5 days until Christmas!

I drummed my fingers against the keyboard. I had been putting off this email since I took on the project, but it was time that I did it. I didn't want my bosses to think that I was trying to drift from the firm, so as a courtesy, I wanted to update them.

Well, the ones I liked. Not the one that got my position when I turned it down. I was about to hit send on my email when the video call icon popped up. It was the managing partner, Charles Whitmore. I glanced in the reflection of my phone to make sure I didn't look like a complete mess before answering the call.

"Hey, Charlie! Merry Christmas!" I exclaimed.

"Merry Christmas, Rose. I hope that you enjoyed your Christmas?"

I snorted. "Aside from Adrian showing up on my family's doorstep, it was great. I was just emailing you," I said as I rested my head on my hand.

"He showed up at your parent's house?" he asked, his brows furrowing together. Charles was in his early sixties, a scholar-looking guy, but had an eye for detail. The man who interviewed me almost let me loose, but Charlie came into the room by accident and saw my portfolio. He hired me on the spot.

"Yeah. Apparently, he hired a P.I. to investigate me, stole medicals, the whole nine yards. So if anyone comes to the office asking about me, but deter them?"

"Of course, kid. I'm sorry that happened. What were you emailing me about?"

I bit my lip and took a slow breath. "Do you remember when I told you that I went to the Academy that had that big fire in the church?"

"Yeah, the one with the really nice glasswork. Why?"

"I have been personally hired to oversee the rebuild of the chapel. It has the original blueprints but there will be an expansion on it, and above it," I said and waited with baited breath. It could really go either way here. I watched Charles lean back in his chair, his thumb hooked under his jaw while his finger was pressed against his nose and lips. He spun side to side in his chair as he processed what I said. His brows eventually rose.

"How much are you charging?"

"Ten percent. But it's going to be at least a few million dollars to do the job," I said, gauging his reaction.

"You could have aimed for fifteen, but I see why you did it lower. Are you sticking with the Gothic Revival?"

"Of course. We are trying to incorporate some of the salvaged stained glass into the building. The Headmistress wanted to have a library built to house some of the historical books and volumes they have. They're worth more than what I make a year," I chuckled and licked my lips, "I wanted you to know about the project from me before it hit the buzz amongst other architects."

"I appreciate that. How long are you required to stay on-site for?"

"We won't be breaking ground until the spring. I wasn't sure if I was needed here full time, but thought that maybe I could fly back if I was needed on site?" I explained.

Charles' brow cocked and the corner of his lip quirked.

"How many projects are you working on right now?"

"Two other small ones, but they're almost complete. Why?"

"It's almost perfect that you told me this. We have been debating expanding and opening another location. We've been getting busier, and a lot of work has been moving out west. We were going to ask you when you returned from your wedding, but now it seems like the perfect time."

I felt my eyes bulge out of my head.

"Are you…are you asking me to head a new location?"

"I am asking if you would like to run the new location we have opening up in Missoula," he said with a grin. "It would mean that you would need to accept a position as a partner. I know that the rest of the partners should be here for this, but I figured if I told you ahead of time, they didn't get to see the buy eyes."

I closed my eyes and laughed, shaking my head as I laughed.

"Was my face what you expected?"

Charles let out a laugh that I was so accustomed to hearing.

"It was exactly what I expected," he said with a grin. "Is that a yes?"

I took a slow breath and pursed my lips. "You said it would be in Missoula?"

Charles nodded. "Yes. We've been scouting a location for a few months now. We have a few architects who are waiting for the confirmation, but we needed someone we trusted to run it. When you turned down the position as partner, we were disappointed, but now that you are a 'free' woman, we want to extend it to you again. I thought that work might be a helpful distraction."

I nodded to myself and then looked at him.

"Do I need to fly back to make this official?"

"We would need you to come back to sign paperwork and such, but it wouldn't take long. We could wait until your leave is finished."

"How long after I sign would the new location open?"

"A month?"

I drummed my fingers against the laptop and nodded to myself.

"I could get a fight out so that I'm there the first business week after New Year's. That way, I can continue out the rest of my leave and be ready to start at the new location. I think I'm done with New York," I said and smiled.

Charles slapped the desk in front of him with a grin.

"Done. I'll see you in two weeks," he said with a wink before ending the call. I stared at the blank screen for a few minutes before what happened dawned on me and I jumped up, bouncing on my feet as I squealed quietly. My parents were still asleep, but I couldn't help my excitement. After I finished doing my little happy dance I dove for my phone.

I dialled the first number and waited excitedly, all but wiggling as I waited for the phone to answer.

"Hello?"

"Put the wife on the phone!" I squealed.

"It's not even seven in the morning," Christian groaned but I heard him roll over, talking to Lissa before the phone was muffled.

"Hello?" Lissa asked with a yawn.

"I just got offered my own firm location!" I exclaimed, biting my knuckle to keep me from screaming.

"What?"

"Charles just called me. They're opening a location in Missoula and they want me to manage it!" I exclaimed, "I'd be the managing partner at that location!"

"OH MY GOD!" Lissa shrieked. I heard Christian's groans and protests, but it fell on deaf ears as Lissa had her own celebration party. I could feel my cheeks go red and I tried to curb my excitement, but I felt pride. Being offered partner before was a joy, but this was something else. I would be a complete nutjob not to accept this offer. I'd set my own hours, I could work where I wanted, and take on what projects I wanted.

But there was one other little thing that flickered in the back of my mind that was also a perk.

Leena.

Sure, Dimitri was on that list of amazing perks of working in Missoula, but Leena was in her own category.

The girl called me 'mama'. That wasn't something that I was able to ignore or walk away from without a lot of thought.

"Have you told anyone else?" Lissa asked once her voice reached decibels that humans could hear, not just dogs.

"I literally just found out!"

Lissa squealed again. "We have to celebrate!"

"We will, once I tell my parents," I laughed, but I heard the shutting of a door so I knew one of them was awake.

"I gotta go! But I'll let you know how they react!" I said quickly, ending the call and blowing out a deep breath. I tucked my phone into the pocket of my sweats and left my room, heading downstairs to start the coffee pot. I was jittery as I rocked on my heels, watching the coffee brew into the carafe.

"What are you doing up so early?" Janine asked as she came into the kitchen, dressed for work.

"I got a call from Charlie. My boss," I said turning to look at her. I don't know what kind of expression I had on my face, but she stopped what she was doing and eyed me.

"You didn't get fired, did you?"

"No!" I laughed, "I got an offer."

"To be a partner again?"

"To run a new location in Missoula," I said, a grin crossing my face. Janine processed what I said and joy crossed her face.

"Oh, Rose! That's fantastic!" she exclaimed, hugging me tightly. I smiled and hugged her back, my face starting to hurt from the smile on my face.

"I'm sorry if I woke you, but I got a little excited before I called Lissa," I said. Janine nodded and smiled at me.

"I'm proud of you," she said softly. I nodded at her and took a deep breath, smiling softly but more to myself. I hadn't completely comprehended what was going to happen, but I knew that it was good.

I scrolled through the ads as I sipped my coffee. I needed out of the house, but I didn't want to be bothered. The coffee shop was the perfect spot for that.

I clicked on a few listings but none seemed perfect. Missoula was a half-hour drive from here. In the meantime, I was sure that my parents wouldn't kick me out right away.

"Roza!"

I grinned and peeked around my laptop.

"Hey, cutie pie!" I exclaimed, shifting in the chair for Leena to come around the table to hug me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. I rubbed her back before she let go, looking up at Dimitri as he stopped in front of us.

"That's a pretty scarf. Did your babushka make that for you?" I asked, toying with the end of the pink and yellow scarf around Leena's neck.

"She made me mittens too!" she exclaimed, holding her hands up in my face so I could look at them. I 'wowed' loudly and inspected them before giving her a wink.

"Babushka did a good job," I praised. Leena smiled at me and I looked up at Dimitri.

"Hi, comrade."

"Roza. Working again?"

I glanced at my laptop and kinda shrugged.

"Sort of?"

Dimitri chuckled. "You don't sound so sure."

I laughed and gestured for him to sit while I pulled Leean up onto my lap. I turned my computer towards Dimitri and offered Leena some of my cookie.

"You're thinking of moving?"

"You are looking at the new partner and manager of the location opening in Missoula," I said with a smile.

Dimitri looked surprised. "Wow! Serious?"

"Yeah, my boss asked me yesterday morning. It's going to be a big adjustment, but the opportunity to run a location is huge. And then I don't have to travel so much for the project at St. Vladimir's," I explained.

Dimitri nodded and smiled at me, taking a sip of his coffee while looking at Leena.

"She's been asking for you," Dimitri said quietly, gesturing to Leena.

"Yeah?" I whispered, my brows drawing together.

"Yeah. She had a bad dream last night, and it wasn't me she was asking for," he said. I bit my lip and cuddled her a little closer.

"Do you think that you and me should sit down and talk? I mean, without adorable ears present?"

"Is this 'the talk'?" he asked with a chuckle.

"No, but I think it's a talk that we need to have. Especially with how attached someone has gotten," I said with a glance down to Leena. Dimitri nodded and reached across the table, resting a hand then for me to take. I took it so he'd know I meant this on a positive scale.

"Has she referred to me the same?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No, not since Christmas. I talked to her doctor, and she said it's not something to be too concerned about, considering she has seen us in a positive relationship. And will all the talk about families at daycare, I'm not surprised. You've been hands-on with her in the short time you've known each other. She feels safe with you."

I nodded and kissed the top of her head, asking her if she wanted the rest of the cookie. She happily took it, munching away as she looked at her dad.

"Congratulations, Rose. You deserve it," he said with a smile.

"Thank you," I said softly.

I bounced my foot as I sat in the chair. The police station was busy, with a few people sitting at other desks. Some were giving statements, some looked like they wanted to be anywhere else.

"Was he able to weasel his way out of the trespassing charges?"

"No, we won't let him get out of it. There were two officers on site, and there were seven people who could confirm that he arrived unannounced and asked to leave. He was causing a disturbance," Eddie explained as he typed on his keyboard. I nodded and blew out a short breath.

"Your wifey is cute," I said offhandedly, grinning at him when he blushed.

"That she is," he said with a smile, "Mason was holding out too. He's seeing someone."

"What?!" I exclaimed in a whisper, lurching forward in the chair. Eddie nodded and smirked at me. I raised my brows at him. He couldn't drop that kind of information and not give me more important details.

I glanced behind my shoulder as someone stepped behind me. I smiled at Mason as he sat at the desk next to Eddie.

"Hey, Rosie."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Hey, lover boy," I drawled. Mason cocked his head at me before he looked angrily at Eddie.

"You have a large mouth!"

"Hey, don't get so mad. He just said you were seeing someone. Didn't give me any of the juicy details," I said with a wink. Mason looked a little less pissed, but still scowled in Eddie's direction. I chuckled quietly under my breath and sighed as Eddie shook his head.

"I'm sorry. Unless we can prove that he stole your medical records, there isn't much I can do."

I nodded and picked at my nails. "And can…someone…still have legal repercussions?"

Eddie smirked. "While people will kick up a stink, legally you two did nothing wrong. His employer could do something about it, but I doubt it. You two rekindling your relationship could deter people from voicing concern now," he explained as he leaned back comfortably in his chair.

I nodded and ran my hands through my hair.

"Did neither of you suspect anything?"

Mason and Eddie looked at each other and shrugged.

"I knew that you were seeing someone, but I honestly thought that you and Andre were together and keeping it quiet," Mason said. I nodded and sighed quietly.

"What a mess that night was. I barely remember it. I remember walking up with Leena sprawled on me. Which, really was quite nice to walk up to. She's just so sweet," I said, glancing at them and finding them looking at me with peculiar expression.

"What?"

"Castile; our lil' Rose is a mommy!"

I rolled my eyes at them. "Shut up."

"It's true though."

I smiled and shrugged. "She's a pretty awesome kid. And is obsessed with fairies. Her room is full of them."

Eddie smirked at me and stood up, pulling his jacket off the back of his chair.

"You hungry? We have to take our breaks like clockwork here."

I stood up. "I'm always hungry," I snorted as I put on my coat as well, zipping it up as we walked outside.