Everyone was crowded around the kitchen counter except for my mother who was leaning against the wall. Christian placed a chocolate cake down. "Welcome home." Lissa said happily. My mother surprised me again.
"You too Belikov, thank you." They both respectfully nodded, and I took Dimitri's arm.
"Well thanks and everything but I would like cake now." Just as I said that half the room laughed at me. Christian handed me a slice of cake and I cheerfully sat at the table and ate it. I was to embarrassed to admit I still felt starving. By the time everyone sat at the table I was done. Christian was the last to sit down but before he did he placed another slice in front of me. His expression told me I was not good at hiding hunger.
Lissa started to tell me about a lost family member my father and the alchemist were looking for, to further gain her hold in the court government system. She was queen but she didn't have much power because she had no family. That's why she wasn't instantly moved into the palace, or really given any royal privileges at all. The council wanted to ease her into the job so she could prove she could hold up her family name on her own. She seemed rather upset by the idea of having a half sibling out there, but she also clearly understood the importance of it.
Adrian did a good job at hiding his reactions when the alchemist was mentioned but I noticed little changes in expression. When Lissa seemed done talking I asked the question that popped into my head a while ago. "Is that why my father was on such a hurry when he left?" She nodded.
"He thinks we should find them as soon as possible." My mothers phone rang and she excused herself. I turned to Dimitri.
"Could you take me to the gym please?" He seemed surprised by my request, but then his look darkened.
"I don't know if that's the best..."
"Please, I'll stop this time. Please, just, please." He searched my face for something, probably something to show whether I was telling the truth or not, before agreeing.
"Give me a minute." Just as he left my mother came back in.
"They found her." Lissa's regained composure was gone.
"Her?!"
"Some girl named Jillian, Abe said she should fly back here tomorrow if all goes to plan when he meets her." Jillian? That name sounded familiar. Adrian blurted out his pet name just as I recalled who she was.
"Jailbait?!" Lissa echoed him.
"Jill!" I couldn't quiet process my own reaction to this because Lissa's emotions where all poring into me. Shock, anger, hurt, jealousy, I couldn't explain why she was feeling some of those but they were making my head spin. All the anger she was trying to hide expolded when a small peice of information made her more real.
"Lissa calm down." She looked over at me and her expression immediately softened.
"Oh my Rose I'm sorry. I just..." The emotions started to surge again.
"I'm fine, but my head hurts now, I'm gonna go lie down, just try to stay calm." Lissa felt guilty and worried, but I did my best to block her out. Which was much easier now that's was inside of wards again, but seemed harder when I was so close and actually seen her. I got up and went into the living room trying to hide how dizzy I actually felt. Lissa came after me and called my name I turned to face her again put as I did the bathroom door opened and I tripped on it. I tried to brace myself and put my hands out but that didn't do much. I slammed onto the floor on my side. "Fuck." I said it more out of annoyance than pain.
"Rose!" I heard Lissa and Dimitri's voice say in unison. I propped myself up onto my elbow but I felt sore. I felt a pair of arm slide under me and lift me off the ground.
"Dimitri I'm fine." He didn't even even acknowledge me talking. He lay me on the couch, but I instantly sat up. "I'm fine." I still felt dizzy with emotion but I wasn't going to let him know that. "Lissa just needs time to calm down." I felt Lissa guilt surge but I ignored it. Dimitri looked like he was about to say something but I heard Christian call him from the kitchen. He held my hands briefly before leaving the living room. Lissa sat next to me and put her arm around my shoulders. "Don't say it."
"But I am sorry." She looked so upset.
"Lissa just calm down and everything will be fine." She exhaled, she still felt bad. I wanted to cheer her up, for some selfish reasons, but also because she was one of the worst people to watch suffer. She suited a smile more. I took her hand and put it on my belly. "Calm down." She looked up at me and smiled.
"I can't believe I thought I could do this." I remembered I still hadn't said anything to her about the miscarriage.
"I don't think I can do this, of either of us it would be you." She smiled again.
"Don't sell yourself short Rose, your going to be a great mom. It's what makes you a great friend, guardian, your just so... protective. Not in like a bad way, you just so selfless and are always trying to make me happy."
"Are you okay? I mean about..." She cut me off, and I was glad because I wasn't sure how to approach the subject.
"No, but I'll get better, and maybe one day, when were ready, Christian and I will try again." She played with the ring on her finger. "For now I'm back on the pill, but I'll always feel bad about the poor baby. I'll be okay though, I promise." I knew she was being honest. "Um, by the way I moved in to Christians room with him. I mean it just made sense at the time and..."
"Lissa I know." I tapped my head. "Remember."
"Ya but I..." I read her thoughts before she could voice them.
"My mother..." She looked at unsure of what my reaction I would give. "I don't mind, and it's not permanent. So it's a problem it isn't something we can fix. Plus I think I want her to be here." I think she was as surprised as I was when I admitted that out loud. I recovered first and smiled at her. "I think it's fine as long as you do." I don't think she knew what to say, so we where lucky when Christian and Dimitri came into the room. Christian clapped his hands nervously.
"So... Rose, I had an idea, well me and this other guy." Where was this going. "That Dimitri would move out of my house."
"What?! No absolutely not, he can't I need him here." I gave no fucks anymore and didn't try to filter out how insanely desperate I sounded. Dimitri walked up to me and he was laughing.
"Rose, calm down, Christian just didn't word that in the best way." I stared at him wide eyed.
"Are you leaving again?" Just like that I was crying again. "No, no you can't, no!" He gave me a hug and rubbed my back andheard him laughing.
"Roza, no I told you I'm here forever. Please don't cry." It was obvious he was having a hard time trying to keep a straight face. "What Christian meant was, he wanted me to move in with you, but he didn't make me unless you were okay with it."
"So your not leaving?" He laughed again left pulling me closer and kissing me on the forehead.
"No, I just wanted to ask if it was okay to move into your house." Now I was confused.
"Of course I want you to but it's up to Lissa, this is her side of the townhouse, she bought it with her estate." Lissa smiled.
"Well you live here and I don't, so it's yours now. Before you say anything, I'll keep under my name if it makes you feel better, but I want my guardian living next to me. The house is yours so you can kick your mother out, kick Dimitri out, or you could leave. I mean I don't want you to but oh I'm just rambling, it's your choice." I smiled.
"Thank you Lissa, thank you, I dont know, just, thank you." I gave her a hug and then looked at Dimitri. "No, I don't want you to move in. "The absolute confused expression he had made me laugh. "Of course I want you to move in, did you not just hear me." Lissa and I laughed at him as his and Christian looked at the two of us with weird expressions.
"Well we need to go out and celebrate. Just um not tonight, you haven't officially been pardoned so you got to stay here for like a day." That darkened my mood a little but then I had an idea that I wasn't very good at suggesting.
"Oh that sounds good Lissa, but I um, I think I need to show Dimitri around just to help him move in." Lissa read me so easily, but when the boys caught on Christian look awfully uncomfortable.
"Oh! Right that sounds like a good idea Rose. Well then I'm sure if your okay Christian had to call Eddie anyways to let him know he has a room available for him." I smiled, I should have know it was going to be for someone we knew and not just some random guy paying rent or something. Lissa dragged a very awkward looking Christian out of the room while laughing.
I turned to Dimitri and he more willingly followed me upstairs.
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