A.N: Hi guys! See as promised you get the next chapter early and I made it EXTRA long.

Disclaimer: I don't know VA or its characters as they belong to Richelle Mead.

P.S: By the way reading an ARC of Golden Lily right now and I LOVE it so much.

Chapter 20:

I couldn't believe that Rose Hathaway was sitting here, in my bedroom l;ike we were friends or something. I helped her escape a few months ago because I owed big to her father but I hadn't seen or spoke to her in months…

I turned around, panicking on what David might think seen Rose standing here, like she owned the place. This could just make me get me in rehab center.

David told me that he loved me that I could trust him and that it would not be like Mary and I really wanted to trust him, but there was something in me, like if a secret part of my brain told me to be wary.

"I thought they had an understanding with you." Said David coldly, looking straight at Rose.

She snorted. "Well it's not like I had anything to say in the deal you made." She crossed her arms on her chest in defiance.

They glared at each other, and I could hear that part of my brain scream, they were hiding something and I hated that.

Rose sighed letting go of David defiant glare, she was stepping down, that was so…not her. She rested her hand on a shoebox that was on my desk, I frowned that was not mine I knew it. "Listen I'm not here to start a war it's just….somebody kidnapped him and I believe Sydney is the only one who can help us."

"Who? Help you how? I don't want to get into this kind of trouble again" I shook my head.

"Adrian has been kidnapped Sydney"

"Adrian? Your boyfriend? Or Ex, no?"

"How can she be helpful, she doesn't remember him?"

I turned to look at David. Adrian was Rose ex boyfriend, I remembered him but I didn't know the impact I might have on him….I never even talked to him, but he was one of those disgusting creature of the night I knew that much.

"They are connected. If someone can access his mind, it's her."

David paled two shades. "Did they…." he trailed off.

"I'm not connected to anyone!" I shouted in exasperation, sitting on my bed I was starting to get motion sickness to look from one to the other.

Rose cocked an eyebrow with a small challenging smile. "Really alchemist what do you think?" She snorted. "But if you mean blood sharing no….non of that."

I grimaced as bile rose to my mouth….letting anyone bite you that was so vile.

"She loves him and he loves her, Lissa tried to get in but she is blocked, they are probably keeping him on a high fix of Moroi saliva….this is also a reason why Moroi don't share blood….too many enzymes can lock them in a crazy state."

"And you think Sydney can make it?"

"I'm sure there is a part of him that only belong to her, a part that only her can access…I'm pretty sure that, with Lissa's help she could access images that can help us find him."

"Pretty sure?" Asked David, "you want to ruin her whole life on a 'pretty sure'?"

"But I don't even know him! You are crazy, I won't go anywhere." I reached for my phone. "I'm calling security."

"Sydney please, please look in this box you have to trust me, you and Adrian are in love. You will remember…. I'll find a way to make you remember, just come with me. Lets leave before anyone notices I'm here."

I looked at David. He knew something, and as much as I knew something was wrong, I also knew that he would do what's for the best. "David?"

"You have to tell her the truth David, you know it might not be permanent and if he died if he ever died because of you she will never forgive you."

"But I love her…..I loved her all my life I—"

"Do you want a girl that is not really yours? Because even if she doesn't remember, deep down, she knows she loves another one."

David looked at me and I didn't think I ever saw him as broken before. He sighed closing his eyes. "You have to go Sydney." He said as the alarm started to blare.

Intrusion suspected, unknown car parked in the forest behind the headquarter. Said a robotic voice

"Shit!" Muttered Rose. "Adrian will be pissed he loved that car."

The word 'princess' came into the back of my mind but I had no idea why.

David took a deep shaky breath "I'll get you two out."

"Aren't you in lock down?" Asked Rose suspiciously, probably thought he was going to hand her to the security.

I couldn't be sure it was not his intention until he met my eyes and I saw resignation and sadness written all over his face like he was giving up, I just wasn't sure what he was giving up. I loved him….like I was supposed to, like I always did. I would be back…they will realize it was all a misunderstanding that I couldn't help their friend.

"I have the highest level of security clearance here. I can get out whenever I want…Lock-down or not." He pulled his car keys out of his jeans pocket. "Go to her sister room and wait there I will text Sydney as soon as I'm park under the window; She'll show you how to go down."

"But you can't go along with this! If I go now they won't forgive me! David…David its suicide."

He had a sad chuckle, "I'll lose you anyways Sydney, it's inevitable. You might not understand now but I rather lose you today and know I will still have a small spot in your heart than….than wait because when it will all come back to you and when you will realize I didn't push you to follow her" he said pointing to Rose "you will probably hate me until your last breath….and maybe even longer."

I looked at the box. "Let me at least see what is in it."

"You'll do it in the car" David said my window to get you out is very small.

Rose reached for the box and secured it under her arm. "Lets go."

I followed like a robot, Rose probably saw I was in a daze and took my phone. My last was over I was becoming a fugitive.

"Everything will be alright" she said barely louder than a whisper.

"I don't even know why I should follow you, why I should ruin everything for a vampire I don't even know."

She sighed. "You'll know soon enough, you'll know" she said tapping the box.

I didn't get a chance to add anything when my phoned beeped in Rose's hand.

"He is quick I have to give him that" she said opening the window, "Come on show me how we do that."

Less than ten minutes later we were a mile away from headquarter and David stopped the car. We all got out and he threw the keys to Rose.

"Why do you give me that?"

"You'll need a way to get back to wherever you're going…" He sighed. "Even when she remember keep her away from here, keep her safe. It's his car you left behind and she will be missing. They will probably think she got her memory back and…" he looked at me lovingly, making my chest ache. "And that she chose him over us again."

Rose chuckled. "Adrian has been looking through the laws and treaties for the last few weeks and he was pretty sure he found a solution. That's what helped him go on, he needed a way to get her back…" she smiled. "You didn't think he would let her go without a fight right? "

"He would have been a fool." Admitted David.

"Come on Sydney lets move."

I hesitated, Why should I trust her? And David, if he loved me why was he causing me so much trouble.

"You will understand when you look in the box."

My curiosity got the best of me and I rushed to the car as David caught my wrist.

"You'll remember, and when you do, know that I'm so sorry, more sorry than you think I can be. I…I didn't know he was going to do that."

"Who? What?"

"Come on Sydney we have to go now!" Said Rose already in the driver seat.

"What about you, your car?" I asked to David.

He gave me a sad smile. "Don't worry I'll figure something, just go."

I barely closed the door that Rose sped up.

"Now you can look in the box" she said not looking at me.

I reached for the box on the back seat. On top there was a CD which stated "Sage's Mix".

"Can I?" I asked Rose.

She nodded. The first song was 'You'll ask for me ' by Tyler Hilton.

I started to roam through the stack of photos and It felt like I was falling even deeper in the twilight zone. It was me in these pictures, and by the look of it, I was in Rome and wrapped up in the arms of that Moroi boy.

"It's me but…."

"But what?" Asked Rose, making me realized I was talking out loud.

"It doesn't look like me."

Rose quickly glanced at the picture in my hand. We were in front of the Rome Coliseum; the vampire had his arms tightly around me and rested his cheek on top of my head.

"I don't understand."

"I look different…happy—ier."

Rose chuckled. "Yeah well love does that to you. You just have the glow of someone crazy in love with a person that loves you back."

I grunted looking at the pictures again. There was one of me in a beautiful red dress and he was in a stunning tuxedo, I had to admit even with no memory of him that he was probably the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. I blushed as I couldn't believe I would wear such a dress and the necklace I was wearing….I was sure it cost as much as a year college tuition if not more.

There was a long flat box in the shoe box, I took it and the necklace was in it.

"Holy shit!"

Rose laughed. "Wow an Alchemist that swears? Isn't that a contradiction?"

"An oxymoron probably, yes. But…he bought me that?"

"He loves you, he only wants the best and prettiest things for you." Rose took a deep breath. "He would probably cover you with diamonds if you asked him to."

The song "Never stop" by safesuit started.

"Wow I knew our Adrian was a romantic but that mix really tops it all."

I blushed somehow pleased this was all for me.

The next picture made me gasp and I wanted to die with embarrassment. I was in a bed with bed hair…I had the white bed sheet wrapped around me but it was clear that I was naked under it, he was beside me the arm extended as he took the picture of us…I could see his bare chest as we both smiled goofily at the camera.

"Oh no….no, no, no."

"What?"

"I did that?" I showed her the picture.

She grinned "oh yea you so did! Took us two days to hear from you guys when you were in Rome…." She winked. "You both were in bedroom arrest."

I couldn't help traitor tears to fill up my eyes.

"Hey what's wrong?"

"What's…wrong? Everything!" I couldn't help but squeak. "I….this is not me! Well it is but….I don't do these things."

"What? Have sex? Or have sex with a creature of the night?"

"Both!" I touched the Lily on my cheek. "This go against all I believe in" I added in a whisper.

Rose sighed. "I can't wait to have the other Sydney back because I have to admit I didn't miss that bigot."

"You don't understand."

Rose took a deep breath. "I do…I do understand better than you think. This all seem so new to you, you don't recognize yourself. Adrian erased months from your memories…all this time where you built what you both had. What frustrates me is that I know how much you love him, Sydney you don't understand yet but everything you did please don't beat yourself up. It's all justified and meaningful….it's not cheap or dirty. Your love…it's just so powerful."

I nodded hoping deep in my heart she was right, that there was a real good reason for me throwing away everything I believed in, everything I grew up to be.

There was a notebook page folded in 4 in the box and I blushed furiously quickly putting it against my chest to hide it. A little smile played on Rose's lips subtly letting me know that she looked at it.

Someone kills me now….I moved the drawing from my chest tilting it slightly in a futile attempt to stop Rose from seeing it even if I knew she saw it already.

It was a drawing of me naked in front of a mirror. The details were breathtaking….down to the little birthmark low on my hip bone…Yeah he had a good look of that I was sure.

There was a little square box at the bottom that kept me frozen on the spot…my heartbeat was so crazy it felt like my heart would get out of my chest.

I opened It with shaking hand and as I expected there was a beautiful ring with an emerald surrounded by diamond.

I took the ring out and looked at it closer, it was perfect…inside there was an engraving that made me choke back tears. "Love is patient, love is kind" which was my favorite bible part from Corinthian 13:4. It was my best kept secret, how I hoped to have that love one day.

"We were engaged?"

"No"

"But…" I showed her the ring, "this is my quote."

"Yea, this is your ring."

"I….don't understand."

Rose sighed. "I'll show you when we will be there"

"Show me?"

She tapped her forehead "how could you do that?"

"I have my ways. Want to see that?"

I nodded.

A few miles before, Court Rose disposed of the car.

"Dimitri should be here in a few minutes" she said, looking up and down the road.

A black SUV stopped not more than 10 minutes later with a visibly furious Russian in the driver seat.

"Really Roza? That was the 'I'll be back in a bit' you gave me TWO days ago."

Rose glanced at me before shrugging.

"I know I should look surprise but I'm not" he jerked his head for us to get in the car.

I sat at the back of the car, holding the shoe box tightly against my chest.

"Roza you did a lot of stupid things but that….You know the alchemists are furious, they think him and her ran away."

"She is the only one that will be able to access his mind. Lissa says he is locked in his head and I know, I KNOW she can get in."

"No you HOPE you can. You created such a mess Rose."

"Will Lissa be mad?"

He sighed and shook his head. "She thinks you know best but…" he quickly glanced behind him. "Do you even know what you agreed with? The consequences of running away…supposedly with Adrian."

I thought about the mix, the photos and the engagement ring. "I'm sure it's worth it. "

"I hope so….for your sake and his."

"We'll talk about it later" Said Dimitri to Rose as he parked the car.

"Sure….but I need to take Sydney to Lissa but later okay?"

Dimitri laughed. "I'm not mad and you will have to come to bed eventually."

Rose gave him a wicked grin. "I will know how to distract you."

Dimitri jaw got slack making Rose laugh.

He grunted. "See you later."

"Come on Sydney, it's that way."

Lissa held Rose in a tight hug. "That was stupid Rose really…"

Rose waived her hand at her. "I already heard that from the big Russian and will probably hear more tonight. We don't have time right now I'm not even sure Adrian will be attainable."

"Are you okay will all that?" Asked Lissa, taking a step toward me.

I took a step back. "I will be."

She sighed turning toward Rose again. "What's the plan?"

"First I need her to see one of my memory."

Lissa seemed confused.

"Just trust me."

Lissa gestured us to the table on the corner, as soon as we sat down she extended one hand toward Rose and one toward me.

"What are we…" I asked looking at her hand.

"She wants to show you something from her memory….It's the way, don't worry I'm just connecting you, I won't see anything."

I took a shaky breath and placed my damp hand in her.

I felt some weird ticklish sensations and closed my eyes, when I opened them again I knew I was seeing through Roses eyes.

She was pacing up in front of the council room waiting for me and Adrian. Adrian got out of the council room with wet eyes, red cheeks….a real mess

"Adrian what…"

"It's done" his voice cracked. "Lets go."

"But…." Rose looked behind him to the close door. "Where is Sydney?"

"She'll, she'll be staying here."

"She chose them over you? Adrian there is no way she would do that!"

"They asked her to chose." He shook his head. "She chose me."

Rose was confused. "Choosing me was a mistake, they wouldn't have let her walk away and even if they did what if she ever regretted choosing me?"

Rose shook her head. "She loves you more than anything Adrian it's…"

"It's too late just…too late. He gave her a sad smile. But at least I met true love you know? The real thing. Yesterday I thought we were going to have it all. I was deeply in love and she loved me just as much…You know what she sang for me last night, just for the two of us? 'You' by Jane Krakowski and she said that it was like it has been written by her for me. She is the love of my life Rose….really I won't ever come back from this one and I don't want to."

Rose pulled him into a hug knowing words wouldn't help. As she pulled him she heard something fell on the floor. When she looked down she noticed the box.

"Adrian were you…"

"I told you Rose, yesterday I really thought I had everything."

"Did…did you ask her?" Rose asked, looking at the ring.

He shook his head. "That was my plan for today….and you know what the worst part is?"

"I really don't."

"I'm pretty sure she would have said yes" he added with a sob.

I was pulled out of her head.

"I'm sorry I caused him pain" I whispered eyes full of tears. "And I don't even remember him, I don't feel anything for him"

"It's ok, he'll give you your memories back and once we save him…it will be fine."

"What now?" asked Lissa.

"Now," said rose with a smile locking eyes with me. "Lets go and hack Adrian's mind."