(Disclaimer I do not own these characters that would be Richelle Mead)

Rose POV

Knocking 10 shits out of a dummy in the gym. I can't believe my own father would do this to me. Out of all the places he could of hidden him he sends him here. Bloody basted wait till I get my hands on you dad. I'm going to squeeze the life out of you using one of your hideous scarves as a rope.

Three days and so far I've managed to stay away from him on the whole, but the day he walked in I thought I was going to faint. Arseholes didn't even give me a heads up, a "By the way Rose the man you love yeah the one that broke your heart is on his way here." No he walked in all so hot and yummy even after a 12 hour journey and I just stood there staring at him mouth opening and closing like a fish. To make things worse Gav my lovely loyal Gav showed me up by saying. "Close your mouth Rose unless your trying to catch flies." Grrrr I hate them all.

So began my dance around the place trying to avoid him, I was ducking and weaving all round the house. People that would see me would just laugh at my antics. Once in the kitchen I had to hide behind the counter near Di's legs when he walked in to get a coffee. The other guardians sitting at the table were trying not to laugh. As he walked in their direction to take a seat I crawled around the counter of the island on my hands and knees ready to bolt once I was near the door.

"You do realise I know that your there Rose." I hear him say from the direction of the table. Dam him and his so sexy accented voice that still sent shudders straight to my heart and other body parts.

At that I stood up straightened my clothes and with my head held high gracefully walked out of the kitchen. Once out I heard everyone break out laughing at my expense. God dam them.

So after three days of utter humiliation and enduring jokes at my expense I've smacked the shit out of two guardians and now this dummy in front of me. I must look like a state but really couldn't give a shit.

"Fancy sparring with something that can fight back?"

Great I pause take a deep breath. "I don't know Belikov this dummy probably is more of a challenge then you anyway." He looks at me lifting his eyebrow (dam I still can't do that) as he takes me in.

"Pretty sure of yourself aren't you? Glad that hasn't changed but I'm sure I can still put you on your arse."

Well that got my back up I know that's what he was aiming for and I should not fall into this trap but hell no. I'll put him on his arse once then walk away laughing. "Okay Belikov bring it just let me grab a drink first while you set up the mats."

As I grab some water I watch him set up the sparring mats and I can't help but check him out. God the last five years have been good to him. His face still looks exactly the same I mean Jeez he is almost 30 now but seems to not of aged. Same wide dark brown eyes and light brown straight hair that is pulled into a short ponytail at the nape of his neck with the loose tendrils framing his chiselled face oh and very kissable lips. God I forgot how tall he was I mean I remembered that he is 6.7 foot tall but I forgot what that looked like. His muscles have become more defined on his body, dam his light grey T-shirt looks ready to burst, I can see every defined body part from his abs, pecks, shoulders and arms. It's been to long since I've had sex and now my hormones are paying me back. As if reading my mind and hearing those thoughts he bends down to straighten the mats giving me a great view of his arse in the air. Biting my lower lip and wanting to pinch his cheek. Fuck get a grip woman.

"You ready?" He asks pulling me out of my fantasies.

"Yep born ready, you sure you don't want to back down I've already sent two men out crying?" He gives me a sexy smirk and gets into position on the mat. Shrugging my shoulders I head over and getting into my own stance ready. Let the fight begin.

We circle each other a few times waiting to see who was going to attack first, at exactly the same time he goes low to swipe my legs from under me and I go high in a jump spin hook kick to get him in the head totally missing each other. That was the signal that we had begun. First me on the offensive him defending himself then switching him going on the offensive me defending myself. Dam he had improved in the last five years obviously learning new fighting techniques on his down time but so have I.

Time to floor the Russian basted, separating myself from him and going to the edge of the mat I make it look like I'm going to do a running swipe of his legs but I actually launch myself high and swing my legs around his neck and flip. Causing him to do a 270 degree flip landing on his back on the mat with me well almost sitting on his face. Yep my brain is so going there. "Fuck Rose where the hell did you pick that move up? But I don't think you'd want to be in this position with a strigoi!" With my mind going into fantasy world and him putting me off with his joke I totally forgot to go for the kill move allowing him time to flip us over. Yep with his head still totally there he crawls up my body while I just moan at the sight of it, kisses my throat and whispers "dead". For a few seconds we just stare at each other god I missed his eyes all chocolate brown warm and I'm sinking into them when I remember I'm supposed to be over him. FUCK.

Pushing him off me I get up and ripe down my clothes as I walk over to the seats where my water bottle is. "You've improved. I see your still picking up new techniques." I state turning to face him looking up into his eyes.

"So have you. You've become one hell of a fighter can't say I'm surprised though you were the best even back then." Taking a sip of water I turn away from him.

"Yeah even better when I use Lissa's darkness to fuel me."

I hear the shock in his voice when he says. "What the hell are you talking about using her darkness?Roza that's dangerous for you." It's the first time I've heard him use that name for over five years and I like it and hate it all at once.

"Dimitri don't worry we have total control over the darkness now." Turning back round to look at him he looks sceptical so I continue. "I've been studying with a bonded spirit pair for years. I also have so much jewellery charmed with spirit infused into them to heal the darkness I could open up my own jewellery store. The other shadow kissed man taught me how to harness the darkness so I can use it without losing control."

"You've met another bonded pair? Where? When?" He asks stepping closer to me.

"Your going to laugh at this but in Baia my father tracked them down with the help of a friend that lives there. She set up a meeting for us and Baba flew us in to meet them. Since then I've been to Baia lots of times to see them and also as my dad has a house there, oh and the charity work I do there." We continue to drink our water

"Baia I new Zemy had a place there I just never thought of you there. Huh a bonded pair do I know them?" He asks,

I know he wants to ask if I've ever met anyone from his family while there, that would be a no. His family are settled so they don't need help from my charity. Maybe they know Oksana and Mark but if they do they'd never been around when I was visiting. "Their names are Oksana and Mark. He was her guardian when he died and she brought him back, now they're married and because of the attitudes at court about that left, and I never have met any of your family." I add taking him by surprise that I can still read him. Ha stick it Dimitri Belikov after all this time I can still read you like a book.

"I know them I've only met them a couple of times the last time I went but they're good friend of my mothers and grandmother. Never guessed they were bonded though." I look straight into his eyes with a question hanging on my lips but then he adds. "Yeah even though I saw it with you and Lissa pretty much straight away." Ha guess he can still read me too.

"Rose we need to talk about Ivan and what's going to happen in the future. I want to be a part of his life. I want us all to be able to work through this." I inhale a huge breath and start looking around the room. "Please Roza don't take this away from me, I know what happened in the past might be unforgivable but he is my son and I want to show you I can be worthy of being his papa." He begs I don't like him begging I don't want to hold that kind of power over him.

"Okay let's hit the showers meet me at my bedroom in an hour." Dimitri gives me a sexy smirks. "Oh get your head out of the gutter Comrade and don't get any ideas this is about our son and only our son." I can't help but laugh heading out of the gym.

Standing under the shower head cleaning myself top to bottom I notice I'm taking way too much care over the state I'm in. Shaving, exfoliating using my best toiletries making sure I smell yummy. Stop it now you are not going to do anything with him. Okay maybe it's time to admit to myself that I'm still physically attracted to this man. Not my fault the man is a god wrapped up in a duster. Also why is it so easy to still talk to him like it was back then. The conversation just flows and we can say anything and everything to each other, shouldn't that of changed with what happened and the passing of five years. The man broke your heart. This is for Ivan and only Ivan that's it. But dam I'm going to make sure I look my best that's for sure.

Dimitri POV

Making my way to Rose's room I can't help but think how good she looks. It's a shame she had to change her hair I loved the way I could curl the strands around my fingers. She has matured in the time I hadn't seen her. Her body even leaner than it was has lost any remnants of baby fat. She still had killer curves all in the right places but looked more powerful and dangerous with the muscles she was packing now. Her cheekbones were slightly more prominent now that the youthful weight had gone from her face making her eyes look even bigger and her smile more exquisite. Yeah she still was the most beautiful women I'd ever seen.

As I was going to knock on the door Rose opens it and wow she looks amazing. Her hair tied up in a messy yet styled bun at the top of her head a few strands falling around her perfect face. No makeup but she didn't need it. She is wearing a black pencil skirt that just goes past the knees and a red blouse that was open enough to show cleavage. I can't help but stare at her cleavage and imagine myself kissing my way down from her neck to it. She has done this on purpose I know at least that much but why? Is she hoping for more? When I breath in I can't help but take in her scent, that smell of coconut and vanilla the same as when we were together back at the academy and this triggers all my memories of us.

I'm about to go into her room when she asks me where I'm going. Confused I look at her and she gives me her man eater smile and instructs me to follow. Following her down the hall I take note of the blood red stilettos she is wearing and can't help the dirty pictures my brain produces moaning at my bodies reaction to these. What I am a man and she's playing me. The girl is good! Looking at the back of her neck her blouse was low enough for me to see the extra Molnijas marks she has gotten in the last five years and there are a lot. I'd say at least an extra 10 have been added to the already 2 Molnijas and battle star she earned at the academy.

We enter an office where I see people at desks working, I'm guessing they're working on charity stuff when Rose addresses the room. "So any new developments or are they still going round in circles?"

"Actually 7 of the 12 votes have now come in, I guess the Guardian council giving them a deadline has mobilised them into making a decision." A private guardian named Ben informs her looking her up and down his smirk and raised eyebrow in question confirms that she doesn't usually dress up at home. Yes definitely trying to make me uncomfortable. Well it's working!

Realising that they are talking about what's happening at court. "Really have you got the transcripts of what's been said." She asks holding out her hand to him silently asking for them. Ben hands her over a few A4 pages filled with writing. They obviously have someone at court relaying everything that's going on in the council hall.

Rose starts reading with me reading over her shoulder about what's been happening and said in the last couple of hours at court. When I read what Lissa has said I feel proud of my charge she has been brave enough to voice her thoughts and stick to her beliefs. But then again when doesn't she.

As if reading my thoughts she says. "I'll give it to Lissa she has become brave and she knows how to command a room. She has become a powerhouse in our political system. I'm just glad she's on the Dhampir side or we would definitely lose the vote." Rose looks a little sad while saying this. Continuing to read she then snorts out a laugh. "Oh Adrian will he ever change?" Reading ahead I see what she means and have to smile. That man!

"Well actually he has changed a lot in the last five years. He doesn't smoke any longer and has cut down on the alcohol, he now uses charms to control the darkness from using spirit. He has also found love and it turns out that we are cousins. Who would of seen that coming?" I thought I would of seen shock but Rose who is standing in front of me tilts her head up and back so she can look straight at me. God I could just lean forward and kiss her.

"I know." She whispers. Of cause Zemy's spies would extend to court as well as the communes Rose probably knows everything that's been going on in our lives for the past five years while we have been ignorant about hers.

Rose moves past the people who are all still typing away and speaking on phones in different languages. I can recognise the English and Russian but the third language. Maybe Arabic? She goes through a door with me on her heals once the door shuts she turns to me. "Take a seat I would sit on the floor that way we can spread out."

Looking around me I see we have entered another office and it is huge bigger than my room at the academy. There's a large dark oak desk with a small laptop, a few pens and a notepad sitting on top. A burgundy leather desk chair that looks like two people could fit into sits on the side facing the door and a few smaller yet comfortable burgundy chairs on the other side. Behind the desk there's a floor to ceiling bookcase filled with volumes of reading material. The books look old and expensive I know they're probably more for show as Rose is not a reader for the love of it unlike me. Oh she will read if there's a relevance. To one side of the desk there's a glass wall with doors that leads to a large balcony letting in lots of natural light. I could imagine Rose sitting out there enjoying the sun. Since being here I've noticed that they run on human time so they enjoy the day light hours.

Rose moves over to a burgundy sofa with cream cushions sitting against the wall opposite the desk. Sitting herself down slipping her shoes off and pulling her feet under her gestures to the rug in front of her. I move onto the plush rug and sit crossed legged waiting patiently for her to start.

"So it looks like the vote will be over with soon. My people out there will give us the word when it's over." I look up at her.

"Haven't you been keeping an eye. Can't you just feel it and go into Lissa's head and see what happens for yourself?" I asked confused why she wouldn't just want to witness it first hand.

"I haven't felt any of her emotions or seen through Lissa's eyes in over four years." She states with a wave of her hand. I'm shocked by this Rose always kept tabs on Lissa before this and to stop it altogether I thought would be impossible.

"How and why would you close the bond to that extent." I have to admit I'm a little angry by this and show it.

"What was the point Dimitri it's not like I could do anything. If I felt she was sad or happy I couldn't pick up a phone and call. If she was in danger I was to far away to get there to help and to be honest I didn't want to feel her emotions and see all of you threw her eyes it hurt to much. I closed the bond the day I told her about being pregnant, I couldn't stand to feel her anger and feelings of betrayal directed at me. At first it was hard work to keep the barriers up constantly but after a while it became second nature. Now it's normal I actually think that pulling them down would be hard work."

This was a revelation I thought the bond could not be turned off like that. But the darkness I know she takes it so how does that work? "But you still take the darkness don't you have to open the bond for that?"

"Yes and no it's like a separate part of the brain controls that. Even if I don't intentionally take it it still seeps through. I don't have to bring my barriers down to take it. The down side of that is I don't know how much she's carrying like I used to so I make sure I take it everyday that way I don't become overwhelmed or overload the charms I'm wearing." She explains this in a very bored way like she's explaining how to boil an egg.

"What about the ghosts?" I ask.

"Oh yeah they're still fun. I have managed to control that side effect of being shadow kissed for some time. Mark showed me how to keep them out. It was a relief when Mark told me he saw them too I mean I know I wasn't going insane but it's always good to hear." Getting excited she adds. "Oh and strigoi can see them too when I release them. It's actually fucking hysterical watching a bunch of ghosts surrounding them and the strigoi be like what the fuck waving their arms around. Mark has advised me not to do it often as the ghosts are a danger to me. But considering the head splitting headache that comes with the ghosts that's an easy one to follow."

As she talks in an animated way about the ghosts all I can focus on was the danger part which worries me. Why would ghosts be a danger they can't physically touch her or at least couldn't back then? "Roza why are they dangerous to you?"

"Oh it's not so much them but what they represent. You see when I died and spirit brought me back a part of me stayed in that limbo where ghosts are, when I let myself see them it means I've gone closer to the part of me still there basically bringing me closer to death. If I go there to often or stay there to long I could die again and this time stay dead." My face must of showed the horror I was feeling. "Oh don't worry Comrade I have no intention of dying anytime soon. So I keep the ghosts away. I'm staying right here until old age!" I can't help but smile even though the conversation was not a happy one I had noted that she had called me comrade a few times now. The old nickname made me happy it was good to hear.

With that she gets up and goes into a cupboard and pulls out a large box returning to where I am sitting on the floor and passes the box to me. "Well open it then."

Lifting the lid I see it's full of photos. Taking the first one out it's an ultrasound picture. Ivan before he was born. Putting that on the floor next to me I start pulling photos of him ranging from when he was born to now. Looking at each one throughly then putting it down next to the one before. Pictures of celebrations birthdays, Christmas and festivals that are celebrated here in Turkey. Pictures of him and his mum in the gym play sparring against each other, and ones that make me jealous and sad are of him on the shoulders or in the arms of the guardians here. I can see that he had a good life with many people loving him when I get to a photo that couldn't be more than a few months old I look up at her. "He looks like me but also you it's like he's been split between us."

"Yep and not just in looks but behaviour to. Sometimes he is so much like you it's eerie. Other times he acts just like me. He is his own person though and that person is beautiful, kind, loyal well just perfect. Well until he loses his temper then maybe not so perfect! He got the Hathaway temper that's for sure. Oh and don't let those dough eyes hit you coz then your a gonna and you end up giving him whatever he wants." She says all this with a dreamy expression on her face. "Take a few of the photos if you want I have plenty more."

I thank her and take one that was taken just after birth while she was still in hospital, one in the gym of him and his mother sparring and one where he is on his own looking straight into the camera you cannot help and see that he was mine and Rose's child. He is perfect.

"I want you to be in his life and I want us to at least have a friendly relationship. It won't be fair on Ivan if we can't get along." She says looking at me.

"I agree Rose we should at least be friends it will be a happier healthier upbringing for Ivan. But it's going to be hard I'm based at court or the academy at least while Lissa is there, but your based here. How are we going to make this work?" I ask trying to figure out how we can logistically make this happen.

"Whoa Comrade hold your horses we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow let alone plan for next week,month or year. Our world might be totally different tomorrow depending on the council. Let's just take one day at a time. Starting with today let's work on friendship." She sticks out her hand for me to shake. I can't help the large smile that escape my mask. "Agreed friendship." I say back taking her hand bringing it up to my face and kissing the top of her knuckles.

She gives me a smile. "Once everything settles down we can talk about how we are going to make it work with Ivan."

Just then Ben walks in. "It's done the votes are in they are going to do the analysis." He states from the doorway.

"So there were enough council members to over rule the Queen and her entourage." Rose states.

"Um actually it was the Queen who swung it in our favour." Ben informs us.

"Ahh shit what's she planning? The blood it couldn't of been contaminated?"

Ben answers "No way Mikhail and Simon have been with the samples 24/7 no one has gone near the samples."

"Okay and the Alchemists they wouldn't be working for her." She mumbled this to herself obviously not a question but Ben felt the need to answer. "Nope Sydney is with the group she would report back if anything looked suspicious plus Alchemists like us better than the Moroi. Not much better but still it helps!"

I didn't hear the rest of the conversation as the name Sydney was swimming around my head. Adrians girlfriend has betrayed him, all this time she new and it looks like she was working with Rose. Poor Adrian.

"Yo Comrade. Hey Dimitri are you okay?" Rose is leaning a few inches from my face. Looking up I notice that not only has the conversation with Ben ended but we were alone in the office again.

"How could you Rose? Poor Adrian he trusted her, loves her. When he finds out she betrayed him." She looks at me for a few seconds and then leans back.

"Ohhh. It's not what you think. She knows me as Anna she has no idea I am Rose nor did she know what we were planning. She does know my dad and I don't know what he has on her but she does work with him from time to time."

An Alchemist working for a Moroi whatever it is Abe has on her has to be big. Wait is it hers and Adrians relationship. I start getting angry and Rose jumps straight in.

"It's not the relationship she's been working with him longer than that, I wouldn't put it past him to use that info if it were anybody else but he hasn't because of my friendship with Adrian back then. Anyway four days ago Abe contacted her and told her she has to get herself on the team that will look at the blood as we needed someone to make sure that it was not tampered with. That's when she found out about it. She doesn't know who I really am though. The only people who know that Anna is really Rose outside my dads circle which includes Tasha, her husband and my mum, are you, Lissa, Chris and Alberta. Oh and the Queen." She adds the last part like it's an afterthought.

"What do you mean the Queen. How does she know? This could be bad Rose."

"Seems she always new who my father was. Bitch even implied it when we were at court for Victors trial. Just I didn't cotton on to that till after the fact. Look there's nothing we can do about that. We don't think she will play that hand as it puts her at to much risk from the council and a very pissed of Abe." True Zemy scared even strigoi.

Swinging around so my back was up against the sofa with Rose sitting above me we sit in comfortable silence listening to the chatter from the other side of the door. It was nice that we still didn't need to fill the void with chatter. Leaning my head back Rose takes my hair band out and starts pulling her fingers through my hair. There was no intentions from either of us it was just natural and easy.