Anything for Her - Complete

Chapter 14

"Do we have to leave?!" Rose whined opening an eye before deciding it was way too early, hence closing it again. They'd checked in to the hotel at 2.00 pm, and it was now 6.00 am. While Rose fancied another hour or two passed out in bed, Dimitri wanted to get them on the road so they'd be at St. Vlad's by early evening, Moroi time.

"Don't you want to see Alberta?" Dimitri coaxed, knowing how much Rose loved and missed the Guardian who'd been the closest thing to a mother throughout her school years. "She'll be so excited to see you, and she's going to adore Lara..."

"You'd better get me donuts on the way," Rose grumbled, rolling out of bed and heading for the shower. "And my cereal!" Dimitri had made good on his promise for round two, then later on a lengthy round three, so a shower was definitely in order. There was no way Rose was going to rock up to the Academy, jobless, disgraced, with a young baby plus reeking of sex! Three out of four was bad enough.

"We'll stop at a market," Dimitri promised, packing up the few things they'd brought inside and moving them back out to the van as Rose busied herself in the shower. Lara was up and lying on a bunny rug on the floor. Dimitri had fed and dressed her not long ago, but she was usually awake for an hour or so around this time.

"Look at you!" Rose cooed at Lara, coming out of the bathroom not long after dressed and carrying her duffel bag. Dimitri had thoughtfully placed it in the bathroom, so Rose could dress. "Papa has you in your prettiest dress!"

Most of Lara's layette had been practical onesies and sleepsuits. However, one or two pretty dresses had snuck in. Today Lara was in a plain white footed sleepsuit with a pretty floral pink dress over the top. Dimitri had even added an elasticated floral headband over Lara's wispy light brown hair. She looked nothing short of adorable!

"I thought you'd want to show her off," Dimitri said sheepishly returning inside to hear the tail end of Rose's comments. He neglected to mention as a proud Papa, he also wanted everyone to admire Lara.

"Of course everyone's going to think you're the prettiest little girl ever!" Rose gushed, picking up Lara and handing the bunny rug to Dimitri. A final check of the room and they climbed into the van ready to check out and be on their way.

"How come you get to drive?" Rose grumbled. She hadn't had a donut, yet, so was feeling a little out of sorts. Also, she was excited but strangely nervous about returning to St. Vlad's. It had been a while since she'd been there. But more than anything, Rose was apprehensive about seeing Eddie. She couldn't shake the horrible feeling that he was going to take Lara away from her.

"Because I'll stay in the van with Lara while you go into the market and get your Lucky Strikes," Dimitri said reasonably. Rose knew there was a flaw in Dimitri's argument somewhere, but could not be bothered thinking about it.

"Lucky Charms, Comrade. Lucky Strikes are cigarettes."

Dimitri shrugged as Rose smirked. It was times like these it was obvious Dimitri didn't grow up in America, but his occasional blunders were both amusing and endearing.

Rose stared out the window as Dimitri pulled away from the hotel. The last week and a half had been so good. Rose had a taste of what it could be like to be an ordinary family outside the Moroi world, and she liked it. Hopefully visiting the Academy would not mean a return to all the Moroi politics and bullshit, but realistically Rose didn't see how they could avoid it. Lost in her thoughts, Rose was surprised when Dimitri pulled up in a Walmart parking lot.

"Here we are."

"I'll get some more nappies and formula. Anything you need?" Rose checked.

"Maybe pick up some beer? It might help relax things..." Dimitri trailed off. Who did he think he was kidding? No amount of beer was going to smooth the conversations they were going to have once they got to St. Vlad's.