The accident & the snowstorm (A VA fanfic)

Five

RPOV
"She's asked him to guard her," Mom said after Christmas lunch. We were in my room and I was putting away Tasha's gift. I liked the woman, she was nice, but a little too clingy and friendly to Dimitri for my taste buds to handle. I was about to find out why. "Oh, she's interested in him, willing to have his kids."
My world stopped and I stumbled back to lean on my desk for support.
I asked the dreaded question despite feeling winded. "Is... is he going to take it?"
Two words completely brought my world to a stop. "Of course."
"Please leave," I cut off her inaudible words. "I'm tired and sore. Please leave." She stormed out and I collapsed on my bed. He wouldn't leave after taking my virginity, would he? He wouldn't place kids above love, would he? The problem was a part of me was certain he would.

I walked straight past him on the jet the next day. Tasha was sitting with him and holding his hand. My heart shattered all over again and I could tell this was going to be a long and painful fortnight. Because the only thing worse than remembering five nights ago, was imaging just how quickly he'd moved on, how soon it would be before he took Tasha to bed.

"I mean since she's giving you fringe benefits and all," I spat ten days later after the makeshift Council meeting had gone to hell because of her.
Dimitri looked agonised. "Who told you?"
"Not you, and that's what matters."
"I didn't tell you because there was nothing to tell," he bit out.
"So you couldn't tell me you were abandoning your-" I stopped. He didn't deserve to find out... at least not in the middle of an argument in the middle of a corridor.
"My what, Rose?" he demanded, suspicious.
I shook my head. "You kept secrets from me regarding me. Two can play at that game."
Dimitri nearly glared at me. Okay. He did glare at me. "This isn't a game, Rose. Tell me. And don't lie, I can see right through it."
Right through me, is more like it. "No. N-O. No."
"You're an Academy student, my student. Tell me."

I shook my head and ran for my room. Disobeying direct orders was something I didn't do... at least from Dimitri. But he'd just used his professional superiority in a personal context again and I wasn't about to let him gain that control of me, I wasn't about to let him think he ever could control me in that way. In any way.

"Rose, open up," he demanded as he nearly kicked the door down.
"Leave me alone!"

He couldn't know. He couldn't afford to know. If he wanted a family, he was safer starting it with her. Not me. If he knew he could be thrown in jail, regardless of the fact I'd consented.

"Roza," he turned pleading.
"You don't get a say in this," I snapped.

There was a silence before I heard what sounded too suspiciously like a sniffle then his quick footsteps rushing away from my door. I'd hurt him, and I was about to do the unthinkable to apologise.