Yes, this is a post-Last Sacrifice fanfic. Because, you know, there aren't enough of them already. **grin** Anyway, There are a LOT of spoilers, so don't read unless you want to be totally left behind… or, y'know, if you've read the book.

I'm not following Richelle's first-person style. It's gonna be told in third-person, because it'll be too hard to get the whole story out the way it's supposed to be, especially since (spoiler!) Lissa and Rose's bond is gone. (Told ya there'd be a lot of 'em.) So, kick back, relax, and enjoy!

All main characters, save my own, belong to Richelle Mead. This is done to soothe my muse and the voices in my head.

Rose pulled up short in the doorway. Her first thought was, 'this can't be happening, not so soon…' but then she realized she was overreacting.

Dimitri sat at one end of the couch, a Moroi female – around 21 – lying across the couch, her head in his lap. Her eyes were closed, tightened at the corners, and her face was paler than a usual Moroi's. Dimitri was running his hand through her long black hair, the light catching the stands and making it look like black silk. The girl wasn't there for romance, Rose quickly realized, but for comfort.

A dhampir almost barreled into her as she came sliding down the hall. "Molnija!" The dhampir woman snapped, the same age as the Moroi woman. "There you are! Can you not disappear like that?"

"Someone's in need of another healing," the Moroi woman, Molnija, said dryly. "Besides, you know I'm fine. We're at Court, Natsya. And I'm with Dimka. And you'd be the first to know if I was in any danger anyway, remember? I'm fine."

The dhampir's voice took on a worried edge. "Neej, you need to eat. Food. Real food. Blood would do you good too." She glanced up at Dimitri. "Can you convince her to eat, Dimitri? She hasn't had anything since the plane back from France."

"Molya," Dimitri said in a soft voice, "You need to eat."

Eyes still closed, she asked, "Will you get it for me, Dimka?"

"I can't."

"Why not?" Her voice sounded petulant.

Dimitri smothered a laugh. "Molya, your head is on my legs."

"About that," Rose said, finally piping up, "why?"

Dimitri looked up at her, a smile spreading across his face. "Roza," he murmured.

Molnija's eyes finally opened, deep sapphire eyes fixing on Dimitri, still slightly unfocused. "Roza? Your Roza? The Roza?"

"Rose Hathaway," the dhampir said with a grin. "I've heard about you and your badass rep. Nice to finally meet the woman behind the stories." She proffered her hand. "Anastacia Rinaldi."

"Hello," Rose said. "Wait… Rinaldi? Do you know Mia Rinaldi?"

"Yeah. She's my husband's little cousin."

"Husband?" Rose said, shocked.

"Yeah. Bit of a stir that caused, but his family took to me real fast, and they all love me. People don't really mind as much when a non-royal Moroi marries a dhampir, as long as the dhampir continues with their guardian work. I'm pretty sure Nija won't put me in danger should I get pregnant, though."

"Don't get your hopes up, Natsya," Molnija said. She sat up slowly, a hand to her head. "Oooh ... that hurt more than it should."

Anastacia was at Molnija's side immediately. "What have you been doing that you shouldn't be?" she demanded.

"Mmmm... Besides drinking and smoking and reading the auras around here?" She grinned wryly. "Nothing."

"Molnija..."

"Nuh-uh, none of that from you, Natsya."

Anastacia sighed. "Food. Now."

"You offering?"

"Nija..."

"Kidding, kidding..." She started to her feet, and both Anastacia and Dimitri helped her up. "Hey, why don't you and Roza aid us on our exploration of the grounds? You've spent a lot of time here, haven't you?"

Dimitri glanced at Rose.

"Sure," Rose said. "That'd be... interesting." She fell in step next to Dimitri as Anastacia and Molnija started off at a leisurely pace towards the café. "Where do you know her from?" she asked in a low voice.

"Molya? She's a childhood friend. She and Sonya were close in elementary school years, but they started to drift in junior high and eventually split in high school when Molya started acting out. I'd befriended her as my sister's friend, but I still viewed her as a little sister, even after she and Sonya split. She kept in touch with the family, but mostly me. We found we had a lot in common, and so we wrote each other a lot, even when we were separated. She actually met Natsya through some of my connections."

"How?"

"Dimka's charge was friends with Natasha, whose guardian was Natsya's older sister." Molnija's voice was emotionless. "That was rough."

"Besides the fact that Nat was hitting on Dimitri the entire time?"

Molnija laughed. "Oh, yeah. And he was so not interested. But..."

"Yeah, Neej. I know."

"What else happened?" Rose asked warily.

"My parents decided to lecture me on my... vices. I was getting a little out of control – sneaking away to drink and smoke and... other things. I was unstable, mentally and emotionally. Things were rough. Well, my parents and I never had a good relationship, and I blew up on them, screaming and raging and throwing everything I could get my hands on. I had crap aim then, of course, and... well..."

"One of the sharper things she got a hold of missed the mark," Anastacia said. "Although, had she been aiming for me, she could strike fear in anyone's mind. Killed me instantly."

"K...killed?" Rose was shocked.

"Oh, yeah. Nija felt like such crap for what she did, she ran to my side and... well. I'm sure you could figure out the rest."

"You two are bonded?"

Molnija and Anastacia nodded.

"Wow."

Just then, Christian showed up. "There you guys are. Lissa's been looking for you, Rose."

"Ooh," Molnija said excitedly. "Can we meet Queen Vasya?"

Christian raised his eyebrow. "And who would you be?"

"Molnija Badica. I'm the spirit user the Queen heard about."

Yeah, yeah, I know, creative name for Molya. But it'll make sense soon, promise. Maybe even in the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed, and if you did, you should tell me that in a review, because I love reviews. ^^ Thanks for reading!