I'm glad to see that people are excited about this :D

As for updates on this one, it will most likely be every three to four days. With doing two stories at once and just general life stuff, I don't want to burn myself out trying to get them out quicker.

Chapter 2

No one knew what to do. Some of the guardians had their stakes out still, ready for any attack. But Janine and Alberta approached Lissa.

I watched as the Princess stroked Rose's hair, repeating to her, "Everything will be okay."

This Rose, she wasn't the confident dhampir I had come to love, but she also wasn't the cold and calculating Strigoi anymore. The woman on the ground before me was broken, her body shaking as she sobbed.

Alberta spoke first, "We need to get out of here."

My body recognised an order was given and moved accordingly. As we got closer, Lissa levelled us with a look.

"She is Rose again."

I didn't know how to respond to that, not ready to allow hope to take over.

"We will take her back to the Academy and go from there," Alberta reasoned, "Can you get her to stand?"

Lissa nodded, though still wary of us. She spoke to Rose in a calming voice, "Rose, I need you to stand okay." When she didn't respond, Lissa tried again, "Please, Rose."

Slowly, Rose let herself be lifted from the ground, eyes clenched closed, hands in Lissa's as she guided her. Alberta and I followed closely behind. I watched the other guardians with us, making sure they weren't about to attack Rose again. If she truly were my Roza again, then I would protect her no matter what. I won't lose her again.

I had to hold myself back, not sure about getting too close to her yet. She seemed so lost in her thoughts as we drove back to the academy, barely interacting with Lissa. Alberta had called ahead, Stan and some others had arranged a room for Rose to question her, to assess if it was true.

The longer I was around her, the more confident I was that she was no longer Strigoi. I had spent almost two weeks locked in that room with her. I had become used to the way she moved, how she held herself. She was not that creature anymore.

As another guardian led her and Lissa into the room, Alberta pulled Janine, Stan and me aside.

"You don't really believe this do you?" Stan asked incredulously.

Janine shook her head, "You weren't there. You didn't see what the Princess did."

"She's right, Stan," Alberta told him, "that girl in there right now, she is not Strigoi. But I'm not too sure if it's Rose again either."

I stayed silent as they spoke, my mind only on Rose. She must be so scared and confused. I wanted nothing more than to go in that room and wrap my arms around her and never let go. But I knew I couldn't.

Lissa marched up to us, "What are you going to do to her? I should be in there with her!"

Alberta held her hand out to calm her, "Until we know that she is safe, you will wait." She gestured for the guardian behind Lissa, "Take her to Christian and keep an eye on them. We will tell you when you can speak to Rose."

I could tell Lissa wanted to fight the decision, but she was exhausted, allowing the guardian, Daniel, to lead her away.

Once she was gone, Alberta continued to discuss the plan. I tuned her out, feeling drawn to the room Rose was in, my feet leading me to the door. I hesitated with my hand at the handle, but then I could hear the hitches of breath, almost like sobs. Throwing open the door, my eyes landed on her crouched form in the corner of the room.

Her wrist was bleeding as her nails scratched at the skin.

"Rose!"

I was across the room and pulling her hand away, restraining her movements, the others filing into the room after me. Rose tried to twist out of my grip, making me tighten my hold.

"Let go! I have to finish it!" She pleaded me, tears running down her face. I tried to catch her eyes, but her's were unfocused.

I had never heard her voice so broken, so scared, not since the plane when the ghosts appeared. Or even after discovering her protecting Mason's body. No, this was worse. And it broke my heart to hear.

"Hold her down. We need something to stop the bleeding!" Alberta commanded, sending Stan to get help. I could hear Janine behind me, a strangled sound that was almost like a sob. But I kept my focus on Rose.

She kept trying to escape me, my fingers slipping from the blood coming from the deep scratches, dipping down her arm. The sight was almost too much, but I stayed strong. "Rose, stop fighting me!" I shook her gently, hoping it would bring her back, but she became even more withdrawn.

The fight left her, and she slumped against the wall. The only sounds coming from her were sharp inhales and small whimpers. Alberta knelt beside me, bandage and gauzes in hand. I readjusted my grip, so I was holding her upper arms, though I didn't need to restrain her anymore. Now my hold kept her upright while Alberta cleaned the blood and covered the wound.

I don't think Rose was aware of doing it; her body turned to mine, her head pressed against my chest as she cried. I gently rocked her, making soothing sounds in hopes that it would calm her.

"I think we will have to restrain her," Alberta decided, expression grim. The possibility of Rose hurting herself again was concerning and not a risk we wanted to take.

"Move her to the table," Janine told me, "it'll be easier." Her voice was void of emotion again; the only sign that she had been crying was her red-rimmed eyes.

I was reluctant to release her but did as I was told, lifting Rose from the ground and carrying her to the chair. She didn't stir in my arms; it was like she wasn't even there anymore—shutting herself off from the world.

Stan returned with a set of handcuffs with a long chain between them, attaching them to a metal hoop on the ground under the table and pulling them up to the tabletop. I took them from him.

"Rose," I tried to get her attention, but her stare remained blank. I took one wrist, lightly rubbing my thumb along her pulse point, "This is just for now. We don't want you to hurt yourself again." I explained, but it didn't make me feel any better as I locked the cuffs around her thin wrist. Muttering apologies as I did so.

Alberta made me leave to clean myself up; blood from Strigoi I staked, and Rose was on my hands and clothes. I didn't want to leave Rose, but I also didn't want to frighten her by being covered in blood, so I gave in.

Returning ten minutes later, Alberta nodded at me, "Shall we?"

Stan was already in the room, holding the door for us as we entered. I studied Rose, watching as she observed us, now more aware of her surroundings. When she saw me, she physically tensed and pulled back. I tried to not let it affect me, but it hurt that her reaction to me was so adverse compared to the others.

Alberta tried to gain her attention, but Rose refused to lift her eyes. So unlike the woman I knew who was never afraid to face any challenge head-on. I remained silent as Alberta questioned Rose. My eyes were taking in everything, drinking in the sight of her before me.

Something that was meant to be impossible had happened, and I've been granted a second chance that I never thought I could have.

But it was apparent that Rose had been greatly affected by her two months of being Strigoi. My heart clenched at how small she appeared, the terror that I could see, how her body shook. I could see the exact moment her composure broke. She was panicking again.

Alberta had asked Rose about the caves, and a look of anguish pulled at her features, her body jerking violently against her restraints.

"I...I shouldn't…." Rose was gasping, struggling to speak as she broke down, "I should be dead... I shouldn't be here... I can't…."

It took everything in me to not rush to her side, to try to comfort her. But her reaction to me entering the room earlier made me doubt that my presence would be of help right now. I clenched my hands as I watched Alberta and Janine calm her, getting her to slow her breathing.

Once she had relaxed in her seat again, Alberta retook hers, "Good, Rose. You don't have to talk about that," Alberta looked down, shoulders tensing.

I followed her eyes to Rose's wrist, the one she had hurt earlier was now bleeding again, staining the once white gauze red. I hated seeing Rose hurt, even more so when I could do nothing to help her.

As we waited for some new bandages Alberta continued to ask Rose questions, asking if she knew what happened when Lissa restored her. Something even we were still questioning despite being there to witness it.

"I felt this white light, no..." she paused, thinking, then continued. "Energy. Go through me. I thought my insides were on fire. But then it stopped, and I just felt it."

"Felt what?" Janine asked.

I didn't need Rose to tell me; I could read her expression, the sound of her voice. There was so much self-hatred and guilt.

Her voice broke, "E-everything."

The silence that stretched was becoming too much. My resolve to stay back was breaking. I felt the need to comfort her, to tell her that none of what happened was her fault. My body was practically itching to hold her close again, to have my arms wrapped around her.

Alberta retrieved her stake from her jacket, asking one more question, "One last thing, can you pick this up?"

I held my breath; this was the last test. Though I already knew she wasn't Strigoi anymore, this would convince others. Rose carefully picked it up, holding it in her hand. No reaction.

The others in the room went from relieved to apprehensive the longer she held it; they were all concerned she would hurt herself with it. I wanted to believe that Rose wouldn't do that, but given what I had seen, I couldn't be sure.

Alberta held her hand out, "You can let go now, Rose."

Rose was confused, but then she realised what everyone else was thinking. Handing over the stake, she curled in on herself. I couldn't stay back anymore.

Just as I was stepping away from the wall, the door opened to reveal Lissa. I silently cursed, returning to my spot. At least Lissa should be able to keep Rose calm.

How I wished I didn't have to hide my feelings for Roza.

I had finally accepted them and wanted to shower Rose in love and affection, then having to conceal them again. I couldn't even truly express how I felt about Rose being returned to us.

Preoccupied with my thoughts, I missed the exchange between Alberta and Lissa, only noticing when everyone had left the room save for Lissa, Rose and me. Lissa took Alberta's seat and removed the bandage, a relief flowing over me as she healed the wound. Rose didn't need to be in any more pain. I didn't want to see her in pain again.

"Much better." Lissa mused aloud.

Christian entered the room carrying a plate of food. I cursed to myself again for not thinking of offering any food and water to Rose earlier. Christian glanced over at me, "You guys need to restock."

I nodded solemnly, "I'll be sure to pass that on."

Rose squeezed her eyes closed, breathing heavily as soon as I spoke. Once again, I tried to remind myself not to take it to heart.

She has been through so much. It doesn't mean anything.

"Rose?" Lissa reached for her. She pulled the plate to be between them, ripping off a piece of the sandwich, "How about we start small." After a momentary pause, Lissa turned to face me, irritation in her eyes, "Can we take these off?"

I hated seeing Rose restrained, but my eyes flicked to where she had wounded herself and was hesitant to agree. "They are so she doesn't hurt herself again."

Lissa's expression became stern, "She won't. She needs to eat."

My eyes shifted back to the cuffs, the ones I had placed on Rose. I needed to trust that she would be okay, and Lissa was right. I retrieved the keys from my duster pocket, having put them there earlier.

Lissa took them and uncuffed Rose, though she didn't move after the restraints were removed. She looked drained as she stared blankly at the table.

Finally gaining enough energy to move, Lissa gave her a piece to eat. I watched as she took the bite, her expression not changing as she chewed until her face paled. Before I could react, Rose leaned to the side, throwing up, sobbing as it turned into dry heaves.

I couldn't do anything to help her.

Both Lissa and Janine were by her side, helping her from the chair and out of the room.

My feet stayed planted to the spot, my body screaming at me to go after them and make sure she was okay, but I couldn't move. And I didn't until Alberta called for me.

"They are going to clean her up. I've had some guardians bring Rose's stuff to a room in the guest accommodation. Help me set up the room?"

I nodded numbly, happy for a task to keep me occupied. I needed to hold myself together just a bit longer until I could return to my room and then let it out.

Somehow unpacking Rose's belongings was just as difficult as packing them up.

When I had packed up her items, it was another chance to say goodbye. I was able to look around at the things she treasured, at objects that represented moments of her life and find comfort in knowing she had happiness in her life.

The photos that hung on her wall, the joy on her face as she posed with her friends. The items she held dear, and the things that reminded me of our moments together. Such as her lip gloss or the gloves I had given her.

But unpacking everything was reopening wounds that I had ignored, leaving a grief that she may never be that same strong person in the photos. The same one that was larger than life, that enjoyed waltzing into the gym and teasing me.

The one I had fallen deeply in love with.

Even though Rose was back, I was terrified that my Roza was still gone.

I am still deciding on what parts to cover from the original story, so if there are any parts that you would like to read Dimitri's POV of, please let me know.

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