AN: So I am picking up with them being at court and Aaliyah and her parents meeting with the Queen with Lissa. This is the first time that she is there and is nervous because she has never been in that environment. Dimitri and Rose want her to be happy there but only time will tell.
Chapter 4: Court Life
When Aaliyah awoke, it was sunset. She frowned, wondering why her mother let her sleep so late. Then she remembered she was not in her own bed. The blankets and pillows smelled like men's cologne that had ironically lulled her to sleep. Rising, she left the room to see her father in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. She was confused even more as she padded over to the breakfast bar and sat down.
Dimitri looked up with a smile as she looked at him with a tired and grumpy look. He chuckled as he pulled the mug from the microwave, making her look up as he placed it before her. She looked down, seeing the contents, and smiled, grateful for it.
"Thank you." She said, making him nod. "Your mother said you haven't in a couple day." Dimitri replied, making her nod. "Yeah…why didn't mom get me up…it's almost nine at night." Aaliyah asked, making him smile. "Its actually morning here." Dimitri told her, making her frown. "Uh…what?" She frowned. "The moroi cannot handle the sun." He said as she took a sip and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, do you see this tan…I've been in the sun may entire life." Aaliyah replied, making him smile, "That's just a cop out." "I agree…but I cannot force them to." He replied as Rose and Lissa entered with a bag. "Uh…what is that?" Aaliyah asked, eyeing the bag with the bright colored dress in it.
"You're coming with us to meet the queen." Lissa said, making her frown. "Uh…I'm not wearing that color." She frowned, eyeing the neon color.
"I told you so…so I got this instead…you are so my daughter." Rose replied, pulling out the velvet skater dress. "Ooh…it's cute…but why is everything at night…Lacey and I have competitions. This is going to mess us up." Aaliyah replied, making Dimitri look at her. "We'll get you straight…you might be able to stay with Zmey some as well…just so you're normal." He told her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Aaliyah showered and got ready, curling her dark hair and putting on her cameo necklace she got for her birthday and grabbed her National team jacket. Dimitri and Rose smiled, both ready to leave. Lissa smiled as well, seeing the same light that she always saw in her best friend, strength and joy. They left to head to the Queen's office where she was meeting Lissa and Rose. She reached back for her father's hand, making him smile despite his hardened shell. He was just thankful she was where he could keep her safe.
She saw the guardians sitting outside the door to the building and suddenly felt like she was going through the UN building. Dimitri saw her face and smiled.
"Are you alright?" He asked. "Just feel like I'm about to go into the UN with a pocketknife in my pocket." She told him, making him and Rose chuckle. "You're going to be just fine…I won't let anything happen to you." He promised.
He and Rose talked about things while she was sleeping and decided to say she was conceived while in the cabin. Dimitri didn't want to have her go through the same tests he had to and be scarred from it. He would leave with her back to Virginia and never come back if that happened. He was willing to risk all to protect his daughter. Rose saw the fierce look in his eyes as they walked in and smiled at Lissa.
"Easy there, papa bear." She teased as they walked into the building.
After waiting twenty minutes, they were shown into the very posh and large office. Aaliyah noticed her father and mother hung back and looked back at them as they were told to sit. She remembered the crash course on the drive over. When the queen came in she followed Lissa's lead and curtsied the best she could in the short dress. Aftewards, they were told to sit. She listened to them talk as she twisted her championship ring around her finger.
"Wait…this is Guardian Belikov's daughter?" Tatiana breathed, looking at the two guardians at the back of the room. "Yes…Aaliyah was born the night he was turned back…Rose had concealed her pregnancy…she left to protect her daughter." Lissa told her, making her nod. "And how?" She frowned.
"My mom is shadow kissed…it must have allowed her to have a child…" Aaliyah said, her southern accent catching her attention. "I also understand you're an Olympic hopeful." She said, making her nod. "I am…well, hoping I still can be…my mother raised me as if I was a normal rich kid with body guards…all this is culture shock for me." Aaliyah replied, making her nod. "I see, Guardian Belikov, did you know of your daughter, before she left?" She asked, making him look up.
"No, your majesty, Guardian Hathaway had come to tell me but I didn't want to talk to her then…I was still reeling from the past few months then." He replied, making her nod. "Well, I suppose this means that you'll both have to work out a schedule of being parents and protecting the princess…I am not ignorant to the fact you both work well together…and I'm sure your father will still be able to help with her." Tatiana said, making them nod. "Yes, your majesty." Rose replied. "Good, well, welcome to court my dear…unfortunately, there is not much difference between here and King Henry's court." She said, making Aaliyah smirk.
After that, Aaliyah left with them and felt a bit better. Lissa smiled at her as she looked at the teen as they headed back to her apartment. Dimitri and Rose shared a look, both grateful that they could still work together and be parents. When they got to the apartment, Dimitri kissed Rose softly. He was so glad to know his baby was safe.
"So, what happens how because I have like three weeks till worlds?" Aaliyah asked, making her parents share a look. "I don't know." Rose frowned.
"I'm only working a half shift today, they wanted to let you take the other half today…I can take her, Roza." Dimitri told her, making Rose laugh. "Sound likes you're turning into a gym dad, comrade." Rose teased, making him sigh.
Later that day, Lacey and Aaliyah met up at the guardian gym. They saw all the gymnastics equipment and smiled brightly. This was much bigger and nicer than what they had. There was even a place for them to do floor exercises. Dimitri smiled as they shared the huge smiles and took off their jackets, setting them down before going to stretch and warm up.
"I see the hellion wrangled you into practice." Eddie grinned, seeing his daughter helping Aaliyah stretch. "Yes…I wanted to see her practicing I supposed. I haven't been there before, so I wanted her to know that I was here." Dimitri replied, making him nod. "Aaliyah is a good girl…she's been through hell, but she still manages to smile brightly." Eddie replied, making him nod.
While watching her practice, he saw her working on the floor and heard the song that he was listening to the first time he practiced with Rose. It was a different version of it and was much shorter. He watched as she took off running and flipped through the air, landing with practiced ease. Lacey was watching as she shot back up and then finished the song with a split, freezing completely.
"Whoa…if you don't be the other girl, I will be shocked." Lacey breathed, making her smile as she stood. "Thanks…ugh…I think I'm going to ice down later…wish we were still home with the tub." Aaliyah winced, limping over to her water bottle and Dimitri. "Yeah, me too…did you feed today?" Lacey replied, making her nod. "Yeah…hi." She smiled, making Dimitri smile.
"Hello дорогой, done already?" He smiled, making her nod. "Yeah…not going to push my limits today." Aaliyah replied, making her father nod. "A smart idea…I have some ice packs at home…we'll bet your foot up." Dimitri said, seeing she was favoring her foot. "Okay." She smiled, making him nod.
"Yeah, we got to be heading back too. We're having dinner with Mia's dad today." Eddie said, making him nod. "Ah…I believe Christian is cooking this evening…are you alright, Ayla?" Dimitri frowned, watching her wobble before dropping to the floor.
She shook her head, suddenly feeling short of breath and dizzy. Dimitri and Eddie frowned as she fainted, making him worry as Eddie called the court medics out. He then messaged Lissa to tell her what happened. They were suddenly worred about the teen as the medics arrived.
"Does she have any history of medical issuses?" The medic asked, making Dimitri shake his head. "No…she was complaining of ankle pain…she's a gymnast." He replied, making them frown. "We'll send her up to the med center, just to run a few tests." The medic said.
They met Rose and Lissa there as Eddie and Lacey watched. They began to order a blood test and sugar test, making Rose frown. Her daughter would never starve herself, worried that she had been skipping meals where she wasn't looking. Aaliyah was constantly under pressure from her other coaches to stay small to do the other difficult tricks. Dimitri saw the fear in her eyes as they waited. He went back with her, kissing her knuckles before going to talk to the doctor.
"Roza, she is going to be okay." He said, making her nod slowly. "Dimitri…she wouldn't…unless she's been skipping meals when I wasn't looking." She said, sounding upset. "Roza…it will be alright." He said, trying to believe it himself.
When he was called back, Aaliyah was slowly waking back up. He saw the look on the doctor's face as the nurse gave her some orange juice and a few crackers. She took it, drinking the juice and eating a few. The teen's eyes met her father's as he came back over.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, making her sit up slowly. "Like crap." She said, making him nod. "You will…your blood sugar was in the 30s…Aaliyah, when was the last time you ate something…other than feeding?" Dimitri asked, making her look down. "…The day before yesterday." Aaliyah replied, making him sigh, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Why…дорогой, why are you doing this?" He asked, making her tear up. "Coach Davies…he told me I wouldn't be able to make the team if I did shed a few pound…I weighed to much to land the vault I was doing." She sniffed, making him frown. "Look at me…you are hurting yourself more, not eating. He doesn't know what you need…you have to have both blood and food…you need them both to survive." He said, making her tear up. "I know…but he's monitoring my food intake…he messages me about it." Aaliyah told him, showing him her phone.
His eyes scanned the phone, suddenly wish some part of him was still strigoi so he could rip that man apart. He looked at Aaliyah, who teared up more as she looked away from him. Dimitri, however, knew someone else who could handle the man for him and still make his daughter feel better. She felt him pull her close as she leaned into his chest, feeling worse.
"It will be alright." He said, making her nod slowly as the doctor came back over. "I should have never listened to him." She sniffed, making him sigh. "Don't do this now, Ayla…we'll handle him." Dimitri said, making her nod. "Promise?" She asked, making him smile. "I promise…you will be just fine." He said.
"How are we feeling now, Miss Mzaur?" The doctor asked. "Better…my head still hurts." She replied, making him nod. "You will…everything look normal…we'll check your blood sugar in an hour but I think you'll be able to go home afterwards…make sure you eat something." He told her, making her nod. "I will." Aaliyah replied, making him nod before going to check on the other patients.
Like he said, an hour later, they headed home. Aaliyah saw her mother's face as they walked out, knowing that Rose was upset. Dimitri told her that yelling at her was not going to help her. He had sent the messages to himself and would show them later. He also messaged Abe, telling him he needed a favor from him.
During dinner, Aaliyah age the soup silently as she listened to the adult talk. She really did not want to talk about what was happening as there was a knock at the door. Dimitri saw her face as Abe and Cedric appeared. She felt her stomach drop as he looked at her, seeing the look in her eyes as the adults talked. Rose wanted to say something but knew that whatever it was, her daughter as still punishing herself.
"I got your message…is everything alright?" Abe asked. "Not at the moment…but Aaliyah needs to stay with you for the night…something happened with gymnastics." Dimitri replied, making him nod. "I see…are you alright, Grandkiz?" He asked, looking at Aaliyah.
"Yeah." She replied, making him nod, not believing her at all. "I see…we'll look after her this evening." Abe said as she stood, taking her empty bowl and putting it in the sink. "Thank you…I will need to speak with you later though…this is important." He told him. "Very well…why don't you come with me and I'll drive you back." Abe replied, making him nod. "Very well…is that alright Roza?" He asked, making her nod. "Yeah…just look after my girl." Rose asked. "You know I will, Kiz." Abe replied.
Once they left, Aaliyah went to sleep while in the truck. Abe had noticed the bandages on her hand and wanted to know why. Dimitri sent him the messages, telling him to be quiet. He read them and frowned; his dark eyes full of fury. How dare someone do that to his granddaughter. She had the world before her and now she was going to lose it all.
"That son of a bitch." Abe hissed, making him nod. "Aaliyah will be punished for this by the NGO…she could potentially lose it all." Dimitri replied, making him frown. "I will handle him." Abe replied. "I don't want her to be implemented in this." Dimitri replied. "She won't be…but this is going to be hard on her with everything that just happened." He replied, making him nod.
The next morning, Rose and Dimitri talked. She was stunned to heard about what had been going on with Aaliyah's coach. She felt bad for giving her the silent treatment and being so hard on her. Rose looked at her lover, feeling like the worst mother in the world. All he wanted to was protect them both. He pulled her close, knowing Rose was upset about the entire situation.
"She was being forced?" Rose breathed, making him nod. "Yes…it seems that he was getting forceful with her in other ways…I believe that is why she was practicing from home…distancing herself from his attentions." Dimitri replied as she leaned against him. "I was so hard on her yesterday." Rose sniffed, making him hold her. "Don't do that Roza…she was scared." He replied.
Just then, Christian and Lissa appeared at the door. The Russian frowned until he walked over to the television and turned on the news. Their eyes widened as they saw Aaliyah and the head of the NGO. She was coming forward with her eating disorder and announcing her retirement. Lacey was beside her, doing the same. Both would not compete without the other. They started together and would end together.
"Is that why she was so quiet yesterday?" Lissa asked. "Yes…she had a blood sugar level of thirty-five. She hadn't eaten since the night before when we arrived." Dimitri told her. "Oh my God…why?" She breathed. "Her coach was monitoring her food…and I believe he was trying to get her to sleep with him." He said, making her eyes widen. "Wow…did you know Rose?" Lissa asked.
"No…and that is the worst part of it." She told her. "Hey…you're a great mother…you raised an amazing kid all on your own." Christian told her, making her look up at him. "Yeah, well right now, I am feeling like the world's worst mom." She told him. "We all feel that way sometimes…we screw up and our kids remind us how stupid we used to be at their age." Christian said, making her laugh. "Yeah, well I have a child who is seemingly like her father." Rose told him, making him smirk. "Just wait…I know she's done something that she's hidden from you." He teased.
The next day, Aaliyah and Lacey arrived back at Court. Janine met them at the jet with a soft smile as Aaliyah hugged her. She smiled at her surrogate granddaughter and held her other arm out. Lacey smiled and hugged her, glad that they were now able be normal like the others. Abe smiled at his wife and kissed her cheek, making her raise an eye brow. She knew he had done something.
"What happened?" She asked, making him smirk. "Nothing…come, our champions and hungry and a certain young lady needs to feed." He told her. "Very well…so, you two are really done…what about London?" Janine asked.
"After what happened the other day, I realized it was not worth me ending up like that character off oef Make it or Break it." Aaliyah told her, making her nod. "That is very true…what about you, Lacey?" She said. "Well, I told Liyah that I was going to be her guardian but I haven't put much effort towards it because I've been competing…I have to put my money where my mouth is…Aunt Rose said she would work with me when she wasn't with Aunt Lissa." Lacey replied, making her smile. "I will too…you will be just fine." Janine told her.
When Rose saw her daughter, she rushed over and hugged her daughter tightly. Aaliyah hugged her back, knowing that her mother was upset. She looked over her shoulder to her father. Dimitri nodded at her with a smile, understanding why she was retiring. Part of him was grateful that she was no longer putting herself in danger with the flips. Rose released her and watched her go to his arms. Dimitri smiled, hugging her tightly as she leaned into his arms. He had his little girl safe in his arms and she was no longer near someone who would do her harm.
"So, you're home." He smiled. "Unless, I want to go to a real school…but that will take some serious convincing." Aaliyah teased, making him chuckle. "I think that you'll find you'll enjoy being there…but perhaps next year…its almost summer and you will only be there for a week." He replied. "Okay…so, when is Jacob's funeral?" She asked, making him look at her. "This Sunday night…I know you and Lacey will want to be there." He smiled, kissing her dark ringlets. "Yeah…I miss him…its werid not having him around." She sighed, noticing his smiling face was not there. "I know…come, why don't we get home." He said, making her nod. "Okay." Aaliyah replied, making him smile.
AN: I hope that everyone liked this chapter. I will be working on my stories much more now that my state has been put on a shelter in place (ugh). Sooner this virus goes away the better. Only character I own is Lacey and Aaliyah. Please remember to review.
Дорогой- Darling ( Russian)
