As much as I wish I do not in any way own these characters. Richelle Mead does.

He stepped out from under the tree as the first sign of daylight made its way into the sky. He had come outside to get a break from the parties. Everyone at court was celebrating the announcement that Queen Lissa was having her first child. It only made him think of her. He brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes and for a moment he let himself imagine she was there with him.

I can't- I don't love you….There's nothing more between you and me… Love fades. Mine has.

So many hurtful things had been said and yet if given the chance he wondered if he would have done things differently. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, remembering the way her silky hair felt against his fingertips. His heart ached with the thought of all the pain he had caused her. He exhaled slowly and once again his guardian mask was in place.

…McCarran International Airport- Las Vegas, Nevada

Adrian ducked swiftly into a limousine, avoiding the scorching sun. He was tired and in desperate need of a shower. Once again on a wild goose chase, but Mr. Kingston seemed sure that this tip was reliable. Adrian glanced out the tinted window as they neared his hotel. It was for Moroi use although many humans could be found throughout the lobby. One of the many features was an underground parking garage complete with access to the tinted window lined lobby.

Gathering up the folder he was given by Mr. Kingston, Adrian bypassed the lobby and made his way to his room. The guardian, Paul, who had accompanied him walked into the room first as a precautionary measure. Adrian was too busy reading over the papers in the folder to argue. Paul came out and motioned that everything was as it should be before making his way into his room next door. Adrian stepped inside and latched the door behind him.

Sitting down on the soft bed, Adrian began to flip through the folder. He stopped at the page right before the last; it was a black and white photograph that had caught his eye. He stared into a face almost as familiar as his own. It was her. In four years she had not changed, well her hair was longer and her eyes seemed to show a weariness that hadn't been there when he had last seen her. He sat the folder down and for once Adrian was at a loss as to what to do. There was no way he could sleep; excitement and fear were coursing through his veins. Ok calm down there is nothing I can do right now, he said to himself. Adrian pulled off his shirt and stepped into the bathroom for a long shower.

...Las Vegas, Nevada- later that night

She ducked barely avoiding getting slammed in the face. She kicked him in the stomach sending him stumbling backwards, momentarily distracting him. She reached down trying to grab her stake, as he grabbed her arm pulling her backwards. He growled at her and she swung at him, her fist making contact with the side of his head. Jerking free from his grasp and she reached out again trying for the stake. He shoved her causing her to stumble. She managed the grab the stake, loving the feel of the cool silver in her hand. She lunged at him dragging the stake across his cheek, causing him to yell in pain. She slammed the palm of hand into his nose stunning him enough to stab the stake into his chest right on target. "I must be losing my touch because that was way more difficult that it should have been", Rose mumbled as she punched in that familiar number. She quickly told them the address and hung up, not bothering with formalities. Rose slid her stake back down into her boot and walked out of the alley, heading down the street towards the next bar on her list.

She was actually bored. She hadn't seen another strigoi and the moroi men were getting more and more pathetic. One had actually been barely able to stand but he marched right over and told her he would take her to Pizza Hut around the corner if she would go home with him. Her response was there wasn't enough pizza in Vegas. His friends had laughed all the way out the door. She took an empty seat at the bar and ordered a shot, normally she wouldn't drink while hunting but it was a slow night. She downed the shot and looked up as the bartender sat another one in front of her. A young dhampir girl sat down beside her.

"From one girl to another. Trust me it helps when dealing with their pathetic pick up lines; you can laugh it off if you have a little alcohol in your system". Rose laughed, tipped her drink towards the girl and drank down the shot. They talked off and on for the next couple of hours. Rose had not felt that kind of relaxation in years; it was nice for once not worrying about strigoi or keeping her paper trail to a minimum. She wasn't sure that anyone was still looking for her but it was better to be safe than sorry. She couldn't let anyone convince her to go back, not after what happened. She risked her life to find a way to bring him back and when she succeeded he wouldn't have anything to do with her. He even told her that he no longer loved her. The way he looked at her was something she couldn't put herself through again. Then to make matters worse she was accused of murdering Queen Tatiana and imprisoned. Dimitri hadn't even tried to see her and in court when she was released she remember hugging Lissa and she that is when she saw him at the back of the court room. He was seated at the back, wearing his guardian mask. He caught her looking and stood up slowly, without so much as a nod or a trace of a smile he walked out. That was the last time she saw him.

Rose got up quickly and said goodbye to her drinking buddy. She was slightly tipsy and when she got up she wobbled slightly. "Guess I had more than I thought", she mumbled as she pushed her way through the crowd. She only glanced down for a moment, but it was enough. Rose walked into a wall or at least she thought it was. She looked up into the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Rose stared at him before muttering "Oh shit". He smiled down at her, "Hello little dhampir, long time no see."

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