This one's for ilovesos9467, Happy birthday, lovely!

Drabble:174

"So tell us how it all started", Mia asked, leaning across the table. The gang was sitting in one of Court's coziest cafés, catching up, only days after Lissa's coronation.
"How what started?", Rose asked distractedly, eyes fixed on her best friend-and charge-who was standing at the service counter.
"Don't play dumb, Rose", Mia frowned.

"She doesn't need to play dumb, Mia. It comes naturally", Christian added-helpfully.

"Christian!", Lissa admonished, thwacking his head as she joined the table.
"What?", Christian asked, rubbing his head. "I'm just stating….I meant I was just kidding.", he amended, catching his girlfriend's fixed glare. Rose and Eddie immediately made a whipping motion before reaching for a high-five.

"Real mature, guys.", Lissa rolled her eyes. "What's up?"

"I was just asking Rose how Guardian Belikov and her romance began.", Mia supplied.

"Ooh, I wanna hear that too. Come on, Rose. Spill!", Lissa supplemented, leaning forward.
"Yeah, Rose. Spill!", Christian mimicked, earning twin glares from the blondes.

Rose sighed, before starting slowly. "I really don't know why you guys are so interested…I mean, other than our trainings, you guys saw most of our other interactions."

"Because-you know-he's so detached and you're so-", Mia trailed off, gesturing at Rose.
"Psychotic.", Christian coughed, getting thwacked by both Lissa and Rose this time.

"What I mean is…I really can't see how you fell in love.", Mia commented.

"Honestly? I don't know.", Rose shrugged. "I was attracted to Dimitri from Day 1; and over time, as I discovered the real him, I began falling for Dimitri. Hard. Fortunately, he fell in love with me too. That's basically it."

"So, what happened when you two trained in the gym alone?", Eddie asked, speaking for the first time.

"Nothing much. Our sessions were strictly business…mostly. But I guess I kinda fell in love with how he treated me, as an equal. Never had that before", Rose sighed.

"And him? How did he fall in love with you?", Lissa asked, completely entranced.

"It shouldn't have been too difficult, I'm completely lovable!", Rose quipped, making everyone chuckle.
"Still! You're so….outgoing and you don't have a brain-to-mouth filter. And he's so serious all the time.", Mia insisted.

"Gee, you really know how to make a girl feel peachy, Mia.", Rose said dryly.
" You know what I mean!"

"I do", Rose sobered up. "Dimitri says that I have always been his one…exception. He says that I wore down his walls, and despite trying, he couldn't hide from me. And so, he decided to stop trying."

Ignoring the girls' awws at the statement, Rose continued. "You know, Sonya said something funny when we were on the run. She said that we lit up like the sun around each other. That we matched…like soul-mates."

"I noticed that…before, and Sonya's right.", Lissa nodded. "Your auras mirror, almost echo each other. I never really understood why. I should have, I guess."
"Don't feel bad, Liss.", Christian cajoled, slinging a hand over her shoulder. "Rose and Belikov were exceptionally good at hiding their romance."
"I still can't get over how you knew and I didn't.", Lissa pouted, and Christian immediately took the chance to tease her.

"Rose?", Eddie whispered, seeing that no one was paying attention. "Are you happy?"
"Exceptionally.", she whispered back, squeezing his forearm, warmed by his brotherly concern.
"Good", he pronounced, concentrating back on his coffee.

"Someday you're gonna have to tell us your story in whole. But not now.", Mia declared abruptly.
"Why not?", Lissa question, and got her answer as Dimitri appeared in the café and beelined directly for their table.

Greeting the others, he bent down to peck Rose's cheek. "Time to go, Roza. Your doctor's appointment's in 25 minutes."

"Get me a hot-chocolate to-go and I'll join you in a minute.", Rose promised, throwing him a wink.
"No donuts?", Dimitri arched an eyebrow.
"Well, if you insist", Rose teased, grinning.
Dimitri smiled, kissed her forehead, before wishing everyone goodbye and retreating. As soon as he exited, both girls cooed again.
"That was sooooo cute! Guardian Belikov is so thoughtful.", Mia muttered dreamily.
"And how he calls her Roza!", Lissa gushed. "Plus, forehead kiss? So adorable!"
"Unnatural., Eddie muttered, disturbed, before speaking up. "Let us know your results, okay?", he asked Rose, referring to the check-up she'd be getting from her doctor regarding the gunshot-wounds in her chest.
"Sure.", she promised, saying her goodbyes.
Rose skipped to the door, and took the hand Dimitri had reached towards her; and as the couple walked away, hand-in-hand, Lissa and Mia awwed again, making the boys roll their eyes.

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Your wonderful reviews made my day. Hope you enjoyed this! Cheers!