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

RPOV

I didn't know a lot about kidnappings, but something was definitely not right here. Not that I frequently imagined myself being kidnapped, but my own expectation – aided by the films I had seen – was pretty well set on a big man dressed in black with a balaclava smothering his face.

Not a frail old lady with long grey hair and a deeply wrinkled face.

Indeed, this shock had done a fantastic job in rendering me positively speechless, however I felt as though I should probably stop her. I didn't really want to shout in the poor woman's face as she was probably just confused, so I explained, as politely as I could: "Ummm, I think you have the wrong person…"

But she merely waved this off. "Hush now, girl," she said a little bluntly and still looking directly ahead. I quickly turned in my chair to see Lissa standing where I had been, looking very confused.

"Liss!" I hissed and she widened her eyes as they fell upon me. "Help! I am being kidnapped by a crazy lady." I said as she came bounding towards me and...well, whoever this woman was.

"Oh my gosh," she exclaimed as she rushed over to my side, "I'm terribly sorry but this is not who you are looking for." She said politely.

"Hushhush." The woman now waved Lissa off. I was still in a state of shock and my ankle had rendered me pretty useless, but Lissa was far too nice to argue with this lady which is how we ended up strolling along the hospital corridors with this mad, old lady pushing me to God knows where. I suddenly felt the urge to have Christian here – he would've snatched me back, said something incredibly rude and definitely not be trying to make polite conversation with my kidnapper. Even Adrian would have been better. Abe was a little too far I think, but as it was Lissa, my kidnapper could have very well been a big man dressed in black with a balaclava smothering his face and she would have still not a taken me back. I could feel the woman's smug smile and I was fighting the urge to hit her when she approached a ward.

"Babushka! We were so worrie- Rose?"

I immediately recognised the young girl.

"Vika?" I managed to ask before I was asphyxiated in her arms.

"OhmyGodareyouokay?" she said in one breath before pulling back. I gasped for air but she continued, "I was so shocked when I saw it on the news and then when they said you were inside, then Dimka! I didn't know what to think! Oh, thank the Lord you are okay." I had only just recovered from the first hug before she attacked me again.

"Th-anks, Vi-ka." I wheezed and she pulled back.

"Oh, are you okay? Forgive me, I have quite a strong grip." She said biting her lip.

I smiled and was about to reply when the woman – Babushka? – interjected. "Out of my way, child." She ordered and Vika obediently moved to the side to reveal Karo cradling her heavily swollen stomach with another young woman next to her, also pregnant but not as far on as Karo. There wasyoung boy, no more than ten, who looked almost identical to Dimitri standing next to an older woman who bowed over the bed, clutching its occupant's hand as she did.

This was his family...

But I was more focused on the human being lying softly on the hospital bed in one of those stupid hospital gowns. Dimitri.

He lay in all his godly glory, beaten and unconscious. I could not see all of him, but the almighty gash on his forehead was enough to make me weep. I was put momentarily at ease when I saw the gentle rising of his chest, but the diminished and lugubrious expressions of his family's faces brought me to the cusp of crying.

"Vika, I couldn't find Yeva- oh for Pete's sake!" Ivan groaned coming in the door, slamming it when he saw the old woman behind me, before his gaze rested on me. "Rose?"

"Hey," I said, swallowing back my sorrow and searching for some Rose Hathaway bravado, "I have been kidnapped by this woman." I said bluntly and the whole room was filled with a light laughter.

"Ah, Rose, I am so glad that the fire hasn't damaged you too much." Ivan winked before he looked over to Lissa who had been awkwardly standing by the door. "Hello, I'm not sure we've met: I'm Ivan Zeklos and you are beautiful." He said beaming a little. I saw Vika roll her eyes and go to join her sisters.

"She is also taken," I warned.

Lissa laughed, "Lissa Dragomir, I'm Rose's best friend."

"Ah, I am Dimitri's." Ivan said, jerking his thumb to the still silent figure lying on the bed. "And also taken." He said turning to me, successfully averting my longing gaze.

"Really?" I remarked, discarding as many negative thoughts as possible.

"Mhmm," he hummed proudly, "Oh, congratulations by the way." He said in all earnest, looking down at Lissa's small bump.

This time, she beamed. "Thank you." She replied.

"No problem, you've got a nice little club in here," he said, nodding towards Karo, Vika and the other woman who all shook their heads at Ivan's antics. "We just need Vika and Rose and we've got the complete set!" He exclaimed flashing me a devious grin. Vika just looked terrified whilst I glared at the man.

"Sorry, did you say you had a girlfriend?" I asked and he grinned again.

"Oh, just ignore him." The elder woman said to me.

"We always do." Karo winked and Ivan played hurt.

"Babushka, who is the pretty girl?" The young boy asked, coming round from where Karo sat to tug on the elder woman's coat.

The elder woman smiled before turning back to me, "Sorry, where are my manners? I'm Olena, Dimitri's mother." She greeted. "Yeva is my mother," she said nodding to my kidnapper who had settled herself down in the most comfortable chair in the room and now observed the room in silent surveillance. "Vika, you have already met, is my youngest. Sonya is my second child," she said as Sonya raised her hand in greeting. "Karolina is my eldest and this little man, is Paul, her son and my adorable grandchild." She said gathering Paul in her arms and tickling him.

"No! No! Babushka, stop!" he wriggled free and hid behind my chair. I laughed and turned to face him.

"Hello, Paul. I'm Rose." I said and he grinned.

"Roza!" He exclaimed happily and I felt the tears flood to my eyes as I remembered why they were all here. "Roza, why are you sad?" he asked.

I bit my lip and smiled. "I'm okay, Paul." He nodded, but remained behind my chair in hiding from Olena.

Olena smiled down at her grandson before looking over my shoulder. "Vasilisa, it is so lovely to see you again."

"And you, Olena." Lissa replied smiling. I had completely forgotten that Lissa would have known these women through Karo. Lissa glanced over to me and her smile turned pitying. "How is he doing?" she asked the question I was too afraid to.

"They are saying he will be okay." Olena said, looking at me. I think she too sensed that the question wasn't really for Lissa.

"I am so sorry, Olena." I apologised, not really knowing what else to do.

"Oh, nonsense!" Olena reprimanded. "This is most certainly not your fault. If anything, I should be thanking you. He was not happy, I know my boy. I really should have seen the signs earlier – how he was becoming more distant from us. But then I get told about you and how Dimka has changed so much and I am filled with such immense gratitude."

"Olena, I..." I was lost for words: that was certain. Olena smiled again.

"Thank you, Rose. I truly mean that. You've brought back my baby boy." She said, taking my hand in hers. I nod, not trusting my voice enough with a response as Paul emerged from playing with my wheels to declare that he was hungry. After more whining on Paul's end and Sonya's need for the loo, the Belikova women decided that they would take a lunch break. Olena kissed her son on the forehead, but when he did not stir, the disappointment was clear in her tender brown eyes, but she remained the picture of contentment as Paul ran round and asked if he could have a hot chocolate with his sandwich. The three sisters got up (some found this more challenging than others) and followed their mother out though Yeva did have to force Vika to bring her conversation with myself and Lissa to a swifter conclusion.

Once they had gone, I wheeled myself closer to the bed and timidly placed my hand into Dimitri's. It was a surprise to me that it should have been so warm as my brain had not quite finished its run through of every worst possible scenario. Seeing him lying there, motionless, gave the eerie aura of his passing and made my fingers grasp his that little bit tighter.

"He's going to be alright." I jumped having forgotten Lissa was still present and I managed to pull my gaze away from Dimitri's unconscious frame to meet her gaze.

Lissa was not often wrong and given that we were in a very well established medical environment there really wasn't any feasible reason to doubt this statement. Alas.

"I wish I could believe you." I whispered.

"Believe me." The sound of Ivan's voice also took me by surprise, but I dared not let it show. He plonked himself on one of the plastic chairs on Dimitri's other side and offered me a small smile. "Since last time, D spilled all my secrets when I was out, it seems only fair that I should return the courtesy." He said shrugging and sporting a devilish grin. I rolled my eyes as Lissa laughed. Ivan hung his head back and sighed, "Oh, the stories I could tell! What really happened to my first car; the tale of Olga Voronkova's left shoe; or!" he exclaimed, leaning forward, "my personal favourite: the curious incident of the missing ladle." I could not help but laugh at the boyish delight that filled his features. Seemingly satisfied, Ivan leaned back and his grin softened. "But the conclusion will always be the same – Dimitri pulls through no matter what. He is a fighter, Rose. And he has finally found something worth fighting for."

I didn't bother trying to contain my blush over Ivan's words. I could see the sincerity in his eyes, just as I had seen previously in Olena's – they were genuinely grateful and that all but overwhelmed me. I gave a small smile and looked over to my Russian God only to be met with two beautiful brown eyes smiling back at me.

My jaw dropped. "Dimitri..."

"Hello Roza."

His voice was hoarse, croaked and broken, but the weak sound that came out was enough to snap Ivan's head around, evoke Lissa's squeal and start my blubbering. The noise that left my mouth was a very unflattering combination of joyous laughter and uncontrollable sobbing, but Dimitri only smiled softly. Oh, how I lived for that smile! One that was so rare, so precious and reserved only for me. Even as he lay gashed, wounded and beaten, to me he was still perfect, I daresay even more so. Every doubt, quarrel and tribulation left in a rapid haste and left only the very true, very certain fact that I loved him.

And in that moment, I had never loved him better.

"Dimitri!" I exclaimed in with an abundance of joy as I hopped on my good ankle out of the damned chair and wrapped my arms around his neck without really thinking about the consequences. His wince had me reeling right back and apologising, "Oh, shit, I am so sorry."

He attempted to respond but found his voice in an even worse state than before. I quickly fell back into my chair and leaned over its arm to reach the water on the side table, bringing it over to him. Ivan and Lissa helped to prop him up and brought the cup to his lips which he accepted and drank heartily.

"Better?" I asked, pulling the cup back a little.

"Much." He managed, though his voice was still strained. He shifted in an attempt to find a more comfortable position before looking down and frowning.

"Hospital gowns, huh?" Ivan commented to which his best friend looked up at him with an amused expression. "I must say, I think I looked better in one." Ivan said teasingly with a wink.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. "I think Olga would disagree." He countered and Ivan narrowed his eyes.

I looked between the two of them and then at an equally ignorant Lissa, "You know, I think I'd like to know who this 'Olga' character is."

Ivan laughed heartily, "Oh, I shall leave you to tell her, D." Dimitri shook his head before his eyes found mine again and his gaze turned tender. I returned it, once again finding the custom of speech irrelevant. A thousand messages passed through that short space and the world faded around me, leaving only the man who owned my heart. It was only Dimitri who had the uncanny ability to make me forget the world – forget every trouble or sorrow I had faced and allowed me to just be me.

Noticing this exchange, I saw Lissa smile and wander towards the door. "Ivan, would you like to come and get some hot chocolate?"

"Why, Miss Dragomir," his reply with laced in mock-shock, "Are you asking me on a date?" The whole room rolled their eyes which only encouraged Ivan's grin. Lissa opened the ward door and inclined her head, signalling for Ivan to follow. He conceded, rising from his chair and waved at his friend before wandering down the hall with Lissa. Dimitri's eyes gently bore on my own and he smiled softly, once again conveying an entire speech in just one look.

I returned his smile. "How are you feeling?"

I could see he was about to come up with some bollocks about being fine, so I glared at him and he obliged with honesty: "Sore."

I shook my head. "You shouldn't have done that, you know. You shouldn't have risked your life for me." I stated with a tone combined of equal warning and gratitude.

Dimitri remained unaffected. "It was all worth it." He replied with equal frankness.

"For you to be indefinitely hospitalised and me in a wheelchair?" I said gesturing to my vehicle, my concern for his wellbeing fluctuating into anger.

He, however, stayed the picture of calm and contented. "We won't be here forever and I would jump into a thousand burning buildings to keep you safe."

"You most certainly will not." I snapped, leaving no room for quarrel. "You could have died!" If he was hurt by my angered tone, he did not show it; he merely frowned at it trying to interpret where it was coming from.

Realisation dawned upon him and his expression softened considerably. He knew. Of course he did. He scooted himself to the right side of the bed and patted the vacated space beside him, "Come here," his voice was tender and loving and I held back whatever emotion my raw state was about to convey and got onto my good foot, sitting down beside him and letting him shelter me in his embrace. I clung to him and buried my face into his chest, reassuring myself by his steady heartbeat. I could feel his face in my hair as he kissed the top of my head before resting his chin upon my crown. "Forgive me, Roza."

Those three words melted my anger and buried me deeper into the tatty gown. "Dimitri, I don't know what I would've done if you died. The mere thought breaks my heart."

He tightened his grip and elected to ignore the pain it caused him, but I felt his wince and pulled back to look back at him, silent tears etching their way down the contours of my face. "Rose, oh my sweet Roza." He said brushing away my falling grief. "I am so sorry, for everything I have done – for the pain I have caused you. I just could not bear my life without you. And as far as Tasha goes-"

"No – you don't have to explain. That woman is pure evil." I muttered bitterly before realising that Dimitri probably didn't know that she was responsible for the Inn's demise; a fact I quickly rectified. He sat there quietly as I relayed my encounter with Natasha Ozera and whilst he appeared shocked at first, moments after he shook his head as though he was not the least bit surprised.

"Have they caught her?" he asked.

I nodded, "They brought her in after my mom had informed the police. She apparently confessed to it all, but her defence will probably endorse the insanity plea."

Dimitri didn't look the least bit pleased at that notion, but decided a mood changed was in order. "When did you become an expert in law?" he asked teasingly.

I laughed lightly. "I think I've been spending too much time with Abe." I responded with the same humour evoking a smile from my beloved. "Though, I don't think you could feasibly call zmey an expert in all things lawful."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Dimitri said, "I don't think anyone knows the law better than a criminal."

I raised my eyebrows at him, "I think you've been spending too much time with Abe." I stated and he chuckled, the familiar sound enveloping me in a warm bliss. I gazed up at him and saw how some of his hair had fallen across his forehead. I reached up to brush it aside and his eyes tracked my every move as though they were lost in an enthralling book. In my caress, my fingertips accidently brushed the gash and he winced a little and I retreated.

"Sorry," I apologised, "how bad does it hurt?" I asked, grimacing a little.

He shook his head. "Not so much. Why? How bad does it look?"

Considering he had jumped head first into and out of a burning building, it didn't look too great, but to me it was just another reminder that he was still alive. In my partial eyes, Dimitri would always be beautiful and nothing could change that. With that in mind, my response was a mere "meh" accompanied by a shrug.

He smiled and shook his head again. "You are a terrible liar, Roza."

"That's not true! I am a great liar." I defended before actually acknowledging what I was defending.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. "Really, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." I blurted involuntarily causing Dimitri to sport a victorious smirk. I scowled. "Touché, comrade." I expected his smirk to grow with my surrender, but instead his countenance changed to one of a more affectionate disposition. "What?" I asked.

He blinked out of his haze and smiled. "Sorry, it was jus-never mind." I stared at him pointedly and he conceded and continued. "You called me 'comrade' – I had just realised how much I missed that."

I hadn't expected him to say that at all and so when he did, I could feel my heart swelling and my affection intensifying in the wake of his words. "Well then," I said to his sheepish expression, "I will call you comrade until you are completely sick of it." I teased.

He smirked at my antics. "You'd better get started then." That made me laugh.

I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder. Closing my eyes, I inhaled his sweet scent and in spite of everything, felt completely at peace. "Hey, comrade," I said, putting a lot of emphasis on that second word.

I felt his chuckle. "Yes, Roza?"

"How are you going to handle your job like this?" I asked in my teasing tone.

To my utter surprise, he replied with: "I gave my job to Nathan."

"What!?" I exclaimed, removing my head and looking at him.

He smiled softly, "He was the one who rightfully won – Tasha only chose me over Nathan because she wanted to-" he cut himself off.

I frowned. "She wanted to, what?" I asked as Dimitri's expression turned wary. My frown deepened before it hit me. "Oh, that son of a-"

"Rose." He interrupted.

I clamped my mouth shut and plonked my head back on his shoulder. "So, you are now jobless." I stated, putting all thoughts of her out of my mind.

"Yup." He said, popping the 'p'.

"How will you ever survive?" I said as seriously as I could but even I could feel Dimitri's smirk upon hearing the jest in my tone. "Food? Apartment? Your Jag?"

"I may have to sell the car." He responded pointedly.

I widened my eyes but kept my head on his shoulder. "Dimitri Belikov, you are not selling that car. If you sell the car, I will leave you."

"You wouldn't dare." He murmured and felt a small smile creeping onto my exhausted face.

"Oh, does that mean we are now a couple again?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Would you like to be?"

"Well, you haven't asked..."

"Rose."

"Mmmm?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Let me get back to you on that." I said snuggling closer to his side. I could feel him laughing lightly and in exasperation which only made me smile. A clattering was heard outside; I opened my eyes to see what it was and I felt Dimitri shift his head to look too. As it turned out, it was just a cleaner pushing a trolley outside so we resumed our original position with my head on Dimitri's shoulder and Dimitri's head resting my crown when a thought entered my mind. "Isn't there supposed to be a doctor coming in at some point?"

"Ivan is probably distracting her." Dimitri stated.

"Oh no, he has a girlfriend now, apparently." I informed him.

"I know: Ivan is dating the doctor."

I opened my eyes. "Seriously?"

"Mhmm." He hummed.

I opened my mouth to comment but realised there were no words that could describe this situation. Closing it again, I rolled my eyes before speaking again. "You know, your family is here."

"They are?" his voice was genuinely surprised.

"Yes, they were all sitting here waiting for you to wake up." I informed him, smiling as I did, "they left for some lunch."

"Why didn't you?" he asked.

My smile grew. "Well, according to you: I wouldn't dare leave you." I said biting my lip. I felt him laugh again and I couldn't stop the grin consuming my features. "You know comrade, this would be utter perfection if we weren't both injured and in a hospital ward." He let out a beautiful laugh, the action rupturing through his whole body.

"Maybe they have a piano somewhere." He whispered huskily.

I groaned. "Please don't try and seduce me: you know we can't do anything." I stated flatly and he chuckled.

"I am shocked you think my motives so low," he said, faking innocence. I snorted very unflatteringly and he chuckled with me before we both fell into a peaceful silence that filled the ward room like rays of glistening sunshine dancing between dewy blades of fresh grass in the most wonderful of dawns. "I love you, Roza." He declared softly and I sighed in contentment, knowing I would never tire of hearing those words.

"I love you too comrade."

And that I truly did.

Fine.