I don't owe VA.

Chapter Four

RPOV

"You're not gonna blindfold me again are you?" I asked as we slipped out the door, fingers intertwined. I glared at the black strip of fabric sitting on the small table next to the door. Dimitri chuckled and kissed my temple, shutting the door once we were fully outside.

"Technically, I never blindfolded you," he informed me, sounding rather smug. I rolled my eyes and nudged him with my shoulder.

"That was some Rose logic there, Comrade," I countered. "I must be rubbing off on you." I started to skip ahead of him, still holding his hand causing his arm to stretch forward and mine back. Then I remembered that I didn't know where we were going so I let him fall back in step beside me. He released my hand, only to wrap his arm around my waist and press me to his side as we walked. We headed back towards the palace in the center of Court and I held back a groan at running in circles today.

"One more surprise, huh?" I quizzed him. "I mean, you just gave me a whole damn house and now I find out there's even more? What did I do to deserve such special treatment?"

"You deserve the world, Roza," he answered, looking down at me as we walked through the palace front doors, nodding at the Guardians stationed outside. "Since I can't give you that, I'll have to settle for a day where you're the center of attention."

I was still confused but his answer made my heart melt nonetheless. He led me to the banquet hall and fell in step behind me, one hand on each of my hips. I leaned into his touch and peeked up at him between my lashes. He kissed my forehead and stepped us towards the door. I took the hint and pushed it open to reveal a fully decked out party. Soft music played; a table against the far wall held piles of presents, some snacks and a cake on the other side of it. A hand-painted banner reading Happy Belated Birthday, Rose hung above the table. Balloons and streamers were strategically hung around the room and enough chairs for a small army sat tucked beneath several tablecloth clad round tables.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!" was cried out when everyone spotted us and I beamed into the room, containing all of my loved ones. My hand flew to my chest in genuine surprise. Everybody was here, and I do mean everybody. The entire Belikov family surged forward, enveloping Dimitri and I in a flurry of hugs and kisses on cheeks. A string of greetings rapidly occurred in both Russian and English. I felt myself tearing up again but held back my tears as to not make a fool of myself. My friends and parents waited patiently while we greeted the people that lived on the other side of the world.

"I missed you guys so much," I told them, hugging Viktoria close to me. Paul stood beside us and clasped my hand in his much smaller one.

"Auntie Roza!" he beamed up at me. "Have you killed anymore Strigoi?" I laughed and l

"A few," I told him. "But let's not talk about death today." My tone was teasing but everyone knew I was serious. Yeva met my eye, knowingly. She hadn't embraced me, as the rest of the family had, but she did give Dimitri a small hug. Crazy old bat, I thought. I excused myself from my lover's family and strode over to my friends and own parents. I hugged everyone in turn, starting with Lissa. She squeezed back tightly, a knowing glint in her eye. Stupid auras.

"Shut up," I whispered in her ear. I want details later, she projected at me through the bond, grinning like a fool. I rolled my eyes and gave Christian a quick hug. Eddie, Mia, and Jill got the next embraces, followed by a group hug with my parents, who disgustingly seemed to be 100% back together. I guess I was happy for them, but it was still weird. Even Mikhail, Sonya and Ambrose showed up, all of them giving me warm hugs and whispered belated birthday wishes. I stopped in front of the only two people in the room I had yet to say hello to, genuinely shocked to see them.

"Sydney?" I practically shouted in her face. "I never thought I'd see you in a vampire breeding ground looking so relaxed and almost…happy?"

"Some of you guys have grown on me," she said with a small laugh, giving me a quick hug. I returned it eagerly, still amazed she was here. I was even more surprised to see the man she was standing beside.

"Adrian?" I whispered his name, unable to meet his eyes. He smiled warmly at me.

"Little dhampir," he breathed, making my heart clench by using the old nickname from before I broke his heart. My eyes flew to his, a gentleness in his dark green orbs. He held his arms up and I basically fell into them. I blinked hard to banish the new tears forming at his welcoming demeanor. When had not left things on a happy note. In fact, I thought he hated me.

"I'm so sorry I hurt you," I told him softly, finally releasing him.

"No need to apologize, Rose," he told me. "I never should have tried to stand in the way of you crazy kids." His chin inclined towards Dimitri. "Besides, you were right. I did need someone who balances me out." I nearly passed out when he slipped his arm around Sydney's waist, pulling her to his side and causing a blush to spread across her pale cheeks.

"Oh, I need to hear this story," I glanced back and forth between them, a huge smile spreading across my face.

"I can help with that," Jill said wryly and I met her eyes. I'd never really get used to having another shadow-kissed person around. I smiled sympathetically at her, remembering all the intimate moments I was almost exposed to early on in Lissa's relationship with Christian.

"Sorry we're late," a familiar Russian accented voice sounded from the doorway. I turned around and my jaw dropped. Mark and Oksana stood there, his arm around her waist and a gift bag in her hand. Mark glanced around the room, surveying it in the way all Guardians do in a new area. I grabbed Lissa's hand and made my way over to them. I hugged both of them together.

"I'm so glad you guys decided to come visit," I told them earnestly, remembering Mark's fear of them becoming a science experiment.

"Your bondmate and our new queen seems to be changing our world for the better," Oksana answered, warmly. She turned to Lissa and bowed slightly in respect. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty."

"Lissa will be just fine," she grasped Oksana's hand and then Mark's. "I'm thrilled to meet you both. Rose told me how kind and helpful you two were in Russia. How long are you staying? Tonight is about Rose but I'd love to get together with you and our other spirit-using peers to go over what everyone can do." Her excitement at being around another spirit user and bonded pair shot through our own bond and I couldn't help but share her excitement. It would really help Adrian and Jill as well. I could only give them so much insight.

"We'll be here a week," Oksana responded, smiling kindly at my best friend. "I'd love to go over everything I know with you all. I understand you have two others here at Court as well?"

"I do!" Liss exclaimed. "Rose, do you mind if I-"

"Go introduce Oksana to Adrian and Sonya, but send Jill over here please?" I answered before she could finish, not even needing the bond to tell me what she wanted. She grinned at me, and turned to lead Oksana to the others. Jill approached Mark and me. I put my arm around her impossibly slim waste.

"This is Jill," I introduced her to Mark. "There was an incident before Liss got the quorum law changed that resulted in her becoming shadow-kissed." I told him grimly. He nodded in understanding and shook her hand.

"I've never met a shadow-kissed Moroi," he said softly. "But then, I've only ever met two other shadow-kissed dhampirs, Rose being one of them."

"It's quite an adjustment," Jill admitted softly. Mark and Jill sat at a nearby table and he began to gently answer questions that I hadn't been able to. I made my way back over to Dimitri and his family. Olena wrapped her arms firmly around me.

"Oh, Roza," she sighed. "I know we got to see you two for a few days just a couple months ago, but it's so nice to be with you. To see how happy my boy is now that you're in his life." She released one arm from my shoulders to place a hand on Dimitri's cheek. He smiled down at us.

"I love seeing you all, as well, Olena," I whispered, basking in her love. We let go of each other and Vika took her place, animatedly telling me stories from St. Basil's. I listened to her eagerly, glad she forgave me for interfering in her life earlier this year. Zoya was toddling around the room with Paul trailing after her to make sure she didn't get hurt while Karolina watched on, smiling at her children. Sonya held her own infant, Katya, rocking her gently. I took in the rest of the room, beaming at being surrounded by everyone I loved. I was incredibly happy but looking at the babies in the room, a twinge of sadness shot through me. I couldn't place why at first but when I met Dimitri's eye, it hit me like a truck. I loved him with every fiber of my being but we would never be able to have a child of our own. I never thought I wanted children, but now that I had been exposed to such wonderful kids, I couldn't help but imagine having my own. I pushed the thoughts out of my head and wrapped my arms around Dimitri's waist. He held me against himself firmly and kissed the top of my head.

"Thank you for this incredible day," I murmured into his chest. He tightened his hold for a second, a silent you're welcome. Then he pulled back and addressed the room.

"Roza has been surprisingly patient since we arrived and hasn't demanded to open her presents yet," his strong voice filled the room and almost everybody laughed. "I don't think we should keep her waiting much longer." And so I was whisked to the far wall and sat in a chair next to the table of presents. Paul ran back and forth, handing me gift after gift. My friends and family showered me with clothes, makeup, some stuff for the new house, and even an iPod from Lissa. Every gift came with a heartfelt card and I felt myself tearing up again. After all my gifts were open, Dimitri and Eddie gathered them into two medium sized boxes to make it easier to get them home. Everyone sang happy birthday to me and we had cake. A couple of us getting hit in the face playfully with frosting. We laughed loudly at stupid jokes and changed seats every few minutes so that everyone was able to chat and catch up with each other. I found my cheeks aching from all the smiling and laughter.

"Hey, Belikov, Tanner, Mark whose last name I don't know," Eddie called. All three men turned their heads to him. "Help me move all the tables and chairs against the wall?" They began to comply and I tried to jump in.

"Hey there, Hathaway," my friend since preschool scolded. "I know you're fully capable but this is your day and you're not allowed to do anything not fun." I slapped his arm but obeyed for once, joining Lissa and Dimitri's sisters on the other side of the room. I leaned against the wall, crossed my arms and huffed loudly in faux annoyance. I earned a couple of snickers and leaned my head on my best friend's shoulder. The four guardians made quick work of clearly the whole center of the room and Eddie cranked up the quiet music to a much louder volume. I smirked across the room at him, figuring out what he was doing finally.

"When's the last time you danced, Roooooosie?" he called over, teasingly. Everyone spent the next hour and a half dancing the vampiric night away. Some of the songs were fast and we jumped around, a couple of us singing along to personal favorites. There were slow songs mixed in and I got to sway around wrapped in Dimitri's arms. I even spared a waltz-ish dance for my old man. I could tell by the glint in his eye and his smug smile that he ate up the small father-daughter moment. When we began to see traces of the sun trying to peak through the tinted windows, we decided to wrap things up. We exchanged hugs and words of affection before parting ways to our respective housing situations. I started to walk out the palace door to go home with my boyfriend, suppressing a yawn. He caught my hand and stopped me from leaving.

"Comrade," I whined. "I'm tired."

"I know, Roza," he said, apologetically. "But we need to swing by our old room and get the key you forgot to bring with you from your first clue this morning." Realization dawned on me. I had grabbed it and shoved it in my pocket when I left the apartment this morning but left it in the pocket of my sweatpants after my shower.

"How on earth do you do that? You weren't even there!" I threw my hands up in exasperation. He shot me a devilish smile.

"I removed every piece of clothing from your sexy little body earlier, my love," he murmured in my ear, kissing the shell and making me shiver as my core once again began to throb for him. "There is nowhere that key could've been hiding." I swallowed thickly and we retrieved my key from my home of the last six months. I stumbled slightly as we walked out the door, due to shear exhaustion. Dimitri scooped me into his strong arms and carried me home in the early morning light. As wiped out as I was, I knew we wouldn't be sleeping right when we got home. And it wasn't because I was finally going to get my tour.

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