AN: I hope that everyone likes the chapter. I know that most don't like Dimitri paired with OCs but I will try to keep this as close to the story as possible. I am tweaking it a bit with Janine making an appearance later in the chapter.

Chapter 2: Routines

It had been two weeks since Rose and Lissa had been returned to the Academy. Laylah was either with Abigail, working on homework and college applications or with her twin and Dimitri training. They invited Lissa to study with them, not wanting her to be involved with the others. Abigail was a high ranking royal at the school but she didn't involve herself with the drama.

One evening, Laylah and Dimitri were running with Rose when she suddenly took off from the track. Laylah knew that it was Lissa. She knew that she was in trouble. Dimitri was not far behind them as they got to the royal dorms. Rose blasted past the matron and into Lissa's room.

"Lissa!" Rose cried, making her way over to her. "A fox…the poor thing was twitching." Lissa whimpered, making Laylah look over at her bed.

"Who has access to the dorms?" She frowned, looking at the woman. "No one was in the princess' room." She replied, making her eye her. "Well, obviously Lissa didn't put it here herself." Laylah growled, making Dimitri look at her.

"Laylah, its alright." He said, making her frown. "This is precisely why we left…I won't let that happen again." She frowned. "I know." He told her, making her nod.

Rose got Lissa cleaned up and Oscar over with her, calming her as she looked at Kirova. She was talking with Alberta and Dimitri as Laylah stood by the door. Both were tense as she glared at the fox' body in the bed. The headmistress saw their tense eyes as she came in.

"Someone needs to put cameras up in this room and hall. Someone is doing this." Laylah told her, making her look at her. "Miss Hathaway, I understand your concern, but we cannot afford to do that." She told her, making her look at her. "Something has to give…She may as well be my sister; I don't want this to happen again." Laylah told her.

The next morning, Abigail saw Laylah's eyes as she sat down at the breakfast table. She hadn't been feeling well as a side effect of her meds. Natalie saw her eye as she sipped her coffee. Her dark eyes were tense and tired.

"You seem off." Abigail said, making her nod. "Yeah…my meds make me more suspectable to getting colds." Laylah yawned. "Do I need to tell Guardian Belikov?" She frowned. "I'll be fine…I didn't sleep well." Laylah told her. "You've been pushing yourself…you need to take it easy." Abigail frowned as said person came over.

"Morning, Lady Szelsky…Miss Dashkov." He smiled. "Guardian Belikov…your other prized pupil isn't feeling so hot today." Abigail told him, making him frown at her.

"I'm fine." Laylah insisted. "You're warm." He said, making her groan. "I'm not going." She protested. "Remember what I told you?" He asked, making her pout. "I hate when you use that against me…can you turn these in for me?" Laylah asked, handing her the homework folders. "Yeah, do you want me to drop your guardian theory homework too?" She asked. "Yeah…tell Mason I'm out." She sighed.

Dimitri took her duffle and walked with her to the medical center. The doctor looked up with a smile until she saw the pale look in Laylah's eyes. She sighed as she wagged her finger, making Laylah look back at him. He nodded, promising to stay. He would call Zmey later.

"Any fever?" She asked. "Yeah…tired." Laylah told her. "Have you been taking your meds?" Dr. Olenski asked. "I have…I know the meds lower my immune system." Laylah told her. "It can…have you been outside more?" She asked, checking her vitals.

"She's been helping her sister catch back up…she's been assisting me." Dimitri said, making her glance at him. "Any stress?" She asked, knowing he'll tell her. "She was up very late with her sister last night…someone put a dying fox in the princess' bed." He replied, making her nod. "How about diet changes?" She replied.

"Baba has guardians go bet me food to cook in the dorm for dinner, I take my meds with coffee and avocado toast." Laylah told her. "Any other protein?" She asked. "Eggs and bacon…I don't have much of an appetite in the morning…I go straight into training…full stomachs equals puking." Laylah said. "Okay…I am going to do full panel…See what we're dealing with…I want an IV started for fluids." She replied, looking at the nurse.

Dimitri saw her eyes as she told she wanted to stay in the sweats and tank top. The nurse nodded as she made her lay down. Dimitri promised to stay as Rose appeared, worried. Lissa wasn't far behind as she sighed.

"I'm fine, go to class." Laylah said. "What's wrong?" Rose asked, worried as she rolled her eyes. "Its probably from the meds…I probably just have a cold." Laylah told her, making her eye her.

"Roza…she's fine." Dimitri assured her, making her look at him. "You will tell me if she wasn't, wouldn't you?" Rose asked. "I would, now go…I will tell you both at lunch how she is." Dimitri smiled, making her nod. "Okay." Rose sighed.

"Let me know if there is anything you need." Lissa said. "Okay…could you and Abi get my notes for class…I won't be allowed in class for the week after this." Laylah sighed. "Okay…hope you feel better." Lissa told her softly, making her smile.

Once they were gone, Laylah released the yawn she had been trying to hide. Dimitri smiled softly at her as he sat in the chair by the bed, watching her eyes flutter shut as he pulled out his book. He would wait on the results while she slept. He just wanted the woman he loved healthy.

When the doctor came back in, she smiled softly at the guardian. She was not ignorant to the fact he loved her but he couldn't act on his feelings yet. He saw her eyes as she sighed.

"How is she?" He asked. "Its her meds…I reached out to her surgeon…he wants to take her off of one of them. Its lowered her immune system low enough that she is going to be hit very hard by strep hard." She told him. "Strep throat…that is a child's sickness." He frowned. "It is…her and Abigail go down to the kindergarten campus on Fridays and read to them. They do this every week during their study halls…She could have easily picked it up there…I had two come in yesterday with positive tests." She told him. "What can be done?" He asked. "I'm starting her on antibiotics…luckily that bacteria is fragile and 24 hours of Vancomycin will kill it." She smiled. "Okay." Dimitri replied.

Laylah opened her eyes as the doctor left the room and looked at him. He reached out and kissed her hand, making her frown. He had a look of amusement and sympathy in his eyes. She looked at him as he sighed.

"What?" She rasped. "Well, the doctor thinks she knows what you have." He smirked. "Then why are you grinning?" She frowned. "Because you have a soft side I didn't realize…she's talking to your doctor to take you off one of the immunosuppressants…you caught strep throat from one of the little ones you read to." Dimitri said, making her groan. " And my dhampir genes can't fight it off because I'm on those." She groaned, making him laugh softly. "She's going to keep you on IV antibiotics for the next day or so." He said. "Can it be in my room…I want my bed." She pouted. "We'll see." He told her.

Dr. Olenski agreed to let Laylah go back to her room on the IV and rest. Dimitri saw her eyes as she laid down on the fluffy bed and sighed. The guardian hooked the IV to the stand she sent up and the medicine the way she showed him. Laylah saw his eyes as he looked down. He smiled at her as he sighed.

"What?" She asked. "Just thinking how stunning you look." He smiled, making her blush. "I look like crap." She smiled. "Niet…you're beautiful…" He said, making her smile. "…I love you." Laylah smiled as he leaned down and kissed her nose. "I love you more…get some rest, I'll be back after practice…any requests?" He asked. "Soup." She told him, "Tea." "Okay." He smiled.

Rose saw Dimitri come into the cafeteria alone and frowned. He came over with an easy look on his face as the others looked up. He stopped to talk to Alto about Laylah's work for the week and nodded when he told he would get it. She was worried as Lissa, Abigail and Natalie looked up.

"How is she?" Rose asked. "Sleeping…its strep but her immune system is so low it doesn't know how to fight it." Dimitri said. "Step…only little kids get that." Lissa frowned as Abigail looked up.

"Did she get it from us going and reading to the little kids." Abigail asked. "Yes…that is where she thinks she got it…the surgeon is taking her off one of them." Dimitri told her. "Good…she can't afford to be sick all the time." Abigail sighed, relieved. "No…She'll be out the rest of the week but she'll be fine." He told her, making them nod.

"Will we still have practice?" She asked. "Yes, Laylah wants you to still go." He replied, making her nod.

Laylah awoke to the sound of soft 80s playing and someone cooking the small apartment. Abe made sure she had one because of her transplant. She had to have a certain diet and that meant she had to cook. Dimitri didn't mind being her caretaker then. He would be sleeping on the couch while she was sick.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, making her look at him with grumpy eyes. "Like crap." She rasped, making him cringe at the tone in her voice. "I have some tea for you beloved…here." He smiled, seeing her come over for the mug, "You're burning up." He frowned. "Didn't take anything yet." She told him. "Here." He sighed, handing her the two pills the doctor gave him. "Thanks…I'm fine…I'm not China." She told him. "I know…With you being sick, Rose is on edge." Dimitri told her. "It's Mia…she's got Jesse and Rolf by the balls." She told him, making him look at her. "What do you mean?" He frowned. "Rose and Lissa don't remember but she was dating Andre…before the accident…she thought that he would be the forever guy." Laylah replied, making him sigh. "Do you think she's behind the foxes?" He sighed. "I don't know…but she's definitely stirring the shitpot." Laylah replied.

A couple days later, Laylah walked into the gym, bored out of her mind. Alberta saw her in fuzzy pajama pants and a Henley. Her waves were loose and she looked tired. Dimitri looked up from leading the class a moment before going back to it. She cringed when she watched her twin get tossed on to the mat by him. Mason and Eddie saw her smirk as she sat on the bleachers.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. "I am tired of watching the same 5 brat pack movies I burrowed from Dimitri." Laylah told her, making her chuckle. "He's been staying with you?" She asked. "On the sofa…it pulls out into a king…He doesn't want to leave me alone…I'm coming off one of my rejection meds and being put on a new one…and dropping a suppressant." She replied. "Good…how about the antibiotics?" She asked.

Laylah raised her hand to show the hemlock in her hand and made her nod. Alberta was glad to see that she was moving at least compared to how she was two years ago. She had grown to love Rose and Laylah like her own. She often spoke with Janine on how they were and felt like she failed when they left.

"You can sit in on Stan's class. But that is it…I know you feel better but you need to rest." Alberta said. "I will…Will this affect me when I graduate like this…I mean, I'm supposed to protect Abigail…not be in and out of the court hospital." Laylah sighed. "You will…You and Rose will be guardians and hell of a force." She told her, making her smile. "I hope so." She sighed.

Laylah smiled at her sister as she handed her a bottle of water and towel. Rose smiled back as she wiped her face and neck. Dimitri was talking with the other guardians as he came over for his bag.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. "Okay…got any more movies?" She teased, making him smirk. "You watched all those?" He smiled. "Top gun is still better." She winked, making him shake his head.

"Are you banned from hanging out?" Rose asked. "She's letting me sit in on Stan's class but that's it…I have to take it easy." Laylah sighed. "You're getting restless." Rose pointed out. "Very…I'll probably change and come do some yoga in the guardian gym…I have to do something." Laylah told her.

"Laylah." Dimitri sighed. "Its just yoga, not sparing." She told him. "No more than that." He said, making her smile at him.

Rose heard him mutter under his breath as she grinned wickedly at him. He walked away as she looked at her twin for an explanation as she grinned. Dimitri only showed his true self around her and Laylah. She realized it was because of her sister.

"Spill." Rose told her, making her look at her. "This way." Laylah said, leading her to the locker room. "Does mom know?" She asked, making her eyes widen. "Hell no!" Laylah breathed. "Does our father?" She breathed. "Yes…but nothing has happened…he knows its no go for the next couple months." Laylah told her. "So him staying with you?" She asked. "He's been on the pull out…he won't leave me alone while I'm coming off meds so that if I have any side effects I'm not alone…plus I'm on an IV." Laylah said. "I hate to be Lissa when she's pregnant." Rose mumbled, making her laugh. "He has three sisters, he's protective." Laylah smiled, making her shake her head with a smile.

They walked into Stan's class where he saw the light pastel pants Laylah wore and smirked. She didn't look ashamed as she sat in the back with Dimitri. He shook his head as he gave her the test she had taken with a smile.

"Get bored?" He asked. "Need people interaction." She replied. "Right…good job." He told her, making her nod. "Thank you…anyway I can talk you into giving me the rest of the week's work?" She asked, making him chuckle. "Yes, I'll give it to Belikov." He said, making him nod.

By the middle of class, Laylah was feeling worse. Dimitri told her she needed to get back on the IV and rest. She really hated her body then. It took her way longer to feel better and she just wanted to be normal. He sighed as she looked at him, her dark eyes pleading with him to no make her sleep.

"Please?" She sighed. "No…you won't be able to take those jogs with me if you don't rest." He said, making her look at him.

He watched as she went to protest and smirked, kissing her. She sighed as he pushed her down onto the bed and broke it. Her eyes stared at him as he smirked. She pouted at him as he tucked a wave behind her ear.

"You're a tease." She pouted. "Then sleep…or I'll tie you to the bed." He smirked, making her look at him. "Fine." She sighed, making him chuckle.

As the days went on, Laylah felt better. It had been a long ten days for her as she walked into class with Rose. All her novice friends cheered as she bowed, indicating her return. Dimitri and the other guardians shook their heads as she set down her bag to stretch.

"The queen has returned." Mason yelled, making them look up. "Damn right Ashford and she is at full strength." Laylah called back.

"God help you." Eddie smirked as they came over. "Yeah, she put Dimitri on his ass last night…she's feeling better." Rose told him, making him look at her. "Shit." He breathed, "You know he's leading class again, right?" "You're toast, Lay…he's going to use his favorite." Rose teased, making her glare.

"Get changed, all of you." Dimitri called, making them turn.

They all dispersed as Laylah set her bag down. She was already in training clothes and began to stretch. He nodded at her as she smiled. He was glad that she was better.

"Am I going to be beat up today?" Laylah asked from the floor, stretching. "I was going to choose Mr. Ashford actually." He smirked, making her chuckle. "Okay…is Kirova allowing Rose to attend the banquet?" She asked. "Yes." He smiled. "So you have to dress up?" She grinned. "Yes…all the guardians do." He smiled, making her nod. "Rose is getting annoyed that she can't sneak up on you." Laylah told him. "Roza has expressed that several times…I told her you did the same thing." He grinned, making her smile. "Yes, well I know secrets that she doesn't." Laylah smiled.

During class, Laylah partnered with her sister and was pleased to see how well she improved. She noticed several guardians watching and Victor. Rose didn't as she easily tossed her to the ground. Dimitri chuckled from behind as she fought the urge to flip him off. He smiled at Rose as her twin pulled her up.

"Good job, Rose." He called, making her smirk. "Gotcha, finally." Rose smiled. "Shut up…you have an audience, sis…Victor never comes here." Laylah replied, feeling her pull her up. "Yeah…have you heard back on your application?" Rose replied. "No…Her uncle is still trying to get approval for her to attend Yale…Oh boy…mom is here." Laylah said, looking up. "What…oh boy." Rose said.

Janine looked at the two with pride as she nodded at them. Laylah nudged her to go over and make up. Rose looked at her with a strange look as she pushed her again, silently telling her to go. Rose glared as Janine met her halfway.

"That was impressive." Janine said, looking at her. "Thanks." Rose replied, looking at her. "I'm glad you're alright…you had me worried." Janine told her. "I'm sorry…and sorry for putting Laylah at risk." Rose told her.

"Hi mama." She said. "Laylah…your father called…are you better?" She asked.

Rose heard the want to be the protective mother in her voice and looked shocked. She knew that it shook her to the core when they left and even more when Laylah got hurt. She could have easily lost them both. Janine looked at her two precious gifts and sighed.

"I will see you both at the banquet?" Janine asked, making them nod. "Yes." Laylah smiled. "Good…oh, I came to tell you your surgeon wants you to come in December around Christmas for your two-year check." Janine told her, making Laylah sighed, "I won't be able to take you but Abe will." "Okay." Laylah replied.

With that, Janine left the gym to go back to her charge. Both girls were left stunned as Dimitri smirked at them. Rose sighed as Laylah shook her head.

"That went better than I expected." Laylah breathed. "She came to see us." Rose breathed. "I know…try not to pick a fight with her when Christmas comes." Laylah asked, making her look at her. "I won't." Rose replied, making her smirk.

Later that day, Laylah watched as her sister sparred silently with Dimitri. She had a bad day in class and was dealing with Lissa's magic affecting her. Abigail had noticed that she had been using compulsion on the other royals and told Laylah. Dimitri had been watching her as she grew more frustrated.

"Forty-five minutes of silences, that has to be new Rose Hathaway record." He commented as she glared at him. "She wants to know why none of you will tell us about Miss Karp." Laylah said, making him glance over at her.

"It's starting to piss me off. You all get quiet whenever I bring her up…and judging by that look, not even Laylah knows why either." Rose frowned, making him sigh. "We're done for the day." He told her, making her growl as Laylah smirked from her spot on the bleacher.

He bent down to pick up the training pad and Rose took the shot to try and tackle him. Laylah watched with amusement as she let out a battle cry and was mercilessly tossed down. Laylah let out a chuckle as she groaned, making him chuckle as well.

"What…how, I had you!" Rose pouted, making him smile. "The battle cry gave you away." He smiled, making her sigh, "But good try…go get ready." "Damn…I'll get you next time." Rose told him as he pulled her up. "I look forward to it, Roza, your sister has yet to even catch me off guard." He said, making Laylah smirk. "I'm going to." She said, making him smirk.

An hour later, Laylah and Rose walked in wearing coordinated black and red dresses for dinner. Laylah's curls were pinned up with jeweled hair sticks Abe bought her last year and ruby earrings. Rose wore a black sweater dress and stockings with boots she burrowed from Laylah. She had a simple chain necklace and earrings on as well. Her dark waves were down as they sat down in the dhampir section.

"Where is Lissa?" Laylah asked. "With Natalie and Abigail…the blue." Rose whispered back, making her nod as Laylah caught sight of Dimitri in his formal uniform, "Stop drooling." "I'm not…shut up." Laylah said, making her smirk. "Whatever you say…he has it so bad for you…I can't wait till you graduate so you can get it out of your systems." Rose teased, making her blush. "Bite me." She pouted, making her grin wickedly.

"What are you two going on about?" Eddie said, making Laylah sigh with relief. "Nothing…just my sister trying to embarrass me." Laylah replied, making him nod. "You look hot…trying to pretend to be royal?" He teased. "No, but thank you for noticing…I don't want to wear drab clothes…I do have cute things." Laylah replied, making him chuckle.

A moment later, trumpets sounded as all the students and teachers stood. They all saw the Queen's guardians enter first and then the queen enter. They all kneeled as she passed, an air of power filling the room. They heard her call Lissa out as Rose was sucked into her head. Laylah felt her grip her hand, making her hiss as she waited for the queen to tell them to rise. She couldn't see her face but judging by her sister's anger, she knew she said something harsh to Lissa.

After being dismissed to the dining hall, Laylah found Abigail chatting with her uncle and the queen. She curtsied to her, making the queen look over at her.

"Oh, your majesty, I didn't realize you were speaking with Lord Szelsky." She said. "Its alright, Miss Hathaway, rise." She smiled, making her nod.

"We were just discussing you girls going to Yale." He said, making Laylah see the glee in her best friend's eyes, "Your letters came in…Congratulations." "I made it?" Laylah breathed. "They were very impressed with your grades last year and your exam results." He replied, making Abigail hug her.

"We did it…all that work paid off." She smiled, making her tear up as she realized she was going to her dream school. "So, still thinking torturing ourselves with law school?" Laylah asked. "Yes…God help us, you'll end up on the guardian council one day with that." She grinned, making Tatiana chuckle. "Is that a good thing or bad?" She smiled. "With your twin and Lissa, I have no clue." Abigail smiled.

"Congratulations, both of you." Tatiana said, making them look at her. "Thank you, your majesty." They chorused as she left, making them bow and curtsy.

They squealed happily after she walked away before Laylah went to go find Lissa and Rose to tell them. They found Mia and Rose in each other's faces. Laylah frowned as she stopped her sister from swinging. Mia eyed her as the other royals saw Abigail come over as well.

"Back off, goldilocks." Laylah hissed, making her still. "Oh, look, its blood whore number two." She taunted, making Laylah roll her eyes. "Grow up; As much as I would have let her feed from me if we had to, I couldn't. I'm on medication that can make Lissa sick, idiot." Laylah said, making them frown. "For what, herpes?" She smirked. "No, dumb bitch, for the liver transplant I got…from the accident that killed your ex-boyfriend." Laylah snapped, making her smirk fade, "Yeah, that's right, I remember you…Andre was my big brother…I knew about all the girls…and you…you would have never been Lady Dragomir, sweetheart."

Mia's face turned pink as she turned, leaving the others stunned by her brutally honest statement. Laylah was never the one to be on the offensive. Lissa nodded her thanks as they filed in to eat. Rose and Laylah walked the two to their seats, showing the others they weren't bothered by the rumors. Tatiana looked impressed by their dedication as Laylah walked past Dimitri to their seats.

"Laylah." He said, making her turn. "Yes, Guardian Belikov?" She asked, seeing Stan by him. "I grabbed these for you." He said, passing her the small baggie from the medical center. "Thank you." She smiled, taking them and putting them into her sleeve. "I heard…I'm proud of you." He smiled, making her smile. "Thank you." Laylah smiled, making him nod.

During dinner, she noticed that Rose, Lissa and Natalie were missing. She frowned as she excused herself and went to go find them. She knew the Queen had said something to Lissa that hurt and wanted to make sure she was okay. Her dark eyes found Rose and Lissa in her room, staring at the wall as Natalie backed away from the couch.

"What the fuck?" Laylah breathed, staring at the bloody writing on the wall. "That's what we said." Rose replied. "Do I need to get Dimitri?" She asked, making her nod as the hall monitor came around. "Who did it?" She asked.

"At least three people…what?" Natalie asked, seeing her face. "I had her lick the wall and tell me." Rose shrugged, making her roll her eyes as she stopped to get the woman.

"What are you four doing?" She asked. "We need Guardian Belikov…someone again broke into the princess' room." Laylah said, making her eyes widen when she saw the blood on the wall. "Alright…" She breathed as Rose went with Lissa to the chair with Oscar.

When Kirova and Dimitri arrived, Laylah had walked Natalie to her room and stayed with Lissa and Rose. Her eyes looked annoyed as she looked at the head mistress. He shook his head as she fought back her comment. He knew she was upset about the drama that as being spread.

After that disastrous dinner, Laylah was exhausted. She left for her room alone, not even sparing Dimitri a look. She just wanted to shut the world away and forget that high school was the worst ever. She couldn't wait to get out of St. Vladimir's and go to Yale. At least there, Abigail and her would be considered normal students.

AN: I hope that everyone enjoyed this chapter. I know I'm going quickly through parts of the book but I'm trying to get at least through Shadow kiss done. Please review and tell me what you think.