She froze, every part of her stiffened and she stopped breathing for a moment. "you... you know?" She spoke it as more of a statement than a question.

I nodded once, choosing my answers carefully. "I found out a few hours ago. Roza why didnt you tell me? Why didnt you atleast call me and tell me I had a son?"

"Call you? Why should I have called you?! you were the one who left me Dimitri, you left me to go and be her guardian. I was protecting myself, I was protecting my son. I couldnt risk having you come back into his life just to leave again! besides, you probably wouldnt have believed me anyway. I dont understand why you even believe me now." She spoke harshly but I knew I deserved it, I knew she was broken, her letters had told me that much at least.

"I believe you because I read it, I read how you felt when I left, when you found out you were pregnant... you wouldnt lie about something like that Roza. I know you wouldnt."

"You... you what? You read it?" Her face was full of confusion. "Explain. now." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.

I sucked in a breath, I couldnt get Lissa into trouble, not after she sent me them and helped me realise how stupid my decision had really been.

"I.. recieved a box in the mail... inside it had letters dating as far back as August 21st 2012...They were all addressed to me... from you."

"I never wrote you any-" She stopped midsentence, I knew she had figured it out, her eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open. "The letters from my wardrobe... you were never meant to get any of them." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Lissa. It was Lissa that sent them wasnt it?"

"Please dont be mad at her Roza, Im glad I know... Im sorry I left, that I put you through all of that, But Im glad I know now."

I heard a loud crack and I barely registered what had happened untill the sting in my cheek started. She had slapped me, hard.

"Dont. Dont you apologize Dimitri. I dont want your apologize, I dont want your sympathy. What? You think just because you read some of my letters that you can come waltzing back into mine or Masons life? Forget it, youll have to do better than a simple 'Im sorry."

I knew she was right, "Roza, I dont expect you to forgive me right away, Im going to make sure I work the rest of my life to make it up to you, to show you how much of a mistake it had been for me to leave in the first place. But Im here now wether you like it or not and I am not going anywhere. Ever. again." I folded my arms over my chest and stared at her.

She copied my stance, staring directly into my eyes I could see the fight going on in her mind. She was struggling with whatever she was thinking, eventually though I saw the spark of something, it was the simple flash of an emotion. An emotion I recognised.

I watched as her eyes started glistening, I saw the tears build up and then start falling slowly trailing down her cheek. I ached to reach out and wipe them away, was I willing to risk another slap to the face, or worse?

yes.

I took a step foreward and lifted my hand to her face, cupping her cheek in my palm and gently wiped away her tears.
"Im not leaving you again Roza, I promise." I murmured.

She closed her eyes, "I dont know how to believe you anymore. I dont know if I can..."