Chapter Three

AN: Thank you to all those who sent in names but I have decided to do this, but I still appreciate the names that you guys sent in. I was about to make him Makism (thanks Ladora!) but my BFF and I talked it out and we decided on this. Besides, it's too delicious to pass up

MEDICAL FACTS MAY NOT BE ACCURATE!

A day after Lissa's visit

Tasha stared as her man stood there next to his old motor bike, decked out it leather from head to toe at the mall's parking lot. They had just gone out shopping after his discharge from the hospital as a celebration of his recovery and after the make-over; he was looking like the man that she once knew. His now shoulder length brown hair was trimmed to perfection and the slight stubble that covered his chin was delectable. Stretching his arms above his head, Tasha stopped herself from drooling at the sight of his ass and the rise of his leather jacket which hinted the washboard abbs.

Thank God he's her.

Walking over towards him, Tasha waved her hands to get his attention and the smile that lit his face when she called him over. It weakened her knees. Taking his dark sunglasses off, brown eyes met with her as a sparkle of fire ignited in them.

This is how he is supposed to look at me. This is how it is supposed to be.

Rushing towards her, the 6 foot 7 man picked her up to a bone crushing hug and held her there for a moment. If she could die, it would be in his arms. That comforting smell of sandalwood combined with man it's just… mmm. It was perfect and he's perfect. The only thing that marred this perfection was a thin fading scar that ran from the hairline of his temple to his ear but if it did anything else, it only enhanced his masculinity.

Everything she done for this moment – the people she hurt, the horrible dealings she had to take part in – it was all worth it.

Breaking away from their embrace, he took her hand and led her to the bike and placed a helmet in her hand as he continued to tell her about his day with an easy smile and a light tone.

This is how she always wanted it and she'll make sure that it stays this way.

Laughing at something he said, she straddled the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Warmth from his body radiated and absorbed into her causing her to sigh again at the completion of the moment. That black hole that once stood there gaping was slowly filling like a brick wall being built.

"Ready to go?" came that voice from the helmet speakers.

Giggling a bit she answered back at him, "I'll follow you anywhere." Tasha sighed as she ran her hands up to his chest and above where his heart was, where she was now then purred into the microphone, "Mr Ivashkov."

Her man chuckled before her answered: "Whatever you say, Mrs Adrian Ivashkov."

–o-0-O-0-o—

Two Week Later

"Rose, you have to get out of here with me."

Rose peeled her eyes from the television screen towards her friend who now stood with her hands on her hips and a worried frown on her face. Lissa had been staying over for the last week, making sure that she ate, bathed and get back to a normal routine that didn't involve moping and staring.

"Hmm?"

Lissa rolled her eyes playfully at her friend's question. The girl hadn't been listening to her in the last fifteen minutes. Flopping down onto the couch next to her friend, Lissa grabbed a bit of the blanket from Rose and covered her legs with it.

"We – as you and I – need a good girl's night out. You have been in here for over a month. You need fresh air and a good dose of fun and sitting here watching –" Lissa quickly turned to the TV to watch what's on, "– how to make a cheesecake isn't that benefi- okay, it's beneficial and I do admit, kind of fun but Rose, do you get what I'm saying? Just tonight."

Rose just smiled at her friend and turned back to the TV to watch the chef do some fancy thing in the kitchen.

A night out does seem fun.

Maybe she could find a bar somewhere and dump all her problems on the bartender like they do in movies. They seemed to always have the best advice. And she is feeling better so it wouldn't hurt right?

Wow that bath must've really helped. But is it right to go party now? With all the beat pumping, the people grinding against people, it just doesn't seem right. Isn't there a mourning period in which she had to abide? Didn't it say somewhere that she had to mourn the dead for a year or something which included wearing black and all?

"Come on Rose, we won't do something too wild. We'll start out slow. We'll just go eat. At that restaurant you love so much, My Cottage was it? It'll be just you me and Christian out for a meal. Old friends having fun taking about films and books, what do you say?"

Rose thought for a moment.

It wouldn't hurt really and since the pantry was empty and the fact that Lissa has been cooking and away from Christian for a week, it all points to dinner out tonight. Besides, she wasn't going to do the dishes tonight again. There are only so many times a girl does the dishes besides… he used to do it all, standing there at the sink in an apron that said 'Kiss the Chef'…

That's it. She's going. It's just dinner and wine maybe a bit of laughing. A tad bit.

She did miss Christian. He was like a brother to her and the fact that Lissa was staying with her made him more nervous that she might have a melt down and kill Lissa. Ha har Christian, you crack me up sometimes.

But then there will be a spare seat and she would feel like the third wheel…

Lissa watch as Rose contemplated her offer. Her best friend really needed to get out tonight. She can see that each day, she is drawing into her shell, only watching silently from the sidelines and smiling a small smile at her. It wasn't that big smile that reached her eye and every time she laughed, it was a chuckle! Rosemarie Hathaway does not chuckle. She laughs downright in your face with that infectious laugh that makes everything alright and tonight it was in her duty – as a best friend – to get Rose to at least smile like she used to.

One will be enough.

Mission Impossible was on the go.

"Okay."

The voice was so faint that Lissa didn't hear the answer at first that she just blinked at her friend whom smiled and nodded.

It took her a full second to absorb the information in and when her brain did, a big bright smile flashed just before she tackled Rose into a death grip hug.

"You won't regret it! Go grab your clothes! I'll text Christian and then we can all go grab dinner together!"

Rose watch as Lissa do a little clap and bounded away into the kitchen to make her call to Christian. Shaking her head with a small smile on her face, Rose made her way to her bedroom.

The collage was still up and the pain was still there. That feeling of warmth that always washed over her when she saw his face still does its thing but this time the pain was duller, maybe and a tiny light was coming back.

Once again the bath must be made of something.

Sighing as she reached out to stroke one of the pictures, images of the memory came back, bombarding her. But strangely this time, it didn't hurt so much, it still hurt, but there was a tad of … happiness as she replayed the memory.

It was the one where he made her breakfast for the first time.

But instead of bursting out crying, she felt content.

Again: strange.

Maybe this is what people called healing.

Sighing again, Rose let her hand drop from the picture and opened one of the draws to grab a few of clothes. A cream sweater, a red tan leather jacket, jeans and a pair of brown boots later, Rose stepped out of her room, phone and wallet in pocket and red scarf and beanie in hand, and made her way to Lissa who was still on the phone with Christian making idle threats.

She stifled a giggle as Lissa questioned Christian's manhood.

She liked to think it was a way they told each other 'I love you'.

Can't wait to see the wedding vows.

Making herself noticeable, she tapped the wall to alert Lissa that she was done. Whirling around, Lissa sent a smile at Rose before she tossed it at Rose. Reflex and instinct acting on its own, Rose caught the phone with one hand and slowly raised it to her ear after a signal from Lissa.

"… and you always complain about me never putting the toilet seat down! Why don't you put the toilet seat up!"

"And when do I ever use your toilet, umm?"

Rose smiled as Christian stuttered on the other line about 'what toilet seat?'

They ended up talking a few more minutes with the loud speaker's option on and when Lissa's stomach cued that she was hungry – which caused them to burst out laughing, well a loud chuckle from her – and it was decided that they meet there for dinner in ten.

When it was time to get out of the door, Rose felt her breath left her for a second then came back. The imaginary wall that separated her from the real world stood there, large and alarming. Oblivious to the wall, Lissa just stepped through it and walked ahead only to realised that Rose hadn't stepped through the door. Turning back Rose watch as her friend lifted up a hand and offered it to her.

The first step will always be the hardest right?

–o-0-O-0-o—

Christian turned to find the two girls waiting outside 'My Cottage' and wave at them as a smile lit his face. One was blonde, tall, willowy – he was proud to say – and his better half while the other girl standing next to her was someone he considered as a sister, well not by blood of course but with the way they acted they might as well be related. Dark brown hair, large eyes, a bit shorter than his Lissa, Rose was his un-biological sister. The usually lively girl who stood with a stance that said, 'Girl, you pick a fight with this, you'll be the one limping put' and the one that would always smile with that life in here eye, stood there by the door as Lissa launch herself into his arms. She was the opposite of his beloved sister, silent, smiling and timid.

Lissa's body hit his and the warmth from her immediately started to seep over and into the fibres of his clothing. Looking away from Rose, Christian dug his nose into Lissa's neck and breathed in the scent that said 'home'.

"She's a bit shaken since the car ride. Pretend that everything is normal. You know she doesn't like pity," Lissa whispered into his arms as her held her in a hug. Nodding into her shoulder, Christian slowly lifted his head up and silently survey Rose.

Lissa was right. He didn't notice before but the girl's knuckles were white as they clenched onto the handbag's strap. Her lower lip was quivering with every breath she realised and her eyes were darting around frantically as if she was looking for someone or that someone or something was here.

Letting Lissa go from the embrace and taking her hand into his, Christian slowly lead her back to Rose and greeted the girl with a good bear hug. His sister needed it.

Rose relaxed a bit in Christian's hug. Her brother from another mother and father, Christian was exactly what she wished for if her mother every gifted her with a brother. Tall, protective, black hair, blue eyed and in love with her best friend, she was happy that she met him. Well not a first. Rose thought that her good ole brother here at first site was a manic on the loose.

It just turned out that he needed a haircut and a new pair of jeans.

When he finally released her from the hug, Rose smiled at him. Ruffling her hair and smiling back at her, Christian pulled Lissa along and started talking about the weekend and how he trashed his and Lissa's place, which caused Lissa to go in a flight of vengeance.

Rose grin at their easy banter and slowly felt it droop as she realised that Dimitri isn't here anymore for her to do that too but before she could break out into tear, she held it back inside and blocked everything.

Tonight was supposed to be fun and she will not cry.

Especially in public.

Even when sad, she is still Rosemarie Hathaway.

Walking through the restaurant's door right behind Lissa and Christian, Rose let the warmth of it melt the ice cover around her. The smell of steak sizzling on the grill, the sounds of laughter and chatter from the other customers and the lights from the large chandelier above drowned out everything inside allowing an old smile to come back.

This was the real world.

Well, I'm back World.

Continuing to follow her friends to a table near the centre, Rose left her feelings at the door which was why she didn't see a tall figure sitting near the window with his back to her, eating with a black haired woman.

AN: I seriously thought that I updated AGES ago, like I thought I already put this chapter up.

Sorry if there are any grammar mistakes, I didn't edit when I saw that it wasn't up yet. As you can see I picked the name ADRIAN. So from now on, any Adrian mentioned, it is actually DIMITRI.

Bookworm-At-Starbucks.

I'll be back really soon like in two weeks. It's just that next week I have a play to rehearse.