Here is chapter 9. Sorry I am slow at updating. It is also a little shorter than some of the others. I will post more soon though. I have so many ideas for this fic. I do need some ideas about why Dimitri doesn't like Abe though...any thoughts? Let me know.

Also, check out my other fic if you haven't. It's called 4th of July Fun and you can get the link on my profile.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed or added me to their alerts and favorites! You guys really are great! I am so glad you are liking my story. I have so many more ideas so I'm sure there will be more stories once this one is done.

Unbeta'd and I own nothing...

Stop Being a Coward!

Chapter 9

Rose was lying in Dimitri's arms on a blanket in one of the gardens on the east side of court. He had just returned hours before. Just had he had told her, he was back before she really even had a chance to be away from him. She was grateful that he hadn't been gone long.

They had had a picnic again on a blanket while looking up at the stars and enjoying being together again. Rose could tell Dimitri was nervous about something but she wasn't sure what and didn't want to push him. She knew he would talk to her about it when the time came.

Dimitri asked Rose about what she had done while he was in Russia. She told him her tales of watching Adrian and Lissa practice spirit for hours. She and Lissa had also worked on the healing stuff and they had gotten a little farther. Lissa had charmed another ring for Rose to help get rid of the side effects spirit caused. It was kind of boring to Rose but it was something to pass her time while Dimitri was away. And she had had fun hanging out with Lissa, something she had missed over the past few weeks while she was barricaded in her room. She had seen Lissa everyday but they hadn't really talked or hung out.

Rose also got the feeling that Dimitri didn't want to talk about what happened while he was in Russia and seem to steer clear of that topic when she brought it up. She reluctantly let him but knew that something was going on.

They walked back to guest housing hand in hand, ignoring the looks that they got from the surrounding Moroi and guardians. They were in their own little world and everything seemed perfect. At least Rose thought it was perfect.

They had just reached her room in guest housing when Dimitri sat her down at the end of the bed. He looked nervous as he sat down beside her and took her hand. Rose, I wanted to talk to you about something important.

The look on his face made her nervous and anxious. She didn't know what he wanted to talk to her about but she hoped it was good. Maybe he wanted them to move in together or get a house or something. She let her mind wonder over the things that might make him nervous to tell her but nothing could have prepared her for the words that came out of his mouth.

"Rose, I came back to tell you in person that I am moving back to Russia for good. I'm going to work there at St. Basil's teaching combat classes. I just thought I should tell you in person instead of over the phone and I had some business that I have to attend to here before I can transfer back."

To say Rose was in shock was an understatement. Maybe she hadn't understand what he was saying. "When you say you are moving back do you mean you and me or just you?"

"Just me. You are going to be Lissa's guardian. You have to stay here. I don't. There really isn't anything here for me."

Tears kissed Rose's eyes as she looked at him, realizing he was really leaving this time. "Nothing here for you? What about me? You said you would come back and we could start our life together. You said we would be together and that you loved me. You can't just leave me again. You can't…." She reached towards him with the hand that he wasn't holding.

"Rose. Love fades, mine has. I know I said that before but this time I mean it. You are a great girl but that's all you are, a girl. I can't be with you any longer. It's not right for either of us anymore." Dimitri's face revealed no emotions that he was feeling. Not even his eyes let Rose in on how he was feeling.

"You don't mean that Dimitri. We are supposed to be together." Rose's voice cracked as she tried to stay strong.

"Rose, what do I have to say to get you to believe me? I don't want you anymore. I don't want you to go with me. This thing between us was fun while it lasted but that's all it was, fun. It's over." He let go of her hand and stood up to walk out the door.

He had just closed the door when Rose realized he had left. She was kind of in shock but decided she couldn't just leave it at that. She got up and after him. As soon as she opened the door Dimitri was standing there facing her. This time, his eyes were circled in red and his smile showed his fangs that had been returned to his beautiful face. He was Strigoi again.

"I told you not to follow me. Did you listen? No, you never do. This time I won't be nice Roza. This time your life is mine." After saying this he attacked. She was so shocked that she didn't even try to fight back.

The last think Rose felt were Dimitri's fangs sinking into her throat before she drifted off into the darkness.

Opening her eyes, Rose sat straight up in bed and grabbed her neck as a scratchy scream tried to escape her lips. There were no bite marks. She could vaguely feel that Lissa was still asleep so the bond was still there. She stood straight up and ran into her bathroom, flipping the light on as she went.

She looked at her dark brown eyes and breathed out a sigh of relief. It was a dream, only a dream. She knew Dimitri couldn't do something like that to her. He was coming back for her.

He had been gone for almost a day. He wouldn't arrive in Baia for at least another 12 hours and she had already had two nightmares. The dreams were coming back. They reminded her of the dreams she had had when he had told her he didn't love her except this time he had turned Strigoi and killed her.

The other nightmare was even worse in a way. In it, he had never returned from Russia or called her. She had waited patiently for him. She had turned old and died at court waiting on him and he never came back for her. Her entire life had flown by in mere minutes. Lissa and Christian had gotten married and had babies. Lissa had become queen. Adrian had even gotten married. She was alone, always on the outside looking in. Wishing Dimitri would return to share those things with her. She knew they wouldn't have kids but he could at least be here for her. She was still Lissa's guardian but she had ended up resenting Lissa. Lissa had children and grandchildren and a perfect life that Rose would never have. Rose did remain faithful though, till the day she died. She waited for him to return just as he promised he would. Unfortunately that was just another promise he failed to keep.

She had to keep it together. She couldn't let the darkness or the dreams consume her. She knew he would be back for her; it was only a matter of time. She could do this. She could be strong without him here to lean on. She just had to remember he was coming back for her. There was no way he would abandon her.

Rose knew she wouldn't get anymore sleep and decided to go work out in the gym. She hadn't had a good workout in weeks and she hoped it would take her mind off of everything else that she was facing at the moment.

The laps she ran only seemed to make things worse. Her mind was in a state of limbo as the past, present, and future all seemed to swirl around in her head. All thoughts seemed to drift to Dimitri.

Somehow this one man had captured her (both literally and figuratively). He had irrevocably changed her very essence. She wasn't the same anymore. She had always lived for Lissa before she met him. They come first. But she had never felt more complete in her life than when she was with both Lissa and Dimitri. She not only wanted both of them but also had to have both of them to live. They were the two parts of her soul and neither could survive without the other.

She might not have Dimitri at the moment but she did have Lissa. She wouldn't tell her about the nightmares because she didn't want to worry her again but maybe she could at least draw some strength from her best friend.

With her thoughts made up, she jogged her way over to Lissa's room. Breakfast was just what she needed right now. She hadn't gone out to eat with Lissa or any of the guys in forever. She had gone back to her room after Dimitri had left the previous morning in a futile attempt to sleep. Today she decided that she would be social. What could it hurt?

Please review... and send me your ideas for how Dimitri knows Abe...