RPOV

The dinner was a lot bigger than I'd expected it to be.

I sat between Victoria and Dimitri at the large round table where founds of all kinds were being passed left, right, across the table; drinks were being poured and there was nothing but non-stop conversation, some of it in Russian.

Most of thought, there was the thick aroma of love…family and familiarity.

I had almost never experienced this feeling that I was surprised I'd even recognized it.

Dimitri gave me small amounts of found on my plate and poured my drink for me. I couldn't resist turning to him and smiling and in turn he'd give me a quick kiss and then return to whatever conversation he'd been in.

I was so overwhelmed that I just sat there eating my food and looking and everything that was going on around me.

Olena, noticing the scant amounts of food on my plate leaned over Dimitri to talk to me.

"Don't you want any more food Roza? You barely have any on your plate." She sounded concerned and motherly.

Before I could, speak, Dimitri spoke for me.

"She eats like a bird," he joked.

His mother playfully slapped his arm they returned to the table conversation. Because of the little time I'd spent in Russia, I caught bits and pieces of the conversation but mostly I tuned it out and looked at all of the happy faces around me.

Yeva was the only exception.

She piled mash potatoes on her plate and glared down at it as if it was the evil incarnate on her plate.

I shook off the worried feelings of Yeva not liking me and kept eating.

Despite our obvious age difference, no one really seemed bothered by Dimitri and I being together. They were more curious and into the apparent love story of it all that Victoria relayed to them. Or they gave me one of those looks as if it was obvious that Dimitri and I should be dating.

Besides Dimitri cooking dinner, I couldn't remember the last time I had a home cooked meal. I was doing that a lot tonight, comparing my previous life to this one but I couldn't help it. So much was changing so quickly it was hard to grasp.

After dinner we sat at the table for a while story telling and Dimitri told his mother about where his scars had come from.

She warned him to be more careful and that if he ever came home with any scars again from work, she'd go there and raise bloody hell.

I stifled my laughter into my napkin but Dimitri caught me any way and smiled at me slyly and gripped my hand in his tighter.

All through dinner his hand was in mine, which made cutting the meat that much harder and more awkward but we worked around it.

Everyone went outside to look out at the stars and talk there so that the smoking adults could smoke while Olena cleaned the table off.

I'd offered to help but she insisted I spent more time with Dimitri.

"It might make a good impression on Yeva to see you two together," she whispered as Yeva shuffled by on her way outside.

I came out and Dimitri sat me between his legs on the back steps and I leaned back against him. I listened to the vibrations of his voice against his chest as he talked to Mark. The others were in separate conversations and the kids were running around playing tag, little Zoya teetering behind whichever person was it.

I relaxed, after such a long lifetime of being tense.

The night was windy but the sky was beautiful.

Yeva's glare directed at me wasn't.

I tried to avert my eyes and avoid her gaze but it became difficult after a while I just closed my eyes and rest against Dimitri, his arms keeping me warm wrapped around me.

I could feel Yeva's stare through my eyes lids though which only made me more nervous and worried.

When it became so dark out that we couldn't see two feet in front of us, we all started leaving. Dimitri went to say goodbye to some old friends and Yeva called me back outside to the patio.

"Be nice Yeva," Dimitri warned.

He kissed me on the cheek for the hundredth time that day and then left to wave his friends off.

"Sit," she ordered gesturing to the chair in front of her.

I immediately plopped down my hands clasped between my knees.

She rocked back for a few seconds, still staring at me unblinkingly.

After about a million crickets started their chirping she finally spoke breaking the tension.

"You are in love with my grandson."

A statement, spoke with a heavier accent than all of the others, her voice aged.

"I care about him a lot," I answered.

I could barely here my self over the wind that was blowing my hair left and right. I was too stiff and rigged with nerves to bother with it though.

"No, you are in love with my grandson," she told me, her voice turning forceful.

Maybe Yeva knew it and recognized it before I did just like Olena and Victoria but I still wasn't completely sure. All in a flash though, the memories of Dimitri and I together played through my head in one montage.

"Yes."

I was completely sure I'd meant it or if I was just trying to please her by being obedient.

"You'll see for your self soon," she said not buying my answer.

We sat in another awkward silence before I decided to take in some courage and speak.

"You don't like me do you?"

For the first time that night actually emotion splayed over her face. It was a cross between humor and surprise.

"You are good for my grandson. I can see that. What I don't like is how you see your self. I should say how you don't see your self."

This had to be where Dimitri inherited his Zen life lesson voice.

My mind was boggled in confusion.

What is she talking about?

"What do you mean?" I asked, voicing my question aloud.

She continued rocking, thoughtful.

"You don't think much of your self. You don't see your self in a nice light. You fail to be completely honest with your self and with my grandson."

"What?" I asked quirking a brow.

She actually smiled for the first time.

She leaned forward on her little old lady rocker, close into me. Her hands, frail and wrinkled, grabbed at mine in a firm grip.

She met my eyes directly and unblinkingly.

"You've lived through a many hardships. In turn, that's had a great affect on your happiness and how you see your self. You are not the fearful little girl, who can only watch and stand by as terrible things happen around her, that you see when you look in the mirror. You are not incapable of love and of being loved. If you are none of things, what are you?"

I sat for a moment taking in her words. This was the least I'd expected when I thought Yeva wanted to talk to me. I thought she was going to tell me off and to stay away from Dimitri and that he was too good for me. Instead she was doing the complete opposite and telling me that I was more than worthy of being with her grandson.

When I took too long to answer, she said, "I am an old woman. I've learned my life lessons. It's time you've learned yours and all on your own."

I took a breath before speaking, stealing a bit of the heat from her surprisingly warm hands.

"I'm…not as incapable as I was always told I was."

She smiled, wider this time, all teeth and everything. She smelt of a light floral perfume and mothballs.

"Exactly." I felt pride aim directly at me from those eyes that had been glaring at me menacing just a few minutes before. "You are a young woman who is more than capable of everything you feared you weren't. You have overcome a great many troubles and there are more on the way but with my grandson at your side and you at his, you will both prevail."

It was a bit of a ramble and sounded almost like a wedding speech but I got the entirety got the message and smiled. I felt good with such simple words that from anyone else I wouldn't have really listened to.

"Thank you," I said barely above a whisper.

"Remember you have your family behind you the entire way," she added a sparkle in her eye.

She tightened her hands on my own and then released them.

"Now go. My grandson is waiting for you."

Almost within the blink of an eye, her earlier, solemn expression return, her happier one gone. She rested her head back against the rocking chair and closed her eyes, the chair squeaking slowly.

I took that as my cue to leave and skirted in the house through the backdoor.

As the door shut behind me, though, I could have sworn I heard her chuckle, a smile in her voice.

DPOV

I felt like I had to go in and rescue her from whatever torment my grandmother was putting her through.

My mother caught and stopped me though, almost to the backdoor.

"Let them have a few minutes."

"In a few minutes, Yeva could turn Rose completely against me and convince her that we're all wrong for each other." I sounded like I was seven years old again, complaining when my sister wouldn't let me play with them. My mother laughed, putting the salad in the refrigerator.

"Non-sense Dimka! Besides, if Yeva shows her mean side, I'm sure Roza will be able to get away in time."

"Yeva's always showing her mean side," I muttered.

She patted my arm reassuringly.

Another few minutes passed.

"I think I should talk to Yeva," I announced moving to the door again.

My mother pulled me back by the end of my shirt.

"You'll get your turn with your grandmother. Be patient Dimka."

She handed me Tupperware and a platter of vegetables to put away. I slammed every top of Tupperware and then slammed the door to the refrigerator.

"Aye, Dimka!" My mother scolded. She turned me around from the counter with a tight grip on my forearms. "You really love her."

It was four words that rang in my ears, echoing in my head like they'd been for a few days now. My mother stared into my eyes, curiosity in her voice.

I looked down at her, so much shorter than me.

When I didn't answer she smiled.

"Roza had the same response. You two have a lot to go through," she chuckled. She patted my cheek and hugged me. I took in the full warmth of being so close to my mother again and hugged her back.

After another few minutes, we heard the back door open and footsteps down the hall. Rose appeared in the door way shivering. I moved swiftly beside her and pulled her to my chest to keep her warm. Her arms were fold across her chest to keep warm and she buried her face into my shirt.

"Oh, it wasn't that bad was it?" My mother said, thinking Rose was crying.

Rose lifted her face smiling.

"No, it went fine," she said simply.

I caught my mother's eye and she shrugged as unsure of what happened between the two of them as I was. We both shrugged and smiled, just happy that Yeva seemed to approve of Rose.

We were outside on the porch, a few moments later, saying our goodbyes. They all kissed Rose and I on the cheek, even Sonya and Yeva both of whom mood improved. I was so happy today went well; a day Rose and I spent together that didn't end in a fistfight. I was happy that this day didn't prove my earlier comforting words to Rose wrong.

When I came to my mother and Yeva they both leaned in and whispered to me, "Tell her."

I didn't have to ask what they were talking about.

Tell her you love her.

We glanced at Rose who was at the end of the porch listening to my sisters all talking animatedly at once, the loudest being Victoria. Rose stood in front of them, Victoria talking, Karolina holding a sleeping Zoya and Sonya rubbing her stomach, and she looked…different to me.

It was something good that made her different, a new air about her. I couldn't place my finger on it though. I turned to my mother and Yeva again and said, "I will."

We gave our last farewell, with promises to return soon and drove off.

We had a long drive back home and Rose was nodding off beside me. I adjusted the console between us and she slipped her shoes off and fixed her seat belt so that she could lean against me, my jacket wrapped around her and the heater on full blast.

It felt nice and comfortable in the car.

I played with her fingers as I drove, rubbing them between my own.

I could almost sense the faint smile on her face.

About twenty minutes into the drive I asked," Did you have fun today?"

"A lot of fun. I'm in love with your family."

"They return the feeling." It was almost the same as our earlier conversation in my bedroom.

"Today was a good day," she breathed. From the dreary sound to her voice, she was going to be asleep soon. With this good mood we were in that was all around us, I thought it might be the best time that we talk about this incase things with the case didn't go well; incase we didn't have anymore happier days after today.

I didn't know how to say it but I didn't want to lose my chance.

I had my mother and my grandmother's words in my head.

Tell her…

… and soon.

Don't let her get away.

The last few parts were thoughts of my own. It all added up to the same conclusion though.

Somewhere, between today and our vacation days spent at the park and museums and festivals, I'd fallen in love with Rose.

It was the way she could lighten the mood and make me laugh no matter how bad things were; I smiled and felt good when I was around her. I couldn't get her off of my mind even if I tried. She fit perfectly against me. We were outlined as if to make one greater figure as one and were each other's other half.

She had become my entire world and I couldn't live without her.

I loved her and I could only hoped she loved me too.

If she didn't I'd be patient enough to wait and see where we'd go.

"Rose," I whispered nudging her wider awake.

She lifted her head higher on my shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"I've…kind of had something on my mind for a while now that I've been wanting to tell you I just don't know how to say it so that it sounds…right."

"Okay," she mumbled. "I'm listening, sweets," she mumbled, using one of many of her nicknames for me I'd grown accustomed to.

Her head slid a little ways down my shoulder and her eyes drooped all the way closed.

I could resist laughing.

I moved her closer to me and kissed her head for about the millionth time. I think I kissed and touched so much to reassure my self that she was real.

"We'' talk about it later, Roza. Get some sleep."