Title: Thief of Hearts: Epilogue

Author: hbarker

Background: This is an epilogue for "Thief of Hearts". However, you don't have to have read that story to enjoy this story. For those who haven't read ToH, Rose is former CIA who works with Dimitri now at Interpol in France. This is how they spent their first Christmas Eve together.

(Translation: You are under arrest! - Vy arestovany!)

The stagnant air hung heavy in the abandoned warehouse. The stench of mold and dust assaulted Rose as she knelt behind a stack of crates. Her back was resting against the hard wood as she squatted, and she could swear her legs were starting to grow numb. She and the team had been waiting in the derelict building for over an hour. Their intel had told them the men they were hunting would be meeting at that location. Months of working the dark web and CI sources had led to today's operation, and she prayed it would finally mean an end to the Dashkov nightmare. What a way to spend Christmas Eve. Yippie ki yay, motherfucker. She chuckled inwardly at the "Die Hard" reference. It was one of her holiday classics.

The group they hoped to apprehend was the last known cell from Viktor's former organization. They had rallied a handful of loyalists, looking to regain the Revolutionary Front's foothold and status in organized crime. This particular group had dabbled in human trafficking; a fact that made Rose eager to put them down. They were expecting a "shipment" tonight, and if the team could secure both the renegade group and the women being sold, Rose was a little hopeful that most, if not all, would opt to fight their way out. A bullet to the brainpan was too good for these assholes.

"We've got movement on the road leading in," Alberta's voice came through softly over her earpiece.

Rose clicked her comm twice to indicate she had received the information. She heard four other similar clicks. Radio silence, for the most part, gave them the element of surprise. Rose pulled the mask down over her face, palming her Sig between her knees.

A few moments later, she could hear the grumble of a vehicle's engine as it pulled up to the massive metal doors that led into the warehouse. Based on the sound, she knew it was a large truck. That was good news, since it meant the women would be here. Had they not brought them to the location, it would have meant they would have to let at least one or two of the traffickers live in order to track down the women.

She heard the door creak and groan as it was opened before the truck rolled into the building. Diesel exhaust permeated the space. Taking slow, shallow breaths, Rose slowly peered around her stack of boxes to get a closer look. As the truck came to a stop, she saw a black sedan pull in and park next to it. The driver of the truck hopped out and walked to the back, speaking in Russian to the other man who had opened the door. The sedan's doors opened, and four burly men extricated themselves from it before joining the other two at the back of the truck.

The team was scattered throughout the space, with Mikhail posted outside on an adjoining roof. He and his SR-25 would eliminate any surprise visitors, as well as take out any of the targets in the warehouse, should they get past the rest of the team.

Rose watched as the men conversed, apparently negotiating over the merchandise. The thought of the women be held in the truck and their probable fate brought a red haze to her vision. Oh, yeah, she thought, these guys were going to go down, and as painful as possible.

Luckily, the size of the warehouse was such that Eddie would be able to slip into the cab of the truck and hopefully pull it out of harm's way just as their assault began. That left her, Ivan and Dimitri to apprehend the targets.

From the shadows, she saw Eddie's black-clad form moving slowly toward the truck. Glancing back at the group of men, she saw they were all preoccupied, undoubtedly confident they were alone. Rose smirked at their stupidity. That sort of cockiness always got the bad guys in the end.

She looked back toward the truck and saw her teammate slip into the driver's seat, preparing to start it and drive to the other end of the building, where it would be tucked behind a large wall of crates. She held her breath, awaiting the signal.

*CLICK*

Rose slid out from behind the boxes and ran toward the group, arms outstretched, her gun an extension of her body. From the other side she heard Dimitri's deep voice shout, "Vy arestovany!" At that same exact moment, she heard the truck's engine start and watched as Eddie punched the accelerator. As it gathered speed toward the end of the building, she caught sight of the man who had driven the truck turn and aim his weapon toward the retreating vehicle. Without stopping, Rose fired, her shot impacting the man's knee. He screamed and dropped to the ground, his gun falling from his hands as he clutched the now mutilated joint, writhing in pain.

Up ahead, the other men were scrambling to find cover as Dimitri fired at their retreating figures. Two of the men attempted to jump into the sedan in an apparent bid to escape. Unfortunately for them, Ivan was waiting at the front of the car. He stood, an imposing figure clad in black, as he aimed his FN Five-SeveN semi-automatic at them. Both stopped abruptly, raising their hands in the air.

Rose continued forward, toward Dimitri. The other two men had ducked for cover behind crates and appeared to have him pinned down. Shots volleyed back and forth, as Rose crept around, trying to come up behind one of the men. As she stepped quietly but swiftly, Rose soon saw one of the larger men crouched down, apparently trying to reload his weapon. Smiling, a grin that Dimitri said would scare the horns off the devil, Rose crept closer until she was standing directly behind the kneeling figure. Forcefully, she pushed the end of her gun against the man's skull.

"Please, please make my day right now and try something. I've been so hoping I would get to kill one, or more, of you bastards tonight. Do a gal a favor, huh?"

The man peered slowly over his shoulder, the malevolent glint in his eyes hinting at his choice. Before he could even turn fully, Rose fired, sending the him backward into the boxes. For a split second she pondered whether she should feel any remorse. Nah.

The sounds of shouting came from the other side of the crates, as Rose heard Dimitri's voice in her ear. "I'm out!"

As her heart thundered in her chest, she ran back around to where she had last seen him. From the direction she had run, Dimitri was standing against the wall, his K-BAR knife in hand. The other man, the only one remaining, was holding a Tokarev aimed at Dimitri's heart. He was partially shielded by crates, which made taking a shot as she ran nearly impossible. She took a second to analyze it all before she flew into action. The gun had a nine-round clip, and she hoped the man hadn't had time to reload the magazine. With all the shots that had been fired, she prayed he was low on ammunition by this point.

She had no doubt that at any moment the man would pull the trigger. As if time seemed to slow, she bolted toward Dimitri, keeping her sights on her target. In the space of what was only a few seconds, the muzzle of the Russian gun flared before the loud boom sounded echoed throughout the building.

"Roza!" Dimitri roared, as he saw her jerk back a few feet from the bullet's impact. Without hesitating, he grabbed for the gun that had fallen from her hand, lifted it and fired. He watched as the other man halted his advance and dropped to the ground, his eyes wide in death, a round hole now placed precisely between them.

Turning back, Dimitri rushed to Rose's prone body. Her eyes were closed, and her skin was cast in a sickly pallor. His heart hammered in his chest, and every sound around him was dimmed over the rushing beat of his heart. He dropped to his knees, reaching out gently to pull Rose to his body. He ran his hands over hers, trying to locate her wound. He was dimly aware of shouts coming through his earpiece, as well as around him. He could feel the presence of others but his focus was narrowed to her only.

He placed soft kisses to her forehead, cheeks, and eyes. Whispered oaths and promises poured from his lips. He saw the wetness on her face, not realizing at first that it had come from him…from his tears. He felt the firm pressure of a hand on his shoulder and could barely make out the words of his friend and teammate.

"Dimitri, the ambulance is on the way. Where is she hit? Does she have a pulse?" Ivan asked, his tone full of worry.

"I-I-" he stuttered in response. Fear and grief threatened to overwhelm him.

It was only the sudden, harsh intake of air and the groan that brought Dimitri slamming back to earth. Rose shifted in his arms, her coughs nearly jostling her out of them. "Holy crap, that hurt," she groaned.

Dimitri sucked in a breath, an overwhelming sense of relief and love cascading through him. She was alive! He loosened his hold somewhat, getting closer so he could look into her face. Her color was slightly better, but her forehead was creased as she grimaced in pain. "Roza, where were you shot?"

Her hand fluttered to her side before she pulled up her shirt. "Lower torso. Damn thing nearly missed the vest," she groaned.

Dimitri let out a humorless chuckle. Relief coursed through him. He and Rose had fought over his insistence that she wear a bullet-proof vest. When she was a CIA undercover operative, she had played by a looser set of rules. Working with Dimitri, she had, albeit reluctantly, become more willing to follow Interpol protocols. That included wearing a vest during missions such as this.

She was leaning back on one hand, the other crossed to her side. Dimitri moved her hand slightly so he could check the area himself. Feeling around gently, he found no signs that the bullet had missed the vest. At the very least, she'd be quite sore and bruised for a while.

Once he was satisfied she was going to be okay, he pulled her into his chest, trying not to crush her already battered body. "I thought I had lost you, milaya," he whispered against her hair.

He felt her soften in his arms. One arm banded around him, while the other reached up to run her fingers lightly through his hair. She knew how that action could soothe his savage beast, which right now was holding on by a thin leash. "I'm okay, Comrade. I'm not going anywhere for a long time."

He continued to stare at her, afraid if he blinked or looked away for even a moment, she would disappear. It wasn't until he felt another hand on his shoulder and heard the distant sound of sirens that he drew his attention away from Rose. Ivan stood to one side, while Mikhail stood on the other. "She's going to be alright," he croaked out, emotion still clogging his throat.

Turning back to Rose, he said, "Do you think you can stand up?"

She scoffed and then winced as she made a move to rise. Dimitri took her hands in his and helped her to stand before wrapping an arm around her uninjured side. "If you even try to pick me up and carry me out of here, I will test out that new stun gun model on your balls," she said, humor in her voice. He smiled slightly, relieved that she was clearly okay.

To his side, Ivan snorted. "You should probably wait until after tonight before you mess with the man's family jewels, Rose."

Dimitri's eyes shot to his friend's, the warning glare evident as Ivan's eyes widened. He coughed something unintelligible before walking away toward the van Eddie had driven back toward the front of the warehouse.

"What the hell was that all about?" Rose asked, as she limped beside Dimitri.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Just Ivan being…well, Ivan. You know how he is?" He cast a glance toward her, hoping his explanation was sufficient.

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, it's like his brain gave over permanent authority to his dick."

Dimitri let out a bark of laughter. The more she quipped and joked, the more he knew she was truly okay. In those brief moments before he knew she was alive and not grievously injured, he had lost any will to go on. That short exposure to life without his Roza was filled with nothing but bleakness and despair.

While he had been overjoyed that she had come to work with him after her former boss at the CIA, Assistant Director Tasha Ozera, had "fired" her, it added a new layer of worry and concern. They were in a relationship now – living together, even. It had been almost a year since she had joined their team and moved to Lyon. He knew her to be one of the best. She was highly intelligent, intuitive, and skilled. Yet, even with all that, he could never seem to let go of the sliver of fear that wedged itself in his heart at the idea of her putting herself in danger. Yes, they had discussed just that more than once. Rose being who she was, repeatedly pointed out that his life was just as much at risk as hers, and yet, she would never try to prevent him from being who he was or doing the job he loved. While he understood it all intellectually, it was another matter getting his heart on board. Yet he hadn't been willing change her into something she wasn't or keep her from doing something she loved. In the end, they had agreed to pledge their love to one another every day, as if it might be their last. That way there would never be any doubt of how they felt about the other, should the unthinkable happen.

"Let's get you checked out and then get you home. If you're up to it, we've got plans to meet the team at L'Antiquaire to celebrate. It's Christmas Eve and we've finally put an end to the Dashkov empire once and for all.

She smiled. "Fine, but we have to watch "Die Hard" tomorrow."

Outwardly, Dimitri groaned, but inside he was smiling like a love-sick fool. If his Roza wanted violence and mayhem on Christmas Day, then that's what he'd give her. As long it wasn't the real kind.

They arrived at the flat a short while later. Rose had insisted they go by the office first to file their reports, but Dimitri had insisted she needed to get some rest. Part of Rose wanted to gripe about his domineering attitude, but the other part, the one she didn't acknowledge often, was pleased. She had been relieved that Dimitri wasn't a man who felt the need to control her – well, at least not outside the bedroom. Yeah, like that was a hardship. Instead, he made sure she knew he saw her as his partner and his equal. Especially in the office and the field. So, given how shaken he had been when she had been shot, she willingly acquiesced to his request.

"Come, let's get you into a bath. We've got a few hours before we have to be at the bar," Dimitri said, as he led Rose toward the bathroom.

"You know, Comrade. You're only going to be able to work this whole He-Man a little while longer. Don't get too used to it," she teased.

"Then let me enjoy it while I can."

Rose smirked as he led her into the large, en-suite bathroom. The giant claw-foot tub sat against one wall; a large, frosted glass window framing it. He released her hand and went to start the water while Rose began to shed her clothes. She winced slightly as she raised her arms to pull up her shirt.

Suddenly, Dimitri was at her side. His hands stilled hers. "Let me." Grasping a sleeve of the black turtleneck, he pulled one arm gently through. He mimicked the same action with the other side before carefully lifting the shirt over her head.

As he dropped it to the floor, she heard his sharp intake of breath before he fell to his knees in front of her. His hands were at her hips as he lowered his head and placed a soft kiss to the mottled bruise already blooming along her stomach.

Rose lifted a hand and ran it gently through his hair as he let his lips rest slightly against the wound. "Hey, it's okay, Dimitri. I'm okay," she said quietly.

Without looking at her, he whispered. "For a moment, I thought I had lost you." He looked up at her then, his eyes moist and his expression tortured. "I can't lose you. I wouldn't survive it."

Rose lowered her head, her lips caressing his in a whisper of a kiss. "You won't. You won't lose me. Ever." She knew it was a ridiculous promise, given their jobs, but she also knew she'd do her damnedest to make sure they both made it home safe each time.

Dimitri helped her out of the rest of her clothes before he lifted her in his arms and set her gently into the water. Once settled, she watched as he shed his own clothes. She could feel the desire coursing through her as she watched him reach behind his head to pull off his shirt. Gah, was there anything more alluring than when a man did that?

Dimitri smirked as he looked at her, the same intense desire behind his eyes. "Like what you see?"

Rose's smile was predatory, she was sure. "No." She paused, teasing. "I fucking love what I see."

Grinning, Dimitri removed the remainder of his clothes before stepping in behind her and sinking into the hot water. He pulled her back against him, and she couldn't help but shiver as she felt his hard length pressed against her.

He wrapped his arms around her before resting his chin lightly on top of her head. "You still haven't told me what you want for Christmas?" he asked.

Rose closed her eyes as she settled back against his chest. His fingers drew lazy, random patterns across her stomach, but he made certain to avoid the bruising. "As cliché as it is, I have everything I could ever want, right here."

"Me too," he said softly.

As they relaxed even more, Dimitri's movements became bolder, as one hand slid up, his fingers circling around her breast. The other travelled south, those long, strong fingers sliding and probing between her legs. She moaned in pleasure, but felt Dimitri freeze.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked.

She reached up and back with her arm and turned slightly to pull his face to hers. "Never." She drew his mouth down. "Don't stop," she pleaded before he took her in a searing, all-consuming kiss. Their lips caressed before his tongue reached out, lapping gently against the seam. At the same time, at her heated juncture, he inserted a finger deep inside while his palm rubbed seductively against that wonderful bundle of nerves.

At her inhalation, his tongued plunged inside, ravaging her mouth. They dueled for dominance, but in the end, Rose let him win the battle, relaxing into the kiss and his caresses. The hand at her breast had moved to her nipple, where he was expertly rolling and pinching it. The added bite only built the sensations inside her to an even more fevered pitch. She writhed against him, needing more. "Please," she panted.

Knowing exactly what she was begging for, Dimitri inserted another finger inside and pushed in further. Her hips bucked as he found that small rough pad inside her that sent electrical shocks throughout her body. She cried out, her senses on overload from everything he was doing to her. His tongue was mimicking what his fingers were doing, while the hand at one breast moved to the other. He paid it the same attention, tweaking and plucking, playing her like a maestro and his instrument.

Soon, she was nearly incoherent. The only word she was able to utter was a mantra of "Yes, yes, yes." She pulled her hand from the back of his head and reached between them. Rose wrapped her hand around his silky, steel cock. He really was the full package. Full package. She almost started to giggle at the thought before Dimitri lowered his head to her neck. The pain and pleasure, as he sucked on the tender skin had her teetering on the brink, nearly all rational thought evaporated.

"Come for me, Roza," he commanded, his voice dark and low at her ear.

That was all it took. That deep, sexy commanding voice sent her careening over the edge. She cried out his name as flashes of light burst behind her eyes and her body shook from the powerful orgasm. He slowed, but never stopped his ministration, leaving her just on the cusp.

Growling, he lifted her up slightly. With whatever wits she still possessed, Rose reach down and grasped his length in her hand and guided him inside. They both groaned as she sank over him, taking him fully.

"So tight. So perfect," he grunted, as his hips moved slowly.

"Yes," she sighed. "You feel so fucking amazing, Dimitri."

With her injury, Dimitri did most of the work, lifting her up and down. Wanting more, Rose shifted until she was on her knees. He filled her, almost to the point of discomfort, but the pleasure always pushed away the pain. It was a pressure and sensation that she craved every time they came together. It was simply one more way that proved how well they fit together.

She could feel the pressure building once again inside her. As if sensing it, Dimitri took her hand and led them both to her swollen bud. Using both their hands, they stroked and flicked. The eroticism pushed Rose further over the edge, as she cried out. Her insides clenched tightly around him, as she tried to bring him over with her. When his movements became harder and faster, she knew he was close. Moving her hand away from his, she reached down further, letting her short nails drag lightly over his sack.

"Uhn," he grunted, as he pinched her clit.

That was all it took to send her flying. She arched back, a scream tearing from her. "Dimitri!"

At nearly the same moment, she heard Dimitri's answering roar, "Roza!"

She collapsed against him, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. She winced slightly at the pain that shot through her as a result, but was relieved that Dimitri was still apparently too enveloped in post-coital bliss to notice. The last thing she wanted to do was spoil what had been one of their top ten sexual experiences to date.

"Comrade," she panted. "That was incredible."

Breathing heavily, Dimitri's wrapped his arm around her chest, as he held her tenderly against him. "No, Roza. That was fucking amazing." He placed soft kisses against her head. "Do you think it will always be like this?"

Rose stroked his forearm, loving the feeling of his strength beneath her fingers. "Yes, I do."

He placed another quick kiss to her head before he lifted her gently off him. Rising out of the water, he stepped out of the tub and grabbed a nearby towel. Holding out his hand, he helped her stand before he wrapped her up and lifted her out and into his arms. "I can't wait to hear those words again," he said softly before carrying her back to the bedroom.

He and Rose had taken a brief nap after their lovemaking. They had both been physical and mentally exhausted after the mission. He felt a little guilty that he had taken advantage of her in the bath. He smiled as he realized that Rose would have kicked his ass at that thought.

They had eaten a light dinner before dressing and heading to the bar. Since it was Christmas Eve, they chose to grab a cab. As they snuggled against one another on the ride there, Dimitri tried to control the nervous energy that was coursing through him. Never had one night been this important.

Rose placed a hand on his leg, the one that was shaking. "Hey, Comrade. Are you okay?"

He tried to still himself and placed a kiss to her lips as she stared up at him. "Yes, I'm fine. Just leftover adrenaline from today, I think." Was that smoke he smelled coming from his pants?

Rose squeezed his knee lightly, as the cab pulled up to the bar entrance. Dimitri opened the door and then took Rose's hand. When she had stepped out, he placed his hand on her back as he led them inside.

The main bar had a few patrons, but as it was Christmas Eve, it wasn't as busy as usual. In fact, besides the team, there were only a few other people inside. Their fellow agents were all clustered around a large table in the corner. The other patrons were seated with their backs to them at the bar. Dimitri maneuvered Rose toward their co-workers and friends.

"Hey guys!" Ivan called out.

"How are you feeling, Rose?" Alberta asked, concern in her eyes and tone.

"I'm fine, Alberta. Just a little bruising."

Dimitri scoffed. "A little bruising? It looks like she's gone a round with the Hulk!"

He saw Rose roll her eyes. "You say large hematoma, I saw tiny bruise."

"Well, I'm just glad you're both okay," Mikhail said, raising his glass of beer.

"What he said," Eddie added.

"Here, why don't you let me take your coat," Dimitri asked, his hands already pulling it from her shoulders.

She smiled up at him, letting it slide down her arms. "Always such a gentleman."

He grinned before leaning down to her ear. "Only in public." He smirked as he saw the slight shiver that ran through her at his implication. Oh yeah. His Roza might be capable and a confident woman, but nothing got her hotter than when he took charge in the bedroom. He had to adjust himself slightly as the flash of ideas and images of various scenarios played through his mind.

Dropping their coats on the bench behind their table, Dimitri turned back to Rose. She was looking up at him, open love and adoration shining in her eyes and on her face. God, he loved this woman. Why the hell had he wasted so much time and walked away from her all those months ago? He cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to place a gentle, but still intense, kiss to her lips. He tried to convey in it all the things he felt; all the hopes he had for their future.

As he pulled back after a moment, it was to find her face still tilted up and eyes closed. She swayed slightly for a moment. He smiled at her serene features, drinking in her beauty and strength. When she opened her eyes, she had a look of unadulterated love, and it took every ounce of control to not drag her back to their flat and take her over and over again.

Dimitri groaned and whispered, "Roza, you can't keep looking at me like that right now."

She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his ear. "If looking at you like that gets this kind of reaction," she said, gently caressing his hard shaft, "we might have to cut our evening short."

Her words caused contradictory reactions. On the one hand, he and his cock were in full agreement that they needed to get back into the taxi and head home. On the other hand, tonight was too important. With that last thought, he tightened his control and curbed his desires. Before she could notice, Dimitri pulled her hand away and raised it to his lips. He placed a kiss to her palm and winked. "That will have to wait, milaya. I have other plans for tonight."

Rose eyed him warily. "What sort of plans?"

Dimitri shrugged. "Just to spend Christmas Eve with our family and friends." He pulled out his wallet and pressed some bills into her hand. "Rose, I need to step to the restroom. Would you go grab us some drinks from the bar?"

"Uh, sure," she said before turning and heading to the other side of the room.

He watched as she took a few steps before she faltered. Dimitri saw the moment she recognized her friend, Lissa. The woman was hard to miss and had turned in her seat at the bar as Rose had made her way closer. Her husband Christian had also turned and had slid off the stool to stand behind his wife. The both grinned as Rose started toward them.

"Lis?" he heard Rose ask, confusion in her voice.

Before Lissa could reply, Rose gasped as she took in the other patrons at the bar, who had all turned in their seats to face her. Tasha Ozera stood and moved over to stand near her cousin and his wife. At the same time, Mason and his girlfriend, Mia also slid off their respective seats and moved toward Tasha. Rose's back was to Dimitri, but he could see her hand fly up to her mouth as she took in the last two patrons. Abe Mazur and Janine Hathaway Mazur stood and moved toward their daughter.

The three moved at the same time, embracing in a hug. Dimitri could see the love and adoration clearly in her parents' eyes. He was slightly relieved when he saw Abe glance over at him before giving him a brief nod.

Slowly and quietly, Dimitri made his way up behind Rose. He had heard and sensed his team rise from their seats to move closer as well. The others at the bar had already moved in a little until there was nearly a semi-circle enclosing he and Rose.

He waited until she began to turn around. As she did, he knelt down to one knee, the powder blue box held up in one hand. He smiled as he saw Rose's eyes widen, her mouth hanging open. She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. Her head was shaking back and forth slightly while her eyes grew bright. For a moment, panic set in, as Dimitri thought her reaction might not be what he had expected. Relief flooded through him when he saw her smile behind her hand.

"Rosemarie Hathaway, you blew into my life like a tsunami. You took everything I had ever known and turned it upside down. I was drawn to you like no one else, even before I really knew you. Your courage and strength amaze me. Your love for your family and friends warms me. You melted away all the frozen places inside me with your fire and warmth. You've challenged me from the beginning, "he said, as the others in their group chuckled knowingly, "and I hope the day will never come when you stop. I love everything about you, Roza. Please say you'll be my wife?"

Fighting back the tears he knew she'd hate to show in public, Rose simply nodded and extended her hand to him. He pulled the small silver band, inlaid with small sapphires. With their jobs, she wouldn't always be able to wear a wedding band. Let alone an engagement ring, so at least this way she could wear it on her other hand when she was in the field. He saw the knowing smile on her face as he slipped it onto her slim finger.

"It's perfect," she said softly.

He placed a kiss to the ring before standing and pulling her into his arms. He cupped her face and brought his mouth to hers in a nearly bruising, passionate kiss. It wasn't until the shouts of congratulations and hollers for them to get a room echoed around them, that Dimitri pulled back slightly.

"I'm going to assume that was a yes?" he asked, somewhat teasing.

She laughed easily. "Yes, Dimitri. Yes, yes, yes," she said, punctuating every affirmative answer with a kiss to his lips. "Always, yes."