Sorry for the long wait. The Christmas season gets kinda hectic at my house cuz we make thousands of different kinds of treats for our friends and neighbors. Anyway, this will be the last chapter of the story, but I will be starting a new story very soon. Just need to think of a title. I do not own VA!

Chapter 6

Finale

RPOV

I led Dimitri to the kitchen and got a pot of coffee started, figuring he probably needed the extra caffeine after everything that happened today. He sat slowly at the table with Alex. After I got the coffee perking, I turned towards the table and saw Dimitri with his head in his hands, slumped over.

"Maybe...maybe we should talk another day Dimitri..." I said, slowly walking over to take a seat at the table.

"It's not that I'm tired Rose. Just...it's...27 innocent people Rose." He said slowly, taking his hands away from his face. I nodded and looked at Alex.

"Alex, honey, why don't you go get a bath and get ready for bed. Come down when you're ready and I'll tuck you in. Okay?"

"But, Momma, what about the bad man?" He said, a look of fear crossing his face.

"As long as this man is here," I said, pointing to Dimitri, "you'll be safe." Alex looked at Dimitri and in a whisper, said, "You're gonna keep us safe, right mister?"

"Absolutely. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe. Now go and listen to your mother." Dimitri said, a small smile on his face. Alex nodded and walked to the steps. After his footsteps grew dimmer and the sound of running water started, I turned to Dimitri, waiting to see if he'd say anything else. And he did.

"Twenty-seven people died today Rose. Twenty-seven innocent people. Twenty children, six of the employees at school and the suspects mother at her house. Rose, this is probably the worst shooting of the year. These people should have never had to go through this..." he said, tears coming to his eyes.

"If you don't mind me asking Dimitri, what happened to the shooter?" I asked, hesitant of every word, knowing how fresh the wounds for everyone still were.

"Dead. Killed himself."

"D-do you think you should tell Alex?"

"No. Not when he's still in this state."

Silence followed. The timer on the coffee pot went off and I got up to pour him a cup. Setting the cup in front of him, a offered a small smile. Trying to break the silence and depressing mood, I tried to change the subject.

"Everyone thought you were dead, Comrade."

"Everyone was. I was left for dead by the Strigoi that attacked us. But I survived and went undercover and got a job as a police office to complete the mission."

"You didn't think to contact me or anyone else?" I wanted to be angry, but the now mature part of me decided to hear him out before I exploded.

"Too risky."

"That's it? You had everyone believe you were dead for the past five years?!" Old Rose was now revealing herself. Despite today's events, I couldn't help but explode because of his brief response.

"You don't understand Rose."

"No! YOU don't understand Dimitri! You have no idea the pain and heartache I went through just because you decided to keep the fact that you were alive from the people that love you!" Dimitri sat motionless, stunned at my sudden outburst. I took a deep breath and counted to ten, trying to calm myself.

"Roza..." Dimitri said, using his Russian name for me that I haven't heard him say in what literally felt like forever.

"Dimitri," I said, bracing myself for what I was about to tell him, "I-I'm sorry for screaming but you don't know why I wanted you to be alive all these years. I thought you were dead and here you are, alive and well. I-I don't know how to tell you this gently so I'm just going to say it. Dimtri, you are Alex's father."

"Impossible-"he started, but I interrupted him.

"I thought so too. I just thought it was a miracle. But after a lot of research, the doctor discovered it has to do with me being Shadow-kissed. When Lissa healed me, she gave me some of her Moroi 'essence' that allows me to reproduce with dhampirs. Alex is you son. No question about it." Dimitri looked at me wide eyed. He was about to speak when Alex came back down the steps.

"Momma, I'm ready for bed."

"Okay honey, but real quick, come hear,sit on my lap." Alex complied and sat on my lap, resting his head against my chest. "Now honey, I have a question for you."

"What Momma?" he asked lifting his head to look at me.

"You've always wanted to meet you're daddy, right?"

"Uh-huh. I even asked Santa to bring me my daddy for Christmas."

"Well honey, I think he sent you're gift a little early." I said, nodding my head towards Dimitri. "This is your father." Alex looked at Dimitri and then back to me.

"Are you sure Momma?"

"Positive." I assured, smiling. A huge grin spread across his face and he leaped into Dimitri's arms.

"Daddy! I knew Santa would surprise me!" he shouted, smothering Dimitri with a bear hug.

"How about daddy tucking you in tonight? Would you like that?" I said, looking at our ecstatic son and tearfully joyous Dimitri.

"Please daddy!? Pleasepleaseplease!?" he said. I couldn't help but give a small smile, relieved that Alex had a little bit of a distraction from today's terror.

Dimitri nodded and lifted his son into his arms and began towards the steps.

I smiled as they walked away. Sure, for the next months, it was going to be a long hard road of healing, but we would get through it. This time as a family. We'd all help each other heal. Together.

Finished! Hope you all enjoyed reading this. It was tough for me to write, I admit, it's scary to know that something this tragic could happen to such young, innocent people, both the victims and survivors. The tragedy that occurred on December 14th, 2012, will always remain in our hearts and we always remember those innocent lives lost.

My next story will be different. Much different. If you want to see what I have in store, I will need 15 new reviews. So you know what to do! Until then, peace.

Love, VAlover4lyfe