AN/ A few things to say so bear with me.

Firstly, this is a continuation of my one-shot Makeup and Breakup. A few people asked me to continue, so I figured why not? I know I've missed out Rose's time in jail and her trial, but as that would come before my original one-shot I won't be adding it in. Maybe as an out-take later, but not until this is finished I don't think.

Secondly, I am in my last year at Academy and I am doing three Advanced Highers so expect irregular updates. I don't want to be bombarded with demands of updates, so just to warn you in advance, I don't know how busy I'm going to be or when I'll be able to update.

Lastly, while writing this I realised I am from Scotland and we do speak like a bunch of weirdos. If there is anything you don't understand, give me a buzz, and I'll try to explain it.

Thanks for reading :)

Disclaimer: The Vampire Academy novels are all the property of Richelle Mead.

MJ

xx

It's not always rainbows and butterflies

Its compromise

It moves us along

My heart is full

And my door's always open

You can call anytime you want

She Will Be Loved ~ Maroon 5

Fighting for a future: A Last Sacrifice Novel

I don't know how long we stood together, clinging to each other, but enough time passed that the sky had time to cloud over and a light drizzle begin to fall. I felt the warm breath on my neck as Dimitri sighed and I revelled in the feeling before he pulled away.

His grip moved to my shoulders and he simply stood, taking me in. I waited for him to lean forward and capture my lips with his, becoming frustrated when he didn't move. Finally, he exhaled again and my heart skipped a happy little beat as my anticipation grew. Yes, Rose Hathaway had a sappy side, deal with it.

However my body didn't heat with the electricity that always flowed between us, instead it chilled when he dropped his arms from me and lowered his eyes to the floor.

"Rose..."

I squeezed my eyes shut as his voice washed over me, full of resignation and defeat. I didn't want to acknowledge what he was telling me without words, but I had matured a lot over the last few months so I sucked it up and looked at him. His eyes were still trained on the ground and that annoyed me more than anything else. He could at least have the decency to look at me!

"This doesn't change a thing, does it?" I said flatly. Instinctively I stepped back into the wall, trying to distance myself for the pain I knew was going to come.

"No. I'm sorry but...but I still hurt you, and...and you might be able to forgive me but I can't. I can't see you every day, hold you, and not remember when...when my fangs were buried deep in your neck, or...or when you looked at me with so much fear in your eyes. It hurts too much Roza, and I just think it would be better if..." he trailed off and I watched as his throat moved as he swallowed. His hands were bunched up into fists at his sides and his breathing was slightly more irregular than normal.

"If we stayed away from each other," I finished, quietly. His eyes finally flashed up to mine and he nodded slowly.

"Yes." I screwed up my eyes again and took a deep breath, trying to keep my anger in check, because God damn it no matter how much I didn't like it, and no matter how much I wanted to deny it, I understood. I still had my moments of fear, when I woke up in the middle of the night, images of red eyes and piercing teeth still haunting and I had never really thought about how much worse it had to have been for Dimitri.

Until now.

"Okay," I said abruptly.

Dimitri's eyes widened in surprise and I knew why; the old Rose would have argued three ways to Sunday until he had given in, either in acceptance or exasperation. But my time in Russia had changed me and my time in jail had aged me. I wasn't the same smart-ass kid I had been back at St Vladimir's even if I was still badass.

"That's it?" He questioned, and the disbelief in his voice made me smile.

"I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want Dimitri," I explained, my smile slipping. He opened his mouth to respond but then shut it again stunned, only to open it and shut it again in a very goldfish-like manor. I giggled at the sight. God help me, what was in my cereal this morning? Why was I giggling?

"I just, expected you to..well-"

"Argue?" I supplied and grinned when his eyes flashed with brief amusement.

"Well, yes," he nodded.

"Guess I'm all grown up now then," I mocked, remembering his old arguments about my maturity. The amusement in his eyes died and was replaced by wistfulness.

"I guess you have," he murmured, and reached out hesitantly to stroke my cheek.

I automatically leaned into his touch and my whole face tingled at the contact. Sappy Rose was back.

"Just promise me one thing," I pleaded, meeting and holding his gaze. He looked nervous, but nodded hesitantly all the same. "Don't ignore me. We don't have to be together, but we can still be friends, right?" I might have sounded desperate, but I didn't care.

"I don't know...I don't think I could ever just be friends with you Rose." He looked uncertain, and I pounced on that.

"Just try," I begged. I couldn't lose him, I wouldn't lose him, not again. "We'll just...talk and stuff. Friend stuff. Please. Don't push me away." I need you, I added silently, but thought that to be too pressurising to say aloud.

Frustrated, he ran a hand through his unusually unkept hair and eyed me warily.

"Alright," he relented, and I smiled in success. "I guess we can be friends."

"Thanks Comrade," I practically squealed. Impulsively I leant forward and wrapped my arms around his neck again, feeling him stiffen in surprise. "Friends hug," I reassured him softly, and felt him relax slightly.

Cautiously, I felt him wrap his arms around me loosely and sighed happily. However my sigh quickly turned to a yawn and I heard Dimitri chuckle quietly. The sound made me smile, and I relaxed into him further.

"I think you need to get back into your room now," he whispered in my ear, before pushing me away gently. His face was peaceful but his eyes were still slightly troubled. The rain had picked up during our talk and I shivered, only just noticing the cold of my wet clothing.

"I'll...see you soon?" I meant it to come out confidently, but the question was evident and I was rewarded with a small smile that caused my heart to squeeze.

"Soon," he confirmed, with a sharp nod, then hesitantly leaning forward and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

I stood stunned for a moment, then slowly grinned, as my body heated. With a bounce I spun around, calling "Laters Comrade!" over my shoulder, before practically skipping to my room.

It was only later, as I lay freshly showered and snuggled up in my bed, that I wondered what on earth the future was going to bring; now that it was confirmed I actually had a future. For the first time in a while I thought of the queen's note and thought to myself...

What on earth was I going to do about the illegitimate Dragomir?

Tell me what you think.

MJ

xx