The last two shows were rough, and I really didn't like getting booed at. That stung a lot, but at least Dimitri stood up for me right then and there, telling the crowd that they shouldn't believe everything they see in the media and that I have no plans on signing with a label. I wasn't ready for my personal news to be everyone's news, but Dimitri somewhat crashed the end of our dinner, but Abe knew he was coming.

Dimitri suggested that we make our relationship known to smooth the waters. I wasn't overly thrilled with the idea, but it was the course of action for the mess we were dealing with. Abe looked to me to make the decision, stating that he would do what I wanted to do.

"Fine," I whispered eventually, "But I want it controlled. I don't want to give room for people to make ridiculous statements or accusations."

Abe looked at Dimitri and nodded, picking up his phone to start damage control for something that hadn't even happened yet. When I woke up the next morning, it was all over social media. I could understand why Dimitri said to be careful about what was let out and what was held close to our chests. I knew that this was a necessary evil right now.

CapShow Records Exec. Father to Pop Sensation's Orphan Girlfriend.

I rolled my eyes and got out of bed and went out to the living room, jumping to see it full of people.

"Hello?" I asked, meeting eyes with Abe. Tasha looked up from her laptop and smiled tiredly at me.

"Hey," she said.

"I see we already have fucked up headlines," I grumbled, taking the to-go cup Dimitri held up to me.

"We're already taking care of that," Tasha said, "We have a video interview with you and Zane Lowe. We do work with him frequently, and we trust him."

"Is it just me?"

"No. It will be me, you, and Abe," Dimitri said moving so I could sit down on the couch. "Sit, drink, breathe," he said softly. I sat down beside him and drank my coffee, trying not to let the idea of the interview wind me up.

Being hooked up to a mic and situated between Abe and Dimitri wasn't making me feel any better. I wasn't sure if it was stress, but my stomach was doing flips. Zane Lowe was a good host from what I had seen, but that didn't mean that the interview was going to be easy. I knew that parts of my life were going to become public knowledge doing this job, but there were still parts of my life I wanted to keep private.

Like the fact that my biological father just dropped out of the sky and flipped my life upside down. At least he had the decency to try and handle the mess.

I reached for my water bottle and drank a bit of it, grimacing when my stomach grumbled loudly.

"Hungry?" Abe asked with a chuckle.

I shook my head. "No, not really. I haven't been able to eat much since we landed in Russia. The food doesn't agree with me," I said quietly and set my water bottle back on the table next to the computer. Tasha frowned from where she sat at the table, biting her lip and rubbing her stomach too.

Ivan was working on the computer to get the interview up and running, all while I leaned back against the couch. He counted us down for when the call connected, Zane Lowe's face greeting us on the screen.

"Hey guys! So glad that we could have you!" he exclaimed when he introduced us.

"We're very happy to be here," Dimitri said, "Despite the early hour."

"Yes, you are in Russia right now, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, we are visiting family before we head into Turkey," I said.

"So, we've all heard the rumblings of drama around the three of you," Zane said and I nodded.

"Yes, but a lot of people have taken it completely the wrong way," Dimitri mused, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"What is the real story here?"

I looked at Abe and gestured for him to start. He explained that he had a whirl wind relationship with my mother and how she abruptly left one day. It wasn't until a few years later that he found out that I was a result of their relationship. He explained that while he wanted to be a part of my life, there were circumstances that prevented him for being around.

"I never knew anything about Abe until recently. I knew I looked like my biological father, but that was about it. When I found out a few weeks ago, I was stunned. In fact, the only person I had told was my adopted mother, and she reassured me that if I wanted a life with my biological father, she wouldn't stop me from pursuing that. So, all the headlines about the orphaned daughter aren't accurate in the slightest."

"And all the rumours circulating about you getting a signing deal?"

"Not true at all," Abe cut in, "We simply wanted to get to know each other. It was a misunderstanding."

"I can say that I'm part of that problem. I wasn't aware of the true nature of their quickly growing-relationship. After my last relationship, it triggered a nerve," Dimitri explained and gave me a sympathetic look.

"I'm a writer, through and through. If I have some fun working with Dimitri on stage, fine, but I don't plan on entering the life of a singer full-time," I explained and sighed, "But having people bombard me on the streets isn't okay. I get that Dimitri has a large following, but the only thing that bombarding me is going to do is just piss other people off. And I'm not above pressing charges for being shoved like I was last night."

"You were shoved?!" Dimitri demanded, almost at the same time as Abe. I bit my lip and shrugged.

"Yeah, when I left the concert last night, a fan got too close and shoved me. Spit on me too. That's where the big scrap on my back came from. But I know going forward I will be increasing my security."

Dimitri tried to keep his composure, but I could see the crack. He was pissed. Zane continued on with the interview, but all I could think about was how my stomach turned. Dimitri had shifted during the interview and rested his hand on my knee.

"Rose, are you alright? You're looking a little green," Zane asked at one point.

"I think we all got a tad bit of food poisoning last night," Dimitri said and I nodded.

"Yeah, the food from dinner has been bugging my stomach all day," I supplied. It wasn't a complete lie, but there was something else. Maybe it was simply stress.

"Well, I know that our time is coming to an end. I myself am looking forward to seeing you in concert when you are back in the States," Zane as he ended the interview. When the interview was over, I all but bolted off the couch and towards the bathroom. I didn't even have time to shut the door and lift the seat before I upended my stomach. I heard the tap running behind me and someone pulled my hair away from my face, rubbing their hand over my back gently. When I lifted up and braced myself on my knees I blew a breath out from between my lips.

"Deep breaths," Maria said softly as she rubbed my back, "Do you think you're going to be sick again."

I sniffed and shook my head. "No, I don't think so. I'm never eating pelmeni again," I groaned quietly. I turned and she handed me a glass of water. I took a sip and then went to the sink, rinsing my mouth out. I went back into the living room and looked at Dimitri and Tasha.

"Do you guys feel okay?"

"I felt a little queasy when I woke up," Tasha said with a frown. I frowned and sat on the other couch, resting my head on my hand. I closed my eyes with a sigh and I felt a hand rest against my forehead. I cracked my eyes open and Abe was frowning.

"You're a little warmer than you should be, but not quite feverish. You certainly need to be hydrated and try and relax today," he said. I shrugged and closed my eyes.

"I think it would be best for you to skip tomorrow's show if you're still feeling sick. I don't want you to push yourself," Dimitri said after a moment, a frown on his face. I nodded and stood up.

"I think I'm going to go lie back down," I said tiredly, walking back into the bedroom.

A hand brushed against my head, and I stirred, blinking groggily. Dimitri whispered his apologies and placed a cool, wet cloth on my forehead.

"How are you feeling?" Dimitri asked softly.

"Not great," I grumbled, "How long have I been asleep?"

"About eight hours. It's almost five," he said softly. I started to sit up but felt queasy, easing myself back down with a pinched face.

"Do you want me to get you something to eat?"

I grimaced and shook my head. "I don't think I can eat," I groaned. Dimitri sighed quietly as I rolled onto my side. Dimitri rubbed his hand gently over my back.

"I really think that you should eat something," Dimitri said softly. I grimaced and Dimitri squeezed my shoulder.

"How about soup? Maybe something soft?"

I shrugged and he stood up, slipping out of my room. I rested my head back against the pillow, curling into the fetal position. My stomach wasn't rolling like it was before but my body felt achy and I felt a little dizzy when I sat up.

It wasn't long until Dimitri returned with something that made my stomach grumble in a good way. Dimitri sat on the edge of the bed and flicked the light on, setting the bowl on the nightstand.

"What is that?" I asked as I slowly sat up, moving my pillows so I was propped up a bit.

"It's the closest to chicken soup, but it'll be softer on your stomach," Dimitri said as he reached for the water bottle on the nightstand. He handed it to me and then pulled a bottle out of his pocket, tipping a pill into the palm of his hand.

"What's that?"

"Vitamin C. There's a good chance that you have the flu and not food poisoning," he said. I nodded to myself and took it.

"I think you're right. I feel like I got hit by a truck. Everything feels stiff and achy," I complained quietly and he frowned, holding out the bowl of soup to me. I took slow tentative sips, eating slowly. I thought that the flavour would be too much for my stomach, but it wasn't. I managed to eat most of the bowl before handing it back to Dimitri and laying back on the bed.

Dimitri's brow was pinched as watched me, brushing the back of his hand against my forehead. I looked at him tiredly.

"I can't even remember the last time I had the flu, and I've had it three times since this tour started," I whispered.

"It's probably because we're around so many people and the flux in temperatures. I'm sorry you feel so ill," Dimitri said quietly and handed me the bottle of water again. I took small sips and closed my eyes when I handed the bottle back.

"I'm concerned about the fever," Dimitri whispered and I shrugged.

"I think I'm okay. I'm just a little cold."

Dimitri frowned and stood up, quietly excusing himself. I blinked slowly and tucked my hand under my cheek. He came back in after a moment, a blanket draped over his arm and another bottle in his hand.

"When did you last take your pain medication?" he asked.

"Last night before bed," I whispered, "Why?"

"Because I can't give you this if you had taken it earlier," he said and tapped two pills out into his hand.

"What's that?"

"Motrin," he said, "I want to bring your fever down but it will help with the aches."

I nodded and sat up enough to take it. When I laid back down, Dimitri sat on the chair beside my bed, frowning still. I blinked a few times, shifting around in the bed looking for a cold spot for my foot.

"You don't need to sit and nanny me," I whispered. Dimitri smiled and brushed my hair back from my face.

"I know," he said gently, tucking my hair behind my ear.

When I woke up again, the sun was beating through the window. I grimaced at the brightness and rubbed my eyes, still feeling achy. I cleared my throat quietly and smiled gently when I saw the figure slumped over in the chair next to my bed.

Why he slept there all night, I would never understand. It didn't look comfortable in the slightest bit.

I sat up slowly and crept to the bathroom, doing what I needed and washing my hands in the sink. I slipped into the shower afterwards, standing up the stream. I grimaced at the smell of stale sweat that coated my skin and made my hair lay lank against my neck. I was mindful not to have the heat turned up too high, feeling the lingering fever in my skin.

Washing my hair almost seemed to help, but I knew it was just a surface-level reprieve. I just felt good on the surface, but I could still feel the ache in my bones. When I stepped out of the shower, I towel-dried my hair and frowned at myself in the mirror.

My face looked sallow and puffy under the eyes, but my stomach looked puffy too, almost bloated. Maybe Maria was right? It wasn't completely far-fetched that I had put on weight. I hadn't been going for runs like usual and I had been eating a lot of different foods and lots of wine.

Mildred always said that wine was fattening.

I shook it off as I tightened the towel around my chest and walked back into my room. I smiled to myself seeing Dimitri still asleep in the chair. I dressed in a clean pair of clothes and gently shook Dimitri's arm. He seemed groggy when he opened his eyes, swallowing and lifting his head.

"Hey, did you sleep here all night?"

Dimitri nodded and after a moment, reached up and pressed his hand gently against my forehead.

"Your fever has come down," he murmured. I nodded and stepped back for him to stand up. He rubbed his face and left the room, me on his trail as I went to the little kitchenette and boiled some water.

"How is your stomach?" Dimitri asked.

I shrugged. "Not great, but I don't think I'm going to puke again," I said quietly, opening a package of peppermint tea and dropping the bag into a paper cup. I added some sugar and poured the water in, licking my lips before drinking.

Dimitri moved around the kitchenette and made himself some coffee, sighing quietly as he drank it.

"What time do you need to leave for soundcheck?" I asked quietly.

"Not for a while. Do you feel up to coming, or are you going to stay behind?" he asked as he leaned against the counter.

"I think I might come. We'll see how I feel closer to the show," I said tiredly. Dimitri nodded and pulled a tight smile.

"I really am sorry, about what I said," Dimitri said quietly. I sipped my tea and nodded at him.

"I know," I said. I could see it in his eyes that he was.

I was jostled and flinched as I sat up.

"Sorry, it's just me," Dimitri said from the backseat of the rental car. I rubbed my eyes and climbed out of the front seat, yawning to myself as I walked to the trunk of the car.

"That was a short drive," I said over my yawn.

Dimitri chuckled under his breath. "It was a three hour drive," he laughed as he pulled my suitcase out of the trunk. We had left most of our luggage with Tasha at the hotel and brought just what we needed for a week in Baia.

I shrugged. "It was short to me," I chirped as I reached for my luggage, but he held it out of my reach.

"I can carry your suitcase, Rose," he said with a roll of his eyes. I crossed my arms over my stomach and grabbed my bag out of the front seat, shouldering it as we walked to the door. I could hear Olena talking behind the door and smiled when it swung open and was greeted by her sweet smile.

"Roza! Oh look at you, even prettier than the last time," she exclaimed, kissing both my cheeks before pulling me into a hug. I smiled and hugged her back, stepping away after a moment for Dimitri to hug his mother.

"Hi Mama," Dimitri said softly as he kissed her cheek, setting our bags on the pouch so he could embrace her.

"Hi my sweet boy," she said, picking up the closest bag to her and ushering us into the house. I stepped inside after them and smiled, seeing just how much Dimitri's childhood home influenced the décor at his place now. The colours were the same, and the warm feeling was the same.

Olena told us to sit down and I sank down onto the couch, sighing to myself. It was as comfortable as it looked.

"Where are the girls?" Dimitri asked.

"Karolina just moved into her new place, Sonia and Victoria are staying there so we aren't as crowded. They'll be here in the morning," Olena said, "Are you hungry? Can I get you something to drink?"

"Mama, sit down. I can get us something to drink," Dimitri said with a smile. He got up and went into another room, and I stood up too, looking at the array of photos on the fireplace. There were a few photos of Dimitri there, none of them in the pomp and glamour that I was used to seeing him in. There was one where he was wearing a party hat on his head and a smirk on his face, holding a newborn baby in his arms. But he looked much younger than he was now, maybe a teenager at the time.

"Who's this?" I asked as I pointed at the photo.

"That is Paul, Karolina's oldest," Olena said as she stood up, wrapping her cardigan around her as she came to stand beside me.

"How old is Paul?"

"He's fifteen. He stayed back here with our neighbour when we flew out for Dimka's birthday. He had a horrible flu, but didn't want his mother to miss out on seeing Dimitri."

I smiled and looked at a few other photos, pointing at another photo of Dimitri with a babe in his arms.

"And that?"

"Zoya. She's five," Olena said, "And a little spitfire. Sassy as ever and exactly like her mother."

I chuckled and looked over the years on the shelf, coming to a stop at one. It was an older woman, with terrifying and wise-looking eyes. There were prayer beads draped over the frame and a candle next to it.

"Your mother?" I asked quietly.

"Mmhmm. Yeva," Olena said quietly, "She liked to tease the children, make them think that she was a witch, a seer. Always watching them."

I chuckled but could understand. Her eyes stared out of the photo at me and it was like she was staring into my soul. I swallowed uneasily and jumped when a mug appeared beside me.

"Sorry, I forgot that you're still jumpy," Dimitri said with a chuckle.

"Jumpy?"

"Yeah, I had a bit of a flu when we were in Omsk. I haven't slept much, so I'm jumpy," I said as I took the mug from Dimitri and took a sip, moving down the fireplace and looking at the photos on the wall. I smiled at a few of Dimitri when he was young, all limbs and lanky hair that felt in his face.

"Oh, you were a real heartbreaker," I chuckled, pointing to a not-so-flattering photo of Dimitri as a young teen.

Dimitri came closer and looked at the photo I was pointing to, laughing quietly to himself.

"That was the first guitar I ever had. Bought it myself with the money I earned working with Mark," he said with a shake of his head, "I was determined to grow my hair out, but I'm sure you know what it's like at that awkward length stage."

"The stage where you can't do anything with it and it's always in your face?" I laughed.

Dimitri nodded and pointed out a few other pictures to me, telling the story behind each one.

Let me know what you think!:)