A/N: Here's Chapter 14! Hope you like it xxxxx

I'd never see Dimitri Belikov again.

After talking to Alberta and Dimitri, I left the Dhampir dorms and went outside for some air. I sat on the grass and stared up at the sky, which held the beginnings of a sunrise. I sighed, today would be the last day I would spend at the Academy. I had to leave as soon as possible; otherwise, knowing me, I would change my mind and stay with Dimitri. Oh, how I wished I could stay with my soul mate. It was like I was killing a part of myself by saying I was leaving.
Laying back on the grass, I heard the approach of footsteps. Dimitri's training taught me to identify things by their sounds and smells, so I knew by the heaviness of the footsteps and the aroma of a familiar aftershave that Dimitri had arrived.
'Hey Comrade, how's it hanging?' I asked, typical Rose-fashion.
'Don't joke around, Rose, this is serious.' he said, no hint of playfulness in his tone. He didn't join me on the grass, choosing instead to stand just above where my head was. I tilted my head back, subtly, on the grass, looking at him. I studied his composure, his features, his looks. This would be the last time I would see him.
'I know.' I stated, watching as he folded his arms. He opened his mouth as if to say something but thought better of it and closed it again.
'Comrade, don't worry. I'll be safe; I'll be fine. I'll just be somewhere else, that's all.' I sat up, turning around to face him. He raised an eyebrow,
'You're not safe unless you're with me,' he muttered. My jaw dropped and I instantly answered,
'That's bullshit.' I replied simply, bringing my knees up to my chest and hugging them close to my body.
'Excuse me?' he asked, brought out of his reverie and into the real world.
'I survived without you before I met you. When I was with Lissa I was fine. We never got injured.' I stood up to face him.
'You got lucky.' he shrugged.
'And while I was in Russia? I didn't get turned; I didn't die.' the words just came out before I could stop them. It was a touchy subject for him, and I'd just made his healing process all for nothing. He looked at me, shocked for a brief moment, before his guardian mask made an appearance.
'You did get hurt though. You were close to being turned. Very close.' the way he stressed his words made me want to hold him in my arms and apologise so badly, but I knew it would make me stay.
'Your attitude now makes me think you don't really care, Dimitri.' I said, walking past him. His hand shot out and he grabbed my arm tightly. He yanked me back to face him.
Don't ever say that. I'll always care! I'm just annoyed that you're giving up! I thought you wanted to stay with me!' his eyes threatened to spill tears but his guardian mask stayed put.
'I do want to stay but our relationship can never work, Dimitri! I always wanted to grow up to be a guardian! Lissa's guardian! I never thought love would come into it! It's an unplanned factor!' I shouted, trying to free my arm from his grip. He just pulled me close to him, kissing me gently. I returned the kiss, forcing all the emotion I had in me into the embrace and meeting of our lips. If he wouldn't listen to my words, I'd have to talk to him through my only other way of communication.

My kiss.

'Roza, please don't leave… I'd give up being a guardian for you, just don't go….' He whispered in my ear, stroking my cheek with his thumb. His voice sounded so pained, that before I could stop myself, I began to reassure him,

'Don't worry. I won't leave, I promise. I love you, I'm not leaving. Please, don't be sad.' I couldn't stop and I began to kiss away some tears that had escaped his beautiful brown eyes. He smiled joyously and cupped my face, staring into my eyes. The worst thing was that I needed him as much as he needed me. I knew that the only reason I was lying was because I wanted Dimitri all to myself. I couldn't leave him; I'd be heartbroken and upset for the rest of my existence!

'Oh that's great Roza!' he grinned and quick as a flash, he scooped me up into his arms and proceeded to walk back to his room.

Once we arrived there, he began to make us both some tea, as I lay cross-legged on his bed. I drifted my fingers across his bedsheets, taking pleasure in the feel of the soft material gliding through my fingertips. Dimitri came and sat on the side of the bed, handing me a cup of the warm liquid and resting his arm loosely around my waist.

'If something happened to me, what would you do?' I asked, uncertainly. Although I couldn't see his expression from my current position, I could just imagine him frowning and as it was, his grip on me tightened.

'Why would you say that?' I could hear the strain in his voice as he fought for control and tried not to snap at me for asking such a question.

'I just need to know that if I wasn't here…. you would move on…. it's what I want for you….' I said, carefully. He sighed and pushed my hair back, kissing my collarbone,

'Thank you… but I wouldn't be able to move on from you…' he laughed softly into the crook of my neck. I pulled away and, leaving my mug on the floor near the bed, I cupped his face, kissing his lips in soft bursts,

'You have to promise me you'll at least try.' I smiled and he returned it, kissing my cheek.

'You don't need to worry about me. In fact, you don't need to worry about going anywhere. I'll always protect you.' he began to kiss down my neck and my eyes drifted shut. I revelled in his touch and soon the world was forgotten as we lay back, kissing. We never made love but this was better. There were no words, just silence as we whispered one another's names and kissed.

A few hours later, I heard Dimitri fall asleep. His breathing became heavier and his hold on me loosened. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I slipped out of his grasp and stood up, smoothing my clothes. I walked softly to his desk and began to compose a letter to him and a letter to Lissa. I wrote quickly, glad of the vampiric schedule which aided me by giving me sunlight to use as a sight guide. I placed both letters in envelopes, labelling them accordingly. I ran to my room, after kissing Dimitri's forehead softly. I packed a small bag, filling it only with my essentials.

I left the wards, telling the guardians on patrol that I had permission to leave from Alberta. They accepted my excuse and let me go through. Then I ran as fast as I could to the nearby private airport used only by Dhampirs and Moroi.

Goodbye Dimitri, I thought as I boarded my plane. Destination: Russia.

A/N: Sorry for the delays again, please reviewwwww xxxxxxxxx

BelikovsRoza1697