Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Yeah I know. How many people were thinking about hunting me down? But I have my reasons!!! Like I was grounded for most of the time I've been gone. I only got ungrounded because I got a job! Oh and I just want to let you guys know I got off at eight tonight and then found out my dad was in a car accident. Don't worry! He's fine, though he has this huge, I mean majorly huge bump on his head. I mean you can see if from halfway across the room. But everything is fine. And I have to work the next two nights so yeah...just read this chapter already.

25

Oh hell no, hell no, hell no, hell no, hell no, hell no!

I hadn't meant to get in to Lissa's mind. It was slightly harder when I let my guard down. And the only time I ever let my guard down was when I was asleep.

And her stupid idiotic plan was not going to happen. Nope, not in a million years.

I ripped the blankets off of me and stormed towards her room. I kicked the slightly ajar door open.

"Hell no," I snarled at her. She was propped up on pillows reading a magazine. She looked up at me innocently.

"Hell no, hell no, hell no, hell no!"

Her brow furrowed, "What is your problem?" she asked. A hint of a smile was tugging at her lips and she was desperately trying to shield her thoughts.

"I know what you're planning and I'm going to tell you again, hell no!"

Lissa smiled timidly, "Rose I think you're overreacting just a bit."

I leaned up against the doorjamb, "No actually I think I'm handling this quite well. You're still alive, nothing's broken, yep quite well."

Lissa rolled her eyes and a thought broke loose in her head.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" I said running my hands through my hair. "I can't do something like that! I'm a Guardian now! I just became a Guardian. I can't go back to doing that kind of stuff two days after I was instated!"

"But Rose you don't go on duty till we leave. So technically you're on vacation! You can do anything and I think this is something you should surely do! Just think about that image I know you saw. Think of Dimitri's face!"

I turned away from her, "Lissa please, I'm already going to be watched like a hawk. I can't do something like this!"

"Rose this is not just for you! It's for the both of us. I mean come on the Queen can't cancel this. She actually is the one who gave me permission."

My stomach felt like it was doing flip flops. The Queen gave permission for this torture.

I sighed and Lissa seemed to think she'd won.

"I'm not wearing that dress."

Lissa smiled, "Oh yes you will."

I glared at her, "What are you going to make me?"

Her smile turned a bit evilly, "You know I could.'

I sneered at her, "No you couldn't, even if you and Adrian used your powers together you couldn't make me lift my finger."

Her eyes narrowed and I could feel her start to concentrate, she was trying to prove me wrong.

I leaned back against the wall and waited.

Lissa's eyes scrunched together and her face turned comical.

"I told you so," I said turning around. I stalked back to my room and wrenched open the little closet. Just like I had seen in her mind there was a white garment bag hanging there. I wrinkled my nose and slammed the closet door. I grabbed some clothes and went to the bathroom slamming both my bedroom and the bathroom door as I went.

I took a quick shower and then looked over my bruises. Or at least the skin that used to be bruised. My skin was absolutely flawless. If I hadn't been pissed I probably would have found something interesting in the fact that I was no longer hurt.

But I was pissed so I got dressed dried my hair opened the door to see Lissa with Christian on the couch. I scowled at them as I went to the little laundry room and threw my clothes in to the dirty clothes hamper.

I stalked back to stand in front of the happy couple. Eddie was in the corner of the room and he was watching me warily.

I glanced at him, "I won't hurt them."

He nodded slightly his eyes were still glued to me.

"I have absolutely no idea why you are doing this to me Lissa but I'll go along with it if I can leave this so called 'party' early."

Lissa looked at me quizzically, "Why do you want to leave early?"

I glanced away from her piercing green eyes, "I have some business to take care of."

I felt the questions surface in her mind but she didn't ask any. Surprisingly they all consisted of me and Dimitri. I would have to talk to her about that later.

"Where are you going?" she asked suddenly.

I glanced at her and then towards Eddie.

"I um need to go have a talk with someone," I managed to stutter out.

Christian arched an eyebrow, "So I'm guessing you are going to go find Dimitri and 'talk' with him?" His smile was to much for me.

I glared at him, "Yes I have to go punch him in the face because I didn't get to throw any in his direction last night. But if you're volunteering to take his place I'm completely okay with that. I mean sure it won't be the same but I'll live, you on the other hand…well there's at least a twenty eighty chance."

His smile vanished and Lissa glared at me. Eddie's expression never faltered but I could see the hint of a smile.

I turned to him, "Eddie can you watch these two why I'm out?"

He nodded, "Sure thing Rose. Nothing will happen to Lissa while I'm here."

I smiled, "Thanks."

He smiled and I noticed the slight difference in the expression. Ever since Spokane Eddie's smiles haven't reached his eyes. But now it seems like they're getting closer.

"Lissa do not leave this house in till I get back."

Her eyes narrowed, "But I have to go to the feeders."

I glared at her, "If I get as much of a hint at you leaving this house that dress hanging in my closet will find a new home. And I'm thinking it's the garbage disposal."

She actually looked horrified.

Christian looked slightly annoyed, "Why can't she leave, you aren't even supposed to be here."

"Christian!" Lissa snarled.

She looked furious.

I glanced between the two. Then I found the thought in Lissa's head.

I didn't even wait for them to say anything more. I went straight for the front door and took off towards Dimitri's room. I ran the whole way, not stopping for any of the curious looks I was getting.

I ran straight past a few people, some even called out at me but I wasn't stopping. I ran up to Dimitri's door and threw the door open. He was in his chair reading one of his Western Novels.

I glared at him and slammed the door behind me. I seemed to be slamming a lot of things today.

"Roza?" he asked setting his book down on the arm of the worn leather chair.

I glared at him and crossed my arms.

"What happened?" he asked walking to stand in front of me.

I didn't say anything but continued to glare.

He sighed, "What is it. Is it your mother or is it the not being with Lissa thing right now?"

"Both," I snarled.

He ran his hand through his perfect hair. Usually it was pulled back in a ponytail but tonight it was hanging loose. I bit the edge of my cheek, I was not getting distracted.

"I'm sorry, but I was going to tell you."

I glared, "What were you going to tell me? That supposedly I'm not allowed to stay with Lissa for the next few days or that you're sorry for not sticking up for me in front of Janine? Or not even coming to see if I actually got to Lissa's okay?"

He let out the breath he must have been holding.

"Roza you and your mother need to work things out. I can't help you with that. It's between you and her."

"That's not answering the question," I snapped.

He looked at me, "You asked several questions."

"And you failed to answer all of them."

I stepped closer to him. He stared down at me.

"I'm sorry Roza, I thought you wanted to be alone."

Damn he caught me.

He seemed to realize it too, he looked a little smug.

"That's beside the point," I said moving past him and taking his seat.

He turned so he could still face me.

"Let's start with Janine."

He narrowed his eyes, "I still think you and your mother should take care of this."

I glared, "She is not my mother."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "She will always be your mother, words won't change that."

I looked away, "If they could I would have changed it a long time ago."

He sighed and went and sat on his bed, "Rose I'm sorry you don't get along with your mother…."

"Stop right there," I said cutting him off. "Janine Hathaway might have given birth to me but she did not raise me and she treats me like I'm an immature child, she is not my mother."

"She is and you can't change that, she did what most Guardian's do, tons of other kids had the same upbringing and they still consider their mothers their mothers."

I glared at him, "You're forgetting that most of those 'kids' got visited by their mothers. Before Lissa and I ran away I maybe saw Janine less than ten times." I didn't let him have a chance to interrupt me. "You on the other hand had a mother, and a loving mother I might add."

"Yeah I grew up with a mother and I love her. But I also grew up in a house where my so called father visited along with others every few weeks."

I blanched. Janine had thrown that in both of our faces last night.

"I was going to tell you about the Lissa thing last night but you and your mother's confrontation halted the action. The deal was that since you have been under constant attacks for the past weeks that you get a vacation before you start your duty. You are expected to take this vacation so you are not allowed to stay with Lissa at the moment. But it's only for a few days."

I glared at him, "That is absolutely insane! Especially after what happened! We still don't know who tried to kill Lissa. We need to be focused on that."

His face turned serious, "I know I kept the patrol up last night. No one tried to get anywhere near the house. And to answer another of your questions, I knew you were safe because I didn't leave the outside of the house all night."

"But you didn't physically come and see me to prove that."

"I know and I should have, but I thought you needed your space."

I couldn't look at him anymore so I stared at the floor. I heard him get to his feet and walk over to me. His warm hand grasped my shoulder and the other took my chin. He raised my face so I had to look at him.

"I love you Roza and you can beat the shit out of me if you want but that won't change how I feel about you."

Damn him, he knew exactly what to do to get my thoughts off track.

So...yeah that was yeah. Looks like there's going to be a party. Thanks for reading! Review!!!

Oh and did I mention the fact that I'm sorry that it's been so long?