A.N: Hey guys!!

Here is the ball second part I really hope it will meet your expectation I was speechless…55 reviews for the last chapter?! *shock**tears of joy* Thank you so so so much!!! I love you guys!

Well Enjoy and don't forget to review.

Take care

Steffy =D

Chapter 20:

I sighed and concentrated my attention on the sunrise again. "What do you want Dimitri?" I asked really tired of all the drama, arguments, and anger.

"What no cussing and wishing me to burn to hell today?" He asked really surprised by that. "That's a nice change." and I could hear in his voice that he meant it.

I kept my eyes straight ahead when I replied. "Well, you know I realized that hating you won't change anything." I shook my head. "I will never forgive you but I guess you only sped up the process of something that was bound to happen eventually." I added with defeat.

He walked up to the railing and rested his side to it so he could look at my profile. "I saw you were distraught tonight Rose," he said with concerned. "I kept my eyes on you all night as… Well you were always breathtaking to me but tonight you were the beauty I always knew you were." He added fondly. "My shift just ended and I wanted to see if you were ok?"

"Why on earth would I be ok?" I asked sincerely then realizing that he was a tool in my pain I backtracked. "I'm dealing," I added a bit colder than I intended.

"You know I love you right?" He blurted out. "I would give anything to go back in time." He added now looking at the sunrise too.

"To go back when?" I asked finally turning my head to look at him. "To when you pushed me away and asked me to move on or to when you went to the Queen to tell her I was dating her nephew?" I asked very pleased to be able to keep my voice from shaking.

"I never should have pushed you away that day in the gym," he said as if he was talking to himself. "When I saw you smile, saw this light in your eyes and I knew it was not for me anymore, that was when I missed you the most." He shook his head "I should have known…I had to be with you! I'm sorry for what I did but I had to fight for you!" He added with urgency.

I chuckled a little. "You don't love me Dimitri," I said seriously. "You think you do but you don't. I can assure you that much." I took a deep breath. "When you love someone you want them to be happy you see, even if it makes your heart bleed." I said letting my eyes wander on the forest beneath us. "I did love you on some level, that's why I wanted you to go with Tasha and I love Adrian that's why I'll keep pretending praying for him to find someone who will love him and make him at least half as happy as I wanted to make him." I said somehow feeling better to say out loud what I felt.

"But why don't you fight for him if you love him that much?" Asked Dimitri crossing his arms on his chest. I could hear the underlying hurt in his voice.

"I don't fight BECAUSE I love him and I don't need him to know the whole story and to be tortured by it just as I am." I gave him a sad smile "he thinks I'm the bad one and I know it will help him to move on to think that the Rose he cared about what just an illusion" I cocked my head to the side "That's a small price to pay."

"I'm sorry to doubt you Rose but… You thought you loved me for a while right?" He asked with a light in the eyes.

I nodded.

"And then you 'moved on,' " he said using quoting fingers which gave me the urge to beat him. "How do you know that you love him more than you did or could love me?" He asked and I could see a small glint of hope in his eyes.

I looked at him silently for a minute. He did something horrible to me but I didn't want to hurt him more than I had to, I still had karma to worry about.

I shook my head and looked away again. "You don't want to know that," I said evenly.

"I sure do!" He said with a small smile playing on his lips as he thought he was winning. "Unless you don't have an answer."

I looked at him again and stood as straight as I could. "You asked for it…" I said somehow sadden by that. "You know how being Lissa's guardian is everything to me right? How it's the only thing that could stop me from being with you? How it was the only thing topping my desire to be with you? How I would rather get stabbed than leave that spot by her side to someone else?" I asked as he nodded confused.

I sighed, "well all that changed when I fell for him. If I could be with Adrian…" I shook my head "I would drop my job without a second thought. I love Lissa of course but I want to be with him so much more than I want to be a guardian." I finally locked my eyes with his and saw his smile faded away. "That's how I know I love him much more than anything else… Much more than I did or could love you."

Dimitri huffed like someone just punched him in the stomach… he looked completely stunned as if he didn't see that coming. "Oh…"

"I'm sorry," I said sincerely saddened by the thought of causing him pain. "I told you that you didn't want to know. I didn't mean to hurt you, really."

"I know you didn't," he said with a sad half smile "That actually makes it even more painful." He sighed heavily. "How come you are not angry anymore?" He asked frowning.

"I'm still angry!" I said shrugging. "But I can't say you destroyed my life as it would have happened eventually and it would have been harder on Adrian."

"What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"Well we wanted to become public tonight and the Queen will have blackmailed me just the same than she did so…" I shook my head "except that this time it would have been hard to preserve Adrian by making him believe I didn't love him as much as I do. So, I'm not that angry as you only sped up the process of what was supposed to happen and I protected him along the way but I don't think I'll see you as I used to or that I'll ever trust you how I used to."

"I don't think he is that protected," he said evasively. "One more thing Rose and be 100% honest ok?"

"Always," I said coolly.

"If you could have anything Rose... Anything at all, what would it be?" He asked looking away.

"Him," I simply stated even surprising myself.

"Alright…" Said Dimitri nodding slightly. I could see resignation in his eyes. He leaned in to kiss my forehead. "You might want to tell him that then." He said pointing behind me.

I turned briskly and saw Adrian on the balcony shadow leaning against one of the stone pillar.

"Adrian…" I whispered.

Dimitri was behind me and brought his lips to my ear. "If you love him that much, you have to fight Rose. And I do love you… Be happy," He added kissing my temple quickly before walking back in the room.

I stayed frozen on the spot for what seemed an eternity, the sun was out now but the balcony was mostly shadowed so safe enough for him.

He finally moved and walked lazily to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I just followed you here because… I needed to tell you how beautiful you are tonight." He said only inches from me. He was so close that it made me shiver.

"Thank you." I said in a whisper. "You are not bad yourself," I added in an attempt to joke but it was just physically painful of not being able to touch him.

"I'm sorry Rose." He said even closer our faces almost touching. "I'm very truly sorry."

"For what?" I asked confused.

"For what I'm about to do but I don't have the choice," he added sadly. "Keep your eyes on mine Rose," he whispered calmly. "Never let go."

"Of course," I said keeping my eyes on his.

"Now you are going to tell me my Rose…" He said resting his hands on my shoulders. "Tell me everything the Queen told you to make you break up with me?"

He had the right to know it all. I thought as I started to relate everything the Queen told me.

When I was done he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Oh Rose… My Rose," he whispered and I heard the pain in his voice. "It must have been heart wrenching for you." He added now resting his hands on each side of my neck.

As soon as he closed his eyes and broke the contact I realized what just happened. I broke from his touch both pained and betrayed.

"You compulsed me into telling you the truth?!" I asked outraged. "You did that to me?! How could you?!"

"I couldn't just let you slip away Rose." He said sadly. "I just love you too much and I saw it in your eyes tonight. I saw your love and pain." He shook his head. "I'm fighting for us! Fighting with dear life…It cost me so much to compulse you," he added sadly. "I swore myself to never do that to you, you are too important for me… But I can't fight alone, I need your help Rose. Please Rose help me fight."

I finally brought my hand to his cheek. "You heard it all Adrian… We're not the only ones involved. I…I can't. No, I won't do that to them!" I said honestly "I just love them too much to risk their futures" I looked at him straight in the eyes. "I love you too much to do that." I added finally stating what he already knew.

He rested his forehead against mine. "Say it again Rose… Please." He intertwined our fingers together. "I want you to say it again as you have your free will… These are the most beautiful words since they are coming from your mouth."

"I love you Adrian," I said fighting back the tears. "I fought it but I lost. I do love you with my whole heart."

"You know… My name and fortune and everything else don't make a sense since I met you. The only thing that is precious, that mean the world to me is you!" He reached up to gently kiss the tip of my nose how he did so many times before. "I'm poor without you by my side," he added sincerely, "but I was the richest man on the planet when I was waking up by your side." He brought his hand to my cheek and rubbed it gently. "I told you so many times before but you didn't listen. You're all that matters to me…now and forever."

I took a deep breath and let a small sob out. "You have to let go…" I said the eyes filling up with tears.

"And then what?" He asked taking a step back. "I just forget what we had? What I feel for you? How you made me feel?" He asked with incredulity.

I sobbed again. "You'll find someone one day, someone that is going to love you and cherish you as much as you deserve and it will be easy since you will be meant to be. Love is not supposed to be that hard Adrian." I reached for him and he took my hand. "You shouldn't have to sacrifice anything to be with the one you belong with." I added kissing his hand.

"I--"

I brought his hand to my heart. "But here's a place where your finger prints still rest…your kisses still linger and your whispers softly echo…It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me." I said tightening my grip on his hand.

He shook his head as a single tear ran down his cheek.

"After a while you'll only miss me a little and--"

"Oh, but I already miss you a little, I guess you could say, a little too much, a little too often, and a little more each day." He said the voice thick with emotion. He sighed and very softly kissed my lips.

"You should go back to the party Adrian… They will start looking for you and we shouldn't be found together." I said reluctantly letting go of his hand

He looked at the open bay window before looking at me again. ''I wish I had the guts to walk away and forget about what we had. But, I can't because I know you won't come after me, and I guess that's what hurts the most.'' He admitted a bit shamefully.

I kissed him back. ''It'll hurt me to see you walk away. I have to admit it, you were and still are an important part of my life and the time we shared will forever be a part of me. So even though I realize that it was never meant to be, still, it hurts.''

''Would you do something for me before I go?'' He asked closing his eyes.

I nodded unable to speak.

''Dance with me Rose.'' He asked reaching for my hand. ''Just one dance and I'll go back inside.''

I took his hand and followed him toward the bay window where we could hear the music from the other room.

He tightened his arms around my waist as I buried my face into his neck.

Ironically enough the song playing was I still love you by Alexz Johnson

If we walk away now

There's no turning around

Gotta say what I mean

While you're here with me

I'm not sure I'll find words

To cover the hurt

That I see in your eyes

But I gotta try

I know rocks turn to sand

And hearts can change hands

And you're not to blame

When the sky fills with rain

But if we stay or walk away

There's one thing that's true

I still love you

Can you search down inside

Let go of your pride?

If I forget trying to win

And just let you in

I didn't travel this far

To watch it all fall apart

So give me your hand

And take a chance

I know rocks turn to sand

And hearts can change hands

And you're not to blame

When the sky fills with rain

But if we stay or walk away

There's one thing that's true

I still love you I still love you

Riding with me as close as before

Whatever happens, I won't ask for more

Here in my heart from now 'til the end

Flame out or fly, we have to try again

I still I know rocks turn to sand

And hearts can change hands

And you're not to blame

When the sky fills with rain

But if we stay or walk away T

here's one thing that's true

I still love you I still love you

At the end he loosened his embrace, gently drying the tear that escaped my eye.

He looked deep into my eyes. "Sometimes the memory is worth the pain," he said as if he was talking to himself. "Goodbye my Rose… Loving you is impossible to regret, losing you is hard to accept but with all this hurt I've felt, letting go is the most painful yet as I love you more than life itself." he said gently kissing me before walking back to the party.

"I love you Adrian…" I said looking at him walking back into the room. I took a deep breath trying to regain my countenance before walking back in the room. Trying to forget someone you love is like trying to remember someone you never met. I thought knowing that I would always love him as much as I did at this instant.

I went back to the room about 10 minutes after Adrian and I immediately got caught by Chris's powerful arms to dance.

I stayed maybe about half an hour more dancing with Christian, Chris and Eddie. I tried to concentrate on them only and they seemed to try to keep me occupy enough… Bless them.

I yawned.

''Is it bed time for Rose?'' Asked Chris as I was dancing with him.

I smiled and nodded. ''Sorry….''

''Don't be silly… Let's get you to bed.'' He said and there was no double meaning in his voice.. Uh Scary!

I went to kiss my friends goodnight. Eddie and Grazie were about to leave too and Lissa and Christian decided to go to bed too as we were all leaving.

As Chris and I left the room, Olendzki stopped me and asked me to come tomorrow as she received the results of my test and that I needed vitamins.

I thanked Chris for the good time, I kissed his cheek and as soon as I got out of my dress I went straight to bed. I knew it was terrible for the skin to sleep with the make up still on but I didn't care right now I just wanted to sleep…sleep and forget everything.

___________________________________________________________

I woke up early enough, took a warm shower and went to Olendzki office as I really didn't have anything to do this morning and I was pretty sure that all my friends were sleeping still.

"So…" I said, sitting down. "Do I have many deficiencies or whatever?"

"Well, the problem is not there really Rose it's actually a bit more serious than we originally thought." She said caringly.

"Yeah?" I asked concerned. "I'm not going to die right?" I added stupidly.

"It depends on your mother…" She mumbled before looking at me straight into the eyes. "You're pregnant Rose."

"With a baby?" I blurted out and then wanting to slap myself… Could have I said something even more stupid? I didn't think so…

"Well I sure hope so or that's a whole different issue!" she said eyeing me like I was deranged (which I probably was but I hided it pretty well).

"That's impossible," I said shaking my head.

"Are you a virgin?" She asked with a small smile that I wanted to smack off her face… Now I could accuse the hormones for my anger management issues YAY!

"Well…" I just said coking my head to my right.

"Did you sleep with a moroi recently?" She asked still really professional.

"Well…" I repeated cocking my head to the left.

"I asked for them to run the test a second time Rose. You are positively pregnant…" She said handling me the results.

"Uh…" I looked at the numbers not really getting anything. "You know what? Well I didn't see that one coming!" I added chuckling under the 'she-lost-it' glance from Olendzki.