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VA Chapter 10

That night my mind wouldn't relax. I kept replaying the opening of Dimitri's last package. The feelings that dress brought up distressed me for a number of reasons. One being that I remembered the excitement I felt when I was getting ready for Dimitri. The anticipation of seeing him, of being in his arms, kissing him, my hands on his muscular chest.....the bite. UGH! And in some ways those feelings emerged even now, just as strong as that day. But then I also felt fear. I knew that what I wanted most in this world, seeing Dimitri.....was also the thing that terrified me the most.

Would I be able to find Robert in time, and if so, could he really save Dimitri? Would I be able to kill my soul mate for real this time, if I had to, even if I did find Robert? There may not be any other option. If everything didn't go to plan, and I lost someone else I loved, what then? If we lost the fight, would Dimitri kill or turn me? So many questions, and no damn answers......I felt myself shaking, but I didn't know if it was from fear or anger. I decided to go down to the gym at the bottom floor of our guest building; it helped to hit something, sometimes.

The gym was well set out and I soon found my intended victim. The practice dummy was not going to be looking good after I was finished with him. I started off with punches and kicks, which soon became faster and more forceful. Then out came my stake.... After half an hour of this, I fell to my knees at my now destroyed victim. I looked up and it looked a little like myself, all tattered and torn and could no longer keep the tears at bay. I had promised myself that I would not cry again until Dimitri said he loved me, and that would only happen if I saved him. And if it never happened, then I would never cry again. My vengeance on the dummy was just what I needed and soon made my way back up to the apartment.

I showered and slipped into bed. This time, I closed my eyes and felt myself slowly lower into slumber. It wasn't long until I found myself in the familiar surrounds of an 'Adrian dream'. I was in a forest with the tallest trees I've ever seen, ferns and shrubs that I didn't know the name of covered the ground. Fallen trees and boulders made for excellent seats which I found myself laying on looking up at the sky. Birds flew overhead, picking their meals straight out of the air.

"Mother Nature is truly the world's best artist, isn't she?" I recognised Adrian's husky voice and I smiled as I closed my eyes. "This is the perfect setting for someone as beautiful as you."

"Compliments will get you nowhere, my Royal Moroi pain in the ass."

"I'm sorry Rose. I was being an obnoxious toad before; I really shouldn't have said that about the dress. I'm trying to keep my feelings in check, and then I go and start feeling sorry for myself and end up drinking more than I normally do and then I say stupid things like that...it's just a bit hard sometimes." His voice then went from remorseful to devious in a flash, "Do you want to punish me?"

Even with my eyes closed I could see the smile that would be on his face. "Huh, only if that punishment included pain, lots and lots of pain."

"That's the only punishment that I like, didn't you know that? Especially if you're the one dishing it out."

I had to laugh at that. Why could I not stay angry at him? He would have to be the most exasperating person I know. His whole crass personality annoyed me no end, his drinking and those horrible clove cigarettes, yuck!!! But when I was near him, I couldn't help but want to be closer..... I would forgive him anything and he knew it.

"So, do you forgive me?" he said, again saying what I was thinking. I opened my eyes and turned to him. He was standing in knee length khaki pants and no shirt. His chestnut brown hair gleamed as the sunrays coming through the trees hit his head. The background of the forest made his deep green eyes stand out like beacons. He really was as sexy as he believed sometimes, not that I would ever admit that. "Well, by the way you're checking me out, I would say yes, but I'd really like to hear you say it."

"Yeah, you're forgiven," I said trying unsuccessfully to him my smile. "For some reason, I just can't stay mad at you for very long."

"I know. And I know why that is too, but I'm not saying." He teased.

"Oh yeah? I could make you, you know...."

"How? By that punishment you keep promising me...."

Mmm, Exasperating......."Where's your shirt?" I thought this might get the conversation moving in a different direction, but that was not to be...

"Am I distracting you?"

"No....not at all.... and stop answering my questions with more questions." Who was I kidding? I turned away from him and went to get down off the large rock I was sitting on. He saw what I was going to do and come over to help me down. "Thanks.... my hero!" I said sarcastically. It was at this point that I saw what I was wearing. I was wearing 'The Dress'. I think Adrian saw my expression change as I looked down at myself and before I could say anything he took my face into his hands.

"Always.....my little Dhampir." The smile was gone now as he looked deep into my eyes. I felt my heart start to beat faster and I knew I had to say something to diffuse this now tense moment. But his lean, muscular chest was most definitely distracting and in the hold of his eyes, I did something I said I wouldn't do again. I let him bend down and kiss me. My heart pounded and blood pulsed in my ears. Rhonda's warning suddenly screamed in my head.... Oh no, what am I doing? I thought to myself.

I pulled away from him and stepped back. "No Adrian, we can't. I can't.....I can't deal with this." I said looking down. "I need to focus; I need to keep myself...together. If I don't, someone I love will end up paying the price, or I will."

"I know," he said with mock disappointment. "You're just so bloody hard to resist. I do try though." He said with a smile.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Looking up at his face I said, "You're very hard to deter aren't you?"

"Yup, it's not over till it's over Rose. You can't get rid of me that easy." With that he bent forward and kissed me on the forehead.

"We have a lot to accomplish in a few hours time."

"Yeah, we do." He lifted one brow and tilted his head... "Will you get jealous do you think? Will you able to control yourself in front of my Aunt tomorrow?"

Ugh...."Goodnight, Adrian."

"Goodnight my beautiful little Dhampir. Sweet dreams." He said laughing.

And then it was dark.

Next morning I woke up feeling rather anxious, but it wasn't coming from me. I knew that Lissa had reservations on her being able to use compulsion on the Queen and get away with it, and those feelings were multiplying by the second. Once dressed in the Guardian's uniform that Dimitri gave me last time I was here, I went out into the living rooms and found Lissa sitting on the sofa by herself. Adrian was talking to Eddie in the kitchen and Mom was on the balcony talking on her cell phone.

"Are you alright Liss?" I asked sitting down beside her.

"Yes.....no......I'm alright I guess." She grimaced.

"Everything will be okay you know. I'll be easy. I have every confidence in you." I said and she suddenly felt a bit better. "We have the first appointment of the day, so there won't be anyone hanging around. Remember, you have to tell Queen Bitch another reason for our visit once we have the location of the plans."

"Yeah, I already thought of something to tell her, and don't call her that Rose, you'll slip up one of these days and get drawn and quartered for treason." She said with a smile. "I'm just nervous because there are so many unknowns. What if someone hears why we're here and leaves before I can tell them otherwise?"

"Let's cross that bridge if and when we come to it, shall we?" I stood then and went out to tell mom that we were leaving.

"I'll let her know." My Mom said.
"Are you coming here?"
"I don't think so. I think it's probably better if you stay there at the moment." Another pause...
"Okay, bye." She looked up at me and said simply.... "That was your father. They're here."

"Oksana & Mark?" I asked excitedly. I was looking forward to seeing them again.

"Yes, and the others too." She said.

Before I could ask anymore, Lissa and Adrian came to the balcony door and said that we had five minutes to get to the Queens conference room. As we opened the door of the guest building, I cringed when I saw Mia standing there waiting for us.

"Hi Mia," I said politely. "What are you doing here so early?"

Looking me up and down and then glancing to Lissa and Adrian, Mia said, "Just thought I'd walk with you to the Queen's rooms." The look on her face told us that she wasn't going to let her suspicions of last night go too easily. "Say, Lissa, you never did say last night why you guys are here."

Help me Rose! I'm nervous enough... Panic ran through me from Lissa.

"There's a private issue that Lissa and Adrian need to talk to the Queen about Mia. I'm sure that you'll understand that it needs to say private until the Queen allows us to talk to you about it." I hoped that all our faces showed the right amount of expression to convince her. It should at least give us enough time to think up something better to tell her.

"Oh," she said. "If there's anything I can help with, I'd be happy to, you know that don't you?" she added.

"Yeah, thanks Mia. Once we're allowed to talk about it, you'll be the first to know. We promise." I said. She wasn't going to leave, but she did start talking about how far she'd come in her ability to control water. She was now strong enough to pull the moisture from the air and pool the water molecules together and used it as a weapon. That could be very useful in a pinch.

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