Into the Ether - Complete

Spring, When New Things Grow: Part 28

I woke to an empty bed. Dimitri's side was cold, so he'd been up for some time. I rolled over and walked to our bathroom having a quick shower and getting myself dressed. I was back in our room in Abe's guest unit, and I'd managed to sleep until past midnight.

"Hello, Rose! Guardian Belikov was about to send me to wake you," Alyce said from behind the kitchen counter when I descended the stairs. "I've got chicken and mushroom casserole with crusty bread, but I can make you something more breakfasty if you want?"

"Casserole is fine," I assured her as Dimitri, Abe and Pavel walked in for lunch.

"Hello milaya," Dimitri greeted me tenderly, leaning down to brush his lips against mine as he and Abe walked into the kitchen. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"I did," I admitted taking a seat at the table. "I think Junior and I needed it. What have you been up to?"

"Making plans for what needs to be done at the property. We're meeting with human contractors at the property at 8 am. If you're up to it, I thought you might like to go to the human mall and get what we'll need for the unit? Kirk and some of the Guardians will go with you as they need to order for the Guardian quarters."

"Use your credit card and get whatever you need. You'll need a bed, a sofa, fridge and pots and pans and all those other things. Alyce? Could you help Rose make up a list?" Abe requested. Alyce was almost bouncing on the spot with glee, and I had to admit the prospect of buying a whole unit full of stuff for the place I was going to share with Dimitri was kind of exciting!

She put bowls of food in front of us, and for the next few minutes, I was busy eating and listening to the latest developments from back at the Academy. They'd not managed to apprehend anyone concerning the fires, but there was no doubt they'd been deliberately lit. The one in Dimitri's room had been extinguished quickly, but as my end of the female Novice's floor had been vacant because of my party, the fire in my room had had greater time to take hold. It had been confined, but my former room had been gutted.

"There were a couple of reports of an unknown female Moroi with dark hair in the stairwell as the Novice dorm was being evacuated, but no one was paying enough attention to be able to positively identify her as Tasha Ozera," Dimitri grumbled.

"I should probably call Lissa and let her know we've made it to where we were going safely," I said. "She'll be worried. Celeste too."

"Ok. But remember – not even a hint of where we are, Roza. It's not that I don't trust them, but I don't want to risk Tasha following us."

After lunch, Abe and Pavel disappeared back into Abe's study while Dimitri lingered for a moment.

"Don't go nuts with your buying," he said sweetly. "Just get enough for the unit. Once the cottage is finished, we'll go shopping for furnishings and things for the baby together," he promised lovingly.

I helped Alyce clear the lunch dishes and we sat down at the table.

"It's hard to know what to buy without seeing the place. Was there anything at all in there?" she asked.

"Not that I can recall," I said, straining to remember. When we'd toured the place, I hadn't known Dimitri and I might end up living there, so I hadn't paid a lot of attention.

"Well let's start with the kitchen. You'll need glasses, a dinner set, cutlery, cookware, some cooking utensils, and knives. You probably won't need a full-size fridge if it's just the two of you, but remember to measure the fridge cavity when you're there so what you order fits."

I was already shaking my head. I so wasn't a details person.

Noticing my bewilderment, Alyce suggested, "Why don't I see if my sitter can take my boy to her place overnight? She does it if I need to work a late shift. I can come with you to the property and see what's there, and then we can go to the shops together?"