Hello lovelies! Enjoy a chapter chalk full of Dimitri! This is in his POV and I'm so excited to see everyones reactions to it.

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EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN

DIMITRI POV

"Die!" Lily Screamed from on top of me. We were playing in the living room and I was the strigoi she had just "staked."

KNOCK KNOCK

I tried to get up to answer the door but she wrinkled her nose, in annoyance. "Noooo Daddy! You're dead. You have to lay there." Normally I would go along with her ridiculous rules, my daughter was a bit bossy, but technically I was on call and this could be important.

"I need to answer the door Princessa," I lifted her off me and stood, throwing her over my shoulder smiling at her peals of laughter.

"No fair Daddy I won!" I tickled her side and she screamed and struggled in my arms.

With Lily, still over my shoulder beating her little fist into my back, I pulled the door open and was surprised to see Janine standing there.

"Hello Janine," I nodded curtly. Janine came by to see Lily every once and a while. She usually was away with her charge and didn't get to stop by very often, thankfully. I don't think I could handle having her over all the time. It was just a reminder of Rose, the fact that she didn't want a family with me. It was enough just to have to look into Lily's brown eyes. I know I have brown eyes as well but these weren't mine, they were Rosa's carefree, mischievous, sparkling eyes. And that was exactly how Lily acted, she was her mother through and through.

My Liliya didn't know Janine was her Grandmother and I wanted to keep it that way for as long as I could. Liliya was a smart girl she knew she didn't have a mommy like the other little kids in her class, but she seemed okay with that for now. I tried to be both a mother and a father for her but I knew I would never truly be enough.

"Janie! Help me!" Lily screamed from over my shoulder. She managed to pull herself up to look at Janine. She gave her a big dimpled grin and reached a hand out to her. Thinking Janine was going to take her I lessened my grip on her but before Janine could take her from me Lily launched herself out of my arms and into Janine's.

My heart just about stopped, and only restarted again when Janine quickly caught her before she hit to floor. I should be used to Lily's wildness but I never would be. I know it is irrational to try to protect her from every bump and bruise, at least that's what my sisters tell me, but I couldn't help it. The site of tears in her eyes ripped my heart in two. Well really four pieces since Rose had ripped it into two when she left me.

"Lily," I sighed. "Be careful, you could get hurt you can't jump from me like that." I was promptly ignored.

"Lily! You're getting so big! What is Daddy feeding you?" Janine asked overdramatically. I had to hold back a laugh. Lily was tiny, a lot smaller than her friends. It was ironic Janine teasing her since she was definitely where she gets her height from.

Lily smiled her beautiful smile, one that would brighten anyone's day. I lived for those smiles. "One day I'll be as big as Daddy! And then I can be a guardian just like him!" She announced proudly.

"Oh, I'm sure you will be," Janine smiled at me, winking. We both knew my little girl would be short like her mother and grandmother, but you could never tell her that. Lily was a great child but had a serious temper when she didn't get her way, which wasn't often, she had me wrapped around her finger from day one. I would give her anything she desired.

"I actually came here to talk to your Daddy, though, why don't you go get ready for bed," Lily frowned wrinkling her perfect nose.

"Liliya…" I warned, using her Russian name, and giving her a stern look.

"Okay Daddy, Buh-bye Janie!" She gave her a wet kiss on the cheek and left practically bouncing to her room. The girl had more energy then I knew what to do with.

"So… what did you need Janine," I asked asking seriously assuming that's why she came to talk to me.

"Well you heard about the threats to the Academy." I had, every Guardians had. We were currently in the process of bulking security round here. I already had to explain the ropes to a few new Guardians in the morning.

"Of course I've heard," I sighed. "No offense Janine, but can you get to the point? I have a four-year-old to put to bed." As if on cue, I heard a loud crash from Lily's room then a giggle. I pinched the bridge of my nose, and shook my head. Lily had already given me a few grey hairs.

"Rose is back at the Academy."

My world came crashing down.

"Why?" I asked, no emotion in my voice. I couldn't believe the words she had just said.

"She was summoned," Janine explained. "You know how badly we need Guardians and she was next on the list. She was living the college life in California with a charge who had two other Guardians. She wasn't needed there."

California? That's where she had run off after turning her back on her daughter and I. Figures. I had thought Rose was mature, but obviously, I was wrong.

"Of course, you have to get a court order for her to come back here. To her responsibilities." I muttered. I was more than pissed I was furious, this whole time I had pictured rose with some charge doing her duty. Not off partying in California with some royal. All that crap about not wanting the baby to ruin her future was crap. She just wanted to be wild and free with no rules or responsibilities. I had loved her I was willing to put myself on the line for our family. I got lucky that all I had gotten was a broken nose and two bruised ribs when Janine found out. I was even luckier that Alberta vouched for me so I could keep my job at the Academy. I went through hell for her to save our family and she kicked me right out of her life, leaving me to play mom and dad to our little girl.

It makes me sad to know I fell in love with someone so selfish. Even sadder to know I'm still in love with some whom is that selfish. And I don't see my love for her changing, just like I don't see her ever changing.

"Stop." Janine said suddenly, I hadn't realized I was lost in thought. "I can see what you're doing Dimitri, it's not your fault or Lily's. Rosemarie is… Rosemarie. She's so damn stubborn, once she set her mind to something you know there's no changing it.

"She better not hurt Liliya," I said because I don't know what I would do if she hurt Lily, she was my world now. When she was hurt, I was hurting with her.

"I may not have talked to my daughter in quite some time, but I know she will probably want to avoid you." She looked down sadly, she was disappointed in Rose, but it wasn't her fault.

"Okay," I hope she took the hint that I was done talking, and thankfully she did giving me a brief hug. Janine Hathaway is not known for her emotional side, the last time she hugged me was the day my Liliya was born.

"Goodnight," I said before I closed the door. I wanted nothing more than to take a drink, but I still had to put Lily to bed.

How could the girl who brought me so much happiness also bring me so much pain?

Taking a deep cleansing breath, I put my emotions about Rose on the back burner. My emotional state came second after my daughter. And that was the difference between Rose and I. My loved ones came first.

"Daddy!" Lily whisper-shouted into my ear. I pretended not to hear her. Unlike her mother, Lily was a ball of sunshine in the morning.

"Time to get up!" Lily pushed my side, trying to force me to wake up. I cracked one eye open and saw her bright smile and beautiful eyes almost completely covered by her crazy bed head. I couldn't contain my laughter.

She wrinkled her nose, making her annoyed face. "Why are you laughing at me?" She crossed her arms and stared me down in a way only a Hathaway could.

"Let's go brush your hair Liliya, you've got serious bed head." I sat up stretching over my bed to lift my daughter, but she squirmed in my arms. I put her on the floor.

"Say sorry Daddy! We don't laugh at our friends!" She scolded me. I recognized the saying from her teacher Ms. Violet. I internally rolled my eyes, careful not to actually roll my eyes and make her mad.

"Sorry Lily, Daddy only thought you looked cute." She nodded her head in satisfaction. I had no clue how such a big personality fit in such a small body.

I got her bathed and ready, letting her pick out her own clothes, because apparently, I was no good at it. I didn't argue with her. I just waited for her to change and sat her down at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal while I changed into my own clothes I was going to have to show a few guardians around this morning before my shift. So that meant taking Lily to school earlier than normal. Which I hated to do, it cut our morning together short, and I already worked such long hours; I hated making her stay there longer than was necessary.

"Time to go Lily," I picked up her empty bowl and placed it in the sink. We lived in the family style apartments at the Academy that were conveniently placed near the Elementary campus. Taking her hand in one of mine and picking up her backpack, we headed down the stairs to the Elementary building.

Walking into her classroom hand in hand, I signed Lily in and lead her to her cubby, helping her out of her Jacket.

"Do good today okay?" I asked.

She gave me the dimples and nodded, "Of course Daddy!" I looked at her sternly, "Listen to your teacher Liliya I'm serious." My daughter had a problem with authority she liked to do things her own way at her own time, which lead her to get into trouble more often than not. Another trait not inherited from me.

She wrinkled her little nose but still nodded, "Yes sir." Giving her forehead a kiss I took her hand and lead her to Miss Violet, who was working on letters with the other four kids that were already here. "Hi Miss Violet!" Lily waved and jumped up and down in front of her.

"Hello Lily, why don't you take a seat and do your letter M too." Ms. Violet led her to a chair and I started walking away. Lily could get a bit attached to me so it was best to sneak away while she was distracted.

I rushed over to the gym to meet the three new guardians I was going to show around. I was running late I had lingered with Lily a bit longer than I should have but that's how things always were with her. I cherished every moment I had with her, because I was lucky I even got to have her.

I pushed into the gym and found the three men waiting, "Sorry I'm late. I was dropping my daughter off at school." I could feel the weird looks they were giving me. Most male guardians weren't lucky enough to have kids, that would require a moroi woman willing to have a dhampir child and most just weren't willing.

I ignored their looks and continued with the speech and rough explanation of what they were to expect at the Academy. It was the same speech I had given about 10 times now so I had it practically memorized. Halfway through my speech their focus shifted to something behind me then I heard a loud bang. I turned to find the door swinging open again and Janine Hathaway standing there wide eyed. I didn't understand what was going on until I saw her open the door again and call out to someone who had obviously just left. It took me a while to realize whose name she was calling

"Rosemarie! Rosemarie!" I could barely blink, barely think, barely even breath.

Rose had seen me. She had seen me and she had ran.

Janine had apparently given up on Rose coming back and turned to face me. "Dimitri…" Janine paused lost for words. "I didn't expect you here." That much was obvious.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Training Rosemarie." She said.

"Training her? When she left here she was top of her class pregnant or not," I defended her, I had been the one to train her and I had done a great job.

"Well it seems Rosemarie hasn't done anything in the past four years, but drink. I'm trying to help her…" she trailed off. "I have to go." She nodded at me then to the men behind me and quickly exited the gym.

I stared at the door the love of my life had just walked through with sad eyes. I had never stopped loving her, but she couldn't even stand the sight of me. Behind me I could hear the Guardians talking.

"Who was that?" I knew exactly whom he was talking about.

"My daughters egg donor," I muttered too quietly for them to hear. I turned around and did the only thing I could, continued my speech and prayed for the day to end already.

I am so excited to hear what you think! I know I know it was short, I'm sorry but don't worry we will defiantly be seeing a lot more of Lily in the next chapter!

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Until next time!

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