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"What is a mother for you, Rose?"

"A mother is not someone that gives birth to you then abandons you. A mother gets you because she wants to."

"Gets?"

"Understands. She understands you because she makes it a point to do so. And she wants to meet your friends because she cares."

"Anything more?"

"Well… she's also someone who wouldn't want you to be sad. She'd try to cheer you up. Alberta always did that for me."

"And Alberta also… gets you?"

"Yes. Even when I tried to prove that I wasn't worthy of attention, she gave it to me."

"Rose, let me get this straight. For you, a mother is someone who understands you, cares for you, cheers you up and gives you attention even when you do not deserve it?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I happen to think that you have a talent of grabbing attention whether or not you think you deserve it. I would like to believe that Guardian Petrov realized that too. And besides, you are an extraordinary woman. You deserve all of the care and cheering up that is given to you."

"Are you saying that everything Alberta did was logical?"

"In a way... although I do not mean to undermine what she did, what she is for you. I understand that within the walls of the academy, she was and I believe continues to be your mother figure. I just want you to understand that being there does not make one a mother."

"What do you mean? A mom is supposed to be there. Alberta was there for me even when she didn't need to be, Janine wasn't."

"And Guardian Petrov did an exceptional job in rearing you, the entire academy did. I just want you to consider certain things, certain aspects of motherhood that you might not have taken account."

"Like what?"

"Such as the sacrifice a mother has to make. I believe that when you were born, your mother was already a somewhat established guardian. Then she left you in the academy and proceeded to be the legend that she is today. What do you think would have happened had she kept you with her?"

"She wouldn't have become a legend. She was thinking about her career so she gave me to the academy to be raised."

"Raised is for animals, dear. We are reared. And consider a different thought process. Place yourself in the shoes of a Strigoi for a moment."

"Uh… okay?"

"Let's say that you are the leader of a pack of Strigoi. Your mark is protected by Janine Hathaway. You know that she is strong and a very good fighter. You also know that she has a daughter. How would you proceed?"

"I'd expose her weakness: her daughter. If I take her daughter, she would be less efficient in both fighting and protecting because she'd be torn between her Moroi and her daughter."

"Exactly."

"Does that mean that I'm a weakness?"

"Well, generally to parents their young are a soft spot."

"Is that why she left me?"

"Maybe. What if she left you in the academy because she saw that little hypothetical situation we created as a very real and a very dangerous possibility? What if she just wanted you to be safe?"

"I guess I never thought about it like that before."

"I suppose. Now, I believe that you wanted your mother to be proud of you as well."

"Who wouldn't? In all my years in the academy, only recently was she ever proud of me."

"But how would you know? You said yourself that she was hardly ever there. What if she was proud of you from afar. Mistress Kirova and Guardian Petrov must have sent her your report cards."

"Yeah… but if her telegrams were any indication, she wasn't really impressed."

"Rose, was Alberta ever impressed?"

"Yeah, her and most of my instructors. I already told you about pranking Guardian Alto."

"Then if they were already impressed, why did you want your mother to be impressed?"

"I think I need to think about that one."

"Very well. While you are thinking about it, I also want you to consider which one you are willing to sacrifice your life for: Guardian Petrov or Guardian Hathaway and why."

"You do know that that is unfair on my part, right?"

"Well, I believe that it is also unfair on their part. We might as well make it unfair for all."

"Okay."

"Splendid. Now we eat."

We made small talk as we ate. As much as I wanted to forget about what Ina said though, I couldn't. The words kept repeating in my head. What if she left me to protect me? What if she isn't as bad as I thought? And what about Alberta? All these questions are giving me a headache. I just want today and tomorrow to be over. Tomorrow, right. I have face time with mom tomorrow. Maybe some of the questions will be answered then. I wonder what everyone else was up to. I feel so emotionally drained right now.

I said my goodbyes and left. I went straight to Lissa's office and kept face enough to keep everyone from asking. It didn't stop Liss from staring at me a few times. I think my aura is giving me away. Even Christian was a little more tolerable. I would talk to them tomorrow. Maybe. Today I just wanted to do my duties, go home and cuddle with my big Russian teddybear.

And here it is. I hope you guys liked it. Please comment, comment, and comment. I hope I gave your comment justice read4ever. As you know, you've can request for anything to happen. I'm open to suggestions! Until next time! Love, thea