Sorry I am just now updating! I was so wrapped up in reading other people's fics this weekend that I hadn't updated my own. I also went to see the Twilight Trilogy last night and Eclipse again this morning so I didn't update yesteday! Lemme just say... LOVED IT!

This is kind of a filler chapter to get into some more detail of where I want to go. Hope you like it and it's not too boring but it gives up a couple pieces of info for the future.

Not Beta'd and of course I don't own it!

Stop Being a Coward

Chapter 5

Dimitri quickly changed his flight information and then grabbed food for him and Rose at the small food stand sat up in the corner of the lobby. They had sandwiches and pizza and he opted for the sandwiches in hopes of not remembering the last time he had taken her pizza.

He headed back up to Rose's room with the sub sandwiches, crackers, Doritos, a bottle of coke for Rose and two bottles of water. When he reached the door he gently knocked, waiting for it to be opened. Lissa opened the door for him and he stepped into the room, heading for the small table and chairs that sat on the far wall next to the kitchenette.

"Is she still sick?" Dimitri asked, looking at the closed bedroom door.

"I think she's better now. Just needs to get her strength back." Lissa replied, "Let me check on her." She gently tapped on the door as she pushed it open to look inside. "Rose?"

"Is he….is Dimitri still here?" Rose asked Lissa as she looked up towards her friend that was standing in the doorway.

"Yeah, he's still here. Let me help you though." Lissa nodded to the shirt that Rose had been wearing. It was wet and covered in sweat and throw up. Lissa then turned back into the room and went to the wardrobe. She pulled it open and pulled out some clean yoga pants, a sweatshirt, and some undergarments for Rose.

"We will be just a minute." Lissa told Dimitri then walked back into the bathroom and smiled at her friend. "You would never forgive me if I let you walk out there looking like that."

Rose gave Lissa a small smile as she turned towards the mirror to take in her appearance. This was the first time she had seen herself in weeks and she did not look very good. Her cheeks were pale as he olive colored skin tone seemed to have a greenish sheen covering it, making her look sick. Her cheeks were also a little bit thinner and she had black bags under her eyes.

Her clothing was sweaty and nasty and she noticed that she really did smell. It had been at least a few days since the last time she had showered and wondered briefly how she hadn't noticed any of this before.

She shook her head as she took the clothing from Lissa. "Thanks. I'm going to take a quick shower and I will be right out."

"Not trying to be your mother but Dimitri brought you dinner and you need to try and eat something."

Rose's stomach growled in response and a hint of a smile touched her lips. "Thanks Lis."

"Do you need anything else right now?"

"Nope, I think I'm okay. Please don't worry Lissa." Rose commented as she looked at her friend standing in front of her.

"You could feel that I was worrying?" Lissa questioned.

"Yes, bonded remember." Rose looked at her like she was crazy. "And even if we weren't, the look on your face tells me that you are. I know you remember? Bond or no bond."

Lissa smiled what she felt like was her first smile in a days. "I am going to grab something to eat with Christian. Dimitri is outside, don't leave him waiting long."

Rose nodded and turned to get into the shower.

Lissa smiled and walked back out of the bathroom with a grin on her face. "I'm glad you came Dimitri." Lissa walked up to stand in front of him as he sat at the table, "I think she just might be okay. She's cleaning up a bit and will be out in a few minutes. I will leave you two alone. If you need anything, let me know."

"Thank you Princess, I will." Dimitri stood and walked her over to the door, locking it behind her. The Princess had had a little hope on her face about how well Rose was doing. They had already made some progress. He could help her. He would help her. He knew he owed her that much.

Dimitri walked back over to the kitchenette and grabbed a couple of plates. He put the meatball sub on one plate for Rose and his Philly on the other. He then noticed some pictures on the wall next to the kitchenette and walked over to look.

He saw the picture of Lissa and Rose dressed up as pixies for Halloween. He had seen this picture before but looking at Rose now, made a smile come over his face. There was a picture of Christian, Lissa, Rose, Eddie and Mason in the library at St. Vladimir's. He noticed that Mason's eyes were trained on Rose as she smiled at whoever was taking the picture. This had to have been before Spokane. She looked so carefree and happy at the time that he had forgotten the light that was so bright in her eyes before she had had to kill the two Strigoi.

The next picture was of Rose, Lissa, Christian and Adrian. Adrian was also looking at Rose in a way that Dimitri didn't like but the look on Rose's face was priceless as she was scowling at some offhanded remark that Adrian had no doubt given her. This picture was from after Spokane but before he had left. He remembered the day because he had had to go to the commons to retrieve Rose for practice and she had still been yelling at Adrian.

There were a few other pictures of Rose and her mother or Rose and Lissa. There were even a couple with Alberta and some of the other guardians. Rose looked like she belonged in those pictures, as she had her guardian mask firmly in place, not revealing her feelings. But he could see the smile still in her eyes.

Then there were some newer pictures, some that he didn't recognize. There was a picture with her and Adrian. Adrian had his arms wrapped protectively around her waist and she had a smile on her face but her eyes still looked so sad. He doubted that anyone else could read her eyes like he could and knew anyone else would have seen a happy woman in that picture.

He then realized that the pictures were from a party that he had not been there for. They were from her graduation. Even Tasha was in a few of them. He also noticed someone he had not expected to see in the photos, Abe Mazur.

He remembered her bringing up Abe Mazur when she was with him as Strigoi. He had demanded she stay away from him and here he was at her graduation. What was going on? And how on earth did she know Zmey. He felt angry for a moment that she would have him around.

At that moment, Rose walked up behind him. She was wearing a towel wrapped around her hair and had changed into the clothes that Lissa had taken in to her. She noticed the tension in Dimitri's shoulders as she looked at the pictures with him. Not quite sure what had gotten him so upset. She then noticed the picture of her and Adrian and figured that had to be it.

"We broke up." She said suddenly, hoping that Dimitri didn't think she was still with Adrian. Technically, she hadn't broken up with Adrian but surely he wouldn't still think they were together after she had broken his nose...right?

Dimitri turned to look at her. "You broke up? With whom?"

"Adrian….isn't that what you were looking at?" confusion laced her words as she took in his face.

"Actually no, that's good to know though." A brief smile kissed his lips.

"Then what are you upset about?"

"Well first, I am upset that I missed your graduation, I heard you were badass." Dimitri picked a better topic to start with, other than why Abe was in the pictures. He grinned at her. Complimenting Rose always seemed to make them both feel better.

Rose smiled at him, her first real smile in a long time. Her cheeks kind of hurt as she did so, she hadn't used those muscles in a while. "Yeah, I was pretty awesome. I wish you had been there too. I learned from the best though." She didn't want to think about why he wasn't there though so she went on asking, "What's the other thing that upset you?"

"Why is Abe Mazur in your picture?"

Rose noticed his eyes darken just a bit and the edge in his tone got harder as he was obviously trying to make this a simple question as well.

Rose sighed and turned to walk towards the food sitting on the table. It had actually smelled good and she was so hungry she didn't want to wait to eat anymore.

"He's my father."

At the look of complete confusion on Dimitri's face, she continued, "you know, like the guy that got my mom pregnant. Nine months later and here is Rose…"

"Your father? Why does that not surprise me? It seems like anything that can go wrong for you will. Makes sense as to where you got your stubbornness and temper. Your mother never seems to have the attitude that you do but Abe Mazur sure does."

She had wondered where Dimitri knew Abe from but decided she didn't want to talk about her father at the moment. She had Dimitri here and wanted to use the time while she had it.

"I'm hungry." Rose grabbed her sandwich and started to eat it, "let's eat."

Dimitri complied and walked over to sit down across from her. He opened the chips for Rose and picked up his sandwich.

"I'm glad you're here Dimitri." Rose said in between bites of her food, her mouth still full as she spoke.

"I'm glad I am too Rose." He smiled at her as she washed down a mouthful of her sandwich with the Coke.

Thank you everyone who has reviewed! You guys are totally awesome and inspire me to write more! Please review this chapter too! I have gotten good ideas from some of the stuff you guys have sent me!