I am sooooo sorry, you guys, for not updating this for what seemed like, quoting the gorgeous Dimitri Belikov in Spirit Bound, 'eternity.' :D DAAAAAMN. =)))

Anyways, I was so occupied with school that my focus was lost from all three of my on-going stories: Labyrinth to Happiness, Heading Home and THIS. :o3

But, hey! I'm back now and that's all that matters, right? Well, at least for me. :p

So, I'm going to stop rambling blah blah blah and get on with this story. :)

Here's the third chapter. Enjoy! ;))

xxxxxxx

CHAPTER 3: The Proposition

RPOV

"Abe, you are already paler than the usual." It was Olena.

"It's nothing." My father was obviously lying. Trust me. I knew him too well to know when he was lying and when he was telling the truth.

My father was standing up; his legs only an inch, literally, away from the couch. Olena was supporting him by his right arm.

Before Olena could give another reply, I spoke up as I finally descended from the stairs. "Dad, you are obviously not alright. The last time you fed was last night and you only drank one glass of blood. It clearly did not satisfy your needs."

"I'm alright, sweetheart. Don't you worry about your old man." He said as he sat down on the couch... finally.

"You will be an even greater pain in my butt if you get sick like the last time again." I said, thinking back to the time when I served as my dad's personal nurse because he was feeling so damn cold already due to his failure of drinking blood after twenty-four hours passed.

FLASHBACK

"Dad?" I asked as I placed my school bag on the table in the living room.

No answer.

I walked towards the kitchen.

"Dad?" I asked as I slowly took one step after another.

No one was there.

"Where in the world is that man?" I asked myself, mystified.

I decided to go up and check his room. If he were not there, I would not know where else to find him. So, thinking he was just asleep or he was just taking a bath, I decided to give my stomach some treat. I opened the refrigerator and got a bar of Snickers. Yummy, heavenly Snickers. I opened the bar of chocolate I was holding and went up the stairs, munching my delicious treat.

I opened the door that led to my Father's room praying to the Heavens that may he be there.

"Dad?" I asked as I peeked into the room.

I know I was playing safe. I mean, come on, my instinct was telling me that there could be a chance my dad was just taking a shower. I, with all due sincerity, did not want to see my own father naked right in front of my innocent eyes. You may want to take note of the sarcasm I am wholeheartedly applying.

"Rose..." I heard a faint sound come from inside the room.

I let out a sigh. "There you are. I've been looking for -"

I no longer was able to continue what I was saying. My eyes grew wide open at the sight of my father. There he was, lying on the bed; paler than, perhaps, the pure color of the snow.

I immediately rushed to his side. "Dad! What happened to you? Are you hurt? Oh wait, stupid question. Of course, you are!"

He put up his hand in mid-air to stop me from my on-going rant.

I had a very strong feeling that he was about to tell me something. But, a cough got stuck in his throat, stopping him from whatever message he tried to convey to me.

I felt pity for my dad, of course. No matter how childish or snobbish I may be in front of him, I still love my dad, although I do not want to admit it in front of him or anybody. I reached out to touch his forehead. And damn was he cold. I know, I know, vampires are expected to be cold, but my dad's temperature was no longer normal.

I knelt down to his bed's level and said in the gentlest voice I had the courage to muster. "Do you need anything?"

His reply was only one word. One simple and important five-letter word.

"Blood."

So, basically, I was just trying to brainstorm where in the world would I be able to get human blood in this human world. I can't possibly just go out there and kill some human due to desperation to save my Moroi father. It will be too... evil and inhuman. Well, I still have some humanity left in me. I am, after all, a Dhampir: half-vampire, half-human.

There was only one person I thought of who could help me in my problem: my 'frenemy,' to say the least, girl with a golden cheek a.k.a Sydney.

Alchemists had connection to hospitals or whatnot. I knew she would help me. If she didn't, it would still be her loss. I mean, it only takes less than an hour to log in to YouTube and upload her retarded video when she got wasted during our elementary graduation. Yes, you got it right. Blackmail was the way.

END OF FLASHBACK

So, basically, I was able to save my father from his, probably, almost-dying stage in life.

"Rose, sweetheart, we do not have a supply of blood in this house because, well, we don't drink them." Olena told me with an apologetic look on her face.

I sat down opposite where my dad was sat down. My arms were on my lap and my hands covered the sides of my face.

Baia was like far from where we lived. Sydney was in our town. It's impossible to just contact her right now and threaten her that if she would refuse to help me, I'd upload her scandalous video via YouTube.

With a sigh of defeat, my mind was totally blank with ideas. For the first time, Rosemarie Hathaway ran out of ideas.

You may be wondering why my family name is Hathaway yet my dad is Mazur. Let's save that story for later on.

"Sweetheart, Dimitri has a friend who works in the local hospital here. Why don't you just go with him to get some blood for your father right here."

My attention was directly shifted. First, it was because the idea was brilliant and indeed possible (or probably the only possible thing we could ever do now). Second, I have to get stuck with Mr. Jackass again. Third was because the world was unfair to me. Why do I have to be the one taking care of my dad when it should be the father taking care of his daughter?

You have no other choice, Rose. A voice from the depths of my mind told me.

Reluctantly, I let out a sigh of mixed disappointment and defeat as I said the next words I wish I didn't have to.

"Alright."

DPOV

"What?" I answered after my mother called me three times from downstairs.

I actually heard her the first time, but oh heck, I wanted to torture her for a little time. Quite rude of me, but oh well.

"Come down here for a second."

I pretended not to hear her. "What?"

"Come. Down. Here." She said slowly and loudly. Literally.

Grinning, I replied. "What?"

"Down. Now."

Yep, that was already three times. Fun's over for me... for now.

Stepping out of the comfort zone of my own bedroom, I went downstairs. When I reached there, Abe was sitting on a couch, looking up, eyes shut. Mystery a.k.a my future stepsister, Rose, sat opposite her father, looking anywhere but me.

I turned my attention back to my mother. "What do you need, mom?"

"I need you to go to the local hospital and get some blood for Abe. He did not drink any yet." She said as she came out from the kitchen, bringing a glass of water. It was for Abe, I guess.

"Okay." I said as I headed back up to my room to grab my coat and car keys.

When I went back down, I was about to go out when my own mother suddenly stopped me in my tracks. She told me one simple thing that made my day, but destroyed a certain girl's, or shall I say, lady's day.

"Did I mention Rose is going with you?"

I smiled inwardly before I turned back to my mother. "Oh, she is?"

"Is that alright with you?" She asked me with uncertainty lingered in her voice.

I flashed a smile in Rose's direction as she sent me a death glare which only made me smile even more.

"Of course. I would love to get to know my future stepsister a little more."

My mother was obviously delighted with my response. But, if only she knew that what I said was with sarcasm, maybe her reaction would not be the same.

"That would be great. I am so glad you two are getting along." She said with glee.

I smiled to my mother before I turned to Rose. "So, Rose, should we get going now?"

She did not bother to give out any verbal reply, instead she simply stood up from where she sat and walked past me. I gave my mother one quick glance before I followed my future stepsister.

We went inside the car.

Once settled in, I started the engine and drove off slowly. I attempted to make a small conversation, just to piss her off. Lucky for me, it did.

"So..." She cut me off after I said that one teeny-tiny word.

"Just shut up. Focus on the road and don't talk to me."

"As you wish, Ms. Grumpy." I whispered, but I knew it was audible enough for her to hear what I said.

I swear I saw little Ms. Future-Grumpy-Stepsister send me death glares, from the corner of my eye.

Xxxxxxx

What happens in their car ride? Will Dimitri try to piss Rose off even more? Or has he had enough?

Well, there's only one way to find out... chapter 4. HAHAH. :p

So, do type in your reviews to let me know what you think.

Once again, I am so sorry for not updating this story. HAHAH.

xx | Xtine

P.S When you guys have time, check out my latest one-shot. "Heading Home." The introduction is still the only thing I have posted, but I'm planning to finish it within this week. :D Peace outt.