DPOV
I waited in the foyer of the clinic, despite wanting to hover outside Rose's room ready to pounce and protect her... even from her mother. I was all jittery until Janine walked into the foyer.
"You're coming with me," Janine ordered, striding past me purposely, not looking behind her to check if I was following. Just like her daughter, she assumed I'd be on her heels... which I was because if I didn't I knew I'd be in more trouble with her than I already was.

I'm sure we were an odd sight as we walked through campus then right to the edge, to the wards. She was the renowned five-nothing mother of the notorious Rose Hathaway and I, the six foot seven seen-as-god and Rose's 'badass' mentor Dimitri Belikov, was following dutifully behind.

Janine sharply turned on her heel and a fist came out towards me. I blocked, not having let my guard down... quite the opposite. Yup. She knew. She knew and she was as pissed as I'd expected. I mean, how could you not know with how heartbroken, protective and possessive I'd been after seeing her die, while clutching her body to me.
"She's a child!" Janine was as sharp and blunt as her heavenly beautiful daughter. Again, a punch was sent my way. "Your student!"
"You think I didn't realise? You don't think I tried not to fall for her? If only because she's supposed to be my guarding partner for Lissa when the two graduate?" I calmly defended. Janine kept sending punches my way and I kept blocking.
"And you chose to be involved with her anyway," she snorted in disgust.
"It wasn't an easy choice, Hathaway. You make it sound so thoughtless, such an easy, light decision. It wasn't. If Spokane hadn't happened I would have become Tasha's guardian so Rose could focus on her studies and Lissa."
Janine looked both furious and puzzled. "What changed," she demanded.
"She disappeared and I realised I couldn't live without her, that no matter how much I tried to deny it and hide it, even from her, even from me, she'd stolen my heart. When we found her in Spokane and I was the first she recognised and responded to, I knew I couldn't leave her side. She needed me, my instruction, my presence."
Janine paused in her attack for a moment and sighed as she considered. "I'd love to be able to ask you this question while pointing my gun at your head and stake at your heart... but since Rose confiscated them..."

Uh oh! I was glad Rose had confiscated them and found the image sorta funny, though I liked the idea of Rose possessing a firearm no more than I did her mother. I didn't.

"Yes, Hathaway?"
She fixed me with a glare reminiscent of her daughter's 'don't-mess-with-me... ever' death glare. "I have to ask: Have you slept with her?"
Lying under oath had been easier than facing her mother with this question. "Yes," I answered honestly, knowing no way I worded it would ever change the fact or the negative image created in this or any parent's head. I'd always tried to compare Rose with my littlest sister, Vika, who was only a year younger than Rose. I always felt sick at the thought of Vika with a twenty-three year old, yet somehow me with Rose felt so different. Call me a hypocrite, but love runs its own course.
"Give me one DAMN good reason why I shouldn't report you!"
I had a trump card, I realised. I just hated how shallow it made me seem. "If you take me from her, you're taking her from yourself and she may never forgive you."

Her face and body slumped. I knew she truly loved Rose and wanted to make things up with her. I knew she knew that taking action against me would jeopardise the progress she'd made already. Janine sighed. "Fine. I don't like this Belikov, and I'm not going to pretend I do. I'm not sure I ever will. Just be careful with her, Belikov. Got it. You've saved her life, so take damn good care of her."
I nodded sharply. "I will. I promise."
"You had better." Without further ado she stalked away, back towards campus.

I knew I should return to the clinic, but I went to the cabin instead. Stepping inside I learned we'd forgotten to make the bed. The images and sensations flooded my mind and a smile creeped onto my lips.
In that pocket of time, only Roza had existed, her and my love for her. It had been perfect, regardless of what had happened either side, it had been perfect because she was perfect for me. That pocket of stolen time still shone brightly, the best part of that night, the best time of my life. I'd learned a vital lesson. Roza comes first. It was my new and treasonous mantra, but I couldn't help it. That woman had ensnared me and I no longer wanted freedom from her, I wanted the reverse. I had wanted the reverse for a long time, in my heart, and also in my head. As I licked my lips now I could swear I could taste her, feel her as images of all her skin they'd worshiped and kisses they'd shared with her washed over me once more. It was nearly like after the charm, but this time there was no guilt or regret, and no guilt or regret over there being a lack of such emotions about taking Rose to bed with me.

Never have a truer four words been said and never before have they been so happily and easily tossed aside.
"We can't..." I'd said, knowing it was pointless, knowing that if she let me, let us, we would be doing exactly what we did.
"I know," Roza had agreed. Yet we'd so willingly ignored our own advice, we'd let our love take control of us, and it had been amazing, freeing even.

"Hey," Roza's amused laugh broke me from my memories.
"Hey," I grinned and kissed her.
"Thanks for the show!" she teased and I groaned into the crook of her neck. "Glad to see and feel how I affect you."
"I'm glad you can invade my privacy." We sat precariously on the sacred bed. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed what I hadn't nights before.
"You bonded me because you love me, you sacrificed that privacy." Rose's eye followed mine and she winced. "How did you not realise?" my love sounded offended. And I guess she had every right to be.
"I guess-"
"Just because you'd been fifteen doesn't mean I'm as the rumours say! You know me better than anyone, and yet you didn't even think I'd waited? You're unbelievable and insufferable sometimes, Dimitri." She stormed out the door in a huff, banging it behind her, and tears were ready to stream down her face.

Memories of all the times I'd lied to her, the times I'd blown hot-n-cold on her and my response to learning she'd heard about Tasha's offer assaulted me. She was right, I had been insufferable, choosing to try to blind myself from her reactions and emotions. Filled with a new love and appreciation for her, I ran out after her. Again, making that bed was long forgotten as I searched out my Roza, my most precious, most delicate, most loving, resilient, strong-willed and talented Roza.

"Oh Rose," I sighed when I found her, my arms immediately encircling her waist. "I'm sorry. I love you. Forgive me?" I had noticed three nights ago, but I hadn't fully processed it, too distracted by her beauty and our hormones and love. Especially our love, I'd needed her to know.
"I know now," she murmured. "Of course you're forgiven, Comrade. I love you."
My lips met hers and I pushed her against the nearest tree. Not hard enough to hurt her, but fierce enough for her to know what she was doing to my control, what she always did to my so-called self control. God, I wanted to take her back to the cabin and cherish her again, the heat and electricity flowing between us right now was all consuming.

It took all my control to pull away and not give in, and to hold on to the weak-willed need to wait until graduation because I didn't know how many people suspected... or knew, even... about this, our deepest secret, our love. Well, I reconsidered, this bond was deeper still, if only because it came from my love for her.

Rose laughed. "Who knew you could be such a romantic?" she teased.
I growled lustfully. "Just you wait until I can properly take you out."
Rose blushed. She looked so adorable and innocent, yet so mature and goddamn attractive. Absolutely beautiful. She always had been and always would be.

My shifts picked up over the next four days and I did whatever I could just to walk past Roza's door at night to make sure nightmares weren't getting to her. She'd given me a key, so I used that once to check on her. Sound asleep and peaceful. Quickly, I pressed a kiss to her forehead and ran a hand through her hair. "I love you, Roza. Sleep tight, my love," I sent mentally in English and murmured it Russian. She sighed contentedly and smiled, the sign she'd received it, even in her sleep. In those days she spent most of her time with Lissa, Eddie, Christian and Ivashkov. Whilst jealousy coursed through me that Ivashkov could flirt with and make moves on my woman in public, I knew it was the sacrifice I made, and I was reassured by the knowledge I was the only one she'd made love to, the only one she wanted. We ran into each other twice a day each of those days... but I had to wonder if she'd subtly sought me out, knowing how much I missed her and simply wanted to see her smile one more time that day.

A week after the attack, rescue, Jesse Zeklos and the darkness incident, and most importantly the cabin, the memorial was held and the marking ceremony. Both were somber and sad events, but a part of me couldn't bring myself to truly mourn. Because I had Roza by my side, quite literally at the moment in the back pew of the chapel, in the corner. She looked at me pointedly and placed her hand on my knee. It was so damn dangerous with the suspicious looks we were working hard to avoid and dispel. But right now everyone else in this packed chapel was too busy to notice or care. After a quick double check I return the small touch that spoke legions between us, I also placed my hand on her knee.

"You up for training tomorrow?" I enquired after the marking ceremony, still in guardian admin with Alberta still in the room.
Roza had trouble hiding her grin. "Oh hell yeah, I am."
"Good," I murmured softly. "Usual time slots," I instructed, knowing she'd hate me for the early mornings and late nights when classes were still suspended. I knew she'd groan and complain and that I'd be amused by it- she got so cute and attractive when she protested passionately.
She didn't disappoint. The groan was exactly the sound I knew it would be. "You're just messing with me," she whined.
"Not at all." I kept the playfulness out of my voice but I knew she'd receive it through the bond.
"You're a pain in my ass sometimes, Dimitri Belikov," she chastised. This time I had a very tough time keeping my amusement locked up... and the 'inappropriate' way my heart and body pulsed at the sound of my full name falling from her lips... it was a turn on, and with the bond she'd know exactly what she did to me by using it. God forbid she ever use it to seduce me.
Sure, I was supposed to have a patronymic name, but my so-called royal Moroi father was such an ass and disgrace of a sentient being I no longer identified with it. I was not going to be like that idiot, especially with Roza. She wouldn't let me get anything like that anyway.

Rose shook her head at my inner rambling. She smiled and my heart melted. After a swift nod and attempted serious glare she left the room.

"You two really need to tone down the playfulness," commented a kind but firm looking Alberta.
"That was hardly playful," I defended calmly. She didn't want to see me and Rose being playful. No one did.
Her brow quirked questioningly. "Are you sure? Because that wasn't the way either of you normally behave..." then next bit was muttered under her breath but I knew she meant for me to hear. "At least when not around each other."
"I'm still allowed to train her aren't I?" I asked, suddenly fearful.
Alberta laughed. "Yes, Belikov. You don't need to worry about me taking her or your time with her away. She's been through too much and you're her only rock. Just try not to teach her anything she's not ready for."
I mentally gulped at her insinuation. "Of course."
She studied me intently, trying to figure out just how intimate my relationship with Rose was. "I would hope so. You're a moral man, Dimitri, and I don't wish for your connection with her to change that."

She knew, I realised. Either through Janine, or years of deciphering expressionless guardians and lying kids. She knew. And she could have my ass for it.

"Just, stay G-rated if you can both manage it after last weekend." She knew, she most certainly knew.
"Of course, Petrov."
She lightened just minutely to add, "If you can't, then don't defile school property when others are around. Are we agreed?"
"Yes, agreed." I nodded seriously.

I doubted my flimsy control, but I would try to keep it intact until graduation night. That way I can really show Roza who had no control, really make something more of cherishing her... by ravaging her lovingly. Graduation night and not a moment earlier. Her graduation had to be perfect and that meant she'd just have to wait for her second time.
Roza, honey, if you're listening you're just going to have to suck it up so I can show you how weak your control is, and I know you'll thank me for it eventually.

Her birthday came around the following Sunday. And her friends had thrown together a party of sorts in one of the royal rec rooms. Just before curfew came I impulsively snuck into her room to wait for her. Okay, it wasn't that impulsive, but with the bond leaving Rose knowing my every thought and whim and me without a way to block her out, I'd been planning something entirely different and making sure all thoughts I had today were in Russian. Though I didn't doubt she'd be slowly learning Russian by determination and spying. She hadn't been wrong when she'd said I'd given my privacy over to her when I'd saved her. It wasn't as if she already seemed to read my mind anyway.

"What the hell? How did I not see this coming?" Rose whisper screeched in surprise when she found me on her bed with a book. She would shoot me regarding my envisaging Rose as the damse- "I'm not a damsel you have to save."
I chuckled, completely amused as I put the book on her nightstand. "I have my ways. And yes you are. You regularly need me to save you from yourself." I moved to stand but was immediately pushed back down and straddled. She was pinning me more frequently in training now she could read my mind.
"Oh no you don't," she purred in my ear. I shivered, both from her tone and the non-existent space between us. My heart beat faster than she usually made it race. And breathing was soon becoming a real issue. "You're in my room, so you have to play by my rules." Her purr became a seduction attempt as she met my eyes and spoke against my lips. "It's my birthday so I can do whatever I wish."
I moaned and collapsed further into her pillows as I completely agreed with her. She didn't have to try seducing me in order to be seduced by her. Damn woman was giving me a problem... on purpose and I knew she knew her doing it on purpose was only making it harder to ignore.

Her lips attacked mine as she ground against me. My left hand went to her waist to hold her flush against me- the closest we could be with far too many clothes on for my liking- and my right hand braided into her left-free-today curls. I barely got to touch her when her hands gripped both arms and pinned them above me. Oh god, she was that much more attractive when she was dominant, her fiery side had come out to play in the bedroom. I was left wondering how I'd ever resisted her. She wasn't shy any longer. She wasn't nervous. She wasn't scared. She was in love, filled with desire, hungry and on the prowl... and I just happened to be the only thing on her menu. She'd let me guide her through two weeks ago, but now she was going to show me how it was done. I was a goner. If anything, I'd been wanting to ravish her tonight. Even with trainings I'd felt myself falling into withdrawal, Roza withdrawal. Tonight wasn't going to plan... but since when did Rose Hathaway ever follow plans that weren't her own? She wanted to dominate tonight. And I had just made the mistake of letting her.

Because the whole heated make out session was for naught. The naughty but loveable bitch was simply teasing me. And with the bond she more than knew what time was best for her to gain control, pull away from me and move to sit on her desk.

"You tease!" I complained, completely frustrated. "That wasn't fair!" I whined.
She grinned smugly despite her own frustrated state. I knew she'd been getting wet, and all I wanted right now was to get creative cleaning it up.
"You promised to shift heaven and earth and make the planets align on graduation night. Not before. I'm holding zen master Mr-Perfect-Self-Control to it."
"You bitch, Roza," I grumbled in Russian, not meeting her eyes. Soon enough I lifted them to hers. "Happy birthday, Roza."
She smiled and so began the rest of the night of heavy making-out without any real action for either of us. She let me take control sometimes, say like nearly never... it only added an extra dimension to her beauty and our love.