Hey Everyone! A little background before we start :) PLEASE READ!

15 Seconds is partially based off of my One-Shot I Only Need You for the Valentine's Day Compilation by VA10thanniversaryproject. If you haven't read it, check it out, mine is Chapter 9 I Only Need You. It is also cross-published on my profile in my VA One-Shot story. While, this is partially based off my One-Shot it is not actually from my One-Shot. The scene and back story from the One-Shot I Only Need You, will not be included in this story. I want to keep the two stories completely separate. Please remember that as you read this story :)

In addition, I am taking the ending of Frostbite and rewriting it a little, along with basically ignoring all the other books in the series. The major differences from Frostbite is after Rose and the gang are found in Spokane. There will be a lot of OC in this story, I hope you all like it :)

I have always felt that during the events of Spokane Dimitri would realize how close he came to loosing Rose. And that he would decided to basically say screw it, and take advantage of the time they could have together. This story is what would have happened, had Dimitri decided to pursue a relationship with Rose.

This story begins with DPOV but will switch to RPOV for the rest of the story. I hope you all enjoy the story :)

Prologue DPOV

Rose had been missing for days. And while everyone was more concerned with Christian Ozera, because he was a royal, all I could think about was Rose. We finally were able to locate where they were, which is why I was currently sitting in the back of a black SUV.

We had found the house that they were being held in. As we drove up to it, I saw only three of them outside. Where was Rose? Oh god, please still be alive. As we got closer I noticed who the three students were. Mia Rinaldi, Christian Ozera, and Eddie Castile, they all looked a little worse for the wear. Where was Rose?

"Where is Rose?" Janine Hathaway asked the moment she was out of the car.

"She's inside," Mia told us, she was shaking as she spoke to us.

The three of them looked horrible. Mia looked ashen and exhausted, almost as if she ran a marathon. Eddie was on the ground and it looked as if he had a lot of blood loss. I could see the wound on his neck, it was obvious he was used to feed off. Christian sat next to Eddie, he too looked exhausted. All three looked as if they were in the process of trying not to pass out. What happened to them?

My thoughts ran with what could have happened to them, each thought worse than the last. I felt sick to my stomach. Oh god, please be alive. Please be okay.

"We should be prepared," I told Janine, speaking the obvious. "We don't know what we are walking into."

"I agree Belikov," Janine nodded at me as we made our way to the front door. The two of us waiting for a second, "On the count of three?"

I nodded waiting for her signal. I could hear more Guardians behind us.

"One," Janine began. I wanted her to be alive. I wanted her to be safe, I wanted her to be okay. Please let her be okay. Please be alive.

All I could think about was Rose. She had this long dark and thick hair, that waved slightly. The beautiful long locks that I wanted to tangle my hands in. The locks framed her gorgeous face. Her face ran through my mind. Her dark, soulful eyes, framed by long, thick, dark lashes that beckoned me to look into them. Her strong nose that seemed to fit her face perfectly. She had these high cheekbones that gave her this exotic beauty, a middle eastern princess look. My middle eastern princess. The pouty mouth, that was constructed by full dark pink lips. A perfect mouth, that had once been covering mine. They moulded to my lips and I wanted them there again. I knew that mouth covered these perfect white teeth, and when she smiled I felt it down into the depths of my soul.

"Two," she took a deep breath. I was trying to remember every detail of Rose. Roza.

I thought about Rose's body. Since we had been training together she had put on a little bit of muscle and her gorgeous body just got better. She literally was perfection. Her long toned legs, that lead up to the perfect butt. I stared at it so many times when I would spot her or when we were running. I wanted her legs wrapped around my hips as I thrusted into her. She had these full gorgeous hips, that I wanted to hold onto. And a tiny nipped in waist. I loved wrapping my arms around it. Her toned stomach, with the cute belly button. I noticed a hole during the lust charm, I wonder if she had it pierced? These full plump and perky breasts. That had, what I am assuming would be, beautiful pink nipples. I had seen them poking out during training in the cold air when we ran. I wanted her legs and arms wrapped around me, consuming me.

"Three!"

We all ran into the building, expecting anything and everything.

My eyes landed on two bodies on the ground. All I could see was the dark hair draped around the front of the body laying on the ground. My heart stopped. She was grasping onto what looked like a dull old sword. They weren't moving.

Oh god.

I hadn't realized I had stopped walking until I noticed other Guardians approaching them.

"Get back!" Rose shrieked out. "I have to protect him!"

I took a deep breath. She was okay.

She was alive. Thank you, Lord! I felt like I was being crushed with the relief running through my body. All I could think about was that my beautiful, amazing Roza was alive. I wanted to run to her and wrap her in my arms, never letting go. I wanted to tell her I loved her and that everything was going to be okay. I wanted to comfort her and make her understand that Mason was in a better place now.

"Rosemarie?" Janine asked as she moved toward her daughter.

Rose kept shouting, she looked as if she was having an anxiety attack. All the other Guardians looked around, not knowing what to do. Anytime someone moved toward her, Rose panicked.

The rest of the Guardians were whispering as they took in the scene around them.

"She beheaded them?" I heard one ask.

"With that old thing?" Another said. "It must not have been sharpened in years."

"Rose?" I moved toward the girl I was in love with.

"Stay back!" She shirked as I got in front of her. Her grip on the sword tightened.

"Roza?" I asked again. I kneeled in front of her. "It's okay, it's me. It's Dimitri, it's Comrade," I whispered the last part out.

"I have to protect him," Rose said as she looked up at me, not quiet making eye contact. I noticed as she moved, that I could see the lifeless eyes of Mason Ashford.

"You did protect him," I told her. "But I am here to protect you now."

My beautiful Roza looked up at me, making eye contact with me for the first time. Her sad and guilt filled brown eyes, full of tears, and searching mine.

"I tried," she sobbed out. My heart broke for her.

"I know you did, Roza," I whispered out. "Let me protect you now."

I barely saw Rose nodded her head, her grip loosening on the sword. I stood and leaned over, helping her up. When it was clear she wasn't in the condition to walk, I swept her up into my arms. Rose rested her head against my chest, my arms holding her closer as I carried her out of the house.

"Take care of her, Belikov," Janine said to me as I carried Rose out. "I am afraid it is going to be long road ahead of her."

I nodded to Janine as I helped Rose into one of the SUVs, I noticed that the other students had already left the seen. I got in the car with Rose, sitting next to her in the back seat. Rose laid her head against my chest, my arms wrapped around her. I could feel her tears as they fell from her eyes.

"It's going to be okay, milaya," I whispered out softly. "It is going to be okay."

I watched Rose get her molnija tattooed a few days later. Mason's memorial had happened yesterday, but I could see that Rose was still distraught.

"Two molnija are being awarded to Rosemarie Hathaway for beheading two ancients in Spokane," Alberta announced as Rose sat down in the chair.

I watched as she didn't make a sound. I could see the tears slowly falling from her eyes. She seemed so lost, and so heart broken. I could feel my heart swell with pride that she had used her training to save lives. At the same time my heart broke for the pain that she was feeling. Losing a friend was never easy, and unfortunately this would not be the last time she lost someone close to her.

I watched Rose stand and present her molnija to the room. She then went and mingled with the other Guardians. I noticed Stan Alto approaching her and giving her a brief squeeze around her shoulders. Janine whisked her away after that. About fifteen minutes later I saw Rose sitting at a table pushing food around on her plate, her appetite clearly gone.

"Belikov," Janine came up to me before I could make my way toward Rose. "Thank you."

"I don't understand," I turned to Janine looking at her oddly. Why was she thanking me?

"You trained her," Janine explained to me. "You gave her the tools to survive."

"She did it all on her own," I stated. I felt odd taking credit. "I might have given her the tools but she put them into action."

"Not many get the chance to put them into action. She could have been gone before her eighteenth birthday so thank you," Janine said. "And thank you for taking care of her after . . ."

"I would do it again in a heart beat," I turned and left. My mind was running, thinking about something that Janine said.

It made me angry to think that I could lose Rose without really having her. This experience had proven to me that I could lose Rose before she graduated. I was tired of having to hide my feelings for her. I loved her. And I wanted to be with her now, not tomorrow. Not when she was eighteen. Not when she graduated. Or when she became Lissa's Guardian. No, I wanted to be with her now. I wanted to lover her now.

As a Guardian so much of our lives were dictated, but I could control this. I didn't want to loose her before she knew how much I loved her. Being a Guardian meant that it could happen at any moment. I needed to love her now. I didn't want there to be a day where she doubted my love for her.

I shook my head and went on my grounds patrol. I was already late for my shift. I had stayed longer at the molnija ceremony than I wanted to.

I walked through campus for hours. It was a quiet night. Everyone was somber because of Mason's death. We weren't expecting any trouble from students tonight. That was the reason we did grounds patrol at night, it was technically the day so we weren't worried about Strigoi in the sunlight. We were worried about students sneaking out and getting themselves into trouble. But for the past few days, and the days ahead, students wouldn't be causing trouble.

"Belikov, come in," I heard over my radio.

"Belikov, here," I said into the radio waiting for the response.

"Belikov, please report to the female novice dorms," I heard the voice again. It sounded like Alberta.

"Copied," I said making my way from the elementary campus toward the novice female dorms. I hope Rose was okay.

I made my way up the stairs immediately. I was expecting to be needed by Rose's room, so I went straight there. I found Alberta and the hall monitor speaking in front of Rose's room.

"Belikov, good," Alberta looked relieved when she saw me. "Rose was crying in her room, and when Jane went to check on her, Rose didn't answer. Thinking that Rose wanted to be alone, Jane went back to her post. After a while she went back, Rose still didn't answer. Jane decided to check the room, to make sure that Rose was okay. Everyone is concerned about her."

"Understandable," I nodded to Alberta. I wished she would just get to the point. Was Rose okay? Did she hurt herself?

"Rose is gone."

"What do you mean gone?" I asked a little confused.

"We can't seem to find her," Alberta said. "She isn't in her room or the bathroom. Do you know where she might be?"

"I don't know, but I will go look," I told Alberta.

"I am afraid you are the only one she will listen to," Alberta spoke softly, an odd look crossing her face. "Be good to her."

I didn't understand what she meant by that. Instead of mulling over her words, I excused myself to go look for Rose.

I checked the gym, but she was no where to be found. I then went to check Mason's grave site, he was buried at the academy graveyard. He was an orphan. But she wasn't there either. My next stop was to check with Lissa, perhaps Rose wanted the comfort of her friend. When I found out that Rose wasn't with her, I decided to check the one place no one would look for Rose.

I walked into the chapel, breathing in the incense that was constantly burning. I looked around in the soft light and found Rose sitting in one of the pews.

If Rose really wanted to be alone, she always went to the chapel. I had noticed that she had done it a few times over the past few months. No one would ever think to look for her here. Not to mention, Lissa and Christian used the attic as their love nest, so eventually her best friend would find her.

I quickly made my way toward her, sitting down next to her. She looked straight ahead, not acknowledging that I joined her. I could see the tears streaming down her face. Her hair was wet and was loose. She was wrapped up in a pair of leggings and a massive sweatshirt, her feet clad in what looked to be fur boots.

"He came in after me," Rose whispered out softly. I could barely hear her. "I told him to take the rest of them outside, and I would handle Isaiah and Elena. He wanted more than I could give him."

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as she spoke. I hoped I was giving her the comfort that she needed.

"Mason wanted to save me," she breathed out. "He wanted to save me because he loved me. But I didn't love him, I am the reason he died. He wouldn't have come back if he didn't love me. He's dead because of me," Rose sobbed out.

"Oh Roza!" I lifted her so she was partially sitting in my lap. Her head turned so she was sobbing into my chest. Her hands tangled into my shirt, holding on for dear life. And I just held her. I held her as she cried for the loss of her friend.

"I am sorry," she whispered out, her voice horse from crying.

"You have nothing to apologize for," I told her honestly. I cupped her face in my hands and rested my forehead on hers. I looked deep into her beautiful eyes. "It is not your fault."

"Yes, it is," she argued softly.

"No, it is not!" I said sternly as I held her face. "Mason wanted to save you, yes. But you did not make that choice for him. Isaiah killed him. Isaiah is the one who is to blame. You are not responsible for his death! Say it! Say Isaiah killed Mason."

She looked at me with her big doe eyes. "Isaiah killed Mason," she finally said, I could barley hear her.

"Again," I told her.

"Isaiah killed Mason," she whispered out a little louder.

"Again!"

"Isaiah killed Mason," Rose said a little stronger. I could see the guilt starting to leave her eyes.

"Who killed Mason?" I asked her.

"Isaiah killed Mason," Rose said a lot stronger now. I could see the tension starting to leave her body.

"Who is responsible for killing Mason?" I finally asked.

"Isaiah," Rose said loudly, she smiled at me softly.

After a second she rested her head against my shoulder. I held her close to me, at some point she had gone from half in my lap to fully in my lap. I could feel more tears coming from her eyes now, but they seemed more to be from losing her friend than feeling responsible for his death. I rubbed her back soothingly. She seemed to be more at peace than she was a few minutes ago. I was glad I could help her release some of that guilt and pain.

"Everything is going to be okay," I whispered out softly.

"Dimitri," Rose said after a few minutes. She was looking a lot better than when I had walked in the chapel.

"Yes, Roza?"

"Are you taking Tasha's offer?" Rose asked me softly. I could see she was looking anywhere but at me. Her hands playing with a button on my shirt.

"No, Roza," I told her. "It wouldn't be fair to her. She needs someone who will love her, and I can't do that."

"You are staying as Lissa's Guardian?" She asked me, her voice sounding a lot perkier all of a sudden.

"Yes, I am," I said to her. "But that's not the reason I am staying."

"Because you don't love Tasha?" She asked curiously. "And Tasha deserves someone who will love her?"

"It's not that I don't," I said softly. "It's because I can't, I am in love with someone else."

"Comrade?" Rose looked up at me finally. Her eyes sparkling with hope.

I leaned down and captured her plum, dark pink pouty lips with mine. The kiss seemed to last forever and not long enough all at the same time. I wanted to devour her, but now was not the time. She was still grieving over the loss of her friend. But I couldn't go another day without being with the woman I loved. Screw everyone else.

I pulled away from her resting my forehead against hers, both of us gasping for air. Her lips were slightly swollen from the rough and all consuming kiss. They were slightly parted and I leaned forward and pecked her bottom lip quickly. Placing another soft kiss on the tip of her nose. She looked beautiful.

Rose was the kind of woman who looked gorgeous after kissing the man she loved. She should be kissed long and hard, and very, very often. I planned to make sure that happened.

I remembered when I was a newly young man, an old man in Baia once told me that to keep the passion alive everyday with his wife his father told him fifteen-seconds was all it took. I never quiet understood what he meant until now. I would make sure that everyday for at least fifteen-seconds a day, I would kiss Rose. And for those fifteen-seconds, I would only focus on kissing the beautiful woman in front of me.

"I love you, Roza," I whispered out to her. "And I don't want to go another day without being with you. Mason reminded me that life is short and worth living."

"What are you saying, Comrade?" Rose asked me, she seemed a little unsure. I could see that she was trying not to get her hopes up and that she was nervous.

"Say you will be mine?"

I hope you all liked the beginning :) Tell me what you think in a review :)

This story isn't going to be betad so I can update more frequently. The plan is to update at least once a week, so I will be posting chapters as soon as they are finished. Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar mistakes! When the story is finished, I will go back and edit all of it. But I want to be able to get this out to all of you as fast as I can :)

Thank you all for reading :)