Hola! What a long absence, huh guys? Lo Siento mucho. For a few weeks, I'll update whenever I get the time, really. I have an exam again on the 7th, but I'll try my best.

Anyways, thanks guys for favoriting, following, and reviewing!

Inkpoint2, Whynotalicorn II, and Alice-Roza: I'm glad you like it.

stardreamer26086: Well, guys, no offense, in my opinion, all have weird mindsets. Trust me I live with two if you don't count the adults (i.e. my Papa and Abuelo. The adults, I mean.). And, well, he guarded Christian for 5 years and they didn't even tell him whether she was alive, maybe he thought that Rose would have forgiven him if he'd come sooner, or something.

IrinaC: Auras, well, they change. Yeah, Adrien can see his aura, but who knows how many depressed and lonely guys come into the cafe and fall in love with Rose (cause his aura is obviously seeking Rose's.) Lissa, on the other hand, he could have identified. Her being a spirit user and all.

peggy: As Dimitri said earlier, "these things tend to happen when you see the love of your life after ten years as the mother of the children of another man". *chuckles*

deliriumintheheavens: I don't think there was a need to reply to this one but, anyways, yeah you can know by reading down, ha ha.

LIZZIE85: I am really glad you like being a Masochist, I don't think you'd have been able to endure the pain inflicted upon you by my infrequent updates else. *grins* I am actually planning to include the Belikovas in the next chapters, gracias por la idea!

And with this, the chapter...

Oh, and I obviously don't own Vampire Academy.

7.

Intrigued

I sat there, looking lost, I'm sure, for god knows how long. I didn't even notice the shop filling in with customers. Hey, I know I'm a guardian, and they notice everything and their mothers, but try losing your woman to your romantic rival, World War III could be going on outside, and you'd be too busy licking your (theoretical) wounds to notice shit.

And, okay, I knew it had been ten minutes at the max since Vasilisa and Christian left.

I was sitting in the same position as I'd been then, on the table closest to the counter, close enough for me to hear, above all the gossip filling the cafe, what the Ivashkov's were saying, even if I didn't want to. But, I won't lie. I wanted to. Especially when a certain someone brought up a topic of my interest.

"So... What are you going to do about it?" Adrien looked in Rose's direction while mixing a cup of latte.

"About what?" said Rose, confused.

"Uh... You know- Mase and- him. Um- the new mentor. Him." If I said he looked perfectly at ease while saying this, I'm pretty sure I'd receive Liar-Of-The-Century.

"What about the new mentor?"

Now I was intrigued. Really? No one told her I was training her son? Was it that... acceptable? I mean, I am her ex.

I guess...

I think...

I hope...

I am, ain't I? Me and Roza, what we had, it wasn't exactly a relationship, despite being the most important one in my life. I mean, it consisted of stolen kisses and secret glances. And when we (Well, I.) finally decided to give it an actual chance, I got turned. We never got a chance to enjoy a real relationship. I never looked at it that way but, Roza was willing both times, it was me who didn't give us a chance. It's not as if I didn't want to. I did. I guess I thought it was better, for both of us, if we didn't. Just see the irony in the situation. Now I'm sitting here, with Rose in front of me, wishing to tell her the same things she said to me.

You know what they say, Karma's a bitch.

Adrien blinked in disbelief. "Sydney didn't tell you?"

"Sydney didn't tell me what?" I was pretty sure Rose was annoyed now.

"Shit. I can't believe she didn't tell you! I waited two days to discuss this with you so that I could be sure she was the one who told you. Dammit. I think she thought the same-"

"Adrien!" Rose all but shouted at him. "Just spill already!"

Adrien looked horrified by that idea. It was a funny sight. And I'd have laughed outright if a sudden thought hadn't come to mind; they were bickering like a married couple.

"Okay. Okay." Adrien raised his hands with his palms outwards, like he was trying to make some space between them. "First, promise you wouldn't shout at me. And more importantly, you wouldn't hit me. Alright?"

Rose looked at him like he'd grown horns, but nodded anyway.

"Fine. Just know that it isn't my fault." he wrapped his arms around his head in a protective stance. "Umm. The new mentor, I mean, Mase's new mentor is... Belikov."

Rose suddenly halted. Her eyes widened and she screeched, "What?!"

I'll be honest, I didn't expect this reaction. Well, I didn't think she would start dancing with joy at this news. But, this? No. Not at all.

"I didn't do anything. Please forgive me."

"Adrien-"

"Please. I'm begging you. I have two small children."

"Adrien-"

"Show some mercy. Please-"

"Adrien!" Rose snapped. "I'm not hitting you, idiot."

"God bless you, Little Dhampir!" Adrien unwrapped his hands from his head and wrapped them around Rose's shoulders. I hated him a lot less a moment ago.

"Oh shut up!" Rose rolled her eyes at him. "How do you know, anyway? That Dimitri is Mase's mentor."

"Sydney saw him. When she went to pick them up from the Academy."

"She saw him? Like in-person and everything?"

"Yep," Adrien replied, popping the p. "Let's just say their exchange wasn't exactly friendly. It wasn't much, though. They just exchanged non-pleasantries and moved on their own ways."

"I don't like it, Adrien," she scowled. "I don't like it at all. I'm afraid. What if he finds out? He'll hate me for it."

He? Me or Mase?

"He doesn't get the right to hate you. He left you, not the other way round."

Definitely me. But why would I hate her? What am I not supposed to find out?

Oh. She must be talking about Mase. She didn't want me to find out Mase was her son with Adrien. Well, I know I don't hate her. I'm planning on different ways of making her a single mother, but not because I hate her, more like the moroi beside her.

Rose picked up the plate she was working on and looked away from Adrien.

"Okay so, mocha and pelmeni. Is it yours, sir?"

It took me a moment to realize that she was talking to me. She talked to me for the first time in ten years to ask me what I ordered. Wow. Not trusting my voice, I just nodded.

It took everything in me to not stare as she walked away from the counter towards my table, and it was just six-fricking feet. Judging from the face Adrien gave me, I don't think it worked. In my defense, how could I tear my eyes away when she looking like a freaking goddess? The fact that I didn't pull her in my arms then and there and kissed the shit out of her, speaks wonders for my self-control.

As she put the food in front of me, her sweet scent surrounding me, I couldn't help it and said, "Thank you."

Her head snapped in my direction and my eyes widened as I realized my mistake.

The ring doesn't change your voice.

Damn.