Okay, here is finally the next chapter. It is not what I was going for but every time I tried to write it, it wouldn't come out right. I finally gave up and this is what you get. I know where I want to go from here so the updates should be more regular. Sorry that it took so long, I just was stuck.

I hope you don't hate it...I honestly don't like it all that much...

Thank you so much to everyone that reviewed! You guys are totally awesome! I had my wisdom teeth removed 2 months ago and they had to go back in and remove a bone spur so I have a swolen face and have been drugged up the past few days...that's part of why I haven't updated...

I own nothing and it is unbeta'd...if you notice a mistake, let me know and I will corrected it!

Stop Being a Coward!

Chapter 11

"Let the boy breathe." Yeva said as she slowly walked out of the house towards the reunion scene that was unfolding before her. "You don't want to send him back to the grave do you?"

Sonya, Karolina and Viktoria let go of their brother but Olena wasn't about to let him go anytime soon. Her arms were securely fixed around his waist as she began ushering him into the house.

Once they reached Yeva, Olena reluctantly let Dimitri go so that he could greet his grandmother. "Babushka." Dimitri pulled her into his arms gently, scared of how frail she looked. He didn't remember her being that thin or that old.

"Yes boy. You are back. I knew you were coming."

"Well why didn't you tell the rest of us?" Sonya exclaimed as the seven people walked back into the house.

"I didn't know for sure. I just saw it happening. You know how things can always change. I told you she would be your salvation Dimka, and in more ways than one."

"Who are you talking about?" Viktoria asked.

"Where have you been?" Sonya questioned.

"When did this happen?" Karolina asked. All three sisters seemed to be talking at the same time and Dimitri laughed as he took in his family around him.

"Let him eat first, you must be hungry." Olena exclaimed as she pushed her only son into one of the seats at the kitchen table. "I just made some black bread." Olena got him some and began pulling other ingredients out of the fridge. "I will make some of your favorite foods for supper Dimka. Is it just you? Where is Roza?"

Karolina laughed, "I thought you said let him eat first Mama."

"It's okay. I will answer all of your questions. Which one first?" Dimitri asked, breaking the bread in his hands as he nibbled on a piece. It had been far too long since he had had black bread. He never even made it for himself in the states. In all fairness, it was a little harder to get some of the ingredients there but even if they were bountiful, he probably still wouldn't have made it on his own.

There questions overlapped once again and Dimitri interrupted them. "How about I start from the beginning?"

The women quieted and shook their heads, setting in for a story. The dhampir that had been standing at the back, watching the women till that point made himself known by quietly coughing.

"Oh, Luka, I'm so sorry." Karolina stood up and went to take his hand in hers. "Luka, this is my brother, Dimitri. Dimitri, this is Luka."

"Ah yes, Guardian Garin." Dimitri shook the dhampir's hand. He had heard his sister was dating a guardian. "It's nice to meet you. I am Dimitri Belikova."

"I thought," Luka turned to Karolina, "I thought you only had one brother and he was dead."

She smiled, "he was, that's what we are waiting on him to tell us. So how did it happen, brother? How did you come back?"

Dimitri sat back down and began telling his family the story of how Rose had dropped out of school on her quest to find him and free his soul. They of course would interrupted him and tell him of the time she was in Baia, most of the things surprised him. He knew she had been there but was surprised and happy about just how much his family already accepted her as a part of it. He told them about how she thought she had killed him but she didn't and he went after her in America. His explanation did not include keeping Rose captive but he did tell about taking Lissa and Christian and how Lissa had staked him though the heart to return his soul. By the time he had finished his entire family was in shock, except for Yeva of course.

"Aww," Karolina cooed, "She saved you Dimka! She is your true love. Where is she? Why is Rose not here with you?"

"Roza is in America, I had to come here and take care of some things before we can be together. Speaking of her, I told her I would call her once I got here. Can you please excuse me for a moment?" Dimitri went out into the backyard at his childhood home and took out his phone.

He sat down on the wooden swing that sat on the back porch as he dialed the number. He smiled when it was answered almost immediately, he had been worried he would miss her as the only number she had was the one in her room.

"Hello?" her voice was like a soft blanket, spreading calmness over his body.

"Hi." He said quietly into the phone. He wasn't quite sure why he was almost whispering, it had to have been some spell Rose had cast over him.

"You made it to Baia?"

"Yes, I just got finished telling them about how you saved me. Yeva already knew of course but the rest of them were blown away by the tale. Are you listening to country music?" Dimitri was almost positive that he could recall the soft tune playing in the background of the phone. Rose never listened to country music.

"Of course not." The music abruptly stopped, "You are hearing things, too long on a plane. So will you tell your family that I'm sorry I left so abruptly?"

Dimitri knew she was changing the subject but allowed it. "Yes, everyone is upset that you didn't come with me. I had no idea how much they already loved you."

"I love them too. They are really great. I loved my time there."

"I'm glad you got along so well with them. You will have to come back with me next time."

Dimitri could hear the smile in her voice, "I would love to."

"So, what have I missed? Have you been getting out of the room?"

Rose hesitated briefly, not wanting him to know about her nightmares, "Yes, I had lunch with Lissa this afternoon and she is taking me shopping tomorrow. She wants to get a dress for some stupid Royal event that she is dragging me to on Friday."

"I'm sure it won't be that bad."

"It really will be though. You know how much I hate those things. And I wish I could go as her guardian but as I am not her official guardian still, I am going as her friend. Which means I get to dress up and wear a smile, I have to be nice and polite and you know how much I hate Queen Bitch."

"You know you shouldn't call her that and please try to have fun."

"Yeah, I will try but no guarantees."

Dimitri was a little upset at the sadness in Rose's voice, he knew something was going on but wasn't sure what. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"But I do worry about you. I'm sorry I am not there right now. But you know I will be back soon."

"I know."

"Please have fun. If I find out you are sitting in your room doing nothing, I will be upset."

"Okay, okay. Lissa said something about going to see a movie tonight with Christian and Adrian."

Dimitri wasn't too fond of the idea of Adrian going but was okay if it would get her out of her room. "So go with them. Have fun while I am not there. You haven't left that room in so long Rose. I told you that you needed to be out and about. If not, I will find out."

Rose sighed, "Fine, I will go with them. You know, I technically never broke up with Adrian." She had told him that they were broken up before but she had to be honest with him now. She was going to break up with him anyway so it shouldn't matter.

Dimitri clinched his fists, "really? I don't think I was aware of that." Dimitri was almost positive that she had said that they had broken up.

"Tonight will give me the perfect opportunity; although I am sure he already figured it out. He hasn't even been dream stalking me lately."

"Rose, you don't have to break up with him. You know that if you want to be with him, I wouldn't stand in your way."

Rose gave a cynical laugh, "yeah right. I love you Dimitri, not him. Adrian is a good friend who I should probably apologize to for breaking his nose, but that's all he will ever be."

Dimitri was pleased to hear this, "good. I love you to Roza. I already miss you."

"I miss you too." Rose sighed, "Lissa is looking for me."

Dimitri looked towards the door as he heard a baby crying, "Yeah, I think the kids just woke up from their nap. I can't wait to meet my new nieces."

"Sonya had her baby?"

"Yeah, it's a girl. They named her Rozalie."

"Wow. I didn't think Sonya liked me." Rose laughed, surprised that someone would name a baby after her.

Dimitri laughed too, "I was told that she was moody when she was pregnant. I'm sure it wasn't you. Sonya said it was Paul's idea but Yeva thought it was a good one."

"I love you Comrade."

"I love you too Roza. I will talk to you tomorrow."

With that being said, Dimitri disconnected the call and walked back into the house. The kitchen was now filled with his sisters and their children. Paul was playing with a toy truck while Zoya and Rozalie were being rocked.

Dimitri looked down at the two little girls in each of his sisters' arms. "Wow, they are so beautiful."

"Uncle Dimka, I missed you." Paul pulled on Dimitri's pant leg, "Where did you go?" Paul had known that Dimitri had died but being so young, he didn't understand the true concept of someone not coming back so he wasn't all that surprised to see his uncle return home. He hadn't seen him in a long time though.

"Wow Paul, you have grown so big." Dimitri ruffled his hair and kneeled down to be at the boy's height.

"Yep, and I'm going to be a guardian just like you and Luka."

"I'm sure you will be amazing."

Dimitri looked around the room at his family. He had missed this. This was why he had come back to see them. Even though part of him was missing while he was away from Rose, part of him that had missed his family was finally complete.

So? What'd ya think? Did it suck? I know where I am going now though so the next chapters should be better...stick with me!

I also wrote a 1 shot called What He Could Give Her...it's about Rose & Dimitri from Adrian's POV... I hope you will read it :)