~ ROSE POV ~

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. The seasons changed. The snow fell and covered the once green fields of the academy grounds. I continued with my regular training sessions even though I had already caught up to my class members. Hell, I've even surpassed them now. I had a few reasons to keep up my training. One: it had become a routine for me. Two: I knew I needed to be the best guardian if I wanted to protect Lissa. And three: alone time with my hot mentor.

Things between us were great. Better than great. Amazing! Since that night we confessed our feelings for each other our relationship had blossomed. Of course, we had to keep it a secret until after graduation when our age and status wouldn't matter anymore. Dimitri had explained why we had to keep our relationship confidential and I understood. After that night, we had stayed professional. We hadn't slept together, and Dimitri told me that even though we had already given into each other, twice, we had to wait until after graduation before we could continue from where we left off. We still managed to sneak a few loving kisses and whispers after training, but he kept us both in control and stopped us from getting too heated to the point of no return. I understood. It was hard to be in relationships at the academy. All the guardians watching over the school, keeping kids from sneaking into other dorms. It was hard for Lissa and Christian, but they found a way. The church attic where they first met was now tarnished. I feel a shudder run up my spine as unwanted images flowed through my mind. Ugh. Stupid bond.

I ran across the cold white ground to the gym where Dimitri was waiting for me. I was late, yet again, and I knew I would have to make up for it somehow. I entered to see him with his back to me and I smiled as the familiar warm feeling of love washed over me, as it does whenever he was near me. It was tempting to try a sneak attack on him, but I knew he sensed me. Whenever we were in the same area, I knew he could sense me the same way I could sense him. He knew I was there as soon as I stepped foot into the gym, and he would have me pinned to the ground before I could touch him. I slowly walked towards him and cleared my throat.

He didn't turn around. "You're late" he said in his stoic guardian voice. That's when I realised something was going on. He usually greeted me with a warm smile or quick kiss. Someone else was here. I slipped on my own guardian mask, to hide my emotions.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. How can I make it up to you? Extra ten laps? Fifty push-ups? You name it," I said adding as much 'Rose Hathaway sass' I could. Dimitri didn't say anything. He just turned around, with his serious expression frozen on his gorgeous face, to reveal the woman he had been shielding from me.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. "Mom?" I asked.

"Hello, Rosemarie" she said in her monotone voice. It had been five years since I last saw her, and that was all she could say? I felt my good mood disappear as a wave of anger washed over me. I narrowed my eyes and looked to Dimitri.

"What is she doing here?" He looked away from my gaze. I realised why he was shielding her from me. He knew I wouldn't be happy to see the woman who abandoned me. And he was right.

"So disrespectful," She said as she walked towards me. "I came to watch your training. I want to see if you've managed to catch up to everyone yet." She stood in front of me. Even though I was taller than her, she made herself look as tall as Dimitri. Her short red curls were tied back into a tight ponytail at the base of her neck revealing all her marks.

"Not here in this gym. Here at the Academy?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"I was asked here to speak about my experience with Strigoi." She said. Her face was so stiff, it looked like stone. I was worried it might crack if she glared at me any harder.

"And you didn't think to text or email me that you were coming? You don't think after five years I would like to know if you were coming?" I asked backing away from her slightly. I couldn't stand how inferior she made me feel.

"Oh, Rosemarie don't be so dramatic. I was asked by the academy to share my wisdom."

"So you couldn't come when I died in a car accident, you couldn't come to the funeral of the Dragomir's, who basically raised me, and you couldn't come when I was returned to the academy after two years? But when the academy calls you and asks you to come talk about your accomplishments, you come at the drop of a hat." I was fuming now.

"Rosemarie-" she started, voice full of authority, but I didn't want to hear it.

"It's, Rose" I snapped. I grabbed my bag and stormed out. I looked to Dimitri quickly. "Practice is over." I said. I saw him nod briefly. I knew he understood.

I went back to my room and quickly. I pulled the elastic from my hair a little too roughly and shed my clothes quickly. I needed a shower to cool myself down. Some of the anger left me and I changed into a pair of jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt before heading down to the dining hall. If I wanted to get through this day, I was going to need some food. Preferably chocolate. I was early enough to grab two droughts that were freshly made and still warm.

Lissa sat with Christian and I walked over to join them. Since their first time in the church attic, they haven't been able to keep their hands off each other. I knew exactly how they felt. I wanted to tell Lissa about Dimitri, she had told me all about her first time with Aaron years ago and she tells me all the details of her relationship with Christian. Even though she didn't need to, and I really didn't want to hear about their sex life, it didn't matter. I knew it made her happy to share her love with me, and if it made her happy, I was happy to listen.

"Rose" she exclaimed when she saw me. I sat down across from them with my place of sugary treats and hot chocolate. "What are you doing here? Don't you have training with Guardian Belikov?" she asked.

I shrugged taking a bite of my first doughnut. "Cancelled" I said through a mouthful of sweet deliciousness.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" that was Lissa. Always concerned about other's wellbeing. The healer in her was reaching out with the desire to help, but she couldn't. the pills she was on since the situation with Victor Dashkov prevented her magic. But it also kept her from harming herself.

"No, I'm fine. I just had an unexpected visitor who I would rather not see right now so I left."

"I bet Belikov is pissed." Said Christian. "It's bad enough having to deal with Rosie every day, but a pissed off Rosie is even worse." I scowled at Christian. Lissa elbowed him gently in the ribs and turned her attention back to me.

"Who was it?" she asked. I didn't want to talk about it, but I knew she would hear sooner or later that my mother is on campus.'

"Janine Hathaway" I said after swallowing my bite of doughnut. Lissa's face morphed into the same expression of surprise I had when I first saw my mother. Christian, on the other hand, looked thrilled. One of the best guardians and Strigoi killers had come to St. Vladimir's Academy.

"Your Mom's here?" they both asked. One voice full of concern and the other full of excitement. I nodded sipping my hot chocolate. Dimitri's was better. No matter how much I doubled it, I could never get it right.

"What did you do?" asked Lissa.

"Me? Nothing."

"Rose." said Lissa in her 'I'm not kidding' voice.

"All I did was ask her why she couldn't have told me she was coming and asked why she could find time to come talk about her life as a guardian but couldn't come to see me."

"No violence?" asked Lissa.

"No. I really wanted to punch her, but I stopped myself and walked away."

"Boring," said Christian as he fell back against his chair, disappointed by my story.

"I'm so proud of you. All that time with Guardian Belikov has changed you." She was right. Dimitri had changed me, and I had changed him too. I was learning to control my emotions as he does. I wanted to make him proud so I promised myself I would not act out. It didn't mean I had to be docile, but I needed to be less volatile. The bell rang. I cleared my plate and took my last doughnut to my first class. Mason ran up beside me and slung an arm around my shoulders.

"Hathaway, boy do I have news for you. You are gonna be so pissed" he said looking smug.

"My mother is here" I said. His face fell.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"She made an impromptu visit to my training with Dimitri earlier."

"Ohh, what's the damage? Black eye? Cast? Wheelchair?"

"Nope. Nothing."

"Nothing?" he asked looking stunned.

"I took the highroad." I said.

"That's a first for you." I shot him a pointed look and he put his arms up in surrender. I rolled my eyes as we entered the room. I sat down in my usual spot between Mason and Eddie. Eddie shot me a look that told me he heard the news too. I looked to the front and saw Stan with three other Guardians, two male and one female with cropped red hair, all dressed in the same formal guardian attire. My mother stood between the two men and despite her height, she looked like the most powerful person in the room.

"Listen up!" boomed Stan from the front of the room once everyone was seated. Everyone in the room instantly fell silent and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. "We have some very special guests with us today. They have come to share their experience in the field. This is a great opportunity for all of you, so I expect you all to be on your best behaviour." Stan shot me a pointed look and several students turned their heads to look at me. That time I did roll my eyes. luckily my tightly clenched fist under the desk prevented me from flipping him the bird. That would have got me in trouble. Stan ignored me and stepped back, allowing the first guardian to take his place.

Both male guardians shared their stories in a professional way that gave the details without glorifying the kills. I had to admit I was impressed with their experiences, but their stories lacked any emotion or personal feels making the description sound more like a news report then horrific experience. I never understood how guardians did that. Keep their emotions locked inside despite all the horrific things they have seen and faced. I had seen Natalie as a Strigoi, and it terrified me. I was still haunted by the monstrous transformation of a person I could almost call a friend.

My mother took to the front as the second guardian finished, and for the first time, I took in her appearance. Like most female guardians, her red hair was cropped short to her chin to show her marks. Her Scottish heritage gave her a pale complexion which was starkly different to my tanned skin. Her clothes hid her figure, but I could see she had a few curves of her own. If not for the brown eyes which we share, no one would know I was her daughter. We were just so different. I couldn't wait for her to leave.

Her story was beyond unbelievable. It topped both the other guardians combined. Mason and Eddie were entranced, hanging on her every word. Mason looked particularly excited as my mother talked about decapitation of Strigoi. She finished her story and Stan moved up to the front of the room again.

"Any question for our guests?" he asked. Instantly numerous hands shot up including Mason's and Eddie's. Mason asked about the best way to decapitate a Strigoi which was the hardest way to kill a Strigoi. My mother answered with an Axe and gave a detailed explanation on other tools she has had to use in the past when one wasn't available.

I slumped back into my chair and tried my best to tune out the questions whilst biting my tongue and gripping my chair to keep me from jumping out and screaming at the woman who probably didn't even know I was there. The questions continued and I was struggling to keep myself quiet. I head a door open behind me and instantly that warm feeling I knew so well flooded over me. I turned to look at him and our eyes met. His expression was soft but stern as he was warning me to stay down and not burst out. Seeing him made all my pent-up anger disappear and I gave him a small nod before releasing the chair. Dimitri's lips turned up slightly. I returned it and turned around to the front again. In my mind I could hear his voice speaking the words he spoke with his eyes: 'I'm so proud of you.' I swear it was like I was bonded with him as well as Lissa. I closed my eyes and sent my own message to him: 'I love you', hoping he heard me as clearly as I heard him. The bell went and I quickly shot up and walked out before anyone could stop me. I had managed to calm myself but if I had to talk to her, I knew wouldn't be able to keep my fist from her face.

Hello. I am back. Sorry for being gone for so long but I have been so focused on school and studying. I managed to find some time and I have written a few chapters that I will post gradually after editing. Unfortunately, I will be away again to focus on school and after graduation I will get back into my writing groove and let my imagination run wild. Thank you to everyone who has stayed with me and i hope you enjoy this chapter and the next few I post. R & R. I'd love to hear all your feedback.