(DPOV)
"Dimitri?"
"I thought I left specific instructions that you were not to be let back here?"
"You did. But I got around them."
I scoffed, of course she did. She is just that daring, determined and resourceful. She is a truly amazing woman and I loved her with all my heart and soul, but I didn't deserve her anymore. Not that I had deserved her to begin with, but I definitely didn't deserve her after the things that I had done to her in Russia.
"I need to say a few things to you and then if there is ever any further contact between the two of us. Then that will be your choice and on your terms and timetable."
"Please get it over with then."
She looked around to make sure that there was no one close enough to over hear us.
"I know that you know that I am shadow kissed."
I nodded.
"Well, I have found out some very interesting things about being shadow kissed. Do you remember that night in Russia when you had on my spirit ring? Do you remember being yourself again?"
"Yes." Of course I remembered that, how could I ever forget that night? That had been the night that she had given herself to me for only the second time. It was yet another night with her that I would treasure for my entire life.
"Do you remember what happened between us that night?"
Again I nodded, but I also whispered, "yes."
"Well, one of the things that I came to say is thank you." I was confused.
"Thank you for the gifts that you gave me that night."
"I don't understand."
"I know, but you will soon I promise. I also wanted to tell you that I do, have and always will love you. And even though to me there is nothing to forgive, I know that you need to hear the words. So, I forgive you for everything that happened in Russia. I also forgive you for all of the times that you have hurt me before and since Russia. I also wanted to say that although I am barley considered a dhampir anymore. As I am more moroi than dhampir now... I am actually ninety nine percent moroi and one percent human. And now people know it, at least some of them do. I want you to know that I have never been with anyone but you and I never intend to be. I love you with all my heart and soul Dimitri Ilia Roman Belikov and I will until long after the day I die."
How in the holy ad could she possibly forgive me for everything that had happened in and after Russia. Not to mention the way that I acted and behaved towards her before Spokane, and still love me? How is that even a remote possibility? (hell)
"In a way to thank you for teaching me and showing me what love really is and for the miraculous gifts that you have given me. I want you to have this." She reached between the bars and handed me a large brown manila envelope.
"If you ever really loved me Comrade, please open and read this after I leave."
She squeezed my hand. "I love you milaya moy and I will for the rest of eternity. Please, no matter what happens in this life don't ever forget or doubt my love for you Comrade. Because it is as real and true as any love has ever or will ever be." (my dear)
She reached up and cupped my cheek gently and lovingly before she said, "good bye my love." With those final words she turned and walked away carrying my heart and soul with her.
(RPOV)
I hoped that he believed what was in that envelope. Because as much as I don't want to, I can raise these children without him, even if I will love him until long after my life on this planet has ended.
I walked out of the confinement block and straight into the arms of my father.
"How did he take it kiz?"
"I told him not to open the envelope until after I left. Because I couldn't deal with it if he called me a liar and didn't believe that these are his children. That would finish destroying me baba."
"I understand kiz. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, where are we going first?"
"Wherever you want to go baby girl, wherever in the whole wide world that you want to go."
"Why don't you show me where I should have been able to grow up first?"
"If that is your wish, then so be it." He turned and looked at my uncle. "Pavel, we are going home for a while."
"Of course." He answered with a smile.
Fifteen minutes later we were boarding one of my fathers jets and on our way to Istanbul Turkey.
(DPOV)
Shortly after the love of my life walked away from me, with tears and sadness in her eyes, I opened the envelope that she had given me. And when I did I was actually so shocked that I dropped the envelope and all of its contents onto the floor.
A few moments later I had gathered myself together enough to bend over and with a shaking hand I picked it all up off the floor. Once I had read every single line on every single one of those pages. I came across a note from my soul mate and a sonogram showing my triplets.
And I knew without a shadow of a doubt, that they are mine, and not just because of the DNA test that was with the note and picture. But because I knew that my Roza would not ever lie to me about something like that. No matter how impossible it was supposed to be. But like she reminded me, she is shadow kissed. And I knew better than to think that she would ever lie about this.
Apparently she had taken my toothbrush out of my old dorm room at the academy for them to get my DNA from.
My dearest Comrade,
Now you see what I meant when I said the gifts that you gave me. I want to thank you again for our children, and although I do not know what sex they are yet. I promise you that I will name at least one of them after you and that I will tell them all how much I love you. As well as how much I am sure that you would have loved them.
'Oh Roza, I do love them, and I love you too.' I thought to myself before I continued to read her note.
If we have a son I think that I will name him Roman, after his father. If all we have are daughters then I will name one of them Dimitria and call her Dimi, in honor of her father.
Dimitri, I hope that someday you can forgive yourself just as I have forgiven you. Although I never thought that there was anything to forgive, because I know that most of what happened in Russia wasn't you.
That one night that we had together was all of what happened there that was really you. The rest of it was the evil that is the strigoi, that was possessing your body. It was never you my love your soul is clear. I promise you that on my life my love. But I know you and I know that you need to hear the words as often as possible, so again, I forgive you my love.
I want you to know that I am leaving court. I can not stay here and watch you move on with Lissa and Tasha. Wondering which one of them that you will or already have fallen in love with. And will replace me with, now that your love for me is dead. I love you far to much to watch that. I am sorry my love, but I just can't be here to see that.
I hope that someday, maybe you can love me again and love our children. If you do ever love me again and want to be with us, just find out who my father is, get in touch with him and he will tell you where we are.
But don't ever expect me to come back to court and be a guardian again because I will never do that. I will not risk the health, happiness and well-being of our children just to be a slave to the moroi. It just isn't going to happen. EVER!
I found out exactly what kind of 'friend' Lissa was after she found out that I am pregnant. Because she started making me move big heavy pieces of furniture, heavy boxes and things like that all by myself. I know for a fact that she was trying to cause me to have a miscarriage because she pushed me down two flights of stairs. On two separate occasions. So as I said, I won't ever be coming back to court to stay.
I love you Dimitri, and I hope that someday you can understand why I left. And not hate me as much as you do now, for reasons that I still do not understand.
All that I have ever done is love you, try to protect you and get you restored back into a dhampir. And for some reason or another, that has all only made you hate the very sight of me. And I am sorry for that.
Well I should go, I am about to come to the cell block and see you for what could possibly be the very last time in my life. But I really hope that it's not.
I love you Dimitri Belikov,
Love,
your Roza
forever
I was in shock, I was going to become a father of three in six months. The love of my life was carrying my triplets, she forgave me and she still loves me. How is it possible for her to be so bloody remarkable?
As I continued to sit on the bed in my cell, for the next few hours. And think about and reread the letter that my Roza had given me, over and over and over again. As well as the medical reports and look at the sonogram picture. I heard the huge bang of the main cell block door opening and then closing.
A few moments later none other than Princess Dragomir stood in front of the door to my cell.
"Dimitri, I am so sorry that she managed to weasel her way down here. I told them not to let her pass, but she just had to be a determined bitch. She is so useless..."
She just went on and on and on, but her words were like white noise to me, I didn't hear anything that she said after that. I could see that she was talking but no sound penetrated my brain.
All that I could hear was the blood rushing through my head, as my anger at this pretentious and spoiled little suka, that had tried to murder my children and injure my Roza grew. (bitch)
Eventually I spoke myself, "shut up! Ok? Just shut the hell up! How dare you come down here after what you tried to do."
"I don't understand Dimitri." She said still trying to look like she is all innocence and light. But, thanks to my Roza, I was finally on to her and her game.
I held up the manila envelope and asked her, "do you know what this is?"
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the envelope. And she looked pissed that I actually had it in my hand.
"No, should I?" But I could see it in her eyes, she did know exactly what it was.
"You do know what it is, I can see it in your eyes. What I want to know, is why did you try to kill my children and possibly even the love of my life? You make her lift heavy furniture and boxes and then you push her down two flights of stairs! And you did it not once but twice! You intentionally tried to murder mine and Roza's children. Now answer my question, why did you do it?!"
"The little bitch had no right putting anyone above me. I was her charge, where did she get off trying to have a family? She owes me her life just like you do..."
"Shut the fuck up! You better not ever get close to me again, you better hope that if I ever see you again that there is something or someone, more like several someone's between us. Because if I ever get my hands on you, you won't be the last Dragomir anymore! Because there won't be any Dragomir's left!" I told her forcefully but also quietly enough to where no one would over hear me.
"Did you just threaten me?"
"No, I just made you a solemn promise. Now get your evil, selfish, vile and disgusting ass out of my sight and don't you ever fucking come near me again!"
She left, with a huff, after that.
"Guard! Guard!" I called out.
"Yes Belikov, what do you need?"
"I need for Vasilissa Dragomir and Natasha Ozera not to be allowed back down here to see me."
"For how long?"
"For as long as I am not free to do and go as I please."
"Are you sure? Lady Ozera has just called and said that she was on her way down."
"I am one hundred percent sure. I do not want either one of them anywhere near me ever again."
"All right." He agreed.
Approximately ten minutes later I heard screaming and screeching.
"Let me in I need to see my Dimka!"
"I am sorry Lady Ozera, but he left strict instructions that you were not to be allowed in to see him."
"I don't believe you, he would never do that to me! He loves me! He needs me! He wants to see me!" Her voice getting increasingly shrill and loud with every word.
Eventually several guardians had to escort Tasha from the building. After that she was banned from even entering the building at all. For how long I didn't know. But I hoped that it was at least for as long as I was there.
Over the next three months I was tested, interrogated and sentenced to house arrest. Eventually people believed that I was once again a dhampir. Or at least that is what head guardian Hans Croft told me.
"Well Belikov, the council is finally of a mind to conclude that you are once again a dhampir. I personally don't think that it should have taken them three months to figure that out. And it probably wouldn't have if you had not refused any and all help from Princess Dragomir and Lady Ozera."
"Their so called 'help' has price tags that I refuse to pay."
"I am sorry, but I don't understand."
"Lady Ozera wants me to be with her. As in, in her bed. And I can never do that because I am in love with someone else. As for Princess Dragomir..." I spat her name from my tongue distastefully as I sneered.
"Her price is the life of my unborn children and the health of their mother."
"I had no idea that you were even involved with someone."
"We are in love. She left court because once the princess found out about the pregnancy. She pushed my soul mate down two flights of stairs, on two separate occasions, intentionally trying to cause the miscarriage of my unborn triplets. And on top of that she forced her to do some very heavy lifting by herself.
He gasped, "do either of you want to press charges?"
"It would do no good because my soul mate is Rose Hathaway, another dhampir."
"But how is she pregnant with your children then?"
"Because there had to be some changes made to her biology when the princess shadow kissed her. She is now ninety nine percent moroi and one percent human."
"If that is true then she needs guardians of her own."
"I assure you that she will have at least one. And we ask that you keep all of this information to yourself. No one knows about the genetic changes that had to be made to my Roza except for Roza and I and now you."
"Yes, yes of course. Well you are now free to be a guardian again. I don't imagine that you would want to guard Princess Dragomir after what she tried to do. But I am sure that we can find you another charge soon."
"Don't bother. I will never be a guardian again. I refuse to guard people who would kill unborn children simply because the mother was their guardian. And they did not want her to be happy or to take the chance that she could put her own children's lives above them. No, these people don't deserve my Roza or me. And they will never get their hands on our children either. Instead, I will find my Roza and unofficially guard her and my children."
"Well, wherever you go and whatever you do I wish you good luck."
"Thank you Guardian Croft. Roza told me to find out who her father is so that I could come to them. Is there anyway that you know who he is?"
"Yes, her father is Abe Mazur."
My eyes bugged so far out of my head that I thought for sure that I would need to pick them up out of the floor soon.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Guardian Croft."
"You are very welcome, and good luck with the rest of your life Belikov."
"Thank you, Guardian Croft."
Thankfully, I already had Abe's number in my phone. After leaving Croft's office I wasted not one single second in taking my phone from my pocket and making the call.
Ring... Ring... Ring.
"Merhaba?" (hello)
"Mr. Mazur, this is Dimitri Belikov. I am calling you because I am looking for my Roza, your daughter."
"What took you so long to call?"
"I was waiting until I was free of my house arrest so that I could come and go as I please."
"Ahhh I see. So answer one very important question for me."
"Anything."
"Did you think for even one instant, that my daughter lied about you being the father of the children?"
"Not for one single second sir."
"Good, good. That is very very good. I would send a jet for you, but it would take it almost twenty four hours for it to get there and then back here. And I am of the mind that you don't want to wait that long. Am I correct?"
"You would be correct sir."
"Good. Then I will have a jet, at the local human airport, chartered to bring you to us. It shouldn't take but a few hours for you pack up, get to the nearest human airport and to take off. Is that agreeable with you?"
"Yes, sir whatever it takes to get to my Roza and my children just as soon as possible."
"Do you have a lot to pack?"
"No sir, all of my stuff, except for the few changes of clothes that I have here at court, are still at St. Vladimir's Academy."
"No there not, we stopped and collected all of your things on our way out of the country. So everything is here."
"Thank you Mr. Mazur, that is very much appreciated."
"Thank the mother of your children for that, because it was her idea. She wanted to do it in the hopes that this very call would be made soon."
"I would have called sooner but it took over a month and a half, after my Roza left court, just for them to let me out of the cells. And then after that they ran tests, experimenting, on me and then they interrogated me in front of anyone in court who wanted to watch. One of those, public, tests was forcing me to go into the church. And then after all of that, they placed me under house arrest with five guards per shift until the council decided that I was really a dhampir again. I was just told less than ten minutes ago that I was no longer under house arrest, and that I was being reinstated as a guardian. I told them not to bother because I was leaving court for good to be with my children and their mother. I told Guardian Croft that after what Vasilissa did and tried to do to my Roza and our children, that neither Roza nor I would ever be guardians again. And that our children would NEVER become guardians at all. I also asked him to keep the information of Roza and I being able to have biological children together to himself as well as how we can."
"Good. Get packed and get to the nearest human airport. Did Croft agree to keep that secret?"
"Thank you. Yes, he most certainly did. He actually seemed very upset when I told him what Vasilissa did to my Roza and our children."
"You are welcome, that is good to know. It means that he will keep your secret."
"Yes, I thought that as well."
"All right, goodbye Dimitri we will see you soon."
"Goodbye Mr. Mazur and thank you again."
After I was packed I called Croft and asked him to get someone to drive me to the nearest human airport.
"Are you ready to go Belikov?" Mikhail Tanner asked me when I opened the door of my soon to be former apartment.
"Yes, I most definitely am."
He smiled.
We walked to the car, but before I could even get the door opened I heard, "Dimka! Dimka!"
Cringing, I didn't even have to turn to see who it was. Because I knew not only that name but also that irritating voice that it was said with.
Turning to her I asked, "what do you want Natasha?"
"Where are you going?"
"That is none of your business Lady Ozera."
"But Dimka..."
"Natasha, I don't plan to ever see you again and I do not want to. But if I ever do accidently come into contact with you in the future. Make sure that you do not ever call me anything other than either Mr. Belikov or Dimitri. And Mr. Belikov would be preferred."
"What do you mean Mr. Belikov? I was told that you were about to be reinstated so I was on my way to put in for you to be my guardian."
"I won't ever be your guardian Lady Ozera. And not only because I turned down the offer to being given my guardian title back. But mostly because I have never wanted to, and I still don't want to guard you. Now I suggest that you move on with your life and forget that you have ever known me. Because that is definitely what I plan to do."
"Where are you going?"
"As I said before, that is none of your business. But, wherever I go, I don't ever intended to be a part of the moroi world ever again. Now, goodbye Lady Ozera. I hope that you have a good and happy life going forward from today."
I didn't wait for her to respond. Instead, I got into the car just as fast as I possibly could and quickly asked Mikhail, "please lock the door just as quickly as possible. I don't want to take the chance that she will try to get in."
He laughed but did as I asked, the door locks clicked just as she reached for the door handle and tried to open the door. I didn't even spare her another glance as we hit the road.
Once we got to the airport I turned to Mikhail. "Thank you, Guardian Tanner for all your help."
"You are very welcome Belikov. Just do me a favor and remember a few things."
"Ok."
"Rose went through hell and back to get you back to being a dhampir again. She may not be the one who staked you. But the only reason that you are a dhampir again is all because of her. Also, don't ever forget just how lucky you are to have a woman who loves you enough to be more than willing to go through all that she has for you. Finally, be sure that you treasure the second chance that you have been given with her, because of what she was willing to go through for you. Because we don't all always get a second chance with the people that we love."
"I will remember all that you have said, I give you my word. And at first I honestly did not know how she could possibly be responsible for my being a dhampir again. But thanks to yourself and some others such as Eddie Castile and Christian Ozera. I now know and understand some of the things that she went through for me. I know that she has killed over five hundred strigoi just to get me back and I will never again doubt anything that she ever tells me. Nor will I ever doubt her love for me. I will forever more cherish her, our children and our future lives together."
"Good. I hope that you all have a wonderful, fulfilling and loving life together."
"We will, even if it kills me."
He laughed heartily at my words.
After that we said our goodbyes and I boarded the jet that Abe had chartered for me.
Approximately eleven hours later the jet was taxiing to a halt on the air strip. And as soon as was possible I was waiting to get off of the plane, about to go in search of the mother of my children.
But I didn't even get off of the stairway and onto the tarmac good. Before I was blessed enough to hear the voice that I had missed even more than I had ever thought was possible.
"Comrade!"
Turning my head I saw my six month pregnant soul mate trying to run to me. But instead of running she was waddling as fast as possible.
She was so beautiful that she took my very breath away. Seeing her there like that, heavy with our children. Finished setting my soul free of the torment of having been a strigoi.
Dropping my bag I ran the distance that she had yet to cover and took her into my arms.
"I love you, and I have missed you sooo much." We said as one. And then our lips captured each other's in a scorching hot kiss that stopped time for the both of us.
Far too soon we pulled back from our kiss and I hit my knees right there on the tarmac in front of my love. And I started to kiss my love's stomach and speaking to my children in Russian.
"Привет, мои ангелы. Это твой папа, мне очень жаль, что он так долго взял папу, чтобы добраться сюда к тебе и твоей маме. Но я никогда больше не оставлю кого-либо из вас. Очень скоро я попрошу твою маму быть моей женой, точно так же, как я планировал несколько месяцев назад. Я был бы очень признателен за вашу помощь в том, чтобы убедить ее на случай, если она откажется. Я люблю всех четверых из вас больше, чем у меня есть слова, чтобы сказать. Пожалуйста, никогда не забывайте об этом." (Hello my angels. This is your papa, I am so sorry that it has taken daddy so long to get here to you and your mama. But I will never leave any of you ever again. Very soon I will ask your mama to be my wife, just like I planned to months ago. I would really appreciate your help in convincing her just in case she is reluctant. I love all four of you more than I have words to say. Please don't ever forget that.)
"Yes." My love said.
"Pardon?"
"Yes. Yes I will marry you."
"Wait, you understood that?"
"Every word. And my answer is now just as it would have been months ago. Yes. I love you so much so of course my answer is yes."
I jumped to my feet my arm encircling her body gently.
"Oh Roza. Thank you, thank you sooo sooo much."
We happily cried together for a long time before I pulled back.
"I didn't intend for you to know of my intentions. Until I got the ring out of my stuff from the academy."
"How about we just pretend that I didn't understand you and when we get home you can propose properly. Would that work for you?"
I laughed, "that will work for me baby, that will work for me."
Two hours later we had gotten to Abe's main estate in Turkey, I had gone through the boxes from the academy. And in the very last box I found the ring inside and sitting right on the top. Like it was just waiting there for me to find it and to do what I intended to do sooo many months ago.
I turned to my Roza and got down on one knee.
"This still isn't the way that I intended to do this lyubov' moya. I had planned to do it graduation night in our cabin after we had eaten the meal that I had prepared for you. But, oh well here goes. Roza lyubov' moya, my one and only soul mate, the mother of my children, my everything. I have loved you since the very second that you feel into my arms in Portland. I know that I acted like an idiot most of the time that we were at the academy. And I did the one thing that I never wanted to do. The on thing that I never wanted anyone to do. I hurt you, and for that I am sooo sorry detka. I promise you that I will do everything in my power not to ever hurt you or make you cry ever again. Roza, would you do me the greatest of honors of sharing your life with me? Allowing me to be by your side and help your to raise our children? Detka, will you please marry me?" (my love, my love, baby, baby)
She cupped my cheek again and said, "yes. Yes I will marry you, yes I love you and yes I want us to be together for the rest of eternity. Yes baby, yes."
I kissed her hands, "thank you lyubov' moya, thank you sooo much." Seconds later she was in my arms again and we were kissing each other like we had only been able to do twice before. (my love)
Three months later we had two sons and one daughter. And just like she promised, lyubov' moya named not only our oldest son but also our daughter and our youngest son after me. (my love)
She insisted that our oldest child and first born son have Roman as his first name, and I was fine with that. Together we named him Roman Ivan Edward Belikov. Naming him after not only me but also my best friend Ivan and her childhood friend Eddie. And my Roza chose his nickname to be Rome.
Our middle child, our daughter, was named Dimitria Angelique Dominique Belikov. My Roza insisted that all of our family carry my last name, and I was over the moon happy with that. Our daughters nickname was to be Dimi just as Roza had said in her letter the day that she left court.
Our youngest child, another son, was named Mikhail Ilia Mason Belikov. He was named after Mikhail Tanner, because of the help that he had given the both of us so freely. Ilia, again after me and Mason because of the childhood friend that she lost in Spokane. Roza decided that his nickname would be Mase or Masie while he was still young.
Three months after the birth of our children we got married and the five of us took a three month long honeymoon. We traveled the world in those three months, two weeks in each place.
Eddie, Mia, Alberta, Yuri, Emil, Celeste, Christian, Jill, Mikhail and Adrian all came to our wedding.
They celebrated with us as they each held and played with the children long into the night. Those were the only people from our past that we invited to the wedding.
Christian told us that he had been able to slip away from court, without any trouble, because he and Lissa had broken up again. And that she had long since started sleeping with every royal between the ages of eighteen to thirty. All in an attempt to amass more and greater influence.
He also told us that since I had disappeared from court that Tasha had been searching the world for me.
She was doing everything in her power to find me so that she could get me to be with her. Which she never had a hope in ad of doing before Roza and I got married, and even less than zero chance of it now. (hell)
I asked him if he had let her know where he was going when he came to our wedding. He answered with a definite no.
Three years later lyubov' moya was pregnant again, this time with only one child. Another little girl. When she was born we named her Mayassa, after Mia. Mayassa Analeesha Marinique Belikov. (my love)
Roza and I have been married for thirty years and we have six children three girls and three boys. All of whom have gone on to do great things in this world. And none of whom had even asked to become guardians. At least not once they found out how Lissa had treated their mother once she found out that my Roza was pregnant.
As for Lissa and Tasha. Well, Lissa got mixed up in a love triangle and was murdered by the woman whom her latest fling had cheated on with her. And Tasha, she never found me, I thanked God and Abe for that. But after five years of looking she gave up and awakened herself by killing a dhampir who lived in a commune in Romania.
Two years after Tasha had awakened herself my Roza and I came across her in Moscow one night. And even though Roza and I had left the moroi world behind years ago we still carried at least two stakes on us at all times. Usually we carried four. Because even though we were not guardians anymore, we still knew what was out there.
When we ran into her, Tasha tried to convince me to let her awaken me again so that we could be together. After her latest offer my Roza and I laughed in her face. And after a terribly one sided fight, in my Roza's favor of course, lyubov' moya staked Tasha and I called the alchemists to come and take care of her body. I actually started my call before the fight was technically over, which pissed Tasha off. As she fought with my wife she accused me of having no faith in her. Which with her opposition being my wife, of course I had no faith in her. I knew that my wife could and would end Tasha's continued existence in this world. There was no doubt in my mind about that. (my love)
After dealing with Tasha our lives were quiet, peaceful and filled with love and happiness.
On our thirty fifth wedding anniversary our oldest son came to us and told us that his wife was expecting their third child. All of our children were happily married by now. And thanks to the genes that were passed on to them from my Roza's being shadow kissed. All of our children were able to have children with other dhampirs.
As my Roza and I lay on our death bed all of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and even some great great grandchildren. Were gathered around our bed saying their goodbyes to us, just as Roza and I had done with our own parents long ago.
When Abe died Roza and I had taken over his business and after we decided to retire Rome took over for us.
As I held my soul mates hand in mine I could feel myself taking my last breath and slipping from this life and into the next. Still hand in hand, and looking into her eyes, with my soul mate.
After coming to Turkey lyubov' moya and I had indeed been together until death we did part, but only temporarily. Because my heartbroken love died just days after I did. (my love)