ROSE

Dimitri's arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me tight against his body in a fierce embrace. Immediately, I stomped down on the grass just inside of his left foot. Had he been an actual attacker, I would have brought my full weight on his instep, but I shifted my aim since we were just sparring. It was still enough to make him instinctually loosen his grip. I wriggled out of his hold enough to elbow him in the ribs, spin out of his immediate range, and use the momentum to back-fist him. He pulled back just quick enough that the strike was more of a graze against his cheekbone. Even though I had managed to get away, I knew I was going to get a lecture.

He stood, not even waiting for one of us to take a kill shot before starting in on me. "Rose–"

"I know. I know. Rookie mistake." I shook out my limbs, trying to shake off the shame and annoyance, along with the muscle fatigue. The problem was that I'd had more than one 'rookie mistake' in the last two hours. A hesitation here, a late block there, all things that wouldn't have happened a few months ago. And Dimitri caught every single misstep.

"You can't let yourself get caught up like that. A half-second longer, and you'd be dead." The look he gave me, the one that screamed 'you are better than this,' pissed me off. Part of it was because I knew he was right; I was better than that. But now?

I wiped the sweat from my face, rubbing my temples in an attempt to soothe the throbbing headache that was trying to make itself known. The movement only seemed to make things worse. My mind pulsed and spun as he called out my mistakes, every single one of his words echoed by some inner voice reminding me just how much of a fuck up I really was.

"Focus, Rose." He placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to recapture my wandering attention. I immediately pulled away. "You need to–"

"YOU'RE NOT MY MENTOR ANYMORE!"

I slapped my hand over my mouth as if that would somehow recapture what had just escaped. I wasn't even sure where the words had come from. I certainly hadn't intended to say something like that, but I did, and it seemed to stun us both. For a moment, we both just stared at one another in silence. I took a deep breath and released it slowly as I tried to regain my composure. Try as I might, though, I could feel that anger simmering.

I had won every single match against Vika, to the point where she finally got annoyed with us and took off to hang with friends. And yeah, Dimitri had taken me down more often than not, but I had still beaten him a few times. Okay, only twice out of seven rounds. And maybe one of those times was a little more luck than skill. But still…

No amount of excuses could hide how far I had already fallen, though. It didn't matter that I was still training and practicing every day. Nothing I did here could even come close to what I had been doing back at the Academy. I was slipping, and it was painfully obvious to me.

Worse, it was painfully obvious to Dimitri too.

I turned away from his sudden look of sympathy and walked over toward the spot where I had left my jacket earlier. Fumbling through the fabric until I found the pocket, I pulled out a long, thin chain holding my Nazar pendant and a silver ring. I never wore jewelry while sparring but always kept the ring nearby. Just in case.

I didn't even bother to take it off the chain. Instead, I pulled the entire necklace over my head, slipped the charmed ring partway onto my middle finger, and clutched the whole thing in a fist against my chest as I counted my breaths. The thing was like an enchanted security blanket at this point. It was a physical reminder that I would be okay and had protection against the darkness. It gave me a sense of control, something to hold on to even when I felt like everything around me was slipping away.

After a few moments, I felt Dimitri settle himself beside me. When I didn't say anything, he started rubbing slow circles between my shoulder blades with his large palm, immediately causing every lingering ounce of tension to evaporate. I wasn't sure how he could center me with one simple touch, but I was grateful either way.

"Are you alright?"

I peeked at him through slitted eyes, taking in his concerned expression. That was one of the many strange differences between 'Academy Dimitri' and 'Baia Dimitri.' This version of Dimitri never hid behind his professional mask. He didn't hold back. He smiled freely, laughed loudly, and made silly faces at the little ones. He was open and honest. And now, it seemed like he was honestly worried about me.

"Yeah. Fine. I don't think it's the darkness" It wasn't the greatest reassurance, but it seemed to help a little. Even more so when I rested my head against his shoulder and continued. "I'm just frustrated."

He nodded, understanding what I wasn't saying. "You're still good, Rose. Really good."

I couldn't help but scoff. "Yeah, well, I used to be great."

There was a heavy silence before Dimitri finally said, "You should give yourself some grace. Between working with me and attending all your combat classes, you were training close to eight hours a day back at the Academy. You can't hold yourself to that standard when that isn't your reality anymore. If it makes you feel better, you'd still give most guardians a run for their money." He pulled me a little closer, planting a quick kiss on my temple. "I'm sorry, too. You're right; I'm not your mentor anymore. I'm your boyfriend, and I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

Boyfriend. Just the word made my heart skip. It just seemed so unimaginable before, and yeah, things were hard now, but that was better than impossible, right?

One look at him and I was met with the truth. Yeah. Yeah, it was.

I reached up to touch his cheek, letting my fingertips trace his jawline. A short beard had grown over the last few days, and I wasn't sure when it would stop amusing me…if it ever stopped amusing me. In all the various fantasies I had dreamt up about Dimitri, I don't think I had ever imagined him with facial hair, but it suited him. It highlighted the strong lines of his face, especially when he smiled. He really didn't need anything else to make him look even more enticing and masculine than he already was, but I wasn't going to complain about it. It was almost a crime that he felt the need to shave it every day while on active duty. Thankfully, it was yet another thing he had been more than happy to do away with while here with his family.

I shifted slightly at a phantom burn between my legs, making him smirk. Yesterday, I had not-so-slyly admitted to him how much I liked the way his scruff felt against my cheek. Later that night, he was happy to show me how good it felt against my thighs, too. Based on the heat in his eyes, I was pretty sure I was in for a repeat performance.

Earlier upsets now forgotten, Dimitri gestured to where we had been sparring earlier. "Do you want to go again?"

I shook my head, done with the humiliation for now. I'm sure I'd suck it up and be ready for another beatdown later, but I needed to soothe my wounded pride for a little bit.

Thankfully, Dimitri didn't judge me and instead offered his hand to help me up. "I was hoping to check out the weights, too. If you don't mind."

"Sure. Help yourself." I said with a shrug as I started back towards the house. The smell of something baking in the kitchen called to me, and I was eager to investigate after a shower.

DIMITRI

I watched as Rose crossed the yard to the house, and I fought the urge to follow her. She didn't seem as upset as she had been earlier, but I knew I still needed to give her a little space. Even though I knew my time was limited here and I wanted to spend every moment possible with her, I knew I had crossed a line earlier.

She was right. I wasn't her mentor anymore, nor did I want to be. Rose didn't need someone to train her or push her to be the best guardian possible. She didn't need someone to correct her stance or get after her for telegraphing her next move. That dynamic in our relationship had passed, and while there might always be some echoes of that period in the back of my mind, it was time for me to focus on the new role in her life I had chosen. Rose and I were on equal footing in our new relationship, and what she asked for now was so much greater than what she had needed back then. She wanted someone to love her. She wanted someone to support her, encourage her, and be someone she could rely on. She no longer needed a partner in the field but a partner in her life, and I wanted to be that man.

That meant I needed to accept her skills for what they were and not demand more when it wasn't necessary. I had been honest when I told Rose that she was still good. I was sure if she challenged nearly any other guardian back at Court, she would have a decent enough chance at winning. She had beaten Vika in every single match. If anything, I should have been more worried about Vika than Rose.

Still, was it so wrong of me to want her prepared as much as possible just in case something happened and I wasn't there by her side? That was natural, wasn't it? I was allowed to be protective of her and worried about her. She knew as well as I did that the difference between living and dying was only divided by one simple mistake. One misstep, one missed strike, one moment of hesitation, and that was it.

It was easy to justify how I had pushed her earlier, but no matter how much I wanted to paint my worries as just being overprotective, I knew that I would have to be careful going forward. I'd still encourage little sparring matches between us, not only because it was good practice but also because it was a challenge we both enjoyed. However, I resolved to only offer my guidance when she asked for it. Rose was smart enough to come to me if necessary, and I needed to respect that. Otherwise, I would trust in Rose and the skills I already knew she had.

I turned the knob to the shed in the back corner of the yard, testing it a few times before throwing my shoulder against the door when it refused to budge. The sudden gust of air once the door opened stirred up a plume of dust, making me sputter and cough. I had no doubt that Rose was using the space—the clear disruption of the dust on the ground leading to the workout bench made that clear enough—but I had to wonder how she could breathe, much less work out in here. Not only was it dirty, but the space was crowded with buckets of paint, garden tools, and even the old lawn mower. I wasn't even sure it worked anymore, but it was jammed in here with everything else.

As I stepped towards the bench, I accidentally kicked a rake and it was only my quick reflexes that kept it from clambering into something and knocking down half of the items on another shelf. Once I finally made it to the back corner where the bench and weights were, it became clear that the entire space needed help. Rose might have been able to stretch her arms enough to make the space usable; there was no way I could do much without causing chaos in here. Not only that, but I could see small holes in the siding, old cobwebs, plus evidence of spilled paint and who knows what other chemicals throughout. As a shed, that didn't matter much, but it didn't make for a very enticing place to work out.

A plan started formulating in my mind. Something to do together this week, which would also leave Rose with a lasting gift.

I made a quick mental list of what needed to be done before running inside for a pen and paper because there was simply too much for me to remember. Perhaps I could borrow Mark's truck to run to the next town over and pick up some supplies. I had only met him and his wife yesterday, but he seemed like a good man. Not only had Mark and Rose become fast friends over their shared experience with spirit, but they had also spent weeks rebuilding the deck at his home. I'm sure he'd be all too happy to return the favor.

Rose found me a little while later, wet hair plaited into a braid and bearing one of the cookies that Sonya had made earlier. Glancing over at the notepad in my hand and asked, "What are you doing?"

The measuring tape snapped close as I wrote down the final measurement I needed. "I think this space could use a little work. I figured I could fix it up a little for you."

She wrapped her arms around me from behind, resting her cheek against my back as she spoke. "It works just fine, Dimitri."

"Perhaps it works now," I told her, looking over my shoulder to smile down at her. "But you haven't spent the winter here yet. It becomes bitterly cold, and unfortunately, I think it will only prove some of your old jokes about Siberia being a frozen wasteland."

Her face fell, dissolving into a look of pure horror. "Oh no. How cold are we talking about? Am I going to turn into a popsicle?"

"Not quite that cold. Just a tad colder than Montana, but that's still cold enough to make things unbearable if you want to spend any significant time out here." I felt the smallest shiver run through me at the memory of trying to use the space during holiday breaks. Mama didn't like me taking any of the equipment into the house, even if it was just a few dumbbells, so I was regulated to the shed. I feared Galina's harsh judgment more than the cold, so I suffered through the frigid days, but I wanted better for Roza. She deserved better. "I don't think it will take much to fix things up in here, but a few updates could make quite the difference."

"Like what? I don't want you to spend your entire trip building a home gym. You should be relaxing. I know that is probably a foreign concept to you, but most people would do things like hike, get together with friends, or even—and I can't believe I'm saying this—read." Her voice turned sly for a moment as she moved into my embrace, pressed close enough that I could feel every inch of her body against mine. She lifted up onto her toes to kiss me before whispering against my lips. "Or we could stay in bed all day."

I hummed, incredibly tempted to throw my earlier idea away in favor of her invitation. "As much as I like that idea—and trust me when I say that I'm more than happy to spend an entire day in bed seeing how many times I can pleasure you before you beg me to give you a break—I'd like to spend a little time somewhere other than between those beautiful legs of yours. Plus, while I know it won't be much, I want to give you something to enjoy when I'm not here."

Even though I had only been here a couple of days, it seemed like we both trying to ignore the inevitable reality that I'd eventually have to leave again. I don't think either of us was actively trying to deny that it would happen, but simply doing our best not to dwell on it for the time being. Living in the moment, as the saying goes.

Regardless, the idea of me leaving something behind for her seemed to touch her. "Okay, handy-dandy, what do you have in mind?"

The week followed the same pattern of sleeping in later than I typically would with Rose cuddled up in my arms, exploring my old hometown as I marveled how much it had changed over the years, and working out back in the shed. Many evenings were spent with my family around the dinner table or fireplace, save for one night when I took Rose out for a proper date. I was pretty sure Rose was lying to me when she insisted that she didn't know how to play pool, especially since she swindled me out of more than one bet that night, but neither of us minded when I took my time bending her over the pool table and teaching her how to shoot properly.

Most days, Rose and I would still spar and train together for a bit, but I tried to keep it more focused on maintaining my workout routine rather than trying to push Rose in hers. Vika resisted joining us most days, but Paul was always thrilled to be included.

"Better watch out, Dimitri. I think your nephew is trying to make a pass at your girlfriend." Max nodded over to where Rose and Paul were playing fighting. They had taken the heads off the broom and rake earlier and were using the wooden handles as makeshift bo staffs. I could hear them singing some song from a cartoon they had watched earlier, and I tried not to laugh at just how off-key the whole thing was. They obviously didn't care and were having the time of their lives.

Paul adored Rose. Zoya, too, for that matter. However, it was Paul who was constantly mimicking her and following her around like a puppy. Rose had joked that I was this larger-than-life hero to the kid, but I don't think she really recognized just how much Paul looked up to her. He listened to her, often accepting her guidance over mine, even when we said the exact same thing. He constantly fought to sit next to her, managing to steal her away from me more than once over the past week. Even now, he was trying to copy every single strike and twirl she made with her weapon.

I knew if I tried to call her out on it, she would adamantly deny being good with the kids. She was still hesitant with little Katya, but she was always willing to watch and take care of the other two. It was clear to see that they loved her, and it was clear to see that she loved them too.

I hammered the last pin into the door hinge, making sure it swung freely before joining Max where he leaned up against the wall. A waist-high blur of laughter ran past me into the house, followed soon by Rose calling out, "Five! Six! You better find a good hiding spot! Seven! Hey guys. How's it going?"

Max gestured towards where Paul had run off to. "Aren't you going to go find him?"

"Eventually," Rose said, giving me a quick 'thanks' for the water I handed her. After taking a long sip, she gave Max a shrug. "Or I won't, and he'll get bored. Either way, I needed a little break. That kid has more energy than that bunny with the battery."

Max raised his glass in a small toast. "Aunt of the year, right here."

"You better believe it!" She clinked her bottle against his before finishing off the rest of her drink. A moment later, Max pulled out his phone to show Rose the most recent picture of his niece.

When Rose told me about meeting Max that first week, I had to shamefully admit that I had been suspicious of him. Rose had always been a social butterfly, naturally gathering friends around her in an almost uncanny way. It was certainly a talent that I had never been blessed with. Unfortunately, and through no fault of her own, she also had a habit of drawing the eyes of hopeful suitors. I couldn't exactly blame them. I knew firsthand how easy it was to fall head over heels for her. Still, I wasn't ready to deal with another Adrian situation. Adrian and Rose had finally settled into an easy friendship, but even that didn't stop him from messing with me and my jealous streak on occasion.

However, now that I had met the man, it was clear that Max had no ulterior motives and was nothing but a good friend to Rose. I was genuinely grateful for that. She still kept strong ties with Lissa, Eddie, and the others, but having someone nearby that you could rely on and lean on for support was irreplaceable. She was friendly with my sisters, even Sonya, but none of those relationships seemed to fill the same role as Max. After my initial misgivings, I was able to let go of my jealousy and just be happy that they had found one another.

The fact that I enjoyed his company was nice, too. He was a good guy. I had been close to his older brother growing up, but I still remembered Max following us around, trying to keep up on his bike or begging us to let him join in on various games. He thankfully didn't hold our childhood against me, and as we had gotten to know one another more, I was happy to count him among my limited number of friends.

"How's the shed look?" Rose asked, breaking me out of my own mind and back towards the whole reason we were enjoying the clean air and warm sunshine outside. "Anything else you need help with?"

"I think it's done. Take a look for yourself." I waved her into the shed. The first half was still very utilitarian. Not much had changed except for the new overhead light and some reorganization. We had added some insulation throughout the entire place, but other than that, it still resembled a typical shed. It was further back that really stood out.

"Wow, guys. It looks great in here." Rose's eyes widened as she stepped into the new space, running her bandaged hand across the wall as she took in every detail. She had been the one to help me with the initial insulation and laying down the floor tiles, but after the screwdriver incident, I had kicked her out for her safety and the safety of everyone else around her. Max had been kind enough to help me finish the drywalling and everything else.

I had used some of the leftover paint that had been stored out here, a curious pale blue color that didn't match any of the rooms in the main house. Afterward, Max helped me install a pegboard divider wall to store things like spare towels and her resistance bands. The free weights were stacked on a small rack on the far side under the new window, and there was a small table in the corner for her water bottle and a little Bluetooth speaker. It still was pretty rudimentary as far as home gyms went, but I was proud of the work we had done and glad that it would be sufficient for the years to come.

Rose sat down on the weight bench before looking up at me. "Are you sure it's the same space?"

"You better believe it," Max said, poking his head around one of the shelving units. "And I'm pretty sure I've earned a lifetime gym membership for all my hard labor."

"You're welcomed over any time," Rose said with a laugh as the three of us moved back outside. Before I could offer Max a beer and perhaps an invite to dinner as thanks for all his help, he pulled Rose into a quick hug.

"Are you leaving already?"

"Yeah, I have to get over to the hotel and take care of some scheduling stuff. One of our cleaning staff left last week, and we haven't filled her position yet, so if you know anyone looking for a job, send them my way." He offered me his hand in a quick goodbye. "It was great to see you again, Dimitri. I'll try to drop by sometime tomorrow, but if I don't see you before you leave, then I hope you have a good flight."

From the corner of my eye, I didn't miss the way Rose's smile faltered at the unintentional reminder that my trip was quickly coming to a close. Still, I tried to keep my spirits up as I thanked him for his good wishes. The moment he was out of sight, I pulled Rose into my arms.

"Hey. It's okay, Roza," I brushed the hair from her face, leaning down to kiss her cheek when I noticed the tears threatening to fall. "We still have one more day together. Until then, let's not worry about saying goodbye and just make the most of the time we have right now. We're still planning on that hike up the ridge, right?"

She wiped at her eyes a moment before setting her shoulders back and giving me a smile that looked more confident than I suspected she actually was. "Yep. The weather should be good, so I figured we could take lunch up there, and then I think your mother was going to make pelmeni for dinner. And honey cake. I think Paul also wanted to challenge you to a rematch of Uno."

"Sounds perfect." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her tight to me before leading us back towards the house. "Speaking of Paul, it's probably time you go find him and finish your game of hide-and-seek."

Author's Note

Aww, I wish I could write these two together forever. Maybe one day, but not yet. I gave you a little hint in this chapter, but what do you think these two will do on their last day together?

I will be out of town next weekend so there most likely won't be an update (I'll see if I can fit on in, but I can't make any promises). However, there is a good chance that I'll be sharing some photos so if you want to see any of the shenanigans that I'm getting up to, then be sure to check out my Instagram. I also want to let you know that the new project I'm working on in my personal life is beginning to take up more of my time and that might eat into my update schedule. I still have a few more chapters that have been prewritten, and I'm still dedicating each Sunday to writing and posting this story, but there may be a delay or two if I'm not able to complete a chapter for you guys. I'm sure you guys know how dedicated I am to trying to keep my schedule consistent, but I'm really excited about this new opportunity and don't want to let it pass me by.

This week's question of the week is: What's your favorite dessert? I have a major sweet tooth, especially when it comes to chocolate goodies, but I think my favorite dessert has to be cherry pie with streusel topping. I'm a sucker for almost any kind of pie, but we grew a cherry tree at our last house and it made enough cherries for us to have pie almost every other week. Man, I miss that cherry tree. It had the most beautiful blossoms in the spring.

Thank you for reading and for all your support. I appreciate every comment from you guys and each one makes me smile. I hope you all have a wonderful week.