Rose POV

"Vladimir, if you're not ready in one minute I swear I will-"

"Mom!" he exclaims as he comes into my view.

It's too early for this shit. It's too early for anything period. "I'm sorry, Vlad. It's just… early."

He nods in understanding. After all, he has had to live with me for years. He knows I'm not a morning person. I think the entire world knows. "Coffee?"

I nod and we leave. I try not to think about how tired I am or how fucking early it is. Especially after such a shitty night. How many hours of sleep did I get? One? One and a half?

Between getting back to the academy, enrolling Vlad, preparing for a revolution, hiding from Dimitri and now Vlad's early morning trainings… It's starting to take a toll on me. And no one likes a grumpy Rose Hathaway. No one.

I grab a coffee on our way to the gym. Vlad whined and moaned when I told him he couldn't have one. Not that I really cared. "You're at the academy now, kid. Coffee is a privilege. Now, go run laps."

He rolls his eyes at me. "How many?"

"How many do I normally have you run?"

"Like twenty."

"Then go run thirty."

"Yes, ma'am!" He gives me a salute before he runs off.

I laugh before going into the gym. I start sipping my coffee when I hear his voice behind me. "How come he doesn't complain when you tell him to run? All I ever got out of you were swear words."

I roll my eyes at Dimitri as he sits next to me, a stupid western in his hand and his trademark duster on his back. "What are you doing here?"

"You think I'd miss this?"

I shrug. Honestly I didn't even think about if he'd want to be there or not. I nod towards his book. "Is that seriously all you'd do when you sent me off to the track?"

"Not always."

"Then what did you do?" He shrugs and looks, trying to hide his expression. Is that… is he… blushing? He opens his book to avoid me. Or maybe he just really wanted to read his book. Which I doubt because it's just shit. Seriously, it's all the same crap.

Man, I'm a bitch in the morning.

Time passes and I'm bored out of my mind. My coffee is gone and Dimitri is reading his damn book. Why did I tell Vlad to run thirty laps? Right, because I know he would do it. Because I know he will need it.

Ugh.

What can I do?

Today, all I really wanted to cover is sparring. Vlad's been training with me since he was old enough to walk and I don't mean to be gloat or anything, but he's damn freaking awesome. He will be the world's best Guardian one day and it isn't because of what he is or who he is or who his parents are. It's because the boy's determined and unlike me, disciplined. Well, for the most part. He has his days where a little Rose Hathaway seeps through.

Those days are fun. The last time, we-

"Morning Belikov." He pauses, not long enough for an answer, but whatever. "Rose?" I look up to find a rather tired looking Stan Alto standing in front of me. He has fear lurking behind his eyes.

I jump up, landing on my feet, alert and ready. "Stan?"

"We have a… problem." Stan nervously glances towards Dimitri.

I look down at my watch. We've got about two hours before classes start. Hopefully this isn't too big of a problem. My gaze falls upon Dimitri who looks about as alert as I am. "You think you can take care of Vlad?"

"Sure." I can see his curiosity growing and I know he has about forty questions, but like usual, he doesn't ask them.

I sigh. I really don't want to leave. It's Vlad's first practice in this gym. I won't be able to send him off for his first day of school. And dammit I probably won't make it to the cafeteria before all the doughnuts are gone. But most importantly, I hate having to leave Dimitri out in the dark. Even though I have been avoiding him, I feel terrible about it.

I love him.

I can't help it.

I just do.

And that's why I can't let him get involved in any of this crap. If one of us goes down, and the probability of that happening is very high, then we all go down. This way he at least has a chance of surviving. They both will.

And that's all I care about.

I crouch down and whisper, "Thank you."

And he gives me a true, genuine Belikov smile. The smile that's usually only reserved for me. The smile that I have missed so much over the last sixteen years. He whispers back, "You're welcome."

I can't stop the stupid grin that forces its way onto my face. I lean forward, meaning to kiss his cheek, but Dimitri had other plans. He turns his head, meeting his lips with mine.

Oh God.

I want nothing more than to just stay here, like this forever, but I suddenly remember Alto's presence. And that's just gross. I pull away from Dimitri, part of me yelling to stay and another part of me yelling to run away. I turn away from Dimitri and leave without a second glance, Alto close behind me.

"Is that normally what you'd do during your trainings?" he asks as we enter the dimming light of the human day ending.

I stick up my middle finger and tell him to fuck off. Then I remember the purpose of leaving the gym. "What's the problem?" He hesitates as if trying to predict what my reaction will be. I stop in my tracks, cross my arms and put on my scariest, most serious Guardian face. "Spit it out, Alto. I don't have all fucking day."

He sighs. "It's your mother. She's been arrested for treason."

A/N My next update will be in two weeks. Next weekend I have our closing performance for Whinnie-the-Pooh and then I leave for a scholarship competition [they're giving out 20 full rides and other BIG scholarships] so I won't have time to write anything.

Also, I know I just posted a new story, but I posted another one. I don't know how well I'll be able to handle three current stories, but I'm going to give it a go. If you want to check it out you can go to my profile or just search through the stories [look for the old nun doing jazz hands]. It's called In Sickness and in Health.

You are awesome!