A/N: Hey All!
Okay, so here it is, the final chapter :(
But, this will finish on a happy note :)
Don't want to say too much here, except ALOT of you think she is going to go off with Adrian and dump Dimitri
You'll have to read and find out!
So, here it is the final chapter and the final song is; Where the Story Ends by The Fray
R&R
Xoxo
26. Where The Story Ends
Everything slowed, I didn't know why, all I knew was that it felt as if time had slowed down dramatically and every moment Adrian and I had shared came back to me. Our first kiss, the first night he stayed, the night I gave him my virginity, when we watched movies at court, the ball. All of these trivial times returned to me, as if my life was flashing before my eyes and I could act as if Adrian and I never broke up, as if we had been together for years now, a happy couple, starting a family together, raising our daughter together. All of it seemed so real.
Then I smelt it, cloves, from his cigarettes and it was as if cold water had been thrown on me.
I jumped up and moved away from him, not because of what we were doing, god knows I wanted it, but because the smell had reminded me of something, or someone.
Dimitri.
Who I was married too and in love with, who had been with me for over three years, my one true love and here I was fucking that up with Adrian...again!
"Rose, what is it?" He asked coming towards me.
"Don't, I just need to think." I held up my hands while I tried to regain my thoughts.
I was conflicted between Adrian and Dimitri, but I didn't know why. Dimitri was my soul mate, our love was forever, Adrian was just an infatuation that was it.
"Adrian, I don't think you being in Adria's life is a good idea." I said, finally facing him.
"What?" His eyes glinted with an anger that had me internally cringing.
"She's happy the way her life is, I don't want you to come into her life and disrupt that."
"You think I'm going to take her away from you and Belikov? You think I'm going to show her that life with me would be better?" His voice was filled with venom.
"Yes," I answered lamely.
"Never." I looked up and saw that he meant it. "I would never, ever, imagine putting you through that. Sure I would like her to stay with me for some holidays but never would I take her away from you for my own personal gain. I can't even comprehend why you would think that."
"Adrian, I know you wouldn't but if we get close again I don't want...I'm happy, my life with Dimitri is the best I could ever ask for and I don't want us to start up again."
"Rose, I would never take you away from what makes you happy, but this is my daughter and if I wanted too, I would take this to court and win."
My temper flared. "You wouldn't."
He went on, as if he hadn't heard me. "I mean, I could offer her a grand life, offer her a fine education for the rest of her life, offer her comfort and support, what could you offer her? A life at the academy only to go out and fight and possibly die."
"Adrian, you dare and I swear to you I will kill you." My tone implied that I meant every single word of what I said.
"What kind of life is she living with you?" He asked.
"She is living with Dimitri and I and his family, depending on whether our charges have called us in or not, which very rarely they do."
"And what kind of place do the Belikov's live in?" If he was expecting mansions and compounds with large gates blocking entrance, he was wrong.
"A community mainly for Dhampirs." That did it.
"You're letting our daughter live with, with, with, blood whores!" I had never heard him so angry and disgusted in all my time of knowing him.
"They aren't blood whores Adrian!" I said back. I really hated when people made that distinction.
"Everyone knows that those communities are filled with them!"
"I live in one of those communities, does that make me a blood whore?"
"No, but—"
"So, I'm not a blood whore and not everyone there is a blood whore! For Christ sake Adrian!"
"I'm sorry that I don't wish for my daughter to turn into a blood whore!"
"You think I would let that happen?"
"I dunno, for all I know you're giving a little on the side." He smiled darkly at me and I snapped.
"Son of a bitch!" I slammed him into the wall and put my face up close to his.
"You listen and you listen well, Adria is my daughter and Dimitri's, genetics don't have shit on the bond they've created and so help me I will ram you with my stake if you even try to disrupt that. Adria is happy and you better not fuck her life up!" I pushed back away from him and began to walk to the door.
"I'm staying in her life, whether you like it or not." He said and I turned back to him, seeing the gleam in his eyes I walked up to him and put my lips to his ear.
"This doesn't change anything." I whispered to him, I turned back to the door and almost didn't hear his parting words.
"Oh angel I hope not, you're rather hot when you get all feisty, I seem to recall that being how our child was made."
"Prick," I muttered under my breath as I made my way outside, claiming I wanted fresh air to whomever I passed.
###
I had been outside for god only knows how long, just wandering around aimlessly, pondering my thoughts.
Adrian was going to be in Adria's life, great. Dimitri was going to be in Adria's life, more than great. They were both going to be in my life, bad.
Dimitri didn't say much, but I knew it bothered him that I had so willingly given my virginity to Adrian and even worse had a child from it. Not that Dimitri hated Adria, I think he loved her more than I loved her or more than he loved me, but I knew that when he looked at her eyes he couldn't help but be reminded that she wasn't his and never would be, not completely anyway.
"Rose," I turned and saw Natasha Ozera standing there and gritted my teeth.
"What the hell do you want?"
She sighed and walked next to me, standing and leaning on the railing as I was. Lissa had gone all out in her cabin/mansion.
"I know I'm not your favourite person in the world, but I thought you should know why I did what I did. Why I tried to separate you and Dimitri."
"I think I can guess." I replied, glaring out into the distance.
"It was to protect him, I know that makes no sense because he's so strong but that's not true, there is one thing that can hurt him, hurt him beyond repair and I helped him with that, took him away from that, made sure he was safe and happy."
"And what is it that hurt him so much you thought taking him from me was the answer?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"That's just it; the thing that could hurt him is you. I saw how much it pained him whenever you were around and I knew it was because he couldn't have you. He was so in love with you that he thought he couldn't be around you because anyone could tell of his feelings." She seemed almost motherly.
"That's ridiculous." I muttered, shaking my head.
"He didn't think so, he thought being away from you would heal him and in time, he wouldn't feel what he did, he was saving you both the pain of love. But that night at the ball, when he saw you and Adrian together, it killed him. He didn't say anything, but I knew."
"He thought leaving me and forgetting us was the answer?" She nodded. "That man is an idiot." At this she agreed.
"Only when it comes to you,"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that only when it comes to you, does he make the wrong choices." And then she walked down the stairs and into the garden while I stared after her, mouth open in aghast.
Was she right? Was everything Dimitri was bottling up to do with me? Did I ruin his life?
Almost subconsciously I began walking towards he room I shared with him and finding him just stepping out of the bathroom, towelling his hair and wearing one around his waist.
"Hello beautiful and where have you been?" He asked a brilliant smile on his face.
How could I say anything to him when he looked so gorgeous?
Screw it, was my thought was I took my shirt off and ran to him, being lifted off my feet as my lips collided with his, me in his strong arms.
"I missed you," I whispered as we fell towards the bed, him on top if me. He smiled before pressing his mouth to mine once more, not even coming up for air as his towel fell to the floor.
###
"Okay Liss, what was so important?" I asked as she pulled me into her room.
After being with Dimitri, for the first time in so long, I had received a note requesting I come to Princess Dragomir's chambers as she has important business to discuss with me.
Business to Lissa meant an entirely different thing to the regular kind of business.
"Rose, I have something really important to ask you." Lissa said as she sat down on a single, cream arm chair.
"Ask away." I said, sitting on the black leather three-person-sofa across from her.
"Okay. So you know how you're my maid of honour?" My eyes bugged out.
"Uh, no?"
"Duh Rose, you're my best friend!" She shook her head at me. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind, if Adria was my flower girl?" I froze in shock at the question.
"Liss..."
"Rose, please, I already have a dress and everything." She looked at me with pleading eyes.
Adria being a flower girl was no big deal, Adria being a flower girl to Vasilisa Dragomir, last of her line, about to become queen, was a different story. Everyone who was anyone would be there and see Adria, the daughter of the infamous, badass, promising blood whore career, Rose Hathaway and serial Man-whore Adrian Ivashkov. I couldn't let my baby be seen as the child of two of the worst.
"Rose, please!" Lissa knelt before me, begging me for this.
"Liss, what will people think of her? The daughter of the woman married to Dimitri Belikov and Adrian Ivashkov? Our reputations would brand her for life; I can't put her through that."
"Rose, I understand your worry, but you can't shield her forever, she is going to find out sooner or later, it's time to let her be her."
"She's only three, Liss."
"Rose..."
I looked up, into Lissa's jade green eyes, knowing she would never let any harm come to my baby or me.
"Okay," I whispered. "Let's see this dress."
She squealed and jumped at me and we both crashed to the floor, laughing, like old times.
How I missed these times...
###
"Ready honey?" I called as I put the finishing touches onto my bridesmaid outfit.
In true Lissa style, the bridesmaid dresses were pink satin, strapless, long and gorgeous. The shoes were ankle wrap sandals, pink again. Pink roses were the bouquets for us and a pink, gemstone necklace with diamond earrings completed our look. I was only back in my room to get Dimitri ready, and by that, I mean make sure I look okay.
My hair was out, straightened and my make up was little. Some shiny gloss, neutral eye shadow and a little mineral powder did the trick.
"Don't you look beautiful?" Dimitri said as he entered the bathroom, wearing a standard formal grey suit.
"I can't outshine the bride Comrade." Dimitri laughed and placed a kiss on my hair as I had warned him not to smudge my gloss.
"You outshine everyone to me." I knew I was wearing my goofy smile but I didn't care.
"Mama? Dimi?" We pulled apart to see Adria, in her flower girl dress and we looked at each other in delight.
Adria's hair was also straight and a pearlized flower headband was placed so that her short fringe that ran across her forehead was separated. The dress Lissa had bought her was white with a pink trim, floral pattern on the bottom, a pink bow around the waist. Her shoes were simple white sandals with little flowers on the front strap. A floral necklace, little daisies I believe, hung around her neck and she held her post bouquet, which she would rip petals off of and spread them along the aisle, as if it was her lifeline.
"You look beautiful baby; don't ever let anyone tell you different." Dimitri arched a brow at me but I ignored it. I was still iffy about letting Adria be 'on display' but it was better everyone know before she grew up.
I took her little hand in mine and Dimitri took her other one and we walked out, to the wedding of my best friend and fire boy.
When we reached the door Adria and I had to go into, I let her go in first and turned to Dimitri.
"I love you." He said before turning outside where the guests sat.
I was confused as I entered the room, I didn't know what to make of that.
As we prepared to walk up the 'aisle', which was just a carpet along a cemented path out in the garden, I looked for Lissa. Surely she would be easy to find, I didn't know what her dress looked like, but I assumed it was white.
Before I had a chance to find her, the wedding march began playing and I was pushed up the aisle behind Adria as she spread petals along the carpeted path.
Lissa had outdone herself. The carpet we walked up was black with a pink, satin trim. It was in a straight line, with two giant vases of pink roses in each at the beginning of the walkway and two at the end, where Christian was standing, waiting for her. His suit stood out to the others around him, his was made of the finest black silk and the shirt of white. He looked like someone fight for the future queen. Each chair was covered in a pink ribbon and a black cushion on the seat, the chair's themselves were made of a white metal and the backs were curved.
I got to the front of the aisle and smiled at Christian, wishing him luck.
When the other bridesmaid's joined me, the music grew in volume as Lissa would start her descent down the aisle. I looked around the crowd and saw people scrutinising my baby, as she stood close to me and Adrian was not that far away, but I ignored that as I realised something or someone was missing.
Dimitri.
As I began scanning the crowd again I saw the people stand and looked down to see Lissa, walking down the aisle. The one giving her away was Stan, and I honestly didn't know why.
Lissa had gotten the same designer that made my dress to make hers that much I knew. Her dress was white, with lace covering the satin on the chest, thin straps holding it up. The bodice was tight and made a V dip to the bottom half where more lace covered the satin. The bottom was a non over-the-top princess skirt. Her shoes were high and white with silver studs decoration the outer straps. Her pale blonde hair was worn up, with ringlets coming down the sides and she had a small vale, which covered the back of her hair and she refused to put over her face. Her bouquet was made up of dark to light pink roses and I knew she wore a blue garter on her upper right thigh, she decided to tell me that rather than clue me in on her dress.
As Lissa and Christian's service began, I was in a full blown panic looking for Dimitri. Had he abandoned me? Why? What had I done?
I looked for the brown silky hair he had worn out today, the elegant suit, the graceful way he sat down. I couldn't see him, but that was when I realised something.
This whole time, Dimitri had an ulterior motive to bringing me here, to making me face Adrian. It was to test us, to test if I was true to him, to test if I harboured any feelings for Adrian.
I failed.
I still cared about Adrian, alot, but I loved Dimitri more, I always would, but Dimitri thinks I'm better off with the father of my child.
"Oh God..." I spoke under my breath but it didn't stop Lissa from looking at me.
Rose?
I ignored that, this revelation was too much; I had to get the hell out of here.
Lissa must have heard that in my head because she whispered to the priest and the next thing I knew she and Christian were reciting their vows. It wouldn't be long and I could leave. Crawl in a hole somewhere and stay there.
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife!" Everyone rejoiced.
Go Rose, go! Lissa yelled and looked at her gratefully.
I walked as fast as I could down the aisle, ignoring the calls of my child. She couldn't see me like this.
I found some abandoned steps and sat down, tears spilling from my eyes. I dropped my flowers and let the tears spill.
In coming here, I was able to tell Adrian the truth, able to give my daughter her father, able to help my friend, but I had lost the one person I needed most. Dimitri.
I couldn't believe he would think I would leave him, as if our relationship, our love, meant nothing.
"Rose?" I turned to see Adrian sit beside me.
"What do you want Adrian? Come to gloat?"
"Gloat, about what?" His brow wrinkled in confusion.
"You won! Dimitri is gone because of you!" I yelled, my hands balling into fists, nails cutting into my skin.
"Won? I didn't know there was a competition."
"Neither did I, but he seems to think I'm leaving him for you."
"He told you this?"
"He didn't have too. I know him."
"Then go to him."
I faced him, faced the man who had given me the greatest gift, Adria and saw, in those depthless green eyes that he meant everything.
"What?" Was all that I could manage to say.
"Go to him, find him and tell him this."
"Adrian..."
"Rose shut up. You always think you need to figure things on your own, that you don't need help. You're a lone wolf, one of the many things I loved about you. I still love you Rose, but I would never try and steal you. Dimitri thinks I won? No, he did. He has you, forever, something he needs to know, and you need to tell him. Find him, bring him back."
My smile radiated as what he said sunk in. I got up as did he and kissed him, fast.
"Thank you, for everything."
I ran, somehow I knew where he would be. In my heels, you'd think I'd be scared I'd break a foot, but not when I was on a mission. I ran, to the car, jumped in and drove to my destination. I sped, and luckily didn't get caught by police.
I parked, in a horrible way, but I didn't care. I ran through the gates, searching the board and saw what I was looking for. Pushing people out the way, jumping over luggage. I ran; I refused to stop, until I was in his arms.
I could hear people shouting but I didn't care, I just kept going.
There, I could see his frame now, he was straight ahead, about to go through security and I couldn't let that happen. I picked up the pace and breathed in a breath to prepare a scream.
"DIMITRI!" He stopped moving forward and turned, startled to hear my voice and I crashed into him. Luckily he had reacted fast and stopped us from falling.
"Rose, what're you doing?"
"You can't leave." I said, breathless, looking into his distraught eyes.
"Rose—"
"No! You left before, and it didn't help anything. I love you, not him, you can't go, you can't leave me." The emotions burned within me, he couldn't go, not after everything we had been through.
"Roza," I could tell he was giving up, he was going to leave, I would have to turn bold, our spectators seemed highly interested in what we were going to do next.
"Just shut up and kiss me." Dimitri looked at me and then dropped his bag, picking me up he kissed me with such force, the breath I had gained was knocked back out.
People clapped and I felt Dimitri smile as did I. He was staying with me, and I with him, I knew I would never leave him.
"We have a wedding to get too."
###
Smiles are what greeted us when Dimitri and I returned to Lissa's. She hugged me and slapped him on the chest for leaving.
Soon the attention was back on the newlyweds, as they danced. Dimitri took my hand and led me to the dance floor.
Trying not to lose my head but I have never been this scared before
Tell you what I'll do instead; lay my body down on the floor
To forget what I've done, silhouette til the good lord come
All we know is distance
We're close and then we run
Kiss away the difference
I know you hate this one
Trying not to lose your own, boxing up everything, you've got
All you ever knew of home, you're scared scared to see
Your mother there in the door, you wonder where did the years go
All we know is distance
We're close and then we run
Kiss away the difference
I know you hate this one
But this is how the story ends
Or have we just begun
To kiss away the difference
I know you hate this one
The violins make no sound
And I begin to feel the ground
All we know is distance
We're close and then we run
Kiss away the difference
I know you hate this one
But this is where the story ends
Or have we just begun
To kiss away the difference
I know you hate this one
"I love you, more than I should, but far less than you deserve." Dimitri said as the song finished.
I pulled his face to mine. "Ditto."
I looked over his shoulder to where Adrian and Adria were dancing; she was standing on his feet. They looked so happy, and I noticed something else, Adrian had a light in his eyes, it was back, he was back, that was evident to the wide grin on his face as he danced with our daughter.
Everything was going to be okay. Dimitri and I had given Lissa her wedding present, us. We were now part of her royal guard and would remain with her. Though we would be sad to leave Russia, it just so happens that Lissa felt that Russia was a great place to begin making royal decrees.
Adria would have her father and Dimitri in her life, and she would be happy, as happy as any three year old with two daddies and one mommy could be.
I looked about the room, at my friends and family and realised that this was in no way the end, but the beginning of a new path, a new life, for all of us.
The words to the song resounded in my head as Dimitri took my hand and walked me back to our friends at out table.
This where the story ends.
Whoop! It is finished!
It took awhile, took some twists, but Stolen Heart has come to an end.
I want to thank you all for following this Story, I know it was frustrating at times but you all persevered and for that I am thankful and I give permission for anyone to write a sequel, one shot, companion, anything to do with this, as long as they ask/tell me first.
Well, this is it, check out my other stories.
Thanks and don't forget to review!
Xoxo