Author's Note: I attempted a little Russian lingo in this section. Forgive me because google wasn't very helpful and as romantic as it is when Dimitri says it it doesn't look very romantic in writing, ;) Thanks for the reviews! You guys are awesome! Enjoy.

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A large part of me didn't expect to see Dimitri standing in the Lobby as I walked down the hall. I had managed to take a quick but effective shower and put on a fresh pair of jeans and simple sleeveless white top. I'd much rather had a beautiful ballroom gown on for Dimitri but they way he was looking at me now, I don't think it would have mattered. Our eyes met – as they always did when either of us entered a room but I couldn't read his expression as easily as I'd once been able to.

"Thanks."

His brow creased in confusion.

"For?"

"Inviting me out for food? I guess... I'm not sure..." This was unnatural. Dimitri and I had always had smooth conversations – this was too much like work. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to go with him. Maybe there really was no hope for us. As far as I knew he was only doing this for Lissa's sake. I felt my lips pull into a hard frown.

"You have to eat."

If I heard that one more time I was going to scream.

"Well, we should go. I don't want to keep you."

He didn't bother saying anything else as we walked out into Court - towards one of the many diners along the shopping centers and buildings. Several of Dimitri's guardians were walking behind us like a small convoy – keeping their distance for any conversation we apparently weren't having. This trip was strictly to get food in my system. My frown grew harder. I wish I had never let Dimitri into my room. No good could come from this situation. He glanced over at me as if he could read my thoughts.

I hadn't allowed him into my room – he had twisted the door knob so hard it splintered the wood and broke the lock.

"We really don't have to do this, comrade. I understand..." Strong Rose was coming back – slowly but surely, at least on the outside. It was hard being weak and broken around Dimitri. He had taught me to be strong when he had been my instructor and I tried to mimic his control. "You have to..." I put my hand up to stop him. "Eat, I know – I will. I'll go eat until I'm stuffed, okay? I promise..."

Dimitri stopped walking – turning to look at me. Maybe he was looking for a way out and he finally had it. I wouldn't break my promise to him – I was very hungry. Bracing myself I forced a half smile, brushing my hair back only for it to blow into my eyes again. "It's okay." Lying to Dimitri was useless – he always knew when things weren't okay. I watched carefully as he took a step towards me and placed my hair safely behind my ear – matching my forced smile with his own. "It's okay." He repeated, holding my gaze for a long – agonizing moment. "Come on."

……………….

I felt like a pig once our food came and the waiter sat a large bowl of – you guessed it – spaghetti down in front of me. Dimitri took a bite of his sandwich and I half expected him to swallow his meal whole so he could leave me and get on with his life. His actions were painfully obvious that he was doing this for Lissa – not for me. I decided to put all my energy into eating my food – keeping my eyes away from his matching brown hues.

Don't get me wrong, I was thankful for any time that involved Dimitri being civil towards me but if it wasn't genuine then it still hurt. More than him or Lissa would ever know. It would have been better if he'd left me in my room to starve – it wouldn't have hurt as much when he left me after my belly was full.

"I heard about your trials at the Academy."

Small talk? Is that what we were reduced to? I was forced to nod in agreement because my mouth was full and I didn't want to be rude.

"They said you were... untouchable. You're going to be a perfect guardian."

I swallowed hard, taking a long drink from my cup before I answered him. "Only because of you." I assured, figuring flattery would get me nowhere and I was right. Dimitri looked at me in disbelief and turned back to his food. "It doesn't matter anyway. They are making me do landscaping around Court and..." I cringed at the thought. "..paper work filing." This seemed to get Dimitri's attention. "They've also threatened me with a desk job. It's terrible..."

"Why are you being punished?"

He had heard of my trials but not of my post-graduation shenanigans. I guess a bunch of teenagers running off to Vegas for a weekend getaway wasn't on the top of Court's gossip. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. "You know me – always pulling some off the wall stunt, getting myself and the people I care about into major trouble." There was no point in explaining any further because by the look on his face Dimitri knew already – I was in trouble because of him, because I had done what I had to do to restore him. "I can only imagine." He muttered, mostly to himself.

We finished our meal in silence for the most part – what did you say to someone who you absolutely loved with all your being and they didn't feel the same? Or to someone who you dreamt of killing for over four months and the only happiness you got was from those dark, vile thoughts? There wasn't much to say at all so I relished in his company – thankful for the few moments when he'd smile at me, or look into my eyes. It was as if he could see straight into my soul when he looked at me like that. To my surprise he hadn't run off as soon as we'd finished eating but it wasn't long until he walked me back to my room and turned to take his leave.

I stood at my bedroom door quietly – wondering if I'd have the strength to go after him. If I fell to my knees before him and begged would that ruin what little progress we had made? I decided against it and assured myself I would let him go.

"Thank you, Dimitri."

He stopped walking and turned back to look at me. I had thanked him several times today because I felt like he was sacrificing a lot to be with me.

"Thank you, Rose. For everything you've done for me."

A smile escaped my lips. I had waited so long to hear those words that I couldn't stop myself from going to him. "I know..." My fingers laced with his before he could protest. "I know what I did... what Lissa and I did was the right thing... you belong in this world, Dimitri. I just wish..." I had to look away; tears were beginning to form at my rims. "I wish you didn't remember your time as Strigoi because that doesn't matter now. Not to me or anyone. You aren't responsible for your actions as a Strigoi and I just wish..."

The tears had begun to fall by now and I couldn't hold back anymore. I wished for anything to make Dimitri feel better – to take those awful memories from him. Time travel would have been a better option than soul restoration but it wasn't something I was capable of. I had been too desperate for the first thing that could bring Dimitri back to me.

It seemed that Dimitri was having a hard time holding his emotions together as well – his body was stiff with tension and I swear I could feel his hands shaking with my own.

"If I could do it over I would have found a way to go back to before the attack on the school and I would have protected you... I would have done everything in my power to keep you safe..."

I was whispering now – moving closer so that he could hear me. His guards had walked into the lobby now – giving our conversation respect and privacy. Dimitri wouldn't respond – it seemed like he was frozen in anguish but his hands were definitely shaking now. He wasn't making a single noise but to my shock a tear escaped and fell quickly down his cheek.

"If I had to go back to before I fell in love with you I would have tried not to if it meant keeping this from happening. I swear Dimitri, this between us is too much... the pain..."

With quick reflexes that matched my own Dimitri had closed the space between us and pressed his mouth hard against mine – pulling me up by his free arm to hold my body as close to him as possible. His guards were on alert now – leaning around the corner to get a better view of what was going on. It had to of seemed like a bad soap opera to them but at that moment I didn't care. If they tried to come down the hall and pull Dimitri from me it would be their last mistake.

After a moment my back hit the wall behind me – causing a quiet groan to escape when I hit. Dimitri hadn't let up and his hands were in my hair now – deepening our kiss as he moved. Being trapped against him and the wall wasn't the most comforting situation in the world but I wouldn't have asked for anything less of Dimitri. Our kisses had always been fierce and powerful. The thought of him being a dhampir again thrilled me and I pulled him closer – allowing a small moan to escape me as his tongue danced perfectly with my own. It seemed like hours but he finally pulled away gasping, just enough to take in my scent and whisper against my lips.

"Ja tebja ljublju, Roza. I love you, Roza..." His mouth found mine before I could reply and he pressed me back against the wall. Dimitri wasn't stable – it was painfully obvious because he always composed himself in public situations but I was afraid, and a little thrilled, that he was going to have his way with me right here in the middle of the hallway. I finally managed a second of rational thought and forced him to take a step away from me – causing his wonderful lips to leave mine quickly.

"Roza..."

The look in those dark, beautiful eyes were crying – want, desire – need. Oh, how I wanted, desired and needed those things from him but not like this.

"Even when I was Strigoi I loved you... deep inside I knew that I was completely in love with you, Rose..."

His lips found mine again but I stopped him, forcing him to get a grip on the situation. He shook his head no, assuring me that this is what he wanted – he had wanted for so long.

"I said terrible things, Roza... I tried so hard to block out my feelings for you because I don't want to hurt you..." His fingers found my hair, stroking the smooth strands lovingly as his lips touched my neck and he began his apology attempt – mostly in Russian but I could hear so sorry repeated continuously among the nonsense.

"Roza. Puzhalsta..."

That was one of the few words I had learned during my visit to Russia. Please. The pain in his voice was becoming too much to bear – this had to stop, as badly as I didn't want it to.

"Dimitri. This – we – have to stop... your guards..."

"I don't care. You are all I care about, Roza... puzhalsta..."

I took Dimitri by the hand again – thankful that his were no longer shaking and he had regained some of his control. "Come with me." I whispered, surprised when he nodded desperately and found my lips again. "Just come inside..." We turned towards my room and walked inside quickly – catching the guards as they slowly made their way back up the hall and to my room. I shut the door quietly – knowing they wouldn't follow us but would more than likely wait in the hall until Dimitri reemerged.

I turned towards him slowly as he took a seat on the edge of my bed. The small break we had in our make out session seemed to cool him down enough to gain some composure. "I'm sorry... if what I did out there was too much... I don't deserve... you don't deserve all of this craziness, Roza." He watched me carefully as I removed his shoes and assured him to lie back on the bed, climbing beside him to sit. I brought his head into my lap much like Lissa had when he returned to our world as a dhampir and I began to stroke the brown locks of hair – smiling down at him. He looked up at me wearily – our walk to the diner and conversation in the hallway was obviously too much for him. "Just rest, comrade." I assured, surprised at my own ability to show reason and control. He really had been a great instructor.