Author's Note: I feel like now that I've started writing these two I'm going to have a hard time stopping! This one is set in the "after," whether that's book or show-verse. Either way, we know they've gone through a lot of trauma to get where they are. While I have no idea what path the show is taking I'd like think they'd end up somewhat similarly, which in my head is still Lissa is queen, Rose is her Guardian and Dimitri is Christian's. Any way you slice it, our favorite couple has been through hell and back and deserves a little soft sexy time, don't you think? Title and lyrics from Slow Dancing by Aly & AJ.

It's been days and weeks and months

Feels like forever since I saw you

I'm forgetting how you felt now

I've never had this much time on my hands

The sun was just starting to rise, signaling the end of the Moroi day. Court was quiet as most of its residents were asleep. One tall figure cut through the empty paths as he made his way past the opulent palace to the more understated apartment complexes behind it.

Dimitri's usually brisk pace quickened even more the closer he came to one of the buildings. It looked much like those surrounding it, but it held a special place in his heart because of who it contained.

His long legs took him up the stairs to the promise of soft brown curls, warm skin, and bright mischievous eyes. He had only been away for two months, but being separated from Rose made it feel like years.

Walking into the modest Guardian apartment that he shared with Rose, Dimitri paused in the doorway at the scene in front of him.

The table had been pushed to the side, the radio playing softly. There were a few pots and pans bubbling on the stove, which explained the pleasant aroma in the apartment. On the counter sat a bottle of red wine and two glasses, and in the middle of the kitchen was his Roza.

Barefoot, eyes closed, swaying to the music. The tee shirt that she had stolen from him tantalizingly rode up as she raised her arms above her head. Dimitri was barely able to contain his groan as more inches of her skin were revealed, along with a hint of lace.

He was hypnotized, and he didn't want to startle her but knew he could only stand there for so long without joining her.

Move the kitchen table out to the lawn

Roll up the rug, the stereo's on

All I can imagine is being in your arms

Shutting the door as quietly as he could manage, Dimitri set down his suitcase and slowly approached the vision that was Rose, lost in the music. All he wanted was to be lost with her, in her, as he stood behind her, pulling her back against his chest.

She gasped quietly as she felt the solid wall of muscle behind her, relaxing her head back against his shoulder without opening her eyes. One of his hands came to rest on her hip, playing with the hem of the shirt as his fingers grazed the skin beneath.

His other hand raked through her hair, brushing it to the side to expose her neck to him. Dipping his head down, he ran his nose down from her ear to her collar bone, breathing her in. He made his way back up, leaving soft, hot kissed that promised more.

"Saints, I missed you," he whispered against her ear before running his tongue along the shell.

Rose shivered and pressed herself tighter against him. She let out a small moan as his hand moved from her hip under the shirt to cup her bare breast, his thumb moving slowly over the tightening nipple.

"I missed you too, Comrade," she said softly.

I want you to know

I don't need anything fancy

I just need me and you slow dancing

Her hips brushed against his as they moved to the slow tempo of the music, neither knowing nor caring what song was playing.

Moving both of his hands to her waist, Dimitri spun her around gently to face him.

"Hi," she whispered, almost shyly, gazing up at him with a mix of love and need. She was met with one of his rare full smiles that he seemed to save just for her.

She hadn't been expecting him back for another hour, but couldn't complain about having any extra time with him.

Tipping her face up to his expectantly, she sighed against his mouth when she felt his lips against hers.

Dimitri tried to keep the kiss tender but soon found himself needing more of her, pressing his tongue into her mouth and tightening his arms around her waist so she was flush against his hips.

Rose moaned at the feeling of his growing arousal, opening her mouth further for him and chasing his tongue with her own.

Pulling back for air, Dimitri leaned his forehead against hers, continuing to sway them both to the radio.

"Two months is too goddamn long," he practically growled. His hands traveled down her back to cup the curves of her ass, squeezing lightly.

Rose nodded in agreement, tipping her head back as he kissed and nipped from her jaw to her chest, pulling down her neckline slightly to access more of her skin.

Hell's bending keeping me captive

Heaven's here it's right where you're standing

Slow dancing

She didn't ask how the mission with Christian went. She knew it had been stressful, and that she would get the full debriefing in two days.

Lissa and Christian had given them both the next day off, knowing that their Guardians needed the time together just as much as they did.

They didn't always have the luxury of time with their busy Guardian schedules, and both intended to enjoy the rare chance to be alone with no responsibilities.

There was a time when simple moments like this were far from the realm of possibility, when any hope of a future together was something they barely allowed themselves to dream about.

They had spent far too much time pushing each other away over the years, but had finally been able to put their stubbornness aside and try building a life together.

It wasn't easy, and there was a reason that relationships between two Guardians were so rare that they were almost unheard of. They both had to put themselves in danger daily but having the other to come back to made it worth it.

"Something on your mind?" Dimitri asked quietly, smoothing the furrow between her brows with his fingers.

"Just...you. Us. How we almost didn't get here, almost lost each other so many times..." she trailed off as he lifted her chin with one finger, bringing her gaze to his.

"But we didn't, and we're both here," he said fiercely. "Being away from you is especially hard when I don't have you beside me to remind me that you're really mine," he admitted quietly after a moment.

"I'm yours," she whispered, stroking the slight stubble on his cheek. He really had rushed here if he hadn't even shaved.

"I was hoping to have dinner ready before you got back," she said, waving at the stove behind her, trying to lighten the mood.

Cooking wasn't one of Rose's many skills, but he appreciated that she'd made an effort for him. There would, however, be time to eat later. Food was the furthest thing from his mind as he reached behind her and switched the stove off. He then picked up the wine and glasses with one hand while taking one of hers in the other.

She protested weakly as he led her to their bedroom, setting the wine and glasses on the nightstand before turning back to her.

His eyes darkened with desire as she stepped towards him, lifting the shirt over her head to reveal the lace panties he had glimpsed earlier and nothing else.

"So you want dessert first?" she teased, biting her lip in the way that she knew drove him crazy.

"I don't know, Roza, maybe I'll start with the wine after all," Dimitri said with laughter in his voice. She pouted as he took his eyes off her to pour two glasses but accepted hers anyway, watching over the rim of her glass as he took a sip.

"Do you like it? Lissa and I went to a private wine tasting and she insisted on getting us a bottle," she said excitedly.

He appeared to consider her question, swirling the wine in his glass before setting it down.

"It does have a nice flavor, but I can think of something better," he said lowly, taking her glass before pulling her down on the bed.

Before he could roll on top of her, she held out her hand and tugged on his jacket.

"Don't you think we should even things out a bit?" she asked coyly, gesturing to her mostly naked form.

Dimitri smirked but allowed her to remove his Guardian jacket and black tee shirt, stopping her hands at the waistband of his pants.

"Not yet," he said, rolling them so that she was underneath him. Her hands came up to caress the sharp lines of his chest and abs as she looked up at him.

He knew that they had enough time for this to be the first round of many. They didn't have to worry about waking up for their shifts the next day, and he wasn't planning on either of them leaving the apartment, possibly the bed.

Still, Dimitri wanted to savor the feeling of being back with Rose. He never took it for granted that he was able to be with her like this, and now he actually had the gift of time to show her.

He kissed her soundly before moving to her breasts, giving them equal attention with his hands and mouth.

"Dimitri," she moaned, lifting her hips to find some friction. He stilled her body with his hands but moved to oblige her. Nothing thrilled him more than giving Rose what she needed and watching her take her pleasure.

He left open-mouthed kisses on her lower abdomen and hips before she felt his teeth graze her skin as he caught the edge of her panties between his teeth and dragged them down her legs.

"That was new," she said, breathless with anticipation and trying not to squirm underneath him.

"At least I didn't rip them this time," he retorted, earning him a laugh.

That laugh quickly turned into a deep moan as his mouth found her center, giving her lazy licks and kisses that belied the raging need within him. He kept his movements slow and controlled, even when she buried her hands in his hair and tried to buck her hips against his mouth.

"Patience, Roza," he murmured against her. He was only able to maintain the slow pace for so long, though, as her hands tugged his hair harder and her moans became louder and more desperate.

He gripped her hip tightly with one hand to ground himself while he pushed two of his fingers into her. He kept a steady rhythm with his fingers as his tongue circled her clit, knowing it wouldn't take long for her to fall apart.

He felt the telltale clench against his fingers as she hit her peak. He worked her through it with a satisfied smirk until he felt her body relax fully against the bed.

Crawling back up her body, Dimitri watched as she slowly came back to herself. She opened her eyes and reached for him, her hands caressing his neck, stopping as she brushed over the distinct bite scars.

He met her eyes, reaching his hand to trace over the ones on the side of her own neck. Sighing at the pain he saw in her eyes, he pressed his lips firmly against her scars before tilting her head to caress the tattoos on the back of her neck that reflected his own.

They didn't bring up the circumstances around many of their scars anymore. Most they bore proudly along with their molnija, promise, and zvezda marks. But there were some battles that had left deeper scars, both seen and unseen.

Rose took a shaky breath as he turned back to her with concern in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me tonight," she huffed in frustration. "I'm not trying to ruin the moment."

Dimitri shook his head. "You aren't ruining anything. I never want you to feel like you have to hide your emotions from me."

His hands cupped her face, thumbs caressing her jaw soothingly.

"It's easier to push aside the heavier thoughts when we don't stop moving," Rose admitted and he nodded.

"Maybe tomorrow we take some time to really talk, in between other...activities," he said with a small smile.

"And if I just want to sleep all day?" she asked, earning her a pinch on the hip. She laughed, and he thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

"I love you so much," he said, running his hands up and down her sides. "Next time I'm pulled into a mission that's longer than a few days I'm taking you with me."

They both knew that was impossible with her position as one of the Queen's Guardians.

"Let's forget about all that now," Rose said, and he smiled at the determination in her voice. "This is our day off, and honestly there's only one thing I want right now."

She pushed his pants and boxers off in one go, wrapping her leg around his hip so that she felt him against her center.

"And that would be?" He was going to make her say it. She smirked at him.

"Fuck me, Dimitri."

He groaned as her words shot straight to his groin, but he shook his head.

"No?" He could hear the surprise in her voice.

"Believe me, we will definitely fuck tonight, Roza. But first I'm going to take my time with you and show you just how much I missed you and this beautiful body of yours."

The words would have sounded cheesy coming from anyone else, but she understood that he wanted more than their usual frenzied trysts.

She locked eyes with him and whispered, "Make love to me, then."

The battle outside is blazing

And all I'm thinking about is you