Disclaimer: I do not own VA.

Part 3: Chapter 10: Far Away

RPOV

We spent spring break at my house, with all of us coming down, it was easier. Ivan spent time with his parents with Vika, Dimitri and I focused on time with Mama and the family. We were back to "normal", sleeping in the same bed, spending time alone together. Most of it was just enjoyable silence, but having him near was comforting. He even took me out for dinner and a movie for my 21st birthday, since they would be back in Nashville on the actual day. I was happy enough with that, I couldn't even think about having a big blow out birthday anymore. I just wanted peace and quite, so he gave it to me. The nightmares had stopped with him next to me at night and were few and far between after they went back home.

Dad had arranged for me to meet with the psychiatrist that Olivia had recommended, that was exciting, not. I have been going three times a week for a month now. She constantly asked questions, she would never just talk to me, she combated everything I said with another question. It was infuriating, but in a way it was helping, so I tried to not get upset over it. The weird thing was she never asked about Ben, or what happened. She focused on my feelings and insecurity toward Dimitri and I's marriage.

"How are we feeling today, Rose?" Deirdre asked.

"Better than yesterday."

"Did something happen?" she asked, pulling her notebook up in her lap as she crossed her legs. She looked at me expectantly and then started writing as I spoke.

"Not really, Dimitri was approached by a LA Angels scout. I had a mini breakdown thinking of having move to California."

"Are you going to follow him?"

"Well, we haven't talked about it at length yet, but I plan too. Where he goes, I will go."

"How do you feel about that? Do you want to follow him around for the rest of your life, or would you rather venture out into something else?"

"I don't mind, besides, I married him to be with him. Why would I take off to do something else?"

"To chase your own dreams?"

"That ship has sailed, my dream was to be a singer. Now, I will be taking over my dad's business, which I can do from anywhere in the world."

"Hmm. So why the "breakdown", what frightened you?"

"We both want him to sign with a Texas team, so I can stay here and be with our family. I don't really like the idea of moving somewhere that I have no support. He will have to travel a lot, I don't want to be alone in a unfamiliar place." My voice was hardly audible by the time I finished. I hated to admit that I was too scared to venture out and be away from my family.

"There is nothing wrong with admitting you need help, Rose. Your here aren't you?"

"I know, but I feel I am burdening them to a point. I rely on Olena and Karolina to always be around. Even Sonja has been supportive and loving, I don't want to lose that."

"Why don't you just stay here then? If he is traveling all the time anyways, why move and follow him?" it was a valid question, she didn't understand how baseball worked I guess.

"From February to October, he will be playing all over the country, but he will have home games too. If I stayed here, I would only see him for four months out of the year. If I move, I get those four months, plus all the nights he is home for games and the few days off they get."

She nodded, "I understand that, but would it be worth your mental stability to be away from your support system?"

"He will support me."

"I don't doubt that he will, but when he is gone. You said yourself, you are scared to be alone, how will you handle that?"

"I don't know."

She nodded and continued to write, "I want you to think about that before our next session. Your doing well, Rose, but I want you to be stable and comfortable before you make any huge decisions."

"Okay, thank you." I stood up from the overpriced chair, you would think that thing would be more comfortable, and headed home.

When I got home, as I always did after meeting with her, I sat in front of the TV and flipped on some mindless reality show. Mulling over the last question she asked, I need to find something to keep me grounded for when he is away. I was still writing and singing, I just wasn't recording them anymore. I would start taking online classes next semester to finish my degree. I didn't feel like a classroom setting was going to help any, besides, online I can move at my own pace. Maybe I could keep taking my self defense classes, I started those a few days after we came back, Dimitri helped me find a place that focused on teaching women who have been assault victims. We both thought it would be a good idea, they were actually helping a lot, getting to beat the shit out of inanimate object was extremely satisfying.

My body was taking a liking to the new workouts as well. My arms were toned and my abdomen was flatter, starting to show a bit of muscle. My waist thinned out making my hips more prominent, my thighs thick, but not overly so, just solid and defined. I felt better, physically and emotionally when I went to work out. Knowing I could express my anger and learn to defend myself should I need to, was exhilarating. Plus,with the changes to accommodate the new power, well I had to admit, I felt dead sexy. I haven't felt good about myself in a while, but I was getting there, slowly but surely.

Two months flew by and before I knew it, I was heading back to Nashville to watch Dimitri's last game. They didn't qualify to go to the Series this year, much to everyone's disappointment, but with everything that had happened, they still had a decent season.

I haven't seen him since they returned to school after spring break. We talked every night on the phone, but I was eager to be with him again, in every way. After discussing the whole TV thing, the Ben escapade and the recovery process, we were doing well. He was focused on his studies and playing at his best. While I was focused on finding myself again, overcoming the trials that tried to break me. I know some people thought it was weird that we kept apart during this time, but it worked for us. Plus, we will have to learn to deal with being apart for a good portion of the year anyways.

Deirdre and I have talked about everything at great lengths. I found that training was the best thing for me to keep occupied and feeling good about myself. So I would continue that no matter where I had to go to be with him. Writing was still helping, but I found that I was focusing more on the bad memories than the good, so I slowed down on that. I also took to reading, Dimitri would be happy about that. Picking a random book at the store, I would read when I was feeling lost to myself. Going to another place in my head made it easier to think and process my feelings.

She also encouraged me to attempt at rekindling mine and Dimitri's physical relationship. In all truth and honesty, I couldn't wait to be with him again. I missed the feeling of large rough hands as they caressed my body, I wonder if he will like the changes from all the training? I miss the silk feeling of his hair wrapped around my fingers. The feel of his lips on mine, the taste of his tongue as it battles mine. I was nervous about it, but at the same time, I was excited beyond belief. Soon, soon I will be back with him and we will cross the last hurdle in our way back to normal.

DPOV

"Dimka, will you please stop!"

"Stop what, Vika? I am just cleaning up a little bit."

"You have cleaned the same spot ten times in the last half hour, settle down already."

"I just want the house to look perfect when she gets home, is that a problem?"

"When I am trying to relax, yes."

"Go relax in your room if it's bothering you."

Rose would be home in a few hours and there was still so much to do. I cleaned our room, top to bottom, twice. Did all the washing, including sheets and blankets. Even plugged in the scentsy thing with her favorite scent, the whole room smelt like a christmas tree farm. I made sure all the dishes were cleaned up from every room, vacuumed and mopped, again twice. I also rearranged all the furniture in the living room, making it more open and homey. It needed to be perfect and comfortable for her. I was nervous about her being back here. So many bad memories in the city, but I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms again.

I thought when we got married, we were done spending nights apart. Well other than when I had to travel for games. I never saw us being seperated by choice. I know why she left, I get it, but I have missed her like one would miss a limb. We both needed this though, it actually has helped us both with getting our lives back on track. Abe had told us to focus on ourselves, we wouldn't be able to support the other if we couldn't take care of ourselves.

So I have been busting my ass at school trying to catch up, I did, I graduate next week with my Bachelors in Business Management. Then on the field trying to get the attention of the scouts. I have talked to fifteen different teams, including the Astros and the Rangers. I am really pulling for one of them over the others. I would love to be back home in Texas. The draft started at the end of the month, cross your fingers.

As I walked around the house for the thousandth time in the last hour, my phone started ringing.

"Hey Gallo."

"Hey D, how have you been?"

"Doing alright for now, we have our last game tonight and I graduate next week. Any news from your scouts?"

"Yeah, I am actually on my way with them to your game. I wanted to give you a heads up that we would be there. Don't mess up!"

"No pressure, right. It would have been better if you hadn't told me."

"Probably, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't let you know?"

"A great one, now I have to worry about them too, Rose is coming back today and I have enough on my plate already."

"How is she doing? I talked to her a few weeks back at Opening Day, but nothing since."

"She told me about that, thanks by the way. She is doing a lot better, but I don't know how she will be once she gets here."

"She's strong, she will be fine. Oh, the guys are on their way back, I got to go. We will see you soon. Tell Rose I said hey."

"I will, thanks Joey."

Well damn.

I continued to pace around the house waiting for Rose. Thinking about how it will be when she gets here, about the game that I need to be a hundred and ten percent at, about what would happen after tonight. I heard the garage open and knew Rose was home. I turned on the pot of coffee for her and waited in the kitchen.

She walked through the door and I couldn't help but stare. She looked older, more mature, than the last time I saw her. It's only been a few months, how could she have grown so much. Her delicate five foot seven frame was now encrusted with muscle. Her arms were thicker and you could see the definition in her biceps. Her waist was slimmer, giving her body more defined curve in the hips. Her legs, God her legs, they appeared longer in the short shorts she wore, just as toned as the rest of her body. Bringing my gaze back up, I paused on her chest, maybe it was my own wishing, but her breast appeared larger too. Damn, my wife is sexy.

I continued my heated look all the way back to her eyes, those deep brown eyes that I love so much. Her hair was longer too, but still looked as silky as it was the last time I ran my hands through it.

"See something you like, Comrade?" lust coated her velvet voice. I didn't miss her looking me up and down as well.

"No…" before I could finish, she was running toward me.

I caught her as she jumped to wrap her body to mine. Her arms around my neck, legs wrapping firmly around my waist. My arms went around her and I tightened them as much as I could without hurting her. Burying my nose into her hair, I breathed deeply.

"I have missed you, Roza - so, so much." I whispered into her hair.

She pulled back to look in my eyes, "I missed you too, Comrade."

I leaned forward, resting my forehead to hers, I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I wasn't sure if she was ready for that. We haven't kissed since before she was taken, I didn't want to push her. Her tongue darted out and licked her lips, I moved ever so slowly to close the distance, she met me halfway. As my lips met hers, I felt like I was whole. The sweet taste of her cherry lip gloss danced on my lips, the softness of hers moulding to mine. I was finally home.

She ran her hands up my neck, looking for the hair tie that would normally be at nape of my neck.

"Dimitri!" she gasped out as she realized it wasn't there. "What did you do?"

"Took you longer than I thought it would." I laughed. "I didn't do anything, your father is to blame."

"BABA!" she bellowed, jumping out of my hold. As if on que, Abe walked out of his office laughing. "What did you do to him!?"

"He lost a bet."

"More like a deal with the devil." I mumbled, trying not to laugh. I was actually torn about how to feel about my hair being chopped off.

"Explain! NOW!"

"I told him he couldn't go one day without saying your name. He lost in the first hour, so he had to cut his hair."

"It wasn't even fair, I was asleep, you played dirty."

"Bout time you learned that lesson, Son. I always play dirty."

Rose ran her hands through my now two inch long hair. It was shorter, but had grown a little in the last few weeks. Running her nails down my scalp, I bit back the moan that started to build in my throat. Then she fisted as much as she could at the back of my head, I couldn't stop the growl of painful pleasure that time.

"I can still work with that. It does look quite good on you, but I loved your long hair." she said with a cheeky grin.

"No time for that, we have to a game to get ready for." Abe interjected.

"Can it old man, this is your fault anyways. You made him sexier, thanks." she laughed at him.

"Roza, let's not push him today. I don't want to deal with a pissed off coach later."

"Fine, later." she walked away, headed for the bedroom. I watched the sway of her hips, her plumb ass shaking back and forth, taunting me.

"Definitely later."

Author's Note:

I know this was a bit shorter than normal, I needed to fast forward just a bit. But the next few chapters will be much longer, only 4 more till Run Home, Comrade comes to a end.

As always, review and let me know your thoughts.