ASPDFKJEWK Has anyone else seen the new picture on Zoey Deutch's twitter/instagram? Her and Danila. I SEE DUSTER SLEEVE! Go see what you think , even if you don't have an account, you can see it (otherwise I'd be screwed :P) And after last night's cryptic tweet about the 'scene they shot today'... -.- This is too much for so early in the morning. I should still be asleep...

But anyway, thanks for the reviews :D I didn't realise this was that good! Just for you guys, I've added another chapter onto this story :)

Disclaimer: I don't own VA. The only things that are mine are the ideas, which are MINE :)

As we lay in bed that night, I tried to commit everything about this perfect moment to memory. My head rested on Dimitri's chest and I listened to his steady heartbeat as his fingers fan through my hair. Under the oncoming shadow of the cloud that was out upcoming fight, it was as though we wanted to experience life and love even more in this moment. When things were fragile, we revered them and treasured them even more.

We'd been to the second meeting Hans had arranged and were ready to leave at 12 tomorrow, when it was darkest. That way we would have time to get to the Strigoi by sunrise so we would have the longest window of opportunity possible before they could follow us out of the warehouse they were hiding out in. It still may not be enough.

Although we should be sleeping and resting up for tomorrow, neither of us wanted to waste this time, here and now. Because despite our training and our skills, all our preparation, in reality, one of us might not come home tomorrow.

We had been silent for a long time when Dimitri finally spoke.
"I know it's wrong, but I half wish you had stayed behind tomorrow."

I lifted my head to look him in the eye, fully prepared to bitch him out for thinking I wasn't capable of taking down a few Strigoi. He knew I was better than that.
But what I saw in his dark brown eyes stopped that thought in its tracks, and then continued to derail the train. Concern, fear and love were plain on his face, and I immediately felt bad.

I sighed, lifting a hand and pressing it to his cheek. His hand came up to cover mine, calloused fingers forming a protective barrier against us and the world.
"Dimitri, don't worry. I'll be fine, and so will you. We'll both come back. I promise."

He frowned. "You can't promise that."
A memory of a promise like that knifed through my chest, cold and deadly, as I remembered the last time I'd said that, in a situation not unlike this. But that was the past, and we were stronger now.

"I can. I promised before that I wouldn't let anything happen to you, but I couldn't keep you safe. But this time, there is nothing in this world that will hold me back. We'll get through- together."

He studied me carefully, searching for something in my eyes.
"No. If it gets that bad, you get out. Run."

I shook my head, smiling wryly. "Will you promise me the same?"

As I expected, Dimitri looked horrified at my suggestion.

"Exactly. Not going to happen, Comrade. We're in this together."

He wrapped his arm around me tighter and pulled me closer.
"You're impossible." He told me affectionately.

"You wouldn't have me any other way."

Before we left on the mission, the Queen came to see us off. She did her rounds, officially wishing good luck and farewell to those who were, essentially, risking their lives to save her people. Lissa carried out her difficult duty with grace and her head held high, just enough concern and compassion on her face to maintain her professional distance. I could tell she hated it, though.

When she got to Eddie and Mikhail, her professional air slipped a bit, words coloured with a hint of the worry she felt for their safety.

When she reached Dimitri and I, her facade dropped completely. She was cool Queen no longer, just a teenage girl who was scared she might lose her closest friends.

Lissa threw herself into my arms, and I hugged her back tightly. Even without the bond, I knew her well enough to tell that she was trying to hold back tears.

"Steady, Liss. Might knock your crown off if you're not careful."

She pulled away, giving me a withering look, which soon faded into a gentler one.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Rose. Stay safe."

"Come on, Liss. I can take down a few Strigoi with my eyes closed. This'll be a breeze."
That seemed to calm her down. She had always believed I'd sort everything, and had this blind, total faith in me that I still didn't quite understand. Even after putting her in danger so many times, she still trusted me to protect her. Then again, maybe it was because of this that she believed I'd keep her safe- I'd done it so many times in the past.

Today, she didn't see through my cocky outer shell, and I was thankful for that. She didn't need to be stressing out over us when she had to be prepared for a Court invasion. It was all about keeping up appearances, and pretending like nothing was wrong.

Lissa hugged Dimitri quickly, earning surprised looks from a couple of the newer Guardians. They accepted that she and I had history and were friends as well as Guardian and charge, but they seemed to think that her Guardian friend's boyfriend was a little far removed. They didn't understand the bonds that held us together as a family.

Lissa sniffed quietly as she stepped back.
"Be safe, guys. We need you back in one piece."

"Even if we weren't, you could just stick us back together anyway." I quipped, earning an eye roll from her.

"Just come back." She reminded us one final time.

I nodded, a silent promise to do just that. With one final glance, she turned and walked back to the palace, escorted by the members of her Royal Guard who were remaining with her.

I made myself look away from the retreating figure of my best friend, pushing my worry for her aside. She'd be safe here, protected by many Guardians. I had more urgent- if not important- things to worry about.

"Alright?" Dimitri asked quietly, not loud enough for anyone else to hear.

"Fine." I replied, and forced my newly-perfected Guardian mask into place. I looked to the horizon, where our enemies were waiting. "Let's do this."

And then we were on our way.

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