An: So I promised it wouldn't even be a week so here you go! Once again thank you to everyone who has reviewed or alerted or even just read this story! You all are amazing and inspire me to keep writing faster so keep it up :)

I do have a very IMPORTANT question or two for everyone. Do you want the truth revealed to Rose about Abe before or after the truth about Tasha? And how soon do you want it to happen? In the next few chapters or do you want the tension to build a little more? I have a pretty good idea on when I am going to do both reveals but you're the ones reading it so I decided to ask y'alls input…That being said please R&R and enjoy!

Sincerely, Cassandra

I woke up the next morning with a small headache and pretty much aching all over but nothing I hadn't had before. I went to the bathroom and did my business but when I looked in the mirror I was shocked. 'I wonder if I looked like this last night' I thought to myself, 'if I did I'm surprised Dimitri didn't freak out more.'

My left eye was swollen and pretty colored in black and blue, the right side of my lips were also swollen with a cut on my bottom lip. The bruise on my eye extended down the side of my face until about where my cheek bone ended, obviously where that asshole shoved my face into the ground.

I knew there was no way I would get around explaining all of this to my mom and Olena, but I decided to take a shower and release some of the tension that was still around. I ran quickly to Vika's room, careful not to wake her, got some clothes and my make-up bag and ran back to the bathroom.

I turned the hot water on and stripped down, I was about to get in when I accidentally glanced in the mirror. That actually made my jaw drop. Because of my hoodie and pants earlier, I didn't notice, but there were bruises all up and down my body, No wonder I was so sore and stiff. There were a few bruises on my arms from Ben holding me and the fall, a bruise on my right hip, a scratch and a bruise on my right knee, and a reddish bruise on my throat from the knife. I didn't even feel the pain when all theses happened,must have been because of all the adrenaline. I just shook my head and slipped in the shower.

In order to avoid thinking about the Victor and his henchmen, I tried changing my train of thoughts to what I should do about Tasha. With no proof and nothing to really go on, I was stuck. I had to come up with a plan to figure out what Tasha was talking about and how to get proof for Dimitri. I have a feeling I'm going to need Vika's help with this. I hurridly finished my shower and started to get dressed when I realized there was no way I could wear this outfit today. I had originally grabbed a pair of my shorter shorts and a tank top, but wearing that would allow all of my bruises to show and my mom and Olena would freak. I kept the towel around me and quickly put on some cover up on my face and neck. When I was done, the bruises looked half as bad as they did moments before. I made sure the towel was wrapped snugly around me just in case I ran into anybody, and sprinted to Vika's room.

When I got there, she was already up and in her closet getting dressed. Before she saw me, I rushed over to my bag and pulled out a pair of sweat pants, a bra, t-shirt, and a hoodie and started throwing them all on. Right as I was slipping on the hoodie, I heard her come out of the closet.

"Isn't it a little hot for that outfit?" she asked. I answered her without turning around pretending to mess with my cell phone.

"Yea but I felt like being comfortable today."

"Can you not be comfortable in soffees and a tank top?" she joked. I sat in front of my bag and pulled out my hairbrush and started working on my hair. At first she didn't realize that I was doing my hair by my bag instead of in her mirror like usual, but as I was almost finished she realized something was up.

"Why are you brushing your air over there instead of over here?" I took a deep breath trying to ready myself for what was going to happen over the next hour or so.

"Ok don't freak out, and before you ask I'll tell you when I tell everyone else, because I don't really feel like repeating it," I said before I turned around. I kept my head down at first trying to wait as long as I could but I decided to just get it over with. When I lifted my head, she gasped in shock, then ran over and grabbed me in a huge hug.

"Are you ok?"

"Yea I'm good now."

"I take it you weren't just lost?"

"No, I was jumped or potentially kidnapped or whatever you want to call it." She gave me a look like she was about to ask more but stopped when she remembered what I said before about waiting to tell her when I told everyone. I could see she was struggling with being quiet but I appreciated her restraint.

"Thank you for not asking yet." About then there was a knock on the door. I quickly turned back around towards my bag hiding my face in case it was my mom or Olena whil Viktoria went and opened the door.

"I'm guessing you already know?" she asked whoever it was. I guess they answered silently because I heard her open the door wider and heard footsteps approaching.

"It's just me Rose," said Dimitri. I slowly turned around and heard his sharp intake of breath. I guess it was worse than it was last night. "Oh Roza," he said softly I could see all the emotions in his eyes. Sadness, anger at Victor and guilt for not protecting me. That's all it took before I went over and hugged him half comforting him and half for myself.

"Please tell me you beat up whoever did this to Rose," said Viktoria from her bed. Dimitri slightly tensed.

"I wish," he almost growled out. I hugged him a little tighter and he relaxed a little bit. I pulled out of the hug and turned towards Vika.

"He didn't have the chance, they were gone by the time he got to me."

"Speaking of which, you have a visitor," said Dimitri. He saw me tense and quickly spoke up again. "It's just Abe and his guards, I wouldn't let that bastard get anywhere near you again."

"Oh, ok. Why is Abe here?" I asked confused. I knew it was a little town and I already had told him I was staying here so I wasn't surprised that he knew where to find me, just surprised that he did and so early.

"Wanted to check on you."

"I bet my mom isn't very pleased about that."

"You have no idea," he muttered. I was about to question him when there was another knock at the door. I quickly grabbed Dimitri and hid my face in his shirt. I know it's pointless to keep hiding it, I was only delaying the impossible, but I wasn't ready for everyone to freak out and then have to repeat everything that happened again.

"Rosemarie Hathaway I need to talk to you!" my mom said opening the door, and boy did she sound mad. Dimitri tightened his hold around me hiding me more.

"I'll be down stairs in a minute," I said but thanks to my face being shoved in Dimitri's chest it came out muffled.

"What was that?" she snapped.

"She asked if she could have a moment? We'll be down in 5 minutes if that's ok with you?"

"Why are you hugging Dimitri so tight? And why won't you look at me?" she questioned. I pulled my face away from Dimitri just enough so I could speak but not enough for her to see.

"Can I just meet you downstairs in a minute, I promise I'll answer all of your questions and explain everything?" I pleaded.

"Fine but you have 2 minutes that's it" she said reluctantly. When I heard the door shut I pulled away.

"Thank you." I said to Dimitri. I noticed Vika was also gone. I walked over to the bed and flopped down.

"Hey don't worry, I'll be with you the whole time," Dimitri said grabbing my hand.

"Thanks," I said realizing that was like the twentieth time I'd said that in the last day. I looked over at him and smiled. "Have I ever told you how awesome you are?"

"Now that you mention it I don't think you have" he said jokingly. I sat up and faced him. "Why don't you tell me how amazing I am?"

"I'm pretty sure I didn't say amazing?" I teased back, " but since you mentioned it, I guess you are kind of awesome too"

"ROSE!" I heard my mom call up in a warning.

"Coming!" I yelled back.

"Come on," Dimitri said standing up offering me his hand.

"Since you're so amazing and awesome…want to do one other thing for me?" I asked looking up at him sweetly. He just turned around and bent his knees already knowing what I was going to ask. I hurriedly jumped on, accidentally hitting my bruise on my hip. I must have made some noise because Dimitri turned his head towards me.

"You ok?"

"Yep all good, I just forgot I had a bruise there." I tried just shrugging it off but that didn't stop Dimitri so I tried distracting him instead. " Giddy up Comrade!"

"Why does it seem like I'm always carrying you?" he said with a smile as he started walking.

"Because I'm lazy and you're a Russian giant so might as well put your muscles to good use," I joked.

"I am not a Russian giant!

"You're like 8 feet tall! Hate to break it to you but I believe that's considered a giant."

"I'm 6' 5"! it's not my fault your just a midget," he said with a laugh.

"I am not a midget!" I exclaimed and playfully hit him on the shoulder.

"So it's ok to call me a giant but not me to call you a midget?" he questioned.

"Yes, because I speak the truth. You speak lies. Anybody would be short compared to you."

"True, but your short to everyone. I think paul might be taller than you and he's 8."

"Hey, you meanie! I am taller than Paul!"

"Not by much!" piped up a little voice. I looked up startled, I hadn't realized we were so close to the bottom of the stairs. When I looked up I heard gasps throughout the kitchen. I noticed pretty much everyone was in there, Karolina, Sonya and her pregnant self, Olena, Vika, My mom, Abe, Pavel, and Paul.

"Hey y'all," I said nervously.

"Auntie Rosie, What happened to your face?" exclaimed Paul, apparently the first one to speak. When nobody else said anything, I tried to make light of it.

"It's just bruises, not that big of a deal." I shrugged tapping Dimitri's shoulder so he'd let go and I could jump off his back. About then my mom regained her ability to speak.

"JUST BRUISES? NOT A BIG DEAL? What the hell happened Rosemarie? Dimitri sai you were just lost." At the last part she turned and glared at Dimitri. Before anyone else could say anything Sonya spoke up.

"Paul why don't you go play while the adults talk?" He ignored her and instead walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me. I bent down and gave him a hug.

"Are you ok?" he asked scared. I looked at him and my heart broke for him, he looked so scared and sympathetic, I thought he might cry.

"I'm ok. Paul I promise."

"What happened?" he asked reassured but still curious.

"Well this girl came up to me and was like batman stinks, super man is better," I said knowing his love of batman. "Then I was like um no honey batman is better anyday! And then she hit me! So of course I had to beat her up, nobody hits Your auntie Rose without getting hit back!" I said with a laugh.

"Aunt Rose, quit playing. You wouldn't beat anyone up, you're too nice." He said the first part laughing but was serious about the last part.

"No I didn't beat anyone up, but it would have been cool huh?" I asked him successfully distracting him.

"Yea because then you would have been like BAM BAM POW!" He said making punching motions to his sound effects.

"Now why don't you go outside why I grab some breakfast and when I'm all done eating, which you know might be a while to fill this tank," I said pointing to my stomach. "me and maybe Uncle Dimka and maybe even Aunt Vika, if she doesn't have more shopping to do, will come out to play with you? Right?" I said looking at Dimitri and Viktoria.

"Definitely," said Dimitri.

"I have plans, sorry little bro" shrugged Vika.

"Ok me and uncle Dimka will come play with you. Sound good?" he nodded his head yes all excitedly. "Ok now scadaddle so I can start on my breakfast."

"Ok Aunty Rose, but watch out for that man with the beard, he's kinda of scary," he whispered, even though everyone heard him. I just chuckled.

"Ok I'll be careful, but if I need someone to beat him up I'll come get a big strong boy like you to help." I said with a smile and a wink. "Now go play." He ran outside and I stood back up. My mom Quickly gave me a look saying telling me her patience was wearing thin, I think Abe had something to do with it.

"Well ok first off don't get mad at Dimitri he didn't know about anything until he came and picked me up, then he was too distracted taking care of me to call you. So it started at the karaoke club and" I paused not sure what to say, then I remembered my excuse last night, "Then I started feeling unwell so I went outside to get some air. I soon realized that wasn't helping and I didn't want to interrupt the others because I knew they were having fun, so I decided to just walk home. Halfway there though I realized I had taken a wrong turn and when I looked around to figure out where I was, someone grabbed me from behind. Long story short I tried fighting my way to freedom, I almost got away, but they caught me again and about then Abe showed up and rescued me. Then he called Dimitri to come get me. He did, I told him what happened, and then we came home. Not that big of a deal, just your average everyday mugging." I said shrugging trying to play off what happened. Dimitri gave me a knowing look but I brushed it off.

"Rosemarie, don't lie to your mother." Imput Abe.

"Fine ok they were trying to kidnap me, but it didn't work, you showed up and saved the day and now everythings fine. Like I said not that big of a deal."

"Do you remember what they looked like or any names? We need to call the police." Leave it to my mom to get straight down to business, not try to hug me or comfort me. Then again I was trying to play it off so maybe she just bought it, she usual buys my lies, that or ignores them.

"Already taken care of," said Abe. "I handled it."

"Well aren't we all just lucky that the all mighty Ibriham is here to save the day again! She smarted. Damn didn't know she hated him that much. Olena quickly reprimanded her.

"JANINE, if it weren't for him your daughter might not be here now, maybe you should show just a little more appreciation." My mom took a deep breath and faced him.

"I'm sorry, she's right. I do need to thank you, you saved my daughter and I shouldn't be mad at you…for that anyway."

"You're welcome. Anyway I just came here to check on Kiz here" he said smirking at me knowing that I don't know what that means still.

"I'm fine, thank you for checking on me."

"No problem Kiz" he said giving me a wink.

"I'm gonna google that since you won't tell me what that means."

"Well I'll see you around. Here's my number and address if you need ANYTHING." He said handing me a card with his name, number, and address on it. Then he turned to my mom. "Nice seeing you again Janie, we really should meet up again while you're here and catch up you know." He said emphasizing the catch up part, then he was out the door. Everyone just kind of stood there in silence for a second.

"Ok am I the only one who feels like they're missing something?" asked Vika seemingly as confused as me.