Yes, yes I know I'm horrible, I'm sorry! Let's just say that my computer crashed and then I finally got my mojo back for my other story so I couldn't possibly make myself write for this! But thanks for being such sweet hearts I love you! And, of course, thanks sooooooo very much for all of your reviews, follows and favorites last chapter! You guys have no idea how much I appreciate them.

I don't own VA! Please pay attention to the note at the bottom, the rest of this story depends on it!

I didn't know what love was until I met you.

Chapter 52.

"Dad," I said, still completely stunned. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would beat it's way right out of my chest. I had never seen my father look so angry before. Hell, I wasn't even sure angry was the right word. I didn't like it and, quite frankly, I was a little scared for Dimitri's health. "You're home early."

"Good thing," He growled. "What the hell do you think you're doing with my daughter Dimitri?" He narrowed his eyes on Dimitri who was instantly apologetic, or he would have been if dad would give him the chance to say a single word.

"And you!" He snapped turning his glare on me. "You're 15. Did he force you? So help me god-"

"I'll be 16 soon enough and seriously, Dad, don't be insane. Of course he didn't force me!" I said, the fear quickly fading and turning to anger. How dare he even ask that. Dimitri wasn't that kind of guy. And for god's sakes, I wasn't exactly the kind of girl that people forced into things, either.

"I don't care about soon enough!" He snapped. "You're still a child. You're my little girl Rose you shouldn't be kissing anyone like that." I started to say something in an attempt to distract him, to bring him down before this turned into something much bigger than it actually was, but those black eyes so full of fury fixed on Dimitri with such intensity that I flinched and couldn't even utter a single word.

"And you! I trusted you," He growled. "You practically grew up in my house and you're messing around with my daughter?"

"Sir I- "

"I don't want to hear it!" Dad boomed, cutting Dimitri off and bringing a flustered looking Olena into the room.

"Jeez what's the matter?" She asked. "What's with all the yelling?" Dad turned his icy glare on her.

"Did you know about this?" He asked. "Did you know that your son was messing around with my daughter?"

"Messing around with her?" She asked, her eyes narrowing into a glare of her own. And suddenly I had a new found respect for Olena Belikova. Not many people would dare face off with my father, but there she was, glaring and not holding her tongue. "I hardly think that's what's going on here, but if you're asking me if I knew that my son likes your daughter then yes, I did suspect," Olena said, and that was all dad allowed her to say.

"She is 15!" He blurted. "You should've told me." I growled. This was just getting ridiculous.

"Dad," I said, getting to my feet and forcing myself to dig deep for some kind of calm. "I know you're a father and your first instinct is to protect me, but you don't need to. Not from him. Please don't, I-I love him."

"You love him?" He asked skeptically. "You love him at 15? You know nothing about love, little girl." I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair in total frustration. My father was so goddam impossible.

"And yet, no one says a word to Lissa and Christian about their relationship," I practically growled. Both Lissa and Christian's eyes landed on me, but I wasn't paying them any attention and I didn't bare either of them any ill will. I would be the first to defend them if the need arose, but so would my parents. "How is it that they're in love and we're not? What's the difference?"

"The difference," He said slowly. "Is that they're both the same age." He glared at Dimitri.

"Sir I do love her," Dimitri said. "And I won't ever hurt her. My age doesn't have any power here because I won't ever force her into anything she's not 100 percent comfortable with." My father growled and I sighed.

"There's an age difference between you and mom, too. And it's like you 2 have always said, age is just a number. The age difference doesn't matter to us, dad," I said. "And it shouldn't matter to you. I'm happy. He makes me happy. Please don't ask me to give that up."

"But- "I shook my head.

"No. Enough. I love him. He loves me. What more do you need?" I met his gaze head on, showing him that I wasn't backing down on this. I think he already knew I wasn't about to let this go. I mean I was his daughter after all, and he and my mom were some of the most stubborn people on this dam planet. So, honestly, how could they expect anything else from me, their own flesh and blood?

In the end, he sighed. "Fine," he grumbled. "I suppose that it's a relief that it's him and not some punk rock loser who does drugs or something." I rolled my eyes then pouted.

"Really dad? Have a little fate jeez. Give me some credit. I'd never date anyone like that!" He chuckled, and like that the tension disappeared. I sat back down beside Dimitri and Olena went back to the kitchen. Whatever she was making in there smelled like heaven. I couldn't wait for dinner.

"You ok, comrade?" I asked, glancing at him when my father left the room. He probably went to go suck up to Olena or something, not that I cared. My only concern was the hunky Russian sitting beside me. He had yet to say a word since dad flipped out and, quite frankly, I was a little worried. This was exactly the kind of thing Dimitri wanted us to avoid.

"Fine," He said. "I guess I just can't believe that your dad knows you're my girlfriend and he's letting me keep my head." I rolled my eyes and snuggled into his side.

"I told you I'd protect you," I said, an easy smile sliding onto my lips when Dimitri grinned and put an arm around me. I was playing it low key, but I was really very excited. My dad's knowledge about Dimitri and I meant we no longer had to keep everything so secret. Still grinning like an idiot, I pressed my lips to Dimitri's. Our lips moved so perfectly that one would think we'd never been interrupted.

"Excuse me," Christian drawled. "But Olena says food's ready, and mom's home Rose. So unless you want to get yelled at again you might not want to be so hands on." I rolled my eyes and was about to throw some witty retort his way, but the concern shining in Christian's eyes made whatever I was about to say die before it made it past my lips.

Pulling away from Dimitri, I sighed and stood. He got to his feet too, but rather than following me to the dining room he headed up the stairs. I was wondering where he was going when I remembered the sleeping baby in my room. Suddenly, I was thankful I'd persuaded Dimitri to take him upstairs. Had he been down here, my dad would've woken him with all his yelling.

"You're leaving?" I asked Dimitri when he returned with a still sleeping Paul in his arms. He nodded.

"Mama is," He said. "I figure I should, too. Maybe I should get out of your dad's hair for a while."

"Oh, ok," I said somewhat dejectedly. I didn't want him to leave. I wanted this to be the kind of evening where he had dinner with us and we'd watch a movie afterward. I wanted him to leave when the movie had ended and I was struggling to keep my eyes open but I would insist on walking him to his car anyway. I didn't want this stupid tension that I suddenly felt surrounding us. I just wanted it like before, before my dad barged in because I didn't want things to change. I loved what Dimitri and I had, loved that he loved me so much, and after all we'd been through to get to this point, I didn't want anything to ruin it for us. I honestly didn't think I would be able to survive losing him.

"Roza," He said, his fingers gentle on my cheek as he lifted my face so that I would look up at him. "Stop over thinking." I shook my head, but then Dimitri was staring into my eyes and I was lost in those pools of chocolate and warmth and I couldn't remember what I was thinking about. "I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that, got it?"

"I-yeah, yes I get it." I said blinking and flashing him a smile. He grinned back, one of those full smiles that stole my breath and made the world seem to light up. Then he pulled me in for a kiss that hardly lasted as long as I would've liked, placed Paul in his car seat, swung the diaper bag over his shoulder and walked out the front door just as mom called my name.

"What do you mean he's your boyfriend?" Mom asked and I sighed. I really didn't want to do this again, but I decided that I had to tell her. What was the point of keeping this a secret from my mom when dad already knew?

"I mean he's my boyfriend," I repeated tiredly. "I mean I really like him." I braced myself for the yelling and the 'you're just a child' lecture, but it didn't come. Instead her face lit up in one of the most beautiful smiles and I frowned.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed, her eyes full of excitement. My confusion only grew.

"You-what? How?" I asked stupidly. Across from me, Lissa, Christian and Andre rolled their eyes. Dad just looked broody.

"Oh come on Rose," She said. "It's practically mother's intuition. Olena and I knew all along."

"And you're not mad?" I asked. Mom shook her head.

"How could I be? I know Dimitri's a sweetheart. And you do love him," She added." I couldn't help the smile after that. My father, meanwhile was still a raging tempest.

"Do you people hear yourselves?" He asked. "Love my ass! She should be in school, not wasting her life looking for boys."

"Oh, Ibrahim," Mom said. "Come on. At least it's Dimitri. You know he'll take care of her. And seriously, they are so cute!" Dad nodded, but I could tell that he wasn't happy.

"I love you, dad," I said sweetly. He rolled his eyes, but he nodded.

"I love you too, little girl," He said. "But I will not hesitate to hurt that boy if he hurts you, got it?" I chuckled but nodded. After that, Lissa said something to shift the attention away, and I honestly couldn't be happier. I was glad that mom at least was on my side. I knew that dad would come around eventually, and I'd just about had enough of this for one day. So grinning at Lissa, I kind of spaced out and just ate, my mind spinning up thoughts of the amazing future I would have with Dimitri by my side.

So crisis averted yay! And things finally seem to be looking good for Rose and Dimitri. Do you guys think it would or should stay that way? Because you know, I am kind of thinking of wrapping this story up soon. So let me know, guys. Do you want some more drama? Or should I just skip ahead a few years and wrap things up in the next couple chapters? This time the ball really is in your court, so please review and tell me!

Until next time my lovelies ;)

XXX

Roza