Spaghetti, thick – meaty spaghetti was filling my very soul. It was surrounding me. My eyes opened slowly to take in the surroundings and to my surprise I was laying in a luxurious four post bed with clean clothes and that delicious smell enveloping me. Surely this was a dream and I silently hoped Adrian wasn't going to show face anytime soon. I still didn't want to see anyone – him included.

Unfortunately my stomach wasn't as stubborn as I was and it caused my legs to move to the side and being the short journey to that wonderful smell. Dhamphirs were strong – sure we had to eat just like a normal human would but we had a slightly better resistance to being deprived food. My time was apparently up – the deep groan in the pit of my belly had confirmed.

As I rounded a corner I stopped dead in my tracks – surprised to see Dimitri standing over the stove, wooden spoon in hand as he worked his magic with the spaghetti. Deep in the back of my mind I knew this was wrong – the red fitting shirt he wore and blue jeans almost gave the dream away – but after all the grief I had put myself threw the past few days I couldn't bring myself to remember one of my previous fantasy's.

"Dimitri?"

The stranger's voice was back, weak and small – barely audible but it didn't seem to matter. He had looked up long before I'd spoke, a warm – genuine smile spreading across his face. One of his rare smiles I hadn't seen since our time at the cabin.

"Roza. I know you have to be starved. Have a seat?"

I looked to my left – a quaint little table made up with plates and warm garlic bread awaited us. My mouth was watering by now. I gave him a small nod and took a seat – watching as he brought the steaming pot towards me and filled my plate.

"Thanks." It was all I could seem to offer today – one word sentences. Definitely not a Rose conversation. "You're welcome, Roza. You have to eat something... you're going to starve..." I nodded again – completely agreeing with him. I hadn't eaten much in the past several days – but I hadn't gone completely without food. Long into the midnight hours I had snuck a few slices of gourmet pizza into my room. I loved food. I don't think starving was ever an option for me. "Thank you."

Dimitri smiled again, reaching over to take my hand in his. "You're welcome, Roza. I will always take care of you." He assured quietly. "No matter what, I promise."

This was very surreal to me. How could Dimitri go from telling me that the love he might have once felt for me had faded into nothing and would never return to promising me that he would always take care of me? Suddenly I felt sick to my stomach and pushed the plate of food away. "This isn't real." I was surprised it had taken me this long to figure out I was dreaming – there wasn't even a kitchen in my room at Court and Dimitri had never showed any top chef qualities.

"Roza. I'm sorry... for everything... I love..."

I forced my eyes closed tightly – blocking out anything else he might say to me. Dream Dimitri telling me he loved me would surely break my heart and lucky for me I had become quite the expert in blocking out painful situations as of late. "Roza..." That was the last I heard when my eyes opened in the real world and I was still laying in my bedroom at Court – in my grass stained clothes and matted hair.

A sigh escaped me as I moved towards the small wash room and considered a shower and possibly new clothes. My stomach was growling at the thought of food but that could wait. My keen dhampir senses registered someone was standing outside the door. Possibly Lissa or one of her guardians. It didn't matter. I wasn't going to talk to anyone – maybe never again. Two could play keep away – if that's what he really wanted. Just then someone tapped on the bedroom door– causing my head to snap to the side and consider my options.

"Roza..."

Maybe I was wrong.

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