OMG guys. I am so sorry! I was rereading my old work and realised that I had never finished this fic by uploading the final chapter. THIS HAS BEEN YEARS. I AM SO SORRY. If anyone is still here then, enjoy.

It took me hours to work up the courage to go back home and by the time I got there, the lights were all out. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. I made my way up the stairs and unlocked the door, stepping into the house. I locked the door behind me and rested my head against the doorframe. I could do this. This was Rose. We had already been through so much. Arguing over adoption wouldn't come between us. I pushed my hair out of my eyes and headed up the stairs, pausing at the door and to watch Rose fidget in her sleep. I glanced behind me at our spare room and tried to rid the nursery plans which were swirling in my mind. I heard Rose let out a sob in her sleep and I instantly forced the thought of the nursery out of my mind and made my way over to her. I ran my hand through her hair, pushing it off her forehead.

"Shhh, Roza everything is okay," I soothed, running my thumb over her eyebrow. Rose's eyes fluttered open and she let out another sob. She sat up and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Dimitri," she cried, sitting up and cupping my cheek. "I didn't know if you were coming back," My heart clenched and I wiped the tears away from her eyes.

"Of course I was coming back Rose, I just needed time to calm down," I said softly. Rose leaned her forehead against mine and I felt another sob escape her. Climbing onto the bed beside her, I pulled her into my lap and cradled her against my chest.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pressure you earlier," I said softly, pushing her hair behind her ears. Rose shook her head, burying her face into the crook of my neck.

"Don't apologise for something that was my fault," she pleaded. I cupped her cheeks between my hands and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips.

"Roza, I don't need to adopt to be happy with you. I already have everything, I have you," I said, pressing my lips to hers again. I wiped at her tears and pressed a kiss against her forehead.

"I love you Rose, nothing else matters to me," I said, running my hands through her hair. Rose's sobs finally stopped and she slid of my knee and took my hand.

"Earlier…it was just the fear talking Dimitri. I'd love to adopt with you, I really would. But, what if I'm not a good mom? What if I screw everything up?" she asked, trailing a pattern on my hand and avoiding my eyes. I curled my fingers through hers.

"Roza," I said softly. "There is nothing in this world that you are bad at," I murmured. I sat on the bed and pulled her against my lap. I was used to dealing with this side of Rose. It had been the same on our wedding day. She was so scared, so scared that she hadn't wanted to walk down the aisle. I smoothed Rose's hair back from her eyes.

"Let's just pretend tonight didn't happen Roza. I don't want you beating yourself up over this. I shouldn't have pressured you. I shouldn't even have picked up the flyers without talking to you first…I'm sorry," I said softly. Rose curled against my chest and we lay down in bed. I don't know what I was thinking, I didn't need kids to be happy with Rose. All I needed was Rose by my side.

Rose – POV

I woke up before Dimitri for once. I had been awake most of the night, tossing and turning. I couldn't get it out of my head. Dimitri's face when I had refused to even talk about adopting. I had hurt him so much…and I knew he was acting like it was okay when it really wasn't, simply because he wanted to protect my feelings. I couldn't stand it. So I made a decision. I was going to give this a chance. I had called a local dhampir orphanage and made an appointment. I sighed, pulling my hair back into a ponytail and went to Dimitri's side of the bed. I smoothed his hair away from his face and pressed a kiss to his head.

"Wake up comrade," I said teasingly, his eyes snapped open and he glanced at me sleepily. I smiled and nudged him.

"Get dressed. I'll meet you down stairs," I said brightly. Dimitri sat up, and scratched his chest.

"Okay Roza, I'll be a few minutes," he said, standing up and grabbing clean clothes. I made my way down the stairs and I noticed that I was shaking. The thought of meeting kids we might potentially adopt…well, it terrified me.

"Where are we going?" Dimitri asked, suddenly alert. We had been driving for almost half an hour and we had just passed our usual turn that lead to Lissa. I chewed the corner of my lip and glanced at him.

"You'll see when we get there," I said, hoping that I sounded cryptic…but I think I ended up sounding constipated. I was so nervous it was unreal. As I took the next turn Dimitri sat up in his seat and looked at me.

"Rose…," he said anxiously. I could hear the excitement in his voice but I could tell he didn't want to get his hopes up. I cleared my throat and avoided looking at him. The next ten minutes of the journey were focused around Dimitri's excited glances around the scenery. Like a kid when they realize they are on route to a theme park. When I eventually pulled up in front of the orphanage Dimitri glanced at me. His face filled with excitement and love. I gulped.

"Dimitri…don't get your hopes up okay?" I asked. He nodded and pulled me in for a kiss.

"The fact that we are even here means so much Roza," he said. I could hear the break in his voice. He sounded like he was about to cry. I opened the car door and headed towards the door. I stopped on the first step and exhaled. Dimitri put his hand in mine and I glanced at him gratefully. The whole thing terrified me. I had never imagined children being part of my life, even with Dimitri. We entered the house and were instantly greeted by a short stout woman who grinned at us both.

"You must be the Belikov's! I am Marie," she said brightly. "Come in, come in. Okay, so if you go through the door to your left it will take you into the main dining area. Most kids will be in there just now. There are also some outside. Do you want me to escort you around?" She asked. I glanced at Dimitri and back at her.

"Can we walk around ourselves?" I asked. She nodded and gestured for us to head in. I glanced around as soon as the door opened and I felt my chest constrict. There had to be at least twenty kids in this room. All of whom were orphans. I exhaled and glanced at Dimitri. I seen his face fall and he stepped forward to comfort me. I stepped away from him and shook my head.

"I can't do this. I'm going to go outside," I said softly. "Talk to the kids. I'll come in when I'm ready," I promised, pressing a kiss to his cheek. I could see the look in Dimitri's eyes. He knew that this was about as close as we would get to adopting. I just wasn't ready. I stepped into the fresh air and let out a huge sigh. I slouched down the wall and glanced around at the kids playing outside. I had to at least try to make an effort…for Dimitri. I stood up, making my way over to a kid sitting at the picnic table. A little girl at about seven with long blonde hair. I sat down and smiled at her.

"What are you doing?" I asked, it was fairly obvious she was coloring…but hey I was trying! The little girl looked at me and gave me a half hearted smile.

"I'm trying to cheer up my sister," she said softly, returning to her drawing. I felt a frown tug at my lips.

"What is wrong with your sister?" I asked. The little girl looked at me and sighed. Her eyes startled me…they were so familiar….but I couldn't place them.

"She doesn't think we are ever going to get adopted together, not many families want a teenager," she mumbled. "But I won't go anywhere she can't go," the little girl said adamantly. I felt my chest lurch, the odds of a teenager getting adopted were slim and the fact this little girl was willing to risk her own adoption to stay with her sister…it killed me. I cleared my throat.

"My name is Rose," I told the girl with a smile. She smiled back at me.

"I'm Katie and that is my sister Olivia," she said gesturing to a redheaded girl, sitting underneath a nearby tree, sketching. The girl looked up at if sensing my gaze and our eyes locked. Suddenly I recognized where I had seen Katie's eyes before. They were Mason's. Looking at Olivia sent a jolt down me. She looked so much like Mason that it hurt. I felt my eyes tearing up and I smiled at Katie.

"Why don't you introduce us?" I asked. Katie nodded and I smiled, walking over to the girl. I crouched beside her and smiled.

"Olivia, this is Rose," Katie said smiling. Olivia looked up and gave me a nervous smile, a blush covering her cheeks.

"Hi," she said softly, her hair falling in front of her eyes. I glanced at her notepad and smiled.

"Those are good," I told her, and they were. It was a sketch of the landscape behind the orphanage. Olivia shrugged.

"I have had plenty of practice drawing this," she muttered. I felt another pang in my chest and I looked at the girls.

"How long have you both been here?" I asked. Olivia glanced at Katie and back at me.

"Over a year, no one wants a pair," she muttered the last part as an afterthought and I felt my chest constrict. My nose was tingling and I could feel the tears building.

"Mrs Belikov," Marie shouted. I stood up, brushing down my jeans.

"It was lovely to meet you both," I said smiling at them both. Olivia scoffed and turned back to her drawing. I heard Katie scold her. I walked over to Marie and Dimitri. I glanced back at the girls and then at Marie.

"Why haven't they been adopted?" I asked. Marie sighed and glanced at the girls.

"People don't want kids as old as Olivia. She's fourteen…and people don't usually want pairs. It's a real shame. Katie has had a number of offers…but she refuses to part with her sister. It's heartbreaking really," she said softly. I glanced back at the girls. I couldn't get it out of my head…their resemblance to Mason. It was like it was some sort of sign. A sign that I was supposed to adopt these girls. I glanced at Dimitri and I took a step forward.

"Look at them," I demanded. Dimitri glanced at them both and I seen the recognition in his eyes. So, it wasn't just me. They had Mason's eyes.

"It's a sign," I insisted. Dimitri glanced at me and I seen the cogs in his brain whirling.

"A sign of what?" he asked, I could hear an element of giddiness in his voice.

"Dimitri, these girls are meant for us. I can feel it in my heart," I whispered.

"I know you were thinking a baby. But, we have the room. We both know how to handle stroppy teenagers," Dimitri's mouth twisted up. I could feel myself set to ramble.

"We could move the office into the loft…or move one of the girls up there…it has the window seat. I can't bear to think of these girls being split up-" I began, I could feel the tears spilling down my face. Dimitri grabbed my face and pressed his lips against mine.

"Roza, you don't need to convince me. We'll sign the paperwork," he said softly. I heard a gasp of surprise come from beside us and Marie shook her head.

"That is quite a big task for your first adoption. Really, we are looking for a more advanced couple-" she began. I raised my hand and cut her off.

"You have just told us how you can't get a family to take them as a pair and now you are trying to talk us out of it?" I snapped, clenching my fists. Dimitri put a soothing hand at the base of my back and gave me a look. Marie shook her head.

"I just meant that it would be a real challenge," she said. Dimitri and I shared a look. After everything we had been through together? This would be cake.