Well... I've finally got to putting this up for you all. It's a rather large chapter, but I couldn't cut it in two...
I hope you like it, and don't forget to review for me... I didn't get many with the last one... Wasn't it any good? :-)

Anyway, Enjoy!
Sandy


Chapter Forty Eight

It All Ends Now.

Our car was in the middle of the other two as we drove, because Liss and I were obviously Sonya's intended targets; my father wanted us protected as much as possible. It started raining not long after we'd left the Court and as the wet road slowly fell behind us, I found myself staring out the window, watching the water play on the glass. Certain parts of the nightmare replayed over and over no matter how much I tried not to think about it. What happened....what she threatened to do to me and my child...it was something that I would never forget no matter how much I wanted to. I knew it wasn't real, but I felt a little part of my heart and soul break away when Rhonda did what she did. I was jolted out of my thoughts when I felt Dimitri's hand on mine.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from that Rose." He said sadly. I sighed deeply when I was met with eyes that held so much sadness.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. We've gone through a lot of shit in a relatively short time, but you know what? I don't think there'd be too much that I'd change. Some things I would, but I love my life, I thank God everyday that you found me in Portland. You've made me who I am today, if you hadn't found me when you did, pushed me to train harder and become a better guardian, I don't think Lissa and I would have made it too long in the outside world. I look back now and see how inadequate and unprepared I was, so don't ever be sorry, you saved me and Lissa when you came into our lives. And you gave me the most precious gift of all..." I said holding my belly. "Sometimes I don't think you really see what you've brought to my life....but I have." Then he smiled and leant forward and kissed me so softly and with so much love, I couldn't help but respond. I sort of forgot that we were in a car full of people...until Liss silently reminded me.

I hope we're not all going to have front row seats into your love life, Rose... Dimitri pulled away slightly when we both started giggling... and then glanced around at the other people in the car. He looked back to me with a rather smug look on his face and wiggled his eyebrows...

"Later..." he mouthed to me. He certainly knew how to take my mind off things... "I just want to get one thing straight, alright..." he said to me. "If she is waiting for us out there, you are not to leave my side. You are to stay with me at all times, do you understand? I won't be able to concentrate if I'm worried about where you are."

"I promise." I said easily. He never demanded anything from me, but this is one situation where I would gladly surrender to him. The next hour was fairly uneventful; we talked mostly about Sonya, what her plan was and how we would counteract anything she would throw at us, and then I felt a little tickle in my head, like the feeling I get when Oksana was brushing my mind. Why would she be doing that? I wondered. I thought about asking her what was wrong, but then I realised that we were only about half an hour away from our destination so I let it go and just ask her when we got there, then I started feeling sick. "They're here..." I said. Dimitri's hand instantly went to his earpiece to alert everyone else. Everyone, even the Moroi had been given earpieces; we wanted to ensure that everyone could call for help if they needed it.

"Be on alert." He said. Suddenly the atmosphere in the car charged with electricity, all eyes turned to the windows and scanned...

"They're closer..." I said turning on my earpiece. A second later we saw them come out from the trees. We saw the lead car plough into two strigoi, but we knew it was useless, they'd only latch on and come through the windows and trying to fight inside a car was a death sentence for us. All the cars screeched to a halt, doors were flung open and guardians went into action.

I looked around at the number of strigoi that surrounded us; my first thought was my child and then my thoughts raced as I they went back to the fact that Lissa and the girls were in the SUV; I would not let anything happen to them...ever. My guardian instincts kicked in, I had to protect them, the others were just as important to me....I would make sure that they were all safe, but Liss and the twins....they came first. At this point in time, I thanked my lucky stars that I'd made Dimitri keep up my training while pregnant, I knew that I had to protect my child, but there was no sitting out of this fight, there were too many. As the first strigoi came at me; I steadied myself into an attack position. As he got within fighting distance to me, I ducked under his raised arm as he tried to strike at me and as I came up behind him, I thrust the stake into the chest of the strigoi that was following close behind him. I pulled the stake out of his chest and then dropped down into a squat and as I spun around on my toes, ripping the stake across the back of the legs of the fist strigoi. He let out a violent scream as the silver burnt into his flesh and then he turned to face me but I'd cut into his hamstrings and as he fell towards me, I plunged my stake deep into his chest.

I pushed him aside and looked to see Dimitri fighting, his speed was breathtaking, I'd never seen him do this...no-one amongst us had the speed to keep up with him. I snapped myself out of it and turned to see a female coming at me fast, so I sprang from my crouched position, hitting into her chest with my shoulder. The impact was hard and I stumbled somewhat to the side; I quickly regained my balance but she hit out at me and connected slightly with my cheek. I used the momentum and turned to my left and then in one fluid motion I swapped the stake into my left hand and held it backwards and thrust it into her stomach, she screamed in agony as I turned around to face her and punched out. She fell back to the ground and I quickly jumped on top and drove my stake deeply into her chest. I was aware of the others fighting around me because I would catch a glimpse of flames from the corner of my eye every now and then. Also somewhere in my mind I was also aware that it was no longer raining, even though I was still getting wet....Mia. She was working with Campbell and Bishop and I was reminded of the time I said that her specialty wasn't much use in a fight...

I paid the price for my momentary lack in concentration... another strigoi lunged at me and grabbed me around the throat, we fell back onto the ground hard, I looked up at him but before I could do anything he burst into flames. I back peddled out from underneath him and glanced behind me, Dimitri held his hand out towards me and smiled, "No lying down yet my love..." he said. By his face, I could have sworn that he was having fun....then I saw his eyes dart to his right as he heard another come up behind him. He turned back to face the advancing strigoi as I leapt up and finished off the burning one. I crouched into the fighting stance as another female ran to me and I lunged forward with the stake but it deflected off a rib, she shrieked in pain as I spun around wiping the point of the stake across her throat. I came back down onto my toes and slashed at her legs like I did with the first strigoi and she dropped onto all fours, I leapt onto her back driving the stake in deep.

I quickly looked around as saw that there were no more here with me so I looked over to see my father and Tasha, back to back shooting flames from their hands as my mom, Pavel and Sergei finished them off. I was torn as I wanted to run and help with the fight, but that would leave Liss and the twins in the car with only Christian for defence. I made a quick assessment of remaining strigoi and from what I could see there were at least 15 more, but I couldn't see Sonya; that didn't mean she wasn't here though. It still amazed me to see little Mia wielding huge balls of water with ease, her control of her magic was strong now.

As I ran, I felt a hard blow to my ribs; I stumbled and fell to the ground. My attacker was on me before I even opened my eyes, but as I did, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.... It was Molly, the Moroi that was turned at the same time as Dimitri. She screeched as she raised her hand to punch me. The blow was hard and I saw black splotches in front of my eyes..... She held my wrists firmly in her hands on the ground and then leant forward, "From what I remember Rose, you were better than this... I would have thought you'd be a far more worthy opponent by now." She whispered into my ear. "But then again..." she looked down at my pregnant belly. "You are a little hindered by that thing in your stomach..." Her words pulled the image of Rhonda holding my child in her hands into clear focus and they fuelled my protective instinct to an almost animalistic need to destroy.

"Oh, you haven't seen my best yet Molly." I growled through my teeth. "And my child is not a thing!" I pushed my body up and got enough leverage to ram my knee into her side. She jumped away from me allowing me to get into position, we circled each other and then she leapt at me, screaming again...what was with the screaming! I could see what she was going to do as she started her attack so I quickly holstered my stake and fell forward into what was fast becoming known as the 'Hathaway manoeuvre'.... As she went over the top of me, I fell forward onto one hand and kicked out with both feet into the back of my now landing opponent. I jumped up and started to strike as she turned around to face me, I repeatedly punched into her face and I could feel her bones breaking under my fist. "I'm sorry Molly." I said as I reached down, grabbed my stake from its holster and thrust it into her heart in the blink of an eye. As I felt her body relax underneath me, I watched as a single tear fell from her eye and I swear that I saw the hint of a smile pull at her mouth. I felt sorry that I wasn't able to help her as I'd helped Dimitri, but at least I was finally able to free her, she was a genuinely nice girl....before being turned.

I looked up to the car and saw that Christian was no longer with Lissa and the girls, I looked around and saw that my parents were now fighting side by side, and Christian was not far from them, I glared at him before quickly looking back to Liss when she stated speaking to me.

I told him to go Rose. You and Dimitri are right here and I'd call if you were needed, don't get angry at him... He just saved Tyler's life.

I glanced back to where Christian was fighting and he and Tyler were working well together as we'd done not all that long ago, Maclean was with them now but a few feet away. Out of nowhere, Robert and Yelena appeared at the van with Lissa. "How... how did...?" I stuttered in confusion. Yelena smiled and tapped her temple with her finger...

"I have my ways. Go Rose, you're needed. We will look after Lissa and the girls." She said confidently.

It's alright Rose. No Strigoi will see us in this van. There are still things you don't know about me and Yelena. Said Robert silently and then he smiled and all five Moroi disappeared from my sight. I frantically took a step forward and then they re-appeared. No harm will come to them, I promise. Then he waved and they once again hidden from view. I took a deep breath and shook my head in wonder; I didn't think that I'd ever know the full extent of what spirit was capable of. I looked around for Dimitri but before I left I couldn't help but look back to the SUV that carried my best friend, sister and charge.

Go Rose...we're fine. Even though I couldn't see her, I could feel her through the bond and she was no longer afraid, she was confident. My eyes quickly found Dimitri again and I ran over to where he was fighting. He still looked like he was having fun and even with everything going on, he still took my breath away to see him fight; his speed was mind boggling... We fought side by side; every now and then our backs would come together.... "You look like....you're....having fun my love?" I asked as I fought the strigoi in front of me....

"You have no idea Rose....I've waited a long time for a little bit of payback." he said as he thrust into the chest of the strigoi. He turned to face me as I was still fighting... "Need a hand?" he asked... I couldn't believe he would be joking at a time like this... with that the strigoi in front of me burst into flames. I took the opportunity of his distraction to stake him. I looked over to Dimitri's smiling face and shook my head.

"Come on Hot stuff, more magic wielding opportunities for you over here..." I said motioning to where the others were still fighting. I did a quick check of Liss through the bond and I smiled as she answered me, she could feel when I checked on her now. As we turned we saw a strigoi grab Mia from behind and bite deeply into her neck; her scream got everyone's attention. "No!" I yelled.

Dimitri took off at an incredible speed and got to Mia in a matter of seconds, I ran as fast as I could but I was so much slower than he was. I saw him reef the strigoi's head back off Mia's neck and in one movement, twisted and literally tore his head from his body. From the corner of my eye I could see my parents running to them at the same time as I got to them and I looked down to see Mia lying on the ground bleeding profusely. Dimitri bent down and picked her up, but all I could see or smell was her blood. I didn't get to the clinic before we'd left and the thirst had started to rage while we were driving, I'd planned on getting my 'fix' when I got to my father's house. The scent kicked that thirst into overdrive and I groaned loudly as the desire for it clouded every thought in my head. "Roza....NO!" I heard Dimitri yell as I lunged forward. He spun around putting himself in-between me and Mia and held one hand against my chest while I fought against him. "JANINE!" he yelled. I felt her grab me around my chest as he ran with Mia back to the car that Oksana was in.

The bloodlust was in full swing but as soon as Mia was out of sight...and smelling distance, I calmed down somewhat, it was then that I saw her. She stood in amongst the trees, her face was somewhere between confused and angry. She'd built a small army to attack us, thinking that she'd get the best of us, but when she'd left her Moroi life and turned into something evil, the Moroi didn't use their magic defensively, and here was Christian, Tasha, Abe, Mia & Dimitri...all using their powers in combined effort with some of the best guardians around. She looked around at all of the bodies of those she'd made and she knew she'd been defeated, but being an arrogant Strigoi, meant she wouldn't...couldn't let us get away with it. We locked eyes and that's all we needed. I ripped out of my mother's arms and headed towards Sonya.

I was aware that the fighting was still in action behind me and I could hear my mother's voice as I ran; I had no idea what she was saying, but it didn't stop me. While driving here I'd thought about how I would feel seeing Sonya in the flesh after so many years, so to speak. I thought I'd feel fear, especially after what she'd done to me, her psychological torture had been extreme but now that the time had come, fear never entered my mind. A number of things were fuelling me at the moment, adrenaline, bloodlust, darkness and most of all...revenge. When I finally reached her I struck out with pinpoint accuracy. "This ends now." I growled. My fist slammed against her cheek with more power than I think I'd ever produced. I thought I'd felt animalistic before, but this was something else. Sonya never got a punch or a kick anywhere near me. I blocked her every move; I was fast...faster than I'd ever been. I guarded my stomach like it was made of tissue paper; I couldn't believe how aware I was of it as I fought with Sonya. I hadn't been fighting for long before she suddenly burst into flames, I didn't look to see who'd done it, I just took the opportunity given to me and I quickly and precisely pushed my stake up into her heart. In between the flames I saw her mouth open but nothing came out...then as she fell to the ground the flames disappeared. I squatted down beside her to make sure she really was dead now...she'd fooled us before and as far as I could tell, she really was dead this time but I had to make sure. I pulled the stake out of her chest and was about to stab again when a strong hand caught my wrist.

"No Rose... Stand back and I'll make sure she never gets back up." He wanted it to be finalised as much as I did, so I stood up and let him pull me away from her body, then he held his hand out and pushed a ball of flames out to engulf Sonya's body. It didn't move.

Rose...are you alright? Asked Liss silently. I didn't know how to answer her. Was I? I was numb; my body was still riding the adrenaline high of the fight and my ever present thirst reminded me of what I'd almost done to Mia and it horrified me. Suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe...I could feel myself falling apart. The danger to myself and everyone that I loved was over and my body knew it. The adrenaline was now starting to abate and my body shook with its departure. Strong arms wrapped around me as I stared at the burning body of my tormentor.

"Do you want me to make her sleep?" I heard Yelena's voice... I felt....shell shocked I suppose. This fight was intense, probably the most intense fight I'd ever been in. Not even the fight in the cave to get Dimitri back had been this extreme. Only the attack on St Vlad's came close to this....but this time, the only people in danger of getting hurt or killed were my family and friends. If we'd lost here, I'd lose everyone that mattered in my life.

"No, not yet. She needs to calm down."

"Dimitri?"

"Yes my love."

"Is it over?"

"Yes. It's all over and we're all still here in one piece, every single one of us." Of course he'd know my fears...he always knew. I stared into his beautiful brown eyes as my own watered up and blurred my vision. I turned my face into his chest and held on tight as silent tears fell soaking his shirt. His hands rubbed up and down my back soothing me and it wasn't long before my emotions were under control once more.

"How's Mia?" I asked him.

"She's fine, Oksana healed her. Lissa and the girls are perfect; I don't think Andrea and Rozalina even woke up. Do you want to go see them?" He asked me.

I shook my head as spoke... "No need..." I said smiling. I'll be there soon Sis...

Take as long as you need darl. You were amazing Rose, I'm so proud of you. I could feel her pride in me radiate through the bond. I looked around to the scene that was behind me and couldn't believe we all lived through it. Strigoi bodies laid everywhere by the road side. The guardians were already dragging them into the trees to hide them in case anyone drove past, but that was unlikely this far out in the middle of nowhere. Someone had called for help and more guardians had arrived, from my father's house I later found out.

"Are you and our grandchild okay?" asked my mother. My father stood beside her and the both carried worried, but proud looks on their faces.

"We're good. Thanks for asking." I said to them. I looked to my left and saw Yelena looking at me. "Are you alright?" I asked her.

"I'm fine Rose. I may not be able to throw a punch, but there are a lot of things I can throw." I looked at her confused, so she smiled and held up her hands, palm facing to the sky. I looked around and saw several small rocks hovering about five feet above the ground. She tilted her head and one by one those rocks flew towards a tree that was about 10 inches in diameter and they were flung with such force, they punched their way through. We all stood there staring at the hole in shock and then we all looked back to a glowing Yelena....

"You've been holding out on us." Dimitri said with pride in his voice.

"Maybe a little." She said as she tried to stifle a laugh.

"What else don't we know?" I asked her.

"You'll find out. There are things that need to be revealed when the time is right."

"And what's wrong with telling me now?"

"Because now...is not the right time." She said simply. I was about to argue when Guardian Bishop came up to us.

"Guardians Hathaway, Guardian Belikov... The Alchemists will be here shortly and a group of us will be staying here until they arrive. The other cars are ready to leave when you are." He said. Then he gave a quick nod to both Yelena and my father and then walked back to continue with the clean up. Seeing that I was going to continue my nagging about being told her secrets, Yelena just shook her head and smiled.

"We will tell you, we promise. Now is just not the right time." Dimitri's arm came around me and I felt him kiss the top of my head.

"Patience maya krasaveetsa." Dimitri whispered to me. I knew I was fighting a losing battle, so I turned to my father instead.

"Dad...can you call the doctor to come to your place with some blood?"

"We already did Kiz. I've sent my helicopter to Court to get him and he should be at the house in just over an hour."

"You have a helicopter?" I said shaking my head. He just laughed and walked back to the cars with Yelena and his arm around my mother's shoulder.

"Are you sure you're alright Rose? The baby? Don't say 'fine' unless you really are." Dimitri asked concerned.

"I really am fine and our little angel didn't get touched once. But I'll get the doc to check me over when he gets here if you'd like."

"That would make me feel better...yes."

"You were amazing. I could hardly take my eyes off you. I got a little distracted there for a minute and then I...." I looked over to where Molly's body was still lying. "Did you see?" I asked him as I kept my eyes on her.

"See what?"

"Molly." We walked over to her body, her face still showed the tear trail from the corner of her eye. "At least she's free now." I said quietly. Dimitri didn't say anything and I knew that seeing her now would stir up a lot of memories of his own of that fateful day. Just then Guardian Campbell walked over to us. "Take care of her." I said to him. He glanced down to Molly's body and then back to me, realising that we knew her. He nodded and bent down to pick her up rather than dragging her off to the trees. We turned back towards the cars and I saw mom waving at us to get in, so we jogged the short distance and got in with them and Liss, Christian and the girls.

"Who was that?" asked Liss.

"Molly." I said. She let out a small gasp and I saw her memories of that day flash through her mine, although they were different to the ones I experienced, that feeling of loss I felt through the bond, still took me somewhere I didn't want to ever go again. Again Dimitri squeezed me in comfort knowing what was going on in my head. "Are you alright Christian?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm good Rose, tired but good." He said yawning.

"We'll feed once we get home," My father said. "Then you're energy will come back. You did really good out there Christian, it was honour to fight beside you." Christian took the compliment in a composed manner, but I knew that he'd be almost jumping out of his skin with pride. There weren't too many people who had ever complimented him in his life and for someone like my father to give it, well...that would have meant a lot to Christian.

Well he's going to wear that compliment like a badge of honour... Liss said through the bond.

Yeah, we'll never hear the end of it...

We drove the rest of the way to my father's house in relative silence. I rested against Dimitri and I put his hand on my stomach as our baby started showing its own fighting skills; I love the look on Dimitri's face when he feels our baby move, it never gets old for him. I know it's weird considering what we'd just gone through but I was actually looking forward to finding out my mother's big secret, although I had a sneaking suspicion what it probably was. I looked over to her and saw her looking at my father in 'that' way... She must have felt me looking at her because she turned straight to me and winked. My mother winked...