(Disclaimer I do not own any of these characters that would be Richelle Mead)
Rose POV
Today was the last morning with the Belikovas as they would be flying back to Russia today. Timing their arrival so they're back a week before St Basils was due to break up for the holidays. Vika will be staying on at court until her charge decides to head home. He wants to stay and watch the trail as so many others do.
Vika's charge is one of those royals who treats her as a friend and as he is at court and well protected within wards and the patrolling guardians he has given her a leave of absence until he decides to go back to Russia or if he decides a trip out of court is needed.
The Belikovas were excited to be going home as they are feeling the segregation between the species here where in Baia that segregation is pretty much non existent. But I would miss having them here as I have found myself a part of their family. They quickly took me under their wings, as mothers giving me tips about what to expect in the future and ordering me to a phone date every week. Karolina especially wanted me to keep in regular contact as Paul was over the moon that there was another man in the family. His exact words were. "Finally too many bloody women, the moodiness alone is enough to drive you nuts!"
The funniest reaction was from Dimitri himself, the man actually was mopping around the whole day yesterday. He looked like Ivan after I have taken his favourite toy away from him as punishment. I couldn't help but laugh every time I looked at him which just made him even more mopey and frustrated at me for not placating him.
Heading down to breakfast it seems that meal times are important in the Belikov household. So much so that Di had officially been banned from the kitchen while Olena was here. This has caused Di to constantly moan that she has nothing to do now even though every time I see her she is picking up after the 16 grown up men living here at the moment. Olena has been feeding us the best home cooked Russian food I have ever tasted, I've even spotted Yeva helping her by the stove.
Yeah Yeva what do I say about her? She hasn't said much to me in the week I've known her. I have seen her watching me especially the way I am around Ivan and Dimitri. She would watch me for a few minutes and turn away smiling and humming away to herself. I just hope that means she likes what she sees and not that she's plotting my death while humming a jolly tune!
Getting to the dinning room I notice that Dimitri is sitting on one side with Yeva next to him. Ivan was sitting on her lap stuffing his face with food. Yep he takes after me where food is involved. Taking a seat across the table from Dimitri I take in the feast that is sitting before me. Plates piled high with freshly made Blini. YUM. Bowls of fruit, eggs, bacon, yogurt and syrup. I've died and gone to heaven.
Grabbing a plate I start to pile on everything bar the fruit and yogurt and then drown it in syrup. I dig in moaning at the deliciousness of it all. Looking up I see Dimitri staring at my plate of food with a disgusted look on his face. "What?" I ask with my mouth full.
"Did you want some food with that syrup?" He asks sarcastically
"What's wrong with what I'm eating?" I ask "Ivan eats just like me." I state as I look at what my son is having noting the Blini topped with the healthy options of fruit and yogurt. "Traitor." I mumble as I look at Dimitris smug face.
"I decided our son needed a more healthy approach to food then his mother. Might be to late for you but I would like him to get to retirement age without suffering from a heart attack." Being really sarcastic now. Oh we're on.
"We're Dhampir we will just burn off the food." I state "it's not like we are going to get fat with the amount of exercise we do. He's a growing boy he needs the extra calories."
"We may be Dhamps but we are still mortal. Saturated fats what ever species you are is not healthy and harder to burn off. It takes twice as long to burn off saturated fats then it takes to burn off healthy fats." Dimitri lectures back.
Everyone has stopped to watch our verbal sparring like it's the best game of ping pong going. Their heads just going right to left. Ivan has actually been chewing on the same bit of food in his mouth for the last few minutes while watching us.
"Fine but if he is cranky later from lack of energy it's all your fault." I state going back to my own plate and piling on some more bacon.
Yeva starts to laugh which totally shocks me. I mean where's the context or reason. I think the woman must live in her own head. Sliding out from under Ivan she walks around to my side of the table looking down at me. I turn my face up to her, there's no way that I am going to let her see that she scares the crap out of me. Cupping my face in one of her withered hands.
Staring me straight in the eyes she says. "I like her, she is fierce and has a lot of fire in her soul. Yet she backs down when she knows she is wrong." Looking over at Dimitri. "She will never admit it though and will always make it out that she's right. Good you need someone to keep you on your toes and make life more interesting and not all about duty." Looking back at me. "You also need the calm and he will help chase away the darkness that those charms don't work on."
With that she shuffles out of the dining room leaving us all dumbfounded. Karolina is the first to break the silence. "Getting the thumbs up from Yeva that's a hard thing to achieve."
Olena walking over to me wrapping her arm around my shoulder and placing a tender kiss at the top of my head beaming down at me. "Karolina is right she's a cranky old bird so that was as good as her calling you granddaughter." I look up at her surprised at what she had just said.
"Yep your officially a member of our family now. Sorry no escaping from that fate now." Sonya pitches in. I'm almost floored Sonya was the last Belikova I would of thought I'd hear that from.
Looking up at Dimitri he has a huge grin and a look of such devotion on his face that it catches my breath. He is gorgeous I can't believe that he is in my life let alone the father of my beautiful child. Then I'm reminded that we still have things to discuss concerning our future together. But not right now this was to much of a perfect moment to ruin.
"I already consider you my sister so I refuse to stroke your ego anymore." Vikas words make me laugh. I have to say as breakfast go this one is one for the books.
