It was stupid, he knew.

Absolutely stupid.

After all, he was the one who had told her to stay away.

To try and forget him and what they had.

So his jealousy-his fury every time she so much as looked at other men-was stupid.

And probably unfounded.

She made her feelings towards him clear every time they talked.

She never once hinted about someone...else.

And he had to try and ruin that.

Because of age, and because of restrictions, and because some people wouldn't see them the way they should.

She was right.

About his self-control.

Every single time she was near him, he wanted nothing more than to lose it.

To lose the control that he had so carefully built up over twenty four years.

To be able to take her in his arms and make her forget everything and everyone.

But again, and again he pushed her away.

For her own good, he would say.

Because she deserved better.

But then she would talk to him with her face so vulnerable, that he could feel his facade crack, shatter into a thousand pieces.

And it would happen, again and again and again and again, to the point where he realized that he could never make it stop.

His feelings for her.

They weren't going to vanish.

They weren't going to disappear.

Because, much as he didn't want to admit it, he loved her.

Too much.

He loved her.

But he would keep trying.

Trying to break their bond.

Because it was what was best for him....and most definitely best for her.

-----

Man. I love this series. :] So yeahhh, this is just a little drabble on Dimitri's feelings for his Roza. :)

Please read and review! I live off them. :P

~Fanta-Faerie