Rose POV

Dimitri was agitated, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel constantly. He sipped from his coffee, but rather than improve his mood, it darkened it. I felt the weight of his eyes on me, but I ignored him; he wanted to talk about the hospital, and I would rather do anything else. What he saw that day filled me with shame.

Abe must have offered him a lot more money to stay around. Why else would Dimitri have stayed after seeing me like that—screaming about things he didn't believe in and then laying there drugged out of my mind. Anything he said would feel like a lie. How couldn't he think I was crazy?

Sometimes, even I thought I was.

No one else saw the ghosts, and no one else felt their presence. Maybe it really was all in my head.

Soon, Dimitri would reach his limit—everyone did. Abe had wanted me out of the house for the past month; I overheard him and Pavel discussing where in the country to send me. Desperation had to be why he agreed with Dimitri to bring me to this small town. Now, I had his whole family to watch my every move and no one I knew who could help me break any rules.

I was alone again with the ghosts in my head.

I could pretend I didn't know where it was heading for me—pretend Dimitri still wanted to be my friend and act like everything was fine. Or I could be prepared and just get Dimitri to give up.

I felt like less of an idiot with the latter.

His family's home was nice; bushes and trees filled their yard. A garden bed surrounded the house, and I could imagine it would look beautiful in the Spring. Now, it was just covered in a layer of snow. Even with the hot chocolate, I felt the air chill me instantly. I still preferred it to going inside.

Dimitri waited on the porch with the pastries in his hands, an eyebrow raised in question. I waved him off, "I'm going to look around a little."

His expression shifted, indecisive. "Okay, just don't wander off."

A tease was on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back. If I wanted to cut all ties, I needed to stop talking to him like he was my friend. I walked towards the back of the house, kicking the snow and dragging my feet. The chill reminded me of when ghosts walked through me.

"You know," Ivan started, startling me. I turned and glared at him, crossing my arms as I waited for his latest thought. "I think you should listen to Dimitri next time."

I groaned, "Fuck, just stay out of it."

When I spun, I found myself face to face with Mason, a tight smile on his face, "I hate to say it, but I agree with Ivan."

"Really?" I retorted, "You two are finally joining sides?" I marched away from them. "The dead don't get a vote in this."

"You shouldn't argue with the dead," a new voice spoke.

I almost stumbled as I twisted to face the person, wincing at the pain that shot up my leg. I didn't know the old woman staring at me, grey hair pulled back in a braid and a frail body that looked like a good stiff wind away from breaking. At first, I wondered if she was dead.

"What?"

The woman raised a brow, the same look of exasperation I had received countless times before. The snow crunched under her thick boots, slowly making her way to me. While I remained rooted in place. "They are wise. Never ignore their knowledge," she grumbled—a lot of disapproval aimed at someone she had never met before.

I crossed my arms, sneering back, "Who the hell are you?" She didn't reply, just stared at me from a foot away. I hated it. "Okay," I drawled, "I'm leaving." Time to tell Dimitri about the weird old lady in his backyard.

"He is terrible at accepting he was wrong, but he's trying. Listen to Dimitri next time."

I halted. A chill moved through me, but it had nothing to do with the weather. "How do you…"

"Mama! Come back inside; it's too cold out there!" another woman yelled out, standing on the back porch with a shawl around her shoulders. Our eyes met, and a warm smile appeared on her face, "Good morning, Roza. Did you sleep well?"

"I…"

Dimitri stepped outside, dressed in his duster with a colourful knitted scarf around his neck. He kissed the woman's cheek, saying something in Russian before he bounced down the steps and walked through the snow to my side. "Are you cold?"

"No," I replied.

"Good. I want to show you something."

Before I could turn him down, the old woman cleared her throat, staring at me expectantly. "Good. Take her," she ordered.

My irritation bubbled. "Who are you?"

"This is my grandmother," Dimitri explained, gesturing towards her, "Yeva." Then he pointed back at the house, "And that's my mother, Olena."

I nodded, but I kept staring at Yeva. There was something strange about her, and I didn't know if I liked it. It was like she could see through me. I pulled my coat tighter. "Your grandmother," I repeated softly.

"I should have warned you about her," Ivan piped up. I looked out of habit, but what I didn't expect was Yeva's eyes shifting to the same spot. "You're going to like her, Rose."

The corner of Yeva's lips twitched. "Go," she urged again, waving us off, "Company will be here later."

Dimitri's hand rested on my back; I tilted my head back to catch his eyes. "Come on, it's a short walk."

My heart was pounding; I struggled to force words past the lump in my throat. It had to be a fluke. She couldn't have known Ivan was there. There was no way… I started to follow Dimitri, moving on autopilot as my mind raced a mile a minute. I kept glancing over my shoulder, finding Yeva still watching me with a pleased expression.

Dimitri led me through the trees in their backyard, a hand out to help me when the ground sloped. A trail followed along the back of their house and went further into the woods. I had taken his hand so I wouldn't slip, but he didn't let go after, and I didn't want to pull back. His hand was so warm, and I told myself that was why.

"Your grandmother is interesting," I commented after walking for a few minutes. Tall trees surrounded us on either side of the trail, snow caught on their branches. It didn't escape my notice that neither Ivan nor Mason were with us.

He laughed softly, head turned so I could see the smile on his face, "Babushka can be intense sometimes, but I think you'll like her."

I didn't respond. I wasn't sure if I would want to be around her too much. But there was a growing need in me to know what she meant. "Is she always so…cryptic?"

"Yes. She often says things that don't make sense until later."

So she knew Dimitri was going to take me somewhere and was trying to convince me to go with it?

How the hell could she know that?

Maybe she overheard Dimitri. That would make more sense than her just guessing. Even though I told myself that, part of me knew it wasn't true. The timing with Ivan and Mason was way too convenient. In less than five minutes, I was told by three people that I needed to listen to Dimitri, and I was starting to consider following their advice. Clearly, whatever it was he wanted to say was important enough if he was still trying.

The path led us away from others; soon even the house was completely concealed by the trees. It was so quiet out there—so different to the city, where it was never silent. A few animals made a sound now and then, but it was so peaceful. I couldn't remember the last time I walked through the snow and just listened to the sound of the ice crunching under my shoes. Or the sound of the snow melting, the drops of water hitting the ground. The sun had risen higher, beams breaking through the trees and making the ground glitter. It was beautiful.

"Do you hear it?" Dimitri suddenly asked, coming to a halt, and I stumbled into his back. He twisted to look at me with a gentle expression on his face. It made my cheeks warm.

I dropped my gaze, focused on listening instead of our proximity. It took a moment, but I could hear something. A delicate sound. Bubbling? "What is that?"

Dimitri took off and I picked up my pace, more intrigued by what he wanted to show me. We had to go off the path, but it was worth it once the trees cleared. Over some large boulders, a stream passed through. Parts were frozen on top, and others flowed freely. The water was crystal clear, orange leaves drifting over the pebbled floor.

Dimitri helped me over the boulders, lifting me with his hands on my waist, and lowering me carefully so I didn't twist my ankle. He stepped down to the stream, testing a few dry rocks before using them to cross to the other side; he retook my hand and guided me across.

What I thought was just another boulder was a wooden bench; Dimitri pushed off the snow with his hand and then gestured for me to sit. I hesitantly sat down, well aware of how our legs pressed against each other so we could both fit. Nothing obstructed the sun, and I felt the warmth of it on my face; combined with the sound of the stream, I relaxed for the first time in weeks.

"What do you think?" he whispered, nudging me gently with his elbow, "Worth the walk?"

"It is," I sighed, closing my eyes and tilting my head back.

"Ivan and I spent a lot of time out here when we were young. We told my sisters they weren't allowed, so consider yourself lucky."

I flinched at the mention of Ivan, a topic I had gone out of my way to avoid since the accident. My fingers twisted around the hem of my coat, picking at the loose threads. "Thanks."

"Rose, I need to tell you something."

I dropped my chin to my chest—I wanted to run, but couldn't. I knew he didn't continue because he was waiting for me. There wasn't anyone around to use as a distraction either. He definitely planned it well. "It's about what you saw at the hospital, isn't it?"

He cleared his throat. "Yes, it is about something I saw there." His hand rubbed over his thigh, his fingertip brushing my leg. "It took me some time to process what I saw and even more to actually believe it. And once I had accepted it, I felt ashamed of my actions."

I scoffed, "If anyone should be ashamed about that day, it should be me."

His hand took mine, and my eyes snapped open. "I never thought any less of you because of what happened at the hospital, or after. Seeing you terrified like that and not being able to help was one of the hardest things I've experienced. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Roza. Nothing at all." Slowly, his fingers curled around mine, intertwining until our fingers were interlocked. "What I'm talking about happened after."

I steadily brought my eyes up, not quite meeting his. I remember him sitting at my bedside, flashes of his face and him saying my name. It was all broken and misaligned. I couldn't remember more than that. But there was a feeling I always felt when I thought of it—a flutter in my chest.

"It was late at night, just the two of us were in your room. I was getting ready to leave and was cleaning up. I reached for my cup and…I really can't explain how it happened."

As he spoke, I leaned in closer. "What happened?"

Dimitri's head angled down, eyes meeting mine. "It flew across the room," he stated. "It suddenly hit the wall, almost like someone threw it."

My hands shook. "What?

The corner of his eyes creased, and they filled with regret. "I didn't know how to bring it up. For a while, I convinced myself I just imagined it. But then I thought about everything I had seen since I met you. You always knew things—said things that you shouldn't know."

Our eyes stayed locked as he spoke, but it became too much; even his hand in mine was too much. I jerked away from him and jumped to my feet, inhaling sharp breaths. There was no way.

"I'm so sorry, Roza. All this time, you've been trying to tell me, and I kept pushing you away."

"No!" I shouted, startling us both. Tears gathered, but I held them back. "What are you saying, Dimitri?" I needed him to say it. It would be too cruel to get my hopes up only for my assumption to be wrong.

Dimitri didn't move from the bench, watching me with a pained expression. God, he looked so guilty. "I believe you."

"Believe what?"

"I believe that you can see ghosts. I believe that you can see Ivan."

I laughed, like a bark the way it forced itself out of my mouth. It was broken. "That isn't funny. Don't joke—"

"I'm not," he assured, "I swear I'm not lying. I was wrong to doubt you as long as I had and for everything I said when you mentioned Ivan. I wish I never reacted that way and had just let you speak. I'm so sorry."

My lip wobbled, and my heart pounded in my chest. I so desperately wanted to believe his words. I had told so many people that I could see ghosts, and no one had ever believed me. Dimitri had been one of them, and now, he believed me. It was too good to be true. It couldn't be true.

"No," I shook my head as I said it again. "Please, Dimitri. Don't lie to me just to make me feel better," I begged. The tears I had been holding back fell.

Dimitri was on his feet, and at my side in two strides, his arms holding me close. "I'm not lying. I swear it. I thought I could explain it as something else, but I know there is no other reason. All this time you had been telling the truth, and I wish I had listened sooner." He held me closer, his hand brushing my hair. "I know you're telling the truth. I believe you, Rose. I believe you."

More tears fell. My knees threatened to buckle, so I clung to him, crying against his chest as I began to believe his words.

"I believe you, Roza."

Oh, look, a Christmas miracle. :3