Rose POV

We were all quite confused when the former queen, Ekaterina Zeklos, asked for my company. Well, she apparently said she wanted my "audience" but same thing. When Lissa told us, Dimitri's eyebrow shot up and Fireboy laughed. We all expected for it to be Lissa's feeble attempt for a joke. Personally, I chortled because that is just how freaking elegant I am. So after a few seconds of slightly stunned silence, because Sparky and I could barely keep quite for two seconds, we went back to eating our traditional Sunday dinner. Christian, yes I call him by his name sometimes, and I resumed glaring at each other while Comrade refereed and adjudicated. Yes I said adjudicated. I think I'm starting to absorb royal speak. Ugh.

So my train of thought was well away from what Lissa said until she broke out of her sort of daze and said, "I'm not kidding."

"What do you mean you're not kidding? Liss, it's the former freaking queen. What the hell would she want to do with little old me? The monarchy I grew up knowing hated me. That should've clued her in."

"First of all, Rose, we now know she didn't completely hate you. Second, the present monarchy happens to love you!"

"I sure hope there's a third, Liss, because I may be your boyfriend and your number one believer…"

"Hey!" I protested. I know they're all close because of their relationship but I'm Lissa's number one believer, not Firecrotch!

"…but Liss, why would the former queen, Ekaterina Zeklos, want to hang out with Rosie Posie?" he replied like he didn't even freaking hear me.

"You are so dead kid. Liss, as much as I want to fry and/or drown the love of your life right now, he has a point- and that's saying something Liss. After all, it's Chrissie we're talking about here."

I heard said Chrissie make a noise that I guess was supposed to signify his protest or something but I couldn't give a flying rat's ass because the more that I looked at Lissa, the more worried I got about how she was taking this. I mean, I'm not jumping for joy about it but Lissa looks like somebody just told her the color pink isn't a valid color anymore.

Comrade, who has been silent up until now, finally spoke up. I guess he also realized that Liss wasn't reacting to this very well, though I doubt he made the pink analogy. I smiled involuntarily at that.

"Vasilisa, is it true?" he said while giving me death glares. I get it, smiling while my bestfriend is having a mini panic attack is not good. I forced the smile down.

"Dimitri, why in the world would I le about this?"

"Not as much lie, Liss, more like joke about it." It was my turn to give a death glare but this time directed to Sparky-the-idiot-who-will-get-his-ass-fried-if-he-doesn't-freaking-shut-up. I guess it worked because not only did he clam up but he also paled a few shades. It's not that Christian is insensitive. He's just decided somewhere along the way that he would use jokes and sarcasm as a way of dealing with Court drama. But seeing as Dimitri and I are now taking this seriously, I hope he follows suit. I may not like the guy as much as Lissa does but a pissed-off Lissa is never pretty. If anyone tells her I said that, they would be begging for death.

"Rose, what are we going to do? The former queen wants to see you and speak to you!"

"Isn't it supposed to be 'with' not 'to' Liss? Like, 'she would like to speak with me'?"

"Roza, I guess Vasilisa is hoping you would just nod and smile."

"But Comrade, if she wants this and judging by the look of complete terror on Lissa's face, she does, then she would have to deal with me as me and not as some lifeless passionless nod doll."

"Really, Rosie? Nod doll?"

"Not my best, I admit. The sentiment is still the same."

"But Rose, she could say you're not fit to be my guardian or a guardian and she could send you away!"

"No, Liss, she can't. She retired. Only you can make me go away", I told her. I'd be fine in Ekaterina's presence, no big deal! Why does everyone think I'll screw it up! "Do you have any intention of firing me any time soon, Your Highness?"

"Rose…"

"I'll go if that's what she wants. I want you to stay calm and not think about it too much. Liss, you have enough problems as it is. She just wants to talk. If you behave, I will too."

"I always behave", she grumbled.

"Then it wouldn't be too much of a bother, would it?"

"I guess not. Just try not to get arrested? Please?"

"I'll do my best. So, when does she want me?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Okay. Would you guys hang out with Liss so I won't have to worry about her as I try to stay out of trouble?"

"Sure. We'll be lovey-dovey and stick to each other like glue." I'm glad he recovered fast. That's one of the things Sparky and I have in common, we bounce back fast. I hope his earlier comments don't become a big deal. I'll just encourage him to distract her so she won't remember. My goodness, I don't want to know how he will do that.

"We'll stay close, Roza. Are you sure you'd be okay?"

"Much as I will ever be. Keep the kids safe, okay?"

"Sure. I promise, love."

"I think I just threw up a little."

"Shut it Fireboy."

"Text me if anything goes wrong, okay Rose? Promise me."

"I, Badass Rosemarie Hathaway, promise Queen Vasilisa Sabina Rhea Dragomir almost Ozera that I will send a text message if anything goes wrong." I smrked as blushes crept on the cheeks of the couple. "Go Firecrotch."

"And I, Lissa Dragomir almost Ozera, promise Badass Rosemarie Hathaway almost Belikova that I will keep the boys in line and will text if Christian needs to get his ass kicked."

This earned her a full-fledged smile from me, a smirk and faint blush from Dimitri, and a "Hey!" from Christian which she quickly placated with a kiss. Before things got too heated, we all finished our meals and said our good nights.

That night Dimitri murmured words of encouragement and swore his belief in me. I responded appropriately by kissing him to the point of blowing his mind. He blew my mind in return and we soon forgot about the entire conversation.