*Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead does!*

Dimitri's Point of View

We didn't have a chance to warn her. None of us knew when the queen would make her decision about Rose and we had been too concerned about her well-being to bring it up.

Now, we wouldn't have the chance. She would be completely blind-sided.

We had been standing in the hallway outside one of the guest bedrooms at the royal court. Rose had been put there so that she would be comfortable while she healed. When the queen showed up, she came accompanied by a single guardian. "I will see Rosemarie Hathaway now," she said to us. It wasn't a request, more like a statement. She was letting us know that she had made her decision and she was going to tell Rose it.

We filed into the room before the queen did. Rose was talking to her brothers and looked over at us surprised when she saw us.

I almost smiled when I saw her youngest brother cuddled into her side. He was tiny for an eight year old. He looked about six. I couldn't remember what his name was. Rose hadn't really talked about her family much, but when she had, she had mentioned the special relationship she had with her youngest brother.

"Everything okay?" Rose asked us worriedly. I couldn't answer. There was nothing I could say to prepare her for the queen.

The guardian that had accompanied the queen to the room Rose was in, stepped forward. "The queen is here," he said. He stepped aside to let the queen through.

The queen took a couple of steps forward. "You may leave," she said. Her words made it sound like an option, but her tone betrayed no doubt. This was an order, not a request. None of us left.

"Maybe I did not make myself clear," she said. Her voice was entirely neutral. "I need to speak with Ms. Hathaway. Alone."

Rose looked at her surprised, but a determined look came across her face. "Dimitri will stay," she said, looking right at the queen. Rose kept her face blank and didn't even waver under the queen's intense stare.

The queen and Rose seemed to have some kind of staring contest before the queen relented. "Very well. Guardian Belikov will stay," she agreed.

I don't think I was the only one staring at the queen shocked. She had just agreed to something Rose requested. It gave me hope that perhaps she bore good news.

Rose shifted slightly. "Charlie, you're going to leave for a little bit. You'll be able to come right back in once Queen Tatiana leaves," she told him seriously.

"No!" He whined into her side. "I just got my sister back."

I wasn't entirely surprised by his behavior. He had arrived just the day before and he hadn't gotten a whole lot of sleep. Combine that with his young age and he was a temper tantrum, waiting to happen. Rose seemed to realize this.

"Do you know what Charlie? If you don't leave, Lissa can't take you to go get ice cream," she said to him. As if Rose had sent Lissa a psychic message, Lissa walked towards Charlie.

Charlie immediately perked up. "Ice cream?" He asked hopefully, looking at Lissa.

Lissa smiled down at him. "Yes," she said eagerly. "You can even get gummy bears as a topping." Charlie jumped up and took Lissa's hand. I got the feeling that they had done this before.

"Bye Rosie," Charlie said softly.

"Bye Charlie," Rose whispered sadly. I could see that she didn't want him to leave either. she didn't take her eyes off of him until he was out the door. I had never seen Rose act like this around a kid before. It was actually kind of sweet.

Christian looked at Rose then looked back at Charlie. I thought I heard him mutter something about double standards before he followed Lissa out of the room. Rose's brothers followed. I hadn't really had the chance to talk to them yet, but I had a feeling that one of those 'if you hurt my sister' speeches might be coming my way, judging by the looks they gave me.

Once only Rose, the queen, and I remained, I walked closer to Rose and took a seat in the chair by Rose's bed.

"Ms. Hathaway," Tatiana said, turning to Rose. "You realize impersonation is a great offense in our world. You could be locked in a moroi prison for impersonating a man and deception of officials. For sixteen months, you have kept up this ruse, fooling some of the most prominent guardians. I cannot ignore the infractions you have committed."

Rose looked at the ground. "I understand," she said sadly. I was impressed by how calm she was acting. I would have thought she would be screaming insults at the queen. "I just need you to understand. I'm not like other dhampirs girls. I've never wanted the future where I'm married off to some moroi and I spend my life bending to his will and having his children. I know that's not what I was meant to do. I am just as fast as my classmates, just as strong. I work just as hard. Why should my gender mean I cannot fight?"

"I have long since believed that no moroi would feel safe in the hands of a female guardian. I certainly knew that I would never feel that way. Scientific studies have led me to believe that men are faster and stronger than women, which would make them the optimum guardians. Then there was the downfall that if a female is a guardian, she cannot produce more dhampirs to replenish the dying guardians," Tatiana explained. She had a far off look in her eyes.

"But–" Rose started to say.

"However," Tatiana said loudly, cutting Rose off. "Recent events are being taken into consideration. You have killed more strigoi than most of my personal guardians have killed in their lifetimes. One's ability is not just measured by the amount of strigoi someone has killed, but by their willingness to protect a moroi, even at the cost of their lives. You had every reason to hate me, every reason to allow Tasha Ozera to shoot me; however, you didn't. You risked your life and your secret for me. It is for that reason that I have made my decision. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong."

Rose's jaw dropped as she considered the queen's words. "You mean… You're going to let me become a guardian?" She asked hopefully.

Tatiana almost smiled. "I am," she agreed. The amusement faded from her eyes and she was back to business. "Until this point, only your brothers and your friends, as well as many guardians are aware that you are a female. I am not going to make any official announcement, but you no longer have to hide who you are. It is up to you whether or not you reveal or explain to people who you are. At graduation, you will be introduced as the first female to ever become a guardian."

"Thank you," Rose whispered. "You have no idea what this means to me."

"Actually Ms. Hathaway, I believe I do," Tatiana corrected her. She turned to look at me. "Guardian Belikov. From here on out, you are no longer employed by St. Vladimir's Academy." Rose's eyes widened in horror. But before she had a chance to express her disdain, the queen continued. "Until the end of this school year, you will be the temporary guardian of Jillian Mastrano Dragomir. At the end of the year, Jillian will officially be moved to royal court in Pennsylvania. That is where she will finish her studies. She will also be assigned two permanent guardians when she moves to court. You will not be one of them."

"You can't do that!" Rose said outraged. "You can't fire Dimitri. He has done nothing wrong! He taught me everything I know. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have the skills to protect moroi that I have. He's the best guardian you have in this place and you don't even realize it."

Tatiana waited patiently for Rose to finish shouting before she continued. "This may surprise you Ms. Hathaway that I do indeed realize Guardian Belikov's contribution as a guardian. And I am also aware of his desire not to guard a single moroi. That is why I felt a permanent position at Court would be an excellent opportunity for him, if he chooses to accept it," Tatiana said, her eyes flashing dangerously. I nearly gasped. I had never envisioned working at court. That was my dream job, but I hadn't even been considered. It was after I had been rejected there that I sent out applications to a dozen schools in America. Tatiana turned back to me. "You would be working under Guardian Hans Croft. In the event of his passing, you would take over as Head Guardian."

My jaw dropped. I was only twenty-four. This position was granted to men that were usually much, much older than me and much more experienced.

I only took a moment to deliberate. I knew what my decision would be. It's what would be best for both me and Rose. "I accept," I said happily. I looked at Rose and I knew she supported my decision whole heartedly. I was so excited to begin this next chapter of my life, hopefully one that isn't as stressful as the last one. Knowing Rose though, I doubt it.

I watched Rose as she sat back and nodded at the queen. A faint smile crossed her lips after the queen had left. "Well, I'm glad that's over with," Rose said, letting out a deep breath.

I chuckled. "Oh you're probably going to miss it," I teased her. "You'll have no reason to fight with the queen again."

Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm ready for a nice quiet life," she told me seriously.

"You don't mean that," I told her confidently.

"What makes you say that?" She challenged.

"You wouldn't be Rose Hathaway if you did," I told her with a grin. And it was true. If there was anything that I had learned from her, it was that dome of the best things in life have to be fought for.

This was the last chapter. There is only the epilogue left. Let me know what you thought.