I just want to start by saying Thank you to everyone who is reading my story! It means a lot that you guys like it!

I apologize that this chapter is a little slow, but I promise it is worth it in the end. So don't kill me please!

DISCLAIMER: Vampire Academy belongs to Richelle Mead! I only own the plotline and any new characters that I introduce.

As like my other story, Vampire Academy Through the Eyes of Mia Rinaldi, this story does not have a Beta. Sometimes I miss something and I apologize for that, don't be too rough on me for that.

If you haven't checked out Mmsimpy09's Learning to Love Again, you really should. It's a great story and introduces a new, very good looking, very mysterious Dhampir.

I have a video for this story on Youtube-www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=JFTC8XmbnJA

I also want to thank ATrueLoveStory, Steffy2106, and Mmsimpy09... without you three this story would be a dud!

I woke the next morning to my alarm clock. I groaned and sat up. I still wasn't a morning person but I learned to not let it bother me as much. I changed into a pair of running shorts and a fitted workout top. I slipped on a pair of running shoes and headed out of the dorm. I wanted to get a workout in before I had to begin classes.

I headed towards the track next to the gym. I stretched and put in my headphones to my iPod. I turned the music up loud and began to run. The song was The Memory Will Never Die by Default and it could not be more perfect. I could feel the tears coming to my eyes this time but I fought them back. The lyrics were right though, the memory of Dimitri would never die. The love he gave me I would never throw away, he would always be a part of me. I had done about eleven laps when I felt someone come up behind me. My guardian instinct kicked in immediately and I kicked out behind me before I had even taken another stride. I felt my foot connect and I jump around pulling my fist down to strike.

When I saw my would-be attacker was none other that Christian, I dropped my fist and turned my music off. "Hasn't anyone ever told you to never sneak up on a girl while she is running?"

I extended my hand to help him off the ground. "I called out for you a few times. It's not my fault you listen to your music so loud." He rubbed his chest where my foot had made contact. "Geez, you have some power behind you."

"Sorry about that. What are you doing out here?"

"I run every morning." I guess I couldn't hide the shock on my face because he started laughing. "It's not that big of a deal. I have to keep in better shape now that I am a defense teacher."

I stood there looking at him. The past five years really have been kind on him. His face was more mature and his body was more defined. I couldn't help but notice that I was attracted to him. It was weird and I felt wrong for feeling like that. I decided to leave before the moment got awkward.

"Well I will leave you to your running, I need to finish my workout. I will see you later." I turned and ran back into the gym. I put my head phones back in and began my weight training. I had a strict workout regime that I followed everyday. If I wanted to stay in top shape I couldn't slack off.

About an hour before my class was due to start I headed back to my room to take a shower and get ready. I was slightly nervous about teaching a class because I didn't know what they had learned yet or how good they actually were. I kept running over different lesson plans in my head as I made my way back to the gym. I opened the doors to find the novices standing around talking to each other.

Well Hathaway, it's now or never, I thought to myself. "Alright everyone, start stretching and we will begin in fifteen minutes," I called out to the class. Everyone spaced out and began their stretching. So far, so good. Now let's just hope the rest of the class goes this well.

CHRISTIAN'S POV

It was the first day of classes and I was really looking forward to starting a defensive magic class. The Queen had finally agreed to let us begin a class for Moroi students that wanted to learn to fight. St. Vladimir's was the only school who had this class. We were kind of a test group, if things went well this year, next year the other academies would start their own. I got dressed in my normal morning running clothes and decided to head to the feeders first, instead of going straight to the track.

I signed in and took a seat waiting to be called back. I had just relaxed when they called my name. I was surprised to see Alice sitting in the feeding cubicle I walked into. Since I was her first feeder of the day she was very alert. Her eyes opened wide and she smiled.

"Christian, it is nice to see you again. How have you been, dear?"

"I have been well Alice. How are you?"

"I'm getting up in age. They say this will be my last year here."

I was sorry to hear that. I had always liked Alice. She was a bit crazy but she was harmless. "I'm sorry, Alice."

Our conversation ceased after that as I began to feed. I finished quickly and headed out to the track. I could see Rose running and called out to her. She didn't hear me so I ran up to meet her. I was just about to call her name again when her foot shot out behind her and she kicked me in my chest. I hadn't been prepared for that and I lost my balance and fell backwards landing hard on the track. She turned around with her fist pulled back, ready to strike, when she dropped it.

I watched her face change into shock. If I wasn't hurting I would have found it funny. She pulled her earphones out, she extended her hand to help me up and I accepted it. "Hasn't anyone ever told you to never sneak up on a girl while she is running?" She asked as she pulled me up.

"I called out for you a few times. It's not my fault you listen to your music so loud," I said as I rubbed my chest where her foot had made contact. "Geez, you have some power behind you."

"Sorry about that. What are you doing out here?"

"I run every morning." She actually looked shocked that I ran. "It's not that big of a deal. I have to keep in better shape now that I am a defense teacher."

She stood there looking at me. I looked back at her. She hadn't changed much in the past five years but her hair was longer now and for some reason I couldn't help but picture my fingers running through it. I had never thought about Rose that way before but with her standing in front of me now I couldn't help but see that. Her eyes weren't as alive as the last time I saw her but she was still beautiful.

"Well I will leave you to your running, I need to finish my workout. I will see you later," she said turning around and heading to the gym. I watched as she left silently kicking myself for not saying anything more.

I turned around and started my run. The sun was almost completely down when I had finished. I quickly showered and changed into a blue polo shirt and jeans and headed off to my classroom to start the school day. I only had ten Moroi signed up for my class but I had hoped more would have signed up. I really couldn't complain since this was the first year this class was offered. I walked into the classroom and waited for my students to come in and for the bell to ring. Today was history in the making and I was proud to be part of it.

ROSE'S POV

After my run in with Christian I couldn't get him out of my head. I headed toward Lissa's classroom deep in thought. She was sitting at her desk writing something down when I walked in. "Ready for lunch?"

She looked up at me and smiled. I could feel how happy she was through the bond. I guess her class went better than she had expected it to. All of the known spirit users-whether they were still in the academy or had graduated-had came to St. Vladimir's to study. Lissa had over thirty students now, the largest amount of spirit users we had ever heard of.

"Yes, how was your classes?"

"Pretty good. The novices are really good. But they need work, they need discipline."

Lissa couldn't help but laugh. "Who would have ever thought that Rose Hathaway would be talking about someone needing discipline."

"Ouch, Liss," I said throwing my hand over my heart in mock hurt.

We walked to lunch together and Lissa went on about her students. There were a few healers in her classes and even a few dream walkers. She was excited to see some of the things that they could do. She even talked about trying to get Adrian to come out and work with them. I smiled at the thought of Adrian coming back out here to help with spirit again. It would almost be like old times.

After lunch I headed to the guardian building to get my assignment for the afternoon. I only had four classes that I taught and they were all in the morning. I found Alberta sitting in her office and I knocked on the door frame waiting for her to look up.

"Rose, come in." I sat down in front of her desk waiting for her to finish what she was doing. "What can I help you with?"

"Well I only have classes in the morning, so I came to see if there was anything you needed me to do this afternoon."

"We already have the guardian assignments for rounds done, but you are more than welcome to go sit in on some of the classes if you would like." I nodded and stood up to leave. "Rose?"

I turned back around to face her. "Yes, Alberta?"

"How are you doing with being back?"

Alberta knew about my relationship with Dimitri and I could tell she was actually concerned. "I'm doing alright. It isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I mean it's a little weird being in his old room, but I'm doing pretty good. I really like the novices in my classes."

"I'm sorry about you being in his room. No one has had that room since he… since he died." I knew she meant 'since he was turned against his will' but I was glad she didn't say it. That was still a hard day for me to think about. "I can look for another room for you if you like."

I shook my head. "No, it's okay. It isn't that hard being in there. It's kind of nice. I mean I know he's gone but it makes me feel like he is still with me in a way."

We said our goodbyes and I walked toward the building that contained the classrooms. I decided to slip into Animal Behavior first. Aaron did a great job with his new position. I found myself thinking about when we were in this class five years ago. I really had loved this class and it was one of the few that I actually paid attention in. I stayed for a few more minutes before heading off to Lissa's classroom.

I quietly walked into her classroom and stood at the back. She had placed a plant in front of each student and they were working on making it grow. A few had already made their flowers bloom but others were having difficulty. Lissa walked up to the group that was having trouble to show them what to do and I could feel the amazing happiness flow through the bond as she used her magic.

Lissa had became amazing with her healing abilities and it barely took any energy from her now. That made it better on both of us because it meant less darkness I had to take from her. We had gotten good at healing the darkness in me, but we could never get rid of all of it. I didn't really mind because sometimes it really came in handy. Lissa looked up and noticed me standing at the back of the classroom. She smiled and continued working with her students.

I left as quietly as I had entered and decided to walk around the campus a little. Not much had changed since we left. There were a few more gardens and a couple statues but other than that everything was the same. When I stopped walking I found myself standing in front of the chapel. I walked in and sat in the back pew, just thinking. I heard someone walk up to me. I looked up and saw Father Andrews standing in front of me.

"Rose Hathaway. It is so nice to see you again."

"You too, Father."

"Will you be here long?"

"I have came back with Princess Dragomir. We have both accepted teaching positions here for the year."

"That is good to hear. Let me know if you need to talk about anything."

I thanked him and returned to my thoughts. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular. I heard the final bell ring and I headed back to the courtyard. Students rushed around me, running to meet with their friends or head back to their dorms to put their books away. I remembered those days, when you had nothing to worry about other than who you were going to hang out with that night or what clothes to wear the next day. Sometimes I actually missed days like that, but I did love where my life was. So what if it wasn't glamorous or exciting, it was my life and I loved it.