Ideas of how to increase Rose's training had been running through my head all morning, but I didn't want to tell her until I had figured them out completely. As I was doing the early morning walk of the wards I was contemplating what times would work best for her and me, and I realised that I was nowhere near as bitter about losing yet more of my free time that I had been when I initially began training Rose. Perhaps bitter was the wrong word, I was always willing to help those who needed it, but I also valued my spare time that let me think how I wanted to think, and not focus on being a guardian. As I realised, I wasn't that bothered about loosing anymore of my time, I began pondering the reasons why, whilst being constantly aware of my surroundings of course.

I was actually starting to enjoy my time with Rose. I knew a few of the teachers and guardians despised her, (Stan in particular seemed to have a vendetta against her), and whilst I still thought she was wild and unpredictable, part of me enjoyed her witty comebacks and the banter we shared. I didn't really spend that much time with other people other than on shift, often choosing to read or train my myself, and through the enforced time with Rose, it was almost like we were becoming friends. I would never tell anyone that, but I thought she shared the same opinion. She seemed to respect me, and listen to the things I told her, which if the rumours were to be believed, was a rare thing.

I finished my ward checks, still musing about Rose and the training, and headed to get some breakfast before my shift with the novices. I grabbed a few slices of cold toast and an apple from the guardian kitchen, and made my way to the gym.

Students were already milling about as I arrived, talking in small groups and joking amongst themselves. It was times like these that made me sad when I thought about the lives they would have when they graduated in the summer, the lives that some of them would lose within a year.

The class started and I began circling the novices, pointing out areas they could improve on, changing sparing partners and instructing them on how to beat their different opponents, when Alberta called me from the other side of the gym.

"I'll be back in a moment" I told a boy I was helping, and walked over to her.

"Guardian Petrov" I said, nodding my head in acknowledgment of her position.

"Let's have none of that Dimitri" she chastised gently, humour in her eyes. "I just wanted to say thank you, and well done for the progress Rose has made."

I was shocked at her praise that she so rarely gave out, and slightly confused. Sure, Rose had improved huge amounts since when we had started, but she was still massively behind her peers. Alberta gave me a wry smile when she saw my surprise.

"You haven't seen have you."

"Seen what?" I replied, more confused than ever.

She pointed at the corner of the gym where Rose was. I hadn't really focused my attention on her in class, I often made a point of letting other instructors help her during group sessions so that she got the input of as many different fighting styles as possible during her education, knowing that theirs would be different to mine because I had trained in another school. What I saw now, made something catch in my throat.

She was giving her opponent, Shane Reyes, absolute hell. She had a fury in her eyes that made her look powerful yet terrifying, and her fighting was the best I had seen yet. Her fitness was just as good as her classmates now so she didn't tire and lose that way anymore, and she had a strength behind her movements that was new as well. Sure, the movements were ones taught years ago, but she executed them perfectly, and even though Shane had more movements to choose from, he couldn't match her perfection and speed.

I watched in awe as she kicked his legs out from underneath him, jumping on top of him to hold him down, and finally making her killing blow. She stood up quickly, her face filled with radiant excitement as she realised, she had just won her first fight since coming back from the academy. Her eyes darted around the room as she looked for someone, until she caught Mason Ashford and let out a huge grin, throwing her arms in the air.

Shane stood up and gave her a round of applause, humour in his eyes as a few others also turned and applauded her, patting her on the back and congratulating her as they finished their own fights and began to get ready to leave the gym.

"The comeback's starting" I heard Mason call as he went over to join her, nudging her slightly with his arm.

"So it would seem!" she laughed back.

He gently placed a hand on her arm and they began chatting out of earshot as they left the gym. I turned back to Alberta and smiled.

"Yes, she is doing much better. I was actually thinking of increasing her training even more if that's ok, her fitness and strength is much better, but I don't want to stop it, yet I feel she would benefit greatly from some extra sessions on fighting techniques. She's doing fine with the ones she has now, and is learning more in classes, but I think if I could just spend a bit more time training her that she could become one of the best here despite missing a year of education".

Alberta smiled at my request.

"Of course, that would be fine Dimitri, so long as you can get Rose to agree. I really am grateful for all the time you're giving up for her. I must admit, I have a bit of a soft spot for Rosemarie Hathaway" she said laughing.

"It seems teachers either love her or hate her" I replied.

"Which category do you fall in?" Alberta asked, curiosity on her face.

I took a moment to think before replying.

"Well I can see where their coming from when they say she's irresponsible and disrespectful, but she works harder than any novice I've known, and I'm actually starting to enjoy our training sessions" I replied truthfully.

"I know what you mean" Alberta said smiling. "She's actually a lot like her mother was in her younger years, we were quite close once she came over from Scotland".

"Who's her mother?" I asked curiously.

Alberta looked at me shocked.

"Guardian Hathaway, who guards lord Selzky?"

My mouth dropped open as I took in the news, and I suddenly felt extremely stupid. Hathaway wasn't a very common name in the guardian community, and when I looked at Rose, I could see a resemblance. Sure, she clearly had some more exotic genes, but she had vaguely curly hair, and her personality and fire? Well that was clearly her mother.

"I can't believe I never made the connection" I admitted to Alberta, and she smiled.

"Not many people do, but it explains her natural talent".

"It does" I agreed, as Alberta turned away, heading off to her next shift.

The rest of the day went surprisingly quickly, even my guarding shifts that normally dragged. I was in a good mood because of what I had seen in the gym, and I was eager to discuss more training sessions with Rose, eager to teacher her new techniques and craft her into the best novice here, and eager to push her to reach her full potential.

I didn't mention anything to Rose in training, part of me didn't want to take away from her first victory glory, and being unsure on how she would take the extra sessions despite asking me to teach her to fight yesterday I didn't want to risk ruining her good mood. I gave her simple fitness drills alongside the running and left her to it, choosing to read whilst she worked. I didn't trust myself to keep quiet about the extra sessions I had planned if she asked me, she seemed to be able to get things out of me the way no-one else could.

I let her leave a little early from training, todays group sessions had taken a lot out of her and I didn't want to push her so hard that she would be in poor form tomorrow, especially when I was going to amp up the training, and so I walked out the gym with her, enjoying the silent company as we headed in the same direction.

"See ya" she called, waving goodbye behind her as she turned down a different route, and I gave a stiff nod in response.

I headed back to my room, wanting to read and eat a bit before my patrolling shift later on, and flopped down onto my bed. The time went quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for me to leave. I pulled on my duster and grabbed my stake which I put into the well-worn inner pocket. I shut and locked my door behind me, before setting off to the guardian rooms to clock in.

It was light outside when I stepped out onto the courtyard and I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the sun. I loved the warm heat it gave, and it seemed like everything was calm and peaceful in the light. There was no risk of Strigoi, and whilst I was always vigilant, this shift was more about keeping the students in line.

I set off patrolling, walking the boundaries first to check everything was ok there, before slowly heading back to walk through the dorms. I went through the Moroi dorms first, finding nothing out of place, before heading to the Dhampir dorms. I opened the doors and felt the pressure of the empty rooms, the weight of the abandoned dorms on our society, but I shrugged it off and began checking the common rooms for students out past curfew. The bottom floor once again was clear, and so I headed up to check the second floor, relieved that this would be an easy and quiet shift. Those thoughts were quickly abandoned however, when my radio crackled with a report from a janitor having seen two students sneak into an unused common room.

I quickened my pace, and hovered outside the door before bursting through it and being immediately shocked my what was in front of me. Rose was there with another student, a royal Zeklos who had eyes just like Ivan, and they were in a compromising position. I bounded over and grabbed the boy by his shirt (thankfully, unlike Rose, he was still wearing his), and jerked him up and off her. I was perhaps a little rough, and the boy stumbled as I held his shirt tightly, almost holding him off the ground.

"What's you name" I demanded in a low voice.

"J-Jesse, sir. Jesse Zeklos, sir" the boy replied in a terrified voice.

"Mr Zeklos, do you have permission to be in this part of the dorm?" I asked sarcastically, knowing full well the answer.

"No, sir" he stuttered.

"Do you know the rules about male and female interactions around here?"

"Yes sir."

"Then I suggest you get out of here as fast as you can before I turn you over to someone who will punish you accordingly. If I ever see you like this again", I pointed to the couch where Rose cowered half-dressed, "I will be the one to punish you. And it will hurt. A lot. Do you understand?" I growled.

Jesse swallowed, his eyes wide and terrified.

"Yes, sir" he whimpered.

"Then go."

I dropped his shirt and the boy ran. Had I not been in a serious situation, I could have joked than he ran faster than some of the novices, but I didn't. I instead looked over to the couch at where Rose was still sat undressed ready to unleash my full rage on her too, but I didn't.

I opened my mouth to shout, but closed it quickly, shocked at the sight before me, and more importantly what that sight was doing to me. Rose's dark hair hung loose round her shoulders, the waves that framed her face so well were tousled, most likely from her previous activities, and loose, escaped strands fell by her lips. The lips that were full and swollen, with a rosy tint that complemented her colouring so well. She didn't have any make-up on, but she didn't need it in the slightest. Her perfect skin was slightly tanned and even, bringing out her hazelnut eyes that always seemed to express so many emotions that the rest of her tried to keep in. The eyes that were staring back at me now in shock, yet there was no fear there. Eyes that matched mine, and seemed to challenge me, push me to dare to cross her.

I looked down at her exposed body, knowing I shouldn't, but being unable to tear away my eyes. She was wearing skin-tight black jeans that hugged her shapely legs, making them seem long and endless, yet showing off the muscle she had on her thighs. I found myself focusing on her thighs, before tearing away my eyes. I moved up, taking in her toned stomach. It was slightly less tanned than her face, and was a pale almond colour, the colour I imagined the inside of her thighs to look. I moved my gaze even further up, and took in her black plain bra. It wasn't the type of bra girls wore to show off, but I doubted Rose would even need one of those. She filled this bra exquisitely, her full breasts pushing against the fabric and swelling over the top where the skin pinkened slightly.

All of a sudden, I was too aware that Rose was watching me study her body. I looked back to her face, which had now flushed a pink hue as a result of me staring. Her eyes seemed even deeper, as if she was feeling the same as me, yet there was also a vulnerability within them.

"You see something you like?" she asked as our eyes met, breaking me from the trance her body had put me into.

"Get dressed" I snapped, completely pulled to my senses and embarrassed beyond belief at the reaction she had caused in me.

I pulled my mouth into a fierce look to hide the true affect she'd had, and readied myself to lecture her.

"How'd you find me?" She asked. "You following me to make sure I don't run away again?"

"Be quiet" I snapped once again, feeling the rage over her situation coming back.

I leaned down to her eye-level, making sure that I seemed as terrifying as possible to drive this message home.

"A janitor saw you and reported it. Do you have any idea how stupid this was?"

She shrugged.

"I know, I know, the whole probation thing, right?"

"Not just that" I shouted, my rage getting the better of me. "I'm talking about getting into this kind of situation in the first place".

"I get into that kind of situation all of the time, Comrade. It's not a big deal" she spat.

I could tell she was getting angry back at me now, but I couldn't calm myself after what I had seen.

"Stop calling me that. You don't even know what you're talking about".

"Sure, I do. I had to write a report on Russia and the R.S.S.R. last year".

"U.S.S.R." I corrected, frustrated by how she always seemed to manage to change the topic. "And it is a big deal for a Moroi to be with a Dhampir girl, they like to brag." I sighed.

"So?"

Her answer disgusted me, and brought back unpleasant memories of the Dhampir women where I had grown up who solicited Moroi men.

"So? So, don't you have any respect?" I threw my arms up in frustration. "Think about Lissa. You make yourself look cheap. You live up to what a lot of people already think about Dhampir girls, and it reflects back on her. And me."

"Oh, I see. Is that what this is about? Am I hurting your big, bad male pride?" she retorted. "Are you afraid I'll ruin your reputation?"

"My reputation is already made, Rose. I set my standards and lived up to them a long time ago. What you do with yours remains to be seen." I sighed, before snapping back to my angry mentor role. "Now get back to your room, if you can manage it without throwing yourself at someone else".

I was being petty and I knew it, but I was so cross at the situation she had gotten herself into.

"Is that your subtle way of calling me a slut?" she asked.

"I hear the storied you guys tell. I've heard stories about you".

It was harsh, perhaps too harsh, but she railed me up and she knew it. I was angry at the effect she'd had on me, angry that she'd broken through my walls, and angry that she'd had a Moroi boy all over her when I just wanted her to reach her full potential and be the best guardian she could. Have the best reputation she could.

I regretted my words instantly when I saw the impact that they had upon her. She was blinking back tears from her deep, expressive eyes and the look on her face was one of hurt and regret.

"Why is it wrong to… I don't know, have fun?" She whispered. "I'm seventeen you know; I should be able to enjoy it."

My heart broke for her, and the lack of choice and freedom that went with being a Dhampir. If she had been a Moroi, this situation would have been in no way a big deal, yet just because of her race she had to restrict herself from such a young age, give up her childhood to train to protect them.

"You're seventeen, and in less than a year, someone's life will be in your hands" I said gently.

"If you were human or Moroi, you could have fun. You could do things other girls could".

"But your saying I can't?"

I looked away, the conversation bringing up painful memories of my time with Ivan and how young I had been when I decided I needed to train hard to get him as a charge. And even then, it wasn't enough. Never enough.

"When I was seventeen, I met Ivan Zeklos" I began. "We weren't like you and Lissa, but we became friends and he requested me as his guardian when I graduated. I was the top student in my school. I paid attention to everything in my classes, but in the end, it wasn't enough. That's how it is in this life. One slip, one distraction…"

I sighed deeply, the emotions almost overcoming me.

"And it's too late."

I wanted so badly for Rose to learn from my experiences, and I watched her eyes as she contemplated my words, relating them to her own life.

"Jesse's a Zeklos" she said suddenly.

"I know."

"Does it bother you? Does he remind you of Ivan?"

Had it been anyone but Rose ask me, I would have walked off rather than answer. I wasn't willing to share the fact that yes, when I looked at Jesse's eyes, it hurt me, but I answered her partially truthfully.

"It doesn't matter how I feel. It doesn't matter how any of us feel".

"But it does bother you" she pushed. "You hurt. Every day. Don't you? You miss him".

I was so shocked at her discovery that I couldn't keep it from my face. No-one, not even my family had guessed that, and yet this wild girl that I barely knew understood me like no-one else. Could read me like no-one else.

"It doesn't matter how I feel" I demanded, trying to cover up the feelings I was having. "They come first. Protecting them."

"Yeah they do" she agreed, a far-away look in her eyes

Silence filled the room as I decided whether now would be a good time to bring up the extra sessions I had been planning. Now seemed as good a time as any, whilst we were discussing our dedication.

"You told me you want to fight, to really fight. Is that still true?" I asked.

"Yes. Absolutely" she replied, that fierce look returning to her eyes.

"Rose…I can teach you, but I have to believe you're dedicated. Really dedicated. I can't have you distracted my things like this" I said, gesturing around the lounge. "Can I trust you?"

I prayed to God that her answer was what I wanted to head.

"Yes. I promise" she whispered seriously, her eyes wide, filled with vulnerability.

"All right. I'll teach you, but I need you strong. I know you hate the running, but it really is necessary. You have no idea what Strigoi are like. The school tries to prepare you, but until you've seen how strong they are and how fast… well, you can't even imagine. So, I can't stop the running and the conditioning. If you want to learn more about fighting, we need to add more trainings. It'll take up more of your time. You won't have much left for your homework or anything else. You'll be tired. A lot".

I hoped I hadn't put her off, but knowing Rose, at the idea of a difficult challenge, she would push herself so hard that she could achieve what others thought was impossible.

"It doesn't matter. If you tell me to do it, I'll do it" she said seriously, her eyes gleaming and sparkling as the exhilaration her declaration had created.

If only those who had doubted Rose Hathaway could see her now. A girl prepared to do whatever, to give up whatever, to become the best guardian she could. I gave her a sharp nod.

"We'll start tomorrow".

I hope you enjoyed that chapter, it's actually the longest one I've written! Again, it was just chapter 8 because there is a lot that happens between Rose and Dimitri. I kept in a lot of the original conversation because I think it's so important in the story, I hope it wasn't too much! I also hope you liked the conversation between Dimitri and Alberta, I just always liked the idea that he didn't know who her mother was until she told him!

Anyway, a massive thank you to those who have already faved/followed this story, and those who have reviewed. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter!