a/n: I originally was going to post this in my Sydrian RoundUp one shots, but I figured it would make more sense to keep all the lemons in one place, because that way if that's all some people are interested in, they can just go there for lemon-guaranteed reading. I'd feel bad for anyone following that story specifically for lemons getting excited and then being let down with unwanted fluff. so, for all you fluff lovers out there...

a little post-chapter-2-of-the-indigo-spell fluff for y'all

Lissa Dragomir didn't know what to expect as she entered the ladies room of the hotel most of the guests attending Sonya and Mikhail's wedding were staying. She'd been getting ready to leave for the wedding herself, which was in 2 hours, when she'd received a phone call from Rose urging her to report to the ladies room as soon as possible.

Upon arrival, she took in the scene of Sydney, the alchemist, holding her arm out to Rose, who was desperately applying coats of hotel bathroom paper towels to it. Every time she added another layer, it immediately seeped through with red liquid. Lissa realized with a jolt that Sydney was injured. And bleeding profusely.

"Took you long enough!" Rose exclaimed when she saw Lissa. "We've got a crisis."

"What...what happened?" Lissa asked, her voice full of confusion and concern.

"It's these stupid heels!" Sydney piped up, swinging her injured arm up in dismay.

"Hey, whoa! No, no, watch the dress!" Rose interjected frantically, guiding Sydney's injured arm away from the black clingy number she was wearing. As Lissa took in the sight of her she realized she looked quite different from what she remembered. Certainly prettier, but maybe that was just because she'd never seen her done up like this before. She smiled, in spite of the bloody scene. "You look really nice, Sydney."

Sydney and Rose both snapped their heads up toward her. "Um, thanks.." Sydney coughed awkwardly. "So do you, Queen Vasilisa."

Lissa scoffed loudly at the formality in the girl's voice. "Oh, you can call me Lissa."

Rose looked between them incredulously. "Okay awesome, now that we're all best friends can we please take care of Barbie Bleeds A Lot over here? This wound's pretty deep."

Lissa shook her head, feeling stupid. "Oh, yes. Of course!" She hurried over to Sydney, gently taking hold of her arm. "What happened again?"

Sydney blanched. "I, um...well...I tripped...down an entire flight of stairs."

Rose shook her head. "You're damn lucky I was close by, you little klutz."

"I'm just not used to these kinds of shoes!" Sydney countered, her voice defensive. "Heels this narrow should be illegal."

Lissa winced as she unwrapped an edge of the paper towels covering the gash. "Ouch. But don't worry, I'll have you good as new in no time." she smiled brightly at Sydney as she began to heal the cut.

"Wha-what are you doing?!" Sydney's voice was hysterical as she ripped her arm away from Lissa's grasp after just a few seconds. Lissa frowned, confused.

"Watch. The. Dress!" Rose screeched, grabbing for Sydney's arm again.

"I'm sorry," Lissa said quickly. "I just thought...well why else would you call me down here?" Lissa looked to Rose uncertainly.

"Oh, shit." Rose sighed in annoyance, glancing at Sydney, who now looked horrified. "I forgot."

"No magic, please." Sydney begged. "There has to be another way just please, please, no vampire magic."

Rose shook her head. "Sydney, I'm sorry, but there's no other option. Not unless you want to miss the wedding." Sydney's horrified expression deepened.

"Lissa is my best friend." Rose continued. "I know you're freaked out by all this but I promise, she won't do anything to hurt you. Just let her heal the cut, okay?"

Lissa nodded, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible to this terrified girl. "Trust me, I'm a total wimp, you could probably even beat me up." she joked.

Sydney bit her lip and looked back and forth between Lissa and Rose. "There's really nothing else we can do?" Rose shook her head again. "And we're running out of time, Sydney. Just let Lissa help you, okay?"

Sydney cleared her throat, and the next words that came out of her mouth were not at all was Lissa was expecting. "Can you go get Adrian?"

"Huh?" Lissa and Rose both answered in unison.

"If he's still here, can of you go get him?" Sydney asked. "If someone has to heal me, I'd just rather...I mean...I'm sorry it's nothing personal, Lissa, I just don't really know you and-"

"Ivashkov?" Lissa asked, blinking, just to make sure she'd heard her right.

"Any other spirit users named Adrian we know?" Rose asked dryly.

"I'll go find him." Lissa said, heading out of the bathroom even more confused than when she'd entered it.

Luckily she managed to catch Adrian just as he was walking into the lobby of the hotel. She sighed in relief. She rushed over to him and grabbed ahold of his wrist.

"Whoa, long time no see, cousin." Adrian smiled easily at her. "You look lovely. But where, may I ask, is the fire?"

"No fire," Lissa smiled briefly at him. "But you need to come with me quickly. It's Sydney. She's hurt."

All the playfulness in his demeanor drained in one second. "Where is she?" His voice was deadly serious. "What happened?"

Lissa turned and began pulling him toward the bathroom. "She's hurt her arm pretty badly, from what I've gathered.. She's bleeding all over the ladies room. She needs to be healed like, right now."

"Why the hell didn't you heal her, then?" Adrian asked, a surprising amount of anger in his voice.

"She wouldn't let me!" Lissa fired back, turning back to look at him ad she tugged him along. "She wants you." At those words, Adrian's expression flickered from concern and anger to something else, just for a moment, then his face was oddly expressionless, as if he were forcing it to appear as such.

After what felt like an eternity, Lissa and Adrian finally burst through the door.

"Did you stop to order a pizza?" Rose grumbled, still uselessly applying pressure to the soppy paper towel bandage on Sydney's arm.

Rose expected a fiery comeback of some sort from Adrian, but instead his attention went directly to Sydney. His eyes widened at the sight of her. "Jesus, Sage. What have you done?"

Sydney blushed. "It's a long story."

"Not important." Rose quipped, extending Sydney's injured arm toward him. "Get to work."

Adrian gingerly took Sydney's arm from her grasp, peeling back the paper towels with care. He looked up at Sydney and smirked. "Well, this brings back some memories, doesn't it?"

He threw a glance back to Rose and Lissa and shrugged nonchalantly. "Strigoi attack. You had to be there."

To Rose's surprise, Sydney's mouth actually quirked upward at that.

"Lissa, could you bring me some wet paper towels?" Adrian asked, as he began healing the wound.

Lissa nodded and grabbed a few clean ones from the dispenser, which was all but used up by now, ran them under the faucet and handed them to Adrian.

"What for?" Rose asked curiously. This entire situation was growing weirder by the minute.

She received her answer a few moments later, as Adrian began wiping away the dried blood on Sydney's freshly healed arm.

Sydney blushed again, attempting to pull it away from him. "Oh, you don't have to do that, Adrian, really it's-"

"All done." Adrian said, tossing the paper towels in the trash. He looked up at Sydney and smiled softly. "You okay?"

Sydney nodded. "I am now." she looked at him meaningfully. "Thank you."

"I'm guessing this had something to do with those," Adrian smirked, gesturing toward Sydney's strappy stiletto shoes. "I've gotta say, as much as I'm loving the effect they give, maybe you should go with another pair."

"I haven't got anything else." Sydney frowned.

"Then be careful, Sage." Adrian wagged his finger at her. "Or else I'm going to have to carry you around all night."

Sydney's blushed deepened. "That won't be neccessary," she said, giving him a pointed look.

Rose was taken aback by how...friendly they seemed with each other. She knew they'd spent a decent amount of time together in Palm Springs, but she'd hardly expected them to be so...chummy. It was good, though, God knew Adrian needed an influence like Sydney in his life. The way they regarded each other reminded her of the brotherly affection Adrian often displayed toward Jill. She shook her head, finding it endearing. Of all people for Sydney to befriend...

"Um, Rose?" Lissa's voice broke her out of her thoughts. "Can I talk to you outside for a second?"

"Hmm?" Rose turned around to face her. "Why? What's up?"

Lissa's face was troubled and for the millionth time Rose yearned for the bond they'd once shared. "Just come outside with me for a sec." she jerked her head toward the door.

Once Lissa and Rose were outside, Adrian leaned in close to Sydney, taking her face in his hands. "Are you really okay?" he asked, his emerald eyes boring into hers.

Sydney flustered at the sudden proximity. "I'm fine, Adrian. Please." she reached up to grab his wrists in attempt to push his hands away but instead just lingered there, holding them in place. "Thank you." she said again. "Really, I mean it."

"Anytime, Sage." he smiled at her. "You know I can't resist playing the hero."

Sydney shook her head, sighing dramatically, "Of course, how will I ever repay you?"

Adrian's eyes glinted mischeviously. "I was thinking a kiss."

Sydney immediately drew back from him, uncomfortable. "Adrian." her voice was hard.

"Hey!" he replied, "I saved your life. You don't think that earns me one little peck? Doesn't even have to be on the mouth."

Sydney rolled her eyes. "That was hardly saving my life. If we go by that logic then you, sir, owe me several kisses."

Adrian's eyebrows shot up and Sydney sputtered as she realized what she'd said. "Not that I want them!" she exclaimed quickly. "I was just saying-"

"You just name the time and place, Sage, and I will happily pay up." Adrian cut her off, smiling devilishly. "But I would like to know just how far in debt am I? I only recall one distinct life-saving."

"What's wrong?" Rose asked, once she and Lissa were outside the bathroom.

Lissa eyed her dubiously. "Um, what was up with that?"

Rose furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

Lissa gestured toward the bathroom. "Those two."

"Oh, yeah," Rose nodded. "I had no idea they were friends. It's weird, right? But kind of cute." she shrugged. "Adrian's always on his best behavior when he's got somebody to play big brother to."

Lissa looked at her. "Rose, I don't think that's what he's doing."

Rose was confused for the second time. "Huh?"

Lissa dropped her voice to a whisper. "You should have seen the look on his face when I told him Sydney was hurt. It was like he was ready to murder whoever was at fault. And then when I told him that she wanted him to be the one to heal her, it was like, I don't know Rose...I think..."

Rose almost choked. "Liss, you're not serious..."

Lissa just shrugged. "You think it's impossible?"

"Very impossible!" Rose was laughing now. "Oh my God, Lissa. You don't know Sydney like I do. She can barely stand to be in the same room as Moroi. Hell, when we first met she was afraid to go to sleep around me."

"She seems so different now, though." Lissa mused, "Way more comfortable around us, for sure. And there's something else, too. Something I can't put my finger on."

"Will you chill out, Sherlock Holmes?" Rose scoffed. "Like I said, I know her. And you couldn't be more wrong."

Lissa nodded slowly. "Maybe you're right about Sydney. But I'm not so sure about Adrian..."

"Come on, even he isn't that stupid. He wouldn't go that far just to be rebellious."

"Maybe he's not trying to be rebellious." Lissa replied. "Maybe he really likes her."

Rose just shook her head. "Trust me, Liss. You're barking up the wrong tree. There is literally nothing in the world so impossible as Sydney and Adrian having some secret love affair." she laughed again. "Nothing."

"There was the night at the apartment, yes." Sydney said , reminding Adrian of the times she'd "saved his life". And much to her shock and dismay, Adrian leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead.

"One down," he smiled. "And?"

Sydney just gaped at him. The closeness between them was making her dizzy. She felt her skin heat up and her brain start to go foggy.

"And?" he prompted. "Come on, Sage. The clock is ticking and I refuse to leave my debts unpaid."

"And..." she whispered, in a daze, her eyelids fluttering half-closed, "There was that time I came and got you in LA...when you were hungover..."

"Ah," Adrian chuckled. "That's very true." he hooked a finger under her chin and tilted her head up, gently pressing his lips to the skin of her left eyelid. "And?"

Sydney's breath caught in her throat. She felt like she was falling under some sort of spell. She swallowed hard, "I got you into college."

Adrian smiled wryly. "Another true statement." He titled his head to kiss her other eyelid. "And?" he whispered.

Sydney exhaled shakily, feeling like the whole world was dissolving around her. "Um...the night of the dance..." she trailed off, unable to finish the thought and deeply regretting bringing that night up. The night Adrian had drunkenly laid his soul bare to her, not to mention declaring her the most beautiful creature that had ever walked the earth. Secretly, she replayed that night over and over in her mind all the time, unable to forget the way he'd looked at her. No one had ever looked at her like that before. She blinked a few times, willing the memory to fade away, "I gave you a ride home...made sure you didn't get sick..." she finished, lamely.

Adrian narrowed his eyes as if deep in thought, then nodded slowly. "I'll take it." he kissed the bridge of her nose. "And?"

Sydney shook her head slightly. "That's it."

Adrian's mouth twitched upward. "You sure about that?"

"That's all I can remember."

Adrian frowned. "You forgot one. The most important one."

Sydney eyed him curiously. "I did? What was it?"

He shook his head. "Can't believe you don't remember..."

Now Sydney was growing agitated. She was almost positive Adrian was just baiting her into something, but the thought of her memory being faulty was too important to ignore. "Tell me."

He leaned in, bringing his mouth very close to hers. "When you bought me the cherry slush, after the disaster of a father/son reunion we both unforturnately endured."

"Oh." Sydney breathed, smiling softly at the memory. "I didn't forget that. I just didn't think it really counted for much."

"It did to me," he whispered, his mouth brushing faintly against hers. Her head rushed. Her body tingled. For one split second in time she considered letting their lips press together all the way, but turned her head away just as quickly, breathing unevenly. He let his lips press up against her ear, instead. "You look so beautiful." he murmured. "Too beautiful for words."

"Don't." she breathed, "Please." her hands were shaking.

Adrian stepped back, and when they were no longer touching it was like all the heat rushed out of her body. She was suddenly too cold. She ached for him to be close again. No, no, she didn't. She couldn't. She couldn't be feeling this way about him. She shook her head, trying to steady herself.

"Sydney, listen-" Adrian started to say, just as the door opened and Lissa popped in.

"Guys? We really need to get going soon."

Adrian nodded, looking back to Sydney for a long moment. "You okay, Sage?"

Sydney nodded weakly, brushing down at the material on her dress. "I'm fine. Thank you, again."

"Like I said, anytime." he winked at her before moving past Lissa and out the door. "I'll see you lovely ladies at the wedding."

Lissa smiled softly at Sydney. "Are you sure you're okay? You look a little...off."

Sydney nodded again, "I'm fine. It's probably just the blood loss and...everything."

Lissa nodded back. "Yeah, Rose told me you don't really like...well..being around us."

"Oh, no." Sydney said quickly. "It's not that. I mean, it is a little bit. But it's not..."she sighed. "I'm not like how I used to be." Sydney furrowed her brow, suddenly realizing how true those words really were.

Lissa was eyeing her strangely, like she was trying to figure something out. "So, just wondering, why does he call you Sage?"

Sydney's head snapped up. "Huh?"

"Adrian, I mean."

"Oh," Sydney tried to sound casual, "That's my last name."

"Ahh," Lissa nodded. "I see. Is that what most people call you, then?"

Sydney shook her head slowly. "Uh, no." she gave a soft laugh. "No one really calls me that. I mean, well, besides Adrian."

Lissa smiled widely, now looking like she'd just found the missing piece of a puzzle. "I kind of figured as much."