𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑 ▸ Rose and Lissa have been best friends since kindergarten. Their friendship has grown and changed but they still have each other's backs - even as Queen and Head of the Queen's Guardians. Rose has always said she do '...
"Done?" Rose asked when Dimitri emerged from Guardian Headquarters.
"Done," Dimitri confirmed, taking the diaper bag from Rose, before bending to join his lips softly with hers. Rose accepted his kiss, although didn't reciprocate it. 'One step at a time,' Dimitri thought, secretly thinking he was lucky she allowed him even that. He briefly ran through his discussion with Croft, leaving out the more offensive aspects. "One thing left to do, and then we can leave," Dimitri said, leaning further down to kiss Lara's soft downy head. He was still adjusting to the idea of being a father to an adopted newborn, but he already loved Lara's delicate scent, and he adored seeing the way Rose had bonded with the infant. He'd meant what he'd said that if Lara was Rose's, then she was his, too. Rose was the only woman he wanted to parent with. Grasping her hand, the two walked back toward the Palace.
"Did you want to come up?" Dimitri checked as they approached the service entry where their van was parked.
"No. I think I'll get Lara settled," Rose replied. The only person she needed to say goodbye to was Ambrose, and she'd text him while she waited. Rose pulled her key fob from her pocket. Now her room and Guardian keys were gone, only her copy of the van keys were on there. Opening the passenger door, Rose was unsurprised to see Dimitri had already set up Lara's car seat, ready to strap Lara into. Surprisingly spacious, the cabin had plenty of room for the diaper bag under the seat, and Dimitri had already placed his CDs in the space on the dash and a couple of his books on the bench. No iPod plug on the stereo, Rose noted with a grimace. That meant they'd be subjected to Dimitri's questionable choice of music since she didn't own any CDs.
Carefully unstrapping Lara, Rose placed her in the car seat, covering her with a blanket. Peering through the luggage guard to the back, Rose could see their boxes and suitcases neatly arranged alongside Lara's dismantled nursery furniture. It had been expensive, so it made sense to bring it along. At the back were Lara's bassinette and change table. Both had the legs removed but were serviceable. Along the roller-door on one side of the van were two single mattresses lying one on top of the other with a quilt and a couple of pillows on top. Rose could also see new camping equipment along with bottled water, toilet paper, some tinned food and a new box of diapers and wipes. Dimitri must have done a run to the twenty-four-hour market while she and Lara slept. It was such a Dimitri thing to do.
Yes, Rose was still furious Dimitri had so readily believed the worst of her – but more than that, she was angry he hadn't given her a chance to explain. It was something she intended to discuss at length with him during their trip to St. Vlad's. Jumping to conclusions, especially when the circumstances were so damning, was one thing. Shutting her out without a chance to defend herself was altogether another. If Dimitri was genuine about wanting to parent together and be a family, they needed to work on their communication.
Trying to distract herself from Dimitri's conversation with Lissa and Christian, Rose pulled out her cell to text Ambrose.
I've put in for a leave of absence, and Lara and I are leaving Court. I'm not sure where we'll end up, but I'll let you know once we get there. Thanks for everything, Ambrose – but especially thank you for believing in me. Rose
Pressing send, Rose switched off her phone. Dimitri would be back any minute now. Once he was here, and they were on their way, there was no one else she wanted to speak with.
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