Hi, guys. Sorry I haven't been able to update sooner, but I have been having to take my son back and forth to Children's Hospital. They think he has Crohns Disease. We are going through a very trying time right now, and I havent had much time to write. My son is in pain 24hours a day, 7days a week. I will try to update when I can, but I cant promise anything.

I also have been having trouble with my keyboard. There are a lot of my keys that seem to want to work only when they want to. So if there is an error, it means that I couldn't correct it with spell check. Sorry. I tried.

Much love,

~~~~Carmen

I woke up with a killer hangover. It took me a few minutes to remember where I was exactly. I peered around the fancy bedroom in confusion. After a few blinks, recognition kicked in. Stumbling out of bed - naked, only with my panties on- I shot straight for the shower. Hoping it would help ease this pounding headache. I turned on the knobs, adding a little more heat than was necessary.

I stood under it till the water started running cold. I hurried and washed my hair and body. Grabbing a toothbrush that was still in the wrapper, I scrubbed at my teeth and tongue, trying desperately to get the residual alcohol out of my mouth. Which, by the way, was a very difficult task. No matter how long I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my pallat and tongue, it still felt like I had fur growing in my mouth. Finally, After the fourth try at it, I just gave it up and made due with the good that I had done.

There was a plush white robe with a pink rose stitched on each of the pockets hanging on the back of the door, nice and fluffly. I slipped it on, marveling at the comfort I got from it. There were also a pair of furry pink slippers that was there for the taking. I slipped those on too. Thank the heavens for something comfy.

I padded my way into the kitchenette, almost walking straight into Angeline. She stood there smirking at me, one hand on a slender hip, the other propping her head up with her elbow on the counter. She stood there watching my every move. I had no doubts that she knew that I was in pain, and she was probably reveling in the fact.

Yup. She was. Her face said it all. Amusement dancing over her beautiful features. I just proceeded to ignore her. I knew it was coming. I just knew it.

"Good evening, Mrs. Vodka." She was just enjoying this way too much for her own good.

I gave her a glare as I walked past her. It had no effect what so ever. She just snorted, and chuckled softly. I stumbled to the fridge, grabbing the O.J. and a glass. I poured me a hearty helping. Popping a few aspirins, I chased it with the contents of the glass.

I took a deep breath, turning to face my young friend. Seeing her about to antagonize me, I held up my hand to her. "Don't," I said quietly. "Just don't," I said, holding one hand up to her, voice kind of hoarse. "I have a major headache, and I'm not in the mood. Okay?"

She nodded and didn't say anything right away. She stood there watching me intently. After a few shaky breaths, she started to say something, "Rose, there's someth-" I held up my hand, silencing her, shaking my head -which hurt due to the headache.

"Not right now, Ang. Please." My voice was low but firm, leaving no room for arguement.

"But..." said Angeline. "It's important."

I didn't look at her. "I'm going to get dressed. We'll talk later. Okay?" I didn't wait for a response. I was in a real bitchy mood. True, it wasn't Angeline's fault for my hangover, but I just wanted a little down time before I had to deal with another 'crisis'.

I finished my drink, then went back to my room so I could dress. Once done pulling myself together, I went back in the living room so I could discuss a few things with Ang.

She was sitting on the couch flipping through channels on the TV, feet propped up on the coffee table. She didn't even look up when I came back into the room. I couldn't blame her, not after the way I had behaved and treated her earlier. "Hey," I said, flopping down on the overstuffed couch beside her. I nudged her with my elbow. "Sorry about the attitude earlier." I hated to have any tension between us. It was very, very rarely that her and I would have an arguement. Mostly due to the fact that we agreed on almost everthing. It seemed at times that we were made from the same mold.

Yeah, I thought, wait 'til the folks at court gets a load of a Mini-Rose-Hathaway in their midst. The thought made me chuckle out loud. These people just didnt know what was headed their way.

She quit her channel surfing so she could look at me, one brow quirked, giving me a wide brilliant white toothed grin. "No biggie. I knew what to expect, Rose. This isn't my first rodeo with your hangovers." This was true. Although, she said it in such a way that one would have thought that I would've gotten sloppy drunk every night of the week. Which definately was not in my repatoire.

When she first joined up with me, I had become quite the drinker. Almost, but not quite, as bad as Adrian. Or, well, how he used to be. I was at a low point in my life, trying to drown out my sorrows of losing so many people in my life in a bottom of a glass. No, make that a bottle, or bottles. Which didn't work out so well.

I smiled at her. "You're right, but still. I do owe you and apology. I'm sorry, Ang. Really." I knew that that was as far as she would let me go; she didnt like all that mushy, mushy girl stuff. Like I said before: A Mini Me, I didnt like that crap neither. Changing the subject, I said, "How do you like court?"

She scrunched up her nose. "I haven't seen much besides this room and it's four walls. Maybe you can show me around later?" I seen the hope shining in her eyes.

I shrugged one shoulder, smiling a small smile. "Yeah, maybe later."

Her face grew very serious. "The queen's guards will be here shortly. They came by while you were getting dressed. The queen wants to see you." She put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. "If you want, I'll go with you? You don't have to do this alone, you know."

At the mention of the queen, my body went stiff. She gave me one more shoulder squeeze, then dropped her hands to her lap, folding them together.

"Thanks, Ang, but I have to do this on my own. It's been a long time coming." I got up abruptly, grabbing my cigarettes from the counter. I yanked open the French doors and took a seat in one of the chairs on the balcony. I tapped out a smoke and lit it, trying to ease the tension in my stomach.

I knew I had to face this head on; just like all the other challenges I've had to face in my life. But it still felt good to have a friend that would not abandon me in a time of need. One true friend was worth more than all the money and power in the world to me.

I was halfway through my first cigarette when I heard Angeline come through the doors, joining me on the patio.

"Rose," Angeline said hesitantly, "there's something I have to tell you." I looked her in the eyes. There was something she didn't want to tell me, but she thought I should know. I could tell that by her voice and the look that was shining in her eyes. She took a seat across from me, her eyes scanning over everything but me. She was trying to not catch my gaze.

I nodded my head at her for her to continue. I was mentally preparing myself for the worst. She took a couple of breaths, blinking rapidly. "Um,… I went down to the front desk a couple of times today, and…every time I did...," she finally looked me in the eyes briefly, sympathy rooted in them, "...Dimitri was there."

I didn't say anything, so she continued, "He just sat there, never saying anything, but he watched me like a hawk." That sounded like the Dimitri that I had known. And loved...once upon a time.

At that moment something occured to me: We no longer knew, like knew, knew each other on that deep a level anymore. On any level really. It had been a long time ago, after all.

This was something that I would have to think about. A lot Hell, he may hate me for all I knew. Or simply had moved on to better things. Or a better woman, for that matter. Say, like Nicca, for example. He had a good thing with her, and I'd be damned if I was going to fuck that up for him. But then again, I may not even want him even if he did want me. Bring me back to the big question of: Was-I-still-in-love-with-him factor.

I was not, however, going to play the old Does-he-love-me? Does-he-love-me-not? -game. I was definately not willing to go there. Ever.

"I think he's been waiting on you to come out of the room. I think he wants to talk to you," continued Angeline. Her eyes finally came to rest on a speck of dirt on the table.

I nodded my head, closing my eyes. What ever I was about to say died on my lips when there was a knock on the door. I took a deep breath and stood, casting one more look in Angeline's direction. There was pity written all over her face. She too knew that the guards had finally come to retrieve me, and I honestly think she did want to accompany me to see Lissa; for moral support. But I really didnt want her to. I had to talk to Liss alone. A one-on-one conversation that was just between her and I.

I stomped out my cigarette, and went to answer it. I knew who was on the other side already. I took a deep breath, fully expecting the queen's guards on the other side, only, it wasn't.

It was Adrian.

"Adrian?" My voice was a little unsure. Him showing up at my door had caught me off guard. Totally and completely leaving me baffled.

"Little dhampir," he chuckled, breezing in the door, wrapping me in a tight hug. I was so stunned I was rendered speechless. A very hard feat to accompish with me. But, nontheless, I was incapable of speech.

I was still trying to get past Adrian standing at my door; mouth gaped open, like a fish.

Eventually I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him back. I gave him a gentle squeeze, not knowing what else to do. It was really kind of awkward. But I shoved my apprehensions away, pulling back giving him a winning smile. If anything, Adrian was the worlds best at making you feel welcome -and not so awkward. Well, at least he tried to, anyway.

Finally I disentangled myself from him, and stepped back a few steps.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not meaning it to come out the way it did; demanding. I quickly reiterated, "I mean, like, what are you doing here?"

I gestured for him to come inside. He strolled past me, planting himself on the loveseat. I closed the door just as Angeline came in the French doors. She looked at Adrian, then at me, giving me a questioning look. I shrugged my shoulders, sending the message : I have no idea.

I sat across from Adrian; Ang taking a seat along side of me. I cleared my throat a couple of times, my mind trying to grasping to find some common ground to start off a conversation.

This made him laugh heartily. "Rose. It's just me. Chillax. No worries, Little dhampir. Whose your friend?" He nodded to Angeline, who appeared to be mightily interested in her fingernails.

"This," I said, slinging an arm around her shoulder, "is my great friend Angeline. Ang, this is Adrian. You remember me telling you about him." She nodded, saying hello, then went back to studying her nails.

He raised an eyebrow about my comment. A broad grin slowly spread on his lips. "So, you talk about me. I knew it. Everyone keeps telling me I'm stuck on myself, but apparently everything I say about me is true. I'm fabulous. I knew it." He winked at Angeline when she looked up, causing a crimson blush to creep up her neck all the way to her cheeks.

I scoffed. "Don't flatter your self, playboy. I was just catching her up on my friends at court." I laughed in spite of my self.

"Playboy? I am a one woman man, Rose. Sydney is the love of my life, and I'm lucky she felt sorry for me and told me she would marry me. She is wonderful, you know. She completes me. I couldn't have asked for anything better; aside for present company." He gave me a toothy grin, but we both knew how much he had fallen for Sydney. They were a perfect match.

"Um, Rose, I'm going to take a shower. That is, if you don't need me?" She cast a meaningful look at Adrian.

I brushed her off. "Go ahead. We have a big day planned." She nodded to Adrian and then scurried out of the room. Angeline still wasn't too keen on being here at court. Being around the 'Tainted' -that was what her people back in Virginia had called those from mainstream court life.

Once she was gone, Adrian leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, folding his hands together so he could rest his chin on top of them. A serious expression came across his face; something that I was just not used to seeing from Andrian. Then again, it had been three and a half years since I'd seen him in the flesh. As the saying goes: Anything is possible. Right?

"How are you? There were so many rumors flying around court. Not that I believed all of them, but some gave me pause. Was it true that Victor had turned Strigoi and you killed him?" asked Adrian, honest worry lacing his words.

I just blinked at him. He was never one to drag out a conversation. "Blunt much?" I said. But before he could answer, I nodded my head. "Yes. It's true. He had turned and I killed him. With Nicca's help, of course." I launched into what had happened back in Texas. When I was done, Adrian gave a soft whistle, settling back into the sofa.

"Lucky thing she was there," Adrian said, steepling his hands in front of him.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, and look where luck brought me." I made a grand gesture with my hand, sweeping the room.

Before he could say anything else, a loud siren, or horn, or something that was very loud went off.

Adrian sprang from the couch, rushing to the door abrubtly. I had never seen him like this. This was something that was way out of character for him. He had shot up from his seat so fast that it took me a second to realize that he had even moved.

I caught up with him at the door. "What the hell was that?" I questioned, my voice almost at a yell so I could be heard over the howl of the alarm. I knew it didn't sound good, and I got this pang in my gut that told me it was bad. Something that was horrific.

He looked at me with panic in his eyes. "Lockdown. Something very, very bad is going on, and that is the signal that the queen has been compromised. All hands on deck. I have to get to my post."

I furrowed my brow. "Compromised how? What post?" He ignored my question. But he did give me a bone to chew on. A bone that he could've kept 'cause I didnt like the flavor, so to speak.

He opened the door and was about to bolt when I grabbed him by the elbow, forcing him to give me some kind of information. "Strigoi, Rose! There are Strigoi at court!" Then he jetted out the door, not looking back.

Thank goodness I was already dressed; shoes and all. I launched after him; silver stake already in hand. I saw him reach for something from his coat. Something that looked like a potion. Wait. Not a potion. A handful of potions. They were in little cyclinder's, no bigger than a firecracker; milky-white liquid inside them. I had no idea what they were for, or what they did, but he clutched them like his life depended on them. It very well may did. Something told me that whatever they were, they weren't to be taken lightly.

And, Lord help me, he had a silver stake of his own! Andrian fighting with a stake!

I was hot on his heels. With my own stake in hand, of course.

And Ang on mine, stake in hand. She had came dashing out of her room the instant she heard the shrieking noise, and was rushing after us. She knew trouble when she heard it. And she was not one to run away from a fight. If anything, she ran toward it.

Hope you like it.

~~~Carmen