~ DIMITRI POV ~

I stood in the gym waiting for Rose, twirling the sharp silver stake in my hand. While training over the last few weeks, I had been testing her knowledge on stakes. She answered almost every question correctly except one. While sparing, I asked her where the heart was, and she couldn't locate the valuable organ. I eventually pinned her and using a practice stake, I showed her where it was and where to aim the stake to hit the heart. Since that day, she always hit the target on my chest with her practice stake. She was a natural. She was ready and it was time she learnt how to use one properly. Everyone else in her year already knew the basics and I intended to teach her to master staking.

Rose walked in only two minutes late which was a new record for her. She was radiant as she stood in the patch of sunlight at the door dressed in her regular workout attire. She looked around before her eyes landed on me.

"No Scottish beast today?" she asked. I smiled.

"No, I told your mother it would be best if she didn't come to our training sessions especially when you are working with a deadly weapon," I said, holding up the stake into her line of sight. Her face moved from surprised to determined. I moved out of the way revealing one of the many staking dummies the academy had. Rose walked towards me and tossed her bag to the side of the gym. I tossed the stake up letting her catch it. We started slow. I showed her where to hit on the dummy and let her try a few slow stabs. Our speed increased until Rose was striking at a fast pace with perfect accuracy. After a while, I stopped my corrections and just watched her, and she struck again and again.

"Thank you for my note," she said while staking again. "It was beautiful."

"I didn't want you to feel rejected when I left," I told her.

"I love you too. With all my heart and soul," she said. Her eyes drifted to me as she continued with her staking. I smiled.

"Back to training. Focus, Rose." I said but I gave her a smile as her eyes turned back to the dummy.

After a few more minute I called her to a stop.

"Good, Rose, very good," I said.

"Really?" she asked through her breaths.

"You do it like you've been doing it for years," I said. Rose smiled at me; her face lit up from my praise.

I led her over to the mats and replaced the stake in her hand for one of the blunt practice stakes. We spared twice, she won one match and I won the other. This session today showed me just how far she had come. She had grown so much I was hardly her mentor anymore. More of her partner. We were almost equals. Almost. I still had a lot to teach her before she graduated.

Together, we packed up the gym and put the dummy back away with the numerous others. Rose's eyes lingered on a dummy with curly red hair that resembled her mother. I watched to see what she would do. Rose simply closed her eyes and took a deep breath before walking away. I smiled with pride as I followed her. our session had almost come to an end. Rose packed up her bag and I pulled on my duster. I looked around quickly to see if anyone was nearby. It was clear. While Rose was distracted. I pulled her by the arm until her back was against the wall and I was standing in front of her. the question in her eyes disappeared as she took in my expression. We both leaned in at the same time, meeting for a passionate kiss. The kiss lasted much longer than it should have but I couldn't seem to let her go and Rose didn't move to leave. It was only a kiss, but it was so powerful that it seemed to satisfy the powerful lust filled monster within me that craved Rose. eventually I pulled away and we left the gym going our own separate ways.

The day was long. I stifled a yawn as I made my way to the guardian lounge. I had a half hour break. It wasn't enough time for sleep, but it was plenty of time to grab a coffee or maybe two. I had just sat down with one of my western and began to enjoy my coffee when I was interrupted. Yet again. They had to stop doing that to me.

"Guardian Belikov," said the voice from behind me. I didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"Guardian Hathaway," I responded, taking a sip before placing my cup on the table and closing my book. She moved around the lounge and sat on the one opposing me.

"I take it training went well," she said.

"Very. Rose has come a long way. I started Staking with her today."

"She's only learning staking now?" she asked.

"I needed to make sure she was ready. She needed to build her strength and stamina before I gave her a weapon." She nodded.

"How is she?" she asked.

"She has come a long way. She even took me down-" I started before she cut me off.

"No, I mean, how is she?" I understood what she meant.

"Maybe she should ask Rose," I said.

"I'm asking you. You know her. She trusts you and she likes you." I nodded.

"She's fine. Despite everything that has happened recently, Rose has come out unscathed. She needs her mother," I said.

"She won't even listen to me."

"She will listen to her mother. Not another guardian who reprimands her. She knows she has made mistakes and she has learnt from them. Rose needs her mother to show that she is there to support her. Talk to her. Ask her to talk and talk about something other than her past mistake and your guardian life." She nodded.

"I will, after her qualifier." Janine said.

"What?" I asked.

"Because of the attack, Rose was unable to do her qualifier. Guardian Petrov asked me to do it."

"But you can't. As her mother-" I started.

"I might be her mother by blood, but to Rose I am a stranger. This is the best solution and it will give me the chance to see whether my daughter does have what it takes to be a guardian after all." I couldn't argue with that.

"She does. Her determination and dedication to the princess surpasses that of most guardians I know." Janine nodded.

"It's one thing to be dedicated to the ones we love but could she do the same with a stranger. If she doesn't become the Princess's guardian, could Rose protect another with the same devotion?" she asked. I didn't have to think about it.

"Rose would protect anyone and everyone without question," I said strongly, entirely confident in my words. Janine nodded.

"We shall see," she said and rose to her feet. "Her Qualifier will be here in the guardian lounge tomorrow after your training session. Give her time to shower and change. I will be waiting here from the time that classes start." I nodded. She started to leave and I called out to her.

"Janine," I said, dropping the guardian formalities. She paused and looked at me. "Please. Don't push Rose too far." Janine stood frozen for a moment before she gave me a sharp nod and left. I returned to my coffee. It had lost most of its heat but was still warm enough. I thought about what Janine had said. I knew Rose was ready for her qualifier and she would pass with flying colours, but with her mother testing her, I wasn't entirely sure she could show all the potential she has. I was worried she would lose control and for once, I wouldn't be there to stop her.

I couldn't say what was going on with Rose. It was like she was two people. The reckless teenage girl I met in Portland and the strong responsible woman who was destined to be the best guardian this world will ever see. I was teaching her to control her emotions and be less reckless, but I didn't want her to lose her personality like most guardians do. I was in love with Rose. I loved both sides to her and I knew the day she learnt to combine her two selves; she would be a powerful force to reckoned with. I just hoped she wouldn't lose herself along the way.

I finished my coffee and headed off for my last shift before I would meet with Rose again for afternoon practice. I was watching over the novice classes as they split up into pairs and sparred. Rose was paired with Ashford and was clearly winning the battle. They used practice stakes and I could see how this morning's training with stakes had helped Roses technique. She was strong and focused and hit her target easily bringing the fight to an end. She looked like a battle Goddess or an avenging angel sent down from the heavens to destroy her enemies. The smile that lit up her face when she knew she had won make my heart skip a beat. She reached her hand down for Ashford to take and she lifted him to his feet. Unlike most other male Novices who would have been sour for being beaten, Ashford beamed and gave Rose an affectionate hug in congratulations.

I knew the boy felt for her the same way I did, and I knew I should be jealous seeing her in his arms. But I knew she was mine and she knew I was hers. I love her with all my heart, and I know she feels the same for me. I knew Rose loved him, but only as a friend or a brother. So, I wasn't jealous of the boy. I felt sorry for him because he loved her, and she would never feel the same for him. I felt sorry for him because I knew how it felt to be loved by Rose and he never would.

Rose laughed at something Ashford had said as they made their way off the mat. She turned her head towards me, and our eyes met. Her chocolate brown eyes were warm with love and happiness. I lived to see her like this. So alive and happy and in love. I gave her a quick smile and nod, telling her that I had seen the fight and I was proud of her victory. She smiled back quickly and made her way to get changed.

In an hour we would meet at the gym for our training. With my shift over, I got changed and made my way to the gym to set up. I wanted to continue with staking for a little longer. I would teach her how to stake a Strigoi from behind. It was harder to reach the heart from behind then it was from the front, but I intended to teach her. I would teach her everything I knew and more. I would make her the best guardian so when the time comes and I have to choose between her and my charge, I will know that she can look after herself.

I would trust her skills and know she would be able take care of herself the same way I knew she would with me. The only thing truly keeping us apart was our duty. In a few short months, our age difference and my status as her mentor would not matter. However, as guardians, our duty was to protect the Moroi. 'They come first'. A mantra drilled into us since birth. Not anymore. Now, Rose would always come first to me. I will find a new charge when the time is right, and Rose will guard Vasilisa. And if we ever do get into a situation where it is us or the Moroi, we must chose the Moroi and trust that we can look after ourselves. That is why I am training Rose to be the best and pushing her so hard. Not so she will be the best guardian for the princess, but so she can protect her charge and herself. Because if she dies, I will surely die with her.

There is no life worth living in a world without Rose Hathaway.

Hey, guys. I'm back with another chapter. I am really enjoying writing this story. I have decided to turn this into a full story instead of a one/two shot. there is only one problem. I called this story "Too Late" because my main focus was that Dimitri was too late to remove the necklace. I have looked on Fanfiction and there are a lot of stories titled "Too Late", some are Romitri stories. So, I am in need of a new Title for this story. If you have any ideas please let me know and give me any suggestions you want. I don't want this story to be very long as I am coming up with new story ideas everyday that I would like to start on soonish. But I don't quite know where I am going to finish this either. Please let me know if you see anything I could do. Thank you for all your Reviews! And thank you for staying loyal to my story !