Hey guys! Well this is a story about how Dimitri, Lissa and Christian meet Rose for the first time in two years. They have not had any contact and have not heard from Rose at all. They had no idea where she was. What happens when they find Rose in the most unexpected place? Read and find out! :D

Disclaimer: All characters (Dimitri included – although if he was available to buy, I'd buy him!) !belong to the fantastic Richelle Mead!

Now seriously, READ! :)

The past comes back to haunt

Chapter 1:

Rpov

I'm so stupid! God, how could I be so stupid? Of course they would come. I mean, I wasn't the only one that lost friends. I felt like banging my head on a wall repeatedly for my idiocy. I was thinking about myself… I was being selfish.

I haven't seen them in over a year – one and three-quarters to be precise. I didn't know whether I should be happy at being re-united with them or angry with the way they left things and to be honest, I have every right to be angry with them. But I musn't let that overpower me – I won't let that overpower me. I've learnt too much control to be overruled by such a petty thing.

I felt my temper cool down and my defence mechanisms rise up again almost immediately. I hated it when I lost control. Ever since I nearly lost my head after Viktor, I'd started building up defences so that I wouldn't be affected by Lissa's darkness again. I knew when she was feeling a sudden surge of emotions because it just fuelled my emotions – be it angry, sad, happy, or fear. For example, when I was once happy because I had just killed five strigoi (I know, weird thing to be happy about but I always feel a sense of…satisfaction when I see them dead – one strigoi dead, one less innocent person getting killed. Which is why I had that as a side job) and then I felt Lissa's surge of emotions and I started giggling and laughing bringing attention to myself in a deserted alley. What would passersby think when they see a woman crying of happiness with dead bodies scattered around my feet? That's why, ever since I left Lissa, I had built a mental brick wall around my thoughts so her thoughts couldn't affect me. I never go into her head or try to feel her emotions – I had completely detached my life from hers. We hadn't talked in nearly two years, what was the point in still checking up on her? We were two separate people with different lives now and we didn't need to associate with each other. I'm a new Rose, a different Rose. I've changed a lot over the years I've been away. I bet they won't even recognise me.

That is of course if they remember me, I thought bitterly. I bet they don't even know I'm here at St. Vladimir's. Hopefully not because I can't handle all the memories and the friends coming back, reminding me what I left. I've built my own life now, with new friends and a loving family. I'd patched myself up after the gaping wound they left.

The only thing that is remotely similar to my past self is my appearance. I have high cheek bones that have become more defined over time, my long, brown hair which once was half way down my back is now reaching my waist, my eyes were the same deep brown shade as they were because I hated contacts – they were so irritating and annoying, especially if I didn't need them for anything but to change my eye colour and I was still the average height of 5 ft 4", which was small for a guardian but I had learnt to use my height as an advantage during fights with the undead and possibly…sometimes with the living.

I'd been pondering these thoughts for a while now in my room, pacing up and down like a mad woman. They just kept circling my mind and questions kept springing up into my head – questions that terrified me. "What if I still love him?" "What if they ask me to come back?" "What if he confronts me?" 'What if' questions again and again and all of them revolving around the one person I hated the most, the one person I couldn't bare to think about.

I passed my hand through my hair in frustration. It's become a habit of mine whenever I get angry or confused or just stressed out with everything happening in life. Whenever I was just getting comfortable with everything, something – or someone – always has to come and ruin it. It's like me and happiness are just not meant to be. I mean, why does it always happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? I've helped people, saved them again and again but I'm always hurt over and over. What the hell is wrong with my life?

Three consecutive knocks broke through my soon-to-be (if not already) manic thoughts in my head. Good, I thought, a distraction is just what I need. I strode towards the door and after a few seconds, I opened it to find Alberta standing there clad in standard guardian black uniform with a poker face. She stood there looking as scary as ever and even though I have known the woman all of my life, I still cringed a little every time I saw her. I mean, the woman is too scary for her own good!

"Hey Alberta. Come on in." I said, stepping aside and allowing her in to my humble abode. She hesitated for one moment, uncertainty written in her body language as well as her face but only for a moment. A second later, she walked in confidently like she didn't have a care in the word. She stopped abruptly a few metres from the door and turned around to face me. This time, her guardian mask was off and only concern was on her face – concern and resignation.

"Really, Rose?" I looked at her in confusion. I had no idea what she was talking about. I gave a quick glance around my room. Nope, nothing out of the ordinary here. I turned back to her with curiosity written on my face. "I thought you would've added some personality to these walls. It looks so bare and…and lifeless. Why don't you add a splash of paint or a few photos. You've been her for seven months now. Don't you think you should relax, loosen up a little, let your guard down once in a while?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. Admittedly, my room looked like it hadn't been lived in. It was empty, no personality, no colour, no photos, no books, no CDs – nothing. Nothing to imply that I lived here. I've got comfortable before and it's always ended more painful than it already was. The only reason that I won't personalise it is that it's easier to move on – both in the literal sense and the metaphorical sense. If you have to leave with a moments notice, not only is it easier to get yourself packed but also less painful. Not that I would admit that to anyone. The famous Rose Mazur has an emotional side? No way!

"Last time I 'loosened up' or 'let my guard down', there was a strigoi attack on the academy. I'm sorry but I'd rather have my room blank that get anyone else killed." Low blow, I know, especially when Alberta has been like a mother time to me ever since being back at the academy as my mother was living on the other side of the world. It's nice to have a surrogate mother to look after you. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

I immediately regretted what I said as soon as it left my mouth. Her eyes looked pained and far off, as if she wasn't really here in my room any more. I knew what she was remembering – in that attack when I was still a student at the academy, many teachers and pupils alike died – to her, it was like loosing brothers, sisters and her children. It pained her remembering everyone that died during that attack. I know she blamed herself for it. She believes it's her fault that the wards weren't strong enough or how she could not have spotted what the mana group were doing.

"You're right." She said, her voice pained. She closed her eyes trying to dispel the awful memories that came back to her. When her eyes opened, there was absolutely no emotion on her face – or the 'guardian mask' as I liked to call it. But underneath that mask, I could still visibly see the pain her eyes as she recalled all her memories. "I assume you have heard of the Queen's arrival to the memorial that will be taking place in a few days. I was wondering if you would still like to attend and say a few words?"

The memorial – the big event that every guardian and moroi (be it royal or not) were attending if they were involved in the battle or had any loved ones they lost in the fight or even if they were related to the person who fought – so therefore nearly everyone in the moroi-dhampir will be attending. The Queen will be attending and saying a few words expressing her delight in seeing the number of guests attending and expressing her sorrow for those who have passed blah blah blah. It's just another typical speech which the royals recite and have committed to memory and with not an ounce of singularity or anything to set them apart from the others.

Me, being the idiot that I am, volunteered to speak, say a few words of those who passed away in the battle. I was going to prepare it, with a few jokes here and there, let the students know that a ceremony does not always have to be boring and sleep worthy, which I did during the many ceremonies that took place when I was a student here. But now, I don't think I could do it and it so did not help with my 'keep off the radar' profile. I had decided that the best way to avoid any conversation with them is to avoid them altogether. Try not to bring attention to myself or let anyone know that I'm here.

"I'm sorry Alberta but I don't think I can say something not at such a big event with all the…guests that will be coming but I will definitely be there. I'll stand with the other guardians at the perimeter of the church – guarding. Nothing more."

Alberta stared at me for a while as if searching for something on my face. I had mastered the 'guardian mask' so perfectly; no one could ever tell what emotions were going through me. They tried to read me but no one ever had great success, only few could read my face even with it on and one of those people were Alberta.

"I understand how hard this must be for you Guardian Mazur. You do not have to speak but I am thankful that you are attending at least. If that is all, I will see you tomorrow at the memorial."

I gave a curt nod of my head, not trusting myself to speak – if I opened my mouth, I would almost definitely go back on speaking at the memorial. I know how boring it gets for the students so I was going to try to liven up a bit.

Alberta nodded in return and stood abruptly to leave. At the door, she paused, turning around to look at me. She stared at me for a while until she said something that confused me to no end.

"You have to face your past sometimes Rose, or else you'll get lost in the future."

With that, she turned around and walked out of the door, banging it in the process.

I froze in shock where I was standing in the middle of the room and only six words ran through my mind.

What the hell did that mean?

Lpov

We boarded the plan that was waiting for us outside the court. We had to go during human time so we could land there by dark but it was also a security precaution – no strigoi can come out during daytime. 'We' meaning Dimitri, Christian and I as well as my seven guardians.

As we boarded the plane, I couldn't help the feelings that coursed through me. I was going home. Even though I had lived at the court for the past two years and had a beautiful house with anything a girl would want, I had lived at the Academy for sixteen years (excluding the years I was on the run). That place had some memories, good and bad. It was where I first met Christian – inside our church attic – the love of my life. As these thoughts ran through my mind, I turned to him and saw a slight smile on his, and I knew. I knew he was thinking the same that I was – that's what I loved about Christian. We understood each other, as if we could read each other's mind. So many memories just from that plane alone – the church attic, our first kiss, the first time we were open about our relationship and Rose with us every step of the way. Rose. I gave a deep sigh and lay my head back on the seat just as the plane was taking off. My best friend…gone. I had no idea where she was or how she was doing. I had abandoned my best friend, someone who had died for me again and again.

I had searched for her but with no luck. It's like she's disappeared off the face of the earth. We had asked everyone and searched everywhere but we were left disappointed. So many memories with Rose. The first time we met when she threw the book at our teacher and called her a fascist bitch, the times when we snuck out after curfew, the times when we went to every social event and party there ever was…the times when she protected me like her life depended on it, the times she saved me from myself and complete humiliation, the times when she let herself become the third wheel when Christian and I were caught up in our own world. But never once did she complain. In fact, she encouraged it for reasons beyond my understanding. She specifically told me to be happy but never cared about what she felt. She could have been in pain, could have been hurt, could have been heartbroken or angry but she never told me. And every time that I said I wanted to protect her, she came back with the same phrase and promise that she was trained to give from the moment she learnt she said her first words: "They come first. I'm your guardian, Liss. You come first."

Subconsciously, tears fell from my eyes staining my perfectly made face, make-up smearing everywhere making me look like the living dead. I gave a dry laugh. How ironic, I thought. Christian felt my silent sobs course through me and gently pulled me onto his lap. He knew how I felt – happy to come back to forgotten memories but distraught to not have my best friend with me. He's the one that understands me and always giving advice to what I should do and shouldn't, helping and supporting me through the years. He was my rock, my love, my savior.

But I knew someone who was going through worse. I turned my head, still resting on Christian's chest, to face Dimitri. He looked tense, his shoulders rigid with tension, the slight slumped way he sat, the tapping foot on the floor and the pain in his eyes as he recalled his memories. Yeah, he had it much worse.

D pov

I am returning to St. Vladimir Academy for the first time in two years. So many forgotten memories came back to me but all containing one person in every single one. The only one that made me smile and my heart thump harder in my chest every time I saw her. The only one that could brighten up my day when it started off so wrong. Just one person and her name was Rose. My Roza. God I missed her!

Going back to the Academy was a bad decision on my part. I knew I couldn't help the distracted feelings that would come to me almost immediately when I entered the Academy again but my job was to protect my charge, Vasilisa Dragomir and not to be distracted by such things. They come first. They always come first, I thought with a resigned sigh and I turned my head just in time to meet my charge's eyes.

"Dimitri." She gave an exasperated sigh. "It's not your fault. It never was. We all contributed in some way to make her leave. I was her best friend for 18 years and I betrayed her. If someone should be blamed, it should be me. I was her best friend for the longest and it only took me a matter of seconds to turn against her. So stop blaming yourself and move on! Just like everyone else." She finished and looked quite drained from all her yelling. I knew I should do as she says but I can't forget her and believe me, I've tried. I just don't understand how everyone else can! They just took away such a vibrant person, who never goes without leaving her mark, and forgot about her! I just can't understand it. I thought with a resigned sigh as the plane intercom announced that the plane was landing.

Lpov

I hadn't seen the academy in two years but it was just how I remembered it. High turrets that made it look a castle but the eerie silence that surrounds it during the day makes it seem like a prison…I missed this place so much!

Once I entered the gates, I was immediately escorted to my room along with Christian and Dimitri. I walked down the familiar, silent corridors that I had grown used to for over sixteen years. I knew every secret passage that Rose so very kindly showed me to sneak out of my rooms (mostly to see Christian). I don't know how many of the students knew about them because I think Rose was the first one to discover them, I thought with a smile.

When I entered my room, I peered around to find a beautiful king-sized bed in the centre of the room and an enormous walk in wardrobe lining the room. I sighed in content. This is every girl's dream. I dismissed the guardian that had led us here with an impatient wave of my hand. I walked around in awe, looking at everything around me – it was gorgeous! Just to think that I would be living in this room for the best of two weeks.

I turned to Christian and Dimitri with a look of happiness on my face. Chrisitian gave me a lopsided grin in reply which made my heart flutter but Dimitri was not even paying attention. He stood by the window looking down at the grounds of the Academy. I knew it pained him to be here because of all the memories he had with Rose. Although I had many memories with Rose in my eighteen years I had known her, I am certain that Dimitri had so many more. Rose was my sister but to Dimitri, Rose was his soulmate. Without her, he's been lost. I never knew Rose could have such a huge impact on Dimitri's life but then I realised he relied on her – a constant in his life. She was his rock. He had so many memories which were so intimate and filled with love – how could he not be heartbroken? After he returned from being a Strigoi, he looked at me in awe, as his saviour. What he didn't realise was that he relied on Rose just as much, if not more. He tried pushing her away a number of times but she came back every time, never seeming to be fazed by his tries to remove her.

And although the many times he told her he didn't love her, he did. I could tell by his body language and the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't looking. It was filled with so much passion, love and regret. If he saw her now, I am pretty sure that he would have the same look on his face.

I turned away from Dimitri to give him a moment of privacy. My eyes wandered around the room again to find a beautiful floor length black dress, which would hug my petite body in all the right places. It was perfect to wear to the memorial! It was extravagant for a queen but modest enough to be worn at a funeral.

I checked my watch. I had exactly four hours to get changed, do my hair and have my make-up done – I needed to get to it then!

Dpov

I looked over the expanse of land that surrounded the Academy. I thought I had memories but not this many! Every moment with Rose passed through my mind again and again so fast they were blurring together. The time I first brought her back to the Academy, the time when things got heated in the gym, the time when it was field experience and she pinned me down, the church which had so many memories itself – the place where I had to pull her away from so many fights with Mia, when Roza came to me with her ideas about ghosts and so many more! The gym where every stolen kiss took place and the sexual tension rising every minute but one place held the most memories – our cabin.

It wasn't Tasha's cabin to us, it was ours and to me, will forever remain so. The one time where we gave in to our feelings and let pure animal passion take over. The night of entire bliss. That was one of my cherished memories and I know it will stay in my mind forever.

"Your Majesty? Are you feeling alright?" I asked. We were stood in front of the church doors knowing that when the Queen would enter and walk through the many hundred pews, all eyes would turn to her and silence will fall. She'd been wringing her hands together again and again but I just couldn't seem to snap her out of her daze. She has been to countless events just like this but she had never been like this. She was always calm and in control and – admittedly – a little bored. But now she was nervous and fear was written clearly across her face.

"Me? Don't worry about me Dimitri. I mean I know that it's your job to protect me but don't worry. I'm fine – I'm safe." I stared into her eyes trying to figure out if she was lying or not. Vasilisa knew what I was doing and sighed, dropping her hand to look down at the stone rocks outside the church. "I just…it's just that all my friends and teachers are going to be here aren't they? They were like a family to me and I haven't stayed in contact for two years – ever since I had left the Academy! I remember sitting in one of those pews and listening to the Queen make her speech so many times before. But now I'm Queen and I'll be the one standing at the front of the church being watched and hears! I'm just nervous!"

She was now shaking and I could see goose bumps on her arms. Right now, I wished I could be anywhere but here. Christian was inside where he was expected to be at the front pew waiting for his queen and only her guardians were 'allowed' to remain outside with her for protection. Nevertheless, I gently lifted her chin with my hand and looked into her eyes – so different from Rose, yet so similar in how those eyes had seen much more than a normal twenty year old.

"I've known you ever since you have returned to the Academy your Majesty and I know you will work past this brief relapse. Would you like to know why? Because I have seen you do it countless times before and this one is not any different. I know you'll do perfectly…as always."

I hastily removed my hand from under her chin just in time because the grand doors of the church opened to reveal hundreds of students, relatives and fighters who were in the battle. This is the biggest crowd I have ever seen.

Yes, I thought, I would be scared too.

So, what do you think? This is my first story so please review! All criticisms (or compliments) will be kindly accepted! :)

Thanks for taking time to read this story! It means a lot!

Lots of Love

Amberino xoxo