A/N: Hey guys! Because I'm so excited about this chapter, I couldn't wait to post it xD it's just so...fluffy. :D I'm pretty sure that all of you are going to adore it :)

I'd like to say a HUGE thanks to my reviewers: luhexayy, princess-in-training122, PRINCESSKATERINAHATHAWAY, Nicia, Ellixie, Ms. Sweden, kittenxxkisses and BlackRosesNeverDie666 :) now, I promised a dedication to the best reviewer, and that reviewer is...*drumroll* kittenxxkisses! Thanks sooo much for the long, amazing review :D you're awesome :)

Anyways...enjoy this (hopefully) awesome chapter!

~ Sarah Odair ~

Chapter Seven

I parked in the garage and let Lily out of the back seat. Mia had called shotgun, forcing Lily to sit in the back.

We retrieved our bags from the trunk and made our way inside. We ran up to my room and deposited them there and ran back downstairs to the living room. There was a fire going in the fireplace, and the puppies were curled up together on a dog bed.

I leaned down and scooped Fang up, who opened her eyes and stared drowsily at me. Lily grabbed Zoe and Jet, and we all sat on the sectional. Frigging Tasha stole the corner seat.

"You ho," I grumbled, sitting next to her.

She smiled angelically. "You love me. Don't deny it."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever." I held Fang out to her. "Wanna hold her?" I asked.

She hesitated for a few seconds before nodding and taking her out of my hands. I knew that Tasha was afraid of dogs and that she has been since she was attacked when she was little. But Fang was just a little puppy, so there was no way that she could hurt her.

Tasha actually smiled and nuzzled Fang's fuzzy cheek. "Are you just the cutest," she cooed. Mia was crooning to Jet on my other side.

Fang licked Tasha's nose in answer, making her giggle. "Puppy breath stinks," she commented, grinning.

"But it's easy to ignore since puppies are so cute," I pointed out, reaching over to scratch behind Fang's ears.

"Yeah, it is." She paused. "This is the closest I've been to a dog in years," she said quietly.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "I'm proud of you. You can't let fear control you," I told her.

"I know. Maybe it's time I asked Mom and Dad for a puppy."

I grinned. "Fang is apparently a miracle worker. That's a great idea, Tash."

Dad walked in a few minutes later and smiled.

"Hello, girls," he greeted us.

"Hey, Dad. You remember Tasha and Mia, right?" I asked.

"Of course. It's nice to see you again."

Mia smiled. "It's nice to see you too, Mr. Mazur," she said politely.

He scoffed. "Please, call me Abe. Mr. Mazur makes me feel old."

Lily snorted. "You are old, Dad."

Dad's jaw dropped. "Forty-two is not old, Lillian!" he exclaimed.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Dad," I said, smiling angelically.

He left the room, grumbling about something or other.

We hung around a little longer before Tasha got a text from her mom. She had to go home.

Lily offered to drive her, since she and Mia had made plans to go to Mia's for a bit. They'd asked if I'd wanted to come, but I told them that I had plans with Dimitri. I'd hung out with him every day since I'd gotten here. And so the three of them left, and I went up to my room.

Dad knocked on my door a little while later.

"I'm leaving now," he said. He'd told us yesterday that he had to leave today and go to Ottawa on business. "Call me if anything happens, okay?"

I got up and hugged him. "Okay. I'll see you in a few days," I replied, smiling.

"See you. You're in charge while I'm gone, okay?"

I grinned. "Okay. Bye, Dad."

He kissed my cheek. "Bye, Kizim."

He left, and moments later, I heard the front door close.

I texted Dimitri to ask when he wanted to come over.

Anytime, he sent.

Biting my lip, I texted, B there soon.

I ran downstairs to Cam's room, where he was packing an overnight bag.

"Where are you going?" I asked him.

"Josh's. I was talking to him today. I guess Mia told him we were back, and he wants to hang out," he replied. Josh was Mia's younger brother, and he'd been Cam's best friend before we moved.

"I'm guessing that I'm the one driving you?" I asked wearily.

He grinned. "Yeah, please."

"Well, hurry up. I'm picking Dimitri up."

He zipped his bag up and followed me out the door.

I bit my lip. I didn't really wanna leave the puppies alone . . .

"Grab Jet," I told him. "We're bringing the puppies."

Shrugging, he reached down to grab Jet, while I grabbed Fang and Zoe.

I unlocked the doors of the car. Cam put his bag and Jet in the back seat, and I put Fang and Zoe back there as well. Cam climbed in the passenger side, while I got in and started the car.

"This thing is pretty sweet, Rose," he said as we drove.

I grinned. "Just wait until you get your license. You'll get an awesome car too," I told him.

"One more year," he said with a sigh.

"It'll pass sooner than you think."

We soon reached the townhouse that the Rinaldis lived in. Cam grabbed his bag and got out.

"Call me tomorrow when you wanna be picked up," I said as he was about to close the door.

"I will. Thanks for driving me, sis."

"No problem." He shut the door, and I reached back and pulled the puppies one by one to the front seat.

As I drove to Dimitri's, Fang kept trying to climb on my lap. After trying and failing a million times to stop her, I finally just let her. She curled up there and fell asleep.

When I reached Dimitri's house, I honked the horn a few times. The door opened and he strode out, a smile on his face.

When he opened the door and saw the puppies, he raised an eyebrow.

"Christmas presents," I said. "I didn't wanna leave them alone at the house."

"Oh," he murmured, scooping up the two puppies that were occupying his seat. He got in and closed the door. There were melting snowflakes in his hair, since it had begun to snow on the drive there. "What are their names?" he asked.

"The black and white one is Jet, Cam's puppy, the red and white one is Zoe, Lily's puppy, and this little furball is Fang," I replied, grinning. "She won't get off my lap, so I left her there. She loves me already."

He grinned. "They're cute."

"I know," I said, turning off of Downsview and on to Westgate.

"How was your day?" he asked.

"Lily and I went shopping with Tasha and Mia," I replied. "They came over for a bit. Tasha was playing with the puppies."

He looked shocked. "She was?" he asked incredulously.

I nodded, smiling. "After two hours with these three, she wants a puppy of her own."

"Wow . . . that's awesome!"

We talked like the entire ride back to my house. I parked in the empty garage and got out.

Dimitri carried Jet and Zoe into the house, while I let Fang walk with me.

We ended up in the living room again, sitting on the couch. We talked for a while about our lives in the past nine years. He explained that he did odd jobs for my father, which was why he was shoveling the driveway. He told me how he'd been spending the summers in Russia with his father, since his parents divorced soon after mine did. I was struck by how similar our situations were, other than the fact that he hated being with his father and favored being with his mother, while my situation had been the other way around. I poured my heart out to him, letting him know the details of my mother's death, and telling him how much I regretted not answering my phone.

"You couldn't have known, Rose," he said softly, catching a tear that had managed to fall.

"I know. But it doesn't change the fact that I dismissed the last chance I'd ever get to talk to her," I replied, sniffling.

He pulled me in for a hug, and I felt home. The clean, sharp scent of his body spray filled my nostrils, and I couldn't help but notice how good it smelled.

And then my stomach growled, completely ruining the moment.

He chuckled. "Hungry?" he questioned.

"Just a bit. Unfortunately, I can't cook to save my life. So, unless you can cook, then we're going to starve."

He grinned. "Good thing Mom taught me how to cook, then."

We walked down the hall to the kitchen, where we poked through the cupboards for something suitable to eat.

After a few minutes, we decided on some simple grilled cheeses.

We gathered the necessary supplies, and Dimitri put the frying pan on the burner. He quickly buttered and assembled four sandwiches, putting one on the pan, since that's all that would fit.

I grabbed two glasses. "What do you want to drink?" I asked, opening the fridge doors.

He peered in. "Milk, please," he replied.

I nodded and grabbed the milk and the orange juice. I poured a full glass of each, putting them away and then handing him his glass.

"Watch this," he said, grinning. He grabbed the frying pan, moved the sandwich around a bit, and flipped it up in the air. The sandwich landed perfectly on the uncooked side. He waggled his eyebrows.

I grinned. "Man, you got skills," I told him, giggling.

"I know, right?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't get too full of yourself, Belikov. I'd hate to have to deflate your big head."

He grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Think you could take me, Mazur?" he asked.

"Oh, I know I could take you. Easily."

He raised an eyebrow, his smile turning amused. "Whatever you say, Rose." He scooped the grilled cheese off the pan with a spatula and put it on a plate, which he handed to me.

I ate my grilled cheese hungrily. It was actually one of the best grilled cheeses I'd ever had, though I didn't tell Dimitri that. I didn't need his ego getting even bigger.

He finished the second sandwich soon after, placing it on my plate.

"You not going to eat this one?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, the other two are mine."

Shrugging, I bit into it. It was just as good as the first.

After he finished both of his sandwiches, we headed downstairs to the game room. There, we played air hockey and some games on the Wii.

"Come on, go faster."

"Not gonna happen, Roza. I got you."

"Shut up! I've got this," I growled.

A few tense moments passed with lots of jerking around before I cried, "Yes!"

"Dammit," Dimitri muttered, chucking his Wii remote on the couch.

I did a happy dance as my character on Mario Kart passed the finish line first. He'd tried to slow me down with a banana peel, but I was unstoppable.

"In your face, Dimitri!" I said, grinning.

"Yeah, whatever," he grumbled.

I was about to say something, but my phone beeped, signifying that I'd received a text message.

It was Lily.

Rose, the roads are too bad, I'm not comin home 2nite. Sry.

I sighed. It's ok, I texted back.

"What?" Dimitri asked.

"I guess the roads are really bad, and Lily can't make it home tonight," I replied. I pulled the curtains aside and looked out the window. I was shocked by how much it had snowed in the past few hours. The snow was up to the windows, almost, and it was coming down hard. "Shit," I muttered. "We have a problem."

Dimitri got up and peered out. "Great. There's no way we're getting out of here," he said. "Looks like I'm gonna have to stay tonight."

I tried to keep the excitement off my face. "Guess so," I murmured. "I'll find something for you to sleep in, okay? You'd better call your mom."

He nodded, and I left the games room and went into Dad's room.

While Dad was by no means small, all of his shirts would be too small for Dimitri, since he was so muscly. I managed to find some old sweatpants that looked long enough and grabbed them.

Dimitri was waiting in the hall for me.

"I couldn't find a shirt that would fit you, but I think these pants will fit you okay," I told him, smiling apologetically.

"That's fine," he assured me. "Thanks."

"What bedroom did you wanna sleep in?" I asked. "There's a couple guest rooms on this floor, and two upstairs."

He pursed his lips as he thought. "I'll sleep upstairs," he replied. "I'd rather be on the same floor as you."

"Scared?" I teased.

He rolled his eyes. "No, but it would just feel weird."

"Okay," I said. "Well, since you're going to be here, you can help me unpack my stuff."

"You've been here for five days and you still haven't unpacked?" he asked incredulously.

I shrugged. "What can I say? I like to procrastinate."

He shook his head in amusement. "Well, let's get going on it, then."

We ran up the stairs to my bedroom. I had clothes strewn all over the place, as well as all of my bags from today. And believe me, there were a lot of them.

Dimitri muttered something in Russian. "Your room is a pigsty, Rosemarie Mazur," he muttered.

I grinned. "How about I get all of the dirty clothes, and you sort out the stuff in my bags?" I suggested.

"Yeah, fine," he said.

We got to work. I grabbed all of my dirty clothes off the floor, two armfuls in total, and put them in the hamper in my bathroom.

Dimitri and I spent the next hour and a half putting all of my stuff away. We high-fived when it was done, proud of ourselves.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to take a shower," he announced.

I grinned. "Right through that door," I told him, pointing to the other side of my room.

He nodded and went in. Moments later, I heard the shower start.

Involuntarily, I pictured Dimitri naked in my shower. Shivering, I decided that I needed to distract myself. And I knew just the way how.

I walked down the hall to my music room. In there, I had my grand piano, several guitars, and a drum set.

I sat on the piano bench and cracked my knuckles. I did a few warm-ups before I began to play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". It was one of my favorite things to play, because I found the haunting melody beautiful. I only knew the first movement by heart, though.

I placed my fingers on the appropriate keys and let them take over, gliding effortlessly and familiarly through the notes.

I was so lost in the song that I didn't notice Dimitri standing in the doorway until I finished the song. It was his low voice behind me that alerted me to his presence.

"That was amazing, Rose. I didn't know you still played," he murmured, coming to sit with me on the bench. I tried to keep a straight face because . . . he was shirtless.

His sculpted abs and pecs were absolutely mouthwatering. A few droplets of water still clung to his skin, and his hair was wet.

I did something rare―I blushed. "Thanks. And, yeah, I never stopped," I replied.

"Will you play something else?" he asked.

I bit my lip. "I could play some Adele . . . I sing, too," I told him, blushing even more.

He smiled. "Adele sounds perfect," he said.

I nodded, and took a deep breath. I began to play "Make You Feel My Love" and readied myself to sing. I'd never been self-conscious about it before, but there was something about Dimitri that unnerved me. I felt exposed around him, like he could read me. I didn't know what to make of it.

I shut my eyes and started to sing.

When the rain is blowing in your face,
And the whole world is on your case.
I could offer you a warm embrace,
To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
And there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years,
To make you feel my love.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet,
But I will never do you wrong.

I've known it from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue,
I'd go crawlin' down the avenue.
No there's nothing that I wouldn't do,
To make you feel my love.

I opened my eyes and looked to Dimitri as I played. His eyes were dark and unreadable, and something inside of me melted under that gaze. He had this power over me that I didn't understand, yet I welcomed it.

I could deny it no longer.

I was falling for my best friend.

Tearing my eyes from his, I began to sing again.

The storms are raging on the rolling sea,
And on the highway of regret.
The winds of change are blowing wild and free,
You ain't seen nothing like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true,
Nothing that I wouldn't do,
Go to the ends of the Earth for you,
To make you feel my love.

To make you feel my love.

As I sang those last few lines, my eyes locked with his once more. There was a fire kindling within me, one that I couldn't find the will to put out, one that I wouldn't want to put out, even if I could.

My hands dropped from the keys. My breath caught in my throat as Dimitri tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and let his fingers trail over my cheek, running his thumb over my bottom lip. My skin tingled under his fingers. My pulse pounded in my ears as he tilted my chin up. My eyes slid closed automatically as he leaned in hesitantly, his lips brushing lightly against mine.

At that, my body took over. I leaned in further so that his lips were pressed more firmly to mine and laid my hands against his bare chest. I could feel his heartbeat under my palms, and I swore that it was in sync with mine.

His lips began moving against mine, and he reached up to tangle his hands in my hair.

In that moment, I was on top of the world. I forgot about everything else, just concentrating on his lips on mine and the feelings it evoked within me. I felt like everything would be alright.

He was the first to pull away. He rested his forehead against mine, smiling at me in a way that made my heart flutter.

"Listen, Rose . . . ever since you got here on Monday, I've felt drawn to you. I know that we've been friends for years, but my feelings now . . . well, they go beyond that," he murmured, stroking my cheek. "When I'm around you, I feel better. You make me smile by doing the simplest of things. And when you're not with me . . . I find myself missing you, almost like I've lost a limb. When I fall asleep, I find you in my dreams." He inhaled deeply after that, turning his face away.

I couldn't help but smile. I reached out and laid a hand on his cheek, turning his face back. I stared into the chocolaty depths of his eyes, feeling like I could drown in them. "I like you too, Comrade," I said softly, using my old nickname for him.

He chuckled, his eyes lighting up. "You say in five words what it takes me sentences to say," he remarked, hugging my body closer to his.

I shrugged. "It's a talent."

He pressed another soft kiss to my lips, and I sighed in content. I loved the feel of his lips on mine.

We left the music room and went to my room to watch a movie. We curled up on my bed, he with his arms around me and I with my head resting on his chest. I felt like I was floating, high on happiness.

He didn't end up sleeping in the guest bedroom that night.

Did I succeed in making the end THE cutest scene ever? :D

So, R+D are together now...how long will it stay that way? :)...

...jk. I wouldn't do that...or would I? Hehehehe :D

Anyways, I'm about to post links to pics of the puppies on my profile, so check them out :D

Please review :) again, best reviewer gets the next chapter dedicated to them!

Until next time :)

~ Sar ~