Ugh, so not my favorite chapter. I have been retyping this over and over, but I just can't seem to find anything i like for this, but I can't do the part I am anxiously waiting to write until i get all this and some of the next update written. in otherwords, mostly filler here. Mostly being the operative word, but still. filller can be annoying. again, apologize for the filler. and for the sheer amout of time it took to update. but hey, eight pages in micrsoft word procesor on each update so far. thats the most i have ever written for a fic. anyway, enough jabering. you probably aren't even reading this far.

Disclaimer: Do I own Vampire Academy? No. Do I wish I did? DUH!

"Alberta, you called?" Dimitri said, breaking the silence. Alberta didn't answer. My mother did.

"What the hell have you been doing with my daughter?"

"Janine, please calm down. I assure you, it hasn't gone too far. I have been monitoring the situation myself," Alberta said.

"You shouldn't have let it go on!" my mother shouted.

"I know, Janine. But think about it. Look at how she's changed. in such a short time frame, too."

"She's too young for him," My mother said.

"seven years isn't that long," I said.

"Nothing can possibly come from your relationship. It will only endanger vasilisa, and you know it. I will not have my daughter hurt because of you, Belikov."

"Guardian Hathaway, I would never hurt Rose in any way. I thought about The princess, too. She was the reason I never acted on my feelings. I knew I would put Rose's safety above the princess. But I figured out a solution to that. If I were reassigned, we could be together."

"Janine, I know this is odd. But you haven't seen the changes in them. Both of them have changed for the better. Rose is more responsible. Some don't even think of her as a novice anymore, especially after all that has happened in the last twenty four hours," Alberta said. My mother still looked doubtful.

"Belikov, you better watch yourself around my daughter. One mistake, hurt her one time, and you'll wish a strigoi had gotten to you instead of me," my mother said.

"So is that a yes?" I asked.

"we still expect it to be kept a secret from the others. Not everyone is as open minded," Alberta said.

"So it is a yes" I said in a questioning tone.

"And I really don't want to see or hear about anything you two are doing," my mother said. Alberta agreed.

"I'm taking this all as a yes," I said. Dimitri laughed at me. Alberta smiled at me. My mother was scowling a bit. Dimitri and I left the room. I stopped to see if I could hear them say anything more. Dimitri did too. Apparently we both had sneaky traits.

"She seems happy, at least," I heard my mother say.

"They are Janine, that's why I couldn't stop this. Some of us deserve happiness. Why not them?" Alberta said. They must have thought we were out of hearing distance, because my mother said something that I doubt she would ever say around me. It shocked both me and Dimitri.

"I just wish they it could be more than the two of them. Not now, obviously, but when she's older," She said. Dimtiri and I looked at each other. Apparently she really did approve, she was just afraid that our relationship would get in the way of our duty.

"I don't know about that. I don't think the world could handle another Rose. And from what I heard, Dimitri wasn't the most calm child. But it would be nice if it were possible for them."

"I'm just worried about what will happen if one of them loses to the strigoi. Remember Damien?"

"Janine, I know you don't want to talk about him and neither do I. that was a long time ago. We've moved on. We should go back and help."

Dimitri and scrambled to leave before they saw us being nosy. I was still going through everything in my head. My mother actually approved of us. But she had a point, if one of us lost a fight, what would happen to the other? I looked at Dimitri walking beside me and determined that I could let that happen to either of us. One thing I was wondering about though, who was Damien?

"you hungry Rose?" DImitri asked. I was about to say no, but my stomach answered for me. Dimitri laughed. "Lets go get some food."

When we got to the cafeteria, Lissa, Christian, and Adrian were sitting togeter talking. Lissa and Adrian looked like they had lost a week of sleep, but other than that, they seemed fine. Lissa saw us approaching and waved us over. Dimitri told me to go over, he would get us something to eat.

"hey Liss, whats up?"

"Nothing. How is everything out there?"

"A mess. My mother is here. She almost fainted when she heard about what happened. And she nearly killed Dimitri and I."

"What? Why?" Christian asked.

"Long story," DImitri said behind me. He put a slice of pepperoni pizza down in front of me. My favourite food. The man knew me so well.

Does she know about you two? Lissa asked through the bond. I nodded. How did she find out? What did she say? Is she going to allow it? I gave Lissa an annoyed look. Later, then. We still haven't talked about everything.

"Any more reported missing?" I asked.

"Yeah, a lot. Jesse Zeklos and his whole gang are missing from the clinic and no one else has seen them," Lissa said. I could tell that while she hated them, she still didn't want them to be hurt. Lissa's ability to be kind never failed to amaze me.

"My aunt is coming. I called her right after I left the clinic. She wants to help out here."

"we could use the help," Dimitri said. I kind of grumbled. I was still jealous of Tasha Ozera, even though I knew there was no reason to be at this point. She had tried to make moves on Dimitri, I hadn't handled that well. I was a bit rude to her a few times. She hadn't known about my feelings for Dimitri, and I doubt Dimitri had told her his feelings for me. Though I wondered what he'd told her when he declined her offer to be her guardian. And more. She would have gladly had Dhampir children.

After we ate, we all parted ways. Adrian and Lissa went back to the clinic. Dimitri and I went back to help with the clean up, and Christian stayed in the cafeteria, though reluctantly. I felt bad for him. I knew if I were in his shoes, I probably would have punched some one out by now. He looked ready to set fire to the first thing that annoyed him.

"Dimitri, are you sure there's nothing we can do to get Kirova to let some of the Moroi to help?"

"Why?"

"Look at Christian. I swear, if he doesn't get to do something soon, he's going to spontaneously combust. Or he's going to spontaneously combust some one else. And look at some of the others. They have the same look."

"you're right as usual, Roza. But I don't know what we can do. Moroi can't stay too long in the sun, you know that. Kirova is only thinking of their well being."

"I know, I know. But they can't just sit here and do nothing. If they could only help for a little while. A little goes a long way."

"I'll talk to Alberta about it. I think it's a good idea to get the Moroi involved," Dimitri said.

The rest of the day was spent going one area of the campus to another. Dimitri and I mainly followed the Sydney around, much to her annoyance. Dimitri explained all the uses Alchemists had for Guardians. So long as we didn't piss them off too much. The other guardians gave Sydney a good amount of space. Whether out of habit, or not, I didn't know.

"Sydney, have you had anything to eat today?" DImitri asked her at one point.

"No. why?"

"You should eat something. Everyone else has."

"I don't think so. Thanks anyway," She said. Dimitri's ohine rang, and he answered it. After a short pause, he started speaking in Russian and I tuned out.

"What is it with you?" Sydney asked.

"what are you talking about?"

"You and that Russian guy. Dimitri. You seem a lot closer than the other guardians and the novices following them around."

"He's my mentor," I stated. I hoped she would buy it. If she didn't, that meant Dimitri and I seriously needed to work on our who keep the relationship secret thing.

"Yeah, right. I am not an idiot. I can tell something is going on there. You like him. And judging by the way he looks at you, the feeling is mutual."

"Why do you care?" I snapped.

"I don't really. Just trying to get a sense of his. I was always told Guardians didn't date one another. And that they couldn't have kids together. it's the reason you protect the Moroi, isn't it? With out them, your race ceases to exist."

"WHile Dhampir's do rely on Moroi to reproduce, we protect them because it's the right thing to do."

"what about the whole Guardians dating thing, though?" SYdney asked.

"we really don't. I mean, in school we might, but once we graduate and are full time guardians, its all business. Well, mostly. There are two guardians I heard of who are getting married. The only problem with that is they are both leaving their moroi. Two moroi are being left unguarded. As if guardian numbers aren't low enough." I looked over to Dimitri, still talking on his phone. He was trying to calm who ever was on the other end now. I could tell by his voice.

"What about you two?"

"We think we've found a way to still be guardians and have a relationship. But ours is a unique situation. I am allmost guaranteed to be assigned to a particular Moroi. He was going to to be assigned to her, too, but we can't both guard the same Moroi, so he's getting reassigned once I graduate."

"I don't see why not. You two seem to work so well together. You don't even need to talk to know where the other is going."

"If we were to be attacked, we wouldn't be worrying about Lissa. We would be worrying about each other. We have to be fully dedicated to the Moroi we are guarding."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense," Sydney said. I was surprised we were able to talk to each other this long with out snapping at each other. "He must really love his family. He's been talking to his mom for quite some time now. Apparently they heard about the attack and are reallly worried."

"how do you know who he's talking to?"

"I understand Russian. And a lot of other languages. Alchemists need to know many languages. I am still pretty new to this part, but I have been taught a lot of things through out my life to prepare me for this. It wasn't until I was sixteen that I learned about the vampire world. And that ay plans I had for my future were null."

"What do you mean?"

"being an alchemist is a family thing. Its past through the generations. My older sister would have been the choice, but she doesn't have the mind or organization for it. I did. So my father chose me."

"How did you learn new languages so fast?"

"I didn't. I've been home schooled since I was little. Both my sister and I were. We learned other languages along with English."

"I wish I knew Russian. I keep trying to get him to teach me, but he won't. I tried to get him to teach me swear words once, but he old me no. said I already express myself too well in english. He didn't need me to do it in Russian, too."

"You do express yoursef too much, Rose," Dimitri said. I hadn't been aware that he was off the phone. But Sydney was even more startled. She hadn't noticed either.

"think you could scare her anymore, Comrade?" I asked, looking at Sydney, who was catching her breath.

"You guardians move like ghosts," she said, still a little out of breath.

"That's something I have yet to master. I can never sneak up on him," I said.

"you can never catch me off guard, Rose. Others, though, you might. Its getting late. I am Sure Sydney needs to eat. So do you. And I know Lissa has been wanting to talk to you about what happened in the field practice."

"She's going to give me hell, you know."

"Lissa's your friend. She'll forgive you quickly enough. Do you mind escorting Sydney to the Madame Kirova's office? I will bring some food there. I doubt she wants to be around all the other Moroi and Dhampirs."

"Thankyou," Sydney said, sounding surprised. We started walking and I felt Sydney's tenseness fade slightly. "Wow. I was taught that your kind were pretty much uncivil. But he's really nice and you're, well, nice enough. I was told guardians are always fighting."

"That's not really the case. We only fight strigoi, and, on occasion each other. But the fights against each other are normally practice ones. We have to keep up our skills. Strigoi are strong and fast. With out the intense training that we go trough all our lives, we would be useless. My kills were sheer luck."

"You've killed them?" Sydney said in awe.

"yeah. But it came with a cost. I lost one of my best friends. I should have died that day. Actually, I should have died a few times, I think."

"I take it you find trouble a lot?"

"I don't find trouble, trouble finds me," I said. Sydney laughed.

"You know, if you weren't an unnatural creature of the night, we might actually be good friends." I smiled at her. Before I could say anything, though, we were interrupted.

"Where are the guardians? We found where the strigoi are hiding," Ralf, one of Jesse's friends, said as he ran up to me.

"What the hell were you thinking going after them?"

"we had to. No one else was going to. Where is everyone? We have to tell them. A few of the guys were caught."

"And that's why you shouldn't have gone," I nearly shouted. I turned to Sydney. "got a cell phone on you?"

"Yeah, here," she said. I grabbed the cell and quickly dialed a number.

"Hello?" my mothers confused voice came.

"Mom, I found one of the Moroi that have been missing. Apparently Jesse Zeklos' cult decided to go strigoi hunting on their own. They found where they are hiding, but some of them got caught in the process."

"Where are you?"

"On the way to Kirova's office with Sydney. I think Dimitri was on his way to the cafeteria to get her some food."

"Go to Alberta's office instead. I'll call her and Dimitri and tell them everything. Bring the Moroi you found. And any others that are with him."

"Got it. Thanks mom," I hung up the phone and handed it to Sydney. "Thanks. Ralf, who else is back?"

"none of them. I was the only one. They had me keep a look out. When the ones who went in started screaming, the others went in with them. I just ran"

"How many were there other than you and Jesse?"

"I don't know. Ten, maybe?"

"dammit. Come on. We have to get to Alberta's office."

"But I'll get into trouble."

"You'll get into trouble either way, Ralf. It was stupid to do something like that. And now your friends are probably going to die. And you are too cowardly to face any of the teachers about it. You will be going to Alberta's office with me, whether by force, or by choice. I suggest you make it the latter."

"I can't," he said. He looked like he was about to run, so I grabbed him.

"I guess its force then."

"What about me?" Sydney asked. I had almost forgotten she was there.

"Sorry, Sydney. Change of plans. My mom is getting Dimitri to go to Alberta's office, too. Hopefully he brings us some food."

"What about me? I think I need a feeder."

"Tough. Should have thought about that before going on an insane search mission. Come on."

We walked in silence. Sydney walked on the opposite side of me. Apparently she felt more at ease with me than she did with Ralf. Surpriising, considering she saw me lose my temper twice in one day. Once with her, and then this time with Ralf. Although she probably saw the logic in my last outburst. When we finally arrived, Alberta and my mother were already there.

"Where are the others?" my mom asked.

:This idiot here is the only one who came back, or so he says," I responded.

"What about the others? How many were there, Ralf?"

"About ten. Some went in but some of us stayed look out. But when we heard the screams, the rest of those who were outside with me ran in to help. I ran back here to get help. So are we going to help them?"

"We aren't doing anything," DImitri's voice said behind me, causing everyone, including my mom and Alberta, to jump.

"He's right, Ralf. You are in huge trouble. Your friends could be dead. I can't believe you even thought to do this. Now we have to use more guardians, which we don't have enough of as I is, to go try and save your friends. Guardian Silva should be here soon. She will escort you where the rest of the students are. Dimitri and Janine, contact all the Guardians you can. Meeting in an hour. The Clinic lounge again," Alberta said. My mother left, but Dimitri stayed.

"I'm here, sorry I'm late. You called?" Guardian Silva said.

"Take this Moroi and get him to a feeder. Then watch his every move. Escort him everywhere," Alberta said. Guardian Silva looked at Ralf, who looked miserable. Ralf got up and followed Guardian Silva out of the room.

"Rose, here's some food for you and Sydney. I'll see you at the meeting, I assume?" DImitri said as he handed Sydney an I a bag of food. He looked at Alberta, who nodded. Dimitri gave me a short kiss, then left.

"Rose, I don't know if Sydney should go to the meeting. We might have to have some one else excorting her."

"unless she doesn't wasn't to, I think she should come. If we go on a rescue mission or those idiots, she's going to have to do some clean up there, isn't she?"

"Okay, but if she doesn't, I can have another Novice watch her. Edward Castile. He's finally conscious. And really eager to help. I'll see you in the clinic lounge in an hour. I have to go have a few things to do before the meeting."

"Okay," I said. Alberta left Sydney and I alone, ad we started eating. There were a few sandwiches, two apples, a couple of brownies, and two bottles of coke for Sydney and I.

"I thought you were just a novice," SYdney said.

"Yeah, I am."

"Then why does she treat you like an equal? I saw the difference between how she and the other guardians treat you, and how they treated the others you age. There's a huge difference."

"I don't know. I never really noticed. Might be the amount of catching I've done in such a short time."

"What do you mean?"

"I ran away from the school for two years. I took my best friend Lissa. Got hell for doing that. They wouldn't even have searched for me if I hadn't taken her. She's the last of the Dragomirs."

"The what?"

"One of the Royal Moroi families. Her parents and brother died ina car crash. Lissa and I were in the same car crash. She was in the safest spot in the car. She escaped relatively unharmed."

"What about you?"

"I got lucky. Everyone told me because of where I was in the car, I should have died."

"How did you survive, then?"

"Its complicated," I said, finishing off my sandwich. She had barely taken a bite out of hers.

Sydney and I sat in silence for a while. Then, about half an hour before the meeting, I suggested we start heading towards the lounge. She had decided to some with me after all. She threw away her half eaten meal, and followed me out. We made it to the lounge with fifteen minutes to spare. It would have been more, but she seemed interested in some of the architecture.

"Hi Rose," some one said when I got there. It was Tashsa.

"Hey Tasha. If you're looking for Christian, he's probably in the cafeteria with everyone else."

"And why aren't you?"

"Guardian Meeting. I was invited."

"Think they'd mind if I sit in on it? I want to get caught up. By the way, I heard what you did with my Nephew."

"I didn't want to put him in danger like that," I said, worried she was about to yell at me. She had yet to notice Sydney, and if she did, she didn't care. "I was just worried he would try it on his own. And set me on fire If I tried to stop him."

"I'm not mad at you, Rose. I am glad. Maybe now everyone will see reason. Moroi should be fighting along side our guardians. Well, those of us who have them. Do you think they'd let me sit in?"

"I don't know. Last itme they kicked everyone out of the lounge. Except me. But then again, it was just me, Lissa, Adrian, Christian, and Dimitri. But I'm sure Alberta wouldn't mind at this point. You have a right to hear whats going on."

We sat in the back of the lounge. After a few minutes, Dimitri and Alberta came in. they stopped short when they saw Tasha. She asked if she could stay. Alberta had no problem with it. Dimitri didn't seem to, either, but he did seem a little uncomfortable. Especially when he sat between me and Tasha. I wondered breifly what she'd say about our relationship, but before I could think of it too long, the meeting started, and my attention was on Alberta again.