Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy or anything surrounding it (but I do own this plot :D)

RPOV

"Rose Hathaway, I am so in love with you."

His voice was soft, barely a whisper, but each syllable came through clearer than glass. My breath caught in my throat as I tried to process what just happened.

He loves me.

A fact I had only contemplated, nay, dreamed of coming true and yet, here he was – the man who owned my heart completely – professing his love for me. That same man brought his hands up to cup my cheeks and I gave him my undivided attention. "I love you so much, Roza." The words echoed through my head and rendered me utterly speechless.

Though I managed to fathom one thing, "I love you too, Dimitri." His entire body froze before me and his eyes pierced deeper than ever before.

"Say it again?" He asked: his voice rough and accent strong.

I smiled – the biggest smile I could muster that I knew did dangerous things to him. "I love you too." I said definitely, not one microgram of doubt lingering in my tone.

Whatever limited self-control I had once possessed was tossed aside within an instant of falling into his embrace. I fell back against his bed, pulling him down with me. Undoubtedly worried that he would crush me, Dimitri took a firm hold of my waist and rolled us over so I lay on top of him. I smiled and took off my coat as I didn't particularly fancy passing out from heat-exhaustion and completely ruining the moment. Sensing my thoughts, Dimitri helped pull my arms out of my sleeves and tossed by the side of his bed.

Even with the coat gone, I still felt hot, but this was by no fault of the sun. No, this was a burning fire that boiled within me and begged me closer to Dimitri. Never had I experienced anything like this and I very much doubted I ever will again. I had gone this far with other guys before but none of them could compare to the God that lay before me – none of those mere mortals ever drove me as wild as Dimitri did. His touch was the comfort of home and the pulse of electricity blended together into a dangerously addictive combination.

And I loved it.

I loved him. Good God did I love him. A fact I could now openly say and boy, did it feel good. Months of built up tension, desire and unconditional adoration fueled my every action. My hands, that had been very much enjoying the feel of his silky hair through their parted fingers, drifted their way down his neck and onto his broad shoulders. I gasped and gathered the fabric of his shirt in balled fists as his lips left my own and trailed their way under my jawbone. I unclenched my hands and began a feable attempt and undoing his shirt. You'd think it wouldn't be that hard – you'd think wrong.

I made my displeasure audible in a groan and felt Dimitri smile against the skin of my neck as he continued to massage it with his mouth. I was then groaning for a whole different reason. Eventually, I gave up and just ripped the damned thing; the buttons flew off and revealed Dimitri's bare chest to me for the first time.

"Oh my God!" I gasped as my fingers traced along his rippled chest and stomach – something that could have only been sculpted art itself. He pulled back, smiling sheepishly at my awed expression. "You are beautiful." I whispered.

His smile grew and he leaned up towards my lips. "I am nothing in comparison to you." He murmured and before I could dispute, he silenced me with his mouth. "I love you, Roza." He said between chaste, tender kisses.

My shirt was the next to go; all the while my mouth never left his sensual lips. He sat up and brought me closer to his body, wrapping my legs round his waist and pulling me fully onto his lap. His fingers trailed their way up the curve of my hip as his hands travelled up to reach my waist as I continued my exploration of his abdomen.

He groaned and the act sent me as crazy as it did him. He took a firm grip of my hips and flipped us over, repositioning his body so that it gently hovered over my own. His lips had left mine and he was looking down upon the length of my body with his mesmerising brown eyes as he slowly peeled away me jeans. His eyes finally met mine and I knew without any doubt that he loved me; knew me; wanted me.

I pulled him back down on top of me and attacked him fiercely with my mouth. He slowly slid his hands up my spine until they reached the clasp of my bra. Effortlessly undoing with a single hand, he tossed the garment aside and pulled back again. Lust seemed to over-power every other emotion he held in his eyes, turning them nearly black. He brought his head back down and resumed his hold on my swollen lips.

"You" kiss "are" kiss "so" kiss "beautiful." He finished, meeting my eyes, "How did I get so lucky?" he whispered and I tucked a strand of his long hair behind his ear where it had fallen.

"Luck had nothing to do with it, Dimitri." I responded shaking my head a little whilst pulling him closer. Having decided that Dimitri was wearing far too many clothes, I hooked my fingers that had been slowly caressing their way down his perfect abs into his jeans and pulled him closer still, an action he hand no issue complying with. My fingers drifted to the zipper and I slowly eased it down. An almost boyish grin crossed my comrade's face and he took my face in his hands, focusing my mouth back on his. I pulled down his pants, but when I could reach no further, he took over, wriggling out of the legs and kicking them away.

A shiver ran through my body as my fingertips brushed his waistband, knowing where this was going. Dimitri, unsurprisingly, felt it too and pulled back a little, looking at me with concern. "Roza, are you okay? Am I hurting you?" he asked tenderly and I shook my head.

"No, no, I'm fine." I assured whilst mentally screaming at myself for being such an idiot.

"Rose…" He said a little more firmly and I sighed.

"I'm sorry, it's just…" I bit my lip before continuing, "I have never done this before." I confessed looking away embarrassed. Way to go, nutjob. Way to kill the mood.

But, to my shock, Dimitri did not seem phased. "It's okay Roza," he said, bringing my head to face him with his index finger, "we don't have to do anything if you don't want to."

I shook my head again. "No, I want to. I really want to: I'm just a little…scared." What the hell was wrong with me!? What did I have to be scared of? It was Dimitri for Christ's sake!

"Roza," he breathed and leaned his forehead against mine, letting his long strands fall and rest softly on my cheekbones, "I will never do anything to hurt you. I love you so much. We can stop if you want." But I didn't want to. My worry fluttered away as the full realisation drowned out my apprehension: I knew there was nowhere I'd rather be – no-one I'd rather be with. And with that, there was no going back. The built up tension and electricity flared. It was just me and Dimitri – the man I undoubtedly and indisputably loved.

The best Christmas present ever…

DPOV

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of a distant but loud car horn. Instinctively, I glanced towards the window and what I saw was a slow flowing sea of whiteness that floated gracefully through gravity, brushing the glass in a gentle kiss.

Snow.

I smiled at the memories of home that those white beautiful white snowflakes brought before turning my head to a sight more beautiful and homely than that frozen vapour could ever be.

Roza.

She lay on her front; her right cheek lying on the pillow as she slept facing me. The bed covers only covered half her back but her long, brown locks made up for their loss. Her eyelids trembled gently and I could see a soft smile on her lips, telling me that she was dreaming.

Dear God she was beautiful. Every ounce of her perfect body shone with a radiance like nothing I'd ever seen and even in the cold winter morning, she blazed like the sun. Remaining lying on my back, I let my fingers trail up her body and began stroking through her silky locks, careful not to wake her.

Her smile widened and her body shifted in contentment as I continued to play with her hair.

"Having fun, comrade?" she murmured and I smiled, realising she had already been awake. Her eyes slowly opened to reveal her stunning brown iris' that locked onto mine in seconds. I could feel my heart melting away under her gaze and I loved it.

"Good morning." I whispered, my accent strong as it always was in the morning.

She beamed. "Isn't it just?" She adjusted herself, wincing a little as she did.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I asked the worry clear in my tone.

She smiled and shook her head. "I am fine, Dimitri. More than fine, I am perfect." She reassured and I cocked an eyebrow. Narrowing her beautiful eyes, she added submissively, "If a little sore." I immediately felt bad and continued to stroke her hair lovingly in the feable hope that it would offer some reconciliation. She tilted her head back and arched her body, stretching it out to alleviate her ache, before propping herself on her elbows. I froze, ceasing my stroking, and watched the whole action with a lustful gaze and she grinned at me, "Merry Christmas, comrade." She winked and the action drove me wild, silencing my conscience.

No longer containing myself, I rolled myself over to her and flipped her so she lay on her back with me on top. She laughed and I repositioned myself so I was straddling her. "A very merry Christmas indeed, Roza." I said, my lips millimetres from hers. Her eyes turned devious and she brought her lips to meet mine in a passionate kiss. One I was all too willing to return.

"Merry Crimbo, D! Wakey-wake- Jesus Christ!" I broke away from Rose in an instant and rolled off her to see the intruder.

Ivan.

"Ive!" I hissed whilst trying my best to cover both Rose's and I's exposed bodies.

"Oh, my eyes!" he cried facing the other way with his hand camped over his face. Rose, however, was just laughing her head off, clutching the sheet wrapped round her chest.

"What are you doing here!?" It was a stupid question; I knew exactly what he was doing here. I always spent Christmas with Ivan in my apartment watching movies and drinking beer since becoming more and more distant with my family. I also tried – every year – to have a lie-in but Ivan always loved an early start and always came in with either pots and pans or a freezing bottle of water to get me out of my bed.

"Well, I was going to wake up my best friend, but found him in a rather compromising position." He said with only a little condescension. I scowled at the back of his head as Rose bit back another laugh. "Are you decent? Can I turn around without wanting to gouge my eyes out?" he asked, timidly twitching his head round until he deemed it safe. "Ah, that's bette- Rose!?" He did a double take and Rose grinned deviously.

"The one and only." She said, mimicking him from when he woke up.

Ivan looked over at me as an almighty smile crossed his face. "Go, Belikov! Woohoo!" he exclaimed, fist-bumping the air. Rose laughed again as I rolled my eyes. "Yes, D! Oh I am so proud of you – my little boy all grown up." He pretended to wipe a tear from his cheek.

I narrowed my eyes. "Ivan." I said sternly.

He ignored me, "Oh, he is just flying out of the nest."

"Ivan, please leave." I tried again, sterner still. Rose bit her lip to suppress her amusement.

"Did you show her how us Europeans-"

"Out!" I yelled throwing a pillow at him. He darted out of the room and into the living room, laughing uncontrollably.

Or maybe that was Rose. "Oh, I think you showed me very well, Comrade." She winked again and I shook my head.

"I am so sorry about him." I apologised on behalf on Ivan, who really still should be in his bed as the doctor ordered, but I'd let that slide for now.

She smiled. "Don't be. Though he did interrupt a rather nice good morning…" she trailed off whilst running her finger tips up my chest. I smiled and brought my lips to hers, pulling her close to my body when we heard another call:

"You better not be doing what I think you are doing in there! Drop the girl, D!"

I pulled back enough to separate our lips and all but growled, "I am going to kill him." Rose chuckled and gave me a chaste kiss before hopping off the bed, the sheets falling off and uncovering her stunning body to me. I groaned and she turned her head over her shoulder.

"See something you like?" She said wiggling her eyebrows.

I fell face first into the pillow to smother my groan. This woman would be the death of me. Said woman laughed before disappearing into my en suite. Grunting one last time, I pushed myself up and began redressing myself. I had managed everything bar a shirt before Rose wandered back in, wearing the lost shirt. Of course, it was too big for her so it finished around her knees, but it still managed to drive me nuts. God she was sexy.

"I can see why you like these shirts, Dimitri. Very comfy." She noted and I rose to my feet and snaked my arms around her waist.

"I like them better on you." I said brushing my lips against hers, teasing her with my touch.

"Mmmm," she hummed, "maybe I'll just keep this one then." She smirked before wriggling out of my arms and pulling on her underwear and jeans. I shook my head before wandering out of my room and finding Ivan scrolled out on my couch, munching on some mince pies.

He glanced over and frowned. "Where's your shirt?"

I grinned like a fool and sauntered over to my kitchen when Rose emerged – still in my shirt – and plonked down next to a smirking Ivan. "Good morning, Ivanna and a merry Christmas."

"Ah, you too young Ross." He countered. They continued to banter back and forth as I poured my coffee and went to join them.

"So, are you staying with us or is your presence wanted elsewhere?" Ivan asked digging into what I counted was his forth mince pie.

Rose sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Nah, sorry fellas. I am supposed to be at Lissa's…forty-three minutes ago." She groaned upon reading her watch. "Urgh, she is going to kill me."

"I can drive you over if you'd like." I offered out of purely kindness, but seriously wishing her to decline and stay.

She looked at me with her stunning eyes. "Nah, it's fine. I'll just call Lissa and say I can't make it. She'll be fine…I think." She added grimacing a little whilst my heart was fluttering. "Plus, my car is out front anyway."

"What the one in the red getting towed away?" Ivan asked.

Rose's eyes widened. "Shit." She cursed and leapt of the couch before Ivan's sniggering stopped her in her tracks.

"Just kidding. Did you serious park in the 'no go' zone?" he asked and Rose narrowed her eyes at him.

"You are on thin ice, mister." She said pointedly. "The only reason you aren't getting hit is because you are injured."

I had to bite back my laughter at Ivan's paling face as he turned to me for help. "D, sort your woman out!"

I shrugged. "You're on your own, mate."

Ivan glared as Rose beamed. "That's my man." She said patting my cheek as Ivan muttered 'so whipped' under his breath. I ignored him and pulled Rose onto my lap just as her phone started to ring. Rose snuggled closer to my chest and hid herself among her long locks, "Urgh." She groaned and I smiled as she pulled back, "How am I going to explain this? Pretend I'm ill or something?" I chuckled and she pulled back, pulling her phone out of trouser pocket.

"Lissa?" I guessed and she groaned, letting her head fall onto my torso with a thud. I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her.

"Comrade…" she murmured.

"Mmmm?"

"You're making it very hard to leave you here…" she said and I laughed, but unfolded my arms. She sighed and pulled back a little. "I love you." She murmured and I didn't even bother trying to control the grin that consumed my face.

Apparently, Ivan couldn't control his groan upon seeing said grin and responded before I could, "Guys, I have realised what has just happened, but if you don't keep it together: I am going to shoot myself this time." He warned, pointing a threatening finger between us.

I merely scowled at his antics, "You could always leave." I grumbled.

"Dimitri." Rose chastised before turning back to Ivan, "Ivan, of course you can stay." She said, but mostly to me. "Now you two play nice while I call my best friend." She held up her phone, hopped off me and wandered into the kitchen. Ivan grinned slyly and I cocked a cool eyebrow.

"So…" he said, trailing off with yet another mince pie in his hand (I had lost count).

"Don't even think about it." I said pointedly causing him to laugh.

"Oh, D," he continued to laugh uncontrollably as the doorbell went. I frowned and glanced over to it. Ivan stopped laughing enough to give me a puzzled look. "Were we expecting guests?"

"No…" I said steadily before rising and going to see who was ringing my door at quarter to nine in the morning.

I definitely didn't expect the person standing on the other side.

"Belikov," he greeted warmly.

"Zmey."