"Abe?!" I turned around as fast as I could. I mean I don't know why I was so surprised to see him, I did ask for his help. I just didn't expect him to come personally.

"Too soon for Dad? A hug must be really pushing it too." He laughed and I knew he was joking, but for some reason seeing him brought forward a surge of emotion and safety that I didn't realise I needed. Next thing I knew I had run into him giving him a hug.

The look on his face almost had me burst into laughter. He might have been joking but I don't think he expected me to do it, I think he's frozen.

"Old man, are you having a stroke?"

"What's wrong Rose?" He was staring at me weirdly and I suddenly didn't know where to look.

"Why does anything have to be wrong?" I joked.

"Well as much as I love to see you, why do I have a feeling there's something you're not telling me?"

"Why can't I just come for a holiday to see my favourite mobster?" I joked.

"Because out of all the people you would bring with you on a holiday I don't think Guardian Tanner would be in my top 5 guesses, no offence."

He did have a point, as much as I think Mikhail is an amazing guardian and person, we've never really spent much time together socially, for obvious reasons. Like obsessing over my Russian mentor for one.

"Soo…The Academy had this teacher that we now know specialises in spirit.."

"Let me guess, Sonya Karp?" He cut me off.

I was a little surprised he knew her, probably shouldn't be though.

"How did you know?"

"Rose, I know you think that I've just come into your life, however I've been keeping tabs on you for a long time."

I was actually shocked, I could've had a father if someone had told me. My face must've reflected my thoughts because before I even had a chance to voice my thoughts Abe was already speaking.

"I know what you're thinking Rose and trust me, staying out of your life was the hardest decision I have had to make. The threat to your life when you were younger was too great."

Before I could help it I hugged him again, get it together Rose seriously.

"Okay, now I'm having a stroke, tell me what's going on before I call your mother."

I laughed out loud at that one.

"You can try old man but she doesn't know either."

"What have you done?" Never did I think I could freak out Abe, I may as well try.

"I was thinking if it was possible to spend a couple of months with you, and maybe trying to locate Sonya?"

"What about becoming a Guardian to Princess Vasilisa? Hasn't your whole life been spent protecting her?" I think he was trying to wrap his mind around the fact I was asking to stay.

"Not anymore, circumstances have changed and I just need some time." How the hell do you tell your mobster father that you're pregnant with your ex-mentor/ex-strigoi lovers baby? Maybe I will throw up after all. Maybe he'll kill Dimitri for me, save me doing it?

"What does Guardian Belikov think of your leave of absence?" I flinched internally, he's smarter than I thought. He was studying my facial expression as I tried not to give anything away.

"What about him? He'll go back to being Lissas full time guardian eventually."

By the look on his face, he knew Dimitris importance in my life. How closely has he been watching me? How do I get that smirk off his face?

"I'm not as clueless as one might believe little girl. You don't do everything you've done to just walk away from him willingly, but I won't push it, you're here and that's all that matters."

"So can I stay?"

"Of course."