Shawn's POV

"You're that Guardian Belikov, aren't you?" I asked him.

He just looked at me then rolled his eyes, "Let me guess you want me to stay away from Rose?"

"She might have loved you once but that was years ago. Do you have any idea of what you did to her? Adrian told me everything about that time, even things that Rose's best friends don't know." My fists are clenched tight from fury. This guy is trying to mess up my brother's life. "Adrian is with her now. Rosline and Alexis are like my nieces, so if you bother their mom or father again Adrian isn't the only one you have to deal with."

Belikov rolled his eyes again. "What can he do to me? He's nothing but a royal brat."

"If you're really that ignorant, you can find out for yourself," I smiled at the thought. Everyone still thinks Ivashkov can't fight, hello, he's being trained by Rose and other elite guardians.

"Whatever, I'm just here to make Rose realize that she still loves me."

"Are you fucking mental? I hear Tasha Ozera is carrying your child, Rose is married with two children! Do you think she'll destroy her daughter's lives and runaway with you? If you do then you know nothing about her. Rose puts her family first, her daughters are her life. Do you think she can take them away from their father or abandon them?"

"I love her, that's all that matters," with that the guy turns and walks away.

I think I'll come up with a way to have Lady Ozera find out. I'm sure Adrian will help.

I smile to myself as I find my way back to my room, to get some much needed sleep.

Rose's POV

When I saw Adrian I knew something was wrong. The tightness in his jaw while trying to smile was obvious, his eyes had a hard glint and he wasn't relaxed, not by a long shot.

I couldn't ask him about it because of the kids but I was certain it had to do with Dimitri.

Hour later when our shopping trip ended and the children slept I asked Adrian about his mood.

"What's wrong Adrian?"

He didn't respond immediately. Moments past when he finally said, "He spoke with Rosline and offered to train her with our permission. We're lucky she doesn't seem to remember.

I sighed.

"Rose, I really don't want to talk about it." Adrian told me with a serious look. He is never serious but this cannot be swept under a rug until later.

"Adrian," I begged him. "Talk to me."

He turned away from his liquor cabinet with anger in his eyes.

"Why?" He yelled. Luckily our house was grand enough that maybe the children wouldn't hear. "Why should I talk about it? To tell you I wish you had never loved him? Our lives would have always been perfect if it weren't for you loving him once! He's back to win you over and I can't do anything about it!"

"Adrian," I say softly. "I will not leave you, I want him gone as much as you do."

"It hurts Rose," he whispered. "Dimitri is your first love and I know that a first love and it hurts. I don't know what to do. All I know is that I want him gone."

With that Adrian turned and walked out the room.

"I'll be in my office," he called back.

Not knowing what else to do I made sure the doors were locked and the alarms activated then went to the basement where our gym was.

When Adrian and I moved to court and built this house he made sure that there was a full gym and a sparring area. At night while Rosline and Alexis slept we would come down here and work out. Adrian is good enough to actually take me down now much to the surprise of others.

Once while shopping for Rosline's first birthday on the city we were attacked by strigoi. We fought side by side and took down four strogoi, one got away then later word had spread about Adrian. A royal Moroi receiving two minjoi marks was unheard of. Queen Tatiana used Adrian to develop a training program for any willing Moroi.

While I was strectching my cell phone rang.

"Ivashkov," I answered.

"Guardian Ivashkov, secure your children, strigoi are on their way." It was the queen's royal guard.

"Any inside court?" I barked.

"Yes but the guardians are holding them back. You have enough time to get them to the royal building."

I hung up and ran upstairs. My watch said it was three p.m. Only a couple of hours until sunrise.

I found Adrian sitting at his desk, his drink untouched.

"Strogoi are here, we need to hide the children."

Before I could finish Adrian jumped up, pulled his stake from a drawer and ran for the girls room. I grabbed a bag, filled with supplies for the children, I kept for a situation like this and gathered Alexis in my arms. Adrian picked up Rosline and we made our way downstairs.

The Moroi court was built with underground tunnels that only the highest members of court knew about, not even guardians knew about it. Tatiana had a secret entrance built for us in the pantry and showed us a place where we could hide the children safely.

The tunnels were dark but after ten minutes of keeping the girls calm and jogging we made it to where the queen was hidden with Adrian's parents and Lissa, Christian and her guards.

"What's going on?" I asked Tatiana's guard.

"They attacked the walls and while the guardians at the gate were distracted a human broke the wards." One of the six royal guardians answered.

"Do they need reinforcements?"

I saw the guardian look at my family and hesitate.

"Yes," he finally said. "They were overwhelmed but all guardians closest to court were called and should be here soon."

"I'll go up and see," I said and looked at Adrian.

"Rose, no," Lissa said.

I ignored her and kept eye contact with Adrian.

Pain and indecision was clear on his face but at last he nodded.

I walked to my family and wrapped my arms around them and kiss each one. I prayed God would let me come back unharmed.

"Be careful," I whispered. "I love you."

With that I turned and ran back the way we came. Alone I was able to return home within minutes. I heard nothing on the other side and cautiously stepped out. The doors were intact and I looked out the windows. Guardians, Moroi and strogoi ran about. I watched fire users lite strogoi ablaze. Gathering myself I opened the door and joined the fray.

My only thoughts were to dodge, hit and kill. I moved from one strogoi to the next, helping when I was needed then mooving on. Others joined me. Together we killed many. Moving towards the housing area I saw a familar person.

He looked exactly the same until he turned and looked at me.

The chocolate eyes were rimmed with red. With a smile he attacked.

Dimitri's POV

I walked thinking about my Roza again. Her beauty, her smile and her beautiful daughters that should be mine.

Thinking of that guardian's words again, I smile. Does he really think I'm afraid of Adrian Ivaskov? He is no match for me. That is why he should have never been with Rose. He can't defeat Rose how can he stand up to a strigoi? What kind of man is he that he can't protect his own family? She'll see that soon. He is nothing.

I'm so ingrossed in my thoughts I don't notice someone climbing the wall. Before I can react I'm thrown to the ground and I feel the stab of fangs in my neck, then nothing. I'm lost in the sweet bliss of a vampire's bite.

Adran's POV

I can't just wait for news on wither or not my wife is dead.

I turn to my daughters and see that they are scared. It pains me but I must leave them to see how Rose is doing. I pick both girls up in my arms and give them a tight hug.

"I love you, remember that." My throat tightens and my eyes sting. "I'll be back soon? You understand?"

Rosline's eyes water but both girls nod.

"Go get mommy," Rosline orders me.

I turn to my mother, father and aunt. They are all shaking their heads, knowing what I'm about to do.

"If anything happens, make sure my children are well cared for. Do everything in your power to keep my daughters safe, look after them, auntie. They are the most precious things to me."

My aunt does nothing but nod.

I kiss and hug my girls once more and run the same direction Rose went.

Rose's POV

Dimitri attacks me and I meet him with everything I have. He knew all my moves once but that was years ago so I am able to get close enough to stake him.

When I make my move I get bumped by a guardian fighting another strigoi. When my attention went to the guardian that bumped me Dimitri knocked me back into a nearby house.

Pain runs up my back and I'm slumped there for a second, Dimitri is reaching to toss me again when someone shoves him away.

Adrian.

Dimitri only laughs at him. Adrian attacks with a fury and I could see surprise register on Dimitri's face. Adrian moves in and out with vampire speed and is able to land blows with his stake that causes Dimitri to scream and swipe savagely at Adrian. The stake flys away,

Before my eyes could catch the movements Adrian suddenly has a broken piece of a rot-iron fence protruding from his stomach. He glances at me, blood runs from a corner of his mouth and pain twists his handsome face. Dimitri kicks the iron deeper into Adrian's chest and he falls back to the contrite.

With a wordless scream of fury, pain and sorrow I lunge at Dimitri. I fight as I never have before. My hate for the man I once loved makes me move faster than ever. Dimitri is startled when I cut him with my stake again and again but never going for his heart.

Every fiber of my being and the blood in my veins calls for Dimitri's death. I cannot make it easy for him. I want to torture him for taking the love of my life, the father of my children, my husband. My souls other half.

I barely notice the sky is getting brighter and other strigoi are running for safety. Guardians pursue and kill them. I notice other guardians, friends, are trying to help me. One attacks Dimitri from behind.

"No!" I yell. "Only I will kill him!"

Dimitri begins to twist in pain from the sunlight, his blocks are easier to break through. Finally, fear enter those red rimmed eyes.

When smoke rises from his body I move in and dig my stake deep into his heart.

"Roza," Dimitri whispers.

That one word drives me more insane. I pull my stake out and stab him again and again.

Tears run down my face, my breathing is fast and I gasp for breath. Strong arms pull me away from Dimitri and I fight until the words, "He's dead!" Finally stops me.

I stand for a moment. I turn to Adrian and rush to his side. His face is white and he too is gasping for air.

"Adrian? Why did you come here?" I yell at him.

He smiles that annoying smile and touches my face.

"For you, little dhampir," he croaks.

Guardians gather around us and watch silently. They knew, with his wounds, Adrian was going to die soon. There was no stopping it.

"You are such an idiot. How could you? Now you'll leave us alone." My dispire was talking."Please Adrian? Don't leave me!"

Adrian's breathing slows but he smiles again.

"You're gonna be fine." He whispers then a sob escapes his mouth. "Remember to tell Rosline and Alexis that I will always love them. I'll watch over you if I can. Tell them about me, don't let them forget me."

"I promise." I answer with a broken voice. "I'll make sure they remember you forever."

"I'm sorry" Adrian said.

His body jerked, his face contorted in pain then a sigh exit his lips then his breathing stopped.

I squeezed Adrian to my chest and cried. I placed a kiss on his still warm lips and clung to him.

My world, my life was ruined again. The fates must hate me to take him away. The father of my children. Gods, how will I tell them their father is never coming home? What will I do?

I don't know how long I stayed there with Adrian's lifeless body. Strong arms picked me up and I tried to fight, begging to be released. A voice tried to comfort me but the black abyss pulled me down. A place where there was nothing. No pain. No sadness. Just a deep void of nothingness.

This chapter was very hard to write. I had to use the pain of losing a family member to help me write. It was not something that I enjoyed to relieve but I hope it came across as real and believable.

I felt like this story would be great to see how a happy family could easily turn upside down. Of how Rose would have to try and move on. Also what Queen Tatiana and the Ivashkov family would do for Rose now that Adrian has died.

I'll be honest, this wasn't how it was suppose to go. Adrian and Rose were going to get a happily ever after but I decieded that this was something I would like to write. Maybe I can try writing another fan fiction about a happily ever after next time.

Let me know what you think of how the story turned out.

~Dellisa