Chapter Twenty Five

Rose

No. Nope. No. No. Nope.

Have you ever seen the movie Cop Out, the one with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan? Remember that scene in the car, when their 'perp' is trying to tell a knock-knock joke, and Tracy keeps saying 'no' over and over?

That is my reaction to what Dimitri just told me.

No. Nope. No. No. Nope.

After a day of deliberation, the guys had formulated a plan of attack. They are going hunting. Dimitri convinced Dad that in order to end this, he had to put himself out there, make himself seen for Galina. Once the word got back to her that he was no longer protected at Court, she would come for him, and if all went according to plan, she would die.

In retrospect, I loved the idea of hunting the hunter, so to speak, but considering I am not capable of joining the fight, well to say I am apprehensive is an understatement.

I didn't doubt Dimitri's ability to come out victorious, or Dad's Guardians to have his back, but I can't help but think worst case scenario. We have a child due in two months, possibly sooner depending on how long Munchkin wants to hold out.

According to Dr. Davis, she is on track to arrive in less than eight weeks, just shy of the normal forty that humans usually carry. Guess that is one aspect I can appreciate in the Dhampir genes now, shorter pregnancies.

But- what if he doesn't make it out? What if, by some chance, Galina kills him, or someone else does? Or -god forbid and strike me now for thinking it- what if he is turned?

Shaking my head, I turned those thoughts to dust, I can't afford to think like that right now.

"Roza, I know you are worried," Dimitri spoke softly, wiping a tear that managed to roll from my eye, "but trust me, and Pavel, and all the others, we will be fine. This has to end, we can't live like this forever."

"I do trust you, it's the unknown that I don't trust. Anything could happen, Comrade."

"I know, I know, but I don't want her looming over my family forever. I would rather search her out now, on my terms, then constantly fear for yours and Munchkins safety."

"At least let me come with you, being close will make me feel better," I pleaded.

"I can't afford any distractions, Rose. I need you to be here, safe and sound, so I can focus on the fight."

I sat back, pushing myself as far into the cushions as I could. I wasn't asking to fight beside him, or be anywhere near the fight in general, just at the hotel they would be staying at. I wanted to be close in case something happened. Not that I can do anything to help, but being closer eased the anxiety. Staying here, unable to communicate with them, having to wait until they returned to know if everything was okay, it would be pure torture.

And though I get his reasoning, I can't help but harbor a smidge of anger for his choice of words- I can't afford any distraction.

"Of course," I nodded, "that's all I ever am, a distraction, even if I'm not physically there," scoffing, I rose from the couch, grabbing my purse and headed for the door. "Do what you need, Comrade, hope it works out."

Mentally I slapped myself for walking away from him, but that smidge of anger was simmering and I couldn't stop myself. He was going to leave for a battle he might not return from and I was just going to walk away without telling him I love him. Without holding him one more time, just in case it was the last. No kiss goodbye, or see you later as I preferred to say, nope, I was just waltzing out the door without a second thought about seeing him again.

Needless to say, I didn't fight when he pulled me back to him, "Roza, you know that isn't true."

I know, but I am scared shitless and don't know how to act right this moment. That's what I should have said, instead of

"Isn't it?" Crossing my arms, I gave him my best Hathaway stare, when he didn't respond I started ticking off fingers, "The Caves. The fight outside of the Academy. Hell, even in Portland. I saw the way you faltered outside the window, allowing yourself to be spotted because you were too absorbed," pausing, I breathed a long sigh, "It's okay, I get it. I do. I'm going to go to Adrian's for a while, I'll try not to distract you from there."

"Why don't you see if he can come to stay with you here?"

"I want to give you space right now, let you clear your head before you leave. I will be fine with him for a little while."

"I'm sorry, Roza," his voice sounded dejected, his face didn't look much better.

"Nothing to be sorry for, Dimitri, just… just come home. As long as you can do that, we will figure everything else out."

Wrapping my arms around his waist, a lot more difficult now than it used to be, I drew in his scent. Pine and Sandalwood, with just a hint of his personal essence. Tilting my head back, he brought his lips down to mine, brushing them ever so softly, "I love you, Roza. Always."

"I love you, Comrade, Stay safe."

Reluctantly, I left his embrace and headed toward Adrian's apartment in Palace housing. Pulling my phone out, I sent Sydney a quick text letting her know where I was headed and that Adrian was likely to be staying with us for the foreseeable future. Her response made my brows raise into my hairline,

Sydney: He isn't there….

Rose: Oh…. and where is he exactly?

Sydney: Well….

Sydney: He kind of….

Adrian: I'm in her room, Little Dhampir

Rose: Are you serious?!

Rose: What are you doing there?

Rose: Wait! When did you get there?

Sydney: Don't freak out. Please.

Sydney: He called me late last night

Sydney: I didn't want to be rude and ignore him

Sydney: I'm sorry, Rose.

Rose: HE'S BEEN THERE ALL NIGHT!

Rose: DID YOU SLEEP WITH HIM?

Rose: ANSWER ME

"Roza," Dimitri's voice drifted from the front steps. Turning to face him, I realized I barely made it forty feet from the house, "what are you doing?"

I looked at my phone, then back to Dimitri, and back to my phone again. Opening my mouth to answer him, I stopped short when Adrian walked out the door behind Dimitri.

"Nothing happened, Little Dhampir, I promise," he held his hands up in a surrender pose. Dimitri shot him a questioning look, "Don't even start, Cradle Robber," he chuckled.

"I wasn't going to say anything," Dimitri laughed, "But you can't really call me that anymore, not when you're stalking the same cradle."

"Sydney is only three years younger, it's not that bad," Adrian defended.

"Neither is seven when you think about it."

They went back and forth for a few more minutes, while my mind continued to spin around. I really didn't care that Adrain was spending the night in Sydney's room, no, that didn't bother me one bit. He is my best friend and I want him to be happy. What gets me is I didn't know about it! He has been here all night and I was none the wiser. It also means he most likely heard Dimitri and me talking earlier.

Dimitri, as if knowing what I was thinking, "So, you did you hear everything?" he asked Adrian.

"Most of it," he nodded softly.

"Would you be willing to stay here while I'm gone," he paused before adding, "Obviously you can stay in Sydney's room," he snorted.

"Yeah, that's not a problem at all," Adrian grinned ear to ear, "Come on, Little Dhampir, walk with me to get some clothes." Descending the stairs, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, guiding me back toward his room.

The entire walk we remained silent. I had plenty to say, even more, to ask but everything ran together in my head and I couldn't single one thing out to start with. Ever since Sydney arrived, Adrian has been helping her adjust. Staying up during the day when she was transitioning to our nocturnal schedule. Helping her settle in around Court, showing her all the places she could eat, or lounge. He has been a perfect gentleman. It was honestly quite a contrast to the Adrian I know and love.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy this new side of him, it's just different. He is a better man when it comes to her. The 'day' drinking has lessened, maybe even stopped, I really don't remember the last time I saw him blitzed before midday. The lack of Clove scent covering his clothes and apartment tells me the smoking has stopped too. And if I dare say it, I am almost certain he hasn't been sleeping around like normal either. Though I wouldn't dare ask, even if he is my best friend, some things I just don't need to know. His sex life is one of them. Unless it's with Sydney, then I have to know.

"Where did you go, Rose?" he waved a hand in front of my face.

"Huh?"

"You left," he laughed, "were you with Liss?"

"Oh- no, just thinking."

"Care to elaborate?"

"You have changed, I like it," I smiled up to him.

"Funny thing about being in love, Rose, it turns you into who you are meant to be," he shrugged, throwing another shirt into his bag. "You should know that by now, hell, look at Belikov, talk about a complete one-eighty."

"In love?"

In time I have known him, almost a year now, he has never said he is 'in love' with anyone. Not even me. He always told me he loved me, but never that he was in love with me. Could he really feel that strongly for her? Have they really spent enough time together to know for sure? I didn't want to doubt his feelings, but I had to wonder if he was deluding himself, or if she feels the same?

"Yeah," his lip quirked upward, "I am."

"And Sydney?"

He ran his hand through his hair, pulling on the short stands at the back, "I don't know, she is hard to read," he must mean her aura, "she shows attraction when I am around, even love at points, but she won't admit it. I don't want to push her, but I think she is stuck so far in her ways that no matter what I say or do, she won't allow herself to be free."

"She is coming around though, compared to when we first met her," I reassured him, "We still have another seven or so months before she leaves, maybe time is all she needs."

"I don't want her to leave," he whispered, keeping his head down as he moved about the room.

"Then give her a reason to stay. I don't know everything about the Alchemist, but Dad seems to have connections with them. If you want, and she wants, I will talk to him and see if there is some way to keep her around."

Stopping mid-stride, his eyes met mine, "You would do that for me?"

"After everything you have done for me, of course, I would."

Wrapping me in a tight hug, he kissed my forehead, "Thank you, Rose. I love you, you know that?"

"I do, I love you, too."

With another kiss to my head, he continued packing. Taking a seat in his armchair, I rubbed a hand over my basketball stomach and thought about Adrian's words. His demeanor. His aura. I liked the new him, or should I say the true him. The real Adrian who doesn't hide behind the alcohol, cigarettes, and women. His heart is pure gold, worn right there on his sleeve, and he gives everything he has to those he cares about.

I have enough going on in my world right now that I really shouldn't add more onto it, but I can't help but want to make sure Adrian gets his happily ever after. After all the things he has done for me over the last year, it's the least I can do. As soon as they get back from this mission, I will talk to Dad about keeping Sydney around a bit longer, or forever. I don't know how well that will go, knowing the Alchemist are a bunch of uptight religious nuts, but I have to try.

"Alright, I am ready, let the slumber party begin!"