A.N: Hey guys!

Sorry, it took forever to update and this chapter is a bit short but life has been crazy…especially work.

Little note in the next chapter you'll get some belikov godness…awesome, right?

Don't forget to review, I love reading you J

I don't own VA….I just wish I could have some Dimitrian loving (Dimitri/Adrian)

Chapter 7:

"Who are you accused of killing this time?" When she didn't get back, I winced. It was probably bad taste…some of Adrian dark humor was starting to rub on me. It wasn't cool. "Too early?" I asked sheepishly.

"Just a notch." She admitted. "It's Jill…."

"Jill? What about her?" I asked as a big knot formed in my stomach making me understand that I cared about her a lot more than I realized.

"Someone tried to kill her just here at the palace."

"Did you arrest him?"

"I wish; let me tell you| and I could hear the burning anger in her voice. "We don't know who is behind those attempts, but they are getting closer. We had a meeting this morning, and she is clearly in more danger than we even thought. They got so close…too close."

"I don't really know what you expect from me here Rose. I'm neither a fighter nor a mind reader, just an alchemist." And a banished one I almost added.

"I—Jill will be back tomorrow afternoon, we'll be increasing her protection…adding a guardian."

I winced. I was already sharing my space with two males, the addition of some testosterone didn't make me happy.

"He is going to share his room with Eddie."

"Yeah I…and you need me because….?"

"Well, right now, we're not sure who to trust. The threat is high, and the people behind it are probably really powerful."

"Well that's a given, it has to be people who want a shot to the crown…and only royals have something to gain here. Do you have a guardian who is trust worthy?"

"Yeah…" she trailed off. Rose was a lot of things, but she was not coy and her hesitation led me to think it was even bigger than I thought.

"Rose?" I couldn't contain the warning in my voice.

"Lissa decided to send Guardian Tanner…Mikhail."

"Oh!" I said with a sigh of relief. I didn't know the guardian well but as far as I could tell he was very decent.

"However…"

I groaned. "However?"

"He is away to Russia to visit his relatives…His mother died."

"I'm sorry" I said honestly. I might not have lost someone per se, but it hurt a lot when Marie left, I hadn't seen her since then…it was as she died in a way.

"He will be back, but we needed someone to cover him for a few days. Someone Lissa can trust blindly and…"

"Please Rose, don't tell me you are coming here!" I said with urgency automatically turning around to look at the corridor. I spoke too loud, and I knew Adrian heard me. "You can't do that" I added on a much quieter tone, almost whispering. "Ad—Ivashkov is not really doing so well, but he is getting better…I think. If you come here…if you come here it will destroy him once more. Give him time."

"You care about him." She simply said, and her tone was so neutral I couldn't tell if it was a good thing or not.

"I—no of course not!" I scoffed. "But I have to share a space with him, you know. Moppey and drunken are not fun to be around."

"I never meant to hurt him, you know."

"That's not my business."

"He is a good guy… He deserves someone who will love him completely."

"I really don't care Rose." I said, as professionally as I could.

"I'm not coming" she finally said, and I was glad she couldn't see me close my eyes in relief. "Dimitri is." She added making me grimace.

Dimitri Belikov was maybe better than Rose, but he was far from being the ideal either. Adrian would see the guy Rose were in loved with, everyday…It was bad.

"Why are you telling me that?" I finally asked.

"I don't know" she admitted after a while. "I thought that maybe—"

"Maybe what?"

"That you guys were friends, that maybe you could help ease the news."

"Oh yes it such easy news to share." I sighed. "It won't be for long right?"

"No. Three or four days max."

"Fine…Is…" I clear my throat. "Is, you know, anybody else in danger?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You are safe Sydney, you are only human really. Sorry to say it like that but nobody here really see humans as being a threat plus you are an alchemist, you're useful." She replied misunderstanding me. I had not been afraid for myself, no for a minute.

"I…yea and what about Ivashkov?"

"Adrian? I don't see why he would be in danger. ..As long as he is not doing anything stupid or reckless."

I had a little humorless laugh. "You know we're talking about right?"

She sighed. "Just ask one of the guys to keep an eye on him."

I started to fidget with the little golden cross I wore. I'll keep him safe I thought with a surge of protectionism that surprised myself. Where did that come from?

"Syd?" And I realized I didn't answer.

"I'll figure something with Eddie. "

"You will tell him don't you? It will be worse if you wait Dimitri to come."

"I'll tell him, and in the meantime, please find the threat and kick his ass for me. It's really making my exile harder than it has to be."

"Sure…I bet it's a hardship. Well sorry got to go, talk to you soon" she said hanging up before I even got a chance to ask what she meant by that

I looked at the phone for a minute cursing fate. Adrian was getting better, I could see it day after days, and I really hope that having to face Dimitri would not make him relapse.

He was not the stronger guy, and his vices were anchored deep in him.

I took the direction of Adrian's bedroom and raised my fist to knock but stopped myself just before as my lips were still tingling from his kiss….my first kiss. I didn't even know what I was expecting for tomorrow. I shook my head, maybe it was better this way, I would tell him tomorrow morning.

"Goodnight" I whispered to the door before going to my own room.

I couldn't help but look at myself in the mirror. I was still the same I looked just the same.

I groaned throwing myself on the bed. How could you be so stupid? I chastised myself. It was just a kiss you idiot! What did you expect? To turn into a mermaid? Idiot.

I fell asleep trying to think about everything, but my mind kept going back to Adrian. How will he react to Dimitri being here? What did Matt mean when he said Adrian was protective of me? Why did Rose thought I cared? I sighed. So many questions with no answers.

I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep, but there was a bright sunshine in my room, and a major headache in preparation, questioning things were no good…I knew that.

When I walked back into the living room, I couldn't help but sigh at the two empty bottles that were now resting on the coffee table and to the snoring Adrian on the sofa.

I was sure now he had heard my conversation with Rose, and the only thing I wanted to do was scream at him to grow up and toughen up a bit. Life was not easy and was not supposed to be easy! He had potential, he could be someone…Why was he so weak?

I rolled my eyes, and walked to the kitchen to make some coffee. I really didn't feel like dealing with the deeply hangovered Adrian, he was never agreeable to be around.

I had just poured myself a cup of coffee when I heard a barstool being dragged very loudly.

I turned around not surprised to see Adrian's scruffy face and bloodshot eyes.

"Don't even bother" he grumbled trying to sit straighter. "I know only too well what you think and newsflash…I don't care."

I shrugged dismissively. "Well you shouldn't worry, my opinion of you can't get any lower than it is." And that was an outright lie I was disappointed, I thought he could be a better man he just didn't feel like trying.

"I'm sorry" he said.

I looked at him startled. Could he see my disappointment? "Sorry?"

"For kissing you last night. It was a stupid joke and really tasteless."

I gestured dismissively thanking God he didn't know he was my first kiss ever. "It's already forgotten, it was not very memorable to be honest." I forced a chuckle. "Coffee?"

He nodded rubbing his chin covered of stubble. "Coffee seems like a good plan right now."

I poured him a cup and did my best to avoid his eyes, I was too scared of what he might see there.

"Jill is coming back today."

"I know" he said looking down at his cup.

"Jill was in danger. They had to bring in another guardian and -"

"I said I know!" He snapped looking up. "Belikov is coming I got it Sydney no need to draw me a picture."

"I'm-" I shook my head and walked back in my room closing. How could you both like and hate someone?

I was already imagining his behaviour when Belikov would be around, and it made me even happier that I had school.

Hell would break lose I knew it already.