Well hello everyone! Chapter 21 is here! And personally, i love this chapter :) our favorite couple is finally back together again! Yay!

Anyway i hope you guys like it as well! Thank you everyone of you who had reviewed! It literally made my day!

This chapter is for you! Enjoy :D

Chapter 21: You and Me

*Rose's POV*

I woke up in the middle of the night, startled.
My breathing fast and unsteady. Something feels wrong.
I look around the dark room, my eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. I was surprised to find myself in an unfamiliar place. The room was wide with one large, four-poster bed which I am sleeping on. The bed is facing a window, letting the moonlight in.
Where am I?
I started to panic when the memory of last night event came back to me, Abe barging in and saved the day.
Then me getting in the car with Dimitri- Dimitri! The passionate kiss we shared. My heart fluttered inside my chest at the thought of his warm, soft lips on mine.
Still, that didn't answer my question, where am I? And where is Dimitri? What about Abe? Did he join us in the car last night? I couldn't remember.
There are too much questions to keep me from staying in bed. I got up and shiver a bit as my bare feet touch the cold floor.
I walked towards the door but then changed my mind and I went to stand by the window.
The night seems absolutely peaceful and quiet. As if there is no evil lurking out there in the shadows.
I know better. But I also know that it's over. The past and its pain that had been haunting me for so long. Now over.
The house seems so quiet. As if one breath is going to be heard everywhere. Quietly, I lift the window up and slid out on the roof, under the beautiful, starry sky.
The cold wind blows into my face and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The air smells like forests and pine trees. Not too faraway I could hear the stream running from somewhere. I know I should feel relaxed and calmed in a surrounding like this and now that things between me and Dimitri are alright again. I mean the kiss proved that, right? But even if I want to believe it, I can't. I guess having my heart broken so bad had made me more aware of things. I don't want to risk being hurt again. And now I just couldn't shake the feeling that he only kissed me because...well we were emotional last night. For a second I had actually thought I would die. What if he did too and it was just a kiss out of relief?
I took a deep breath- and I caught another scent, the familiar aftershave.
My eyes sprung open at the instant.
"Mind if I join you?" said a husky voice, probably from sleeping.
I shiver as I felt his warm breath on the nape of my neck. "Sure." I said, rubbing my arms. The night suddenly became cold as I realized we have something important to talk about.
"Beautiful..." he whispers besides me.
I nod, "I know, I swear I could hear the wolf howling to the full moon..." I smile and turn to face him- and stop instantly when I realized he was looking at me and not the view.
"Oh..." I blushed and was about to turn away but he grabs my wrist and spun me around.
"Roza..." he says softly, his eyes searching mine. But I just couldn't meet them.
"Roza look at me" he says patiently.
"Where are we?" I asked, changing the subject. Still not meeting his gaze.
He sighs but answers anyway, "Last night after you fell asleep for about twenty minutes, your father came back and he insisted we come home with him. Since it was late and you were hurt, I agreed. He took us to his vacation house-"
"Wait, his vacation house? You mean we are still in Russia?" I asked, remembering Abe once told me he had a vacation house here.
"Yes." Dimitri replies, "You were asleep and well.., I don't think I had that right to decide for you...anymore" he adds sadly.
My breath caught. Is he actually regretting what he did?
"Dimitri-" I start.
"No, Roza. Please let me say this." he interrupted.
At that moment my heart was beating so fast in my chest and I felt as if it would just burst out.
This is the moment I've been waiting for. All the pain and struggles in the past, all for this moment. If you asked me before, I would want to say something meaningful. Something we both will remember until the very end. But now that the moment is actually here I could only nod.
"Roza, look at me please." he pleads.
I did.
Our gazes lock as he start talking. "I'm sorry." he said, his eyes held a painful expression. "For everything. I know you might not forgive me for what I did, and I don't blame you. But you need to know the reason why I did...what I did." he stops, making sure I was really listening. I just stare at him and he continues, "I know no one will ever love me the way you do...did." his eyes hardened in pain, "You went and did everything everyone, and probably you, thought was impossible...for me." he shakes his head, "As soon as I was cured I should be running into your arms. That would be the right thing to do. But no, I went straight to Lissa, gave her all the credit. I can imagine how bad you must felt..." He stops to breathe.
I look away, don't want him to see the pain in my eyes.
"As if that wasn't bad enough, I had to pushed you away...an those painful words I said to you-" he stops once he realized I was avoiding his eyes, "Roza, look at me." he begs.
I shook my head, realized that I'm crying. I'm not going to let him see me like this.
Gently, he touches my chin and lift my face up to face him. He must have seen the tears because he brushed them away from my cheek.
"Roza? Please don't cry. I'm sorry I'm so sorry for the pain I've caused you. When I said those awful words, I didn't mean any of it. You have to believe me on that. I only said them because I thought you would moved on with your life. I was...bad. I don't want to ruin your future. But I just realized that those are just some reasons I wanted myself to believe. The truth is, as hard as it probably sounds, I don't deserve your love, Roza. Not after what I'd done to you when I was-" he stops, unable to say those words. "I'm sorry. I know you might not forgive me for hurting you...but here I am, begging for forgiveness because I need it. I don't think I can live with myself knowing I've hurt you. I really hope one day you could forgive me. It might takes you a day, a week, a month or even years it doesn't matter because I will be right here waiting. And do you know why? Because I love you, Rosemarie Hathaway. Always have and always will." he finished.
And by the time those words left his mouth, I was crying uncontrollably.
"Roza? Rose what's wrong?" Dimitri asked, his voice full with concern.
He probably expected me to run into his arms after he said those words but I couldn't move.
"You shouldn't have pushed me away..." I whisper, "But then I shouldn't have left either... I shouldn't have faked my death or get Oksana to create the charm necklace for me. I shouldn't have pretended to be someone else to be close to you... Because the only thing I get from that is pain. And it's not just myself that was hurt. You, Lissa, Adrian...my dad...everyone. I was selfish and I don't blame you if you hate me. But I have to tell you, Dimitri, for the last few weeks just being with you, even when you thought I was someone else, was the best time of my life." I said and it felt like I've just poured my heart out.
Dimitri was quiet, stunned. Probably trying to take it all in. "What made you changed your mind?" he asked softly.
"You remember that day we went for a lunch with your family?" I asked and he nods, "Well, Yeva saw right through me. We had a little talk and...something she said changed my mind. Changed my heart." I said, looking out the night sky.
Dimitri nods understandingly and I decided to continue, "She told me, 'Sometimes we hurt the people we love because of love' and when I thought it through I knew she was right." I said, looking into his eyes and saw that he, too, agreed with the old woman.
"She also told me that...that even when you said you didn't love me anymore, you were lying. She said you wanted to punished yourself... And that is because you still love me." I whisper.
Dimitri stares out the night sky, "She is right. I blamed myself for what I did to you when I was still a strigoi... I still do."
"But why? I told you for more than hundreds of times that I forgive you!" I exclaimed.

"How could I? After what I did! I don't deserve forgiveness!" He groans in frustration.

I decided that this isn't getting us anywhere so I took a different path instead, "But…? Something tells me that there's something else, what is it?"

Dimitri looks at me, "After thinking that you were gone, I decided that it was not at all worth it. I could have lost you and the last thought you had of me was that I hate you. It kills me to know that, Roza." He shook his head, "It's true what I did to you as a strigoi was unforgivable. But since you already forgave me…I'm going to try very hard to forgive myself…for you, for us." He smiles weakly.

And that did it, I threw my arms around him, "That's what I want to hear." He puts his arm around me and in that moment I wish we could stay like this forever. "Please, please, try to forgive yourself. I hate to see you in pain…" I whisper.

He nods, "I will."

Then he pulls away to look at me, "But if I forgive myself…will you forgive me? Not just for what I did to you as a strigoi…but for everything. For hurting you, for making you ran away, for putting you through so much pain, for letting you down…and for making you lose your faith in me…" he looks so sad I need to comfort him.

"Dimitri, listen to me." I said, "It's true you hurt me…like hell to be honest" I smile, "But I never once lose faith in you. Never." I repeat in a strong voice,

"How could I? When last night you came for me…" I added.

That made him serious once more, "I was so scared, Roza…I thought I was going to lose you. I don't know what I would do—"

"Shh…" I wrap my arms around him. "You don't have to worry anymore. I'm here. You are here. We're here together. That's all that matters." I smile as I said those words and realized how true they are.

He hugs me back and I felt as if I've never been more…whole…in my life. The love of my life has finally returned to me. And even better, he said he loves me—

"I love you, Roza. So much. And I promise I would never leave your side again." He whispers in my ears as if to confirm me.

I smile and I swear the night was suddenly warmer, the stars shone even brighter than before if that's even possible, "I love you too, Dimitri. And never again will I ever let you go."

And we kissed.

The same old electricity passed through us as we made contact. His soft lips feel so…right against mine.

I don't know how long we were just standing there, kissing. But soon we had to break apart to breathe.

Dimitri motioned for me to sit down with him on the roof and I did. He had his strong arms around me and I felt like after a long, tiring, journey…I was finally home.

No one knows what is going to happen tomorrow, but it doesn't matter! I'm not afraid! How could I be when I have my Russian God right here beside me?

My heart did a happy flip inside my chest and I smile. But as perfect as the night is, I feel like I'm missing something, something is tugging me at the back of my head.

Then I know.

"We're going home tomorrow." I said to Dimitri, breaking the peaceful silence.

Dimitri raises his brow at me, and I thought he'd never looked more gorgeous, "Really? And what changed your mind?" he wonders.

"Oh nothing much I just miss this amazing and wonderful guy named Stan Alto!" I smirk.

Dimitri wrinkles his nose, "Hmm…should I be worry?"

I pretend to think, "Yeah…yeah I think you should…worry that I would kick his ass someday soon." I said, knowing he would try to make my life a living hell as soon as I return.

Dimitri smiles and wait—! Is that relief I just saw?

"Don't worry, comrade. You know you're the only one for me." I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and he smiles. "I just miss Lissa…and my friends. Even Christian, for god's sake!" I laugh.

Dimitri pretends to frown, "I should be worry after all. What happened to Rose Hathaway?" he teased.

I grin, we're back together again, joking and teasing on daily basis. Oh! How I miss this! "I missed you." I said, hugging him tightly around his waist.

He gazes into my eyes, his eyes filled with so much love I feel stupid for ever doubt his love for me! "I miss you too." He kisses my forehead lightly.

Then I yawned, totally ruining the romantic moment!

Dimitri chuckles, "Someone's sleepy."

I yawned again, "Yeah, I just can't wait to get back into my bed, that is, if you come with me." I wiggle my eye brows.

He laughs, "Yeah, as if I would rather be somewhere else. I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

"Mmhh…I think I'm cool with that." I nod. "In fact, I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good."

I stood up and together we walked hand in hand back to my room—well, more like my window.

I almost laughed out loud when we passed Abe's room (How come I didn't notice it before?) and saw him smiling in his sleep like a little boy. Hmm…I bet he's thinking of my mom! I shiver at the thought of that.

Soon I was lying in Dimitri's arm, more than ready to sleep. My life is perfect now and in less than a day, I would be back with my friends! God, I miss Lissa! No matter what happened between us in the past, she means to me more than any other people in the world, aside from Dimitri of course. We all make mistakes, and I'm more than ready to forgive her. In fact, I already did! My life wouldn't be…well let's just say I wouldn't be Rose Hathaway without my soul-sister!

My eye lids started to close when Dimitri whisper quietly to me, "Do you know what Yeva said to me that day?" he asked,

"Mmhh…"

"She said you never really left me and that I didn't have to look too far…" he strokes my hair. "She was right…" his voice was so soft I might have imagined it.

But it made me happy either way.

Soon sleep was winning me over. Lying in Dimitri's arms like this and listening to the rhythm of our heartbeats, I knew it was going to be the best sleep I've ever had!

Aww! Sweet! :)

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Next chapter they are returning to the academy! I'm really looking forward to that! I miss Adrain! 3

Well thank you for reading and please press that little 'review' button down there and REVIEW! ;)

I'll update soon!

xxx Prim