Dinner at Rozas turned out to be extremely pleasant, I was expecting some awkwardness but there was none. Faith kept me occupied asking a million questions about me, I answered most of them truthfully. About where I was from, about my family back in Russia.
She asked alot about when I taught Rose to fight, even going so far as to declare that when she was old enough she would make me be her mentor whether I wanted to or not.
It wasnt untill after dinner was finished and Rose put her to bed that my night got interesting.
My phone started buzzing, I flicked it out to see an incoming call from Tasha. I had been waiting for her to call, either to apologise or tell me shes got a new guardian, I still wasnt sure just how angry at me she was... And with her anything was possible.
"Belikov." I answered formally, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
"Dimka? Where have you been? Ive been waiting for you to come home... I... I want to apologise for what I said, and the way I reacted. I wanted to do this in person..." she spoke quietly over the phone. It was a surprise to me, I thought for sure she was still mad...
"I figured I would give you some space, let you calm down before I even thought about coming back." I replied. Although I wasnt entirely lying, I was planning on seeing her eventually to sort things out, I had just been so preoccupied with Rose and Faith.
"oh... Well where are you now? We should catch up, maybe have dinner?"
"Ive already eaten," Rose took that moment to walk into the room, she paused when she saw I was on the phone, "Im actually busy at the moment, maybe tomorrow?"
"oh." she sounded like she had expected that, "Tomorrow then. Bye." and she hung up without waiting for my response.
I clicked my phone shut and looked up to see Rozas questioning face.
"Tasha."
"Oh..." was all she said as she smoothed her tshirt over her black jeans and made her way to the couch across from me, she sat down spreading her legs along the length of the three seater couch, where I would have been flailing my legs off the end she fit perfectly between the arms of the chairs. She was truely beautiful as she relaxed into the cusions, letting out a long breath.
"Stop looking at me like that Comrade." She laughed throwing one of the cusions directly at me.
I dodged to the left, narrowly escaping a hit in the face. "I cant help it. Youre beautiful." I shrugged, letting the smile creep onto my face as I watched the crimson blush creep onto hers.
She looked away and cleared her throat quietly. "So you said you want to get to know Faith, that you plan on staying around for her... what will that mean in Her case? I know she wont let you go without a fight." Rose asked, sitting up and shifting her legs onto the floor so that she was directly facing me. I knew who she was talking about, she didnt even have to say Tashas name, I could tell from the way she said 'Her'.
"Well Hanz seems to have unlimited jobs that need doing around here, he knows that Tasha threw me out so all I have to do is sign the reassignment paperwork, I was going to get it done tomorrow."
"She wont like that. Theres no way she'll let you, and she needs to sign the papers as well."
"Let me worry about that. Roza I am going to stay, I wont leave again ok. Dont worry."
"Who said Im worried?" She replied with a smirk on her face.
I moved from the couch and sat down beside her on the couch, close enough that our legs were touching and I pulled her hands into mine. The warm tingle that I had missed so much pulsed through me from where our bodies connected. "Roza, the other day you said you still Love me but you didnt know if it was enough... well I know it is. We've been apart for 2 years and yet right now it feels as though I never left, I still feel a tingle when we touch, I still love the smell of your hair, your skin, and the way you smile when you think no ones looking. I swear on my life that Im not going anywhere."
"Comrade..." She whispered as I placed my hands on both sides of her cheeks and pulled my face down to hers. Pausing with our lips only centimeters apart just to make sure it was ok. She didnt move away, she just stared into my eyes with so much love and passion it mirrored my own.
"I love you." I breathed just as our lips met in the sweetest, most passionate kiss we had ever shared. It was like all the pent up love and hurt, pain, regret and fear were all rushing to the surface, trying to find release in the moment of bliss. It was like everything was perfect, everything was right again after so long. Her lips moved in perfect sync with mine, the soft feel of them mixed with her warm sweet breath was like heaven. Her hands moved to my neck and twined their way into my hair, as though she could pull me even closer. My hands moved to the small of her back, pressing her closer to me. I couldnt get enough of her. This women was my angel, my soul, my Life. I would do anything for her.
We broke apart after a moment, she kept her hands in my hair, lightly stroking the skin on the back of my neck as she rested her forehead on mine and caught her breath. "God Ive missed that." She whispered.
I kissed her on the lips once more before kissing her forehead, lingering there for a moment.
"Shall we watch a movie? Or do you have to be somewhere else tonight?" She asked after a moment of comfortable silence.
"I dont have to be anywhere except here with you. Put on anything you like." I replied as she got up and put a DVD in, I didnt even bother asking what it was, I was just happy to be with her for a while longer tonight.
She pushed me back against the couch, cuddling herself between my body and the back of the couch, I wrapped one arm underneath her and lay the other one over her waist. It felt so normal and so right to be laying like this with her, being able to hold her like this, doing something as simple as watching a movie together. It was perfect.
Halfway through the movie I realised her breathing had leveled out and a light snore was escaping her lips. I gently pried myself from her arms, making sure not to wake her and draping a blanket lightly across her. She snuggled into the cusion with a smile on her sleeping face. I kissed her forehead before making my way towards the front door.
I reached for the handle but a small cough and then a sniffle caught my attention, I turned to see Faith standing in her bedroom doorway rubbing one of her eyes. I realised she had tears trailing down her cheeks as she sniffled again.
"Milaya whats wrong? Why arent you in bed?" I asked slowly walking towards her.
"I *sniffle* had a *sniffle* bad dream" She whimpered lifting both her arms up. I lifted her into my arms and walked her into her room again, I hadnt been in here before and I hoped Roza wouldnt mind. I didnt want to wake her up if I could get Faith back to sleep though.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" I asked as she buried her head into my shoulder. She shook her head. "Well whatever it was it wont hurt you ok, It was just a dream." I tried to sooth her, it seemed to help since she stopped sniffling and was now wrapping strands of my hair around her tiny finger.
I gently pried her off and lay her back down in her bed, pulling the blankets back over her. I watched her for a moment as her eyelids fluttered and finally closed and her breathing evened out. I placed a kiss on her forehead and whispered in Russian, "Sleep well My daughter. I love you." before quietly walking out of Rozas house, making sure it was locked behind me.
I got back to my apartment, apparently in a daze the whole way there since I couldnt remember actually making my way there, to find Tasha leaning against it.
"Tasha what are you doing here?" I asked, clearly confused, It was pretty late for Moroi to be up afterall. "You havent been waiting since you called me have you?"
She shook her head, "No, only a couple of minutes. I needed to talk to you in person, can I come in?" She asked stepping away from the door so that I could open it.
"Sure."
She followed me inside, glancing around at the room with its bare walls and plain furniture before taking a seat in the single arm chair.
"So, what can I do for you?" I asked, wanting her to get straight to the point. I knew whatever it was would most likely ruin my happy mood.
"I wanted to make sure things are ok between us, I know the way I reacted was bad, I shouldnt have used my fire element in the way I did. It was wrong and Im so, so sorry Dimka-"
I held up my hand for her to stop, "Its fine, its all in the past, youre forgiven."
She smiled widely at me, clasping her hands together infront of her, "Great, well I figured I would let you know that since youre better and Im done seeing the queen that we will be heading back home tomorrow afternoon." She was still smiling but the blood had drained from my entire body.
I shook my head, "I cant go... Tasha Im not leaving, Im staying here." I said, keeping my voice as calm and sure as I could.
"But youre my guardian, You live with me, You have to come." She said sounding confused.
"No, Tasha I was going to talk to you about this tomorrow. Ive decided I need a change, Im going to transfer here and do some guarding around court. Hanz has cleared it so that I have a job and a house and everything I will need here, all I need is for you to sign the papers off as well."
"No! I wont sign them. Dimka you are MY guardian." She said, her voice raising to an almost shout.
"Thats not fair, You cant do that to me Tasha, this is what I want, I want to be here. I need to be here." I Didnt want to explain why, I didnt want to tell her that I wanted to be with Roza, and be with my daughter...
"No, you need to be with me, its what is best for you. You need to get over that bloodwh-"
"Dont you dare call her that Tasha, Ive told you before she is NOT a bloodwhore!" I growled at her. She barely even registerd my words before she carried on talking.
"She obviously is a whore, Dimka open your eyes. She has a child, shes obviously been sleeping around because it sure as hell isnt Adrians kid. And I really hope you arent falling for the bullshit shes trying to spin about it being yours."
I stared at her for a moment, she knew? "Who told you that?" I asked.
She folded her arms and leaned back into the chair, obviously pleased at my reaction.
"Adrian. He told me shes been spinning the same stupid storyline and making everyone believe it."
"Well believe it because its true. Shes my daughter, So im staying right here where I can be there for her." I said trying to sound as completely sure of myself as I felt.
"Dont be stupid! Its impossible! Two dhampirs cant procreate. Shes lying to everyone, Shes probably feeding the same lie to the girl so that you will believe it and she can live happily ever after. Dimka she doesnt deserve you after everything, theyre both going to end up bloodwhores anyway, dont let them drag you down with them."
I stood up abruptly from my spot and walked purposefully towards the door. "Natasha I refuse to hear you speak of Roza and MY daughter like that. Now I would like to get some sleep." I opened the door and waited patiently for her to get up and walk towards me.
She paused infront of me and the open door. "Ill see you tomorrow to sign my reassignment papers. Now goodnight." I spoke calmly.
She didnt say anything, she just scowled at me before turning and walking out. She paused halfway down the hallway, turning just her head to me, "I wont let you go without a fight Dimka. You know its me you should be with." She spoke quietly, I wasnt sure if it was meant for me to hear or not but I closed the door before she could say anything else.