He raised an eyebrow and looked down at my belt.

"I always wear this when I'm out and about," I softly told him. "So I'll be back tomorrow with Lissa and my iPod. Did she say what time?"

"No."

"Know where I can find her?"

"Ask Rose."

"Ok, I know where I can find her. See you."

"Bye."

I made my way out of the guardian building at an amble cursing myself over and over for being weak in front of the person who least needed to see me like that. He needed people to be strong around him so that he could get strength from us. I wanted to be one of those people. He'd been so strong for me in the past, it was only fair that I was able to do the same for him.

But he'd got it completely right. I wanted it to be Ivan in that room. I wanted my husband back now more than I ever had because I knew it was possible. Not that it was possible for my husband. I'd put a stake through his heart. If I was put in that position again not knowing what I do now, of course I'd stake him. A huge part of me wanted me to have missed, wished he had a book or something in his pocket so that I missed and the alchemist had lied. That way I could go and look for him and get a spirit user to bring him back.

I knew it was impossible, but that was the scene I was imagining and trying to put out of my mind. I did the right thing. The only thing. I didn't need to second guess myself now. What was done was done. There was nothing for it now.

"Ivan would want it to be Dimka," I told myself. "Oh, Lissa!" I called when I saw her the other side of the street.