I know i should probably run instead of showing my face, but I owe you all an update... as always, my excuse is that I work for an international medical group, so updating is hard for me. I usually don't have internet access, or at least not enough to spend it idly on fanfic. However, I realize I'm even later than normal. Reasons why if you're interested:

- I was hospitalized and put through surgery

- I broke up with my long time boyfriend (Never try long distance relationships...)

- A family friend just died

I think those seem like reasonable excuses, but you guys can judge. In return however, I think you will really enjoy this chapter...though I do realize I'm dragging, so I'm speeding things up...

Always, ~Vine

That Night.

I laughed, swatting the loose brown curls from my face. Dancing around, spinning, switching partners caused my hair to unbraid much faster than running after a rat did. I wonder why, perhaps because I kept checking to see if it were in place, for Adrian had taken to tugging at the piece every time the dance would lead me back to him. In the rush, I felt as if someone was watching me, but I ignored it.

As he took me hands, we moved away from the open square where couples were twirling.

"Come on. Let's catch our breath with the others." He said loudly over the drunken slurs, and I followed in the direction he was pointing.

Kora was still holding Ersken hostage in the mists of the music, but Aniki will only stand so much dainty footwork before she heads to the ale stalls. Predictably, she leaned against one of the porky barrels with Phelan, Bold Brian and a man with a simple black mask, albeit it looked its worth in silver with its velvet coat and copper inlay. It covered the top of his face with only his lips showing through. It worked well with the simple black and gray of his clothes. I snorted in disgust, looks like I found him.

As Arian and I edged closer to the group, his black eyes met mine. They scowled at me in irritation as he pivoted in the spot as he grabbed the hand of a lustrous woman a little ways away and led her to the other side of the market.

"Beka, you just missed Rosto." The swordswoman told me. I cocked an eyebrow at her, daring her to deny he was avoiding me. She shrugged sheepishly.

"It's Rosto, his temper's worse than yours, which I assure you is a feat indeed." I rolled my eyes and a few people laughed uncomfortably. No one was fool enough to test my anger, nor that of the sitting Rogue. I don't understand why he's so immature. The sarden bastard was angry, I knew, but he wasn't a kid anymore. One would think he could face me.

Perhaps Lady Teodorie was right, I should save myself now and enter The Goddess's convent. It's terrifying how often I seem to agree with her nowadays.

My train of thought was thankfully interrupted by a flushed Kora who demanded we stop standing around like doxies for sale and attach ourselves with coves under the lanterns. It had been hours since we left the boarding house and thus much darker.

I agreed, though I could only dance so much before I tire of it. Adrian was my partner twice, but as each round finished, I was handed off to another until a new tune would start up. A Tryan folk song finally ended as I gave a half curtsey to the curly haired cove in front of me. Then with a twirl, I took the hand of the man on my right.

Without meaning to, I gasped as the fiddle picked up; it couldn't be. My partner placed his hand on my spine, pulling me closer than any stranger would dare. Only one person ever disregarded my personal space like him, so I wasn't surprised as I glared up into familiar coal black eyes behind an ebony mask.

"Three minutes. Three minutes and you can push me away forever." Rosto insisted, his expression unreadable. He sounded tired, anxious; annoyed perhaps. In any case, I ain't the type to act like some kit just because he did. I'd hear him out, then kick him away from me. I was still upset, still furious with him.

"Time's ticking. You've until the end of the song."

"I'm an idiot Beka, we both know that. I snap and argue and fight, but I don't mean the half of it. What happened that night was an accident. I was trying to talk to you, but you're so stubborn."

"If this is supposed to be an apology, then you're failing outstandingly." I hissed, tightening my grip on his fingers tightened ever so slightly so that his pointer was caught between my nails. He flexed out easily, though there was a telltale mark on his skin; a tiny red indent.

"Just shut up and listen, I didn't come to argue. " His irises sparked dangerously as he grimaced. "See what I mean by stubborn? You say something to set me off and we started tearing into each other. Believe me when I say that I'm sorry. Not for anything I tried to say, but for overreacting."

I looked at him from beneath my bangs, most all of my hair knot had come undone and my hair was whipping against my neck and shoulders.

Rosto never says sorry, ever. He doesn't know the word. If, or when we fought, he'd always start acting normally again, as if the arguments never happened. That was his way of saying he didn't like the way things were. For him to say so now was enough to catch my attention. I sighed, as I sidestepped away from another gixie and back towards Rosto.

"What do you want me to say? I forgive you? I won't allow you to try and dictate my life. I've always made my own choices, and even if I'm wrong, I'd rather fall and get back up again rather than have you drag me in a direction I don't want to go." I spoke steadily, but my voice was stern.

He needed to know he couldn't play around with me. I've worked hard to become who I am today, he should know by now that he can't bully me into a corner. Mithros, wasn't it enough that I allowed a professional relationship to become one of friends? In the back of my mind, I'm still waiting for the day the dogs bring me in for associating with rogues, let alone the fat rat on top.

Suddenly, we weren't in the square anymore. He had spun me around and danced me into a side alley. There he pulled me to the wall and we both leaned against it, our arms crossed over our chests. Somewhere in the background I could hear the music wane and bloom into another beat.

"Just answer me this Beka, and then I'll give you my word. I'll stay out of your love life." He scrunched his nose unconsciously at the last part. Upon entering the alley we'd taken off our sweat soaked masks. I waited patiently for him to continue, trying not to laugh. Regardless of the stiff attitude, his face was funny. He leaned his head back before turn to me; all traces of humor gone.

"Tell me, why are you so afraid to get close to me? And don't say it's because of that cove," he stated as I opened my mouth. "You've known me much longer, and until recently, you haven't been objecting when I…I step over the line."

I froze. Rosto was still watching me, half his body turned towards me, black eyes prominent framed by his short blond hair and fair face. He was right, and I knew it. I never really fought when he kissed me, I might scold, but it was out of shock rather than anger.

"What is it about me that makes you want to run? Goddess, tell me what I could have possibly done to make you distrust me." He continued, eyebrows srunched,, disfiguring his forked scar.

"It's stupid to think you can trust the Rogue." I mumbled, avoiding his look.

"But is it so hard to trust me?" He was a leaning closer again, if only to try and catch my own eyes with his. "Can you trust the man who sat up with you and told you things will be alright with your sister?" I gulped, clearing my throat.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just." I sighed, exasperated. I didn't know how to continue. "I don't really trust anyone to get too close."

"You gave Birch's brother a shot." He argued. I shook my head at him.

"That's not the same! We aren't even together; we're barely more than friends. Asides, I'll break it off soon. I don't need anyone to distract me from my job." I was losing ground quickly as I struggled. Rosto's eyes never left me as he watched my emotions play out on the sharp plains of my face. "With you, it would be complicated."

"How so?" He was not helping me, the ducknob. I was having a hard time as it was.

" Well for one, I've dedicated my life to stopping all the scummers who work for you and your court." I told him bitterly. Rosto was as unfazed as ever.

"How the hell would a chance together be any more risky than us being friends? We've known each other for a year Cooper, and we've never let business interfere with our personal lives. Besides, it never stopped Ersken and Kora, or Phelan for that matter."

"Damn it, Rosto! If that ever changes, I could get hurt. Especially because it's you." I said, forcing tears away from my eyes. Why wouldn't he drop it? "You're right, I do know you, a thousand times more than some side street cove, but that's the problem. If I lose you, I'd lose more than just another cove."

I let them hang there. My words. It was as close to admitting the truth as I could get.

He stiffened at that, but then, timidly, he slowly brought his hand to my cheek, brushing his thumb against my skin. His eyes searched mine, as if to ask if what he was doing was alright. I almost laughed at the irony of that; Rosto's style was more of a 'grab the girl and pay later' sort of thing.

"If you never give me the chance, I'm already lost." He whispered. "Just one chance Beka, that's all I need." He was close enough that, if I turned slightly, my eyelashes would brush his nose. Then, as he moved his head to the side, I allowed him to come closer and press his lips to mine. He lingered for a moment, giving me the chance to pull away.

I didn't.

I could feel him smirk, as he pulled away and tilted my chin up with one of his fingers, making it easier to access my mouth. As he kissed me, he maneuvered my body so that he was in front of me and my back was pushed up against the wall. He placed his hands on the top of my hips, holding me close. After a moment's hesitation, I twisted my arms behind his neck.

He'd kissed me before, but it had never been for so long, I'd never let it go on for so long. His kiss, his touch, they all spoke of desperation and longing. As if he'd waited forever for something like this. Yet his kisses were still gentle, as if he were trying to show me that he wasn't acting out of pure lust. That he meant this.

When his tongue ran across my mouth, I could feel the pent up energy behind his lips. Giving him entry would mean so much more than just a kiss; it would be a promise to go past our idle flirtations. I was terrified, but I wanted this. It had never felt so right with anyone. I let him in.

He explored my mouth, running over the roof as I suppressed as moan and tangled my fingers in his hair. My nails ran through his scalp and he went lower in my throat. I pushed my tongue against his hungrily, and he responded in kind. Rosto was a very talented kisser. As my last reserves of air vanished, I gasped and we parted. He grinned as we both breathed heavily, leaning our foreheads together. He held me tighter as he waited for me to calm down. With all of his experience, his shallow breathes were already reaching normalcy; sarden spintry.

"I don't know what to say," I muttered, still unsure of the situation. As of this morning, I had been mad at him, but now…

"Then don't," He said simply, his normal cocky grin back in place. He combed his fingers through my hair, which at this point, was completely undone. After a minute or so, he pushed off from the wall and relinquished his grip on my waist. Then, he proceeded to place a more respectful distance between us, to show me, I assumed, that he meant everything he said. He really wanted a chance.

"We'll talk about this and figure it all out when you want. For now though, just think it over and tell me what you want to do." He gave me a salute and turned away. Just as he was going to round the corner, I yelled out.

"What about the Dove?" I asked, cringing as I remembered Adrian. He just laughed at me.

"Consider her gone." He turned the bend while pulling his mask on. I stood in the alleyway a bit longer, mulling over what had happened. I would have a headache tonight.

Fumbling with my mask's laces, (Rosto's attached differently), I heard a faint shriek coming further down the road, away from the music. Readying myself, I forced myself to think like a dog instead of a lovesick pup. I hiked up my skirt and tore off the inner petticoat so it would be easier to run.

Sighing, I blocked Rosto from my head as I checked my hidden knives. That had been much longer than three minutes…

I hope I surprised some of you guys, and made the rest happy. Once I finished Bloodhound, I was kinda mad at Beka for her...choice in men...so I scraped my original plan for this story and just went ahead with BxR. That way, we're all happy. Please leave me a review, all comments, even if they aren't a cry of joy, are appreciated. So please.... REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!

~Vine