A Little Too Much, A Little Too Deep

Chapter 12

Sitting in the back of the Belikov's backseat with Karolina, listening to the three of them chat away in their native tongue, I feel serenity wash over me. The smiles on their faces are contagious and seeing the weight that has been lifted off Dimitri's shoulders makes me feel like the world is starting to go right for us.

"So how exactly were you turned back to a dhampir Dimka?" Karolina asks Dimitri and he looks back at me.

"I think it's best until we get home, it's a long story and it's one I'd rather only tell once." Karolina nods her head and turns to me, asking how everything has been since returning to America and graduating while Olena and Dimitri continue speaking.

"How is Viktoria?" I ask hesitantly. Karolina furrows a brow and looks over at her brother before whispering in my ear.

"Sonya and Vika talked about Rolan, and Vika understands what she did was wrong, and you were just looking out for her. But when she found out you were coming, she got quiet and went up to her room. I think she's worried that you're mad at her." I sigh and shake my head, mentally gearing up for what is to come. Pulling down the street leading to their house, the look of joy on Dimitri's face is radiant and both Karo and I look at him adoringly.

"Ready?" I ask him. He turns to look at me and takes my hand with a large smile on his face.

"I've been ready since you told me I was coming with you," he replies. We all step out of the pickup truck and the Belikovas walk up to the house to have the family gather outside in the sun, to lessen any confusion regarding Dimitri. Dimitri takes the opportunity and whisks me up into his arms, kissing me passionately before setting me back on my feet. A little breathless, I tilt my head up to look at him.

"What was that for?" I breathe, my heart fluttering. Tucking my curls behind my ears he cups my face and places a kiss on my forehead.

"For being you, and for never giving up on me. Even when I deserved it. And thank you for doing everything you could to save my soul," he proclaims against my forehead and pulling me into another hug.

The front door opens again, and I step back from his embrace to be met by the eyes of the remaining family. Vika steps in front of Sonya protectively, Sonya is holding her daughter looking shocked, Paul standing beside his mother apprehensively, and Yeva with a knowing smirk on her face waddles down the small steps and walks to us and reaches up for Dimitri to hug her. Wrapping his arms gently around her and kissing her cheek she speaks to him in Russia before patting his cheek and turning to me. I stand up a bit straighter and look her straight in the eyes. She comes closer to me and pats my cheek.

"You did well, I'm proud of you." She says before turning around and speaking to the other on the porch. A moment passes and they all come down the steps and embrace Dimitri, Sonya and Vika both crying while Paul is speaking excitedly before coming over and hugging me tightly. It's only been four or five months since I saw them, and Paul has grown even more, almost to my collarbone.

"Roza you're back!" he says when he releases me, and I ruffle his hair affectionately. Olena ushers us all into the house and I step back to the car to grab our bags. Catching my movement, Dimitri steps away to help me but I tell him to go inside. Rolling his eyes at me, he picks up our bags and leaves me with my carryon and brings them into the house and asks his mother where we are sleeping. She responds as she bustles around the kitchen and I follow him up the stairs into his old bedroom. Taking a moment to steady myself I can feel my anxiety rising, remember sitting in this room clutching a bottle of vodka after the memorial, hiding here after everyone had gone to sleep and crying silently while wrapped in one of the sweaters I had found in the dresser. I must have been standing there lost in thought because when Dimitri placed his hands on my waist I almost jump out of my skin.