Rating: T

Summary: Rose is running late for a special ceremony but it pays off and she has to get to Dimitri before it's too late

POV: Rose

Word Count: 2,771

#1: Strigoi

I kicked the punching bag roughly and sent it flying again. The bag was his newest way of training me. After my conditioning I went to the punching bag and warmed my limbs up then I fought with him. But today his stomach was doing flip flops and so he sent me to spend the rest of the hour with the punching bag. "Tell me what this thing tonight is about?" I asked him again.

He signed and pulled his fingers through his dark brown hair and studies my posture as I kicked "it's some kind of ceremony that Headmistress Kirova is doing to honor the fact that Queen Tatiana has chosen me to be one of her guards. Personally I'd rather guard Lissa and stay with you Rose." The sadness in his voice was unbearable I looked behind me to him and stared into his broken eyes, he didn't want this but when the queen asked something like this, you didn't say no. Having secretly dated for almost two months now I knew when he wanted me to go to him and when he'd prefer to keep to himself and fight a private war. He didn't want me right now. I studied his face but was jerked away from it as the bag knocked into me and I flew across the mat and landed on my back.

I saw him stifle a laugh "always watch you're opponent Rose."

I grunted as I pushed myself back to my feet "I just got body slammed by a punching bag, this is embarrassing."

As I slipped back to the floor he couldn't hold it in anymore and he broke out in a laughing fit. Normally I would have yelled at him and taken a swing at him, but he was stressed and his two options of releasing stress right now where to laugh, or cry, I let him laugh at me. When his laughter died down he spoke to me again as I began a new sparing round with the punching bag "you'll be there tonight won't you?"

My eyebrows wrinkled in confusion and this time thinking ahead I caught the punching bag then turned my attention to him. "Of course I'll be there, unless you don't want me there."

He signed in relief and looked up at me, his eyes filled with adoration "I want you there more than anyone else, even more than the Queen."

"Aw look who's all romantic." I stole a look around the gym to ensure no one else had walked in, when I saw it was clear I went over to him and knelt down in front of where he sat. I took his face in my hands and kissed him lovingly. After a few moments I pulled away but was surprised when the room spun around me "who knew kisses could make the room go round I thought only beer did that." He laughed lightly at my joke but when I looked at him I knew his world was spinning too. The worlds returned to a focus

and we smiled at each other.

"Oh Lissa help!" I yelled as I fought with my hair in the bathroom. She came in as soon as I called and snatched the blow dryer from my hands and went to work. She pulled viciously at the knots in my hair and I cried out in pain several times, none of them even fazed her. When she finished drying it she quickly yanked the curling iron out and pulled it in. "It'll take forever to heat up!" I said panicky as I looked at the clock 8:38, I only had twenty two minutes to finish getting ready, run to the party and make sure Dimitri saw me. I was dead.

"I know it'll take a bit that's why you're changing into you're gown now Rose, hurry!" Lissa yelled at me, I sprinted from the seat in the bathroom to my bed where Lissa had laid out the gown she had bought for me just for this occasion. "He'll love it on you, even more than that black one," she cooed holding my shoulders. Of course Lissa knew about us, I tried to keep it a secret but I felt so guilty it got to the point where I had started throwing up, Dimitri had told me then that if I thought it was safe, I could tell her.

"I don't know Lissa," I said eyeing the purple dress "that black dress practically killed him."

Lissa gagged "I'll bet," she said "but this one makes you more sophisticated, he'll like that." She left to check on the curling iron and I quickly stripped. I put on a flesh tone strapless bra and a pair of white lacy panties. I slipped the purple gown on and sighed in frustration, I'd never be able to run in this or cut through the grass. I glanced at the clock 8:42. I slipped on the matching silver low heels Lissa had bought to match and a delicate silver chain with a heart that Dimitri had gotten me. "Get in here!" Lissa yelled from the bathroom and I quickly obliged.

She curled my hair quickly and pinned it up with some beautiful silver hair pins that had diamonds encrusted in the end. Finally finished with her part Lissa dashed off to find Christian before going herself. I glanced in the mirror the beautiful purple gown was a light purple and kissed the floor, it was tube top but perhaps the defining quality was that two veils of glitter hung diagonally from each other at the top it created an upside down V at the mid waist where the veils stopped. 8:47 I was doomed.

I rushed out of my room and down the steps sure I would be the last person to arrive. I decided dress or no dress I needed to shave time off the walk so I cut though the woods holding my dress away from the dirt. I was about to burst through a clearing and be about half way to the commons when I heard a noise. It was a slurping noise and I realized someone was feeding from someone else. I peaked through the leaves and saw a white and teal dress hunched over a body. The woman stood and I saw her leave at blinding speeds, a Strigoi was on academy grounds. I rushed to the person praying to the God I didn't believe in that they were alive, I checked there pulse and they weren't there anymore, tears brimmed my eyes and I ran to the commons as fast as my legs could carry me. The doors were open wide to the ceremony and I could see Queen Tatiana drinking in Dimitri, FOCUS my brain screamed snapping me out of jealous girlfriend mood and into guardian mood.

I sprinted straight up to a guardian standing by the doorway "hello Rose the ceremony is about to begin you're cutting it close," said one of the guards I had ridden with in the SUV to retrieve Lissa. I was also fairly certain that she knew of my and Dimitri's relationship.

"I know," I blurted "but there is a dead," my words slowed as the music started and I saw Headmistress Kirova walk onto stage to announce Dimitri's honorable new position. She looked beautiful, hair up make up done and in a gorgeous white and teal dress.

"Dead what?!" the guardian demanded.

"Person, just through the woods in a clearing," I said pointing behind me as I ran into the commons. Just my luck though as I needed to get through it was time for everyone to stand, chairs were only available in the front so all of the novices were standing anyways and they were shoulder to shoulder. I shoved people out of the way "Dimitri," I screamed as everyone began clapping and drowned out my attempts. "Dimitri," I screamed again hoping he would hear me, I saw him look around but did nothing. I pushed my way through the novices becoming more violent as I realized that soon Kirova would be next to Dimitri to give him his certificate of recognition, making him officially the queen's guard. I looked up at one point and saw the way she was staring at him, his neck in particular she wants to change him the thought sprung into my head with horrible realization and if it had been a more convenient time I would have thrown up. As it was I continued to beast my way through the crowd.

Christian grabbed my shoulders when I tried to run past him a Lissa "what are you doing?" He practically snarled at me.

"Kirova's Strigoi she wants to change Dimitri I have to get to him," I practically yelled at him to be heard over the cumulative notice of Kirova on the microphone and everyone else yelling over the music, this was nothing like the ceremony I thought it would be.

Christian shot a look at Kirova and saw the red tint he released me and shouted "move!" as he surrounded me in fire that didn't burn, similar to what he had done to Raph. I sprinted through the crowd who now screamed in pandemonium at a student in flames. They did move out of my way though, I sprinted and reached the stage as Kirova was walking across to Dimitri, her movements quickened when she saw me.

"NO!" I yelled and trust myself on stage between Dimitri and herself, her speed giving her away; I yanked at where I knew he held a concealed stake and with no second thoughts thrust it into my ex-headmistress's heart. I stared as she collapsed onto the ground the stake clearly hitting its mark. The fire around me had disappeared and everyone stood in a scared calm. I personally fell to the floor crying, Dimitri bent down next to me and pulled me into his arms, "she was going to change you," I whispered through sobs. "I didn't want to do it but she was going to change you," I buried my head into his chest ruining the dress shirt I hadn't had the proper time to appreciate. He looked good in the tux; then again he always looked good.

He picked me up and carried me off stage, he nodded his head to the headmistress's dead body and a few other guardians quickly went and picked her up. The one at the door went by "I couldn't find the body yet Rose, but we'll find it don't worry." She paused for a moment and then put a hand on my shoulder "good job," she murmured and walked away.

Dimitri walked towards Queen Tatiana, with me still in his arms, "madam," he said bowing to her being sure not to drop me. "I'm sorry but my services are needed at the academy I cannot leave it to protect you, and I cannot break my vow to Lissa forgive me your majesty." He didn't wait for a reply he simply walked out, soon after other students were being escorted out behind us.

Slowly Dimitri carried me towards the dorms, he didn't say anything and he didn't stare at me while I continued to cry in his arms, though occasionally I would look up and see a pained expression on his face. I could not be sure if it was because of Kirova's death or because I was falling apart in his arms. As we walked Lissa and Christian caught up to us "is she ok?" Lissa desperately asked.

"I-I'm ok," I replied shakily.

"Christian I need a favor," Dimitri said out of nowhere.

"Uh I was gonna walk Lissa back to her dorm," Christian said nervously.

"Bring her too then," Dimitri clarified not missing a beat.

"What's in it for me?" Christian asked bored.

"Christian," Lissa scolded.

Ignoring Lissa Dimitri spoke "I won't blab you're biggest fear."

"You don't know my biggest fear," Christian said eye narrowing.

"L-I-,"

"Ok!" Christian nearly screamed. Dimitri stopped spelling but carried a triumphant smirk on his face as he continued to the dorms. "So what do you need?" Christian asked unhappily.

"Watch my door for an hour, then you can go."

"I really don't wanna hear what goes on in you're room especially if that's where we're headed with Rose right now."

Dimitri chuckled but continued to walk "you won't hear a thing just be sure you don't let anyone in."

I saw Christian fake gagging behind us and mustered a small smile through my sobs. When we reached Dimitri's room he entered still carrying me, handed Christian and Lissa each a set of headphones, a headphone splitter, and his i-pod then promptly shut the door. He set me down on his bed and my hands went to work trying to wipe away my tears, he knelt on the floor in front of me looking up at me worriedly. I glanced at the clock 8:18.

"Roza," he spoke my name in Russian and my heart skipped a beat "what is it Roza? Why are you crying? Is it because you had to kill her?" I shock my head 'no'. "Then why my Roza?" I loved the way his Russian accent slipped out a little more than normal when my Russian name passed his lips; Russia was where he was from and when his accent came out on a particular word I could tell it was something that reminded him of home. I was home for him.

"I-I didn't think I'd make it in time, I thought I would be t-too late," my voice cracked sometimes when I spoke as my tears began to die down. When he said nothing I moved one hand away from my face so I could look at him, his head was backwards a little more than normal as if it had jerked away when I had spoken, his eyes held only surprise.

"Roza," I looked at him lowering both hands, his eyes held love now, I had gotten used to seeing that one but it still warmed my heart every time. "These tears," he said as his hand reached up and he gently brushed all of my tears away "are for me?"

I choked on a laugh and threw my arms around his neck tightly knocking him backwards onto the floor, myself on top of him. "Who else would they be for you idiot?" I questioned him as I nuzzled into his chest.

He wrapped one arm around my waist and the other stroked my hair softly, he was careful not to push any of the pins into my head. "Roza let me look at you," he finally said after holding me for about seven minutes. I sniffed and looked up I knew I looked horrible now, my eyes were puffy, my cheeks tear stained, my hair a messy version of the once beautiful design Lissa had contorted it into. He took in a deep breathe and then smiled at me "you look beautiful Roza," he said and moved closer to me cupping my face in his hands and kissing me sweetly. The kisses slowly crept away from sweet and became more and more passionate. "Rose do you remember what happened last time you wore a dress like this?" he asked me between kisses.

I pulled away for a moment blushing "Lissa got in trouble but then the necklace that Victor gave me made us do things we wouldn't have done, then," I added blushing and cautiously looked down at the necklace Dimitri had given me.

He chuckled and lifted the necklace and pulled it between his fingers. "It won't do anything except heighten your beauty love." I began to undo the strings that held my dress up at the back but his hand covered mine, "not tonight love, for now just stay with me." 9:15 I heard rustling outside the door and saw the i-pod slide underneath the door and into Dimitri's room. He gave me a shirt and some baggy shorts and allowed me my privacy while I changed, he also changed into some lose fitting shorts. He opened the bed up for me and I crawled in. 9:18 I heard Lissa and Christian talking as they walked away and left me alone with the man I loved.

"By the way," I asked looking up at him from his strong arms that cradled me. "What is Christian's biggest fear?"

He smirked down at me "Lissa PMSing." We both laughed and I fell asleep comfortably in his arms