The Little Rose (VA Fanfic)

Back to school

Abe'sPOV
"Where's Belikov and Rose?" asked Helen when I entered the kitchen.
"Asleep as far as I'm aware."
Helen let out an indulgent sigh. "After yesterday, they deserve a sleep in."
I couldn't agree more. "Except she's got to head to the Academy."
"Are you sure you should have let Guardian Hathaway talk you into moving her?"
"No, I'm not sure, Helen. But she's got you guys. And after yesterday, I'd prefer her at an Academy with more campus guardians."
"If they can keep the last Dragomirs safe, then with our help they can keep Miss Rose safe."
I sighed and started on a cold slice of pizza leftover from last night.

"Morning sleepy heads," I greeted as Rose and Belikov shuffled into the kitchen.
"Not funny, Daddy!" grumbled that daughter of mine.
"Settle, Rose," cooed Dimitri. She sagged in defeat.
"Hurry breakfast because you have a jet to catch."
"Jet?"
"Later, Kiz. For now, eat."
Rose went straight for the chocolate glazed donuts Belikov had made last night.
"Uh uh," he chastised. "They've got to last, Rose."
"Of course they do. You never do anything for me without restrictions."
He shook his head at her. "Not really, Rose."
"I guess you're right and I'm an ungrateful greedy bitch."
"That's not true, you're a growing girl with lots to learn."
Rose giggled. "And you're going to be the one to teach me, right?"
"You've got a lot to discover on your own."

I walked away wondering if either of them realised there were second meanings. Surely, surely, even my too bright twelve year old couldn't recognise that she was nearly on the verge of flirting with him? And surely Belikov could hear it, couldn't he, he could hear the double meanings a twelve year old shouldn't be able to put into a sentence on purpose?

I would have been better living in blissful ignorance until I knew for sure they knew they were interested in each other, like six/ seven years. Now I was living on a knife edge waiting for the feelings to morph and grow and mature. As if Rose wasn't already growing up too fast!

DPOV
Rose stuck to my side the whole trip to St Vladimir's in America. She was unusually, almost worryingly quiet.
"Rose? Are you okay?" I asked on the plane, about to descend.
"No. Not at all. I keep seeing yesterday. And I'm scared. I'm going to be on my own, know no one-" I gently cut off her ramblings.
"I'll be here. So will the others. And if you're your vibrant, talkative, friendly self you will make new friends in no time."
She shook her head furiously. "Now all my classes will be in English. Not just that, I don't know who could eventually want to hurt me, kill me even. I won't know who to trust. And what if people don't understand me? What then, Dimi?"
"You will be fine, Rose. Don't worry."

Alberta'sPOV
The jet made its landing and I let out a breath I didn't register holding. The group descended, surrounding the little Rosemarie Mazur.
"Hi, welcome to St Vladimir's, I'm Guardian Petrov, captain of Academy guardians."

I searched for little Rosemarie. And found her hiding behind the tallest of them. From the info packs Abe sent I recognised him to be the young Guardian Belikov. Rosemarie was clinging to his arm and if Abe's most recent update was right, it was because she'd recently been attacked by five Strigoi and seen one of her guardians killed.

"I'm Guardian Belikov," confirmed the tallest with a thick Russian accent, the one Rosemarie was hiding behind. I'd been warned that when it came to him, she was very clingy, didn't like him being out of sight for too long, if it could be helped at all. "Rose...." he continued in Russian, all I picked up was my name. Belikov gently guided Rosemarie around to his side. Both of her hands clutched his. Her dark hair was down in loose curls and she wore embroidered jeans and a black leather jacket. She looked oddly innocent, yet at the same time her outfit screamed she was dangerous and made her look older than she was.
"Dimi..." she pleaded fruitlessly in Russian. The mixture of the Russian language coming out in a Turkish accent was odd and confusing. Then she turned to me, "I'm Rose." was all she said.
"Well then, Miss Rose, let's take you to Headmistress Kirova to let her know you've arrived."
She looked at Belikov and the young guardian nodded.
"Let's go, Guardian Petrov." He tugged Rose forward and she followed as if on autopilot. She seemed nothing like the infamous dangerous spitfire zmeyette.