There was no house more cheerful than the Belikovs. They were going for a picnic in the park today and everyone was enthusiastic—well, except the son. Dimitri believed this was going to led him straight to disaster. So he did what he did best:

"No, Dimka. You are not staying behind. This is a family picnic," Olena said seriously as she organized all the food into the basket on the counter. "You're insane to think that I'd let you weasel your way out of this."

Dimitri suppressed a groan and sighed. "Mama, I would ruin the picni—"

"Ruin?" she said, "You don't have to ruin anything, my son. All I need you to do is try."

Then a strong heavy hand patted his back. He immediately knew who it was. With gritted teeth, he closed his eyes for a moment. Randall smiled at his son and asked, "Don't we all want a happy family, Dimitri?"

Dimitri kissed his mother on the cheek and replied, "I'll see you when you get back home, mama."

"Dim—"

"Let him stay," Yeva intervened, walking into the kitchen. Her sharp wise eyes burning a hole through Randall's. The man shifted uncomfortably. He forced a smile to his face to the old woman. 

Dimitri had to admit that his dear old grandmother was his favorite person in the house right now. She knew what he knew. He silently thanked his grandmother who sat down on a chair, her cold gaze never leaving Randall. 

Olena sighed and said, "Mama, please." Her brown eyes begged her mother to at least try. But she was met with disappointment and nodded in acceptance. "Very well. I shall see you both later." She kissed her mother's cheek and her son's, handing the basket to Randall.  The rest of the family left, leaving Dimitri with his grandmother.

She leaned back into her chair and said, "There is a girl in your life."

"She's not the one. . ." he replied, thinking of a certain raven-haired woman who he had not contacted as frequently as he used to and he didn't plan on contacting her anytime soon. "I haven't talked to her in awhile."

She raised her brow at him and said, "Not that one. . ."

He frowned, about to ask: what do you mean. But then he thought of someone. Could it be? Could she? He swallowed and looked at her unsure. She returned the look and continued, "You know very well who I'm talking about, Dimka."

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and asked, "You can see her?"

Since when? he wanted to ask badly.

She took out a book and started flipping through the pages.                         "I saw her in the garden with you."

He nodded. He glanced around the room, hoping that Rose wasn't here. His grandmother was really good at surprising people. He wondered what else did she see. Then her gaze averted to the wristwatch he was wearing. She looked up at him and asked, "I take it that you did not choose that. . ."

"It was a gift."

"From her?"

He sighed and said, "The only one."

Yeva nodded and spoke, "The whole family invited Natasha to the reunion. She'll arrive tomorrow. They expect you to propose to her."

"Propose?"

"Why, yes. You seemed very serious with her and trust me, my boy, she expects it as well. I say you prepare a speech if you don't plan on proposing to her."

Oh, how his grandmother knew him so well. . .

Dimitri let out a deep breath and asked, "What about you? What do you think?"

She slammed the book down on the small table and said, "I think Natasha is a good woman but she is no match for you. And why ask when you already know the answer to your heart?"

https://youtu.be/f0LbENcjAhM

"What are we doing here?" Rose asked, standing on top of the stone wall. It was early in the morning. Not that she needed sleep or anything. Just out of sweet curiosity. Dimitri stood on the wall beside her and said, "Exactly 10 seconds from now, the sun will rise up."

"The sun. . ." she repeated, giving him the 'really' look. 

He took a deep breath and said, "It's different."

"How?"

"Just wait. We have 7 seconds left."

6

5

4

"If we're going to watch the sun rise up, don't you think it's cheaper in America where you live?"

"Can you please just. . .watch?"

3

"I didn't know the sun was—"   

"Rose!"

"Fine!"

2

1

The dark sky slowly changed to purple, pink, a little red and then yellow. The golden rays of the sun shot through the sky, illuminating it. It was beautiful. Rose was too mesmerized to notice how he kept glancing at her. 

"I still don't see the difference," she said, stilling looking at the rising sun.

He silently cursed and said, "Well, this one is different because we're here in Russia. . .and you're with me."

Did she get the hint? he wondered. Did she?!

"That's it?" she asked, looking at him with innocent brown eyes.

He wanted nothing more than to jump off the wall and plummet to his death. When he didn't reply, she fully turned to him.

"You know I sense your emotion," she stated, crossing her arms and giving him her famous 'I-know-everything-about-you' look.

Maybe she got the hint, he thought hopefully.

"Frustration."

Definitely did not get the hint.

"Do you want to talk about it? Reason things out?" she offered with a small smile.

He shook his head and replied, "You wouldn't understand." He even wondered if there was a thing called 'dating' in heaven. He highly doubt if there was. How was it possible? Rose was smart in everything, and yet. . .she didn't get the darn hint! He mentally killed himself twice and took a deep breath. This was probably the hardest thing he has ever done.

"But the sun is beautiful," she said, looking at it, "like always."

He looked at the sun and asked, "Rose, do you miss being in Heaven?"

She didn't reply right away. But he knew she was thinking hard. She sighed and answered, "Sometimes. When you're down here, it's like another world. I was used to being in Heaven and everything is so different."

"How about here?"

She smiled at him and said, "It's frustrating. Happy frustrating."

"Happy frustrating?" he asked, clearly taken back by her choice of words, "what is that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged, laughing a little. "Just happy frustrating."

"Alright. Just happy frustrating," he accepted, nodding with a small smile.

"You know, we've spent hours here. Don't you have to join your family for breakfast or something?" Rose asked, her legs swinging.

He raised his eyebrow at her and asked, "Didn't you hear the conversation I had with my grandmother?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm your Guardian Angel, not your babysitter. I do give you your privacy whether you believe it or not," she replied seriously. That was what she had learned from being here. She learned when she was wanted and not wanted. However, she always made sure to be there when he needed someone. That was the whole point. After all, she always had Christian to go to. 

"I don't want to go back yet," he said, looking at his watch. 

She nodded and said, "Alright."

There was silence. Not the kind of silence that made you want to dig a hole and bury yourself. The kind of silence that made you feel at peace. For him at least.

Did he really take me for a fool? Did he really think I wouldn't know?

I could sense her five miles away. The trust and assurance she had in him. . . I could literally taste it in my mouth. I gritted my teeth and balled up my fists. Inside the house I could hear her laughter. I watched as Dimitri opened the front door and nearly fell over because someone had thrown their arms around him. 

"You have no idea how happy I am that you came," Natasha Ozera said excitedly. Her blue eyes shone brighter than the stars in the night sky. Nothing could rival with her eyes—not even the bluest seas.

He nodded, not looking excited as she was. "Yeah. . ." he replied, untangling her arms from his neck, "didn't know you were coming."

His response made me raise a brow.

So. . .yay or nay

She shrugged and said, "Victoria texted me since you hardly text me anymore. We're going to have so much fun! Just like old times!"

He didn't not reply to that, but offered a small gentle smile. I stood in the corner of the room and watched the scene unfold. I could feel something negative, just radiating off of him. Had he finally accepted the truth?

The look in her eyes. I knew those looks that shone so bright. Maybe it was not the blueness of her eyes after all. Maybe it was something small yet firm—hope. Natasha Ozera came here with a heart of hope. The way she looked at him. . .even a blind man could tell she was in love with him. Not the crazy kind. . .but the kind that could leave a deep scar on the heart.

"Tasha, I. . ." Dimitri started to say.

"Shush! I brought a present for you," she said, going through her purse.

She looked up from her purse, holding a white box to Dimitri with a smile. He smiled a little and opened the box. I tilted my head to have a better look. There was a card inside, no doubt a 'Happy Birthday' card. He quickly read it and thanked Natasha. She couldn't keep the radiant smile off the face. She was glowing.

He lifted the gift up and—surprise, surprise!— a watch. I crossed my arms, my eyes never leaving Dimitri. 

What is he going to do? That question spun round and round in my head never ending. He didn't try it on nor did he tell her why he didn't. He simply thanked her again for the lovely gift and put the watch back into its box. Natasha's smile faltered, but she quickly plastered another one on when he looked at her. But it was not her real smile. 

"Natasha!" 

Her smile completely went away as she looked behind Dimitri. Randall stood not far from them with a smile on his face. She gave him a polite nod of acknowledgement. Obviously she knew. She turned her attention back to Dimitri asked, "You missed breakfast. Would you like to grab something to eat?"

He shared a look with his grandmother and nodded. "Yes, I would love to."

He went upstairs and I appeared in his bedroom just as he came in. He looked at me and quickly grabbed his coat.

"I knew she was coming," I spoke, turning my back to him. She would follow him everywhere, I was sure of it.

I heard the door close.

"I didn't," he replied, "not until my grandmother told me yesterday."

I frowned and turned around to face him. "Is she the reason why you asked me to go to the wall with you this morning?" I asked, "Are you avoiding her?"

He looked down and sighed. "I don't know how to tell her yet. I don't want to hurt her feelings, Rose."

My anger flared. "That's your problem! Just so you know—I offer protection, not an escape route from your problems or a distraction," I said angrily. I felt used. I mean, I knew she was coming one of these days. I just didn't expect. . .this

"But that was real!" he retorted.

"Real? Of course it was real! We were really there! Physically!" I argued back.

"Ever since I found out she was coming, I have been trying to come up with a way to tell her. She has done nothing wrong, Rose. I didn't mean for you to. . .think that I—I used you as an escape route."

That look in his eyes made me rethink everything. Why does it matter to me so much? Why?! It doesn't matter if he gets with his soulmate or not. It won't affect me at all. Three years right? I had at least a little over two years. . .I can't believe this! I used to have fun and nothing to worry about. Now? 

That was when I realized how much I had changed over the course of my stay here. How did everything get out of control? That —I didn't know. It must have slipped out of my hand. Everything delicately came to me. I remember my first day. How did it turn into a such a mess?

I looked into his eyes and said, "I'm sorry. I was not thinking straight. I just need to. . ." 

I didn't know what I needed. Me. Funny. I used to. I took a step back, shaking my head at myself. Dimitri took a step forward, his hands reaching out to me. I cleared my throat and quietly said, "You should go."

His hands went back to his sides instantly and without saying another word, he left.

I went back to the wall, looking at the starry night sky. Maybe the sky here was different after all. Dimitri was gone all day with Natasha and I took advantage of the short-lived private moment. I laid down and felt something hot on my face.

"Why am I crying, Christian?" I asked, looking next to me.

Christian's expression softened and he ran his fingers through my hair. "You do know," he answered softly.

I looked away from him. "I don't."

"We always know why. The hardest part is admitting it."

"My time here is efficiently serving its purpose."

"You are not alone, Rose. Life is like that."

"I was happy, Christian. I had fun. I was. . .what's the word?. . .stress-free? I just feel like everything is spinning out of control."

He ruffled my hair and smiled. "Let me tell you something I've learned from being here: We were never in control in the first place. Nothing is spinning out of control, Rose. You're just feeling overwhelmed. But you'll survive."

"Well, thank you, Christian. That's really comforting," I replied sarcastically.

He sighed next to me and said, "You don't like lies. So I told you the truth." 

I opened my mouth but he was not finished. 

"Maybe not all of it," he finished.

I lifted my head to really look at him. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What do you mean by 'not all of it'?" I asked.

He smirked and absentmindedly said, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

I pushed him and pouted. 

Oh, well! I'll just have to wait and see.

Hi guys,

I hope you liked the chapter. Please let me know what you think!

Iris