Thanks for the reviews guys! Love hearing from ya'll, I will tell you that yes Abe makes an appearance, but remember I have NO idea how long this is going to end up being. I got material in my head that makes up about 20 more chapters, so I'm going to have to start making these chapters longer... enjoy!

Chapter 21

"Rose, why did you leave the Court?" Janine asked and I flinched, I hadn't really wanted to explain this.

"I got into a confrontation with Guardian Aden and I needed to cool off. The Court felt too crowded so I went for a walk outside the wards. I hadn't gotten far when I stumbled upon two Strigoi, having no weapon I fought them and decapitated them with my bare hands. I know I made a huge mistake by leaving the protection of the wards without a stake but I... I wasn't thinking clearly." I explained, finishing lamely. But it was the only way I could explain that day, I hadn't been thinking at all truth-be-told and it was below a novice mistake to make.

Janine nodded, "Yes I know about the Strigoi and the confrontation, but what was it about?"

I looked out the window, "He implied I was a blood whore, so instead of hitting him I walked away."

Janine looked more shocked by the fact I had walked away then than the fact I'd decapitated two Strigoi with my bare hands.

"You seriously walked away without even punching him?" Christian asked, his tone sceptical. I nodded and he let out a breath of disbelieve. "You seriously have changed, and even under that much shadow influence you still walked away? Geez."

"Yeah after five years people tend to change Christian. Well most people anyway." He blinked and then laughed as he realised I had just made fun of him.

I looked up as Oksana and Mark entered the room, they both looked surprised to see me actually home. I stood and approached Oksana, "Oksana, I'm sorry for what I did and said to you. You were right and I shouldn't have acted the way I did."

The whole room went silent in astonishment; you'd think this was the first time I had ever apologized or something... actually... I think it was the first time I had ever apologized in front of them.

Oksana smiled kindly and took my offered hand, "Thank you Rose but it wasn't necessary, I knew that you were under an immense amount of stress and the spirits darkness wouldn't have helped. I am glad that Lissa did manage to heal you and that you two have moved past this."

I smiled in thanks and sat back down, "What?" I asked the room who were all looking at me like I was someone else, "I can be all mature and stuff."

"How come you never say sorry to me?" Christian mock-complained

"Because that would mean I would be lying and lairs don't go to heaven." I spoke like I would to a dim-witted child.

"Yeah, well, neither do murderers." He retorted and I flinched like I had been slapped. I stood up and Christian paled, "Rose, I didn't mean it like that." I left the room in a hurry. It wasn't that I was angry, I was hurt, deeply so and I couldn't let him see that. I stood in the kitchen with my forefinger and thumb pinching the bridge of my nose, my eyes closed, breathing deeply. I heard rather than felt Lissa enter the room, my emotions were too strong for me to feel hers and so I knew she would be able to feel mine.

She put an arm around me, "Rose he didn't mean that. Sometimes his mouth shoots off without his brain."

I took a calming breath, "I know he didn't mean it but I can't help but think it's true. I am a murderer Liss, I have killed people and I can't ever forget it. Whether it's people reminding me or me reminding myself."

"I've requested a replacement Guardian for Aden, and I asked for you." She told me and I turned to her in shock, my arms dropping to my side.

"But I'm not a guardian; the Queen would never allow it."

"You're more than a guardian; you're my best friend and my bond-mate. You also have the largest kill rate of Strigoi amongst all Dhampir, if the Queen doesn't allow you to be my guardian I'm leaving Court and going with you. You promised me five years ago you would take me on your next crazy adventure, I'll let the five year adventure slide because you didn't really have a choice in the matter, but next time I am going to go with you."

I could only stare at her in surprise, the old Lissa; the forceful Lissa was speaking to me. My friend was telling me she would leave Court to come with me, that she would be helping me this time. I was so shocked I actually burst into tears. I had wanted this Lissa since I came back, but been stuck with the selfish and self-centred Lissa the Moroi royals had morphed her into. Apparently her healing me had healed her as well. If Lissa was stunned by my sudden tears she didn't show it, she just pulled me into a tight hug and reassured me. I got a hold of myself quickly and wiped my face with my hand and pulled from Lissa's embrace.

"Don't do that Lissa; I can't have you sacrifice your life here for me. But I guess you could politely ask the Queen for my promise mark." Lissa just smirked at me, getting a kick out of what I had said.

"Who would have thought you would be giving me advice on how to behave around the Queen?" She laughed.

I smiled back, appreciating the irony of the moment. "Five years ago? No one."

I was silent, thinking seriously. If I was allowed to become Lissa's guardian it would mean so much, I still wanted to be her guardian even after all this time.

"Okay Liss. You can ask Queen Tatiana for my guardianship. But it's not necessary for you to get rid of Aden, he is a competent guardian."

"I already applied for reassignment of him. I won't have any guardian who wants to use you. And I have arranged a meeting with the Queen that's in about two hours and since you're awake now, you can come too."

I gaped at her, my mouth wide open.

"Since when did you get so pushy?" I asked, she just smiled.

"Since I figured out it's the most effective way of getting you to do what I want."

I sighed dramatically and exaggerated annoyance as I stomped up the stairs to shower and change for the apparent meeting with the Queen. Lissa just laughed at my theatrics.