Time progress slowly for Rose. Days had passed since the return from Las Vegas and Rose was bored out of her mind. Without Dimitri to pass the time with, life got incredibly dull. Her workouts became mundane. Running felt like a chore. A smacking Christian around was a far cry from sparing with the Russian God.

The more Rose ignored Dimitri the madder he got. Yes he lied, but he was trying to keep her safe. She was kept in the dark regarding the Lazar operation because if that Family ever got wind that Abe Mazur had a daughter once they were caught, Rose would be their first target. You do not want to be an enemy of the Lazar clan. They weren't kind enough to just kill you. They'd kill your family and friends. They's tortured you until you begged for death, then they'd tortured you some more. If you died before they were done with you, you'd be revived only to go back to the torture.

There's a reason Rose's true identity was kept so secret. Abe had many enemies, therefore she would always be a target. Even Dimitri didn't know until he was living with her and Abe for a good while. As far as the world was concerned Abe Mazur never had a daughter. The Director of course knew, being Jeanine Hathaway's best friend, but she had no intention of making note of it in the agency's records.

Dimitri desperately needed Rose's forgiveness and understanding. He couldn't even talk to Rose since every time he entered a room she was in, she'd find some excuse to leave.

But what bothered Dimitri the most were Rose's night terrors. She would scream in the middle of the night, he would sneak into her room and calm here down, then sneak back out. Rose never even acknowledge that. She either wasn't aware or was ignoring that as well.

On the day Dimitri overheard Rose snap at Lissa for suggesting she give him another chance, he had had enough.

"Maybe you should just talk to him", he heard Lissa say to Rose.

"There's nothing left to say, Liss".

"I know you're hurt, but I think he's a really good guy. He was so good to you and for you. He even got you stop wearing that ridiculous get up when we left for Vegas", Lissa chuckled.

The costume Rose insisted on wearing was a product of her own idiocy. She was the one who decided that while she stayed at Mazur Manor, she'd only leave in her get-up so that Lissa would not be associated with her or Abe. Dimitri managed to convince Rose that was absurd and to forget the costume, claiming someone with sufficient resources would be able to see through the disguise anyway. Her father had told her the same thing on several occasions, but when Dimitri said it, it made more sense.

"Fat load of good that did, Lissa! Someone was following us when we went clubbing and now they know what I look like, they know about you and Chris and Adrian and Sydney. Me not wearing the ridiculous stripper outfit, as you so lovingly call it, put us all at risk".

"Wait," Lissa stopped short, "someone was following you?" she asked incredulously.

Rose slipped up. She never meant for Lissa to know about the hacker and the fire alarm or the man watching her. Rose didn't want to get into too much detail about what happened that night, so as not to tamper with Abe and Dimitri's work against the Lazars.

"Don't worry", Rose said off handedly. "It's been taken dealt with".

"Whatever", Lissa dismissed it for how and got back to the point she was trying to make. "The fact remains that Dimitri treated you like a queen and you were better for being with him".

"I don't understand why we have to have this conversation again. Dimitri and I are over, so just drop it already Lissa!", Rose stormed out of kitchen.

That day Dimitri waited for the right time and cornered Rose in the gym while she was training. The only reason Rose didn't immediately bolt was because Dimitri said she was could execute her spinning kick better. Dimitri gave her some pointers and Rose actually listened.

Rose nodded her thanks and was about to leave but Dimitri wouldn't let her. "This isn't over, you know. I haven't given up on you".

"You should. Just leave me alone", Rose pleaded.

"No, I can't do that. What about your night terrors?"

"I know I had a few nights grace, but if they return I'll go back on my meds". Rose didn't know her night terrors came back.

Now Dimitri was furious. The thought of Rose preferring drugs to him comforting her caused his usually cool facade to crumble completely. "You'd rather be drugged than let me help you?! That's insane! Besides, you've been screaming in your sleep every night since you found out the truth!"

"What?!"

"You heard me. And if you don't believe then ask Lissa", he answered angrily.

"How do I not know this?" Rose shook her head, still not believing him.

"Because I'd sneak into your bed, hold you until you relaxed, then go back to my room". Dimitri ran his hands through his hair. "Enough is enough. You're being petty and childish, Roza".

"No I'm not. And don't call me Roza!" Rose yelled.

Their heated argument brought them closer with each yell and holler. The were practically chest to chest, heaving from frustration and anger and yelling. Dimitri didn't miss that Rose involuntarily glimpsed at his lips. Suddenly he couldn't take the distance any longer, not when he knew what they had was the real deal. That's when Dimitri pulled Rose into to a searing kiss. She froze for a split second before completely melting into him, molding her body to his as he wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed her to him by the small of her back.

Rose pulled back roughly when she realized what he was doing, or rather what she was doing, and smacked Dimitri hard across the face. "I hate you!", she yelled at him.

"No you don't!", Dimitri replied just as vehemently. "Not even little. And you hate that you don't hate me. But what you hate more is that you still trust me. If you didn't, I wouldn't have been able to calm your terrors every night this past week!". Rose was stunned silent, so Dimitri continued his tirade. "You want to slap me again? Go ahead! You want to hit me some more? No one's stopping you. Come on!" Dimitri took a defensive stance on the mats, just like he would if they were getting ready to spar. "Maybe that way you can get whatever this is out of your system!"

At that moment, seeing Dimitri lose control, something broke inside Rose. "I can't be dependent on you", she murmured in a grief stricken voice.

"What? Why?" Dimitri asked while grabbing her arms gently.

"Because you're leaving!" Rose pushed away from him.

That left Dimitri slack-jawed. "What?"

"Why do I matter to you anyway when you're clearly just passing through?!" Rose raised her voice again as her eyes filled with mist. "You probably figured while you're here you may as well get some action. But when this is over, when the Lazar's are brought down, you'll be gone and I'll be alone".

"Baby, is that what this is about?" Dimitri asked, almost heartbroken.

Rose sniffle-nodded. "Your next assignment is going to take you away from me. What if it gets you killed?", tears where streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, Roza…". He gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. For once, Rose let me.

Dimitri felt stupid. He knew he was missing something. He should have know with Rose, the biggest issue was always about losing the people she loved. "Come with me", he said softly. Dimitri laced his fingers through Rose's and dragged her to his room. He sat her the computer on his desk. Leaning over her shoulder, he searched for a file. "Read this", he instructed after he opened the email he found.

Rose gasped when she saw the email subject. She stared at the screen for a few minutes while Dimitri stared at Rose. "Dimitri, what is this?" she looked up a him kneeing beside her. Even on his knees, Dimitri was still taller than Rose when she was seated in a chair.

"My letter of resignation", he answered. "There is no assignment for me after this. I'm not going anywhere".

"Why?" Rose gazed at him with big doe eyes, refusing to assume anything and making him spell it out for her.

"What do you mean why? Because I want to be with you, I want to build a life and a future with you".

Rose took a deep breath. "After all this, you still want me?"

Dimitri stroked her hair. "Of course I do, Roza. I love you".

Rose launched herself at Dimitri, toppling him over. She cried harder still, kissing him over and over again. "I'm sorry, Dimitri. I'm so, so sorry!"

The kissed deeply, clinging to each other. Dimitri murmured "I love you. I'm never leaving you". over and over.

Rose leaned up, looking down at he Russian god and said, "Dimitri, I-"

And that's when the ear piercing alarm started blaring all over Mazur Manor.

A/N:

I know it's super short, but I really wanted to update quickly. Like? Hate? Tell me.

Once again, thank you for reading, reviewing, following and faving! Most of all, thank you to everyone who shared a little bit about themselves! It means so much to me. There are actual humans behind the screen names! Though I shouldn't be surprise I was amazed at the diversity of everyone on this site. People from all over the world, at all ages, in a variety of occupations, at different stages in their lives love VA and are reading this story. Those little tidbits make me feel closer to the readers. A big whopping thank you!

As for the quote in last chapter only sguiliano78got it right! Kudos! It was a quote from the movie MallRats, by Kevin Smith. Yes, I know I've quoted him before but he was on of my favorites!

I have a feeling the following quote will be much easier to recognize. It's old (mid nineties) but it's a classic:

"Hey, I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish you my kind of success."

Additionally from the same film:

I did not shop lift the pootie. Alright. I shop lifted the pootie.

You complete me

You had me at hello

Show me the money!

It ain't show friends it's show business

I can't live like that. It's not the way I'm built

Help me help you

And my absolute favorite:

You are my ambassador of Kwan

Cheers!

K