AN: Wow. I honestly can't believe that this is the end. It's pretty unbelievable... it blows my mind when I remember back to when I first posted this story and honestly I'm a little shocked I carried through to the end. I was in a very different place when I started this and I'm a completely different person now. I mean I had little faith in myself, but 50+ chapters and a year later here we are at the very end of it all.

Starting off I just want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. If it wasn't for you guys this never would have made it this far and this really is just for you. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me and reviewed, I am so blessed to have heard from you and you should know that your comments really made an impact. I read each and everyone of them and really took them to the heart. So thank you.

I hope that you enjoy the finale chapter of Save You. I had re-written it multiple times and although it's not exactly as I pictured in my head, it's pretty damn close. I named the song and artist that this story was inspired by (sort of) and I hope you guys check it out, it's Save You by Matthew Perryman Jones and maybe it will give you even more insight about my thought process during this story.

Thank you once again for all of your support. You guys are amazing so this one is dedicated to you!

Disclaimer: I do not own VA


Three Years Later.

Rose's Point Of View

This wasn't a fairytale ending.

Nothing was perfect and nothing turned out like any of us thought it would. There was still malice and madness in our world, not everything was fixed and we weren't sure if certain things would ever mend. We were all still broken and unsure if we would ever find the strength to put ourselves back together. And nothing was ever going to be like it was.

We were all still stuck in this never ending battle, not exactly certain what we were fighting for anymore. Lines were constant being blurred, politics were corrupt as ever and evil was still running rampant.

This was the furthest thing from a fairytale ending.

When I unexpectedly woke up in the hospital at court, I had been confused and disoriented, unsure of what was happening. But even in that dazed state I could tell that something was wrong, I could feel it. After a few hesitant and vague answers from my friends, I was told that Kai had died and I immediately recognized the feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was the familiar and overwhelming feeling of losing a bond mate.

No one had been able to treat his internal injuries and no one could relieve the severe brain trauma that he had sustained. Kai had died almost instantly, just like he had - or should have - in Paris. I was thankful that he didn't suffer long or feel too much pain, but that didn't comfort me.

The only thing that did comfort me was knowing that what happened to Kai, really was for the best. I knew that he was in a better place, I had a strong feeling that he was undoubtedly happier in the land of the dead - a place that he should have been years ago.

Kai belonged there, it was where all of his friends and family were. His entire world had moved on without him, had died and left him behind while he was stuck in the living world. He didn't belong in the land of the living, not when the people he loved were gone.

He had been miserable, being left behind in this world alone was agonizing for Kai, that had been obvious. It was hard for him to wake up each morning, when all of his reasons for living had died. It was hard watching him suffer each day, knowing that the people he loved were in a better place and that they were never coming back. Thankfully, he could finally join them.

Still, it was hard for me to swallow and hard for me to wrap my brain around. I couldn't believe that Kai had really died and that he wasn't ever coming back, not this time. I guess when you've been resurrected as many times as I have, death becomes a hard concept to understand, it doesn't become really anymore. Even after three years, it was sometimes impossible to imagine waking up without Kai being there, without him in my head or looking over my shoulder anymore.

But I was always comforted knowing it was for the best. I've always believed that, even in my shocked state at the hospital and especially now. But whenever I felt that comfort wavering, whenever I began questioning if it really was for the best and if this really was fate's plan like Kai always said, I would think about what he was doing in the land of the dead.

I knew he was watching over me, probably shaking his head at the decisions I've made or the jokes I've cracked. I knew he was probably laughing and smiling, spending time with Bridget and the rest of his family. I knew that Mason would be there, looking out for Kai and probably forcing him to practice guardian moves whenever they weren't goofing off.

I knew that he was waiting for me, that I would see him - that I would see both of my boys - again. And I knew that whenever I returned to the land of the dead, that they would be there with open arms.

But until then, they were just going to have to look out for each other and remember that I missed them both.

And until I returned, I was going to have to do the same, look out for my friends that is. Which is exactly what I was doing by standing by Adrian and supporting him as he finally became the man we all knew he could be. He stopped standing on the sidelines and finally got into the game, taking a stance for what he believed in and trying to make even the smallest dent in the war against evil.

Adrian was the furthest thing from the party boy I had met in Idaho all of those years ago. It was amazing to see how far he's come from that spoiled royal to the caring and brave man that I now knew.

It hadn't been easy, he had to open up and accept the help he needed to succeed. He built up confidence in his ability to make a change and worked on Spirit endlessly, putting his faith in what he could do for himself, rather than what others could do for him. Adrian was practically a superhero now, a person who had come so far and been so brave through it all. But none of that had been easy, sharing how scared he was about going crazy - of being pushed over the edge - had been the second hardest thing he had to do.

The first being pouring all his liquor down the drain.

Every last bottle.

He wanted to see who would have the power then.

I know all that, because I held his hand the entire time.

Things had finally come full circle for us and we became just how we used to be. We didn't realize how broken we were until it was fixed. I also didn't realize how much he meant to me - how much his friendship meant to me - until I had him back. I missed Adrian's companionship more than I ever imagined.

The chiming of church bells broke me out of my thoughts, shattering all my memories and reminding me that I wanted to stay in the present. I didn't want to be late or miss anything because I was too busy stuck in my thoughts, especially since this day would soon become a memory I wanted imprinted into my brain.

I hurried through the church, my heels clicking against the stone and my long dress gathered in my hand as I made my way to an adjacent room where my friends were. As I approached I could hear the sounds of laughter and people talking excitedly, making me smile as I stepped into the room.

Jill and Mia stood in the room, wearing bright smiles much like my own as they watched Lissa, who looked absolutely radiant, sheathed in a white dress. I strode further into the room, extending my hand which held her long, lacy veil. Lissa had forgotten it this morning in her excitement to get to the church, I practically had to sprint to royal housing to retrieve it - the woes of being maid of honour.

"Thank goodness." Lissa breathed, turning away from the gilded, full length mirror and smiling at me. Her beauty caught me by surprise for just a second and I found myself just standing there, staring at my stunning best friend, who was about to get married. It was kind of unbelievable. "Will you put it on?" She asked.

I nodded my head and walked over, standing on my toes so I could peer over her head. I delicately pinned the lacy veil into her platinum hair, wanting to make sure it was perfectly placed into her updo. I smiled as my fingers brushed against her hair combs - a family heirloom that had been passed down to brides on their wedding days. The combs were beautiful, silver with encrusted emeralds and diamonds, which had been flawlessly woven into her pale hair.

After I was done, I slid my arms down to her shoulders, squeezing tightly as I peered around her and met her eyes in the mirror. She lightly placed her hands on top of mine, smiling brightly. She looked so radiant and ecstatic, this was the happiest I had seen her in a long time. It was hard to believe this day had finally come, although Lissa had been counting down for months and we all knew they would get married someday, it was just surreal that someday was actually today.

The longer I looked at my best friend, taking in her beauty and bliss, the more overwhelming my emotions became. I had the strongest urge to cry, one that I tried to suppress but was unable too, the tears began welling up in my eyes. I guess it was just difficult coming to terms with the fact that my best friend - my sister - wouldn't be sharing anymore crazy adventures with me.

Our wild exploits were officially finished now, although that chapter had been closed in our lives for years now. The days of coming up with impossible plans and then acting them out on a whim were over, we had grown up and grown out of those stupid stunts (for the most part anyway). The best friend dream team would still be as close as sister, would still do unexpected things and hangout together, they would still laugh at old memories. But they wouldn't have any new adventures, it was time for Lissa and Christian to start their own - as if they hadn't already.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, sniffling back the tears and giving Lissa a mischievous smirk. "Just say the word and I can make one hell of a distraction while you slip out the back door. What do you say? We could head back to Portland for one last time." Lissa just rolled her eyes while I gave her shoulders another squeeze.

Before Liss could answer, Adrian strode through the door, looking handsome as ever in his black tux. We all smiled brightly at him as he walked over to Lissa, approaching her with arms wide open. None of us questioned his presence here because we all felt that it was right, when Lissa was conflicted on who would walk her down the aisle it was quickly settled when she picked Adrian. He joked it was because he was her favourite cousin and that was mostly true, he really was the closest related man to her and which is partly why she picked him.

The other reason was because Adrian was one of the few people who understood what was happening in her life, he could understand that insane emotions that were invading her mind and causing dark thoughts to lurch in. He knew how hard you had to fight against that and how strong Spirit's pull was. They had formed a different type of Spirit bond - nothing magical kept them linked, but they shared the same overwhelming feelings about it, which was something no one else could understand.

He also comforted Lissa a lot throughout the whole wedding process, I know because I often found myself comforting her and Christian too. After all of the engagement bliss wore off everyone kind of realized how bittersweet the entire wedding was, how neither Christian or Lissa's parents would get to see them walk down the aisle or reunite their families.

I know it hurt Lissa a lot whenever she thought about it, she was always the one who had her wedding planned out and it always included her family. She always dreamed about taking wedding photos with her mother, having her father walk her down the aisle and dancing with her brother at the reception. She wanted them to be a huge part of her wedding because they were a huge part of her life, but now they couldn't be and it broke her heart. She was open about her pain and shed a few tears when planning certain things that a bride was supposed to do for her family, but we made it clear that although her biological family couldn't be here the rest of us were.

While Christian on the other hand was more closed off about his pain. He didn't want people to know that he grieved his family and wished they could be here, he suppressed it and pretended that none of it mattered to him. He acted in typical, snarky Christian type manner but I knew that he was hurting and regretted that his family wasn't there.

I think it was when they were picking the flower arrangements out is when it really killed him, I had no idea why but he couldn't seem to sit through the meeting about different flowers and had to leave. I remembered Lissa just nodded her head and bit her lip as he excused himself, pretending like this wasn't hard for her either. I also remembered that I grabbed her shoulder and promised to take care of it before chasing after Christian.

"Hey! Wait up." I shouted, not far behind him but annoyed that he continued to stomp away. "You may be the future Mr. Dragomir, but I will still tackle you." I informed him as I caught up and he realized that getting me to leave him alone was practically useless.

"What do you want, Rose?" He asked, getting straight to the point like he always did. His voice was flat as he spoke and his eyes wouldn't meet mine, this wasn't the first time I had seen Christian like this but it still wasn't any easier. No one likes to see their friends in pain, especially when it's a pain you didn't really understand and couldn't do much to fix.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." I began, knowing that it sounded stupid. There was no way that he was okay, it was impossible to be okay when the people you loved died and when they're supposed to be here with you. "Actually, I wanted to make sure you weren't alone while you weren't okay."

"I don't need a babysitter." Christian snapped, his eyes looking off into the distance and still not meeting mine. He was being typical defensive and snarky Christian, which always clashed with offensive sarcastic me, but this time it didn't. He was hurting and although I hadn't lost my parents, I could relate to losing people. He was my friend and he was hurting, misery always loved company, I decided.

"I know you don't need a babysitter, I thought you could use a friend. You have had one of those before, right?" I asked with a hint of a smile, I had hoped that the jab would have made him smile too but his eyes just flickered to me and they should nothing. I knew that if I wanted Christian to open up and possibly feel better or at least, a little less miserable then I was going to have to strip away the sarcasm - his and mine. "I know this is hard on you and Lissa, the whole your parents not being here-"

"Save it Rose," Christian cut me off, clearly expecting this to be another motivational speech about how it was supposed to be the best day of their lives and that they shouldn't let the absence of their family take away any of the magic from their big day. "I have already heard this little talk so many times that I could deliver it in french. If you're trying to be helpful you might as well go inside and help Lissa with the flowers."

I weighed his suggestion for a minute, knowing Lissa would value my opinion of which arrangement looked best but then I decided I rather stay here more. God knows that I hated stuff like this and probably wouldn't be much help, but I also fathered stay here and push Christian to talk about it. That's what the two of us did after all, that's what our friendship was based on - forcing each other to do and say the things that no one else would dare to go near, and we always did it with witty punch lines.

"I could but I rather stay here with you, mainly because I'd like to hear you butcher an entire speech in french but also because you've never heard the Rose Hathaway version of this speech." I wrapped my arms around myself as the cool summer breeze ruffled my hair and Christian nodded his head in a gesture for us to start walking. I guess he realized that he couldn't shake me that easily and that if we were going to have this conversation he rather stay moving.

"I hate when people say "I know how you feel" because they never actually know. They think they can relate or that they understand what you're going through but they don't. I am not going to pretend like I know what you're going through because I don't, only you and Lissa can really understand what it feels like. But I do understand what it feels like to lose someone, I have lost a few important people and although they weren't my parents, they were my family." I told him, my voice surprisingly raw as I spoke, I was getting personal for what felt like the first time with Christian. We had gotten into fights and had deep conversations, usually about Lissa or whatever world ending domination was happening but never about loss. Christian and I had never really verbalized what it felt like to lose the people we loved.

"I laid on Mason's chest until the guardians found me." I gulped, telling him something that only few knew. "I was covered in blood, lying on his chest and wanted so badly to hear a heartbeat or the sound of him breathing. I had been in such a shock that I didn't even know where I was or what had happened, I almost attacked the guardians with a sword when they finally found me. It took me a few weeks before I got over the shock and by then everything had been happening with seeing his ghost, the stress of graduating and Dimitri, but the loss didn't hit me till I was out in the real world. There would be times where all I could think about was what he would be doing and how much of an amazing guardian and person he would have became, sometimes that's still all I can think about.

"And when I thought Dimitri had died? I don't even know how to explain that feeling. I remember Stan and my mother had to hold me back from running into that cave, I ran through the forest with tears and wasn't even concerned about the moroi or my friends or even myself. And when we got back to the academy, I went to the church and I prayed to a god I wasn't sure I believed in. It doesn't sound like such a horrible thing, nothing compared to grieving Mason but it was worse, I had completely lost my heart and practically my mind.

"Losing a bond mate is unimaginably painful, especially if they die. You're connected with this person, they're the only tie to the world of the living or anything really. They feel like the only thing keeping you to this earth, they feel like your gravity and then suddenly the tie has been cut and gravity is gone. You're left floating without anyone to keep you stable or grounded, you're just gone and there is nothing that can bring you back down to earth. Now add that feeling to the already immense pain of losing someone who has been your best friend for years and then you really feel lost and ungrounded.

"Honestly there are some days I don't want to get out of bed, because the feeling of loss is so overwhelming. I'll wake up in a house that I shared with my bond mate, having dreamt about past memories with my lover and be surrounded by old pictures of my best friend. The loss can be crippling some days, the thought that you're alive and they're dead, you feel guilty because you can do all these things while they can't. You feel all of these emotions while at the same time you feel empty and numb, like you're just a corpse like they are.

"And somedays? Somedays you wake up furious. You're mad at yourself for not being able to do or say more, for not stepping in when you had the chance and stopping it all. You're mad at other people for not doing more, for not being there when you needed them or for not saying enough when they had the chance. But most of all you're mad at them, you're livid that they had made the choices they did and that they died because of it. You're mad that they left you behind, that they didn't think about you and how this would change everything if they died. You're mad that they made you love them, let you trust them and then they died."

Christian seemed to absorb my words for a while, he didn't say anything and didn't make any type of motion. He just kept walking with his head slightly down, but I knew he was listening and hearing what I had to say. I knew that what I was saying was hitting pretty close to home, especially about the furious part because if there was one thing that Christian Ozera was, it was angry.

He was always angry, always lashing out and always defined by his anger. It's what made him such a black sheep at the academy, partly why people always suspected he would become Strigoi and why many people avoided him. Christian was angry all the time and had no problem telling you about his cynical opinion. Christian was furious and had no where to take it out, he spent his days alone in a church attic with nothing but his thoughts, it was easy to see why he was angry.

"But despite the anger, the sadness and the emptiness, I get out of bed and do something with my life. I honestly don't know how or why I do it somedays, I guess I just try not to think about how much emptier and bleaker the world is without them. I try to focus on the positives, try to remember that they wouldn't want me laying in bed all day when they died for love or what they believed in. I think about how disappointed they would be if I let their deaths define me and weaken me, I think about how wasteful it would be for me to stay paralyzed when they died fearlessly.

"And if that still doesn't help me get out and live my life, I remember that Mason is doing just fine in the world of the dead, that he is finally at peace with what happened. I remember that although part of Dimitri died when he became a Strigoi, that he was restored and finding his way back. I remember that Kai's friends and family are all with him in the land of the dead and that he is happier there. I remember that they have moved on from what has happened and that they aren't obsessing over their deaths and that I shouldn't be either. I should be out spending my time with my friends who are still alive, doing things that I love and protecting the people I love."

It was the truth, everything that I had told Christian was the absolute, honest truth which is the only thing I can ever really tell him. I didn't know if this helped him in the least, I would like to think that it did, that he could know that whatever he was feeling was probably normal and that others who've experienced loss have probably felt it too. I hoped that he realized that he wasn't alone in any of this, that he didn't just have Lissa to talk to but me too.

"I wouldn't have done it," Christian sighed, breaking me out of my thoughts. He still wasn't looking at me as he spoke but instead stared straight ahead. "I wouldn't have proposed if I knew it would have felt like this, if I knew that Lissa cried almost every day and that it would be this hard to plan without them. I never would have even considered marriage if I knew that we would be this miserable."

"Then call it off!" I began, knowing they had been blisses out when they were just dating and that it wasn't too late to just call this off. They could push forward or quickly go back, either way it would save them a lot of the pain they were feeling. "It's making Lissa upset and you can't even sit through a meeting about flower arrangements without storming off. You two were happy just dating, you could stay that happy or if you really want to get married then why don't you just go down to the human courthouse? You have options, ones that don't involve either of you in pain."

"We can't do that - we don't want to do that." Christian explained, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. "We want to celebrate this, we want everyone to be able to celebrate our lives and love for each other. This isn't just a wedding, this is a significant day in our lives, proving that we can make it past anything. It shows how far we've come and even with all this craziness still happening in our lives we can appreciate the love we feel. This day is for everyone."

I was touched by what Christian said and realized that he was right, this wedding was for more than just the two of them, it was for all of us. We had been in a never-ending battle with so many things since , been so tied up and focused on getting over the next obstacle that we never got to appreciate what we had. This wedding was more than just a tribute to them, it was a tribute to all of us for being here, for making it this far - something that even surprised me sometimes.

"Okay, then we will do everything we can to make this the happiest day of everyone's lives." I smiled, wanting to show him that we supported him and Lissa completely and that we were here for them. They may not of had their parents but they had their friends, and we were going to make sure that would be enough.

"Of course I want to do this." Lissa smiled at me, bringing me back from the memory of me and Christian and into the present. I was right, we had done everything we could to make this the happiest day, everything was perfect. I wanted to say more, to ask her if she was positive but I knew she was. I guess I was just a little nostalgic about how the days of my adventures with Lissa were officially over, we weren't those impulsive and uncontrollable teenagers anymore with nothing to lose. We had jobs and responsibilities now, we had friends and were starting families, we had a lot to lose now.

"Okay, then let's do this." I announced waving my arms in a Vanna White type gesture towards the door and waiting for Jill and Mia to walk out before following closely behind. We walked quietly through the halls of the old church, our heels clacking against the ancient stone while we all bubbled with excitement. This was such a monumental day for everyone because Lissa, the princess of the Dragomirs and last in her bloodline was getting married to Lord Christian Ozera, at least that's what the invitations said. But it was a monumental day because Lissa, my best friend and sister was getting married to Christian, her other half and my occasional partner in crime.

We were approaching the large wooden doors that led into church hall where everyone we know would be waiting for Lissa to walk down the aisle. We could hear the light chatter and sound of the church organ, but we all stopped for a minute to take a breath. Turning towards Lissa for any final fix ups before we walked through those doors, but when we faced her we all just stared.

She was gorgeous and regal. Her dress took forever to make and maybe even longer to put on, but the custom ball gown was beautiful, with layers of soft organza while the bodice was embroidered beautifully with crystals. The dress was a mix of classic and modern and it was completely romantic, just like Lissa. Her long beautiful hair was in the perfect, effortless updo that allowed you to see the dazzling hair combs that had been strategically placed. She looked beyond blissed out and beautiful, it was easily the happiest day of her life.

"You look beautiful Liss," I told her, thankful that we had made it to this day finally. I thanked god in my head that we had made it here, that through all the chaos and commotion, he made sure that we made it here. I may not have believed in him throughout the way and sometimes I swore to him and used his name in vain or whatever, but today I had nothing but gratitude for him.

"So do you." She skilled back and I just grinned, thankful that she at least took my consideration on the bridesmaids dresses. It was a beautiful pearl pink gown that complimented Jill and Mia's pale complexion and my tan one, it also helped that there a high slit in it that showed off my killer wasn't a dress I would be ashamed to be photographed in, which is perfect because Liss claimed she wanted pictures of everything.

"Ready cousin?" Adrian asked, holding out his arm for Lissa to take. She nodded her head and gave him an enthusiastic smile as she wrapped her thin arm around his. Mia knocked lightly on the wooden door, signalling that we were ready to begin and shortly after, the organ began to play and the doors opened.

The wedding itself had been pretty much a blur, I remembered walking into the packed church with my head held high and a smile on my face. It was more crowded than I originally expected but then I remembered that this was the princess of the Dragomir's wedding and a full house was to be expected. Guardians lined the ways, stoic and silent as they kept their eyes ready for any threat. Although Strigoi weren't a worry because we were on court grounds and inside holy grounds, but wedding crashers and renegades were a constant threat.

I nodded at a few that I recognized but mostly I kept my eyes forward, not wanting to trip and embarrass myself while walking down the long aisle, but also because I couldn't look away from the alter. Christian stood there in a dark tux with the most brilliant smile I had ever seen on his face, he looked even happier than Lissa to have finally made it to this day.

And beside him, stood two of his best men, Eddie and Dimitri.

Although Christian's happiness and radiance did catch my eye, that wasn't the reason why I was staring at the alter with a huge grin on my face. It was because like Lissa, I was walking towards my future and I got closer with every step. Although I wasn't in any rush to get married and actually stand at the alter myself, I was happy that I had worked things out with the man that I loved and that I could walk towards him and let him know I loved him.

It's kind of an understatement to say that I left things hanging when I fell to the ground that day. I had been on the verge of expressing my undying and unrelenting love for Dimitri, the one that was so powerful that it eclipsed all the hatred I had felt for him in the past. And it wasn't the first time that had happened, all throughout our relationship it seemed that one of us was always trying to tell the other how they felt, only to be cut off and ripped away by some tragedy. We had always waited to long to confess our feelings and then wondered why the world seemed to get in the way.

I think that's why when I woke up in the hospital, I took the first chance that I could to tell him what I needed to. I had been disoriented and dazed, squirming in pain and feeling drained but I didn't let that stop me. I saw Dimitri perched at my bedside, his eyes somber and sad as he gripped my hand tightly. I thought that I was dead but I knew this wasn't heaven, because although I would have loved to have Dimitri with me in death I knew it wasn't fair to him. Dimitri was my life but he wasn't my heaven, not when he deserved to be alive and living.

But I didn't waste any time asking questions or thinking about it much more. I had already wasted valuable time being angry with him, avoiding him and yelling at him. I wasn't going to spend anymore time hating the man that I loved, it was pointless. So instead of worrying about what was happening, I used all the strength that I had and pushed myself up, gritting my teeth against the pain.

And I kissed him. I could ask questions later. I wasn't going to waste another minute.

If he had been surprised or caught off guard then he didn't show it. As soon as my lips pressed against his he reacted, pressing his hand against my cheek while the other one moved to support my back. The kiss didn't last long because I broke it, gasping in pain as he gently laid me back down on the bed, but it was long enough.

In that short kiss, I felt the same burning passion that I felt before I collapsed. All of those feelings from before came rushing back and I knew letting him in again was the right choice. Loving him was the right thing.

"I love you." I announced, my voice softer than I would have liked but at least he heard me.

"I love you too." He breathed back, leaning down and pressing his lips to my forehead.

And that was all that mattered - that we loved each other. Everything else could wait, all of the chaos and the madness that seemed to invade our lives could wait a little while, because right now we were just too in love to let it effect us. It didn't matter that we still had some kinks or that things were far from perfect, they would slowly get there with some work.

I pulled at his shirt, forcing his lips back down on mine. I wanted him close and I wanted him forever, it didn't matter how long that forever was so long as it started today.

Eventually though, after I had a few days to heal and spend time with Dimitri, we had to come to terms with a few things. Starting with why I had fallen to the ground and why Kai had died, I needed answers and Dimitri thought that he may have found them.

As it turned out, after Victor killed himself and Dimitri ran out of the room, he had gone to find Robert. He questioned the moroi about whether Victor was lying or not, because he had died and I was still standing. Apparently Robert was a blubbering mess though and provided little answers after he heard about Victor's fate.

Dimitri hesitantly decided that Victor had just been playing mind games, but he was still wanting to keep a close eye on me. Which ironically was why he was talking to the guardians, because he was asking about my location. He hadn't expected me to collapse to the ground when I did with injuries that should have killed me long before, be he said he was watching me with cautious eyes. He prayed that I wouldn't suddenly die or my soul wouldn't vacate my body but he said he was prepared for it.

I was upset with him that he didn't tell me that my life was tied to Victor's. Angry seemed like a bit of an understatement when I heard Adrian had also been involved, but with a little time to think about it, I knew they were just trying to look out for me. And honestly, they were just trying to protect me from myself, because they knew if I knew, then I would have done something stupid in order to bring him to justice.

Besides, there was nothing that could have been done to stop it. Once a bond is formed it's impossible to break by anyone but the ones in the bond and usually the only way to do that is by death (or restoring a Strigoi, which is what broke mine and Lissa's).

The light clinking noise caught everyone's attention, pulling me out of my thoughts of the past and making everyone's eyes flicker towards me. The ceremony had been beautiful and Lissa had timed everything perfect, so that the photos had been taken just as the sun was setting and the reception would be held under the moonlight.

Everyone was seated and chatting quietly when I decided it was time to give the maid of honour speech. At first when I tried writing this I didn't know what to say. I had no idea how to put into words everything that had happened, everything we had to overcome to finally make it to this day. I didn't know how to express how relieved and right this day felt or the joy that not just Lissa and Christian felt, but that we all shared.

This wedding wasn't just for them, although it was a proclamation of their love, it was more than simply that. This wedding was a symbol for more than just their love, it was a representation of what we've overcome - together. Both Lissa and Christian knew that when they were planning it, they knew that this day meant so much more then any of us ever thought possible. It was a sign that we - as a family - have made it through and that there is such thing as happiness and hopefulness. This wedding was a symbol of staying together and loving each other, it showed that we really could overcome the impossible. And there were no words on the planet that could possibly explain all that.

But, I was Rose Hathaway and I always had something to say.

"When Lissa and I first returned to the academy, we immediately fell back into what had been important to us before we'd left." I began, smiling at Lissa as I remembered our transition back into academy life after we'd been absent for two years. It felt like a lifetime ago since that moment. "We didn't focus on what was going to make us happy - Lissa didn't focus on what would make her happy. We were too focused on our looks, on the clothes we wore and the people we knew. We were immersed in the money, the status and the power. But none of that was enough."

I looked at the circular table in the centre of all the others, the ones that my friends and family sat around and I knew that none of what Lissa and I ever wanted at the academy had been enough. All the status, the power and popularity in the world didn't come close to the friends we had acquired, the triumphs we had overcome or the love we had found.

"But love was enough." I announced, remembering that our love and passion for all the things in our lives was the reason we were standing here today. It was the reason that we had survived - all of us - and it was the reason that Lissa and Christian had made it to their wedding day. "Whether it was love for a boy or for a girl, for the places we had been or the things we had done. Or if it was the love for our makeshift family."

I knew that the love we had for out misfit family was the greatest thing in each of our lives, it's what kept us going during the darkest of times. One by one we had all come together, bringing our individuality and eccentricity, coming in at the precise moment we needed them without even knowing it. Each person in our misfit gang loved and supported one another through everything, teaching new things and putting someone in their place whenever they needed it (usually me or Christian and sometimes Adrian). Together, we had the time of our lives and had enough adventure to last for several lifetimes.

"It didn't matter where that love came from, Lissa taught me that important lesson, one that took me a long time to learn." I looked over at her endearingly, remembering how worried I was when she first began having feelings for Christian, but looking at the two of them now, I wondered where those feelings ever stemmed from. Christian was the one person in this world aside from myself, that I trusted completely to take care of Lissa. "You don't have a choice where you find that love, you only have a choice on whether you're going to embrace and fight for it."

Christian and Lissa had fought for it. From the moment the two met in that church attic it had been a struggle and it stayed that way through everything that happened at the academy, and even now they were still fighting. I had no doubt that they were going to fight for this love until their last dying breath, it sounded ridiculously dramatic but it was true. Lissa and Christian would never stop fighting for this.

They were fighting for what they wanted and honestly, they were inspiration to fight for my love too. Looking at how happy they seemed and how in love they were made me want that someday, it gave me the hope I needed to fight for my relationship with Dimitri.

"And if you're brave enough to admit that you want it, to hold your head high and that a chance, then you may ver well get it." I smiled, my eyes shifting from Lissa and Christian to Dimitri. I was taking that chance everyday. "If you're courageous enough to open yourself up to love, to accept that with the good comes the bad and know that things aren't always easy, then chances are you will find love. And if you're really lucky you will find a love like Lissa and Christian's." I smiled and raised my glass in a toast, while everyone did the same.

I took my seat with the rest of my friends, hugging Lissa and Christian as I did so. Lissa had tears rolling down her cheeks by then and honestly I was almost on the verge, but I smiled through it and let the next person toast to the happy couple. And although the table paid attention to what was being said, I think we were all just focused on the friends seated there.

"Everything is happening so fast!" Jill breathed, dabbing her eyes with the cloth napkins. I watched Mia nod her head in agreement, blonde curls bouncing with her. "Lissa and Christian getting married, Dimitri and Rose moving in together and now we are leaving!"

Of course Jill was referring to the fact that in just a few days, Adrian, Eddie and herself were being sent to the east coast with an alchemist to conduct experiments on Spirit. Why they had to go all the way to some cheesy place called Palm Springs, I had no idea but that's what they were doing. It was incredibly sad to think that they would be gone for who know's how long, but they were all excited about it and the opportunity to make an impact in out world.

"Do you guys ever feel incredibly old? Like way older than just early twenties?" Mia asked quietly after a minute, snuggling next to Eddie in a way that made me raise my eyebrows slightly, but I said nothing. Instead I let Mia's question really sink it and I realized that since I had come back to the academy with Lissa I felt older than my years, I felt like I had lived so many lifetimes in my twenty-four years.

I had fallen in love, not just once but twice with the man who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I had been in relationships with men who although weren't right for me in the end, changed my life and way I saw and felt things. I had built friendships that could withstand even the most unimaginable things and even the little things, like time and distance.

I had traveled the world endlessly, being exposed to new cultures that I never could have found myself. I met people who would impact my life forever on my travels, who taught me and protected me, people I considered friends. And I got job opportunities that bettered my people and certain causes. I had done a lifetime full of things and more in my twenty-four years and I wasn't planning on stopping now.

Maybe now the lifetime I would live might be a little more calmer.

Not that I don't enjoy travelling around the world, meeting new people and getting myself into crazy adventures. But now I was thinking I might have to hurdle through the adventures of being a little closer to home.

And looking over at Dimitri, who was smiling at some snarky remark Christian had said, I was completely okay with spending time here. The fun and crazy possibilities I could do with Dimitri by my side were endless, even if they were here at court.

Our conversation continued on light heartedly for a while, until a voice announced that it was time for Christian and Lissa to dance for the first time as husband and wife. I clapped and hooted because I knew Christian was uncomfortable with dancing, but he got up anyway and escorted Lissa to the dance floor that was underneath a beautiful canopy of twinkling lights.

A deep voice started off the song with a light strumming of a guitar. I knew that they had picked "Save You" by Matthew Perryman Jones but I had never listened to the song fully until now. And as I watched them dancing to the light music I realized how perfect it was, it was beautiful to watch them twirl and sway to the deep voice and guitar.

And it wasn't long before other couples started to join them, obviously mesmerized by the happy couple and wanting to get in on the joy. I watched Mia and Eddie go up hand and hand, while Adrian twirled Mia onto the dance floor. I figured that I would stay seated and watch them dance because it was just so beautiful.

That is until a calloused and graceful hand was extended to me. I let my eyes trail up the arm all the way until I got to Dimitri's face. He was smiling at me with a sparkle in his eyes as he tilted his head to the dance floor. I smiled in return, putting my hand in his and letting him lead me to the dance floor filled with smiling couples.

He put one hand on my waist and grabbed my hand with his, swaying me and guiding me gently across the floor. His dancing style was much like his fightings style, completely graceful yet strong and powerful. I had no doubt that he could spin me and dip me all across the floor, but this wasn't really the song for that.

"That was a beautiful speech, Roza." Dimitri whispered into my ear, his accent still sending shivers down my spin to this day. I leaned my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and his breathing and he spun us slightly.

"I meant every word of it." I murmured into his chest, knowing that I was willing to fight for our relationship because I wanted to hear his heartbeat forever. I wanted to be able to feel this safe and this secure always. "I am going to fight for this relationship forever."

"As will I Roza, as will I." Dimitri murmured, before I pressed my lips to his. I still felt the fire and the flame every time I kissed him. If I ever felt my resolve to fight for him wavering, I knew all I had to do was kiss him and feel that passion, it would always remind me of how hard I had to fight and why.

Because my whole world was in that kiss, every emotion and thought and feeling went into that kiss. It was much more then just lips pressing against lips, it was more than just a sign of affection. It was like finding relief from a burning fire.

I wondered what it all looked like from above, from the sky and from the loved ones watching from the otherworld. I bet that it looked even more beautiful from up above, watching everyone twirling and embracing, looking lovingly into each other's eyes. I think that it would be the most mesmerizing and gorgeous thing that you could ever see, because I know living it felt even better.

I knew this was the furthest thing from a fairytale ending though.

Nothing was perfect and proper like it was at the end of stories. There were so many frayed ends that were unable to be tied, so many messy and complicated things that couldn't be tied with a bow. Even during this beautiful wedding there was still malice and madness lurking in the corners, unable to hide for long. This story couldn't be summed up in two simple words, leaving so many things unsaid and so many questions unanswered.

This didn't fit the cookie cutter fairytale ending, there was no knight in shining armour that whisked me off my feet and carried me into the sunset. The dragon hadn't been slain and the evil witch was still trying to cast a spell to knock the princess out of commission.

This story was still being written and was the furthest thing from over.

The people and places and things would still continue on even after the book has been closed. This story would live on even when it was supposed to end, when the writing stops and the pages go blank. We wouldn't just stop living our lives after all of this, just because the bride kissed the groom and had a perfect wedding, did not mean that was the end of this.

There was still more, this wasn't a fairytale ending.

And honestly? I was so glad it wasn't. Because really, fairytales are overrated.

The End.