Chapter 25

I am so glad that everyone enjoyed the last chapter. Thank you so much for all your reviews. Please continue.

Richelle Mead owns all VA

"DIMITRI! What the hell do you think you're doing?" I jumped off the bed and across the room.

"Roza, please. I love you. I can't just give up. I had to know if you still had any feelings left for me." He said with his head down.

I was pissed. "Dimitri, I love Adrian. He has my heart. I can't live without him. I'm sorry I have hurt you. I'll always love you. You were the first for me in every way. You will always have a place in my heart, but I am not in love with you anymore. I thought you understood."

"Roza, I just feel like you are it for me. I am sorry I upset you, but I love you and I just don't know how to get over you." I hated hurting him.

"Well, I think the best thing for us is if I return to Court as soon as possible. I will let Alberta know and the two of you can work together this week. After this there is just too much tension. And I think when you get back you need to go back to guarding Lissa. I'll find another guardian for Adrian. You don't need the stress of seeing us together all the time. It's better this way." I was rambling but I knew it was for the best.

"I don't want to be reassigned. I like Adrian, I really do, and I can separate my personal feelings from my job." He pleaded.

"No, I don't want you guarding Adrian. He doesn't need it. He doesn't need you."

"You're not going to tell him, are you?" He actually thought I would lie or keep this from Adrian? The nerve!

"Yes, I am going to tell him. I am not going to keep this from him. Just as if the tables were turned I wouldn't keep it from you. Now, I am going to go speak to Alberta and get a flight home. We are still going to be training and working with the novices together but I think we need some time apart." I opened the door and motioned him out.

"Please, Roza." He reached out and grabbed my hand. I pulled away.

"No. I can't do this. I won't do this. I have told you how I feel and I am asking you to respect it." I said looking at him, hoping he would understand.

"But…" I cut him off.

"ENOUGH! I am trying to be nice here. My feelings have changed. You need to accept that. You need to move on. I want to remain friends and I hope we can, but you need to decide if that's possible. I'll understand if you can't, but that's up to you. I have to go." I walked past him and down the hall.

I couldn't believe this. I thought I had made myself clear when I made my decision. Maybe that's why he volunteered to be Adrian's guardian. To stay close to me. Maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions. Who knows, but I just don't get it. Why would he do this? I need to get home. I walked into Alberta's office. "Alberta, I'm sorry to do this, but something has come up and I need to return to Court as soon as possible. Dimitri, Tasha. And Guardian Hulderman will be staying here. I was hoping you would work with Dimitri this week." I said quickly. I was anxious to get home.

"Of course dear. Is everyone at Court okay?" She sounded really concerned.

"Yes, I just need to get back." I really didn't want to get into the details.

"Well, I was hoping to be able to catch up this week, but I will arrange it. I can get you a flight as early as you would like. I would just need to call Abe." She said.

"Thank you, Alberta."

"Rose, does this have anything to do with Dimitri?" She could always see through me.

"Yes, he tried to kiss me, and I just need to get back to Adrian. I think it's hard on Dimitri that we are here together. I think it best if I leave."

"Alright. I will arrange it. I'll call you in an hour or so and let you know when your flight is."

"Thanks. I am going to my room." I walked out back towards my room.

I got to my room and collapsed on the bed. Tears spilled out of my eyes. How did this happen? I thought we had all gotten past this. I just need to get home. I need to put space between Dimitri and me. Maybe that's what he needs. Some space and time. My phone rang. "Hello?"

"Rose, are you okay?" It was Abe.

"Hi Dad. Yeah, I'm fine. What's up? Is everything okay there?" I asked.

"Yes, I just got off the phone with Alberta and she said you needed to come home but wouldn't tell me anymore." There was a pause. "Your plane leaves in three hours. Can you be ready?"

"Yeah, I'll be ready. Don't worry. I'll tell you all about it when I get home." I said.

"Okay, I'll see you soon. Do you want me to tell Adrian your coming home?"

"No, I'd like to surprise everyone." There was a knock at the door. "Hey Dad, someone's at the door. It's probably Tasha. I'll talk to you when I get there."

"Okay, love you honey."

"Love you too old man." I hung up.

I opened the door and it was Tasha. "Rose, what's going on? Dimitri just told me you're leaving. What happened?" Obviously he hadn't told her the whole story. I invited her in and explained while I packed.

"Why would he do that? You haven't been sending any signals that you think you made the wrong choice. I know he still loves you, but that gives him no right." She was visibly upset.

"I know Tasha. But I just think it's best that I put some distance between us. We really haven't had a lot of space since everything."

"Well, I'm going to miss you. But maybe you're right. Space may be a good thing. Would you like me to ride with you to the plane? I can get Stan do drive us and Jeremy can stay and keep Dimitri company." She offered.

"Sure that sounds good." Tasha set out to get Stan and I would meet her in about forty-five minutes. How did this trip get so out of hand so quickly?

I landed at the airstrip at Court and my father was waiting for me. "Hi Dad. How are things going?" I asked.

"Everything's fine. The question is, how are you? Are you okay?" He did sound concerned. I had called him and told him everything and he knew I was upset. He grabbed my bags and put them in the car. Normally I would have just walked, but we were headed back to his office and it was on the other side of Court.

"I'm fine. Really. Still a little pissed but I'll get over it. I just want to go get some things taken care of and then go to my room and rest." I felt exhausted.

When we got to his office I went in and sat down. "Dad, I want Dimitri reassigned to Lissa. I just don't think it's good for him to be around Adrian and me all the time. Trainings and the trials will be okay. We can handle that. But as far as guarding Adrian, I just don't like it." I sighed. It was hard. Only because Dimitri was the best guardian out there, but I didn't want tension between Adrian and Dimitri when they were supposed to be working together. And Adrian was not going to be happy when I told him.

"Very well. I will leave Pavel on Adrian for now, and I will find someone to replace him soon. Now. Go get cleaned up and surprise your friends. I have arranged for a dinner for you all at La Synd. Be there at 7:15." I nodded, said thank you and headed out the door. La Synd was a fancy restaurant at Court that served Italian food. I loved that place. I got in the car and headed to my room.

Once there, I got in the shower. I had about two hours till I had to be a La Synd. I tried to wash away the stress of the day, and the conversation I would have to have with Adrian. When I emerged from the shower, I still felt like crap. I went to my closet and picked out my floor length, blood red satin sheath gown. It fit me well, not too royal, but not sleazy either. I had left my hair in the braid, so when it dried I took it out and brushed it out into long soft waves. I put a silver and diamond barrette in my hair that was a gift from Adrian. Then to finish off the look I wore my black heels.

I arrived at La Synd at exactly 7:15. I heard my father say, "and here's the guest of honor." as I came around the corner. I walked in and all my friends just stared and smile at me.

Adrian come running up to me, wrapped his arms around my waist, picked me up and spun me around. "Hey baby! Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?" He didn't let me answer before he crashed his lips to mine. Gee, you'd think I had been gone a month the way he was acting, I thought. "I missed you. Sorry." He said as if he could read my mind, and he led me over to the table.

Lissa came up and hugged me. "I already know." She whispered. I took a deep breath. "Tasha called and gave me a heads up. I didn't say anything." I nodded as I went to sit down. Christian just looked at me with, what look was that, it wasn't anything I had seen on his face when his attention was on me. Oh yeah, he seemed happy to see me. Eddie and Mia were asking how it went and why I came home alone.

"I just needed to come back. Too many memories at that school." I was trying to explain without really explaining.

Adrian had a perplexed look on his face as I said that. I leaned over and whispered in his ear. "I'll explain later okay?" And I planted a kiss on his temple.

The dinner went well. We ate, laughed, and had a really good time. Finally it was time to go home. I was dreading it only because I was going to have to tell Adrian what had happened and I wasn't sure how he would react. I gave hugs and said good-bye to my friends and headed out.

"I've missed you Little Dhampir. I know it's only been a little over twenty-four hours, but it feels like so long. And that dress looks hot on you." He said with that wicked smile he gets sometimes.

We got to his apartment and went in and he gave me a lustful kiss. I pulled away and looked into his beautiful green eyes. "Adrian, I need to tell you why I came home early and alone." He looked at me like he was seeing a ghost.

"God, I'm gonna need a drink aren't I?" He said as he walked to the bar he had in his room. He grabbed a bottle of Vodka.

"Pour me one too while you're at it." I said. I sat on the couch and Adrian handed me my drink and sat down beside me, resting his hand on my thigh. I took a sip of my drink. "Mmm. Real Russian Vodka."

"Is there any other kind?" He paused. "Okay, I'm ready. What happened?"

"Dimitri…" I felt him tense. "Let me finish before you say anything okay?" He nodded. "Well, Dimitri tried to kiss me." There was a growl that escaped his lips and he lowered his gaze to the floor. He was angry. I told him the conversation and my reasoning for coming home. "I didn't leave to avoid him because I was afraid. I left because I'm hoping space will make him see I have moved on and that he needs to also." We sat in silence longer than I liked. "Adrian?"

"That bastard. How dare he! He pretends to be my friend just to put the moves on my girlfriend." The floodgates were now open. "He's lucky he's in Montana. I will have his guardian status revoked. He dreams of you, you know. His aura always lights up when you are around. I should have noticed." I could sense some of the Spirit darkness seeping out of him. He seemed to notice this too and took a big gulp of Vodka.

"I'm sorry Adrian. I just didn't want to keep it from you. You can't take away his guardian status. He is one of the best we have. But I have already asked to have him reassigned to Lissa." I took his hand in mine and held it to my heart. " My heart belongs to you. Only you. I love you." I sat my drink down and pulled his face to mine. He kissed me gently and picked me up and carried me into the bedroom.

"Let's see what that dress looks like on my floor, shall we?" he said as he sat me down.

We made love all night long. At times it was pure animalistic need, others it was soft and sensuous. After, I laid in his arms not ever wanting to leave. "I love you Adrian." I said.

"I love you too Little Dhampir." And we both drifted off to sleep.

The day came that Tasha and Dimitri were to return. I was in the gym lifting weights when I heard the doors open. I looked and Dimitri stood there looking at me. I stood, grabbing my towel and began to walk away. He reached out and grabbed my arm. "Roza, wait. I'm sorry. Please?" He asked.

I looked at my watch. "Make it quick. Adrian will be here in fifteen minutes."

"I'm sorry for what I did. I understand why you left. I don't want to lose you as my friend. Please tell me I haven't."

"I…I don't know." Just then the doors opened and Adrian came storming in.

"You son of a bitch." He was nose to nose with Dimitri. "What makes you think you have any right?" he hissed.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"No." I looked at him puzzled and the next thing I knew Adrian pulled his fist back and punched Dimitri right in the nose. "OW!" Adrian yelled and grabbed his hand. Normal pain for Dhampir's or even Human's was about 100 times worse for Moroi.

It didn't move Dimitri, but there was a trickle of blood running down Dimitri's lip. Adrian had gotten him good, I'll give him that.

"Adrian!" I ran over to him. Dimitri reached his hand down as if to help. "Don't touch him. GO. NOW." I hissed at Dimitri.

I hope you liked this chapter. I know there isn't a lot going on in it, but I thought it turned out good. Let me know what you think of it. Thank you for all your comments. They mean a lot to me.