I took a deep breath before I entered the coffee shop near Lissa's apartment, for our 'chat' knowing full well that it was going to be intense. Even though after the whole Avery situation we had promised to have more open discussions with each other, I was dreading this conversation.

How could I talk to Lissa about the Dimitri problem when she was a part of it?

Here goes nothing.

I walked into the shop and instantly found Lissa waiting for me at a booth in the back of room. I smiled and gave a slight wave, appreciating the fact that she had picked the most secluded spot in the shop.

"Hey." I said, sliding into the booth opposite Lissa.

"Hey! I hope you don't mind, but I ordered you a double shot mocha with extra whipped cream. That's still your go to drink, right?"

"You're amazing." I sighed in appreciation, diving into my drink.

Maybe this conversation wasn't going to be so bad.

"So...you and Adrian seem pretty close."

Okay, maybe not.

"Lis, we're dating." I stated matter-of-factly, licking whipped cream off my lips.

Lissa shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "I know, but...you actually seem to be dating him all of a sudden."

I opened my mouth to protest and she held up both her hands to stop me.

"Hear me out." She said, pleading with her eyes.

I gave her a slight nod and she continued, "I know you two agreed to date once you came back from Siberia, but the whole turning Dimitri back thing always stole focus—prevented you from really committing to the relationship and now in the last 24 hours you've become a real couple. What happened?"

"You know what happened." I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Lissa shot me a look, "Come on. One conversation in a church doesn't make you suddenly fall out of love with someone you've countlessly risked your life to save. What happened, Rose?"

I exhaled as I set my mug down, searching for the right words to day. I was still trying to fully understand it myself.

"It was like something inside of me just snapped." I started, studying the grains of the wooden table as I spoke, unable to look my best friend in the eye, "I had spent so much time, so much effort, risked everything—my life, my future as your Guardian—everything for someone I had believed to be the love of my life and when he told me that it had all been for nothing...that he no longer loved me...I just...snapped.

"Liss, Dimitri made it seem like everything we had experienced, everything that we had shared was just...nothing. I know that he had done things as a Strigoi that would affect him after he changed back, but what he said to me in that church hurt more than those weeks he held me captive.

"And I left the church and walked and walked with no direction in mind and found myself at Adrian's and it's like everything suddenly became clear. I had been running around on a pointless crusade for a guy who hadn't even tried to save our relationship—as messed up a relationship as it was—when Adrian had been there this whole time supporting me and accepting my irrational need to save Dimitri...and I really hadn't given him a chance. So I decided to give him one."

"And you just decided that you don't love Dimitri any more." Lissa pressed.

I looked into her eyes and sighed, "The Dimitri I love no longer exists. Too much has happened. We're both different people now and I finally accepted that fact. It sucks and it hurts, but that's the reality of the situation and I just have to accept it and move on if I want to have a relatively normal life again. Especially since Dimitri is going to be in it."

Lissa flinched, "Rose, if having Dimitri around is going to cause—"

I waved her off, "No. Regardless of our past, Dimitri is one of the best Guardians out there. I want you to have the best protection and that means Dimitri needs to be a part of our team. Yeah, it'll be awkward at first, but we've trained to be your Guardian partners. It's our job to keep you safe regardless of what is going on in our personal lives."

I could tell Lissa still felt a little guilty, but she was starting to understand.

"Okay, but will you please let me know if it becomes too much? I know you like to put on a brave face, but you need to be honest with me especially since this situation has become so...complicated."

I smiled and leaned back in the booth, "Trust me, Liss. If Dimitri pisses me off, you'll be the first to know."

Lissa grinned, "I'm glad you're okay. I know this has all be hard for you and when I found out about your encounter in the church...I'm just glad you're okay. And I'm glad that you're finally giving Adrian a chance! I know you're my Guardian, but I want you to have your own life and be happy."

"Aww, thanks, Liss." I felt my eyes well with tears and immediately tried to change topics, "Speaking of being happy...I've noticed that you and a certain Ozera seem to be hanging out a lot more."

Lissa blushed and sighed, "Yeah...things are...good between us again."

I raised my eyebrows, "Good or good good?"

Lissa rolled her eyes and threw a sugar packet at me.

Things were finally starting to feel back to normal.

Author's Note: A little bit of a filler chapter, but things needed to be righted between Lissa and Rose before more Adrian/Rose and Dimirtri/Rose encounters can happen. Next chapter we flash forward a week for one last hoorah before official Guardian duties begin.