Thank you for all the reviews! And I'm so sorry for the late update! Lately, I don't have as much time to write as I used to. But hopefully, I can make it up to you with this chapter! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy.

CHAPTER 26

RPOV

Inna didn't talk to me – aside from telling me that she accepted my relationship with her father, but wasn't particularly happy with it. After that, she went back to her room and kept quiet whenever I was around.

So yeah…she tolerated me, but that was all. Dimitri felt bad about it, but didn't want to push her into talking to me. I agreed with him. I guess it could've been a lot worse so in a way we'd gotten lucky this was her reaction.

"Alright," I said, letting out a sigh as I got up from the couch. "I should probably go home now."

After the kids had gone to bed, I had stayed and watched a movie with Dimitri. When the movie was over, it was already pretty late so I figured it was best to go home now.

Dimitri grabbed my hand and pulled me back next to him on the couch. "Do you have to?" he murmured, moving his lips to my neck.

I laughed as I pushed him away half-heartedly. "Yeah. It's late."

"You could stay here," Dimitri said, a hopeful glint in his eyes as he looked at me.

"Stay here? Like…stay the night?" I asked, a little hesitant.

He nodded. "Yes. You don't have a class tomorrow morning, right?"

"No, I don't. But… What about the kids? Won't they think it's weird?"

It had been a week since Dimitri had told them. Liam and Alisa were fine with it, but I wasn't sure how they'd react when they realized I'd spent the night here. And I had a feeling it wasn't going to help my case with Inna.

"Well, they are going to have to get used to it," Dimitri said, "because one day we'll live together."

I raised my eyebrow. "Oh. We will?"

He grinned. "Of course." He pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. "You think I'm going to let you go?" I grinned too and he kissed me. "No, Roza. You're stuck with me now."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Fine. I'll stay." Then I realized something. "But I don't have my PJ's with me."

Dimitri's grin widened. "You won't need them."

I gasped and slapped his arm playfully. "Dimitri! Your kids are only a few feet away from your bedroom! No way are we-"

He cut me off with a kiss. "They're asleep," he said when he pulled away. "They won't know."

"What if they wake up?"

"Then we'll just have to be quiet."

"What if they still wake up and come to your room?"

"They won't," he said firmly before kissing me again.

"What if-"

"Stop," he said gently, interrupting me once again. "Stop worrying. They won't come to my room. They won't wake up. And they won't get upset when they find you here tomorrow morning."

"And Inna?"

He glanced away, hesitating. "She's going to have to get used to it," he said at last, looking at me again. "And I know she will. She's just too stubborn. Like her mother was," he concluded with a sigh.

"But she can't be as stubborn as her mother, right? I mean, that's impossible," I said, trying to cheer him up. "If she was like Tasha, there's no way in hell she would've accepted it. Right?"

He gave me a small smile. "Right."

I leaned in and kissed him. "So…do you still want me to stay?"

His smile grew a little. "Yes."

I kissed him again. "Well, then I guess I'm staying."

His eyes lit up and he drew me closer, pressing his lips against mine. "Thank you," he murmured.

"You're welcome," I whispered against his lips.

We kissed a little more and when our kisses grew more intense and passionate, Dimitri lifted me from the couch. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to his room. He closed the door with his foot before placing me on his bed.

- START M SCENE -

"Wow. It seems like you're a little impatient tonight," I said as he started to get rid of my clothes and then his.

"We didn't get to have much alone time lately," he said before pressing his lips against mine again. "I want to make that up."

I smiled against his lips. "Then what are you waiting for?"

I didn't have to tell him twice. Dimitri finished undressing me and when his lips attached to my neck, a moan escaped my lips. I had to keep in mind that there were kids sleeping down the hall and that I had to be quiet, but Dimitri was making it very difficult as he slowly kissed down my body.

"Stop teasing," I said, pulling his face back to mine.

He grinned at me. "What? I thought you liked that."

"I do, but you're driving me crazy," I said, out of breath.

"Now you know how you make me feel every day," he murmured, kissing me fiercely.

And without another word or warning, he buried himself inside me. I bit my lip to keep myself from moaning as he moved inside of me in a frenzied pace. His lips attached to mine again, kissing me passionately, as we continued to rock against each other.

My nails dug into his back when he drove into me one last time and released inside me. I started to cry out in pleasure, but then Dimitri pressed his lips against mine, silencing me. When I'd quieted down, he buried his face in my neck and murmured something in Russian. I could make out my name, but that was all.

- END M SCENE -

We lay in silence for a while, both of us still panting. When we were calmed down, Dimitri shifted and lay down next to me, his arm wrapped around my waist. He looked up at me and when our eyes met, he leaned in and gave me a soft, sweet kiss.

"I love you, Roza," he murmured.

"I love you too, comrade," I murmured back.

He smiled and pulled me to him. I rested my head on his chest and let out a contented sigh as he stroked my hair gently.

"It's your birthday next week," he said after a few moments. "Do you know what you'd like to do yet?"

"Nothing," I said softly.

"Why wouldn't you want to do something for your birthday?" he questioned, furrowing his brows.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't feel like doing anything for my birthday."

"Would you mind if I arranged something then?" Dimitri asked.

I smiled a little. "No, I wouldn't mind. But no big party, please," I added quickly. "Just…just the people I'm close with, okay?"

He kissed my forehead. "Okay."

I fell asleep soon afterwards and when I opened my eyes the next morning, Dimitri was still asleep next to me. His arms were tightly wrapped around me and his face was buried in my neck. Smiling, I watched him sleep. He looked so peaceful. So…happy.

I reached out with my hand to stroke his hair, but before I could, Dimitri opened his eyes and looked up at me. A smile broke out on his face as he took me in.

"I must be in heaven, because I'm looking at an angel right now," he said.

I burst out laughing. "Which book is that from?"

"I don't remember," he admitted. Then he grinned. "But it's true. This is heaven. Because I just woke up next to the love of my life."

I smiled. "You're so cute sometimes."

He frowned. "That's not really what I wanted to hear."

My smile turned into a grin. "Then what did you want to hear?"

He narrowed his eyes at me. "You know what I want to hear," he said and then he started tickling me.

I shrieked and tried rolling away from him, but he pulled me right back to him and continued his tickling. I squirmed and laughed.

"Stop! Comrade, please stop!" I begged, still squirming in his arms. "I'll tell you what you want to hear. Just stop, please."

He stopped immediately and looked at me expectantly. "Yes?" he prompted.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him close and whispered, "You're also the love of my life."

He smiled again and pressed his lips against mine. "I could lie here with you forever and never get tired of it," he sighed.

"Me too," I murmured. Suddenly, I heard footsteps down the hall and Liam shouting for Dimitri. "But I don't think that's going to happen."

Dimitri groaned and quickly got up, pulling on his boxers, before leaving his room. "What's going on, Liam?" I heard him saying to his son in the hallway. "Why are you up?"

"My tummy hurts!" Liam said.

"You been eating too much chocolate?"

I got out of the bed and pulled on my clothes before stepping out into the hallway. "Hey, buddy. You feeling sick?"

"A little," he admitted. "Did you sleep here?" he asked, looking at me curiously.

I glanced at Dimitri. Clearing his throat, he said, "Why did you eat so much chocolate, Liam?"

It was only now that I noticed the chocolate smears on Liam's shirt. Around his mouth was chocolate, too.

"I was hungry and chocolate is yummy," he said, pouting. "I couldn't stop."

Dimitri sighed and opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off when the door to Inna's room opened.

"What's going-"

Inna gasped when she saw me and her eyes widened slightly. Her mouth turned into a thin line as she looked at me, but she said nothing.

"It's nothing, sweetheart. Liam's having a stomach ache," Dimitri said. "You can go back to bed if you want."

"No, it's okay. I'm up now anyway," she said.

She was still looking at me, which made me feel a little uncomfortable. At last, she turned around and walked back into her room. A few moments later, she came back out with fresh clothes and walked to the bathroom.

"Go lie down on the couch," Dimitri said to Liam. "I'll get you some water."

I followed them downstairs and kept Liam company. I put on the TV to distract him from his stomach ache. Dimitri came back with a glass of water, which Liam downed in a few seconds.

"Easy," Dimitri said.

Liam handed the glass back to him and lay back down. "So did you sleep in Dad's bed?" he asked me. "It's big, isn't it?"

I smiled as I stroked his hair gently. "Yes, it's big."

"I wanted to trade. His bed for mine, you know. But he said it was too big for me," Liam continued with a small frown on his face.

I chuckled. "I think he's right in this case. How are you feeling? Better?"

He nodded. "A little."

I smiled again. "Good."

Dimitri returned with another glass of water. "You going to be okay, Liam?"

"Yeah, I'm feeling better already," he answered smiling.

"Alright then. But next time, don't eat so much chocolate," Dimitri warned, looking stern.

Liam nodded. "I won't," he vowed.

Dimitri's stern look vanished and he smiled. "Good." Then he turned to me. "You hungry?"

I grinned. "Of course."

He led me into the kitchen and made me some scrambled eggs. Alisa came strolling in a few minutes later and smiled when she saw me.

"Morning, Rose," she said.

"Morning," I said cheerfully.

"Mmm. Can I have some too, Dad?" Alisa asked, eyeing my plate.

"Sure, sweetheart," he said, kissing the top of her head when she stopped next to him. "Sleep well?"

She nodded and sat down next to me at the table. Inna came in next. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment. She gave me a curt nod and mumbled a 'good morning' before sitting across from us at the table.

"Is Liam okay?" she asked Dimitri.

"Yeah, he's fine. Just ate too much chocolate," he answered.

"Is there something wrong with Liam?" Alisa asked immediately, concern etching her face.

"He has a stomach ache, but he's already feeling better. He'll be fine," Dimitri assured her. He joined us at the table and then we ate in silence. I was already on my second plate while Alisa and Inna couldn't even finish their first plate.

"Seriously, I don't know how you can eat all that," Alisa said half laughing as she pushed her plate aside. "You eat more than Dad, really."

"I just have a good appetite," I said shrugging. "And I was really hungry this morning."

Dimitri chuckled. "I wonder why."

I elbowed him in the ribs, knowing what he was referring to. "Shut up, comrade."

"Why do you call him comrade?" Alisa asked with a smile.

"For many reasons," I said. "His leather duster. All those stupid cowboy books he's reading." Dimitri looked offended. "What? It's true," I said shrugging. "And the fact that he's from Russia. Oh, and also because he doesn't like me calling him comrade," I added with a grin.

"Didn't," Dimitri corrected. He took my hand and squeezed it gently as his gaze met mine. "I like it now."

I smiled at him.

"Aww," Alisa said, gushing.

Inna just looked sour as she continued to eat her scrambled eggs. I cleared my throat and let go of Dimitri's hand. I didn't want to anger Inna further.

After breakfast, the kids went to watch TV in the living room and I was left alone with Dimitri in the kitchen.

"You can take a shower here before you leave – if you want," Dimitri said when we'd finished doing the dishes.

"You don't mind?" I asked. "Because the showers in our dorms…"

I crinkled my nose and Dimitri laughed.

"Sure. You can shower here, Roza," he said, kissing my cheek. "I don't mind at all." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. "I'd join you, but I don't think that's a good idea," he said, glancing over at the door. "You know, with the kids…"

I laughed. "Don't look so down. We'll get enough opportunities to shower together," I teased, winking, as I pulled myself free of him and walked to the door.

"Promise?" he said grinning.

I grinned back. "Promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that one," he said, the grin still on his face.

I winked at him again before leaving the kitchen. "I hope so."

I hope you liked this chapter. Next chapter will be Rose's birthday. I promise the next update won't take so long ;)

Have a nice day/evening! :)