The following days passed achingly slowly. Every guardian was on high alert, waiting for the order to march. When I wasn't working nor training I was helping Liss plan the wedding, the couple had already set a date and it was sooner than I had imagined. Royal Moroi weddings were not things that you wait around for.
With the Queen breathing down Lissa's neck she was beginning to feel the stress of planning the perfect wedding. I was doing everything in my power to make it easier for her. And though the Queen herself wasn't going to the wedding, her loyal followers would be and it was common knowledge that they reported everything back to her Highness. This all made my friend incredibly stressed and on edge.
I had spent the day with Lissa arranging seating plans, flower arrangements and food menus, which in itself was a mammoth task. At least all the invites had been sent out and everyone had been in touch with their RSPV's.
Lissa could easily hire a whole team of people to arrange this wedding for her, but when I mentioned it she reminded me that when we were 12 we promised to plan our weddings together and she wanted every aspect of it to be perfect.
Christian had finally come home and saved me by announcing that he was taking his fiancée out for a romantic date and promptly told me to go away so they could get ready. I was honestly grateful for the reprieve and told him as such when he walked me to the door. "You're welcome, you looked bored shitless in there." He jokingly whispered back as I made my way through the door.
Back in my own home, I was about to head upstairs to see what Dimitri was up to (probably reading a western), when a knock came at the front door.
I wasn't expecting anyone but wouldn't be surprised if it was Adrian or Eddie or even Jill coming over for a visit.
However it was probably one of the last people I would guess would turn up at my door.
Because there stood my mother, all 5 feet of her.
She hadn't changed much since I last saw her, the same stern brown eyes and auburn hair tied at the back of her head.
Her lips upturned slightly as she looked me over, the closest she would give to a smile.
"Mom! What are you doing here?"
"I am here with Lord Szelsky, he has arrived early ro visit relatives before Vasillisa's wedding. And I'll be helping with the number of guardians who stay here while the others go to the attack." Of course, I hadn't even considered that my mother might be visiting even though I had sealed the invite that we posted to her charge myself. Although I was surprised to hear that she would be staying at Court while we attack the Dashkov brothers, I had to assume she didn't have a choice in the matter, I knew she wouldn't want to miss out on the action.
Though our relationship is a lot more stable now than it had been before, it still takes my mother and I a while to warm up to each other. "Do you want to come in?" I asked hesitantly.
"Thank you." She said as we made our way inside. I watched as she took in every detail of my house. I hadn't seen Janine since Lissa and I officially moved to Court, so this was the first time she was seeing where I lived.
"It's a nice place you've got here." She said as I lead us through the house into the kitchen where I offered her a seat at the breakfast bar.
"Thanks," I said. "Coffee?" To which she simply nodded as her eyes surveyed the room.
I could tell she was wondering how I could ever afford a place like this. I'd bet she was assuming Lissa paid for it. I had no idea if she and Abe were in contact at all, or if she knew that me and my Father spoke often.
We drank our coffee and caught up on each other's lives.
"Do you live here alone?" She asked suddenly after a minute or so had passed in silence.
I was really hoping she hadn't noticed the two dirty mugs on the dining table that I had forgotten to clean up after Dimitri and I ate breakfast.
Shit. How to answer this one. "Well umm... I-" It was in that exact moment that Dimitri came down the stairs and appeared in the doorway.
What crappy timing that was. The poor man looked like a deer caught in headlights.
My mother was on her feet in an instance, her fists clenched at her sides. "Belikov." Oh Vlad, I had been on the receiving end of that tone several times and it never ended well.
"Mom, I can explain..." I started.
"Guardian Hathaway, it's good to see you again. Sorry to interrupt, I think I'll leave you two to catch up." Bastard Russian leaving me to clean up this shit-storm.
"Good idea." I muttered as he gave me an apologetic smile before heading out the front door. I suppose I really couldn't blame him for trying to escape my Mothers wrath.
Me and my mother had never actually discussed it, but she must have known there was something going on between my old mentor and I, and she also knew that when he left I was absolutely broken. It didn't take and genius to put two and two together.
"When the bloody hell did that happen?" She accused, turning her fury to me, her Scottish accent slipping through as she not so successfully tried to control her shock and anger.
"It's really not what you're thinking. He doesn't live here, he's just staying here until he finds a permanent place to stay. He sleeps in the spare room." Mostly, I silently added.
"How could you help him after everything he did to you? And isn't he with Natasha Ozera?" She didn't even know the half of what he did to me, but I wasn't going to mention that now.
"Because he needed help, Mom. Yes he put me through hell but he thought he was helping me, he thought I was better off without him!" My voice was starting to rise with each word. If you'd told me a month ago that I would soon be defending Dimitri Belikov I would have never taken you seriously.
"You are better off without him!" She shouted right back.
"No, no I'm really not. I know he hurt me, but things are so much better when he's around, and I'll never let him do it again."
"We are not discussing this right now Rosemarie. I should be going anyway. But trust me when I say that Belikov and I will be having a little chat before I go back to Nepal." She said as she got up and put her jacket back on.
"Fine, but please don't be weird about this. He loves me, Mom." I whispered that last bit, almost too scared to say it out loud or else it might suddenly become untrue. I thought I saw sympathy shine in her usually cold eyes for just a second but then it was gone and she let out a humourless laugh.
When we got to the door she turned and hesitated for a second before she put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently, it was probably the closest thing to an embrace she would give me. "I just don't want you to get hurt again."
"I promise I won't." I said with what I hoped was a convincing smile.
"We'll catch up again soon." She stated before turning and brusquely.
I closed the door behind my Mother and let out a sigh of relief.
-xXx-
The afternoon soon passed, I spent it watching trashy TV. An episode had just finished when I heard the front door open and close again. "Is it safe to come in?" Dimitri said from the doorway to my left, I was smiling before I even turned to look at him.
"Yes, the tiny ginger demon is gone." I said, and watched his shoulders sag with relief. Dimitri walked towards me and sat right next to me on the cough as slung his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close against his side as if it was the most casual thing ever.
"How was it?" He asked. "I felt bad for leaving you, but I thought I would only make matters worse." He admitted while running his fingers through the strands of my hair, which I had to admit felt wonderful.
"Oh it was about as awful as I expected it to be, you're probably right though. But I don't think you're going to escape without a 'what are your intentions with my daughter' conversation. God, I hope she doesn't go blabbing to Abe, and then it'll be even worse."
"Shh Roza," He soothed. "It's going to be fine."
"Promise?" I asked quietly.
"I promise." He said back.
And then our phones rang. Both at the exact same time. "It's time, isn't it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"There's only one way to find out." Dimitri said as he picked up his phone and put it to his ear; I picked up mine from the cabinet at the side and did the same, I could already feel the adrenaline thrumming through my veins.
It was a pre-recorded voice message from Hans; I imagine every Guardian who had put their name down on that list was receiving the very same call. "This is a message for all Guardians, report immediately to Headquarters for further instructions."
Dimitri and I hung up the phone at exactly the same time. We just stood still for a moment, looking at each other, drinking each other in. "We stick together, ok? I won't be able to think straight if I don't know that you're safe." He said finally breaking the silence; his voice was thick with emotion.
"Deal." I stated. Then the trance was broken and we headed upstairs to get changed and ready as quickly as we could. We wouldn't be wearing our typical guardians attire, every guardian is given battle uniform, this would be the first time I'd be wearing mine as it's not often you have time to get changed before defending people from bloodthirsty predators.
I scraped my hair back into a tight ponytail and pulled on the black cargo pants, there were several hidden pockets within them for hiding stakes and other weapons, and a holster around the waist for our hand guns to sit safely. The top I put on next was long sleeved and also black, it was made out of reinforced fabric to make us slightly less vulnerable to attacks in the areas it covered.
I slipped a stake into the holster at my waist and strapped another to my ankle. We would collect our pistols from HQ before heading out.
I met Dimitri at the front door. I had to admit he looked sexy as hell in his gear, but I didn't think it was appropriate timing to tell him so.
We greeted the other guardians we passed on our way, all dressed similarly and wearing the same determined expressions as Dimitri and I. By the time we reached Guardian HQ there was a whole group of us walking in silence.
I took a deep breath as we reached the building; I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin, ready for what might be the biggest fight of my life.
Oh hey there! Here's chapter 30 of my seemingly endless story. Again, I'm really sorry I update my stories to infrequently, but I'm doing what I can. I appreciate your patience and support so much and absolutely love reading when someone new favourites or follows my stories, and I love reading your reviews too! Sorry it's not a very long chapter but please let me know what you think and if I'm on the right tracks. You probably won't see me again until after Christmas, so I hope you all have a safe and wonderful time whether you celebrate it or not. Thanks again!