Okay, so first of all, I know this chapter is small but I wanted to end it here, so it was a compromise that had to be made. And as I promised, ROSE IS BACK!

IrinaC: Muchas Gracias for loving it.

whynotalicorn: Okay so. Rose is definitely in the cafe. As for Lissa's intentions, this chapter may or may not answer this question. If it doesn't, no spoilers.

LIZZIE85: Amigo, I love that you shared your thought on reviews with us. So, Mase's father- you think it is Dimitri. Of course, I'm not gonna reveal. As for ROMITRI in the future chapters- it depends. On my mood. Personally, I like to see the guy jealous. It's entertaining. And as for Adrien, it depends on his mood. He also likes to see Dimitri jealous. *grins mischievously*

deliriumintheheavens: Well Rose definitely here!

Gracias guys for reviewing. I really love reading them.

Anyways, the chapter...

5.

The Parents

I was not ready for the sight that awaited me inside. Upon entering, the first thing I saw was a girl riding piggyback on a boy who was shouting, "Get off me! You bull-dozer!" His voice was familiar, somehow.

To which she shouted, "You're the one to say. Give it back!"

I looked more closely and saw that the boy was holding a piece of paper in his hand, which the other kid was trying to snatch. I looked at them wide-eyed for a while before shifting my attention to my charges. While Christian's expression matched mine, Lissa's was different. She looked shocked all right, but something on her face yelled 'Shit. This couldn't be happening.' She looked at me with worried eyes and then at the wrestling children.

She tucked at her husband's shirt to get his attention and whispered something in his ears in an urgent manner. I watched as Christian's eyes widened and then kept widening. He looked at the children again, this time his face mirroring Lissa's.

"Are you sure?", he asked her. To which, she nodded.

Christian looked at me. He said a little uncomfortably, "Uh... Dimitri. I was thinking, why not drive for a while more. I mean, no one is particularly hungry, right?-"

But he never got to finish 'cause a voice shouted from behind us, "Jesus, I go out for one minute, and you two turn this place into a wrestling ring."

Shit. Shit. Shit...

It couldn't be.

I turned my head slowly to find Roza standing by the door, her hands on her hips and a disapproving frown on her beautiful face. Damn. If it was possible, she looked even more beautiful than the last time I'd seen her. Her small waist was even tinier, and she looked more toned. She was slimmer, in a healthy way. And her face. She looked just like she did the first time I'd seen her. Those beautiful brown eyes, a small pointed nose. And those plump pink lips. I remembered all the times they had been on mine. I realized I'd been staring and averted my eyes to the floor.

"Hey Rosie, where do you want me to put-" someone said from behind her. She stepped away from the door and Adrien Ivashkov looked from the kids to Rose and then back at them. Then he burst out laughing.

"Busted," he smirked at them. "Sally, get down from your brother's back."

"But, Dad, he tore a page from my diary," Sally replied.

Wait for a second...

Dad?! Hell, how could I not see it? She did look familiar. She was practically a copy of Adrien. So, Adrian Ivashkov is Sally and Mase's, father. When did he have children? I must have been after I left.

"Mase, give it back." My Roza said in her argue-at-you-own-risk voice. God, I'd missed it. I knew I had. Just how much, I'd not know until then. I almost smiled. My hand was itching to remove the ring on my hand. To let her know that it was me. But I was afraid. I'd left her. And if I knew her at all, she was not one to forgive easily. Especially when it came to walking away. She'd not even forgiven Janine for leaving her for eighteen years. And she was her mother. I was not even a blood relative. She was under no obligation to overlook my mistake. I think she might have kicked me out if she found out who I was.

"But Anne, she is writing love letters to Pete."

Love letters to-?

Damn. What'd he just say? God, I'm sure I looked like I'd been slapped.

Roza, my Roza, had children with Adrien Ivashkov!?

That's messed up. Shit.