Another short chapter, but it's better than nothing. The chapters will get longer around chapter 6. I'm not sure when I will be updating again. If you've read either of my stories that I've updated recently (Six Years Later or The Elemental Wanderer), you already know that I had surgery a few days ago. I'm okay, but I'm taking pain medication that kind of makes it hard to make entrances make sense. (It's really strong medicine). Anyway.

Disclaimer : I do not own VA or any of the recognizable characters

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Enjoy!

Rose POV

About a week after Ms. Petrov sent out the pen pal letters, most of us got a reply. I was so excited that my hands were shaking as I tore open the letter. After I read the letter, a smile crept onto my face. Dimitri had signed the letter with the nickname that I had given him. I think I'm really going to enjoy this. I sat down at my desk, and started on my reply.

September 12, 2009

Hey Comrade,

I was really excited to get your reply so quickly. Some of the students have yet to receive a letter back from their pen pal, which is kind of sad if you ask me.

Honestly, when I heard that we had a year long project and a end of the year portfolio to do, I was disappointed. I'm not really a fan of school work. All of my friends are talking about college, while I have no idea what I want to do when I get out of high school. If nothing else, I'll probably follow Lissa to college where ever she decides to go.

Baba (Turkish for Dad) is finally letting me get a part time job, even though I don't need it. My average allowance is bound to be more than any one of my pay checks. Nevertheless, Lissa and I are going job hunting this week. I think having a job will help me figure out what I want to do with myself after I graduate.

Anyway, you probably don't want to hear about all of the mindless drama that surrounds me, so I'm going to end this letter here.

Waiting for your reply,

Rose

I finished my letter before class ended, and handed it in to Ms. Petrov so that she could get it sent to Dimitri as soon as possible. I really hoped Dimitri was as eager to get my letters as I was about getting his.

DPOV (written by Bethismyname)

I sat numbly on my bed. Even after 2 weeks, I still couldn't believe it.

He was gone.

"Soldier, it's time for the awards ceremony, you need to be there." A commanding voice said from beside me. I looked up at the Colonel, who was staring down at me sympathetically. He put a comforting hand on my shoulder, "He was a great loss, but would have wanted you to continue with your life. The rebels need to be defeated, and sadly his life was lost, but we must push on! Act now, grieve for the fallen later. The people of America relying on us must come first."

I nodded, and stood, following him through the tent to the dirt quad outside. Everyone stood to attention as we walked out – but not to me. Who would salute to a murderer?

I stood beside the Colonel, and tuned in and out to his speech.

"And finally! I am promoting Sergeant Dimitri Belikov to Sergeant Major for his heroics in the recent attack against the rebels."

He turned towards me and attached the six striped symbol onto my shoulder, along with pinning a medal for valour onto my shirt.

"Thank you sir, but I really don't-"

"Nonsense Belikov, you deserve this more than most men out there. What you did was something to be admired, not ashamed of." He then turned towards the parade who were saluting in my direction, "PARAAAAAAAAAAAAADE. DIIIISMISS!" he yelled, and in the perfect timing that only the military could achieve, the men left. I turned to as well, but the Colonel called me back, "A letter arrived for you earlier." He told me, giving a smile and walking away.

I slowly made my way towards the command tent. There were only two options to who could send it to me. My mother, and Rose. I wasn't in the mood for either to be honest.

I was handed an envelope, with my name on it, written in a familiar scrawl. Rose.

I read over it quickly on my way back to my tent, sat down and began to write a reply back.

September 20, 2009

Dear Rose,

I understand your problems; I wasn't sure about which college to choose either. It's how I eventually ended up in the army. But promise me, you won't make the same choices I did.

I wrote my previous letter moments before I went on a mission with my section.

A tear slid down my face as I wrote, hitting the paper with a soft splash.

My best friend, Ivan, went with me, and… he didn't make it back. We were attacked by a rebel group. Ivan and I fought back immediately, as did everyone else. He was shot by one of them. I tried to protect him, save him even. I dragged him to safety, but he died later that day.

Go to college; get a good job, because although it isn't safe anywhere; where you are is better than here.

-Dimitri.

I stuffed the letter into the envelope and handed it in later that day.