Chapter 8:

(Rose P.O.V)

Coming into the kitchen, I opened the fridge. Milk. Lemons/limes. Fruit juice. Lettuce. Apples. Eggs. Eggs sound really good right now. Taking the eggs out of the fridge, I set them on the counter next to the stove.

"Do you want some help?" Dimitri asked, nodding toward the eggs.

"I can make eggs, Comrade. It's not that hard, but you can get the milk, pan and bowl. Oh, you can also get a fork and spatula if you want."

Smiling, I took out a few eggs from the carton and set them down on the counter to cook. I made sure none of them are cracked before handing the carton to Dimitri to put back in the fridge. Taking the bowl from him, I started to crack the eggs one by one into the bowl. As I was about the crack the last egg, I find a confetti egg that looks a whole lot like a real egg and instantly I had an idea. I slowly turned toward Dimitri, who was looking for a pan and not paying attention to me.

Holding the confetti egg in my hand where he can't see it, I walked over to where he was. Raising my hand over his head slowly and quietly, I carefully mashed it on him so that all the confetti would be tangled in his hair. I stepped back as Dimitri rose to his full form. Some of the confetti came floating down off his head and onto the floor. A full smile lays perfectly across his lips as he turns to look at me.

"Really, Roza?" he asked, wrapping his strong arms around my waist. "Now I have to take a shower and get all this confetti out of my hair."

"That's your problem, not mine," I answered, smiling up at him. "While you're taking a shower, I'll make us some eggs or you can make the eggs while I get the shower ready for the both of us."

Dimitri lean down and placed a soft kiss on my lips. "I like the second option better."

"Me too," I agreed. "But, what about the kids?"

They're both fast asleep in their rooms, but I'm still worried about them waking up while Dimitri and I are in the shower. I guess we have to save our shower time for when the kids aren't here.

Now that I think about it, Dimitri and I haven't had much alone time together since Rosalie was born and Tyler was adopted. But, I wouldn't change a thing. I love my complicated family, even though I sometimes want to strangle them.

I have quite a few brothers and sisters; they might not be blood related, but they're still family. My family. My huge, worldwide, complicated family. Having family members living in Russia while you're in America is really difficult; especially since we barely get to see each other.

But, we're here for one another in every situation. We have our ups and downs a lot, but in the end we'll always be a family. For the longest time, I thought Lissa was my only family. I didn't like my mom back then, so I didn't count her as part of my family.

I didn't know Abe Mazur was my father at the time either. As I grew up, Mason and Eddie became my older brothers. Always looking out for me, keeping me out of trouble and just being there when I need them.

We made our own family. But, as the years go on, some family members came and gone. Eddie discovered who his father is. Lissa isn't the last Dragomir. I found my soul mate. My parents are still working out things between each other and me; their only blood related child.

I know I've been a huge pain all my life, but I can't help it. Back then, I was a kid who did whatever she wanted, but now as an adult I'm extremely stressed out; my hormones are driving me crazy; I feel so useless at times…I can go on and on.

"Roza, we won't that long and afterwards I'll make us some eggs," Dimitri whispered in my ear.

That's how our night went. Me helping Dimitri wash all the confetti out of his hair and sneaking in a few kisses here and there. After a while my arms started to hurt and Dimitri's head was turning all red from me scrubbing it, so we finally decided to get out.

Sitting on the floor in the living room, we fed each other eggs and of course sneaked in a few more kisses here and there. We kissed and cuddled in the warmth of the sunlight until Dimitri had to go work the night shift.

I hate working night shifts while Dimitri loves them. Yes, I miss the sun, but I want to enjoy it instead of having to look of my shoulder constantly. They don't need me working those hours anyway, not when there are quiet a few guardians like Dimitri who love working the nigh shits. In fact, I have the coolest job at court. I get to boss people around; sign them up for different shifts and be Lissa's head guardian.

"Can't you miss this one night?" I asked as we were walking toward our bedroom. "I mean can't someone full in for you…" I trailed off; knowing nothing I say will make him stay here with me.

"Roza, I'll only be gone for a few hours," he assured me. "If you want, I can bring the kids in here to sleep with you?"

I love falling asleep with Rosalie and Tyler. Between the three of us, we take up mine and Dimitri's entire bed and it's a pretty big. Rosalie on one side with Tyler on the other and I get stuck in the middle every time since both kids want to sleep right next to me. Sometimes, I wake up and find Tyler asleep on top of Dimitri.

I was about to say yes when a thought popped into my head reminding me that I need to talk to Dimitri right away. That it's really important or I think it is, but I guess it can wait until he gets back. "Yeah, sure."

(Rosalie P.O.V)

"Daddy," I moaned against my pillow. "Daddy, what's going on?"

"Sorry to wake you, Sweetie, but do want to sleep with mommy and Tyler in my bed?" he asked, pushing hair away from my face.

"Yeah."

Wrapping my arms around his neck, daddy carried me to his and mommy's bedroom. Laying my head on his chest, I tried not to fall asleep until I was in bed. My eye lids kept closing and it was becoming harder and harder to keep them open. After a while, I finally gave into sleep.

Dream:

Darkness surrounds me as I run through a forest. No matter how fast I run or how far I go, I can never find the end to this darkness. Where's the light? Why isn't the sun peeking through the trees? What forest am I in? How long is this forest?

Stopping to catch my breath, I look around. Everything looks exactly the same. How am I supposed to know where I'm going when I can't even tell one tree from another?

"Hello," I called into the darkness. "Is anyone there?"

The wind blows through my hair while the tree branches sway back and forth. Not knowing what to do, I decide to just keep running straight or at least I thought it was straight. I ran as hard as my little legs would take me.

I climbed over fallen trees and through logs; once in a while I would trip here and there on twigs and rocks. Finally, slowing down to a walking pace, I heard the sounds of crashing and roaring in the distance. It sounds like water crashing against something hard; rocks probably.

Taking a deep breath in, I ran for my life. I ran for the water in the distance which I could use right now. I ran in hope to find answers to my questions. I kept running and running until I was standing at the edge of a cliff.

It's a straight drop from where I'm standing to the roaring water below. I was right about the water crashing into rocks. Pieces after pieces drop into the water; some big others small. On the other side are more trees that look identical to the one next to it. What am I supposed to do? Swim to the other side?

While it's a straight drop to the water on the side I'm on; there's a rocky beach on the other side. If I get down to the water, I can probably swim over to the beach. But, the question is…how am I going to get down there?

I could jump into the water, but its moving way too fast. I can't swim against that water; it'll pull me to wherever it's going. If I don't jump then I'll be trap here and I don't want to go back running in the dark forest.

Come on, Rosalie. You can do this. Just close your eyes and jump. It's now or never. My mommy will always say. Walking closer to the edge, I close my eyes. The roar of the water rings loud and clear in my ears as I take several deep breathes in.

Without giving it another thought, I jump over the edge. My arms flap in the air as if wishing I could turn into a bird and fly far away from here. I hit the water with a hard splash; my lungs start to fill up with freezing cold water.

I kick and claw my way toward the surface; toward air. It seemed like no matter hard I kicked and clawed, I just couldn't get to the top. I couldn't swim my way over to the other side. To the beach. To safety.

Is this what it feels like to drown? Having hopes of swimming to the other side and once you're in the water you can't get out. No one's around to hear you scream or to help you. I barely even know how to swim, so what made me think I can swim across a roaring lake that's moving way too fast for me?

Oh, yeah. I wanted to get away from the dark forest that I magically appeared in. I wanted to get to the other side in hopes of finding a way out of here. I just want to know what's going on here.

I couldn't stop tossing and turning in the water as I was being dragged toward the end, hopefully. Closing my eyes, I tried to remember the last thing said or did before I ended up here.

I remember daddy waking me up in the middle of the night, asking if I wanted to sleep with mommy and Tyler. After I said yes, he carried me to his and mommy's bedroom. After a while, I finally gave into sleep. Then all of a sudden I ended up in a dark forest; running, but from what?

End of Dream:

Just like that, I was out of the dream and laying in my parents' bed. Sitting up, I looked around the room to find Tyler fast asleep on the other side of the bed. Where's mommy? I know daddy had to work tonight, so that's why he isn't here.

Climbing out of bed, I walked toward the door. When I opened it, light spilled into the room and cased shadows on the walls. I could hear voices coming from somewhere within the apartment, but can't make out who the voices belonged to.

Coming into the living room, I found mommy and daddy talking to each other in hushed tones. From the looks of it, it can't be good. Stepping closer to them, I noticed mommy is crying and daddy looked tired. I wish things can go back to normal.

Thanks(: