Here is the next chapter. Most of you wanted to see the talk between Abe and Dimitri. Some of you wanted it from Abe's POV and I thought it was a good idea. Thank you for everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed this story. Enjoy this chapter and tell me what you think! :) have a great day!

Abe POV

After Dimitri's call I booked the next flight to Court as soon as I could. Something was telling me it was important. He wouldn't have called to set a meeting just because he missed my threatening voice. I smiled at that thought. No, something important must be happening. I also considered the fact that maybe he would want a family. A family Rose can't offer. If that's the case, calling me to announce me he's planning to leave my daughter, things are going to get ugly. My good mood is ruined now as I am impatiently waiting for the plane to land. Before we took off I called Rose to tell her I'm visiting. She was surprised, but promised she will be waiting for me at the airport. I really want to make thing better between us, considering I missed most of her life.

I went to take my bags, exited the airport and went to the waiting area. When I couldn't see Rose I sighed, thinking she had forgotten to pick me up. I made my way to a cab.

"Dad! Wait!". I turned around when I recognized the voice. My beautiful daughter was running towards me. I smiled and caught her in my arms. "I'm so so so sorry. I didn't forget to pick you up, I am just late. Sorry." I laughed. I should have thought about that: being late was a habit of hers.

"It's ok. I should have thought that you might be late, instead of thinking you forgot me." I smiled and hugged her again. She was so small compared to my Moroi height. She was so much like her mother. Janine and I also started to spend more time together and things were going in a great direction. She was actually thinking to quit guarding Lord Szelsky and be my guard.

"It's good to see you." she admitted, smiling softly. "Come on, let's go". She led me to an SUV, driven by a guardian I didn't know. Someone from Court, I suppose. Rose sat in the back with me, while the guardian drove us to the Royal Court.

"How have you been?" I ask her after a few minutes of silence.

"I've been good. Guarding Lissa is the best thing that ever happened to me. Also, she's always with Christian, which is a bonus for me". I immediately remebered. Dimitri was Christian's guardian. If Lissa was spending time with Christian, also Rose and Dimitri would be spending more time together. I was glad my daughter was happy with him, but then I remembered my thoughts from earlier. If he left her, the happiness in her would be gone. I'll kill that man if he makes my daughter unhappy. "What's wrong?" she asked when she sensed my tension.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just tired after the flight. So tell me, how are you and Dimitri?". I hoped that I could get a hint about how their relationship is going.

"We're good." She opened her mouth to say something more but quickly closed it.

"What is it?" I pushed, not wanting to let this opportunity slipped.

"Nothing. Just...he's been acting a bit strange this week."

"What do you mean?"

"He's been...distant. I thought maybe he was cheating on me, but he denied it, saying I'm the only one for him." she sighed thoughtful.

If he's cheating on her, it's even worse. I'm going to find everything out tomorrow when I meet him. I'm getting the truth out if him, no matter what it takes. We were quiet until we arrived. I was walked to my room by a pretty Moroi woman. She was young, probably in her twenties. This wasn't the first time I was staying at Court, but I think it was the first time when my room was so big. I guess this is what you get when your daughter's best friend is the queen.

I spent the rest of the day unpacking my things and checking the area. I met some old friends (maybe "friends" is a little too much) of mine. I went to sleep early, wanting to have my mind clear for the conversation with Dimitri.

I was sitting at a booth in a nice restaurant from Court. It wasn't very crowded this time of the day. I noticed Dimitri entering the restaurant so I looked at my watch: 10 minutes early. I'll give him extra points for arriving early. Thanks to his guardian training he scanned the room and noticed me in less than 30 seconds. That is impressive, considering how big the room is.

"Mr. Mazur, hello. Thank you for coming in such a short time" he greeted as he sat down on the bench opposite me. I narrowed my eyes at him, thinking of the worst scenarios: him leaving my daughter, him cheating on my daughter, even him knocking up some Moroi woman.

"Sure. So what is it? Why did you want to see me?"

"Why don't we order something first? I am really hungry. I had a shift until now and didn't have time to eat." he was rambling, an unusual thing for him. I saw he was nervous and trying to get me on good terms before telling me the real reason I was here.

I agreed, wanting this over as soon as possible so we can get to business. I ordered a salad (a habit I got from Janine) while he ordered a steak.

"How have you been these months, sir?" he asked, trying to make small talk.

"I've been good. And you? Especially after Natasha was found guilty?"

He avoided my eyes. This must be difficult for him. Natasha used to be one of the few friends he had. He trusted her and she murdered Queen Tatiana, framed my daughter for it.

"I'm getting over it. Anyway, it's much more difficult for Christian. She was the only family he had left." he sighed sadly.

We finished our meal in silence. After a fee momenta when nobodt said anything, I asked again. "So why did you want me here?"

I saw he was getting nervous and tried to pull time again "Don't you want some dessert? They make a great pie here"

"Belikov" I growled. "I'm not on a date with you. This is business. Get to the point."

He sighed. "Okay. You know that Rose and I have known each other for almost three years. And we'll celebrate two years of dating very soon. She'll also turn twenty" he started.

"Yes..." I trailed off, not knowing the direction of this conversation.

"I asked you to come here so I can say this in person, not over the phone. Your Rose's father. I love your daughter so much. I wake up to see her smiling and we help each other in all sorts of situations. I don't know what I would do without her. Probably, if it wasn't for Rose, I would still think about that time I was a Strigoi and hate myself" he flinched at that, but continued anyway "she helped me move on. I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but not like this"

I could feel the anger building inside me. This was it. He was going to tell me he wants to leave Rose. I opened my mouth to say something (probably yell at him) but I didn't have the chance. He kept talking.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life just dating Rose. I want to call her my wife, not my girlfriend". That shocked me. I stared at him with a blank faice. So emotionless that I could pass as a guardian. "I am asking for your permission to marry your daughter. I promise that I will spend every waking minute to make her as happy as I can". I saw hope in his eyes that I will agree. I saw fear that I won't agree. I saw that he was nervous, that he took distance from everybody just so he can think clearly.

With that, I put the pieces together and I started laughing. Rose was afraid her boyfriend was cheating on her and all he's done was planning to propose to her. Dimitri looked like he lost his hope when I laughed. Maybe he was thinking I saw the idea of marriage as a joke. But I could see how much they loved each other and I would do anything for my family's happiness.

"Belikov, you're a great man. If you let me say the truth, I came here with a bad mood. I came here thinking that you'll give me some bad news, leaving Rose for example. I was not expecting this. But I see how much you love each other amd I know Rose would hate me forever if I say no. I want you to have a happy marriage even though you won't be able to add any members, unless you adopt". He looked sad at the last part, but filled with joy that I am giving my blessing. "And although Janine is not here, I cam assure you she agrees too. She actually hinted about you two getting married some time ago. I can speak for both her and I when I give you our blessings. Good luck in proposing now. But don't worry, I'm sure she'll say yes."

"Thank you so much, sir. I promise I'll make Rose happy. I love her more than anything else in this world."

"Good. Keep in mind that if you fail that promise, I'll make your life a living hell. I don't have to go into details, I'm sure you have imagination" I said in a low voice, making my threat much scarier. It worked, because he paled.

"Don't worry" he told me after he gained some strength back. "I have to go back to work now. Thank you so much for your blessing, all I have to do now is plan the proposal. It was good to see you again, sir."

I nodded and he left. If I was a woman, I would cry. Both because I am happy that my daughter will get married, but also a bit sad that I missed so much from her life. I got into her life when she is already ready for marriage. Such a shame.