It was still a few hours until dinner, but since lunch had been a disaster, I hadn't eaten.
"Come on, Roza," Dimitri laughed, taking my hand and leading me down to the kitchen. Suzanne was there chopping meat ready for tonight's meals.
"Dimitri, Rose," she greeted us pleasantly. "I'm just in the middle of this, but if you're after a snack, there are some sandwiches in the fridge."
Checking out the fridge, sure enough, there were a few plates of sandwiches under plastic wrap. Snagging one for me and one for Dimitri, we took them to the meals area and sat, eating in companionable silence.
"Looking forward to going back to the Academy?" Dimitri asked.
"Yes and no. It seems like a lifetime ago that we were there, but I'm looking forward to doing my trials and graduating. You?"
"Yes. I can't wait to see you ace your trials," he grinned. "I'm looking forward to training with you again every day. And I'm looking forward to being with you twenty-four seven," he said softly.
"Yes. Together all day and night. Just you, me and my mother," I giggled.
"Ugh. I'd almost managed to forget that part of it!" Dimitri laughed. "It will be ok," he promised me, leaning over to kiss me softly. "It's only a couple of months, and I'm going to insist that we have at least an hour alone together every day just for us."
Dimitri was just about to say something more when Alberta walked in from the gym. She grabbed a water bottle and sat down beside us.
"We're meeting in the dining room in half an hour. Pavel wants to run through plans for your visit to talk with Kirova and our return to the Academy tomorrow."
I looked at Dimitri, it was all becoming very real, and out of the blue, I was nervous. But his calm eyes looked back at me, soothing me instantly.
"You'll have to be careful with that once you're back at the Academy," Alberta commented. "The way you two look at each other is a dead giveaway."
"It'll be ok. We've had practice hiding it before," I said.
"Ah ha," Alberta acknowledged. "And you did such a good job of that!"
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you ever wonder how the two of you got allocated a one-on-one field session together? And then permission to extend it to four days?" she asked with a wink, picking up her drink bottle and heading upstairs with a chuckle.
Dimitri looked at me, his eyebrows raised. I didn't often get to see my Russian God stunned, but Alberta had managed it. Shaking his head and laughing he mumbled, "Not much gets past Alberta!" We sat in the deserted meals area for a little while holding hands.
"Do you think we'll be able to do it?" I asked, apprehensively.
"I do, milaya. Last time it was hard because I loved you so much, but I was constantly fighting it. Now I'm fighting for our love. It makes all the difference in the world," he said, his love in his eyes. I nodded. Giving Dimitri a quick kiss, I took his hand and together we headed to the dining room.
I should have realized that the 'coming out of Rose Hathaway as Abe's daughter' was not going to be a subtle event. Abe had stage-managed what can only be described as a complete spectacle. In total thirty Guardians would be accompanying us, not counting Dimitri, Pavel, and Mom. Because the plane could not accommodate so many, Alberta, Adrian, Lissa plus fifteen or so Guardians would be going in advance. Lissa, Adrian, and Alberta would quietly return to the academy ahead of our arrival, while the Guardians would wait off-campus for the rest of us to arrive.
Abe had scheduled our arrival to coincide with the lunch bell. The plan was our convoy would arrive at the foot of the commons just as the Moroi and Dhampir students exited their classrooms - so pretty much the entire senior school would be there to witness seven black SUVs arriving in convoy. There were to be five Guardians in each vehicle except the fourth, which would convey Abe, Mom, Pavel, Dimitri and I.
Abe and I were to walk side by side. Mom and Dimitri would be near / far guarding me, it being decided that it would be more appropriate for Mom to be the 'near' guard. Pavel would be guarding Abe. The thirty Guardians would be surrounding us in three rows of five on either side. Even the Queen was rarely so well protected, other than at the most official ceremonial events, so it could be certain every eye would be upon us.
Kirova was anticipating an appointment with Abe, although she'd not yet been told about the intention of the meeting. In the meeting itself would be Abe, Mom, Dimitri, Alberta as head Guardian at St. Vladimir's, Pavel and myself. The Mazur Guardians would be keeping a large and conspicuous presence in the hallways and around the building while we met.
Abe instructed Mom, Dimitri and me how he'd like us to play things in the meeting. It was pretty straightforward so I was happy to agree. After ironing out the final details, Abe dismissed everyone. Dimitri gave me a look to hang around. Mom and Pavel were staying, too, but Dimitri asked, "Pavel? If you don't mind, we'd like a family moment."
Pavel looked at Abe who nodded. He stepped outside the dining room, closing the doors, leaving the four of us in the dining room.
"I wanted to thank you," Dimitri started. "I know a huge amount of resources are being expended to make this happen to keep Rose safe." Looking back and forth between Mom and Abe he continued, "I wanted you to know it's appreciated. By both of us," he said, taking my hand.
Abe nodded, looking fondly at us both.
"She's our girl, Dimitri," he said. "We want her to be happy. And happy means being with you."
I cuddled up to Dimitri. They were right. Happy did mean being with him. Feeling emotional, I gave Mom and Abe a hug, and it was nice.
"Thanks, guys," was all I managed to get out.
Mom was the first to pull back.
"Have an early dinner tonight. Let's all get to bed early. We need to be ready for Moroi time," she said, appreciating the toll switching time zones would have.
I wasn't particularly tired, and we'd not spent a huge amount of time with Lissa and Adrian since they'd been there. Accordingly, I asked Dimitri how he felt about hosting a movie night in our room.
"They need to get to know you as Dimitri. They still see you as Guardian Belikov," I explained.
Nodding Dimitri agreed, although I could tell he was a bit nervous. We stopped by Lissa's room on the way to ours.
"Hey Lissa," I said, popping my head around her door. "Oh, hey Adrian! Good, you're here, too. Come watch a movie and have dinner with us tonight?" I asked. "I thought we could order some Thai or Chinese?" I suggested.
"Yep! I'm in," Adrian said enthusiastically.
"Me too!" Lissa confirmed. I know she felt we'd barely seen one another since she'd been here.
"Come on, let's go then," I said, leading them across the foyer to our suite.
"This is... something!" Adrian said, looking around our room, clearly impressed. It was about four times the size of his – and he was in an amazing room.
"It is, isn't it?" I giggled.
Dimitri walked over to his side of the bed, casually removing his stakes and placing them on the bedside table. Undoing his hair, he stripped off his shirt and walked towards our robe to get fresh clothes, calling out, "I'm just going to have a shower. Order whatever you want, baby."
"You want Thai or Chinese?" I asked.
"Don't mind. Order whatever you think I'll like," Dimitri said, his pants hanging low on his hips, and his magnificent back muscles showing.
It was the 'baby' that gave it away. He pretty much only called me that when we were making love. Looks like he was staking his claim loud and clear. Adrian looked surprised.
"So you and Belikov sleep here together?"
"Yeah," I said, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
"You're crazy about him aren't you?" Adrian asked, refusing to be diverted.
Turning to look at him I said, "He's my everything, Adrian." He nodded, looking sad but accepting.
After a quick debate, we decided Thai was in order. I had no idea how to ring for takeout, so I picked up the phone and dialed the kitchen.
"Suzanne? Dimitri and I are having a movie night in our room with Lissa and Adrian. Is it possible to order some takeout?"
Efficient as ever, Suzanne organized it all, taking our order and assuring me dinner would be with us in no time. Dimitri came out of the bathroom, dressed in casual jeans and a designer TShirt I'd online ordered for him. His wet hair out, but tucked behind his ears, he looked very different to Guardian Belikov. He looked a lot younger, and while I didn't think it possible, he looked even hotter!
"So what do you guys want to see?" he asked. "There are a few good films only just out of the cinema," he added continuing on to mention a few recent flicks, unusually loquacious. Flicking through the categories on the screen, we decided on a comedy a few years old but not one any of us had seen.
Dimitri sat to one end of the sofa, cradling me in his arms as I rested against him. He pulled a blanket across us, so it wasn't obvious that he was also gently caressing my upper leg. Adrian and Lissa sat on the other sofa – her at one end, he at the other. We put the movie on, along with the gas fire. With the lights out, it was so relaxing. We were just starting to get into the film when our food arrived. There was a knock at our doors.
"Come," I replied, not wanting to get up.
Guardian Kirk came in, carrying several plastic bags filled with takeout. Another Guardian followed him carrying plates and utensils. Putting them all in front of us on the coffee table, I sat up to serve Dimitri and me, indicating for Lissa and Adrian to serve themselves. The food was delicious, and we paused the movie as we ate. Despite it being the first time Dimitri had 'hung out' with my friends, he seemed relaxed and happy. Abe was right - while Dimitri always seemed so disciplined and mature, I needed to remember he was still a young man in his mid-twenties experiencing his first love. I couldn't help it – knowing that just made me love him all the more!
And he was trying so hard! I could see him making general conversation with Lissa and Adrian. Given he was an experienced Dhampir Guardian and they were Royal Moroi their mutual interests and experiences were limited. But he was doing a great job at putting them at their ease, and I appreciated it. After dinner, we finished the movie. If I was honest, I was weary. I could have invited Lissa and Adrian to stay longer, but really I wanted a night alone with my man.
"I'll see you back at school," I said, hugging Lissa.
"Looking forward to it!" she said.
"You know you have to be careful? You can't let on Dimitri is anything more than my Guardian, right?" I asked them both carefully.
"They know, Roza," Dimitri said reassuringly, smiling at Lissa and Adrian. They both nodded. I walked them to their rooms across the foyer before slipping back into our suite. Bolting the doors behind me, I turned to see Dimitri stripping off.
"Milaya? I need you tonight," he sighed, climbing into bed and lifting the sheets for me to join him, which I did. "I need you so much," he continued huskily, lowering his lips to mine.