Author's Note:

Characters and such don't belong to me… yadda yadda. This is my first full length story, reviews MUCH appreciated… And I'm sorry if someone else already did something like this…

And WOAH. There aren't many fanfictions for VA –crycry- But on my first story, which was only one chapter, really SUCKED, and I already had two reviews-BOTH POSITIVE AND ASKING FOR MORE!
So, I'm writing this, which is, in a way, a continuation of Strigoi… But at the same time not.

My heart beat is pulsing in my ears, almost drowning out Christian's soft voice, as he whispers he loves me.

"I love you too," I murmur back, my eyes fluttering closed as slowly, he wraps his arms around me. I feel my shoulders slump, and my body go languid in his arms. I open my eyes to peer up at his face, but instead I turn and gaze around the room that has given me the most precious of memories. This room is eternally burned into my mind, the room that when I feel the shadows start to linger in the back of my mind, I draw up. And I'm always here, in a gown of flowing white, a circlet of flowers threading through the pale locks of my hair, and Christian is here with me, always holding me, whispering that he loves me.

This room, is one of the rooms that keeps me sane. It's truly beautiful, especially now as day light flits through the curtains that we try to keep drawn shut, just barely illuminating my jacket on the floor, though I still have my nightgown on. But even if the light was gone, I'd still be able to see, of course thanks to Moroi capabilities… But because of the atmosphere, Christian has set up. Candles, formed in a circle, their scents a mixture of spicy cinnamon and tender vanilla gently assaulting my nose, surround us, thick stocky things, their flames dancing tenderly against the wick, a pattern-red, white, red, white, and so on. The boxes are pushed far back against the wall, and spread out on the ground, are two blankets-my own light blue one, made from soft silk, and Christian's black and white striped comforter. Two glasses of wine remain at our feet, as slowly I lay down next to Christian, his arm snaking around my waist as I rest my head on his shoulder for a moment. One of his hands find mine, linking together, in a gesture so familiar to us… It's second nature.

But not as much second nature, as the feel of his lips brushed so lovingly against mine.

Christian gently cups my chin in his hand, guiding my face to his, as I lift my arms above my head, brushing against the wooden floor boards that our two blankets haven't covered. I brush my nose against his, before kissing his neck lightly. This boy… He's, again, one of the reasons why I kept on my medications, despite how badly I wanted to smash the bottles against the wall. I so badly wanted to feel that pure and utter bliss, which comes the closest to rivaling the events that Christian and I often perform in this very room together, though in two completely different ways. But I weaned myself off those drugs. And now… I have my magic back.

"Liss?" Christian whispers, as suddenly his hands are on my hips, and he's shifting me so that I'm curled tighter against his side, his thumb barely grazing under my shirt. We'd decided that, tonight we'd skip out on the… Activities. Tomorrow, we'd both be getting our guardians. Or, our pretend guardians, for the practice experience. We-no, Christian would, I already knew I'd get Rose-wouldn't want to be crabby, from a night without sleep, and make the field experience even harder on the dhampir. But that still didn't mean we had to spend the night apart…

"Liss," Christian repeats, as I turn my head towards him and he smiles cockily. "You're eyes…" as if to emphasize his point, he very gently glides the pad of his thumb against the hallow of my eye, "They're distant."

I smile, and link my arms around his neck. "I'm thinking about tomorrow."

His smile turns cocky, "Night, or day?"

I can't help but smack his chest ever so gently. "Day."

Christian sits up, reaching for his glass of wine, and bringing it to his lips, using the other hand to take mine and help me up, then hand mine. I sip it lightly, it's a special bottle, not as bitter as normal-I like that. For a moment, I wonder if we're damned to hell for this, constantly making love in a church attic, and drinking even though it's hardly a glass, and even that's only once in a while, to add an atmosphere. "I was wondering what the field experience is going to be like… It's not just for the guardians-to-be."

"Well, the dhampirs will do fine. I just hope I don't get a brat." Christian shrugged and sipped again, more accustomed to the tastes of the wine than I.

"Well… I just wonder what it will be like, when we leave the Academy-who you'll get, and if they'll even be any good. I don't want you in danger"

"You know that Rose would be good enough to do most of the guardian duties for both of us. And you get Belikov, whenever I'm with you-"

"Which will be a lot," I confirm, and then pause, "And did you just give Rose a compliment?"

"Yes, which will be a lot… And don't tell Rose," he smiled and winked, knowing how I was afraid that college would let us see less of each other, "But whenever I'm with you, I'd be perfectly safe."

"They don't like you… Despite how hard they try, or claim, lots of people in authority are biased. They wouldn't give you anyone too good…" I whisper, on the verge of tears and barely keeping them from falling. I wasn't ignorant, I knew what people thought of Christian, though only I knew how amazing he truly was.

Christian smiled. "I can defend myself too Lissa." As if to prove a point, the flames of the candles surrounding us intensified, and even began to swirl slightly.

"I know that… I just worry."

Slowly, Christian moves closer, taking my hand and shifting me, pulling me into his lap so that my back is pressed against his chest. His head dips down, resting on my shoulder, while his arms wrap warmly around my waist. He knows just how to comfort me… "You're afraid, aren't you?"

Despite my reluctance to admit it, I do, because it's Christian. "Yes. I know I have Rose, and Dimitri, and that I'll be protected as best as they can offer, but I still worry, ever since…" my throat clogs, and I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Despite Christian's reassurances, I have a hard time talking about the incident a month ago-and I wasn't even there, though some part of me wishes I was so that I could have helped, maybe healed someone.

"Ever since Spokane." Christian finishes for me, and I find myself smiling because he knows exactly what I mean.

I nod, and despite wanting to stay awake, I lightly yawn. "Yeah. They have humans to break wards..."

Christian lays down, still having me in his arms. His hands are running through my hair, an attempt to soothe my illegitimate fears. Slowly, they ease to the back of my mind… And as if an attempt to make those fears just evaporate, Christian shifts and leans slightly above me, pressing his lips to mine, nibbling slightly on my lower lip. One of his hands is in my hair, cradling the back of my head as we kiss, warmth that the wine couldn't even compare to curling in my stomach. This is the type of kiss that Christian only gives me in private, the kind that has my toes curling, the kind that has me tracing my lips with my finger, somehow still tingling, even though it's hours later. It's the gentlest, sweetest, most passionate and love filled thing I've ever experienced. And it makes all my fears seem meek, and just disappear from thought.

Slowly, Christian pulls back, smiling lightly, his eyes clouded as I realize he's getting sleepy as well. He reaches behind me, to grab the alarm that we set, to go off two hours before classes, so that we can sleep here at least for a bit, comfortable in sacred ground and safe in each other's arms. "Sleep now Lissa." He murmurs, as I roll onto my back and start to relax.

I glance at him, and smile as he leans over and begins to blow out the candles that surround us, my eyes growing heavy-I was unaware I was this tired, with his kisses keeping me awake. But, I'm asleep, before he blows out the last candle.