AN – Thank you for the reviews! Yes, last chapter a lot happened. I hope you followed it ok! This chapter is a little slower though.

Here it is. I couldn't let you wait that long.

I'm apologising again for THAT cliff-hanger, I hate them too, but it felt right. I made sure I'd written this chapter before I posted it though. I spent yesterday (which was my birthday) proofreading and editing this chapter for you guys!

I didn't plan on writing the first part (DPOV) but while proofreading and editing yesterday I just got part of it stuck in my head and thought I'd go for it.

A few of you have figured a certain part out, maybe I put too many hints into the previous chapter

So, the first RPOV was where I could have left the last chapter. Either ending was going to be cruel so I went with my initial plan of leaving it at 'say something'. I sort of wish I'd left it at the RPOV now but here we are.

Chapter 10 – The Encouragement

DPOV

As I sat on the sofa and waited for Rose to come out of the bathroom my mind wondered to everything we had just gone through. Especially the fight. I was beyond proud of her in how well she had done. Even if her diving into the fight without a second thought had scared me to death. I tried keeping an eye on her. And I knew I shouldn't. That distraction could of well and truly cost me my life, but I didn't care. I had to make sure she was ok. The urge to protect and care for Rose was too strong.

I remembered the fear I felt in the minute following staking the final strigoi outside. I'd made the decision to go after it. Hoping beyond hope that Art would help Rose if she needed it, but I couldn't let the bastard get away. Not after the carnage it had caused. That fear will stay with me for the rest of my life. Not knowing if Rose was ok. Then she burst through that door and ran to me. I didn't even think went she crashed into me. I didn't care I just enveloped her into my arms. The need to hold her stronger than anything after I knew she was ok, that we both were.

Being brought out of my thoughts by the bathroom door opening and Rose's angry voice, startling me slightly. ''What did I say? I'm taking the sofa.'' I refrained a laugh, knowing this would only piss her off more. I knew I wasn't going to win the fight of her taking the bed. But I also couldn't go to sleep until we talked. I needed to talk to her. Had to know what happened last night.

Instead I said the one thing that wouldn't raise suspicion. Dragging out the inevitable. ''I know, I was just watching some TV while you showered. Wanted to see how long this storm was going to last.'' I knew without looking out the window that the storm was already bad. I couldn't see how leaving tomorrow was going to be a possibility and I said as much, as I glanced towards the window.

I changed the channel to something I thought might help make this conversation easier, but it didn't. Rose got engrossed into the film, so I let her sit in silence and watch it. I should have just turned the TV off. How she could sit there and watch this crap I didn't know. I was so tensed up and agitated that I kept fidgeting. I wanted, no, needed to talk to her. I needed to know if what I saw yesterday was really what she wanted. And if not, well Mason was going to wish he had ran far away when we got back to school.

If it was, I wouldn't continue the conversation I was so desperate to have with her. If not, then my anxiety was going to go through the roof because then I'd have to own up to what I had done, and I had no idea how she would react. My biggest fear was if telling her the truth made things even worse. What if she no longer felt the same way about me? What if she'd feel uncomfortable around me and decided to get a new mentor after I confessed my feelings for her? If that happened, I think it would kill me.

Rose must not have been as engrossed in the film as I thought as she suddenly called me out on my fidgeting. I was shocked when she did and yet again chickened out. What the hell was wrong with me? This poor girl probably wanted to get some sleep but here I was sat on her bed while I was trying to get a grip of myself to have a conversation, I shouldn't even be thinking of having but one that could change my life completely. If it worked out the way I hoped.

''Oh, for the love of god. Whatever it is spit it out!'' she cried again after a while. ''You're driving me insane and I'm guessing you won't move off my bed until you've said whatever it is, and I'd like to get some sleep.'' Rose muttered, frustration leaking into her voice. See I was right, she wanted to go to bed.

Screw it I thought. Here goings nothing. I took a breath and replied. ''Sorry. I do want to talk to you. But it can wait until later if you want to sleep.''

I hoped she didn't take me up on that offer. If she did, I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep. I was too tense to even think about sleep right now. ''No, no. Just spit it out already.'' She insisted. I nearly sighed in relief.

''It's about last night. I saw you. With Mason.'' I looked directly at her, taking in her reaction. She was shocked. Did she not remember? Oh god, no. Please don't say he took advantage of her. I honestly didn't know which one would be worse. I saw her take in what I said and when the realisation hit her. Yeah, she remembered now, and she looked shocked then suddenly confusion crossed her face. Not what I was expecting.

I should have known her bravado would come out and she wouldn't just ask what I wanted to know. I was going to have to spell it out for her and I did. The shock on her face was clear when I asked her if he took advantage of her as well as the outraged expression when she replied. ''What?! NO, of course not. Mason would never! If he had I would have beaten him like a pulp. Ever thought I was the one taking advantage of him?'' That last part didn't even bear the thought off, so I ignored it.

Trying to calm her down. I just needed to know because if she did have feelings for him, I wouldn't be able to do the one thing I was desperate to do. Tell her the truth. ''Rose, I had to ask. Especially after he just ran out of the room.'' I mumbled.

''Well, he didn't! I did it on my own free will! He would never do that! He isn't like that. I don't know why he ran, probably because he'd been caught. By you of all people, he looks up to you.'' She said in response. I didn't even think of that. That someone would look up to me, but still the honourable thing would have been to wait for her and make sure she got back to her dorm safely. But would you have really wanted that to happen a voice in my head muttered. I knew the answer. No, I wouldn't. If he had taken her back to her room who knows what would have happened.

''You never know who's like that. I just had to ask.'' I explained again, trying to calm her. I should have known it wouldn't be this easy. I should have known she'd be pissed at me for even thinking this. I knew Mason was a good kid, but he was also a teenage boy who had been drinking.

Nothing could have prepared me for what she said next. It hurt. It felt like she'd slapped me with her words. ''Well, you would know, wouldn't you? Least you had the charm to blame.'' I cringed at her words. She was right. I knew she was. She finally believed what I'd said. And it hurt more than ever before. The only thing that had kept me battling through my guilt was knowing that Rose didn't blame me. And now she did. My worst fear. Before I could spiral too far down that path, Rose interrupted my thoughts.

''I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.'' She continued almost instantly. I saw her hand reach for mine out the corner of my eye, but I couldn't let her touch me, I was too ashamed, so I pulled away. ''Dimitri. I'm really sorry. I don't think that. Not at all. I know you'd never do that. You didn't do that. It was the charm, I know that.'' She sagged a little into the sofa. ''I just wish you did.'' She muttered. And with that one sentence my world brightened. She still believed that it was the charm. The relief I felt, which I had no right in feeling was beyond anything and I had to fight a smile. I still felt guilty, still felt like I had in fact taken advantage of her and I told her that.

''Your right though, I did take advantage of you.''

Yeah that only made her madder. This was not going the way I expected. ''Oh, for the last time. You didn't. I told you that day in the gym I wanted to! Even without that stupid charm I wanted you!'' she was starting to yell now and was angrily pointing her finger at me. In any other situation I would have found this amusing. ''I would have still done it without that charm. Well probably not right then with Lissa in danger. But if you wanted me another time, I would have been willing. Just get over it. It happened; we can't undo it.'' Yeah, definitely shouting now. I gulped when she looked away. I needed to calm her down. If she continued shouting someone would hear and come and ask if everything was ok.

''I'm sorry. I just had to know if he'd hurt you or taken advantage of you. I didn't mean to bring anything up.'' I muttered.

Luckily it worked. She calmed down. ''Well technically I brought it up. I mentioned what happened. You didn't. But no, he didn't take advantage of me. He told me he had feelings for me, and I thought that maybe I could feel the same. That I should give it a shot. Maybe it would help me...'' she took a breath, and I held mine. ''…stop hurting so much. I need to move on.'' No, I didn't want her to move on. She couldn't be thinking like that. I needed to tell her. If she was only thinking about it, surely that meant she hadn't yet? That she still cared for me. I dared to hope. Deciding now was the time. I started with an apology.

''I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. That was the last thing I wanted to do.'' I knew I had, but I just felt it was for the best. We couldn't be together for so many reasons, but it was killing me to stay away from her. And if the conversation I heard between her and the princess was anything to go by, she had changed recently too. To a point even her friends were picking up on it.

''Yeah. Well don't act like you care.'' She sighed. Suddenly she jumped up off the couch and started pacing the floor in front of me. She looked so cute all frustrated, then her words sunk in. She didn't think I cared. Taking another deep breath, I stood and placed myself in front of her.

''But I do care!'' I exclaimed as I stood in front for her, halting her pacing. She looked even more furious.

''Yes, as a mentor, you made that perfectly clear. A mentor shouldn't care who I'm hooking up with. So, stop it!'' she yelled at me. She was right, a mentor definitely shouldn't care. But I didn't see her as my student anymore. I saw her as the love of my life, and I needed to make this right.

''NO!'' I shouted in response. Taking a moment to clear my thoughts but Rose interrupted me before I could say anything more.

''Then why?! Why are you pretending to care?''

Was she blind? Could she not see the truth? Was my reaction to her and Mason not evidence enough for what I felt, or had I lied to her that well that she believed me whole heartedly and didn't even think of the possibility that I did in fact care for her, deeply. I was getting frustrated and that frustration came bursting out as I exclaimed ''Because I love you. You infuriating women! I love you. You consume my every waking thought whether I'm with you or not. Hell, you consume my subconscious as well. I dream about that night every damn night. It's on a constant loop, haunting my dreams. I shouldn't and I've tried not to, but I can't lie anymore. I've lied enough.'' I stared at her, shocked at what I'd just said. This is not how I wanted it to happen. I wanted to do this in a calm way and sit her down and explain it all, but she just got under my skin. She was staring at me. Shocked, she opened her mouth and closed it again a few times as the silence continued.

I couldn't bare the silence anymore as I whispered. ''Say something. Please.''

RPOV

I could see it in his look. The same look I'd seen many times. The first being the night of the lust charm, but I'd seen it a few times since, but I never knew what it meant. Like a light bulb in my head I realised. It was a look I'd seen Lissa's dad give to her mum. The look of pure and undeniable love. It was never lust like I thought, like he'd told me. And he had that look on his face and he was staring at me. I could see it clearly now. He had no more walls up, he was baring everything to me. Every emotion was clear on his beautiful face. I'd been so stupid to believe his words.

Without any hesitation. I reached up, curling my hand around his neck, pulling him down and pressing my lips firmly to his.

I blinked a few times, still staring at him. Shaking that possibility from my head. Coming back to that room, we continued staring at each other. I could do that, I wanted to. More than anything I wanted to kiss him. It would be easy. I could see the look in his eyes. Instead I did the one thing I could think of doing. The one thing I knew could give me time to think, to sort through the confusion and frustration I was feeling.

I ran from the room.

DPOV

She left, she actually left. I stood in the room, frozen. She just left.

I sank to the floor where I stood not knowing what to do. Should I go after her? Should I give her space. But she was under the care of the academy. I had a duty of care. I had to go after her, but I couldn't seem to move.

I'd left it too late. Why else would she run from me? I didn't know what to expect from her when I told her. Probably lots of yelling and cursing but I never thought she'd run from me. Yes, you did a voice sneered in my head that's why you were going to talk to her in the car on the way home. So, she couldn't run. Ugh that voice was right. I knew her running was a possibility, I should have locked and bolted the door before she came out the bathroom. It would have given me time to recover and stop her. I just hoped she wasn't stupid enough to leave the B&B.

After a while I stood from the floor and started pacing.

After she still hadn't come back a while later, I went over to the bed, deciding to read until Rose came back. Because she had to come back right. She wouldn't just leave. I knew she was safe; I'd seen to that. I'd seen to that while I was pacing. I just hoped she'd come back soon.

RPOV

I found myself in the gym which the B&B had. I was surprised. No B&B I'd been in before had a gym but thank god this one did. Because I needed to punch something.

Luckily, I was the only one in the gym so had free ran of the equipment. I decided I'd hold off on punching something for a little while so went over to the treadmill and decided to run. My hands had already taken a beating from the fight earlier. With the amount of frustration and confusion I was feeling right now, if I started punching something now, I would do serious damage to myself. And I didn't want that.

I ran on the treadmill for close to half an hour, once I felt a little calmer, I decided now I needed to punch something. It was the only real way to release the tension I was currently feeling. Without thinking, I strode towards the punching bags and started beating the crap out of them. He loved me. What the hell? How could he love me? What happened to what he said last month? He didn't have any feelings for me then, so what changed. He lied, you idiot the voice in my head shouted he just told you he lied, and you ran away from him.

Could I be blamed for running? I'm sure anyone else in this exact situation would have done the same. What did it mean? He loved me; I could see that. I could see it in the way he looked at me. His face was so open to me, I could read every emotion clearly, so I knew he was telling the truth. Why did he lie?

I don't know how long I spent at the punching bag before someone stopped me. Grabbing my arms from behind and pulling me away. I started thrashing, trying to get the person off me long enough so I could fight them.

''Rose. Stop!'' A voice behind me shouted causing me to still my struggles. I knew that voice. ''Didn't you hear me calling you?'' I realised it was Art behind me. Why the hell wasn't he asleep?

''Sorry. I must have been lost in thought.'' I replied after he let me go. I spun to face him sheepishly.

''I can tell.'' He muttered then looked down ''Look at your hands!'' he exclaimed; disapproval clear in his voice. I looked down after he took my hands in his and noticed the knuckles were split and bleeding. And they hurt like a bitch. So much for not causing too much harm. ''Didn't you think of wrapping them?'' He asked. I shook my head.

He dragged me over to the corner, where luckily a first aid kit had been left out. Probably for this possibility. We sat down and Art got to work cleaning up my hands. I remembered the many times Dimitri had done this for me. The care he took when handling my wounds so not to hurt me. Could it be possible he'd just told the truth? I shook my head again, trying to get the question out my head. It was too confusing, and I couldn't afford the need to continue punching something.

We sat in silence for a while after Art had cleaned my hands up. Eventually I stood up and started pacing, looking longingly at the punching bag. Screw it. Before I could take a step in its direction, Art handed me hand wraps from his pocket. ''You might want to use these.'' He said. I nodded my thanks and wrapped my hands. Heading back for another round of punching now my hands were protected. It hurt but I ignored the pain. I needed to calm down so I could think clearly. Until then I wouldn't be able to disgust what had just happened.

He left me alone for a while longer to continue getting my frustration out. Eventually he came over and stood near me, watching me. I felt sort of like this was part of a test, an unofficial one since he'd already passed me on my qualifier, but I pushed that thought from my head when Art started chuckling from his position. ''What?!'' I exclaimed frustrated. This was meant to be helping and Art laughing was only making me more frustrated.

''Just thinking. Being involved in a fight wasn't exciting or energy draining enough for you?'' He chuckled again. ''You had to come down here and beat up this poor bag?''

''Uh, no. I mean yeah.'' I replied nervously. ''I just had a few things I needed to think about. Punching something. Well it helps ease my frustration which then lets me think clearly.'' I shrugged. ''Punching this…'' I punched the bag again. ''…is better than punching someone.''

''What do you need to think about? Maybe talking may help?'' He suggested.

''I can't really talk about it. With anyone. Except the person it's to do with and right now I don't know where I stand with them.'' I muttered sadly.

''Let me guess, this person is Dimitri?'' He questioned. I nodded, not sure where he was going. Nothing could have prepared me for what he said next. ''Am I correct in presuming he told you the truth?''

''Wait. What?'' I shouted, stopping my punches and leaning against the wall near where Art was. Breathing heavily. ''You know?'' I continued. He nodded. ''And you haven't reported it?'' He shook his head. Sinking to the floor I sat down. I didn't think my legs would be able to hold me up after that news. Here was someone – a previous head of guardians- who knew about me and Dimitri and they hadn't reported it. ''Why?''

''Yes, I know. I had a suspicion with the way Belikov was talking about you when he asked me to conduct your qualifier. I've known him for a long time now. He's a good man, I knew he wouldn't do anything about his feelings, so I didn't see the need to report it. I've never heard him talk about someone the way he talks about you. Or seen him act the way he does around you with anyone else. It's nice to see.'' He said, looking at me closely. When I didn't say anything, he continued. ''About a month ago he phoned me again. Checking that I was still ok to do your qualifier, but I could tell something was bothering him, something was off. I asked him outright about my suspicions and he admitted it to me but said he couldn't tell you. I tired telling him then to just admit it to you, but he wouldn't listen. Then Saturday he called again to confirm. Again, I could tell something was bothering him. He told me he'd decided to tell you the truth. Which I'm presuming is why you are down here? Because you can't talk to anyone about it? He told you?'' He asked, looking at me pointedly.

''Yeah, he did.'' I muttered while shrugging. Not really wanting to open up to someone I didn't know and someone who could quite easily report us. I mean he should be reporting us.

''If you want, you can talk it through with me. I promise it won't leave this room. It might help'' He said, raising an eyebrow. OH, Come on! Why can everyone do that except me. I frowned. ''I promise I won't report it, if that's what your concerned about.'' Oops, he must have mistaken my frown as meaning something else.

When I didn't respond he continued. ''Look. I'll give you a little free advice. If this is something you want. Really want nothing should stop you. I know it's complicated, love always is.'' He sighed ''If you love him, like I'm certain he loves you, go for it. I saw the look on his face when he realised you was ok after the fight was over. And from what I've seen today, the way you clung to him after you couldn't find him in the house, the panicked expression you had, I'm sure you love him just as much.'' He looked at me knowingly again. ''So, trust me, he loves you. Whatever your doubts right now, don't doubt that. He had his reasons for lying, probably to do with the age difference and the big one, you are his student.'' He chuckled softly. ''Like I said, I know it's complicated. Just promise me one thing?'' I nodded; not sure I'd be able to talk. ''If you aren't sure, don't lead him on. He's been through enough recently and it's only when he found you, he started to heal. I don't want to see him get hurt again.'' I realised during this long speech that Art most certainly knew about Dimitri's feelings for me, more than I did. But he only knew that something was going on, he didn't know the extent of what had happened between us already. That it was actually Dimitri who had pushed me away.

Finally, I found my voice again. Sighing I explained. ''I wouldn't hurt him. I know what that feels like, too be hurt. I would never do that to him. I'm just confused with his sudden mood change.'' I don't know why I suddenly felt like explaining this to Art. He just seemed like the kind of person I could trust. And from the sounds of it, he'd known something for a while now and not reported us so surely, he wasn't going to.

''Mood change?'' Art asked, confusion clear in his voice. His face had softened a lot during his speech. His mask firmly off and emotions clear.

''Yeah. Somethings happened a month ago. After those things we talked, and I told him how I felt more or less. He told me he didn't feel that way about me and shut me out. Amongst other things as well but that's the main one. So yeah, I'm confused by his sudden change of mind tonight.''

''IDIOT!'' Art exclaimed, I looked at Art outraged, why was he calling me an idiot? ''Not you, him.'' He clarified. ''So, he told you and you came down here and took it out on the punching bag?'' Art asked. ''Did he tell you everything?''

''That about sums it up yeah.'' I laughed humourlessly ''Well no, I didn't really give him a chance. I just stared at him for a few moments then ran from the room.'' I muttered into my hands. ''I didn't know what else to do.'' I groaned.

''Oh, you are both so stubborn. Just sit down and have a discussion.'' Art muttered irritably. ''If only I had done that, things would be so different for me now.'' He continued in a voice so low I didn't think I was meant to hear.

''What do you mean?'' I asked. Only fair I thought, I'd shared with him. Now it's his turn.

He sighed. Looking straight forward he took a deep breath. ''I met a girl. No, a woman, once. She was a dhampir, a guardian. She'd just graduated and was at court waiting for her allocation. But I'd met her before that, very briefly.'' He sighed again. ''I was still head guardian so dealt a lot with the new graduates. We had many meetings and eventually found ourselves meeting outside of the offices. We could talk for hours. I knew the second I laid eyes on her the first time I met her that there was something different about her but it wasn't until she came to court and I got to know her better that I realised what that was and before I could stop it, I'd fallen in love with her.'' He stopped talking, a faraway look on his face. Like he was somewhere else entirely. He sighed again. ''I didn't tell her my feelings. I thought she felt the same too but neither of us said anything, so I just thought I was imagining it. It's my biggest regret. Not telling her how I felt. She got her allocation and left. She sent me a letter shortly after which I still carry with me today, it's the last remaining thing I have, other than my memories.'' He finished sadly.

''Why don't you try finding her now?'' I asked.

''I kept track of her after she left, while I was still in charge. But I don't have that power anymore. I have no clue if she is still based at her last assignment or if she moved on. Or if she's even still alive.'' He muttered while shuddering at the same time. ''That doesn't even bear the thought. Surely if she had died a part of me would die as well.'' I knew that feeling, I knew if something happened to Dimitri, part of me would die along with him.

''How long has it been since you have seen each other?''

''About 10 years.''

''You should look her up. You obviously still love her. Maybe she felt the same. You won't know unless you try. Put yourself out there.'' I said encouragingly.

''I can't. I won't uproot her life. And she probably didn't. Why would she.'' Art said sorrowfully.

''Art, and I mean this in a none creepy way. You're quite the catch. Yes, I know, you're what 40? And you're old enough to be my father but if what you've just said to me was true and you were meeting outside of work hours surely, she had to feel something?'' I said.

''Uh thanks?'' He said but spoke it like a question, I just smiled in response. ''I'm 42 actually. She'd be what, 28-29 now. That's a big age difference.'' I giggled. ''What?'' He asked incredulously.

''That's only 14 years. Double what is between me and Dimitri. Age is just a number when love is involved. Look her up!'' I said, trying to convince him. He smiled with a twinkle in his eye.

''Ok fine! On one condition.'' He said suspiciously. ''You have to do something for me.''

''What?'' I asked, frightened as to what he was about to ask.

''Talk to Dimitri. Let him tell you everything. Then and only then make up your mind.'' He implored.

''I've already made up my mind Art. I knew what it was the second he said he loved me.'' I whispered.

''So?'' he encouraged, looking at me expectantly.

''Your right. Of course, I'm in love with him. I always have been. I want him more than anything and knowing he wants me to. Well, I feel more complete than I have in the past month since what happened, happened.'' I announced.

Art had a massive grin on his face at that. ''I knew it! Are you going to tell me what that thing was?'' He asked.

''Oh, hell no. If Dimitri wants to tell you he can. Ask him if you want to know so bad.'' I said.

''You know, I may just do that.'' Art laughed.

''So, how are you going to find out where this woman is?'' I exclaimed excitedly. ''Please keep me updated!'' I asked.

''I don't know. I suppose I could ask my contact at court to look her up for me once I'm there. Then take a leave while I go off and find her.'' He murmured. ''Anyway, don't you have something you need to do? We've been sat here long enough. Go talk to him!''

''My part of the deal is done.'' I replied.

''Uh no. It still stands until you talk to him. I know you've made your decision but you two still need to talk. Then, and if you repeat this to anyone, I will deny it. Jump his bones.'' He laughed loudly.

Oh, if he only knew! ''ART! I cannot believe you just told me. A STUDENT to jump my TEACHERS bones.'' I said in outrage, chuckling softly. ''No matter how much I want to do that.'' I murmured afterwards, laughing as well.

''Yeah. I shouldn't have said that really.'' Art replied, shaking his head in shame.

''Not really. But don't worry I won't tell anyone, well apart from Dimitri maybe. We'll see.'' I shrugged. Standing up I let out a small sigh. ''I suppose you are right. I've been down here so long he's probably freaking out. Actually, I'm surprised he didn't come looking for me.'' I muttered.

''He may have woken me up after you'd been gone and told me what happened. I came looking for you and noticed you in here and waited outside. After an hour and you still hadn't come out, I came in to see if you were ok.'' I gapped at him. He knew what had happened yet waited for me to tell him. ''Hey! You wouldn't have spoken to me about it if you knew he'd sent me. Plus, this way, you opened up by yourself. It's better that way.'' He shrugged. Standing up as well. ''Come on. You have a chat to have and we all need to get some sleep.'' I didn't notice until just then how tired Art actually looked. He looked exhausted. I was surprised I was still going. I hadn't had much sleep in the past 24 hours.

We made our way back to our rooms. Stopping just outside my room. ''Good luck.'' He murmured while handing me something. The key to the room I noticed when I took it.

I nodded. ''Thanks.'' He turned to head to his room. ''Oh and Art. Thank you. For the talk. Your women will be very happy when she sees you again. She'd be stupid not to be.'' I said, turning to my door. He nodded in response and went further along the corridor. I waited until he got to his room and went inside before using the key to open my room.

Taking a deep steady breathe I unlocked to door and entered. I was met with a surprising sight. Complete and utter darkness.

I stood there in the doorway confused. The only light was from the open door shining through. I looked around expecting to see Dimitri still sat on the sofa waiting for me and to dramatically turn the light on like the villain does in the movies. Not that Dimitri is a villain. He wasn't there though. I continued looking around the room. He couldn't have left surely. He wouldn't leave without speaking to Art first. Did he think Art hadn't found me?

Finally, my eyes rested on the bed. And on Dimitri. He was laid there on his back, eyes closed. A book laid across his chest. Face peaceful. He must have fallen asleep. Passed out from exhausted from waiting for me. I felt instantly guilty as I took in his peaceful face that would occasionally scrunch up into worry.

I gently closed the door and headed to the bathroom, stepping lightly to avoid waking him up. I headed into the bathroom, my bag was still in here from earlier and I quickly changed into my sleepwear. I couldn't be bothered with a shower and even if I could. I didn't want to risk waking Dimitri up. He needed his sleep.

Coming back into the main room I didn't immediately turn the bathroom light off. Using it so I could make the sofa up. I also lifted the book gently of Dimitri chest and placed it on the night side. Only then did I notice he didn't have a shirt on, and I drooled at the sight of him. Eventually I turned the light off and laid on the sofa. God, the lumps on this thing. I tossed a few times trying to get comfy. I'm never getting to sleep on this I thought bitterly. Just at that moment Dimitri let out a small sigh. ''Roza.'' He murmured. I sat up and was about to answer but realised after a second and a soft snore that he was in fact still asleep and dreaming. About me. He was dreaming about me. I smiled happily to myself as I laid back down and groaned quietly. I turned on my side to face Dimitri. My eyes had grown accustomed to the dark now. I realised then that the room must have blackout blinds or curtains since no daylight was getting through. And it was daylight by now. That or the snow had come down so heavy that it was blocking the windows. Probably both.

Sighing again as I couldn't get comfy, I sat up on the sofa. I needed sleep. You would have thought I'd be that exhausted that I would be able to sleep anywhere. But this sofa was just that uncomfortable. I could always sleep on the floor. Plus, my brain wouldn't shut up for more than five seconds to let me even attempt to sleep. Sighing in frustration I eyed the empty side of the bed. Dimitri looked so comfy in that bed I was jealous that I'd demanded he took it. Why did I do that?

You could always go and join him a voice in my head whispered to me. Could I? Could I do that? What would Dimitri think when he woke up? I couldn't, he would think I'm weird. He went to sleep alone. It would freak him out to wake up with someone next to him. But then if I did, it would be pretty clear to him what I was thinking. Wouldn't it? He'd know surely.

Screw it I thought as I jumped off the sofa grabbing my pillow and striding over to the bed. I placed my pillow on the empty side and slowly lifted the covers, sliding in next to Dimitri. I laid on my back for a while before turning on my side facing Dimitri. I stared at him. Committing him to memory which I hoped I wouldn't need after tomorrow. He said he couldn't lie anymore, I hoped it was still true after I walked out on him. Slowly I leaned forward and rested my head on his bare chest, curling myself into his side. I gently turned my head and brushed my lips on his chest and snuggled closer to him, his scent wrapping around me like a blanket. Dimitri sighed in his sleep and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me even closer to him, muttering my name again like a prayer.

The sound of his breathing and heartbeat eventually lulled me into a restless sleep.

AN- Not a lot of new Romitri in this chapter but I promise to make it up to you guys next chapter.

Art knew, of course. I hope you liked the heart to heart between Rose and Art, bless him poor guy. I liked being able to make a character we didn't really see anything off and bring him to life.

I don't truthfully know how many more chapters I have left in this story. After they talk (again) I don't know what I want to happen after. I have an idea, but it involves the she devil and she was never planned to be in this story. Honestly this wasn't even meant to be this long. It was only meant to be like 3-4 chapters long.

Until next time