Chapter 7: Forgiveness

Guess what guys? I'm back! Sorry for the long wait. I hope you enjoy this chapter:)

Running her toes through the lukewarm sand, Rose closed her eyes. She was there, sifting her bare feet across the Turkish coast. The sea salted air whipped her silky curls in frenzy. Rose's sheer lacy nightgown wrapped around her as a protective cocoon.

Her mind drifted to thoughts. For one, she and Dimitri had become mere friends. Rose didn't know how much longer this status would last. Just the meager thought of Dimitri, clad in his boxers, had an arousing effect on her.

Then, there was Lissa progressing into Bridezilla. She was a fabulous one, but still, horrifying in the subject of flower arrangements. This morning, Liss was frightened about her soon to be mother-in-law's opinion about wedding dresses. Moira Ozera preferred a poof on the sleeves and a ten foot train. Her opinion sent Lissa into oblivion.

After reassuring Lissa that she would get a lengthy train over Christian's dead body, she calmed a bit and went out to see Mia at the diner. Christian silently thanked Rose and followed Liss out to the awaiting carriage.

In the morning, the Dimitri had been quietly snoozing on Rose's bed without anyone's awareness. If had Abe found out, he undoubtedly would have flipped out. Thankfully, everyone else had been too occupied to notice his presence. Throughout the night, the twosome had chatted and laughed loud enough to be heard by anyone living across a mile radius from the Mazur manor. It was a surprise that Abe hadn't barged in with a rifle.

Rose undoubtedly knew that she wouldn't be able to get rid of the morning awkwardness when Dimitri awoke. Therefore, she left the sleeping Russian on her bed and ventured south to the sea.

Now, she was here by the chilled foaming blue sea water. There was an awe of the ocean that made her want to stare at it for eternity. The rocky cliffs and nearby mounts of stone were slick with mussels and starfishes. Being here by the calming sea undoubtedly made Mason happy. Today, he was a bouncing joy of butterflies. Mason had especially put on this persona when Dimitri was around.

Feeling as if she was being watched, Rose turned her head. Her eyes were met with Dimitri's alluring gaze. Of course he came here to find me.

"Rose." Dimitri greeted. "I was hoping to be greeted with your beautiful face in bed this morning. You know, it is usually the man who abandons the bed first."

He's just as charming as ever. She thought sarcastically.

"Well it's been about time for traditions to be broken. Don't you agree?" Rose responded coolly noticing his new clothes. "I take it that you have stopped by Alberta's?"

He smirked. "Yeah, I couldn't find my clothes so I ran there stark naked. It was a pretty sight to see."

"Well I hope that you won't be suffering from hypothermia. It is a cold day for streaking across town." Rose retorted.

Dimitri frowned. "Come on, Rose. That should have made you laugh. We're friends, if you recall last night's events."

"Dimitri, we'll never be friends. It's insanely impossible."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a woman. You're a man. We are undoubtedly attracted to each other. What happens then?"

"Really hot sex?" He proposed.

"God, I swear Ivan's rubbing off on you. The answer is that when there's attraction, it transforms into a relationship. I'm just not ready to be in a relationship."

Dimitri sighed. "I understand. What I did was horribly wrong and if I could, I would explain everything."

"Then why haven't you explained everything yet? I could forgive you if you spoke to me about what happened. Why is it that you won't tell me what happened those five months ago?"

"I wish I could tell you everything, Roza. I sincerely desire to earn your forgiveness. But, I'm protecting you by not telling you. I will tell you everything when the time comes. However, right now, it's not safe enough."

"Not safe enough for what? The Mazurs are feared, Dimitri. No one dares to threaten them."

"Roza, you have to understand that you having a son leads to so much vulnerability. You cannot defend yourself right now. That's why Abe demands to have Eddie following you around."

She looked down frustratingly. "So you cannot tell me the reason you left me five months ago?"

Dimitri painfully nodded. "I'm so sorry, Roza."

"We were so happy. Don't you remember?"

"We were."

"Do you remember the morning before you left? We started planning our future."

"I know. We would become ambassadors."

"Blini would finally meet a girl dog." Rose responded.

"Lissa would have one of the puppies."

"So would Mia and Alberta and maybe Vika too."

"I would ask you to marry me."

Rose looked up. "That wasn't part of the plan."

"It always was a plan in my heart."

The moment was perfect. There. The sea air whipped their hair and the stares led straight to their loving hearts. Dimitri's hand caressed her cheek and Rose wrapped her arms around his neck.

They knelt against a boulder and Rose was straddled on top of Dimitri's sitting form. They touched. And finally, they kissed. His soft lips tracing her mouth.

It was dreamlike. Feelings felt too floozy to be reality.

But, it was.

And for Rose, she dreaded the conversation after the passionate kiss. It was two seconds ago she did say that she didn't want a relationship.

However, she wanted this to last. She would live this moment.

Walking around town was not an easy task for Lissa. So much was needed to be done for the upcoming engagement party. However, her indecisiveness caused so much time to pass through overlooked cracks. Everything about the wedding needed to be perfect.

Her goal for today were picking the flowers and cake. However, choosing the flowers was already difficult enough. When she found the perfect fuchsias, the florist brought in elegant calla lilies. All the royals were expected to attend and Lissa was sure to make this the wedding of the year.

After stopping by at Mia's and picking Rose up, they were headed to the bakeshop for cake tasting. When Lissa had arrived at the manor, she had surprisingly found Rose and Dimitri talking on a couch. For once, Rose wasn't arguing with Dimitri. Instead, Dimitri's arm was propped casually behind Rose and they were coolly laughing and chatting as if they were old friends. When Lissa had requested Rose to come with her to the bakery, Rose had been a little reluctant to leave Dimitri behind but, he reassured her that Vika was expecting him soon. Lissa was ecstatic that the two were drawing closer to each other.

"I take it that you and Dimitri are back together?" Liss grinned as they hopped into the awaiting carriage.

Rose nodded in denial. "No. We're friends."

"Friends that kissed or friends with benefits?"

"We haven't kissed."

Lissa frowned. "You guys so kissed."

"No we haven't!" A flustered Rose argued.

Lissa began giggling like a schoolgirl. "Was there tongue?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Yes, Liss. There was tongue, clothes ripping, and really hot sex."

"Really?"

"No."

"Come on, Rose! Will you tell me anything?" Lissa pouted. "I know that Dimitri stayed the night."

"How'd you know that?"

"We all have ears, Rose. You two were laughing hyenas. Good thing Janine distracted Abe with other activities."

Rose scrunched up her nose. "Janine knew? Who else knew too? The king?"

"He might have." Lissa joked. "So, how was the sex?"

"We didn't have sex. We just kissed."

"And still after that, you're just friends with him?"

"Not exactly. We're on trial period."

"Trial period?" Lissa inquired.

"He and I will be seeing each other but, we won't be together. There might be a few innocent touches here and there-"

"Whoa! Nothing about Dimitri's touch is innocent. He always carries that I'm too sexy for innocent touches type ofdemeanor."

"Liss, he won't be ripping off his pants whenever he visits me."

"But, his kisses might have you ripping off his pants."

Rose grimaced. "We are not talking about a pants-less Dimitri right now." She soothing rubbed her swollen stomach.

Lissa pouted. "Fine. But, I'm buying you a dress for the Harvest Festival next week.

"Whatever makes you happy, Liss." Rose rolled her eyes as the carriage halted with a screech. They carefully stepped off the wooden planks of the carriage and headed to the bakery.

Lissa opened the door and picked up the cake catalog. "Do you know what would be awesome Rose? THINK macaroons in the cakes!" Lissa exclaimed.

"Mmm. That does sound delicious."

"Or maybe we should have pistachio filling or the black cherry chunks. Wait! Blackberry puree sounds nice doesn't it? But, everyone does like the good old chocolate mousse . . ."

Rose rolled her eyes. Knowing that this was only the beginning, she discerned that she would be stuck at the cake shop for a long time.

"YOU WERE ARRESTED?" Vika exclaimed. "I mean, I understand you were defending Roza and all but, you were arrested?"

Dimitri slightly grimaced.

"It's alright, man." Ivan assured. "I mean, I've been held in a jail cell a few times in my life too. I went skinny dipping, I've stolen candy bars, I peed on the freeway-"

"YOU PEED ON THE FREEWAY?" Viktoria's jaws dropped.

"Trust me, never put Ivan, beer, and road trip in the same sentence. He was drunk as hell when we made it to St. Petersburg. Of course, I wouldn't let him spill his juice all over the chariot and there wasn't any bathrooms open in 3 AM. He peed on the freeway and the police took him in." Dimitri pointed.

"So who bailed you out, Dimitri?" Ivan questioned. "I didn't know you were arrested until the police called Alberta. By then, someone had already bailed you out."

"Roza did."

Vika gasped. "You mean the Rose who hates your guts?"

"Yeah."

"No offense. But of all the people, why in the world would she bail you out?" Viktoria asked.

"We're friends now."

"So that means Rose doesn't hate you anymore?"

"Fortunately, yes."

"Thank God! I can't wait until you guys get married and have even more kids. I'll babysit my little future nieces and nephews while you and Rose can go on those sweet dates. Mama's going to be so happy when she hears about this." Vika squealed.

"We're not exactly at that point of comfort right now. Roza and I are just friends."

Vika froze. "You mean just friends? Like how Ivan and you are?"

Dimitri nodded. "We're just friends."

"Dude, of all the people, you and Rose are just friends?" Ivan snickered.

"Yes, Ivan. It's what Rose, Mason, and I have agreed on."

"But you're Dimitri Belikov and she's Rose Mazur." Vika argued.

"Your point?"

"You both are destined to be epic soul mates." She concluded.

Dimitri rolled his eyes. He was starting feel animosity towards the word: friends. There were too many significant memories he shared with Rose that being friends couldn't cover.

He loved her as the desert thirsted for rain. He was the orbiting Earth worshiping the center Sun. Never pulling away since the strong gravity held him towards her.

Before, for her safety and protection, he had to leave. But now, he regretted the decision of ever leaving her side. His mind wandered to thoughts. Would they have been engaged by now if he hadn't left? Would he be living alongside Rose and waking up next to her every day?

They would be Happy. Ecstatic. Jovial. Dying of laughter.

And between him and Roza, that would be all that mattered.

Flashback

1.5 years ago . . .

By then, almost everyone residing in Istanbul knew about the intimacy between the Mazur heir and the Russian ambassador's son. Adolescent girls would lust after the love they carried. Adult women would reminisce about the past loves they previously experienced. The elderly would simply smile and understand all aspects of love.

However, there was one memory that the entire city had never forgotten. It was because the entire city was part of Dimitri's plan. They were part of Dimitri's marriage proposal to Rose.

The plan was simple. Dimitri and Rose would eat a romantic dinner down by the lake. Then, when the sun was about to set, they would horseback up the mountain. When they successfully reached the tip, he would carefully lead her to the ledge. Then, looking down, each civilian living in Istanbul would be holding a candle ultimately spelling out: Will you marry me, Roza.

However, all throughout dinner, Rose began to figure that something was off with Dimitri. His face was flushed with anxiety and his arms moved with jittery nervousness.

"Are you alright Comrade?" Rose asked with deep concern.

"Uh. . . yeah." Dimitri nodded spooning his bowl of homemade lobster bisque. His edgy elbow slammed into the corner of the wooden table, spilling his soup all over his pants. "Shit." He cursed.

"Ok, Dimitri. What in the world is going on?"

"W-what do you mean?" He dabbed the stain with a handkerchief.

"You've been acting REALLY weird this whole week. When I stop by Alberta's to see you, you're always cooking up excuses to avoid me. Did I do something wrong?" Rose questioned.

"Roza, of course you haven't done anything wrong." Dimitri felt a hole burning through the pocket which held Roza's rings. "I actually want to take you someplace."

"Really? Where?"

"See the mountain up there?" Dimitri pointed to the peak a few miles away. "We're going to horseback up the mountain."

"That's why you brought Misty?" Rose ran to her white stallion. However, Misty and Dimitri's horse were at a compromising position.

Rose just stared at them. "Well this is just awkward."

Dimitri laughed. "Well, they are both attractive horses. Let's wait for them to finish up."

So after a few more awkward minutes listening to the horses neigh, the two stallions trotted back to their uncomfortable owners. From then on, Dimitri and Rose went up on the saddle and headed for the direction to the mountains.

The two trotted in uncomfortable silence. Dimitri's worried thoughts clouded his head. 'What if she says no?' . . . 'What happens if I scare her off?' Unnecessary insecurities filled his head.

When the two had almost reached the top, rain had almost begun to fall. Dimitri hurriedly picked up his speed knowing that if they were too late, all the candles would burn out by the rain.

Rose however, could not understand why Dimitri wanted to get to the top so fast. She didn't care if they would miss the sunset. All she wanted was Dimitri to converse with her and maybe steal a kiss or two.

As more rain poured down, the hooves of Dimitri's stallion galloped faster. By the time he reached the top of the mountain, the last remnants of the lights flickering from the candles blew out. He let out a frustrated sigh as Rose slid off Misty.

"We're here Comrade." She announced.

He gave her a jerky nod. "Cool." He mumbled. Dimitri was angry at Mother Nature's curse of rain. However, he couldn't let Rose see a crack of his rage. She deserved an extravagant proposal. If it was the last thing he'd accomplish, he would make sure to propose the most romantic way possible.

"Ok, what's the deal with you Dimitri? First, you're anxious and quiet as hell about something. When I ask you about it, you smile it off and act like everything's alright. Then, we go up this damn mountain without exchanging any words at all. And now, when we reach the top, you fucking get pissed. If you just wanted to just break up with me, all it took was one sentence." Rose exclaimed.

"Rose-"

"No, I get it. We're done. I understand the seven year difference is too much and you want to meet other girls."

"Rose-"

"Dimitri, you don't need to explain yourself. I get why you were nervous as hell for the past few weeks. I-"

"Rose let me finish." He whispered. "You have no idea how much I love you, Milaya. Every beauty compared to yours is nothing. This whole week, I've realized that without you, I wouldn't be living. This epiphany scared the hell out of me. I'm so sorry I was being a bastard and neglecting to talk to you. Will it be in your heart to forgive me?" He asked with genuine sincerity.

Rose smiled, all her angry lines drawn from her face. "When haven't I forgiven you? I'll always love you, Dimitri."

"I love you too, Roza." And they kissed. The surroundings of the willow trees and canyons faded into a blur. All that was left was the embrace of their arms. The pouring rain ceased and the stormy clouds unveiled the glowing sunset.

Rose and Dimitri pulled apart to catch their breath. When they looked up, an unmistakable hue of a rainbow had appeared.

She was there, drenched, cold, but undeniably happy.

He was there drenched, cold, but undeniably ecstatic.

Present

It was a horrifying long day for Rose. The shops had millions of pinks, crèmes, whites, and lavenders. By the end of the day, Rose's tired eyes couldn't tell the difference between a beige and a crème. So when she opened the door to the Mazur home, she collapsed on the couch.

"Rose!" Beka squealed and enveloped her into a hug.

"God Beka! It's been forever since I've last seen you. How's your grandmother doing?" Rose smiled.

"Stingy as always." Beka pointed.

"Have you seen Abe?"

"Abe and Janine said that they were stopping by the palace for a meeting. The cook made dinner in the kitchen."

"Great, I'm starving." Rose said.

"I already ate dinner so I'll be upstairs unpacking." Beka informed.

"Ok." Rose waddled into the kitchen. Instead of the regular cook, she was surprised to see Dimitri, in an apron, casually stir frying vegetables.

"Dimitri, Abe might come home soon. Does anyone know you're here?"

"No. I bribed the cook to let me in through the back door. The only reason why he let me in was because he recognized me when I used to cook you dinner." He explained.

"Is that black bread?" Rose's mouth watered.

"Yes." He smiled. "Was Mason good for his mama today?"

"He was kicking a lot today but, he was a good boy. He stayed patient while Auntie Lissa was droning about peonies."

Dimitri's long arm encircled Rose's waist. "I love you, baby boy." His eyes met Rose. "I love your mother too."

Rose grabbed Dimitri's face and pressed her lips to his. Their lips moved frantically but with pure love. He gently pushed her up the wall and senselessly continued to move his lips down her neck. Rose threw her head back and wrapped her leg around Dimitri's waist.

"Rose I was wondering where-" Beka froze right on her tracks as Dimitri and Rose pulled away instantly.

"Beka?" Dimitri recognized.

"Dimitri." Beka acknowledged.

"You two know each other?" Rose exclaimed.

I know what everyone's been thinking. I have not abandoned this story. It is my sophomore year however, and I do need to concentrate on getting all A's this year. Anyways, if anyone hasn't checked out my new story Deceitful Millionaires, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check it out! The third chapter will be coming out soon. I hope everyone enjoys it;) Also, I have (finally) made an Instagram. Follow me at: kautie_anna for previews and selfies. Lastly, here are my awaited questions:

What will happen to Beka's attraction towards Dimitri?

Would you readers like to see the Harvest Festival (in the next chapter) Lissa had mentioned above?

Is Dimitri and Rose moving together too fast?

-Kautia