Okay so I am sorry that I haven't updated. But I do have an excuse...seems I always do though... This time it's a valid one. My grandfather passed away at the beginning of last week and he lives in a different state than I do. I went to the funeral and everything which took a couple days and to be honest, I wasn't in the writing mood. Then went I got home, I noticed that I didn't have my laptop charger. My grandmother was coming back through where I live so I had to wait for her to get here. I will update more often this week, I promise.

I am so grateful for all the reviews that I received. You guys really are amazing, and again I am so sorry that I took so long to update...

I own nothing and it isn't Beta'd as usual...

Stop Being a Coward!

Chapter 13

Rose had been concerned when Adrian said he was going to visit her that night. She knew she hadn't been sleeping well and worried that if he couldn't get through he would know. She was also scared that if she went to sleep the nightmares would consumer her. She didn't want to have any more nightmares which is part of why she had been staying up so late.

Dimitri hadn't even been gone that long and all things considered, she thought she had done fairly well that night. She had gone out with her friends and had a good time. It really reminded her of the carefree person she used to be.

She turned her IPod on once again and set it to a continuous turn through the country music she had pilfered from the internet. She didn't really like the music but the beat and the words reminded her of Dimitri and somehow brought him closer to her even if he was half a world away. She could maybe deal with the country but Prince just wasn't going to happen.

Somewhere during the third disc of George Strait, she slipped into a peaceful dreamless sleep for the first time in a while. The dreams weren't at bay for long when Adrian popped up.

"I didn't think you were going to go to sleep Little Dhampir." Adrian admonished, stepping out from behind a tree that graced the side of the clearing they were standing in. Rose didn't think she had ever been here before but shrugged and sat down on the weathered wood of an old oak tree that was laying across the ground in front of her.

Adrian sat down beside her and waited for her to speak.

"I was busy." Rose shrugged it off as if it was nothing, hope Adrian didn't see her breath speed up a little at the lie she was telling him.

Adrian decided to play things her way and changed the subject, "It's good to see you again, I haven't been in your dreams for a while."

"I missed you Adrian, I really did. You are important to me."

"As you are to me Little Dhampir." Adrian smiled at Rose but noticed the tightness around her eyes as she looked around in the dream. Something about the way she was waiting to go to sleep and how relived she was that it was him in her dream made Adrian positive now that she was truly hiding something. He might drink and smoke and live up to the playboy lifestyle that many expected him to have but he was smart and paid attention to his surroundings. If there was one thing that was taught to him it was to be perceptive and the vibes that Rose was giving off were screaming that something wasn't quite right.

While the rest of their conversation continued on in an amicable dialog, Adrian watched for subtle signs of what was going on. Rose seemed to melt into the discussion and Adrian almost began to believe that he had just been seeing things but as the end neared, he could tell once again that Rose was uncomfortable.

With his great hearting, he could hear her heartbeat pick up as he began to say goodbye to her. When he pulled her into a hug, he could just feel the light coating of perspiration that touched her forehead. She most certainly didn't want him to go.

He wasn't fooled into thinking it was because she needed to be with him. He knew it had something to do with going to sleep. She had after all, avoided it at all costs and was so thankful when it was him that popped up in her dream. Was Rose having the nightmares again?

Adrian had seen her nightmares before Dimitri came back. He had seen how her body shook and she cried out during her sleep. He had intervened while he could but when the nightmares became too powerful and she started resisting the magic, he had been blocked out of her dreams as well. That was the main reason he hadn't visited her dreams in so long. Then when Dimitri returned and she was doing better, he stayed out of her dreams for a different reason. At first it had been because he was mad that Dimitri could come back and make everything better, then it was because he was glad that Rose was getting better, even if Dimitri had been the reason, so he decided to back away and let them work things out.

Now Dimitri was gone again and while it might be a temporary situation, it was obvious to him that Rose was reverting to the cocoon of her former self or as he liked to refer to the time period as her 'dark days.'

He was pissed off that Dimitri had such control over her, even if it was subconsciously. Rose was always so strong and independent and it hurt to know that someone could have this effect on her. He once again vowed that he would find out some way to make everything better. Rose might have chosen Dimitri over him but that didn't mean that he couldn't still look out for her.

Rose had sighed when Adrian pulled out of the dream. She had been fearful that the nightmares would come back with a vengeance but was pleasantly surprised when at least for that night, the remainder of her sleep was deep and dreamless.

The next two days went on pretty much the same. Rose stayed in her room listening to music except when Lissa pulled her out to do something. They had gone dress shopping for the gala that Rose was being forced to attend on Thursday. She hadn't complained though since she hadn't been shopping for a while. While her mind hadn't been on such trivial things lately, it was nice to go on a shopping trip with Lissa and not have to be completely in guardian mode. Since they were shopping there at court, she even got to try on the clothes before picking out a dress. On Friday, Lissa took Rose to the spa to get their hair and nails done. Each of the girls also got a massage to help them relax. Lissa treated of course as she knew that Rose needed cheering up, the shopping had seemed to help but she just wasn't as completely into it as she used to be. Lissa wasn't sure if her lack of enthusiasm was due to Dimitri being away or if this was really just the more mature Rose that she has somehow become since their return to the academy. She was however glad when Rose seemed to truly enjoy the pampering she was receiving while they were at the spa.

Dimitri had called twice on Thursday and once so far on Friday. They had talked about what was happening at court and in Russia. Rose purposefully left out the part about her nightmares and steered the conversation to other topics. She did feel a sense of longing as she thought about Dimitri and his family. She really missed all of them and wished she was there with him even though she knew this was something he needed to do on his own.

She was battling her own demons while he was away and while Wednesday night had been dreamless and peaceful after Adrian had left, her nightmares had returned stronger than ever on Thursday night. This time when she was facing off against Dimitri on the bridge, she had succeeded in jumping into the dark ravine and water was quickly engulfing her. As she struggled to breathe, she realized that the water had actually turned into blood and she was drowning as Dimitri laughed from his perch atop the bridge. She thought she had wanted to die but now that she was facing it, she knew that she didn't. She struggled and fought but defeat seemed eminent. She had finally stopped struggling when the darkness gave way to a beautiful sunset. Adrian had appeared just in time and the two of them were sitting on one of the balconies at the ski resort that they had met at the previous Christmas.

Rose had tried to not show how relived she was at the intrusion but upon seeing Adrian, she threw herself into his arms. She realized that she was shaking but couldn't do anything to stop it.

"It's okay Rose." Adrian stroked her hair, "you are going to be alright."

"It's just hard ya know? I don't know where these dreams come from but it's like only Dimitri can keep them at bay."

Adrian began to talk to her about it but Rose and claimed that she was fine and didn't want to talk about it right then, she just wanted to sit there with Adrian. Adrian, wanting to help but not being sure how yet, decided to let her be. Together, they had watched the sun fade into the horizon.

After Rose had been thoroughly pampered at the spa, she had gone back to her room to get ready to accompany Lissa to the royal event she had been dreading for days. She wasn't sure how Lissa always seemed to drag her into these things and she vowed that the next time, she wouldn't be swayed so easily.

As she was putting the final touches on her makeup, a knock sounded at the door. Rose reluctantly got up to answer. She knew it wasn't Lissa as she could feel from the bond that she was still in her room, finishing her own look. She reached for the handle and opened the door to be met with a beautiful vase of blood red roses staring back at her.

The delivery man moved the bouquet out of his face and asked, "Rose Hathaway?"

"Yes?"

"These are for you." He abruptly handed her the flowers and turned on his heel to leave. She shrugged and pulled the buds into the room, sitting them on the table near the kitchenette. She pulled out the card and sighed.

Roza,

I know that these roses pale in comparison to your beauty but I didn't think any other flower fit the occasion as well. I'm sorry I am not there. I will be back soon. Have fun tonight even if you don't want to. I love you.

Dimitri

Rose smiled and smelled the flowers. She had never gotten flowers before and the butterflies that were swirling in her stomach made her heart beat feel even faster. She thought back to her conversation with Dimitri earlier in the day but he had given no indication that he had a surprise for her.

She looked at the clock to see that Lissa should be arriving at her door any minute. She hurriedly finished getting ready. When she got back, it would be late in her world but about mid-afternoon for Dimitri. She would call him and thank him for the beautiful flowers then.

Right on time, Lissa knocked at the door. She entered and was immediately aware of the huge vase of flowers that covered most of the table. Lissa looked at Rose with a grin, "wow, that has to be at least three dozen Roses."

Rose laughed, "Yeah, Dimitri isn't one for half-assing things I guess."

"That's so cute Rose. They are so beautiful." She smiled and then started to pout, "Christian has never bought me flowers."

"I've never gotten flowers either. They are pretty though. They remind me of that time when we went to the Botanical Gardens in San Antonio. Do you remember that area that was full of roses?"

Lissa smiled at the memory and nodded, remembering the good times they had while they living in the human world after they had ran away from St. Vladamir's. "Come on Rose, we need to get going. I can't be late."

Rose groaned but followed Lissa out of the door, giving one last look the beautiful roses that Dimitri had managed to get delivered to her while he was still half a world away in Russia.

So? Did you like it? Dimitri will be in the next chapter with a few suprises and like I said, I hope to update soon... Thanks for everything! Please review...I hope people still want to read this story...