"I should have known you'd be like a little kid on Christmas morning." Christian's sleepy voice grumbled from Lissa's couch as Adrian walked in the door, shooting him a winning grin. He had woken up in a great mood, feeling confident in his gift for Rose after discussing it with Ana the night before. Lissa laughed behind her hand, "Christian, it's eight in the morning!" Christian merely grumbled some more, and Lissa turned to Adrian, who really was almost vibrating with excitement. She spied a long, elegant box with black and gold wrapping, and said, "Is that for Rose?" Adrian nodded as the door opened, revealing Tasha and Dimitri. Tasha grinned widely, hugged everyone as Dimitri deposited presents under the decorated tree in the corner.
"Thanks for inviting us," Dimitri said earnestly. Lissa gave him a quick hug, and smiled, "You guys are family. We're just waiting on Rose, Eddie will stop by later after visiting his parents." Tasha sat in a recliner, hands folded over her belly, and as if on cue Rose burst in.
"Sorry I'm late," she breathed, arms full of presents, "Damn alarm didn't work."
"That might be because you physically harm it on a regular basis," Adrian pointed out, helping her put the gifts down. Rose grinned, sneaking a quick kiss to his cheek when he wasn't paying attention.
"Someone's been in the rum and Egg Nog," Christian smirked, throwing his arm around Lissa. Rose straightened up, rolling her eyes, "Its Christmas, I have a right to be happy. And I only had one. But I brought more for everyone!" Lissa giggled as Christian shot her an amused look, accepting a rum and Egg Nogg that she poured from a large thermos into a plastic cup. After handing them around - and making a special alcohol-free one for Tasha - Rose shot the tree an eager look, "Time for presents?"
"Sure," Adrian said, setting about the task of distributing them up. He left his gift for her to the side, half-hidden from her behind the three, and as the last present was handed over to Tasha, Christian piped up, "What about that one, Adrian?" Adrian glared at him, but Rose had already reached around to grab it. Eying her name on the tag (or, "Little Dhampir, that is) she raised her eyebrows, and said, "It must be from you, Adrian. Your the only one I know who would use expensive wrapping paper." He bit his lip, and shook his head quickly, "I wanted to give you it after, Rose-"
"Nonsense," Tasha laughed, batting his hand away as he reached towards it, "We all wanna see the big surprise!" As her words, Rose flicked her eyes up suspiciously. To be fair, it hadn't been Tasha's intention to cause suspicion, but something in the way Adrian was watching her made her nervous.
"What is it?" She asked hesitantly. He shook his head, eyes strangely serious as he watched her gently open the nice wrapping. Neither of them were aware everyone else had stopped what they were doing, watching Rose open the present. As she slid a long, thin box out, Lissa exchanged a look with Tasha.
"Adrian.." Rose started, but he shook his head, "Open it before you try to give it back, okay?" She sighed, and opened the lid of the box. And her jaw dropped.
Inside was a beautiful rose pendant - the same one from the store Lissa tried on her wedding dresses at. It had cost more then her annual salary - when on earth had Adrian had time to buy it? She lifted it out in wonder, and heard Lissa and Tasha gasp. Adrian just sat, was watching Rose closely.
"No," she finally said, finding her voice, "No, Adrian. This is to much." She put it back in the box, thrusting it towards him, "Take it back please."
"No, its for you," Adrian said gently, pushing it back towards her. Their eyes met, and held for a few seconds, before Rose pushed up from the couch, shaking her head, "I have to go-" She was halfway across the room when Adrian caught her arm, spinning her back, "I thought you liked it. Wanted it." Rose burst out laughing, shaking her head, "If I said I wanted an ice cream cone, that would be okay. This is ridiculous!" Something changed in his eyes, and he tightened his grip on her arm, whispering, "Don't you get it?"
"Get what, Adrian? That your buying your way into my pants?" She exclaimed, and Lissa gasped, covering her mouth. Adrian dropped her arm, taking a step back, "Do you really think that, Rose? After all these years?" Rose said nothing, holding his gaze proudly, and Adrian finally shook his head, throwing the box and pendant to the ground.
"Fine. Don't take it. But I don't want it back." He started to walk past, and Rose spun around, bursting, "Where are you going, Ivashkov? Your not supposed to be outside without me, security is low today. You know that." Adrian stopped in the doorway, and without turning around, he replied, "My parents asked me to join them in New York for a week, and I've decided to accept the invitation. I'm taking a few court guardians - you needn't come. Merry Christmas, everyone." With that, he walked out the door. Rose was left standing in the middle of the room, pendant on the floor behind her, staring at the door in shock.
"Rose?" Tasha asked tentatively. Rose turned, a hurt look in her eye that was quickly replaced with a look Lissa thought she knew well - pride. She but on a bright smile, and said, "How do you like the book, Tasha?" She sat next to her, ignoring the look Lissa gave her, and started chatting about the baby naming book she had given her. Lissa walked over to the pendant, and scooped it up, taking care to fold it into itself, before she slipped it into Rose's discarded jacket's pocket. They resumed opening their gifts, but three out of the four occupants of the room kept a close eye on Rose, taking in her emotional state. Christian even offered to mix the next rum and Egg Nog. Rose stood, and checked her watch, laughing, "I can't believe its one in the afternoon already. Do you work, Dimitri?" He shook his head, and Rose went to say something in return as she bumped into Lissa, who was coming from the kitchen.
"Rose?" Lissa asked, looking worried. She had been experiencing a lot of darkness lately, and somethings even contact with Rose was enough to send it into her. Rose took a step back, eyes wide, her head suddenly pounding. She slammed her teeth together as a powerful surge of energy blossomed in her chest, making it ache. Her fists clenched involuntarily, and she took a step back, recognizing the signs and attempting to stop a blow up.
"The darkness, right?" Dimitri acknowledged, standing quickly. Lissa confirmed it with a quick nod, and Dimitri took Rose's arm. He had her out the door and down the hall within a few breaths, and she ripped her arm from his, yelling, "Let GO of me!" He spun around, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Its from Lissa, Rose, this isn't you. Let it out." She ripped away again, and took off down the hall, needing air. Her head surged, but not with anger this time, with hurt. Why did she reject Adrian in front of everyone? How could she not see how he would take it? As she asked herself over and over in her head, she realized this darkness was different then the past times had been. Or, her reaction to it was different. She slammed to a stop, hearing but not acknowledging Dimitri catch up to her. She reached her fingers up to her cheek, tips coming away wet with salty tears.
"This is different," she whispered, voice no higher then a croak. Dimitri came to stand in front of her, and he softly said, "Let it out." She could feel more tears falling, but couldn't begin to figure out how to stop them. Knees buckled, and Dimitri knelt with her, catching her in a hug. She now began to cry in earnest, clutching his sweater with tight hands.
They stayed like that for longer then Rose could recall, but as she cried, she slowly felt the strong emotions lighten, then leave entirely. She was left feeling empty, and as she sat back on her heels, Dimitri met her eyes with a worried look, "Roza?"
"I'm fine now. Its gone," she whispered, "Thanks." He just nodded, using his sleeve to wipe her cheek, "I'll always be here for you." She tried to shoot him a grin, but failed miserably, and he said, "I'll go back to the others. Go get some rest." With that, he stood, and walked back towards the Moroi apartments. Rose stood as well, wrapping her arms around herself in an entirely un-Rose-like way, making her way back to her rooms to bury her head under the covers and forget about the world.
The sun was just beginning to rise when Rose found herself outside, sitting under a large oak tree. Her knees were to her chest, and in her jeans pocket sat the rose pendant Adrian had left behind. Sighing, she fingered it, so lost in thought that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching.
"Hey," Lissa's soft voice said, as she sat down beside her. Rose smiled, not looking at her, just staring towards the cement runway belonging to the Court's airfield. Lissa stayed quiet for awhile, before shrugging off her jacket, putting it around Rose's bare shoulders. She rested her head on Lissa's shoulder, and sighed, "Why do I screw everything up, Liss?" Lissa smiled, rubbing her back, "You don't. You just.. overreacted, is all. Give him some time. He really does love you, you know." Rose nodded, staring at the plane that was lining up on the outgoing lane. They were too far away to see who was boarding, but Lissa had a feeling this was Adrian's flight.
"I'm sorry about the darkness. It's been building for awhile," Lissa said with a guilty tone. Rose shook her head, "No, Liss, it wasn't your fault." Lissa squeezed her arm, "Dimitri helped?"
"Dimitri helped," Rose confirmed, "It was different, though."
"He said that..." Lissa trailed off, leading Rose to believe Dimitri confided in Lissa what happened after they left. Neither said anything, so they just watched the airfield.
"You know, I haven't been apart from him since I was named his guardian?" Rose asked suddenly, glancing over. Lissa shook her head, "I didn't."
"I've been away from you, and Christian... but not him." Rose looked back as the stairwell was pushed away from the plane door, and they could hear the engine start up in the distance. Within a few minutes, the plane began a slow crawl towards the end of the ramp. Rose grit her teeth, and said, "I don't like it. I don't like not knowing if he is okay or not."
"He'll come back," Lissa insisted, and Rose nodded, "I know. I don't deserve him." Lissa offered her a sympathetic smile, and put her arm around her, holding her as the plane lifted off the ground, taking Adrian away.
