A/N: Hello! So this idea popped into my mind and I decided to write it down and see how it goes. I am a BIG Christian and Rose lover so this story is about them. It is rated M for later chapters. R&R! Please review; I love reading those! They feed the muse! Hope you enjoy and sorry it's a little short! XOXO

I take a deep breath as I watch the scenery go by. So much green all blurred together as the train keeps moving forward. I don't know how far we are from St. Vlad's; maybe a few hours, but I know we aren't out of the woods yet.

Because I did it once again; I've taken a Moroi from the school and ran away.

My eyes drift over to Christian who is fast asleep in the seat next to me. He fell asleep as soon as he sat down; he must have been exhausted. But I still don't understand why.

My mind goes back a few hours ago.

I have just pulled back the covers on my bed when there is a knock on my door. The sun has just gone up; marking the night time for us. Who would be at my door so late? I check the bond and see that Lissa is in bed, reading a book. I walk over to the door and my confusion turns to surprise when I see Christian on the other side.

He looks at me with a look I have never really seen before; it's one of complete defeat. Despite our past, I can't help but feel concern. We've come a long way since then; after everything we've been through.

I ask, "Christian what is it?" He takes a deep breath, "Rose I need your help. Can I come in?" I look around to make sure no one is watching. I nod and he comes in. I close my door and turn around to see him plop on the bed. I cross my arms, "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

He runs a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. After a few minutes he says, "I need you to get me out of the school."

My eyes widen, "What?" He looks up at me, "You heard me Rose. I need to leave St. Vlad's." I look at him, waiting for him to say just kidding or to tell me the real reason he's here. But he says nothing. His blue eyes are completely serious; his gaze never wavering. I open my mouth, only to close it again. For once I am at a loss for words.

Finally I manage, "Why?" He sighs, "I just have to." So much is running through my mind, "What about Lissa. Does she know?" He shakes his head, "No and she can't know until I'm gone." I go to stand in front of him, "Christian, what is this all about? Why do you need to leave?"

He won't look me in the eye, "I thought you'd jump at the chance to get rid of me." There is a small smile on his face. I slap his arm, "Come on Christian. Don't be stupid. You know that isn't true." I see his shoulder slump, "I know. We've been through too much to hate each other." The smile slips from his face, "Rose, it isn't safe if I stay here. For Lissa, you, or any of the students. Please just trust me." His words don't make any sense.

"Are you in danger?" My protective instincts kick in. I am a Guardian after all. He lets out an angry breath, "Rose I can't go in to details. Can you get me out?" My anger begins to come out, "Not until you tell me what the hell is going. And what makes you think I can get you out?" He slams his eyes shut as he answers, "Because you got Lissa out." I didn't miss the fact that he avoided my first question. I let it go…for now. I say, "That wasn't easy. And we used her compulsion; and we both know how bad you are at that." He lets out a small huff, "Do you really need to bring that up?" I take a seat next to him, "Christian-" he stops me, "I've been practicing." I look at him in surprise, "What?"

He finally looks at me, his blue eyes sharp. For a moment I feel like I can't look away. He says, "Rose, take my jacket off." My hand moves to his jacket; I need to do as he asks. But then I blink and I jerk my hand away. My mind had been fuzzy but it was now clear. My eyes widen, "Seriously?" He gives a small chuckle, "I told you. I might not be able to hold on too long but it's something."

Now I huff, "Well that was way better than last time." Standing up he says, "Look I just need you to get me past the gates. Then you just come back here. No one will know you helped me get out."

I am snapped out of my thoughts when a message trickles in my mind. 'Rose, where are you? I can't find Christian!' I cringe as her panic flits through me. I left without telling her.

I let my mind go into hers. She has just left my room when I didn't answer. Classes are running once again; even though the attack was only a week ago. She steps out of the Dhampir dorms and heads to the cafeteria thinking I might be there. But when she doesn't find me she panics again.

My heart aches as I watch her desperately searching for me.

She is crossing the quad when she sees Dimitri. Running over to him she asks, "Guardian Belikov, what are you doing here?" I am momentarily surprised to see Dimitri; I feel my heart pounding with so many emotions; anger, sadness, love.

I hadn't seen him since he left with Tasha after Spokane; leaving right after Mason's funeral.

He smiles at Lissa, "Hello Princess. Tasha wanted to come see Christian. After we heard about the attack we tried to get here as soon as possible." A sudden sadness washes over Lissa as she remembers the attack. But then sudden hope flares through her, "Is Tasha with Christian?" He nods, "She was on her way to his room. He wasn't picking up his phone." Lissa then asks, "Have you seen Rose?" I don't miss the flicker of emotion that passes through his eyes at the mention of my name.

He says, "No I haven't. I was on my way to see Alberta." Lissa bites her lip, "I can't find her. And she hasn't come to look for me." Worry for me enters her chest. Dimitri says, "I'm sure she's around here somewhere. I will help you look for her." Before she can respond Tasha comes running their way. "Dimitri! He left!" Tasha's blue eyes are shimmering with tears. Dimitri asks, "Who?" Tasha blinks, "Christian…" Her eyes snap to Lissa's, "Did you know about this?"

She hands her a note. Lissa reads it:

I'm sorry about this. I love you Aunt Tasha. I love you Lissa.

There is nothing else. He didn't even put his name, but she knew his hand writing. Lissa's hands begin to shake. Looking up she says, "No…..this can't be…..no he didn't leave…." Understanding slams into her, "Rose!" I internally cringe as she says my name.

She runs back to my room, ignoring the calls from behind her. She doesn't knock or call my name. She turns the knob to find it open and she quickly entered my room. Looking around she notices that things are in place; my pictures, clock, books. But when she looks through my drawers she finds nothing. My clothes are gone. On my computer desk Lissa spots a piece of paper.

Picking it up she reads, 'I'm sorry too. I wasn't going to let him leave on his own.'

I snap back to my own mind. 'I am so sorry Lissa.' My insides twist as I slam her emotions away. I don't want to know how much I've hurt her.

"What did you see?" I wonder when he woke up; how long he's been watching me. I don't look at him as I say, "They know we left." He sighs, "So Aunt Tasha did go." I nod but don't look at him, "Now I know why you wanted to leave so quickly. It would have been harder to leave if she was there." He doesn't say anything.

After a while he says, "You can still go back Rose." I cross my arms, "Chris we already had this argument. I am not leaving you alone." I still don't know why he wanted to run. But I do know Lissa wouldn't want him alone out here. She would have wanted me to be with him, to protect him. That much I did know. I also knew she would have jumped on the wagon to come with us. But he didn't want her too.

'It's too dangerous Rose. She could get killed.' His words echo in my head. That was the reason I decided to come with him. Because if he had said she could die, then that meant he could too. And I wasn't going to lose another friend.

I sigh, "Where are we even going?"

"Rose…" I finally look at him, "I helped you get out of St. Vlad's. The guard you tried to compel saw the both of us. I can't go back without getting in trouble. So I'm tagging along and that's that."

That part was true. His compulsion had gotten stronger but it wasn't enough. Luckily for us there was only one guard at the time. He managed to compel him to go to sleep but he had quickly woken up. Just like in Spokane I had to knock him out.

Christian sighs, "I guess you have a point. They would just drill you with questions. Maybe even suspend you." I nod, "So you're stuck with me. Even though you won't tell me what's going on." He runs a hand through his hair, "I just don't know how to tell you. I mean I still can't believe it myself."

I stay silent, waiting for him to continue. He does, "Everything that's happened; Mason's death, the attack on the school…..it was all because of me. It was my fault." My eyes widen, "Christian, how can you say that? It was the Strigoi not you. And unless you made us get captured, and you helped them get in the school, you had no part in this." He bites his lip, "I might as well have had a part in it Rose."

I shake my head, "You aren't making any sense."

Hurt and sorrow flashes through his eyes, "Do remember the story of my parents?" I nod, "They turned and then got killed when they came to get you." Taking a deep breath he says, "Yes, Guardians came in and killed them. Or that's the story they told." I look at him in confusion, "What?"

His blue eyes lock with mine, "Rose, my parents aren't dead."