Chapter Ten.

22nd June 1961.

A smile was already pulling at Rose's lips as she began to wake up, stretching her body out to relax her tense muscles. She winced slightly at the ache in some of her more… sensitive areas, but the memory of how that discomfort came about, and the actual act, well, acts, were worth it.

Her hands drifted over to Dimitri's side of the bed, and she frowned as her hands grasped at the sheets and nothing more.

"Dimitri?"

Her hands stretched a little further as she mumbled sleepily, noting the fact that his side of the bed was still warm, and Rose smiled. He must have gotten up to use the toilet or something. She giggled as she rolled onto his side and curled up, her arms hugging his pillow to her chest as she breathed in deeply. It was almost as good as him being there, but not quite. Something crackled as she straightened out again, and her wandering hands soon found the source of the noise.

Roza,

If you're awake and reading this… go back to sleep and pretend you didn't wake up. I want to surprise you with breakfast in bed.

Well, if you've read this it's not really a surprise anymore, but, well, just pretend. It'll be yummy ;)

I love you,

Dimitri xx

An adoring smile popped up onto Rose's lips and she sighed happily, setting the note down on the bedside table as she waited patiently for Dimitri to return. He'd probably have made something simple, yet done something to make it taste delicious and unique. Like adding a sprinkling of cheese to the scrambled eggs or- or- Rose didn't really know. That's why Dimitri was the chef. He made masterpieces with food while Rose made them with music.

Five minutes passed, and then ten, and Rose's stomach growled a little. She giggled, they'd certainly had quite a work out last night, and slowly got herself out of bed, slipping on her underwear, a pair of Dimitri's large woollen socks and his shirt which had landed by the door the night before.

She would sneak into the kitchen and surprise him, Rose decided, and perhaps she'd be able to distract him from the cooking long enough to entice him back to bed. He was her husband; they would have many, many years to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for each other.

But Dimitri wasn't in the kitchen.

The pots and pans were out, as was a slab of butter, a carton of eggs, mushrooms and some slices of bacon… but no Dimitri.

"Comrade?"

Worry filled Rose's voice as she travelled back through the small flat, being careful not to raise her voice too much so that she didn't wake up the other residents. Mr Ivashkov might have lent them the apartment for the night but it was still a part of his business and if Rose woke up the other guests they would be upset and that would have a knock on effect for all of them.

Silence echoed through the flat as Rose wrapped her arms around herself. Maybe he'd gone out to buy something else, or to borrow something from the kitchens? Tomatoes? Cooking utensils perhaps? The kitchens in these flats were fully stocked in case the guests wanted to make something themselves, though most of them ate in the hotel's dining room. Perhaps the cleaning staff had removed something and Dimitri had realised and needed it.

Rose frowned.

Dimitri wouldn't have left her worrying like that though. Even if he thought he'd be back before she woke, he'd have changed the note and let her know somehow.

Unease churned low in her stomach as she made her way into the bedroom, fighting back tears.

She grabbed the note up off of the table, her eyes scanning every square inch before flipping the paper over in case there was something she'd missed.

Nothing.

Could he have left?

Rose immediately chastised herself for even contemplating the idea and brushed away her tears determinedly.

Dimitri loved her. He would not have left her. He must have remembered something, or maybe he'd been called in to work despite booking the day off so they could spend it together. Rose would shower and make herself presentable, and if Dimitri still wasn't back by then she would go and look for him.

And then she would tickle him mercilessly for making her worry so much.

Rose gathered up her bathing supplies and giggled, imagining his reaction to his punishment as she opened the door to the bathroom, her laughter dying in her throat at the sight that met her.

Rose's eyes widened with horror, and then filled with tears as her body seemed to war with itself. Her stomach heaved, but she was frozen in place, strangled sobs and screams building in her throat but not being released. Dimitri was in the bathroom, collapsed on the floor in front of the sink. His body was still, and blood had pooled around his head, leaking from a wound that Rose couldn't see. The bright, crimson red was smeared down the white porcelain, trailing to meet the pool that surrounded his head and Rose fought back a sudden wave of nausea.

This can't be happening. She screwed her eyes shut and then opened them again, a loud cry escaping her lips with the realisation that the scene hadn't changed.

"Dimitri?" The mumbled whisper seemed to spur her into action as she darted forwards to kneel by his head, her hands roughly shaking his shoulders as she tried to wake him.

"Dimitri? Comrade? Answer me. Please?" Her voice was frantic, begging, as her pleas grew louder and the tears finally welled over and slipped down her cheeks, harsh sobs breaking from her chest. "Wake up, Comrade. Please. Help!"

Her voice echoed off of the walls as she screamed for someone, anyone to help her save her husband as she pulled the hand towel down from the rack and pressed it to the gash on the side of his head, softly at first, and then harder, in an attempt to stop the bleeding when the bright white turned a shocking crimson.

"Help me! Please! Someone!"

More tears continued to steadily drip down her cheeks as she switched the soaked hand towel for her bath towel, a strangled keening sound leaving her lips as that too began to turn red.

Rose's head spun as she desperately tried to remember any of the first aid she'd heard about. Why now, when it was most crucial, did her mind go blank? His head was still bleeding, which was good, right? It meant his heart was still beating, which meant he was alive, didn't it? Her hands trembled as she pressed a fresh side of the towel to his head and then shook his shoulders once again.

Her hands were stained red and she wiped them dry on her thighs before she held a hand in front of his face, trying to figure out if he was still breathing.

"Hello, miss? Are you okay in there?"

Hope sparked in Rose's chest at the dim knock and she sobbed even harder as she tried to call for them to come in.

"Dimitri, Comrade, just hold on. Someone's here now and they can help and you'll wake up and be okay and…" Her voice trailed off into little breathy gasps as a man knelt down on the other side of Dimitri's tall frame.

"Help him, please. He's my husband and I don't know what happened, I just found him like this and his head won't stop bleeding-"

"Hush," Rose's body shook with the force of her sobs as she was drawn into someone's arms while the man murmured to someone by the door and then leant over Dimitri's body.

"I didn't know what to do,"

"I know, dear. You just let it all out. The ambulance is on its way now, and they'll patch him right up."

Rose nodded into the woman's shoulder, clinging to her and allowing the woman's soothing voice and soft humming to calm her down. She needed to be calm for Dimitri, to help him recover. She would need to be the strong one for a while.

"Do you really think he'll be okay?" Her voice trembled and more tears leaked down her reddened cheeks as she sniffled into the lady's shoulder.

"Of course, dear." She nodded and kissed the top of Rose's head comfortingly, but her eyes met her husband's, sadness and understanding filling them at the gravity in his.

The honeymoon was over for this young couple.

*hands out tissues*

A couple of chapters left, if possible I'll update again this evening and then tonight, if not I'll update tonight and tomorrow morning.