There will be one more chapter after this, then I will start working on the sequel. (I think I spelled that wrong, but I have no idea right now. I think my brain might be nothing but mush right now.)

Disclaimer : I do not own VA or any of the characters

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Enjoy!

Abe POV

Janine and I were getting ready to go out for lunch when there was a frantic knocking on my door. I opened it to reveal a distraught Lissa and Adrian, who was carrying my unconscious daughter.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"Kirova is here for Lissa. My aunt said she will be here soon. We need to call Belikov, and Rose passed out from spirit darkness." Adrian replied, trying to keep a calm facade. Lissa just stood there quietly with tears forming in her eyes.

"Tell Janine that I will be back. I'm calling Belikov now." I told them after I helped Adrian lay Rose down on my couch. I quickly dialed Belikov's number, and brought the phone to my ear as I walked out of my apartment.

"Belikov, get to my place. Now. Rose is unconscious, and the academy is here after the Princess. I'm going to find the Queen."

I only stayed on the phone long enough to make sure he heard me before I hung up and made my way towards the Queen's meeting room. She was supposed to be helping me by pulling the princess from the academy. Yet, it seems that that hasn't happened, so I'm going to get an explanation. If she screwed me over, old friend or not, I'll have her stripped of her title as monarch. Lying to me is one thing, but lying to and hurting my daughter or her friend is another. When you mess with my little girl, the wrath of Zmey won't be merciful.

Dimitri POV

Abe called me, and told me that Rose was unconscious in his room. He also said something about Lissa and the academy, but I didn't really hear it. As soon as I told him that I was on my way, he hung up. I had to get to Roza.

I arrived at Abe's room in less than 3 minutes. I rushed in, not knowing what to expect.

Everything was quiet, and the only two people in the room was Roza, who was unconscious on the couch, and Adrian, who was staring at Roza as if he was studying her. He glanced back at me momentarily before turning his attention back to Rose.

"Wow." He said. "This girl is just full of surprises."

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious. He turned his attention back to me, but it seemed as though he was studying the air around me.

"You're in love with her." He stated.

Immediately, I began denying it. Sure, I had feelings for Rose. I cared about her, but I don't love her. I'm not in love with her. Am I?

"What?" That's all I could force out. My mind was spinning.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you were still in denial of your true feelings for her. She feels the same way about you, but she is definitely still denying it. She's afraid to get close to anyone who isn't Lissa. Even then, she has secrets that she doesn't share with Lissa despite their bond."

I was shocked into silence. Surely Rose hasn't confided in him. How did he know all of this, though, if she hasn't?

"How... how do you know?" I asked, jealousy coursing through me at the thought of Rose trusting him.

"I'm like Lissa; a spirit user. I can read auras and sometimes thoughts." He replied coolly. "Now, come over here. I have a theory."

I walked towards him to where he was standing near Roza.

"Touch her." He commanded.

"What?"

"Like, hold her hand. Talk to her. She pulled too much spirit darkness from Lissa, and it caused her to pass out. The moment you walked in, some of the darkness disappeared from her aura. It's almost like, even unconscious, she knew that you were here, and she is drawing strength from you to get rid of the darkness." He explained.

I dropped down to my knees beside the couch, and took one of Rose's hands in my own. Using my free hand, I brushed some of her hair out of her face. Her hair felt like silk between my fingers. I started murmuring to her in Russian: asking her to wake up for me because I cared about her.

I went back to thinking about what Adrian said about me being in love with her, and I realized that he was right. I had asked myself multiple times what Roza was doing to me, and now I know: she was making me fall in love with her. Adrian also said that she felt the same way, even though she is in denial, and may not realize it.

I changed the words I was using to talk to Roza, and I finally admitted out loud that I loved her, even if it was in Russian, and no one in the room understood it. At least, I thought no one would understand it. I didn't notice that Lissa and Rose's mother had joined us until Rose's mother spoke.

"Guardian Belikov, may I have a word with you?" She asked politely. When I looked back at her, she looked angry. I didn't have a chance to reply, though, because Adrian spoke up.

"He needs to stay with Rose for a while. He's somehow giving her enough strength for her to be able to push away the darkness. She should wake up soon as long as he stays close to her."

"Why can't Lissa stay with her?" Rose's mother snapped.

"Rose is taking darkness away from Lissa, and until Rose wakes up, it's best if Lissa keeps her distance." Adrian replied as if it was common knowledge.

"What about you? Why can't you start with her while I speak to guardian Belikov?" She asked, still angry.

"Guardian Belikov is the only person who seems to be able to help her fight the darkness. The moment he walked in the door and started talking, her aura started to clear. I'm not saying that you can't talk to him, just not right now." Adrian replied. Rose's mother then started speaking Russian. It was broken, and hardly conversational, but I understood her nonetheless.

"You love my daughter?" She asked. I nodded then replied slowly so that hopefully she would understand.

"I love your daughter with all of my heart. I tried to stay away from her and just do my job, but she wouldn't let me." I said. When she didn't reply, I switched to English.

"Did you understand everything that I said?" I asked carefully.

"Yes. I think so. We will talk later. I have questions, and I want to ask them in English so I can be sure of your answers before I speak to Ibrahim about it." She replied.

"Rose doesn't know, yet." I told her. She simply nodded and walked out of the room. It was then that I noticed that Lissa had walked out of the room too.

I turned my attention back to Rose, and I ran my fingers through her silky hair while whispering to her in Russian. After a few minutes, she began to stir.

"Comrade? What happened?"

"I'm here Roza. You passed out from pulling too much darkness from Lissa. She's fine. She's in the next room with your mother. We won't let anyone get her." I replied.

Her whole body seemed to relax at my words. I vaguely noticed that Adrian also slipped out of the room, leaving Roza and I completely alone. I leaned in, and pressed my lips against hers. She responded to my kiss eagerly, and pouted when I pulled away.

"Your mother is in the next room. The only reason I risked kissing you now is because you scared me. I was so worried when Abe told me that you were unconscious." I explained.

She sighed in defeat, but didn't answer. Just then, Adrian, Lissa, and Rose's mother walked back into the room. Rose's mother motioned for me to follow her, and I knew this conversation wouldn't be a pleasant one.

Also, I will be starting/posting a new story soon. If you would like to have input on which story you would like me to post, please go check out the very last chapter in my story 'How Could I Forget?'

It is an A/N that contains summaries of the three stories that I plan on writing. You just have the option of telling me which one that you would like to see posted first. You can review (this story or the other one) and let me know, or you can let me know in a pm.