As Rose approached Lissa in the mall the following Saturday, Lissa was amazed at how much the woman had changed since she had last seen her. Rose exuded much more self confidence than she had before; she was poised and elegant, and there was a determination in her stride that hadn't been there before. She was fashionably dressed in dark jeans and a pink print shirt, and she wore a matching pink headband in her hair.

When Rose saw Lissa, the younger woman beamed.

"Lissa!" she exclaimed eagerly.

"Hi Rose! I can't get over how terrific you look today!"

"Thanks." Rose smiled shyly. "Dimitri helped me choose this outfit."

"Well, it suits you really well. He has very good taste."

Rose smiled and blushed.

"So, do you feel like pizza or Asian this time?"

"Asian's fine."

The two women got their food and found a booth to sit in.

"So tell me, how are things going with Dimitri?"

Rose smiled, blushed, and looked down at her food. Lissa laid an encouraging hand on the girl's arm and waited patiently.

"I really like him a lot," Rose finally told her. "He's always so nice to me, and it's so much fun to be with him. It's funny. I...well, before I just thought of him mostly as a teacher, and now...now, I think of him more as a friend. We...I..." Rose stuttered, seeming unable to find the right words. Lissa smiled encouragingly at her.

"We...you know...did it." Rose looked terribly embarrassed.

"Oh, Rose." Lissa smiled and patted her arm. "How did that go? Was it a good experience for you?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "It was...really nice. Dimitri was so gentle and kind, and afterwards, he held me in his arms all night long."

"I told you Dimitri was a good man. I knew that he wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"You don't need a high school diploma," Janine told her daughter. "I've provided for you very well, and I can continue to provide for you."

"Just like Daddy provided for you so you could sit around and waste your life?" asked Rose.

"I wasted my life on you!" Janine exploded. "For twenty years I fed you, changed your diaper..."

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Mom," said Rose. "But I really do want that diploma."

Janine shook her head. "That's Dimitri Belikov talking, not you."

"It is me!" Rose insisted. "I love you, Mom, and I'm very grateful to be alive, but I can't sit still for you."

"How would you like to go to the prom?" Dimitri asked Rose.

Rose glanced up, startled. "I wish you'd asked me that twenty years ago," she said with a sigh.

"I'm serious, Roza." Dimitri smiled. "I've been a chaperone at the prom every year since...well, for a number of years now. I'd love for you to accompany me this year."

"Chaperone?" Rose looked doubtful.

"Come on. It'll be fun."

"Well...all right." Rose smiled.

"That's absolutely ridiculous, a woman of your age going to a prom," Janine grumbled when Rose mentioned it to her.

"It's as a chaperone, Mom. Dimitri goes every year. He says it's a lot of fun."

"Suit yourself then," Janine said dismissively.

"That's great, Rose!" Lissa said when Rose told her. "I know you'll have a great time."

The night of the prom arrived. Rose, dressed in the simple but elegant dark blue gown Dimitri had helped her choose, waited nervously. At last Dimitri arrived, looking dashing in a rented tuxedo. Rose was overcome, as she had never seen Dimitri dressed formally before. Dimitri noticed the expression on her face and laughed affectionately.

"Oh my God, Dimitri," was all that she could say.

"You like?" He slowly turned around so that she could see what he looked like from the back as well.

"I love!"

Dimitri laughed again. "Thank you very much. You look absolutely stunning yourself."

Rose had spent a long time working to get her make-up just as perfect as she could, and she hoped that Dimitri liked the affect she had achieved.

The chaperones arrived at the rented hall a little while before the students were expected to start showing up. The music began to play, and the students began to arrive and move onto the dance floor.

Soon, 'Hero' by Enrique Iglesias began to play, and the lights went down as couples began to slow dance. Rose felt Dimitri's arms gently encircle and embrace her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Dimitri listened to the words of the song and thought about how appropriate they seemed.

The night seemed to fly by, and before Rose realized it, it was time to leave.

"Well, did you have a nice time?" Dimitri asked her in the car on the way back to his house.

"Tonight I actually felt just like a teenager again," Rose replied.

"Tonight was incredible," Dimitri said softly.

They were silent until they were back in the house. Goldie gave Rose her usual warm welcome, and Rose affectionately patted the dog's head and stroked her silky fur. Dimitri opened the door and Goldie ran outside. Then he followed Rose to the bedroom.

Dimitri unzipped Rose's gown, and it fell to the floor. He began placing kisses along her neck and collarbone. At the same time, he unhooked her bra and gently lowered the straps, and it fell to the floor on top of the gown. Dimitri lifted Rose, now clad only in her panties, and carried her to the bed. After gently laying her on the bed, he quickly removed her panties. All thoughts of melancholy vanished from Rose's mind as Dimitri's tongue quickly elevated her to new heights of ecstasy.