I had spent hours getting ready, something I had never done my entire life. Not even the times Lissa had forced me into ball gowns for charity events. The problem was that even hours later I didn't feel like I looked good enough. No matter how many outfits I tried on or how many times I switched my hair from up to down I felt inadequate. I wasn't even suppose to dress up, if anything I was dressed down in workout gear.

Dimitri had texted me this morning suggesting since we were trying to keep things on the down low, that a nice hike and and picnic would be a great first date. I loved the idea, I personally didn't think I could handle being around other people. Not with my face along with all the Dragomir's being plastered all over the news. In the month and a half I had been home I hadn't gone anywhere but the hospital and back to the apartment. Some nice fresh air sounded amazing. And the crisp fall air would do me some good.

My eyes met my reflection again and I couldn't help but sigh. My hair was now slightly frizzy because I had touched it too much. My waves dull from being over brushed, I should have just put it up and left it. I got closer to the mirror noticing that now a ponytail just simply would not do. Sitting on the small vanity in the corner of my room I decided to just braid it. I wasn't the greatest at it but I had to learn myself as a kid since my mother never did my hair. I could imagine Lissa clucking her tongue at me. I felt bad that I wasn't seeing her today, but she had a day full of tests and therapy. She was more than likely going to pass out early. I would go see her tomorrow, and perhaps fill her in about what, or better yet who had been filling my free time.

After two tries and some swearing, a nice slightly crooked French braid made my hair look less crazy. I ended up grabbing the first work out outfit I had tried on, black leggings, and a nice matching sweater. If I got warm I had my favorite t shirt on underneath. A t shirt Andre had gotten me at a concert he had surprised me with. I clung to the shirt remembering his smile as he shoved a ticket into my hands. He had been so excited to bring me to see them, and I had felt so bad when I didn't even know who they were. The club had been small and packed with a ton of kids but Andre had sworn I would love it. Looking down at the slime green shirt with now faded letters spelling Billie I couldn't help but hold it to my chest. He had gotten it for me when he had noticed how entranced I had been with the young girls voice.

Before I could start crying I put the shirt on quickly covering it with my sweater. I needed to finish up seeing as Stan would be here any minute now. I filled my purple bottle with some water, and grabbed my cell and keys. In order to not be caught together I was sneaking into the car lot where Stan was waiting for me. I had asked him to be discreet so he had come in his own car. A little Honda Civic should blend in perfectly.

"Going on a hike?" Stan took in my attire and had a small smile on his face.

"Yea I heard this place was basically deserted, figured it would be good for me." His brows furrowed and he opened and closed his mouth a few times before speaking again.

"I'd be careful alone out there. I'd hate for you to get lost or worse hurt. I could go with you?" I smiled at his worry, it made my heart smile.

"Thank you I appreciate that, but I'm meeting a friend so I won't be alone." I was about to stop talking but then felt bad I hadn't talked much to Stan lately. "Have you been alright?"

"Of course. Been keeping busy with the new grandson. I'm not going to lie I thought my son and his girl were far too young and unprepared but they are doing amazing." His smile was big as he thought of his family. After the passing of his wife I wondered if he would ever be happy again. When he had found out his 19 year old son was going to be a father he had been worried, but since the baby had been born a few months ago a new light had begun to shine in his eyes.

"That's good to hear. I don't know if and if ever I'd be ready for a kid." I shivered slightly. Although kids loved me for some reason I was slightly scared of them.

"I think it's a common fear. I suppose you are never ready. When Ruth and I had our first I was too scared to even breath near him." He chuckled slightly his mind somewhere else.

We made more small talk as we drove to our destination, and it was nice to catch up. Stan had always been nice to me. He was cautious at first but it was to be expected. After about a year he seemed to have started to like me. Now he was one of my life lines. He was kind and caring, and I was startled to come to the conclusion that he was also a good friend.

"I'll let you know about picking me up. If it's too late you don't have to come." He waved me off and looked me in the eye.

"Call me anytime, I'd rather you be safe." I gave him a smile as I stepped out of the car.

There was only one car in the small dirt parking lot and I recognized the car as the one Dimitri said he would be driving. Instead of his nice red mustang he had traded cars with his older sister, as not to stand out. I approached the car and stopped by the driver window. It seemed as if Dimitri had not heard my approach. He had his head tilted back and his eyes closed. He looked quite relaxed. I almost felt bad when I knocked lightly on the window. But the smile that filled his face was well worth my worry.

"Sorry I guess I dozed off." She had a slight blush as if he was ashamed. He reached into the back seat grabbing a backpack. "Do you wanna put your water in here?"

I nodded as I threw that and my keys in there. We started to walk, a nice silence falling between us. I had always liked being outside, but where I had grown up there weren't many safe places to hike or even hang out around. I had spent a lot of time outside in the gardens when I had moved in with the Dragomir's. But this place was different. The birds seemed to chirp loudly, and a few times random animals walking around startled me. After the third time Dimitri chuckled and reached for my hand.

"I take it you don't hike much?" I laughed through my nose and looked around in awe.

"No actually I can honestly say this is the first time." Dimitri looked pensive then gave my hand a squeeze.

"Well we can add this to this list of stuff we will continue to do." My heart constricted and I smiled widely. I loved how he saw a future. A positive and happy one at that.

"I bet your sister is having a field day with your car." He laughed and shook his head, moving a branch out of the way for me.

"I'm not too worried about Karolina. Viktoria noticed and was making plans already. She's a few years younger than you and a true spit fire." I smiled trying to imagine Dimitri's sisters. He had spoken about them before and they all sounded so different.

"Well I appreciate you risking your car to hang out with me." He stopped walking, and came and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"It's definitely worth it." He bent down and tentatively left a kiss on my lips. Before I could react he was off telling me we still had an hour to go.

About 45 minutes later I was panting like a dog. I had never been a stationary person, but this had been the first thing in month and a half I had done. Work had been busy before all this mess, so my runs had been rare. But since I'd left the hospital I'd done nothing but sit around. Mostly it was the fear etched in me. But I suppose I could be using the treadmill in the small gym at the apartment.

"Sorry I should have thought about how you're probably still healing." Dimitri had stopped letting me catch my breath.

"Nah." I took a deep breath in before I could continue. "I need this I've been lazy."

"You've had a lot on your mind. Best to relax while you can." I nodded and grabbed his outstretched hand. "Look we are here!"

I looked where he pointed and loved it. It's seemed as if we were on a secluded cliff like tiny field. It had a great view of the entire city. Who would have known this place was out here. A safe haven amongst all the havoc below. I unceremoniously sprawled on the soft patch of grass, leaves crunching underneath me. Even if you could see the city to sure as hell could not hear it. Breathing in deeply I let myself enjoy the moment, a moment of peace.

"Thank you, I think this is exactly what I needed." Dimitri dropped down next to me, his hand finding mine as we stared at the small drifting clouds above us.

"I think I needed this too. Everything has been non stop for what feels forever. It's nice to stop and just enjoy something." He sat up and started opening up his backpack, handing me my water.

"Whatcha bring comrade?" Dimitri shook his head at the nickname but said nothing about it.

"Made some of my famous chicken salad sandwiches." He started setting up on a towel he had packed.

"Oh on a croissant?" He laughed full on as his eyes saw how excited I was.

"Yea there's a bakery right around the corner where I live. They make the best ones." He handed me a small bowl of grapes and opened another for himself. "Maybe one day we can go there. I can buy you all the pastries you can eat."

"You'd be broke." I chuckled as I popped a few grapes in my mouth and he followed.

"As long as your happy." It was such a simple thing to say but it meant so much to me.

We spent our time up there talking and snacking. His chicken salad had been the best I'd ever had. When I saw crasins and nuts in it I was skeptical but it had been the best thing I'd had in a while. He had even thought to pack dessert, some bear claws that had changed my life. I felt so at ease, the only worry being if I would make it back down to his car.

"I may have eaten too much." I laid back down, patting my full belly.

"You'll work it off on the way down. You'll be happy you ate well." He joined me once more and we stayed there for as long as we dared.

Dimitri had snuck into my apartment with me, and we had laughed at how high school we were acting. Although the cops were no longer stationed outside my building, we were sure I was still being watched. I knew he was a lot less worried than I was. I constantly felt the need to look behind me, check the closed closets and around corners. Dimitri said he would know something was up, hut I wasn't so sure.

"Want to watch a movie?" It was just shy of 5 o'clock, and I really didn't want him to leave anytime soon.

"I would love to." Smiling widely walked over to the tv stand, that was jammed packed with dvds.

"What you in the mood for?" I sat on the floor and started to take some movies out showing them to him.

"Anything comedy. Don't want anything to crazy." I laughed and immediately went for one of my favorites.

"Who you gonna call?" I sang along with the song as Dimitri and I watched the old Ghostbusters.

I had never heard of the movie before my time with the Dragomir's, Andre had been appalled that I had no idea what it was. Between him and Eric I had seen hundreds of movies, each one they swore better than the other. Lissa and Rhea weren't movie people but they would humor the boy, even sometimes making them mountains of popcorn.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" As the credits rolled I was grasping at anything to keep him with me.

"I would love to." Without hesitation Dimitri leaned over and stole a kiss. One I fell right into.

"Maybe we should go see what I have?" I pulled away a bit shyly. I still couldn't believe the way he made me feel.

I walked into the kitchen with Dimitri hot on my heels. I really could get use to having him around all the time. It was a weird concept for me, to want someone in my life, in my space all the time. It took some getting use to with the Dragomir's, especially Lissa. She was always trying to hang out, and do things with me. I always felt bad when I asked for some space, but she never seemed bothered by it. I had obviously never spent much time with my mother, and when we did it wasn't really to talk or even hang out. I was either being yelled at, ignored, or at school.

"Damn I'm sorry I don't think I have anything. I should have done groceries." I stared into my fridge a bit ashamed.

"Nonsense you have stuff." Dimitri reached around me taking out some leftover chicken, cheese, onion and tomato. "I found these tortillas in the pantry, we can make quesadillas."

"Wow look at you. I would have never thought of that!" I stared in awe as he quickly put together the most delicious quesadillas I had ever seen. It was so simple, yet I couldn't help but be in awe.

After dinner Dimitri and I sat on the couch making out like a bunch of teens. Not that I was complaining, I had an inkling that things may progress a little more tonight. I had no problem with that. I still wasn't ready for sex, but I would say no to some heavy touching. I had been about to palm Dimitri's bulge when my phone started ringing. I ignored it at first but the person continued to call. After the third time I pulled myself off the hot Russians to see who it could be.

"Hello?" I was a little breathless and I gazed back at Dimitri.

"Good evening is this Rosemarie Hathaway?" An unfamiliar voice rang through and I furrowed my brow.

"Yes. Who is speaking?"

"I'm sorry my name is Nina I'm a nurse working with Miss Dragomir." I sighed smiling walking back towards Dimitri.

"Is she OK. I'm sorry I never made it in today, I can come in if she needs me." I felt horrible that I had not seen Lissa today. But I knew she needed her space as well.

"Actually we were wondering if you had come for her?"

"What do you mean, I was told she couldn't leave, was she signed out?" Worry filled me immediately.

"No Miss Hathaway. We cannot find her, and no one can tell use where she is. We have checked everywhere it seems as if Miss Dragomir is missing."

Hello! I wanted to take a minute to update you all on myself. I want to start by saying I am sorry I have been so inconsistent with my updating. After I posted the last chapter a lot happened, the holidays first off. Then we learned we got orders from the military so we are moving once again, and we don't have a lot of time. Two months as of right now to sell our house. So I have been cleaning and doing all the shit that comes with prepping a house for sale. But I hope to update weekly on this starting now! I also almost have the assassins chapter done, I've legit been writing it for like a year. I hope you all liked the last chapter, I didn't get a lot of feed back so I was a little worried. Was it not good? If you can leave me some love whether it be private message or review! I'd love to hear from you all!!! Til next time!