Hey everyone. I'm back. I'm sorry for being gone for so long. All that matters is that I'm back now.

I was dragged from my sleep when there was a knock on my door. I rubbed my eyes as I shuffled off of my bed and towards the door. When I opened it I saw Dimitri on the other side.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Did I wake you?"

I ran a hand through my crazy hair and shook my head. "Yea, but it's okay. It was time I woke up anyway." He lifted my keys in his hand. I took them from him and smiled. "I trust you took care of my baby."

"Of course." He smiled. He turned around to leave before I called him back.

"How was the job hunt?" I was still leaning against the doorsill semi concealing my body which was more disheveled then my hair and face.

He sighed. "It was alright. I went to the fire station, but they said they were pretty well staffed at the moment. And I went to a couple of other places that I am not very interested in." He looked very discouraged.

"I'm sure you will find something. Besides tomorrow is a new day." I looked at the clock on my wall. "Wow it's already 3. I slept a long time." Right on cue my stomach growled.

"Do you want me to make lunch?" Dimitri asked.

I nodded appreciatively and told him I would meet him downstairs in a few. I quickly fixed my appearance not wanting to look so unkempt. I brushed my teeth and tossed my hair into a presentable ponytail. I changed into sweatpants and put on bra under my t-shirt.

As I made my way into the kitchen I could hear Dimitri humming as he rummaged through the refrigerator.

"There probably isn't much in there," I said. He turned towards me. "I need to go grocery shopping soon."

He smiled. "I can make some baked macaroni and cheese." His slight accent made it sound like 'cheeze' and I smiled. I decided in that moment that his accent definitely made him sexier.

"That sounds like a great idea." I noticed that Dimitri was no longer in the uniform he had left the house with. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged his large biceps tightly. I helped him grate a block of cheddar cheese as he was putting the macaroni to boil. I stopped grating to watch as Dimitri added salt to the water and brought a spoonful of water to his mouth. He nodded to himself and set the spoon down and turned around. My eyes met his and I quickly started grating the cheese again.

I cleared my throat. "So, where did you learn how to cook?"

"My mother. She is an excellent cook. She made us all learn how to cook before we left Russia. Then when we got here she made us learn American dishes as well."

I smiled. "You should cook me some Russian food sometime."

Laughing he said, "The only ingredient that you have that you could use would be salt."

I shook my head and laughed. "I can go grocery shopping tomorrow, but you have to come so that I get all the right stuff."

"Sounds like a plan."

I finished grating the block of cheese and I watched as Dimitri mixed the cheese and macaroni with some milk and breadcrumbs. He put them in a baking pan and scattered some cheese and breadcrumbs on top before putting it in the oven; which he had already preheated.

As we sat silently on the kitchen island I once again wondered if this was a good idea; letting a stranger live in my house. Maybe he wasn't that much of a stranger anymore though. Sure he had only been around for about three days, but already he had met my parents, Lissa, and my arch nemesis. Not only that, but I had cried into his shirt, and let him use my car. He definitely felt like more of a friend than stranger. I didn't think he was capable of bringing any harm upon me, not intentionally anyway.

"So this job hunt," I said. "What kind of job did you want?"

"I was really hoping to be a firefighter, but I guess it's alright." He smiled. "The other options are being a waiter, or a janitor."

"That blows." I sat straighter in my chair. "What are some things that you can use to your advantage?"

"Well I'm in the army- was in the army- for one and I have a degree in accounting."

"Wow, that's impressive." Dimitri stood to check on the macaroni.

Just as he was sitting back down my doorbell rang. We both looked at each other as I got up and made my way to the front door. I opened the door to reveal a very annoyed Mia. Mia was my very good friend who could almost compete with

Lissa as my best friend. Well I guess you could say they really were competing because she hated Lissa.

"When I call, I would appreciate it if you picked up the phone." Mia stormed into my living room flipping back her blonde curls. "What is that smell? Are you cooking? You are going to burn down the house."

Before I could get a word in she was already making her way into the kitchen before she made an abrupt stop at the doorway. She looked back at me and her eyebrow rose in that mischievous way of hers.

"Hi," she said making her way towards Dimitri. "I'm Mia Rinaldi. Rose's better friend."

Dimitri curtly shook her hand and said, "Dimitri Belikov."

"So I have heard." She set her purse down in the island and made her way to the stove. She opened it and said, "Looks yummy. I hope there is enough for three."

"Way to impose Mia. Also what do you mean you've heard?"

She sat across from Dimitri. "Oh, Rose. You know Adrian has a big mouth."

Damn Adrian. It's not that I minded that he told Mia. I was that it meant everyone knew now. "Who else knows?"

"Well," Mia started. "I told Mason, and Mason told Eddie, and Eddie told Jill."

"Great." I sat down. "That means I'm going to get surprise visits from everyone."

Mia smiled. "They are already on their way."

I turned to Dimitri. "I'm sorry. My friends are all nosy losers that have nothing better to do then dwell into my life. If meeting them makes you uncomfortable in any way just let me know and I will be sure to not let them in and kick this one out." I gestured towards Mia.

"You can try," she muttered.

Dimitri laughed. "No, it's no problem. If I'm staying in your house I don't mind meeting your friends. I'm the one imposing here."

"Oh please, you are not imposing." I laid my hand on his. "As long as you keep cooking for me you can stay forever free of charge."

Just then I heard my front door open and a group of people made their way into my kitchen. Not turning around I asked, "Don't you guys know how to knock?"

"Nope." That was Mason. He made his way over to Mia and kissed her. I'm sure they had seen each other not that long ago, but that didn't lessen their passion.

"Ew guys, stop." Jill said. "You are going to disgust the new guy away." Eddie set some beers he had brought on top of the island before he and Jill pulled some extra chairs from the dining room so that they would have chairs to sit on.

After everyone settled I began to make introductions. "Alright so this is Eddie." I pointed at him. "Jill, she is Lissa's sister."

As I pointed at Jill she chimes in. "Not by choice."

I pointed at Mason. "That is Mason, he is Eddie's brother. And that is Mia. Her and Mason are dating if that isn't obvious." I took a deep breath.

"Everyone this is Dimitri."

Thank you all so much for reading. Please don't forget to review. I will have a new chapter up soon, I promise I won't go MIA again. Thank you.