Some of you have been saying you can't read the second chapter. If that's true, you shouldn't read this one. I have tried to take the chapter down and re-post it, but i haven't gotten any reviews telling me if it worked other than Rose-loves-Dimitri and Bookworm695.
Disclaimer: Richelle Mead owns all characters in this story unless marked otherwise.'
Rose P.O.V.
"So they didn't come with you?" I asked for the umpteenth time.
Dimitri looked down at me. "They built a life in Russia, Roza. I didn't. That's why I came back."
"They built a life here too." I muttered sadly.
For this, he had no words. He only wrapped his arm around me, bringing me into his chest. I breathed in the comfort he offered me. The familiarity. I let it wrap around me like a warm blanket in the cold.
Over the course of this past week, Dimitri and I have been virtually inseparable - spending every moment with each other, learning about the lives we've lead since his departure. Currently, we were taking a walk in the park. It was comfortable, even in silence.
I took a deep breath, removing myself from him slowly.
"Look, Dimitri!" I pointed ahead of us. "The creek." I smiled.
He returned my smile, incredulously. "We haven't been here since we were seven."
Clear, calm, and beautiful, the creek was the definition of serene. True to Dimitri's words, we hadn't been here for ten years. When we were younger, we had made a habit of coming to the creek to play. It was a lot deeper than we had originally anticipated and I had slipped in. While I was struggling to keep myself above water, Dimitri dove in and dragged me back to safety. He wasn't a great swimmer, but he was better than I was. When our moms had found him carrying a crying seven-year-old Rose on his back, they demanded to know what happened. They promptly forbade us from ever going to the creek again when we had relayed the day's events.
I took his hand and ran to the pond, laughing lightly the whole way.
I smiled mischievously as he stopped just before reaching the water. "What's the matter, Dimka? Afraid of a little water?" I teased.
He shook his head, a small smile gracing his lips. "What about you, Roza? Are you afraid?"
"Of you or the water? 'Cause I could never be scared of you." I told him confidently.
He leant down and whispered in my ear. "You're going to wish you hadn't said that."
Before I could register what he had said, he scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder.
"Dimitri!" I screamed. "Oh my God! Put me down!" I hit his back repeatedly, but this only encouraged him further.
"Sorry. No can do, Roza." I heard a hint of a smile in his voice, only intensifying my anger.
"Dimitri, I swear to God if you don't let me down..." I threatened.
He stopped. "You'll what?" He asked, feigning fear. For some reason, this made me really angry. Nobody messes with Rose Hathaway. When she tells you to do something, you do it. When she's pissed, you fear for your life. Until now. Dimitri was the exception to every rule when it came to me. I didn't like that. It scared me. Like I didn't have any control. And, in true Rose Hathaway style, I transferred the fear to anger.
"Dimitri, put me down now!" I commanded.
He only laughed. "Fine."
I breathed a breath of relief.
Until he through me in the creek.
Or he tried. I gripped his back tightly, not intending to go for a swim. My efforts only managed to drag him into the creek with me. Ice cold water rushed up to greet me, immediately making me lose my grip on Dimitri. I struggled under the weight of the water for a moment before swimming up to the surface.
I looked at the creek around me, ready to give him hell for his stupid stunt, but Dimitri was no where to be seen.
"Dimitri?" I called. I turned around, looking behind me, splashing the water slightly. "Dimitri? This isn't funny. " I warned.
I laughed nervously. "Okay, I get it. Joke's over now."
He still hadn't answered. Panic shot through me. I looked down, the clear water giving way to murkier water as the depth increased.
"Dimka?" I called again. I was beyond worried. It felt like forever. Surely no one could hold their breath for so long? "D-AAh!" I screamed as something caught hold of my legs, dragging me deep into the water. I vaguely registered the feeling of familiar arms as they wrapped around me, not letting me up for air. I struggled in his arms, smacking his chest until he let go of me.
"That wasn't fucking funny!" I screamed at him after we had both come up for air.
He laughed, the joyous sound reverberating through the park. "You're right." He told me. "It was hilarious."
"Haha." I mocked, splashing water in his face. "So funny."
He splashed me back, clearly irritated at my immaturity. This only managed to start an all-out splash war. He threw water in my face, splash after splash until I couldn't breathe.
"Okay." I gasped out. "Okay, okay. I give."
He looked at me blankly and I sent one last splash into his face. He wiped the water out of his eyes and looked over to me, a breathtaking smile displayed on his face. Unbeknownst to myself, a smile was also creeping up to my own face. Suddenly, I started laughing. I had to grab hold of a large boulder behind me so as to keep myself from drowning in the creek. I laughed at his expression. I laughed at how angry I had gotten over something so stupid. I laughed because my best friend was back and it was like he had never left in the first place. I laughed because this was the happiest I've been in years.
I looked over to Dimitri, only to see him join me in my fit of laughter. I stopped to admire the sight before me. Dimitri had grown up into.. a very handsome man. His long, wet hair clung to the sides of his face as his shirt did the same to his muscles. A brilliant smile lit his features and I found myself wanting his arms to wrap themselves around me.
I immediately chastised myself for that last thought. He was my best friend. I shouldn't be thinking things like that about him.
Dimitri looked at me now, smile gone. The expression on his face was one I hadn't seen before.
"Come on." He said, looking up into the trees. "It's dark. I should get you home."
I looked up at the night sky and saw that he was right. I frowned, unable to determine where the time had gone. It was evening when I had left my house and met up with him.
"Uh - yeah." I told him, climbing out of the creek.
I gasped, the cold, night air brushing against my skin, leaving goosebumps in it's wake. My teeth chattered as I made my way to Dimitri.
"God, Rose. Your lips are blue." He said, taking me into his arms. I couldn't respond. Talking was out of the question. I stood, face buried in Dimitri's chest, revelling in the warmth he provided. "Can you walk?" He asked hesitantly. I nodded, and he kept one arm around my waist as I took a step. And tripped. The cold water combined with the freezing air had me shaking uncontrollably. Thankfully Dimitri caught me before I fell on my face. He promptly picked me up bridal style and I yelped in protest. "Sorry, Roza, but your pretty useless right now when it comes to walking."
"N-n-n-no I-I'm no-ot." I muttered. He didn't respond. Instead, he continued the walk to my house.
When we finally got there, I looked for the key in my pants pocket, but couldn't find it. I frowned.
"I d-don't ha-ave the k-k-key. It-t's in th-the cr-creek." I told him. "L-l-issa sh-should b-be here though."
He nodded and looked worriedly at me. He shifted me in his arms and knocked on the door, waiting for an answer.
"Coming!" I heard a muffled voice at the other side of the door and identified it as Lissa. The knob turned and Lissa stepped outside. "Oh my God! What happened to you guys?"
I looked at Dimitri, imagining what she must be seeing. Me, shivering and blue, being carried by Dimitri who was dripping wet and slightly muddy from the trek home.
Dimitri smiled sheepishly down at me, guilt edging at his voice. "We went for a little swim."
I glared at him, unable to tell Lissa that he was lying and it wasn't how it had happened in the slightest, but one look at his worried, guilty face made me soften. I nodded my head to Lissa and she opened the door for us to enter.
"I'll go start a bath for you, Rose." Lissa said, rushing to the bathroom.
In the livingroom, I found Christian watching the T.V., not bothering to look up at us. Dimitri stood near the front door awkwardly, still holding me in his arms. He was looking at the house, I realized. This was like his second home and he hasn't been here for...five years. Nothing's changed much despite how long it's been. The only thing missing was my mother's presence. I too looked around at the house, remembering all the times Dimitri and I shared in this very home.
"It's ready." Lissa cried, running back into the livingroom. At her voice, Christian finally looked up to where we were standing and raised and eyebrow, but said nothing. That's a first.
I looked at Dimitri expectantly, but he was still lost in thought, staring into space. Lissa cleared her throat and he blinked out of his daze.
"Oh." He blushed slightly. "Right." He walked over to the bathroom, knowing I wouldn't have been able to walk myself. He set me down near the tub so I could hold it to steady myself while I undressed.
"T-th-thanks." I stuttered.
He nodded with an apologetic smile and shut the door behind him. With little difficulty, I managed to peel the wet clothes off my body and climb into the steaming water. I sighed at the warmth, allowing myself to relax.
After a long, luxurious bath, I wrapped a towel around my body and walked out of the bathroom, making my way toward my room. I changed into PJ's: striped pants and a blue shirt. Just as I was about to walk out, there was a knock on the door. Opening the door, I came face to face with Dimitri.
"Uh... Come in." I said, sitting on the edge of my bed.
He walked in slowly, looking around. He smiled. "Nothing's changed."
"Yeah...well.." I trailed awkwardly.
"I just wanted to say sorry. For earlier." He told me. I could see that he was telling the truth.
"If I get sick, I'm holding you accountable." I joked. He laughed lightly and just like that the awkwardness faded away.
"I should probably get going." He told me. His hair was slightly damper than earlier. He had on what looked like a pair of Christian's pajama pants and I smiled noticing that it fit perfectly whereas on Christian they dragged on the ground and he often tripped over them. "Besides," He smiled. "If I remember correctly, Janine was never fond of me staying over unannounced."
I looked at the ground, holding back tears. He didn't know. I didn't tell him.
"Rose? Are you okay?" He sounded worried. Like he said something wrong.
I looked up at him and smiled, patting the bed beside me. "Come sit." I told him. Confused, he complied.
He used his hand to tilt me chin up so he could look at me. "Roza, what's wrong?"
A tear slipped down my cheek and I wiped it away quickly, tearing my gaze from Dimitri's. "I..uh...she - my mom - was killed." I told him.
He blinked. This news had to be just as hard on him as it was on me. "H-how?"
"She was the Sheriff, Dimitri. Getting killed is an occupational hazard." I tried to joke but it sounded forced. And it was.
"Oh, Roza." He murmured, wrapping his arms around me once more. I let the tears go freely now, and for the first time, I truly let myself feel the loss of my mother. I had always thought I had to be strong after she was gone, but the truth was I didn't. Not for anyone. Not for Lissa, Dimitri, or even myself. I realized that now, crying into Dimitri's bare shoulder.
Dimitri didn't move an inch for what felt like hours. He held me while I cried and tried to tell him the details. He too shed a few tears for his second mother.
Eventually, though, I pulled myself from Dimitri. "Sorry." I muttered, slightly embarrassed.
"Hey." He said, cupping my chin. "Don't be."
I smiled, exhausted from crying so much. "Stay with me?" I asked. He nodded.
Unlike when we were younger, we slept as close as possible to each other. (A/N Wow. Poorly constructed sentence.) He draped an arm around my waist and rested his chin atop my head, murmuring things in Russian, calming me to a peaceful sleep. This was the first night I fell asleep In Dimitri Belikov's arms.