Hey babes! Here I am, with another update! Just to give y'all an idea of why it takes me a various amount of time to update, I answer anywhere between 15 and 20 PMs (not including the replies that ensue) and reviews. To my dear guests, I can't reply to you, so I have to do it here..

So, darling "re", in answer to your question: "is Abe and roses relationship going to turn out like in the va books?" I would like to say it will get to that point eventually, but I have to ask you keep in mind that this story, though using the VA characters, is based off of Kiera Cass' The Selection. In the books, Prince Maxon had a very tense relationship with his dad, King Clarkson, (and personally, that's putting it lightly..) and I noticed that as the series progressed, King Clarkson had quite a hand in controlling his son's Selection. Here, Rose has grown up with no mother, and since her life was claimed in a rebel attack, Abe is going to be fiercely OOC, and overprotective. So, I'm trying to carry over that tense relationship, but they will have their touching moments, as we have already seen. I hope this helps darling!

For "peggy", in answer to your questions: "will rose look at dimitri and see the eyes she dreams of? will abe realize who dimitri is?" I can't say anything.. It might lead to giving away the ultimate ending of the story, but I am a really BIG Romitri shipper if that helps ;) Thanks for all your reviews! Keep them coming sweetie!

As for everyone else, I give you another chapter, where Dimitri is packing and moving out!

~DA2014

Let Your Heart Lead The Way

Chapter 5

"Mitri! Tate dis!" Zoya shouts

Viktoria held Zoya as she set a tiny white horse on Dimitri's duffel bag.

He had packed a few clothes to remind him of home, and some small mementos like photos, items that belonged to his sisters, some of his favorite western novels that he may have read a hundred times (and could read a hundred times more), and a journal full of stationary so he could send correspondence home.

So, the fact that his only niece was asking him to take her favorite plush horse pulled at his heart-strings a little. It hurt a little more because he had worked hard to get that plush for his neice. As soon as he found out Karo was expecting her second child, and a girl at that, he has immediately begun to work harder so he could get her something. And, wouldn't you know it, the day he had enough to get her the plush horse was the day Zoya was born. His nephew, Paul, had given him the only thing his father had left to him: a baseball.

His mama had gone and helped him with his hair, trimming an inch or two off, and given her a jar full of pennies, the remainder of her last pay as Palace Staff. Karo had given him a string bracelet with a single horse-shaped bead on it, knowing how much he loved the creature. Sonya had gone and bought him a new journal and extra stationary to write home with. Viktoria had given him a new pen, and a small cross to help remind him of where he came from.

"Of course Zoya. I'll hold it close every night." Dimitri said, chuckling, as he packed the plush horse on the top of his bag.

"Are you ready for this?" Viktoria asked him quietly.

"As ready as I can be."

"What about her? Are you ready to face her?"

"As ready as I can be."

It seemed that was the only answer Vika would be getting out of her brother for now.

"Well, if she sends you home, we'll be here."

"I hope it won't come down to that."

Viktoria nodded once more, before giving her big brother a hug and walking out of his room. Dimitri looked down at his small duffel bag full of mementos, and gave a full thought to what he was partaking in.

Here he was, about to leave everything he has known since the day his Mama had to leave the Palace Staff. Leaving his family behind to embark on a journey where the end-result was unknown. Would she recognize him, even after all these years? He sure hoped so, because if she didn't, he might have just made the biggest mistake of his life. But, if she did, it would change everything for Dimitri's family.

'They come first' was the last thought that flittered through his mind before a Palace official was knocking at his front door, saying it was time for him to leave for the Town Square. From there, Dimitri would have a "I'm being shipped away to fight for my dream girl" party. Then, he would be strapped into a plane, for the very first time (that he can remember), and he would finally be on his way to Rose.

Standing on the stage and smiling, while waving, and having done so for hours, was not as easy as it looked. Dimitri was sure if he didn't stop soon, his arm would surely fall off. He already felt as if he was going in at a disadvantage, given his caste. But, he had the advantage of having been there to save the princess when she was young, even if he couldn't tell anyone.

Finally, Sebastian stepped up to his side, and escorted him offstage, back to say good-bye to his family one last time. His sisters stood by with smiles on their faces, Paul by Karo's side and Zoya in her arms. Just as he was about to be stuffed into the backseat of the car, his Mama stepped forward and gave him one last hug. Yeva stood by and looked on before saying something about the past being his biggest ally in the future. Nodding his head, he stepped forward and gave her a hug, and a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping away and settling into the plush seat.

Dimitri buckled up, and before he knew it, he was on his way to the airport.

The trees and bushes all passed by in a blur, the clouds raced by above him. Dimitri had been in a car many times before, but it never failed to amaze him how the world would race by. It was something he'd never get over.

With the scenery flashing by as fast as it had, Dimitri wasn't surprised when they pulled up in front of the airport. What Dimitri was surprised to see was the lines and crowds of people waiting outside. And, many of them he noticed, had cameras. He could guess who they were all waiting to see. They were waiting to get the first look at 'the Men of the Selection', which he was now a part of. As soon as the car came to a stop, he was dazed by all the flashes that were being lit in his eyes. But, he was in this thing, and he was going to take it and run with it. He knew the public opinion played a large role in the end, so he was going to use it.

Stepping out into the spotlight, where he would be for who knows how long, he put on his best smile. Every nerve in his body was screaming, because smiling and having everybody's eyes on him were out of his comfort zone. Dimitri was used to being in the background, running through the shadows. But, his smile won over the crowd immediately, and he began waving, yet again. All around him, Dimitri could see kids of all ages, and posters with his name on them. There was one kid, a little boy who reminded him so much of Paul and how he had been at that age, who couldn't see over the barricade. So, seeing only one way to fix the boy's problem, Dimitri walked over to him.

Reaching over the barricade that was supposed to separate them, Dimitri bent over and picked the boy up, and set him down on the ground in front of him.

"Can you see now?" Dimitri said with a chuckle.

The boy, who seemed to share Dimitri's shy nature, started to blush and nodded his head. Then, abruptly, the little boy thrust his fist up into Dimitri's face. Dimitri was happy to see the boy giving him a little rosebud. Smiling, Dimitri took it from the little boy.

"Thank you. I'm going to keep this with me." Dimitri said with a smile on his face before taking the rosebud and pinning it to his lapel. "Would you mind telling me your name?"

"Ja-" He murmured so quietly that Dimitri had to ask him to repeat it and lean in closer. "Jaze!" The boy stated boldly.

"Jaze? What a very unique name! Well, my name is-"

"Dimitri! You're Dimitri!" The young boy, Jaze, was getting excited now.

Dimitri had to smile, and let out a single laugh, before looking at the little boy.

"That's right." Dimitri felt wrong accepting the flower from Jaze without giving him something in return. As a "welcome to the Selection gift," Sebastian had brought him a set of silver cufflinks that had his initials engraved in the solid silver face. The idea popping into his head, Dimitri immediately started to take him off. "Here, I want you to have these. I want you to hold on to these for me okay? Can you do that for me?"

Jaze, with a shocked and stunned expression, looked up at Dimitri with awe in his eyes as he mutely nodded. Dimitri then instructed Jaze to cup his hands in front of him before letting the cufflinks fall into the young boy's hands. Just then, Dimitri and Jaze alike had a hand placed on their shoulder. Dimitri looked over his shoulder to see one of his ever-present security detail, telling him he needed to move on. Jaze looked up into the gold eyes of his mother. Dimitri stood and helped Jaze back over the barrier, and into his mother's waiting arms. She had tears in her eyes and mouthed a silent "thank you" in Dimitri's direction. He nodded his gratitude to her and went on his way.

As he passed, papers and pens and markers and posters were all being thrust into Dimitri's face, and he signed as many as he could as he passed by.

Then, he was through the security gate and on the plane.

Once fastened in, the plane began to truck down the runway and Dimitri was officially off to the Palace. Looking out the window, he could see the rolling plains and pastures of eastern Texas, the Palo Duro canyon of north Texas when they had to stop to fuel the plane, the flat plateaus of west Texas. Eventually, after many hours and seeing the lands below him, the plane lands at a nearby California airport. From there, Dimitri walked off the plane and saw two other guys from the Selection. From there, he faces the crowds again, where there are not only paparazzi this time but television cameras and Lissa too. He waves to the cameras and signs more memorabilia. Then, before he can be put in one last car, Lissa stops all the men that had bothered to stop.

"Sir Mason Ashford of Alabama. How were your travels?" Lissa asked.

"They were eye-opening. I never knew our great nation looked so good." He replied with a chuckle.

"I'm sure the Princess will love to hear that. And your travels, Sir Dimitri Belikov of Texas. How were they?"

"They were long, but in the end, I'm hoping I won't have to make the journey a second time. It was a completely different experience, and it was one that I enjoyed very much."

"Well, I'm hoping you won't have to make that journey again with you. What are you two looking forward to the most here?"

Mason answered first, stating how he couldn't wait to see the gardens and the Palace, and of course the Princess. Then, Lissa turned to Dimitri, wanting his answer.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the Princess again."

Lissa, surprised, asked "Again?"

"My Mama used to work in the Palace, and I was too young to work, so I'd go with her and help. Of course, she only had me changing flowers and dusting the tabletops. But, there was one particular day, not long after the Princess' birth when the Queen was passing by in the hallway. My Mama was being yelled at by the Head of Palace Staff about my being there with her, and the yelling had drawn the Queen's attention. My Mama immediately fell into the proper dictations for her station, and not knowing what to do, I followed her example. When the Queen requested we rise, we did and the Queen asked my mother about me. They talked, and all too soon, the Queen had offered my Mama a proposition. They arranged for my Mama to move into the Staff Quarters, and I would be allowed to stay with her, but only if we would be willing to help the Queen. Of course, we accepted the offer. Unfortunately, a few months later we faced the attack that claimed our dear Queen. I will never forget that day. If I was able to change one thing about that day, I would do everything in my power to save our Queen. But, being three years or so, I did the one thing she asked of me. I took the Princess and got her to safety. My memories of her, and that day, are slightly hazy, and I may be wrong, but I don't remember letting her go. She cried and cried, likely scared out of her mind, until I looked in her eyes. I sat there and sang to her, told her stories, but never once did my eyes stray from her. If given the chance, I'd look into her eyes again. They were the most mesmerizing eyes I'd ever seen, and I've never once forgotten them."

"Well, that is quite the story! I'm sure you gentleman must be tired so I'll let you be on your way. Thank you for stopping to have a word with me." With that, Lissa turned back to the television cameras in front of her. "There you have it ladies and gentleman. The final men have arrived and are making the last leg of their journey to the Palace. Be sure to keep an eye and ear open, for this weekend, for I'll get the chance to sit down and talk with our dear Princess and see what she thinks of all the men who will be vying for her heart. I'm Lissa Dragomir reporting live from Guardian's Airport and this has been a Selection Special." She saw the gentlemen walking away towards their respective cars and the red lights on the cameras turn off, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Realizing the story she had gotten from him, Lissa filed it into her mind to keep an eye out on Sir Dimitri Belikov of Texas.

Oh snap! Dimitri just let his atomic bomb drop!

What do you think is going to happen next?

Drop a review and let me know! I look forward to hearing from my pretties!

~DA2014