A/N: For the last time for this story...Enjoy!

Dimitri

Chapter 20 – Epilogue

One Year Later…

"Dimitri?"

I was on guardian duty today, Lissa currently in her chambers in a rare moment of having the opportunity to herself. Things had calmed down significantly after Rose and I had returned to the Royal Court after the success of the operation. Life had pretty much returned to normal as it related to Rose and my schedules where Lissa and Christian were concerned.

We still had reports from time to time of possible enhanced Strigoi's throughout the country—with Rose and I being dispatched to at least kill two more since the operation had officially come to a close.

My eyes had been the only thing to move as I looked in her direction. "Yes, your Majesty," I answered, my hands still firmly clasped in front of me.

She didn't bother to look up from the magazine that she had in her hand. "You know how I hate it when you call me that."

I tried to hide my smile, because I did know. But I was now second in command to Hans—a promotion I had essentially been bestowed by both Hans and Lissa after the success of the operation. Mostly to help cover for the few weeks that Hans took off after returning back to Court and learning of his brother's treachery.

Ian Croft's trial had been quick and private to keep from our kind, the evil plan they had attempted to enact to start a war with us and the human race. The initial decision would be that his punishment be death, but as Hans actively petitioned—a life in prison was far greater than death. Ian Croft was sentenced to life in our prison under what the humans would call maximum security.

"What do you think of this?" Lissa asked, pulling me from my thoughts as she held up the magazine towards me, angling her body so that I could get a better look since I had been standing off to the side.

I stepped closer, so that I was now standing just behind the couch, getting a good look at the picture in the magazine she was holding up to me. This time, I didn't even bother to hide my smile.

Christian Ozera had just proposed to Lissa a month ago. Lissa was already in full swing of planning their wedding, not really interested in wanting a particularly long engagement.

I couldn't blame her, as my gaze dropped to my own hand, the gold band on my left ring finger. I still found myself on duty, spinning the band around over and over again, loving the way it felt.

After Rose and I had returned to Court, Ian's trial was concluded, and I had covered for Hans until he returned from his leave for a few weeks, Rose and I had taken that much needed vacation she had been hinting about.

That vacation…ended up us tying the knot. The happiest day of my life, in watching Rose walk down the aisle in the church where our love had blossomed—yes, a church, and yes, at St. Vladimir's—seeing that the academy held some of our most important and difficult memories of our relationship.

Rose and I had been through a lot of the years, but I wouldn't change a moment of it, with it leading us both to the moment where we had become husband and wife.

Lissa had been Rose's Maid of Honor, Sydney, Jill, and Sonya both standing up as her bridesmaids. Adrian had been my best man, with Mikhail, Christian, and Eddie also stepping in to be my groomsman. It had been a beautiful ceremony, and as Rose promised, we spent two full weeks on the beach, soaking in the sun where I finally got the opportunity to inspect that red bikini I loved so much.

I looked back at the magazine in front of me—which happened to be a bridal magazine—full of different styles of white gowns. Lissa was taller and slender, so the styles she had been looking at were V-neck gowns with sinched waists to accent her features.

It made me think back to how beautiful Rose looked on our wedding day, as she walked towards me, her eyes lit up with love that I knew matched my own, as her father Abe walked her down the aisle.

She stole my breath away in a strapless princess like gown, remembering how much I had loved the black strapless dress she had worn her first year back at the academy. The one that I had practically torn of her sexy body when Victor had gifted her with a lust charm.

"It's a beautiful dress," I commented. "You would look beautiful."

She smiled, because it had been my same response—all of them true—for the last four she had me look at. This was normally Rose's area of expertise, but she had been with Christian this morning; therefore, that left me as her sounding board.

She brought the magazine back to her lap. "You said that about the last four," she pointed out, the exact same thing I had just said to myself.

I stepped back again, straightening my posture. "Because you would look nice in any one of them."

She scoffed, as if I had just told her she was wearing the worst outfit ever created or had something stuck between her teeth. "Nice? Dimitri, nice is an outfit you wear for a function or a meeting. Your wedding, is the day you want to look your best. More beautiful than you ever have before."

My brows drew together in confusion. "Well, that's impossible."

That seemed to pique her interest. "Oh? You're saying that Rose wasn't her most beautiful on your wedding day?"

I sighed, feeling like I was about to walk into a trap. "That is not what I am saying." My heart fluttered at the thought of me dancing with her during our first dance as I held her close to me. "What I am trying to say, is that Roza gets more beautiful to me with each passing day."

Lissa's expression softened; her eyes gleaming with affection. "Good answer, Dimitri."

"That wasn't just an answer."

She laughed. "I know." She flipped another page, putting her legs back up on the coffee table.

The door to the room burst open, my hand instantly going to my waist as I started moving forward to shield Lissa from a possible incoming threat, only to notice Christian's wide panicked eyes look back and forth between us, taking in heavy pants as he tried to get his breathing back under control.

"Christian?" Lissa asked, instantly getting to her feet. "What's wrong?"

He looked directly at me. "Rose…"

I was on alert, my body instantly stiffening. "What about Rose?" I demanded.

"I was walking along the courtyard with Jared, when she doubled over and screamed out in pain," he said.

Lissa turned back to me. "Go!" she urged.

"I can't…I'm…"

"For heaven's sake, Dimitri. Go! I will call in and get backup and then will meet you there."

I hesitated, but then I knew she was going to issue it as a queenly decree. Knowing that Rose was in pain, didn't make me question any further as I made a beeline for the door. I recognized that Christian was hot on my heels.

"Jared and I just dropped her off at the infirmary," he said.

As I ran through the courtyard with impeccable speed, Christian's second guardian in command when Rose wasn't on duty was already headed our way. Our charges should never be left alone without a guardian, but knowing both Lissa and Christian, they had habits of making demands that weren't always in their best interest.

Jared dutifully got in step with Christian, none of us slowing our pace as we rushed to the infirmary.

"She was already being seen by a nurse," Jared informed in between quick pants.

I gave a curt nod, reaching the infirmary in a matter of minutes, as I threw back the door. The lady managing the desk didn't even need to ask who I was or why I was here, simply just pointing to the back area, shouting that Rose was in room three.

Christian and Jared however, were stopped from going any further.

"Good luck. Keep up posted," hollered Christian, earning another nod from me as I let the door slam behind me.

I turned; throwing back the door as soon as I reached room three, Rose's cries of pain and curse words in Russian coming from the room.

"Roza!"

She looked up, her damp hair plastered to her face, as sweat poured from her forehead. She let out another cry. "I hate you, right now, Comrade," she said between clenched teeth.

I didn't let that stop me, coming to her side, as I picked up her hand, and held it in mine. She squeezed back with considerable amount of force, clenching her jaw, and gritting her teeth, as another cry ripped from her throat.

"What can I do?" I asked, turning back to the nurse.

She just smiled as she turned back to me. "First time?"

Technically it wasn't. I mean it was…but it wasn't. This was my first child being born—but I had played an instrumental part before in helping back in Russia and even in times needed here when a woman had gone into labor with no hospital insight.

All guardians had basic first aid knowledge and treatment, which I had used plenty of times before, but those times weren't my wife, and not delivering my first child in the room.

When I didn't answer her right away, the nurse just patted me on the shoulder. "You're doing it, dad. Just help your wife through and continue to hold her hand."

Another scream tore from Rose's mouth as she squeezed my hand with such force, I was sure she was going to break all the bones in it. "This kid is trying to kill me," she groaned. Her other hand reached out, grabbing my duster as she pulled me to her. "Tell me you didn't come out seven-feet tall, and guardian ready."

I could tell her recent contraction was over, her fingers slowly releasing my duster as her head hit the pillow, letting out a long breath. I pushed the damp hair from her face aside, already dunking the wash cloth into the water and wiping at her forehead.

"You're doing great, Roza," I encouraged.

She looked over at me with a smile. "This is really happening, isn't it?"

I nodded. "It really is."

I guess I should mention, that two months after we had tied the knot, we had learned that Rose was pregnant. It had been a surprise—a good one—since I had always wanted to have kids and be a father of my own.

What had really been the shock of it all was how non-shocking the news had been to Rose. It wasn't like we hadn't talked about kids before. Ever since I had been restored, and we learned that we would be able to have kids together, the subject had come up once or twice.

Even though a seven-year age difference wasn't that major in today's standards, Rose was on the much younger side then me. While she always had a better understanding than most her age about our world and what we do, she was like any other young person for their age. She wanted the opportunity to experience life before making major commitments and changes that extended just beyond us as a couple.

I had noticed that after the Nightshade operation, there had been a significant change in her. We had both lost a lot of people we cared about along the way, but I could see how the effects of Josh and even Jack's deaths had plagued her.

I had worried that some of her decisions might be made out of fear, but after a few weeks those fears were put to rest. Rose and I truly did love each other in ways that I knew many didn't understand. They didn't need too. As she had so lovingly put it once, that "what if's" had no business being in our lives anymore.

"Dimitri?"

My name on her lips had me shaking my internal thoughts away. "Yes, Roza."

Her hand came up to rest on my cheek. "I love you."

I lowered my lips to place a kiss on her forehead, my hand coming to grip hers in mine. "I love you, more."

I could feel her wedding band on her finger in my hand, a sense of pride and love filling me that she was mine. She was marked for everyone to see that this incredibly strong, passionate, smart, and beautiful woman was all mine.

Her brows drew together, her hand gripping mine more tightly, as her face contorted in pain with another wave of contractions.

"Ok, Rose, this is it…you're going to need to push," said the doctor who had stepped into the room.

Rose looked back at me, my reassuring nod that she could do this. She was the strongest person I knew. I would be right by her side the entire way.

Rose leaned forward, as the doctor encouraged her to push, her teeth clenched as she pushed for a good ten seconds, before her back hit the bed. She was panting, pain visible on her face. She looked tired.

"One more time, Rose," said the doctor.

I took the washcloth from her head, wiping away the last round of sweat.

Rose's exhausted expression turned to me, frustration lighting up her features. "Comrade, I…I can't. I…"

"You can," I interrupted gently. I turned her chin so that her eyes met mine. "You are stronger than anyone I have ever known. You never give up on those you love even when people told you to. Your fierce, protective, and loyal." I pushed her hair away from her face, kissing her forehead. "You can do this, Roza."

She let out a strangled cry, before she sucked in her bottom lip and nodded. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Okay," she said softly.

She cried out through her pain as she pushed for another ten seconds, before we both heard the most beautiful sound in the world. Our baby's cry.

The doctor held our baby in her hands as her nurse came over to help clean and take all the necessary vitals. The nurse turned back to us, Rose, already slumped into the bed, as she handed our baby over to me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Belikov…I would like you to meet your son," said the nurse as she deposited my baby boy in my waiting arms.

He cooed, his little hands already fighting to come out of the blanket he was wrapped securely in. I held him tightly in my arms, as I slowly balanced from one foot to the other, rocking him gently. When I finally looked up, I saw Rose's eyes on me, a tired smile across her lips.

"He's perfect," I said.

She nodded. "Both my boys are."

I moved over to the side of her bed. "Do you want to hold him?"

I could see the indecision in her eyes. Not because she was scared or because she didn't want too, but because she was enjoying watching me with our son.

"Okay…"

I carefully transitioned him into her waiting arms, my hands pushing back her hair as she scooted over, so I could sit on the bed with her.

Her hand wrapped around his little one, a renewed amount of energy at holding our son filled her. She started making all kinds of cooing noises as she smiled down at his perfect little face.

"Your right…he is perfect," she commented.

"Have you two decided on a name?" The nurse asked, once she stepped back into the room.

Rose and I looked at each other. We had tossed around all kinds of names if it was a boy or a girl, but even up until he was born…we hadn't fully settled on a name.

"We have," Rose announced.

My brow arched in surprise. "We have?"

She nodded, her free hand finding mine. Her next words might have been to the nurse, but she was looking directly at me. "Ivan Joshua Belikov," she announced.

My heart swelled with so much love for this woman, that every day it tested the limits possible.

"Ivan Joshua Belikov," I agreed.

Rose

3 weeks later…

"Dimitri, they are going to be here any minute!" I hollered, running from our bedroom back into the family room, while still trying to get this damn earning in my ear.

The last three weeks since we brought Ivan home were some of the best days of my life, and almost some of the most chaotic days of our lives. I thought prepping for an operation and going into a facility filled with Strigoi was tough…but that was a piece of cake when trying to figure out how to please a baby on little to no sleep.

Even in my frantic state, the moment I stepped into the living room, watching Dimitri holding our son as he talked in low whispers in Russian, I felt myself go weak in the knees.

My hand fell from my ear, as I leaned against the bedroom door, watching as the fussy coos from Ivan slowly eased into a content sigh, before the apartment went into a quietness. Another true godly skill of Dimitri's.

I crossed my arms over my chest, as I watched the two men, I loved more than anything in my life together. Dimitri was the best father any girl could ask for, and an even better husband.

In the middle of the night, when Ivan would wake up, even if Dimitri couldn't actually do the feeding, he was awake and supporting me along the way. He changed him, rocked him, anything he could to give me a couple of extra minutes to sleep.

As it was, we had one more week before he was going to go back on official guardian duty. Lissa had tried to forbid him from coming back too early, but guardian duty never rested. I loved Lissa just as much as I loved Ivan, and they both needed the man I love to protect them.

Dimitri looked up, his legs still bouncing slightly as Ivan fell into a deep sleep. His eyes raked me over, making me heady and racked with wanton need.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

It was the first time I was dressed in something other than sweats or nursing bra. It was one of my dresses I hadn't been able to wear since month three of my pregnancy. Since Dimitri would be back on shift starting next week, we were taking the opportunity to have a family dinner with all our friends and loved ones.

I grinned, looking him up and down. "You're not so bad yourself."

He shot me that warning look, as he bounced our baby boy. Like that would stop me. I had fully healed, and I was raring to go, missing Dimitri's touch and our normal love-making. Now that Ivan was on a more routine schedule, we were finally back in a rhythm ourselves.

Dimitri gently laid down Ivan in the basinet just off the kitchen, as I pushed off our bedroom door and met him halfway. His hands came around my waist, just as my arms wrapped around his neck.

"My beautiful wife."

"My sexy husband."

He placed a kiss on my cheek, slowly trailing kisses down my jaw and then my neck. I angled my head back, giving him better access, a growl of frustration leaving my lips in that I wanted to take this further. Much…much…further.

"I love this dress," he whispered, his lips just above my ear, his hands on my waist.

I did know exactly how much he loved this dress. "Hmm…I'm sure you will like what's underneath even more."

He growled. The doorbell rang. I cursed.

He laughed, kissing me softly on the lips before he pulled back. "Our guests are here."

He tried to pull away, but I held him tight. "No. I change my mind. Send them away."

He chuckled. "Roza…"

I unwound my arms, and sighed in frustration. "Fine…let's be good hosts and open the door."

Adrian and Sydney were the first to arrive, with Sonya and Mikhail coming next. Jill and Eddie arrived shortly after, with Lissa and Christian being our last guests last to arrive.

We sat down at the table, everyone laughing as we enjoyed our meal together, telling old stories from our academy days, to things happening now.

"So, little Dhampir, how is married life and motherhood treating you?" Adrian asked, taking a sip of his wine.

I couldn't help but look over Dimitri a grin spreading on my lips as I thought back to how incredibly sexy, he looked holding our son and getting him to stop fussing.

"I miss my sleep," I said, taking a drink of water.

I had opted out of alcohol, since I was still pumping, and that stuff was liquid gold. No way was I going to pump and dump for some alcohol…even if my Dhampir healing abilities might absorb it quickly.

"Yeah…I remember the zombie days," Adrain remarked fondly as he recalled his early days with Neal.

"With another wedding coming up, who knows we might have another baby to add to the family." I looked at Sonya and winked. "Unless someone else beats you to it."

Sonya blushed as the fork coming to Mikhail's mouth stilled. I looked around at each of the faces at the table, feeling content with happiness and love. Each of the people sitting around our table was someone that Dimitri and I loved very much.

A knock on our apartment door, had all of the chatter and laughter in the room going silent.

Dimitri turned to me. "Were you expecting anyone else?"

I shook my head. "No."

Dimitri pushed his chair back, swiftly standing and moving towards the door. I wiped my mouth with my napkin doing the same, just as I heard the voice on the other end, making me stop short.

"Belikov!" A hand slapped on his shoulder. "Where's that grandbaby of mine."

"Oh, no!" I muttered.

Abe stepped into our apartment, shoving his bag into Dimitri's hands as he smiled at me. "Hello, little girl."

I gritted my teeth, seeing my mother, Janine step in and offer Dimitri and myself a sheepish smile. "Dad. Mom. I thought you were coming this weekend."

My dad wrapped me into a hug. "We wanted to surprise you."

"I told your father that you weren't the kind of person that loves surprises," my mother said, as she gave me a quick hug after Abe released me.

Both of their eyes instantly went to the basinet, giving a quick hello to everyone in the room as they instantly went to Ivan's side, who was still sleeping soundly. I was actually looking forward to her help once Dimitri had to go back to a regular schedule, until I could return to duty myself.

"May I?" My mother asked.

I nodded; as she picked him up, earning another content sigh from Ivan, as she held him to her chest. Abe moved closer to my mother, both of them looking down with joy.

Abe may have been looking at Ivan, but his next words were aimed at Dimitri. "Belikov, I think another hunting trip is due."

"Oh, no…." I said, quickly stepping in. "Not after the last one."

My dad's expression was mock surprise. "What?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, giving him a pointed look. Right before our wedding—the day before—Zmey thought it was best to take Dimitri on another hunting trip. It somehow ended with Dimitri showing up a few hours before the actual wedding.

"No more talks. No more trips. He's my husband and father of our child." He opened his mouth to say something, but I instantly stopped him. "I mean it, dad. No more."

"Rose…it's fine."

I looked over at Dimitri, already practicing my own mother means no hard stare. I could tell he was trying to hold back a grin. As much as my dad tried to threaten Dimitri with their little talks, I did believe deep down that Abe approved of my choice of whom I gave my heart too.

Dimitri set out two extra plates, as the room once again broke out into additional laughter and stories, Ivan getting passed around for cuddles and kisses.

I took the opportunity to escape from the room and onto the balcony of our apartment. I heard the sliding glass door behind me, the feeling of Dimitri's duster wrap around my bare shoulders.

"Thank you," I said, when he came to stand next to me.

He looked out into the night sky; our bodies so close that our shoulders were touching.

"I figured I would find you out here," he said, his words spoken into the night. "Too much festivities?"

I laughed. "I knew you would eventually come find me." I paused. "I love every single person in that room, but definitely needed a break."

We stared back into the night sky, as I tugged his duster that smelled just like him closer to me.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, after a moment of silence.

I let out a sigh. "Us."

He turned, his brow arching. "What about us?"

I looked away from the night and to his face. Those big brown eyes that blazed with fire every time they looked at me. His strong jawline that I could see Ivan already got from him. Every time I looked down at our son, there was more Dimitri in him then anything. Not that I was complaining.

"Lissa told me something interesting the other day."

"About their wedding?" he guessed.

I shook my head. "About operation Nighshdade."

I could tell that wasn't what he had been expecting me to say. It was what we ended up calling the operation, since the drug had been effectively coined the name first.

After I had found out I was pregnant, I didn't really go on any Strigoi hunting missions for any of the terminator Strigoi's that had been sighted. That was mostly left to Dimitri, Mikhail, or Eddie since they had the most experience.

"I thought we put that mostly behind us," he commented, his brows drawing together as if he was worried something new was going to come creeping out when we had thought it was all over.

"We did," I said, my hand coming to his forearm.

Something passed between us, Dimitri moving to sit on one of our patio chairs, his hand grasping mine, as I came to sit on top of his lap.

He pushed my hair from my face, his fingers resting just on my cheekbone. "What was so interesting?"

I brought my arm up to dangle the bracelet that Lissa had given me on my wrist. "Remember when I told you about the bracelet? That when Joseph tried to compel me that it didn't work?"

His mouth twisted, mostly because that had been difficult for both of us. Sometimes I could see still the haunted look in his eyes when he had thought I had been lost to him and under the compulsion.

He gave me a leveled look. "Not my fondest memory."

"Mine either," I agreed. "But…Lissa, Sonya, and Adrian thought after the success of what happened during Nighshade that maybe we make more for those that go out on specific missions," I said.

"It would be a game changer," he said with a note of approval.

"Except, their theory was wrong," I added a moment later.

His forehead puckered in confusion. "What do you mean it was wrong?"

I sighed. "I mean, that after they started tinkering with it some more, they realized the effects were just as good as what we do with the wards."

Understanding dawned on Dimitri's features. "So, it would lose its potency as time went on and wear completely off if not fortified again every couple of weeks," he guessed.

I nodded.

Dimitri shifted his gaze towards me the moment I saw the full weight of it hit him. "Wait…we had already been in the operation almost a month by the time you were kidnapped…"

I nodded again. "Which means in theory, the bracelet wouldn't have worked. Lissa, Sonya, and Adrian said there was barely any magic pulsing in it when I brought it back here."

His mouth tightened. "Then that means…"

I wrapped my left arm around his shoulders. "That when Joseph compelled me, I shouldn't have been able to break it. The bracelet wasn't strong enough."

"But you did…" he argued.

My lips formed into a smile. "I did."

"How?"

I leaned in, until my lips were close to his ear. "You," I whispered softly, seeing the goosebumps on the back of his neck as I pulled back.

Dimitri pulled my body flesh against his. He held me so tight, I thought I would burst from happiness at seeing the love shone in his eyes.

"Is that so?"

I nodded coyly. "Apparently, when it comes to compulsion, it can only work if there isn't already a deep-seated feeling or bond their first," I explained. "Just like the lust charm that Victor tried on us years ago. It wouldn't have worked if there hadn't been something between us." I brought my other arm up, so we were even closer.

He grinned, and this was one that reached all the way up to his eyes. It made me melt. "Why, Rose, are you trying to tell me that you couldn't be compelled to hate or kill me because you just love me too much already?"

He was saying it in a teasing manner, but it was exactly what I was saying. "That's exactly what I am saying." My voice turned husky and seductive just the way I knew he liked it.

Dimitri leaned in, the moonlight teasing his smile. He kissed me, wonderfully sweet, as I let it linger between us. It's the quietest time we've had together in weeks. Only when air was apparent, did I slightly pull back.

"I love you, Roza."

"Hmm…" I sigh, my fingers curling in the back of his hair. "Funny, because I was just about to tell you how much I love you."

Still smiling, he shifted us so I could see up into his eyes. "Say it."

I was about to retort with one of my Rose jokes, but the intense look in his eyes made it die on my tongue. "I love you."

His lips crashed on mine, and even though no space was between us, I still didn't feel close enough. Suddenly, the idea of sending all of our loved ones home was exactly what I wanted.

Dimitri broke the kiss, laughing when he must've seen exactly where my thoughts were head. "Later."

I pouted. "Oh, come on…it's been weeks."

His eyes darkened. "Oh, I know, Roza. Later."

The combination of his words and the darkening look in his eyes, made me shiver—and not from the cold—at what he was promising for us later.

I leaned in, about to kiss him again with a new hunger, when the sliding glass door opened, causing us both to pause.

"I found them," Christian exclaimed to the group.

I groaned, my head dipping to Dimitri's chest, as I snuggled closer to him. I could hear the rumble of laughter in his chest.

"Hey, you two might want to get in here…Adrian just gave Ivan a stake for a gift."

Dimitri broke into a full-on laughter while my groan deepened. "He's three weeks old," I cried.

Christian shrugged. "What do you want me to tell you. His parents are the Belikov's. That kid could have come out of the womb and he would be ready to hold a stake."

"We'll be right in," said Dimitri.

Christian turned, leaving the door slightly opened.

"So much for a few minutes alone," I mumbled.

Dimitri's lips against my ear as he repeated the word later, had me shivering all over again.

I stood from his lap with his help. "I guess you're worth the wait, Comrade."

His eyes shone with love as he looked back at me and said, "I'd wait forever for you, Roza."

And so, I kissed him passionately, with the voices of everyone we loved just on the other side.

The End

Thank you for taking this journey with me on "Come Find Me." I hope it brought a little bit of happiness to your day.

I hope to be posting another Romitri story soon. So, please check back, or give me a follow if your interested in reading future work.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks again for taking the time out of your day to stop and read this story.

Much Love,

Boxerlover01