Dimitri's POV

I lay with my head in Rose's lap, too weak to move. Her fingers traced slow, soothing motions through my hair as she tried not to laugh too much at my expense.

It all began when Rose's friends and I went to New York. Lissa and Christian wanted to meet one of my old friends who could assist them with political matters at the Court. Initially, it was meant to be a short trip with just the four of us and some other guardians, but Adrian, Jill, Eddie, and Sydney joined us at the last moment. My old friend Igor also brought his girlfriend, Nina, along with her friends. After settling our business matters, we headed into town.

Rose and the rest of the gang quickly befriended the new group, singing karaoke, playing pool, and sharing drinks with them. Personally, I had a great time teaching Rose how to play pool, even though she was terrible at it. However, she didn't seem disappointed as I tried to teach her some techniques, my arm constantly around her waist.

Around midnight everyone wanted to get back to our apartment, but I just started talking privately with Igor. We spoke about our old friends and acquaintances, about Ivan, and about our current lives, and we didn't want to stop. My shift was over, so I decided to stay while Rose and the others went to our rented apartment. She kissed me goodbye and jokingly told me not to get too crazy. I rolled my eyes, knowing she was mocking me. I wasn't in the habit of overindulging with alcohol, and Rose had never seen me hungover before.

All the more reason for me not to understand what the fuck happened that night. Igor and I ordered stronger drinks as our conversation turned to more serious topics - like Ivan's death and Igor's sister's tragic accident. I still remember the last time we played pool when we decided to change venues to lighten up and have a fun evening.

I didn't remember anything else after that.

I woke up on the couch in our apartment's common room, with the worst headache of my life and a burning pain in my shoulder. I tried to get up, but at the slightest movement of my head, I felt a paralyzing nausea. I wasn't sure if I'd make it to the toilet in time, so I opted to stay put on the couch. The nausea was so overwhelming that I didn't dare to move, even though I knew my friends would see me soon enough. I felt stupid and embarrassed at the thought of my charge and Lissa, the Moroi queen, seeing me in such a state, but I couldn't muster the strength to get up.

However, I had no reason to worry. My friends were only concerned about my well-being, and they were not judgmental at all. "This shouldn't have surprised me, especially considering I've helped them with the aftermath of Lissa and Rose's various college parties. Lissa wanted to heal me with the power of the spirit, but I wouldn't let her waste it on this. Christian, for his part, offered to make me something to eat, but I firmly refused, certain that I would not swallow anything.

For Rose, my situation was absolutely hilarious. As soon as she emerged from our room, she tried (unsuccessfully) to hide a smile. She crouched beside me, gently brushing my hair.

"Hey, I didn't expect you to be up already," her voice concealed her laughter. "Especially after the way you looked when I let you into the apartment yesterday."

"You let me in?" I asked, closing my eyes as I tried to recall anything from the events of the previous evening. Rose nodded, lips tightening to suppress her laughter.

"You were fumbling with the keys so much that I had to check if someone was breaking in," I sighed heavily.

"Why did you leave me here?"

"Me? You were the one who insisted on staying here instead of coming with me."

I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. So much for my dignity.

"What happened yesterday?" I asked, looking at her. I still couldn't remember shit. Her eyes lit up with humor.

"I have no idea what happened to you since we parted until you came here."

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth, feeling a wave of nausea. If I recall Igor's condition from yesterday correctly, he won't be of any help either.

I felt her fingers on my hair.

"Why don't I get you some electrolytes? And something for pain," she asked softly, but I could still hear in her voice that she was smiling.

"Yes, please," I replied, and she immediately returned with electrolytes and a pill, which I quickly swallowed. I drank half a glass before I felt nauseous again. I sank back onto the pillows, and she sat close to my head and played with my hair while drinking her tea. Finally, I suggested she sit comfortably with a backrest. I then laid my head on her lap, letting her continue to stroke my hair in slow motions. Despite the horrible headache and nausea, I had to admit it was quite a pleasant position.

Christian was cooking some breakfast, Lissa next to him, and although I knew I should have eaten something, I didn't have the courage to do so, at least for now. Rose continued to sit next to me, watching some talent show, and I was napping in her lap when the door to our apartment opened.

"Hi everyone!" yelled Jill singingly. I groaned quietly, and Rose giggled, "Gosh, Dimitri, are you all right? "

"He's fine, Jill," replied Rose cheerfully, relishing the situation. "You can see for yourself what happens when you drink too much. Dimitri agreed to demonstrate."

It's cruel, Rose, to kick a man while he's down like that," teased Eddie.

"Thanks, Eddie," I said, closing my eyes as a wave of nausea hit me again. Rose resumed stroking my hair as they joined Christian and Lissa for breakfast. I was about to suggest to Rose that she go eat too, but I heard Adrian's voice as he greeted the others. I groaned into Rose's lap, "This is my nightmare."

Rose laughed out loud, hugging me closer to her.

"Jeez, Belikov, you look exactly like the reason why I don't drink anymore," came his charming comment.

Rose laughed, and I sighed.

"That's very wise of you, Adrian."

"What did you and Igor drink yesterday, anyway? Raid a whole vodka stockpile in New York?"

"Come to the table and stop torturing him," Sydney said gently and dragged Adrian to the table when she saw that I turned pale at the mere mention of alcohol. I squeezed Rose's knee.

"You should eat something too," I whispered to her. She gently stroked my cheek.

"How about you? You will feel better when you have something in your stomach, especially something fatty. Trust me, I speak from experience," she snorted with laughter. I shook my head. I had a craving for fatty food it's true, but I saw no way to swallow something and not throw it up.

"Maybe in a little while," I hissed out through closed teeth.

"Then at least drink these electrolytes, okay?" She asked cheerfully, planting a kiss on my forehead. I agreed and let her go so she could join the table. I remained seated with some effort, sipping electrolytes. The headache was subsiding a little, as was the burning pain in my shoulder. I didn't have the strength or desire to check what happened to me there. Christian once again called out to me to eat something from his breakfast, but I firmly refused, feeling the smell of food making my stomach churn.

When the door opened again, there stood Igor, pale as death, with his girlfriend, Nina. She just glanced at me with raised eyebrows.

"Well, at least Igor's not the only one who looks like this today."

"Don't worry, Dimitri looked worse before," Rose declared cheerfully. I threw her a dirty look. She just rolled her eyes and invited them to eat, but judging by Igor's face, he also did not feel up to swallowing anything.

"Hey, man," Igor started walking towards me at a very slow pace, "You alive?"

"Barely," I replied, rubbing my eyes. I winced as a sting of pain shot through my shoulder, and I massaged it. Igor looked significantly in that direction.

"How about the tattoo?"

I froze, as did everyone else who glanced my way..

"How about what?" I asked horrified.

"Your arm tattoo, from yesterday"

I met Rose's wide eyes. Whatever flashed in my gaze amused her so much that she burst into laughter, doubling over. Christian grinned broadly at me, as did the others, and only Lissa had enough empathy to hide her amusement. Igor pointed to my aching arm and for the first time, I rolled up the sleeve of the T-shirt I was wearing.

There was in fact a wide bandage on my arm. I just stared at it, frozen for a second, feeling my headache peak, and then I cursed very, very ugly in Russian

My friends snickered at me as I looked at Rose, howling with laughter. She had tears in her eyes, as she was holding a chair for support.

"This is like Christmas morning!"

"How could you let me get a tattoo when I was so drunk?"

"Let you? I fucking got my own!" declared Igor, showing his bandaged forearm. He unwound his bandage and showed a freshly tattooed dragon. Nina was shaking her head in disgust as my Rose tried to stay on her feet laughing. I, for one, felt the blood drain from my face.

"Do you know what design I have?" I asked, fear evident in my voice.

"Dude, I don't remember doing anything like that. Apparently, I bragged to Nina when I got back what we did."

"I'll never drink again," I sighed, covering my eyes.

"Oh, come on, Dimitri, you'll only say that after you see your design!" Christian exclaimed cheerfully. Lissa couldn't help it and snickered. Everyone gathered around me and Igor.

"Maybe you got yourself a bear," Adrian beamed.

"I think it's horses, like from a western" mused Christian.

"It's definitely a stake, you fools," Eddie stated.

"I think it's some cheesy quote," replied Rose, sitting close to me with a wet towel and liquid soap. We had enough tattoos on our necks to know I had to wash it by now. Her eyes did not lose their sparkling luster when I threw her a resentful look. "Something like "Honor and duty" or other serious message."

I groaned.

"Is there any chance you will let me not show this tattoo here?"

"No!" Everyone replied in agreement. I looked with surrender at Rose, and in her gaze, I found the remnants of empathy, covered with great amusement.

"Don't worry, comrade. I'll stick with you no matter what you got," she said with a laugh. I handed her my arm to make the official reveal. "Is everyone ready? So, the tattoo that my serious, solemn boyfriend chose is…"

Rose pushed back the bandage gently. She let out a breath, her shoulders slumping in surprise. Seeing my design, I laughed slightly, full of relief. I met her gaze and it seemed that she couldn't decide whether she was more touched or irritated.

"...a rose," she finished with a grave tone. The tattoo on my arm was way better than I could have wished for, even sober. Lissa and Jill sighed in awe, and Christian and Adrian snickered slightly. "That's cheesy."

"I remember!" Igor shouted, "You didn't pay attention to the needle at all, just bullshitting to that poor tattoo artist about what a great girlfriend you have and how lucky you are and other shit."

"And what did you say? What a big fan of dragons you are?" Nina hissed, and Igor's face smile faded quickly.

Rose gently washed the tattoo, looking at it thoughtfully. I knew that she hated all things related to roses (which is why I probably wouldn't have opted for such a design when sober), but I couldn't help thinking that she tolerated this particular image.

It took several hours before I rose from the couch, ate the leftovers of Christian's breakfast, and showered. I had to start my shift soon, anyway, but before I put on my guardian shirt, I took a closer look at my new tattoo in the privacy of my room.

I didn't know if I owed it to the tattoo artist or someone else, but the flower was exceptionally beautiful. At the same time, it had beauty and allure in it, and on the other hand, it had a sharp edge to it that made it not look delicate. I couldn't help thinking that it matched the character of the original perfectly.

'Stop staring at that stupid flower," I heard from behind me. I smiled as I met Rose's gaze in the mirror as she approached me, with her eyes glued to my new tattoo.

"I like it, I really do. Who would have thought I could make such a good decision while drunk?"

Rose grinned and came closer, running her finger gently around the tattoo.

"You know I can't stand roses," she said softly, continuing to stare at the flower on my arm.

"But…"

"But there is something sexy about this tattoo," she raised her eyes, meeting my gaze with a smile. I smiled too, feeling my heart fill with love for her.

There was something sexy about it, true. But there was also something more exhilarating than I could describe in words in the fact that I had the symbol of my Rose tattooed on my body. In the way, she was permanently written on my skin, and I was marked with her forever. Her name was written all over my heart and mind anyway, but there was something infinitely delightful about the fact that now others could see it too.

I cupped her face to kiss her, and she held onto my arm when she rose on her feet to meet me. Her lips felt incredibly soft and sweet against mine as if I were tasting them for the first time. I felt electricity running through my body as she trembled in my arms.

"Just don't let it go to your head," she purred, keeping her lips right next to mine. I laughed lightly.

"Oh, Roza. It's entirely too late for that," I whispered before we melted into another sweet kiss.