Hardest of Hearts (VA fanfic) [Adopted from Fanfiction's Dareia]

A BIG, HAPPY FAMILY

RPOV
As I walked back home, I couldn't help but wonder about Dimitri. He was still a god. He just had to be one of those men that became more breathtaking with time. The George Clooney and Richard Gere type. Life was never fair. I mean, it's not like I could complain, but still! I was 34 and Adrian always rightly said I was like a fine wine; I got better with age.

The big question was: what next? I was surprised Sonja hadn't noticed how her brother mirrored her mentor in every possible way. She had likely been preoccupied with making a scene and refusing to work with his methods. She really had to hurry up and learn some control.

"Did you ask her?" Sonja rushed out hopefully the moment I opened the door. I don't blame her for her desire to get him out of the picture. But we're stuck with him around indefinitely, such was our luck.
"She didn't have time," I apologised, "but we are going to theirs for dinner."
Her face fell and I had never hated Lissa and Dimitri more. They were the reason my daughter looked crestfallen. Call me overprotective or whatever, but Niko and Sonja were my unique babies!
"Course," Niko chuckled. As his voice had dropped his chuckle and laugh had morphed from a child's to become a replica of Dimitri's. "I just hope Uncle Chris doesn't let Aunt Lissa near the kitchen."
I laughed with him. The last time Lissa had tried to aid Christian in the kitchen she had nearly burned down the house.

I never thought the time would come where I was thankful for Christian. But it has. He's always been so close to the twins he's been their father-figure, more-or-less.

I sobered before mentioning the one piece of info that would have Sonja seething and Niko over-the-moon excited. "Guardian Belikov will be there." Best they have the head's up. It was going to be awkward enough. Even more so when things fell into place and realisations hit everyone and the skeletons revealed themselves in the form of Niko practically being Dimitri's time-capsule and reflection. My worst fears were going to become reality tonight, I was so certain about that I wanted to cry and scream and hit something... well, a certain someone was more like it.

Their reaction was exactly as I had expected.
"Awesome," Sonja growled while Niko cheered excitedly.
"I want you both to behave." I stared my daughter down pointedly then collapsed on the sofa between them. "I love you both, so please behave tonight." I turned to Sonja, "I know how hard this will be for you, so try to be like your brother just this once." I was pretty sure it fell on deaf ears.
It was going to be one hellishly long and painful night without her making a spectacle of herself. Though, I was undoubtedly certain my breath was wasted and I was getting my hopes up unnecessarily. She was my daughter after all.

"Why is it always me everyone's eyes narrow at when they say that?"
See what I was saying?
"Maybe because you're the one who doesn't know how to behave?" Niko sighed and shook his head in a mix of amusement and frustration. He'd lived with her being this way since they'd been conceived. Never before had I so desperately wished Sonja would for once have Dimitri's genes raise their head. It would be a blessing tonight.

We walked straight in their door when we arrived later that night. We always had. Her home was ours and ours was hers.
I heard her voice coming from the living room and it matched the excitement she felt. She didn't suspect that her brilliant idea was probably going to end up a disaster. It was the worst possible event in my mind. But what could I do? I was only a dhampir, when push comes to shove, so I had no say.

"Hey! I'm so glad you came!" Lissa grinned as we entered their spacious yet cosy living room.
Dimitri sat next Tasha on the sofa- of course, I thought bitterly. His eyes widened at the sight of Niko. How could they not? It would be like looking at himself when he was 16. My eyes went to the twins. They found shocked expressions. It's official. They all know and I'm so dead.