A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who is still with me. I can´t tell you enough how happy your reviews make me.

I know it took me some year to continue this story and it makes me more than happy, to see some of you are still here. A big thank you to everyone who has added this story to their favorites and is still following.

I honestly didn´t think I would ever continue writing and I´m probably as surprised as you are. Your encouraging words are more than motivating. I´ll do my best to not let you guys down again.

I uploaded 2 Sydrian one shots (Happy Birthday & Never have I ever) a few days ago. If you are interested, you are more than welcome to check them out.

Now with a huge THANK YOU and happy face back to the story…

Adrians POV

It was early in the morning when we entered the suburbs of Philadelphia. The sun wasn´t even up yet. A quick glance to the watch that was hanging in the front of the bus above the driver told me it was a bit after 5 am.

It was the time of day when streetlights one by one turned off and dawn was slowly settling in. There wasn´t a lot of traffic yet, but rush hour would change the mostly abandoned streets in a few hours.

The city looked peaceful like this, calm even. Maybe even a bit too calm. But that probably was just spirit, raising its ugly head. It had been a while since I last felt like this and I had been expecting it for some time now.

It wasn´t exactly paranoia. It was more like a feeling of threat I couldn´t quiet place.

Regardless, I tried to shove the feeling away. Now wasn´t the time for any of this. I would have plenty of time later to worry and take care of myself. Now we had other things to attend to and bringing myself down with dark thoughts like this wasn´t going to help in any way.

But of course it was easier said than done. If it was as simple as that I wouldn´t have taken the prescription in the first place.

Having used spirit the day before certainly hadn´t helped and I was dealing with the consequences now. I have had worse, way worse but it still was the last thing we needed at the moment. I had to be in top shape. Regarding my mental and physical health. I inhaled deeply and pulled Sydney closer to me. I kissed her hair and breathed her in.

Everything was going to be okay. I had found Sydney and we were almost at court. Nothing was going to happen. I am okay, we are okay.

It was like a mantra I was playing over and over again in my head. And slowly, very slowly I started to calm down a bit.

Sydneys thumb was painting invisible patterns on my arm and hand and I actually was able to calm myself down. Einstein would have been proud of me.

Sydneys POV

We were the last people getting out of the bus. We had both been afraid someone was already waiting here for us so we had taken our time to observe our surroundings.

We finally had left the bus when the driver gave us an exasperated glance. We both decided we had given him enough headache already and holding my hand steadily, Adrian took the few steps down to the road and I followed him.

When no one jumped forward after a few moments we both relaxed a bit. Than I started to look around and so did Adrian. Both of us searching for James.

The bus depot was empty. Only a few people were sitting on a bench waiting to enter a bus that had just parked.

"Do you think he´s late?" I asked Adrian who gave me an uncertain look and shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe, but him being a guardian I don´t think so" he replied.

"And you are sure he is waiting for us here? Maybe there are different bus depots. What if he is waiting somewhere else?" I asked. Wouldn´t that just be our luck.

Adrian shook his head "I don´t think so. To make arrangements like this Jill must have been sure about our place of arrival".

Suddenly Adrians face changed and a smile appeared on his lips.

"You saw him?" I asked excited.

"Nope, but they sell waffles over there. I could die for waffles right now" he said pulling me in the directions of a small food joint across the street.

I almost laughed "You are almost as excited about this as you were when we had fondue" I said chuckling.

"It´s waffles Sage. Don´t tell me you don´t like waffles" he replied and gave me a reproachful look.

"Well if it makes you happy like this, waffles are my new favorite from now on" I said and I was rewarded with an even bigger smile.

He ordered for both of us and we sat down on a bench to eat.

I couldn´t remember the last time I had eaten waffles, but they tasted wonderful. They were freshly baked and still warm and every bite literally melted in my mouth.

Than someone behind us spoke and I almost dropped my waffle. We both turned around in unison.

"Lord Ivashkov" the man said and gave Adrian a friendly smile. Adrian nodded still a bit cautious. Me on the other hand was surprised about the title the man was using.

"Guardian Castile sends me" he went on and Adrian smiled at him.

"You must be James" Adrian said and I finally understood what was going on. Yes, he was tall and blond like Jill had described him and even though I didn´t know how a guardian was supposed to look like, he radiated strength and authority.

"James Moore" he said with a nod, extending his hand to Adrian. He took it and then introduced me to him.

"This is Miss Steele" he said looking at me.

I was lost for a moment and then remembered he was talking about me. A touch of surprise flashed James face when he looked at me, but then he was all business again and shook my hand in the same manner he had just taken Adrians.

"Nice to meet you Miss Steele" he said.

"Likewise" I responded and with another interested look at me he turned back to Adrian.

James pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Adrian who took it and shoved it in his pocket.

"Thank you" he said and James nodded.

"Well, I have to get back to work. It was nice to meet you in person Lord Ivashkov" James said and gave me a nod "and you Miss Steele" he said.

I nodded at him and so did Adrian. With another glance at me, James moved away and disappeared around a corner.

"That was weird. Why did he look at me like that? Do I have something in my face?" I asked uncertain.

"You are as beautiful as always" Adrian said shaking his head.

"Than what is it?" I asked.

"He was just surprised to see me with a human. Especially a beautiful one like you" he then said "It´s not every day you see a moroi walking around with a human. I would have been more surprised if he hadn´t noticed" he went on.

I remembered what Adrian had told me in New York and I nodded in understanding.

"I see Lord Ivashkov" I then said with a grin, emphasizing the word Lord.

He chuckled "Well, I didn´t want you to fall in love with me because of my title Sage. Have you ever watched the movie `Coming to America?` " he asked with a wink.

I tilted my head "You know I haven´t" I said rolling my eyes.

He chuckled "Of course not" he replied "Well, now that the cat is out of the bag, let me introduce myself to you formally" he said bowing in front of me.

"Miss Katherine Sydney Sage, I´m Lord Adrian Ivashkov and I´m madly in love with you" he said, taking my hand and planting a kiss on it.

I blushed and my knees got weak for a moment. This could have been straight out of a movie I thought. How did I possibly deserve him.

"That is good to know Lord Ivashkov…" I said, pulling him up again "because I´m madly in love with you, too" I finished, getting up on my tiptoes.

I beamed up at his beautiful face and then kissed him, too caught up in the moment to care that we were standing in the middle of the street.

He kissed me back and I lost track of time for a moment. I was sure I would never get tired of feeling his lips on mine.

He lifted me up from the ground and swirled us around, making me giggle.

"Come on now Misty, let´s find a way out of this city and finally get to court" he said putting me back down on my feet.