A.N: I'm so sorry guys! It took me forever to post. It won't happen again.

Don't forget to review :)

Steffy2106

Chapter 15:

I was walking in a dark forrest, I didn't know where to go, I looked up to the sky, but it was just as dark, not a star to guide me.I walked a more or less straight line in the dark with my hands in front of me to make sure I would not be hitting a tree.

'Come back please' I heard a voice whisper.

I whirled around. "Is someone here?" I asked as cold sweat starting to get down my back.

'Sage please, let me in, let me bring you back.' I realized the voice was in my head, a voice that I knew perfectly, I voice I learned to love.

"Adrian? Help me, I'm lost." Everything was silent again. "Adrian!" I shouted louder. It was all quiet again.

I saw a rapid flash of light to my right, deeper in the woods. It was so fast I almost thought it was my imagination but I decided that direction was as good as any.

I walked for what seemed to be hours, but nothing was different, I was still in a Forrest and I was still dark.

I was just getting so tired. I was considering crawling by a trunk and just sleep there.

'Please Sage don't give up. I'm afraid I won't ever see your beautiful eyes again. Please let me know that you will stay. I know you are lost somewhere. Come back to me.'

"I'm trying!" I said walking even faster feeling comfort in his voice.

'Stay with me, whatever it takes…Don't let go. Give me a reason to hope Sydney.'

I saw another flash of light coming from in front of me, and there was that conviction deep in my soul that this was my way back to him, I still didn't really remembered how I ended there after being shot.

Shot? My hand automatically when to my stomach but I didn't have any wound. I frowned, I had been shot i knew I did, and I couldn't feel a thing.

Adrian kept whispering sporadically in my head, he kept asking me to let him in, and I had no idea what that meant…As far as I was concerned he was in, in my heart, in my head…everywhere.

I kept seeing the flashes of light too and as small as a hope they were I considered it was better than nothing.

The flashes of light were brighter and lasted longer, it was as I was finding my way…I would be home soon.

The last flash I saw was so blinding that I had to close my eyes.

When I opened my eyes after the flash I was not in a forest but in a bed and my throat was burning with thirst.

"Water" I croaked.

"Oh Sydney!" I heard Jill whimper.

"Jill?"

"Yes, yes it's me." She came to lean above me, and I couldn't help but to feel disappointed to see her instead of Adrian.

"Oh Sydney you scared us, we thought you were lost." She help me up slightly, and she gave me some water.

"How long was I out?" I asked as she helped me down again.

"Two days."

"Two days?" I was so surprised I actually sat on the bed.

Jill nodded. "Adrian didn't leave your side, not for a second but…"

I looked around. "Where is he?"

We finally convinced him to go get some food, he is going to be so mad he was not here.

"He won't be mad."

"He will, he wanted to be the first person you see when you wake up."

I shook my head doing my best to stand up, but I was so sore. "Why was I out so long?"

Jill came to help me. "We don't know. You were barely breathing when Lissa and Sonya healed you but then you simply didn't wake up. Adrian was crazy, shouting there was something they had to mess up somewhere, but it was not it…really. Sonya said you needed a time out."

"A time out for?"

Jill shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm so happy we have you back...Adrian, I don't think he would have survived you being killed."

I was about to reply that it was probably so silly guilt that got into him when she almost jumped on the spot startling me.

"Adrian!" She shouted.

"What?"

"I….he needs to know you are awake he will kill me otherwise."

"Jill I-"

I didn't have time to finish my sentence that she was already storming out of the room, cell phone in hand.

My heart started to pound louder and louder in my chest, I remembered the shot, I remembered what Adrian had said…did he really say that or was it my subconscious mind taking over.

I walked to the mirror and tried to put some order in my crazy hair, I gave up after a couple of minutes realizing that, there was nothing I could do.

When I turned around Adrian was standing, breathless, in the doorway, It was obvious he ran like crazy.

"Hi"

Adrian closed the door and continued to stare at my face.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked self-consciously removing a strand of hair from my face. "I must look terrible."

"No I…" he took a shaky breath. "I just thought I would never see you again, beautiful Sage." He shook his head. "Never ever do that again."

"What? Push you away? What other choice did I have? I didn't think, I just had to save you."

"I watched you die Sydney. You don't know what it's like, seeing the life being dragged out of someone you ….someone you love."

"Love?" I tried, unsure. I thought I heard him tell me that he loved me, but I thought I just wished so hard that my brain made me hear the words I wanted to hear.

Adrian sighed and came up to me, resting his hands on my face. "Yes, I fought, but I lost. You saw in me what I couldn't….what nobody else could see. Sydney don't leave me again, I almost lost you twice in a month I…" His eyes were glistering with tears.

"I won't leave you." As soon as the words escaped my mouth Adrian buried his face in my neck after a few seconds he started to shake slightly, and my neck got wet, he was crying.

I starting to stroke his hair lightly, which seemed to make him, cry even more.

"I'm staying, Adrian, it's your voice….you brought me back." I whispered as he tightened his hold around my waist.

He was really leaning into me so, when I kneeled on the floor, rocking him while he cried.

We stayed like that for a long time, "I love you" I finally whispered.

Adrian moved slowly to meet my eyes. "Next time you want to do anything that might cost your life remember that, remember that you love me and run away from danger."

I smile. "I promise."

Adrian nodded and kissed me softly. "I knew I loved you, I just…I just didn't realize how much I loved you, how much I needed you before I saw you fell…It felt as I was dying with you. I love you Sage."

"I know how you feel, I tried to deny it so much because…because it shouldn't have happened but…." I took a deep breath. "Did you find the shooter?" I asked, changing the subject.

He shook his head negatively, and I could see his jaw clench.

"No but we don't think it's the opposition to Lissa anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"You have been targeted and so have I…How important as we are, we have no impact on who is ruling the Moroi world."

"So who is after us?"

He closed his eyes running his hand in his messy hair. "I don't know yet, but I'll stay with you…I'll keep you safe."

"I don't mind…you staying close to me, I mean." I said, blushing beet red.

Adrian pulled me close. "I'm glad you think so."

I realized that I probably had a terrible breath and got out of his hold.

"I need a shower, you stay here, and I'll take care of you in a minute.

Adrian grinned. "How will you 'take care' of me?"

I flushed again but remained silent.

As soon as I got out of the bathroom after the shower my stomach growled loudly.

"Come on Sage" he said taking my hands, intertwining our fingers together. "There is a lot of food left from the Christmas dinner."

I looked down at our hands, I loved the sensation of his hand in mind but we couldn't…not in public.

I tried to let go of his hand, but he tighten his grip. "No Sage" he shook his head. "It's you and I now. After everything that happened, everything we said…You can't expect me to let go."

"Adrian…I don't want to let go either, but you know we're—"

"I know you are an alchemist and I'm a demon for the ones like you, I get that, and I wouldn't risk your world."

"No Adrian, that's not the way I meant it I—"

He shut me up with a quick kiss. "I know what you meant Sage and what I mean is that I won't force the decision out of you."

"What decision?"

He pulled on my hand. "Its midday, they are all sleeping, and the leftovers are in the kitchen. I might be borderline crazy, but I'm not insane."

I nodded, and Adrian took the direction of the kitchen hiding in corners pretending we were spy, and I loved seeing him playful, I loved it so much I played along.

"See I'm a new James bond he said once we reached the kitchen. 008 is my code."

"I think you are a very sexy James Bond" I said playfully.

"I'm glad you think so" he replied leaning in to kiss me.

"Yes…I'm glad too" said a deep, manly voice.

I could feel Adrian muscles tightened against me, but he still kissed me before slowly turning toward the voice.

"What are you doing here?" Adrian asked coolly still keeping my hand locked in his.

"It's nice to see you too son" said the man so coldly that it made me shiver. "I was looking for a…distraction" he said, and I noticed a blushing dhampir woman in a corner.

Adrian hand tightened painfully around mine. "Sydney, meet my father Nathan Ivashkov".

"Sydney? This is the young person who saved you." He let his eyes linger on our hands. "I know the motive behind it now. Well," he looked up to meet my eyes. "Thanks for saving his life."

"You are welcome." I replied trying to keep my voice from shaking and failing eyed me a minute before turning toward Adrian. "Really Adrian? After the troubled dhampir girl, you are getting with a human alchemist." He shook his head "I never thought I'd say that but I almost regret the previous one. What would your mother say?"

Adrian shrugged dismissively, but I knew better. "How would I know father? It's not like I had a lot of opportunities to see her since she has been locked away for perjury and major case of disgusting cougarism".

"This is not funny Adrian."

"I agree, it's everything BUT funny. It's funny how you dare judge me after all that though."

Adrian his father growled in warning.

"Adrian just let go" I whispered.

"Listen to the girl Adrian. She seems to have some instinct of preservation."

"Why? It's not as you can do anything."

His father eyes turned icy which made me shiver. "Son, you have no idea what I can do."

"At least I know who you can do" Adrian answered jerking his head toward the dhampir girl.

"I'll go now" said his father. "But you better not bring her home" he whispered when he reached us before walking out of the kitchen.

"Adrian?"

He pulled my hand to his lips. "You've got nothing to worry about, we're good Sage."

I nodded and forced a smile, but I knew then that we were not safe…and never would be. As much as Adrian and I wanted it, nobody would ever accept us.