A.N: Hey guys! Sorry it took a long time but i'm very busy with work and all.

I would like to thank all my fantastic reviewers and as usual please don't forget to review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer...I own nada.

Chapter 4:

"Ian?" I asked incredulous. I quickly looked around expecting to see more alchemists around. Did they find out I was getting closer to the people I lived with? Some time I was scared they noticed it was not punishment enough and would send me in one of those crazy rehabilitation centres where they suck out your personality at the same type than any affinity you might have with the 'dark' side.

"Hi…" he said warily throwing a quick glance to Adrian standing beside me. I came to see you.

"Why? Is something wrong? Has something happened to Zoe?" I asked, getting worried.

He shook his head slightly flushed. "No, I was worried about you and I wanted to see if you were alright."

Adrian snorted, I didn't know why.

"I—" I opened the building door. "Please come in, it's better not stay outside. You know you were not supposed to have any contact with me….especially after what happened". I said remembering how he helped me with Rose.

"You are my friend Sydney. I'm doing what any dutiful friend should do" he added getting in the elevator with us.

Adrian snorted again as he entered the key in the panel of the elevator to get us to the penthouse.

"Are you alright?" I asked him. I was starting to think his snorts were more like throat scratching.

"Are you?" He asked, looking down at me. He quickly glanced at Ian before looking at me again. He chuckled. "Wow welcome to 'Blind Land'" he shook his head concentrating on the elevator doors." So bright yet so ignorant."

"What? What the hell was he talking about?"

The elevator finally reached our floor.

"Nothing" he said, gesturing dismissively exiting the elevator.

I turned to Ian who was glaring murderously top Adrian.

"Do you know what he meant?" I asked utterly lost.

Ian flushed, probably with Anger. "I have no idea." He shook his head." These people don't think like us."

"Really Ian, they are not so different from us. Well Adrian might be a case, but humans are like that too."

Ian threw me a doubtful glance and sighed. "Can we talk?" He asked, taking in the living room, and I knew all he was seeing was the luxury of the place.

"Sure" I said gesturing him toward the sofa. I knew it was not my home but I couldn't help to feel awkward to have him invade this space that was now mine, for a certain amount of time. I cared for Ian, I trusted him. He was a bit like the brother I never had, but I knew that his allegiance was to the alchemists first….not that I could blame him for it, I was the same….before.

"Alone" he said looking at Adrian.

Adrian chuckled. "Yeah, like I didn't see that one coming." He sighed turning toward me. "I'll be in my room uploading the pictures on my laptop."

I nodded.

"DO you want something to drink?" I asked, gesturing toward the fridge.

He shook his head." No thanks I don't have much time. I'm here with David for a meeting."

"Oh that's nice!" I said sincerely joining him on the sofa. "I know how much you wanted him to be your mentor." I was glad to find out that his career was still on the right path and that helping me did not mess up his life.

"I was worried about you so I sneaked out for a little while but…but I guess you're okay here."

"I…" I blushed. I was more than okay, I enjoyed living with Eddie and Jill…and, so help me god, Adrian."I'm settling."

He glanced curiously to the corridor where Adrian disappeared before. "You know they're making Zoe train to be an alchemist."

I winced, but I couldn't say I was surprised. I hated the idea of Zoe having the same obligations than I had, she was so young; barely 15 and so sweet and naïve…Actually Jill reminded me a lot of her. When I had been sent away, I saw about the same disappointment in my father than I did see when Marie told him that she was leaving for good he thought I was lost, I knew that now. He was preparing my sister to take my place…the only question remaining was did he expect for me to actually walk away or simply blew my chance?

"He thinks you will do like Marie" Said Ian confirming my doubts. "I always thought it was impossible."

He stopped there, but I actually could feel the weighty 'but' that didn't come.

"But"? I tried encouraging him to say what he thought.

"I…" he sighed. "Nothing it's … I'm glad to see you're adapting to your new life."

The way he said 'adapt' really got to me. "What? Am I getting judged because I'm trying to make the best of a situation I didn't choose?"

"All I want to say, is that it doesn't seem like such a punishment" he gestured to the luxury of the room.

"Did you want me to be miserable?" I asked with disbelieve. "I thought…you told me the punishment was unfair, you said I did what was right! What changed Ian?"

"You did" he said, and the sadness in his voice surprised me.

I wanted to ask for more details, but he stood up. "I better go before they start looking for me."

"Ian…"

"It was nice seeing you again Syd" he said walking to the door.

"Ian…please." I tried reaching for his arm, but he was already out of reach.

"You take care" he simply added before leaving.

"What was all that about?" I asked to myself, looking at the closed door.

"You really have to ask?" I heard Adrian from the kitchen.

"I should have known you were spying" I said, trying to sound exasperated, but to be honest I didn't truly care.

He chuckled walking in the room. "Sorry but it was widely entertaining and the fact you have no clue makes it even better."

"What does it mean?"

He leaned against the wall looking at me intently. "It means you are trouble Miss Sage."

"Trouble? I'm not trouble! I'm sweet."

He nodded with a small, sad, smile. "Yes…that's exactly why you are trouble" he added before going back to his room.

I was 'trouble'? What did that even mean?

The rest of the week went pretty well as I helped Adrian to get his project ready and if I tried to forget that he was a Moroi…a Moroi who was drinking his liver dead and a man whore, I actually enjoyed the time in his company.

Even if, I hated to admit it… him, Jill and Eddie were becoming a sort of family to me.

"I aced it!" Said Adrian, coming home a couple of weeks later.

I was on the sofa watching a documentary. It was only us at home as both Jill and Eddie left a couple of days before for Christians' birthday.

"You aced what?" I asked finally concentrating on him. "Alcoholism 101?" I asked as even if he didn't look as depressed as before his drinking and smoking didn't reduce at all.

"Ahahahah you're such a hoot." He threw me a white binder. "The project…the one you helped me with."

"Oh! That's awesome" I said, jumping from my seat to hug him before even realizing it.

Adrian stayed frozen for a second before hugging me back. He was probably as surprised as I was.

I let go with a deep throat clearing.

"I…ummm" he ran his hand through his hair.

He was probably uncomfortable with what I just did, I realized mortified.

"I'm sorry." I said walking back to the sofa.

"What for?" He asked apparently genuinely confused.

"The thing" I said gesturing from him to me "the hug."

"Okay…" He trailed off as I was a bit slow. "Anyways, I owe you one."

"No you don't, you did it all by yourself."

He chuckled. "No I didn't, and you know it. What about going out for dinner?"

"Dinner? With you?"

"Yeah….that's the idea."

I shook my head negatively. I knew he was trying to get out of his way to be nice, and I didn't want that plus, I honestly didn't need to be in a public place with a Moroi I couldn't defend, and with my luck, I would be seen by an alchemist winning myself a one way ticket to rehabilitation camp. "No, no dinner."

He sat on the armchair across from me. "Okay I have a better idea. I'll help you catch your guy."

"My….guy?"

He laughed. "I may not have my abilities as I used to but believe me, I'm not blind and that guy from your school…Mike?"

"Matt." I said without thinking getting a mischievous grin from Adrian

"I got you there, didn't I?" He grimaced. "I might not know a lot about books, and academic stuff, but I know guys and I can help you get him eat in the palm of your hand."

"I…". I was about to say no, but I did like Matt, at least I thought I did, and who knew how long I would be around? If they decided to send me to camp, I wouldn't have any interest in boys for a long time, and if I went back to my old alchemist life, it was not like I would have much choice concerning my suitor. Maybe I should try to enjoy life a bit before being stuck forever.

"Okay" I finally let out knowing it was a mistake.

"We're going to have so much fun." Adrian wicked smile made me cringe even more.