Hey, Comrade

9

< 9 - девять >

Three weeks after my return from hospital, Dimitri and I decend from a plane in Russia. It was another four weeks until I was able to be back as Lissa's Guardian according to the doctor and I was getting very bored.

A couple of days after my return Dimitri had gone out and bought a television for our room. Yes, our, I had decided to end my teasing and move in with Dimitri. I spent my weeks watching The Simpsons on a pop up channel until it stopped.

It was Lissa's idea for us to go to Russia. Dimitri although excited to see his family again after all these years, was hesitant to go leave Christian behind without a Guardian. I had remembered then about how Dimitri's past charge had been killed while he was away so I forced Hans to put another Guardian on Christian for the two and a half weeks while we were with the Belikov family.

My injuries were pretty much healed. My ribs, though not fully, didn't hurt much anymore and I could lift up my arms and stretch and run around wildly without any pain. It was more of a precaution that the doctor said so long, but with my amazing dhampir healing I was ready to run.

We get into a rental car for the drive to Baia, Dimitri of course driving. It's still light outside, but by the time we get to Baia the light has only an hour left. Dimitri kills the engine of the car and sits staring at his childhood home.

He's scared I realise. Dimitri hadn't been back to Russia since his Strigoi days and the last time I was here, I had told his family that he was practically dead.

I reach out and place my hand on his thigh. He breaks away from the house and faces me. I smile and squeeze his leg lightly. "It will be okay Comrade."

He nods and brings my hand up to his mouth. I exit the car first and Dimitri follows after I give him an impatient look through the windscreen. We leave our bags in the boot for later and walk up to the door.

He knocks and we wait. No one answers and Dimitri tests the door knob. It twists easily and he steps cautiously inside, calling out to his family.

He goes further into the house still calling out and I follow. He walks into the kitchen but I move towards the back window. There I see my favourite member of his family out on the grass. Old and fragile Yeva Belicova stands drawing patterns on a tree.

"Dimitri." I call with a smile.

He comes in quickly and I point outside. He follows my gaze and a grin slips on his face. In an instant he is walking out the door and towards her. I follow him but keep my distance.

Yeva turns and I watch happily as Dimitri embraces her in a hug. He kneeled before wrapping his arms around her and even then, he was still taller than the short and sour old lady.

The pair stay connected for a long time, all in which I watch with my back pressed against the outside wall of the house. As they break apart Dimitri says something to her and Yeva looks past him and her eyes find me.

She comes bounding over, her pace way quicker than it should be for someone her age. I expect her to start giving me all these life predictions but I only have time to straighten up from the wall before she throws her arms around me and starts talking quick Russian. "Roza, ty krasivaya devushka, spasibo, chto vernul yego. Spasibo Spasibo spasibo..." It keeps going, the only word I recognise is thank you but I still get the gist.

I pat her head awkwardly and make eye contact with Dimitri. He is grinning at me and Yeva and I poke my tongue out back at him. Eventually Yeva lets me go and pats my cheek gratefully. I smile at her.

We sit in the kitchen five minutes later, Dimitri and Yeva talking in Russian and me sitting with my head on the table nearly falling asleep. It had been a long day. My boredom is lifted however when the door to the house opens and familiar voices come flooding through the house. Dimitri stands at the sound of his family arguing in Russian. There is a high pitched sequel and it is only a second before Viktoria comes bounding into the kitchen and wraps her arms around Dimitri.