Chapter 6: Nightmares

DPOV

Roza quickly fell asleep in my arms and I wanted nothing more than to pick her up, put her in my bed and just hold her for the night. The thought of waking up next to her sounded like heaven, but all in good time. I have to remind myself that Rose is inexperienced and not used to a romantic relationship, and I never would want to pressure her so we will go at her speed.

I did allow myself pleasure of holding her for a while and running my fingers through her hair as I whispered words of love to her in Russian. After about 20 minutes, I picked her up and carried her into her room. Celeste got up the minute I opened the door and pulled down the sheets so I could lay Roza down. As I pulled up the covers, I kissed her forehead, than Celeste followed me out of the room.

"How is she?" Celeste asked.

"She's okay; actually she's doing well considering how much has happened over the last couple of days."

Celeste paused for a minute, and then asked "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

I thought about her question for a minute and then I said "Yes" I confessed "how did you know?"

"Just from being around you, you always light up a little when you are near her."

"Is it that obvious" I asked.

"No, it's just that we have been working so closely together. I can see the subtle changes in both of you. Rose has calmed down a little bit with you around, she doesn't fly off the handle like she used to. And you have opened up more, since you brought the Princess and Rose back to the Academy. But I am happy for the two of you, it's a rare thing to find."

"Thanks Celeste."

Celeste went back into the bedroom and I went to my bedroom to get my shower stuff. I turned the shower on to the hottest setting and just stood under it for a few minutes and felt my muscles starting to relax after all the events over the past few days. I saw Roza's shampoo in the shower and I couldn't help myself from opening the bottle and inhaling the scent that I knew so well from being around her. My mind wandered to place where Roza and I could be together without having to hide our relationship. I finished my shower, toweling off and putting on a t-shirt and pj bottoms. When I looked in the mirror, I realized that I needed to shave but exhaustion was starting to take over. I went back to my room, crawled into bed and I think I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I woke up at some point in the middle of the night to the sound of Roza screaming. I grabbed my stake and I ran across the dorm in like four steps. I opened the door and Celeste appeared to be trying to wake up Roza from a nightmare. I went to the head of Roza's bed and started stroking her hair. "Rose…Rose…Roza, milaya wake up for me."

Roza's movements started to slow down and she stopped screaming, I pleaded "Roza, wake up milaya, you're okay, you're safe".

Roza stopped moving and opened her eyes and asked "Comrade?"

"I'm right here Roza." I thought she was calming down, but she started crying. I sat on the bed and pulled her onto my lap and started rubbing her back. Her breathing started picking up. "Roza, you're safe, you need to slow down your breathing."

"I . . . I can't . . . . .. breathe". Roza gasped while crying and trying to catch her breath.

"You are having a panic attack, you're safe, I am right here with you, try to slow your breathing down."

After a few minutes her breathing began to slow down, as well as her crying. I continued rubbing her back as she grabbed my shirt with both her hands. I tried to move her off my lap and back to the bed so she could rest, but she clutched even harder to my t-shirt and said "don't leave me, please don't leave me".

Celeste said "Dimitri, just take her to room, she obviously needs you right now."

"Are you sure?" I questioned.

"Yes, your secret is safe with me."

"Thanks Celeste". I picked up Roza and carried her bridal style. I set her in the middle of the bed and as I started to back to back away she grabbed my t-shirt tighter and her crying picked up.

"Shhh, Roza, its okay I'm not leaving you, I 'm getting into bed with you." She released my t-shirt and I got into the bed and pulled her to me face to face.

RPOV

(Previously on the couch)

After talking with Dimitri, I felt overwhelmingly tired but was excited when he agreed to hold me. I felt so safe in Dimitri's arms and I loved the smell and feel of him. He was holding me and kissing my hair and talking to me softly in Russian. I had no idea what he was saying but I am sure they were loving words. My eyelids became very heavy and I could no longer keep them open.

A little while later I felt myself being lifted and carried into the bedroom and placed gently on the bed. I snuggled down into the bed and I felt Dimitri kiss me on my forehead.

The next thing I knew I was in my old dorm room and Jesse and Ralf were there in my room and trying to push me towards the bed saying they wanted to party. Then both Jesse and Ralf turned into strigois and I started screaming for help. I felt hands on me and I was trying to fight them off. I heard them calling my name "Rose…..Rose" they said. "

"Wake up" wait I thought "Rose…Roza"

"Roza" I froze, only Dimitri called me that.

"Wake up milaya"

"Comrade?"

"I'm right here".

I opened my eyes to see those chocolate brown eyes that I love. I sat up and clutched onto him. I started crying hard and Dimitri pulled me into his lap and was rubbing my back. He was talking but I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying. Suddenly, I felt like I couldn't catch my breath.

"i….I can't….can't breathe".

I finally got out and Dimitri said "You are having a panic attack. You're safe. I am right here with you, try to slow your breathing down."

After a while I started to relax a little but I couldn't let go of Dimitri and I was still breathing little faster than usual. I felt Dimitri try to move me back onto the bed but I just held on to his t-shirt more and I said "don't leave me, please don't leave me."

I heard Celeste say "Dimitri just take her to your room, she obviously needs you right now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, your secret is safe with me."

I felt Dimitri pick me up as I buried my head into his chest and he carried me into his room. I felt him put me down on the bed and he started to pull away but I clutched his t-shirt harder.

"Shh, Roza, it's okay, I'm getting into bed with you."

I released my hold on him and he stepped back to open covers and let me crawl under as he got in as well. He pulled me to him so that we were both on our sides facing each other. He wiped away my tears and asked "Do you remember what were you dreaming about?"

I started crying a little harder, the events of the past few days were overwhelming me. Dimitri pulled me into his chest and he started rubbing my back and kissing my hair.

"I was dreaming about Jesse ad Ralf being in my room and pushing me onto the bed and then they became strigois and that is when I started screaming."

I felt Dimitri freeze for a second and I could feel his jaw tighten, but then he hugged me tighter and said "Roza, I'm so sorry so much has happened to you. I'm not surprised you are having nightmares. I wish I could take them away from you."

I pulled back a little to look at his face. He wiped my tears away with the pad of his thumb and he slowly and gently put his lips to mine. They were so warm and soft and then his lips started becoming firmer and my heart started beating faster. I was starting to relax more into his embrace and kissing him back with the same desperation that I felt for him. But then his lips left mine and he kissed my forehead. I sighed a little in disappointment at the loss of his lips. And as always he knew what I was feeling as he said "I know Roza, I would love to do nothing more than kiss you for hours but you have been through so much, and I don't want to pressure you right now".

"I don't mind" I said.

He kissed my forehead again and said "I know but hopefully I will have years and years to kiss you, if you'll have me."

I looked into his eyes and saw so much love and hope, I said "I hope so too".

He said "Close your eyes and try to get some sleep, you need some rest after the past few days. I will be right here for you. If you start to whimper or anything, I will wake you up."

"Thank you Comrade"

As I started drifting off, I felt him cradling me with his warmth and the smell of him that I loved. And he started whispering to me in Russian again. I fell into a deep sleep with no dreams.