I woke up the next morning to Bailey rolling over and snuggling back under the covers. I smiled. I got up and stretched. My neck hurt so much. I'd lied when I said it was just a scratch. I win the bathroom mirror, checking out my battle wound when someone was pounding on my door. I opened it to a Guardian.

"Guardian Hathaway… Lissa needs you in the throne room."

"I need a minute." "No.. She needs you now. There's been another strigoi attack." My heart kicked into over-drive.

"Is Liss okay?" He nodded.

"She's trying to calm the court down. It wasn't too far from here. There were many killed. We're trying to figure out what to do." I nodded. I looked down the hall to see Adrian. "I figured you'd need me." "Thanks so much." I kissed his cheek before running off into my room to change. I ran a brush through my hair, forgetting about make-up. I started running. I busted into the throne room, and through the crowd. I was by the throne where Lissa was standing, trying to calm people down. No one was listening. She was trying, but it wasn't working. I saw Dimitri trying to calm people down too. Everyone was freaking out, and it was so loud. I couldn't pry Liss away to ask her what exactly was going on, so I did what I knew best. As loud as I could possibly get, I screamed: "Hey… Shut the hell up and calm down." The entire room went silent. I smiled. "Thank you. Now.. Your queen would like to talk." I said. She nodded.

"Thanks Rose." I caught Dimitri's eye to see he was smiling. I smiled a little as I waited on Lissa.

"The strigoi attacks are getting closer and closer, and I know that something has to be done. I can't have everyone running around like crazy though. I need everyone to calm down, and take a deep breath." She did too. It looked like she needed it. She pushed her hair back, and started to speak again.

"I want everyone who isn't a guardian to go back to their rooms. We've got security heavily staffed right now, and we'll be adding more. There's nothing to worry about right now. We're going to figure everything out, and let everyone know. Right now… I need every moroi, or dhampir who isn't a guardian out. Please, and Thank you." She said. She plopped down in her throne. I knelt down next to her.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"A little ways down the road, there was a strigoi attack. They killed atleast five or six people, and others are missing. They keep getting closer and closer to court. Rose… what are we going to do? This was not how I planned my first full day as queen to go." I smiled.

"Alright… first I want you to take a deep breath.. Kay?" She did as I asked. I nodded.

"Alright... We're going to figure this out. You've got more guardian staffed outside.. Yes?" She nodded.

"Where and how many?" She reached down and grabbed a paper. On it were the guardian stations and who was at each of them.

"There are three at the gates, four patrolling the back of court, and I have six lining the wards all around the premises. Then I have a few guarding inside. We'll have to switch them out eventually." I nodded.

"It will be a good idea to buddy guardians up. Two guardians together take out more strigoi than one alone. If it comes to that… God forbid." She nodded.

"Okay. I will. Keep everyone occupied. The list of all the guardians is in my office."

"Remember.. Have a time schedule set up where we can switch out." She nodded. The guardian's watched as Lissa walked away.

"Alright everyone. I need you all to stay put. Queen Vasilisa has some things she wants to get straight, so she needs some time. Each guardian is going to have a partner, and you will stick together. Lissa is going to issue each pair a station. We'll all have to guard during the night. We'll switch out at different intervals, but it shouldn't be to bad because the strigoi only come out in the dark." They all nodded.

"Where are the station's going to be at?" One guardian asked.

"The gates, around different places on the premises, and some will be guarding inside court." He nodded. The guardian's started talking amongst themselves. I ran a hand through my hair and groaned. I walked over to the far wall and sat down. I sat there with my eyes closed for a few seconds, until I heard footsteps. I opened my eyes to look up into a pair of beautiful brown once, much like my daughters.

"You okay?" I nodded.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Thanks." I said, sarcastically. He chuckled.

"You know that's not what I meant. You're always beautiful." Hearing him say that sent a chill up my spine. I hadn't heard him say anything like that in a long time. I smiled.

"Thanks." I muttered. Liss walked out, and I stood up. Dimitri walked to stand with the other guardians while I walked to Lissa's side. She smiled.

"Alright… I've got this figured out." She started calling out names of guardian's and their partners. Then she'd tell them where they would be stationed and when. She came to my name, and I swear I almost passed out cold on the floor.

"Rose Hathaway… You'll be with Dimitri Belikov. You'll be around the back part of the premises. After I thought about it, I realized that is the darkest part of the premises and no one ever goes back there. Strigoi are more likely to sneak in that way. I need my best fighters there." I was still staring at her, having trouble picking my jaw up off the floor. I could almost see the smugness on her face.

"You two will start tomorrow. I've got two out there now. We should be okay.. For now. Anyone who wants to volunteer to do a walk-about at random intervals and check on things can. We need all the eyes we can get. Go ahead and head out." She said. Guardian's started filing out. I still hadn't managed to pick my jaw up off the floor. Once the throne room was empty, Lissa turned to me."What the fuck is the matter with you?" I demanded. She looked up at me.

"Rose… I explained. That is the easiest place for them to sneak in. I need my best fighters and those are you." I shook my head.

"That's not the only reason you put us together and you know it. Don't give me that shit." She sighed.

"I know. It isn't, but my first reason stands. Rose… you two are the best fighters, and your even better when your together. You know that. Its actually a compliment if you ask me." I sighed.

"Lissa, us being together isn't a good idea. I don't want to be around him."

"I'm your queen, and you're my guardian. You'll do what I say Rose. You know this is right. You and him working together can save this entire place." I sighed.

"Whatever Lissa."

"Rose-" I cut her off as I turned my back and walked away.

"I'll do it. I wont like it, but I will." I walked out of the throne room and into the hallway. Dimitri was standing on the wall outside, waiting for me.

"Rose… I know that you-" I cut him off.

"Its fine. Lissa is my queen, and I'm her guardian. I'll do whatever I have to, too keep her and my daughter safe... Even if that means working with you." He stiffened at the word daughter. I couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out. I'd always taken Dimitri for such a smart guy, but he was clueless.

"Okay. I'll meet you at the back doors at seven thirty tomorrow." I nodded.

"Okay." I said. I locked eyes with his and couldn't pull away. I was lost in them. So many memories came back to me when we were like this. All I could remember was us back at St. Vladimirs together, falling in love. Then the realization hit me, and it was like a cold bucket of water. He left you. He didn't want you anymore. I turned my back and walked away. I went back upstairs and to my room. Bailey was sitting on the couch in Adrian's lap, talking to him. She almost fell out of his lap trying to jump down and run to me.

"Mommy… where have you been?" She said, wrapping her little arms around my waist.

"I was with Auntie Lissa, doing guardian stuff. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up baby." She nodded. Adrian looked at me.

"Is everything okay?" I shrugged.

"I guess."

"What do you mean… you guess?"

"A bunch of people died down the road. Strigoi attack. The court is on alert. Dimitri and I are partnered up to guard the back side of courts premises." He raised an eyebrow.

"Lissa's brilliant idea." He chuckled.

"Should have known." I nodded.

"So… I'm afraid I'll be needing your babysitting services a little more often, starting tomorrow." He nodded.

"I can do it. Its no problem."

"I hate when you have to work." I smiled.

"That's what you get when you're the guardian of a royal pain in the ass." I said. Adrian chuckled.

"You can go though, so I can spend time with her before things get crazy." He nodded.

"Okay." He walked out. Bailey turned and frowned.

"I'm going to miss you tomorrow momma." I nodded.

"I'll miss you too." I said, sweeping her up into my arms. "Wanna know what we can do?" She smiled deviously.

"What?"

"I bet since everything's so crazy… there's no one at the pool right now." He eyes lit up. I smiled.

"Wanna go swimming?" She nodded. I sat her down and went into her room. We got her dressed into her bathing suit and a little dress over it. I did the same, and pulled my hair up. We walked down to the pool, and smiled as the place was completely empty.

"Told you so." She laughed. I laid the towels I'd brought down, and we both stripped the dresses. I grabbed her hand, and ran around to the deep end. She took my hand and smiled.

"Ready momma?"

"Absolutely." She counted to three and we both jumped in. She giggled as we both came up. I grabbed her in my arms as I swam back towards more shallow water. I laughed as I pushed her hair out of her face. She jumped up onto the side of the pool and left her feet dangling in the water. I stayed in the water, looking up at her.

"Momma?"

"Yeah baby?"

"Whats it like to fight a strigoi?" She asked. I stared up at her.

"Its probably the scariest thing you'll ever do when you get older." She nodded.

"You didn't even look scared when you did it."

"I was too scared for you and Lissa to worry about me." She smiled.

"What if I don't want to be a guardian when I get older?" I smiled.

"You can be whatever you want. You don't have to be a guardian. I wont force you into that." She nodded and smiled.

"I'm glad. I don't know what I want to be yet." I nodded.

"And you don't have to know for a long time." She smiled. She then dove into the water. If I hadn't have been able to read her face, I would have been tackled, but instead.. I grabbed her, catching her mid-jump. She giggled and laughed. Once she was in the water, I spun her around and laughed. I happened to look up and see someone move at the door. They disappeared before I could see who it was. I was tempted to get out and look, but I was having to much fun spending time with my baby girl. We played in the pool for atleast two hours. When Bailey was tired, I helped her out, and dried her off. She was so tired, she was having a hard time standing up straight. I slipped her dress back on, and did the same with me. I picked her up, and carried her out of the pool room, and back towards the Dragomir wing. When I got there, I unlocked the door, and carried her into her room. I very carefully, without waking her, changed her clothes and tucked her in. I went and showered and crawled into bed. Tomorrow… I would have to spend atleast seven hours with Dimitri in the dark night. Happy joy. I balled up in my bed, and closed my eyes. I slipped into a dreamless sleep, happy to give into the exhaustion.