A.N: Hey guys!

This is the last chapter of the story, I will also post an epilogue soon don't worry about it.

I know some of you are going to be disappointed with the outcome but not everyone can win I am sorry about it.

Moreover, as you can see I sued as the last sentence the actual last sentence of 'Last Sacrifice'.

Thanks to Stefanie for proofreading this chapter.

Don't forget to review. I love reading you.

Take care

Steffy

Chapter 21:

"Do you often have visions of me?" Adrian asked with a gentle smile keeping his hand tightly on my shoulder. "I didn't know spirit madness could be transmitted."

I couldn't contain my tearless sob. I didn't even realized how much I needed to see him, before he appeared right before my eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey Rose no crying" he said in a rush bringing his free hand to my cheek cupping it tenderly. "Does this mean you missed me?"

I kept staring at him, not moving.

"I know you asked us to stay away, not to contact you and I did my best to stay away but I couldn't leave you alone for your birthday, not when you were within my reach." He sat beside me on the bench and took my hand.

"You asked me to go" I said finally.

I saw sadness cross his face. "And I regretted it since the next morning when I was more or less sober again."

"Why didn't you come then?" I was human enough to ask.

"Because you asked us to stay away and I thought that it was the least I could do, plus" he shrugged slightly. "Some time away probably helped you figure out what you wanted out of life…No pressure."

"It did help, I decided what I wanted."

"Oh…you did." He said trying to sound nonchalant, but I could see doubt, apprehension and even anguish in his eyes.

"Uh huh" I said, reaching in my inside pocket getting the letter out. "Here, this is for you. It will save me the hassle of posting it."

Adrian took the letter and stared at his name and address for a little while. "Do I want to read what is in this envelope?"

"I don't know Adrian; I don't know what you want."

"Rose you know what I want" he said slowly opening the envelope, "I want you…only you."

He slowly opened the letter and I knew what he was reading.

I want YOU, I love YOU and I choose YOU. Please love ME, choose ME, want ME, and forgive ME. That's all it said, but it was enough I thought.

"Rose…" he said in a whisper "really?"

"What do you think?" I asked meeting his eyes again. "Does it look like a joke to you?"

He bent down so quickly, I didn't even have the time to realize what he was doing before I felt his lips on mine. He kissed me softly like he was scared I would break down or vanish.

"Oh little dhampir…" He whispered against my lips. "There is nothing to forgive; I'm the one who asked you to go and when I was sober, I couldn't believe I did that."

I gave him a sideway look.

"Okay…not so sober." He lifted my hand and kissed it." I could hear you in my head, telling me that you wished I'd ask you to stay." He closed his eyes. "I hoped it was a dream that I didn't let you walk out that door. I went to your room, but you were gone. Christian told me you left with Tasha. I…I left you messages on your phone until the voicemail was full."

"I got rid of it."

"I figured. And then I wanted to come to you here, Lissa wanted me to bring you back, but Liam read us your letter and we decided to grant you your wish, you deserved that much."

"I'm still glad you came." I admitted.

"I came before" He admitted.

"Really? When?"

"At Christmas. I was waiting for you to come with Tasha. Actually Lissa and I, we couldn't wait for you to be back, but you didn't, so I came here to spend Christmas with you but you were not here."

"NO I was away…with Liam."

"Yes" he grimaced. "I found out about that but only later. But I never let you go, not really."

"Why didn't you at least visit my dreams?"

He snorted. "I tried, in a subtle way, but there was no way in, not at all. You were blocking me."

"Was I?"

He nodded "I ended up calling you, hoping you would understand in some subconscious level that I needed you."

I looked at the water again, now I understood the voice I heard a couple of times, the deformed voice calling my name. He was telling the truth.

"Are you sure?"

"Of what?" I asked teasing.

He lifted the letter in a swift movement. "Of that."

I smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. I had no responsibility or promise to keep remember. "

"Just—"

"I'm not saying that I don't love him anymore, because let's face it, it would probably be a big lie but I need you more." I admitted.

He reached for my hand again and intertwined our fingers. "I have something for you well…a couple of things." He said with the mischievous twinkle in his eyes that I loved that much.

I grinned. "Hit me!" I said extending my free hand toward him.

He laughed and got out a letter from his pocket. "Here"

As soon as I recognized my name on the envelope written with Lissa elegant script I let go of his hand to hold it with both hands.

"You know we were having a nice moment. Do I want to open that now?"

"Do you really think that I would give you something that is bound to put you in a foul mood? Think again. I intend to enjoy the evening and night with you."

"Night huh? Someone is pretty confident."

"Well I am, I have hopes. I hope you missed me at least half as much as I missed you."

"I love you Adrian and I missed you too…more than I'm ready to admit it." I looked around. "Do you want to go somewhere else?"

He cocked an eyebrow with a wicked grin. "What's on your mind?" He laughed kissing my lips quickly. "Nah I'm good here for now."

"Okay I…" I looked at the envelope.

"Read the letter Rose, I'm not going anywhere." He rested his hand on my thigh. "I'm here to stay."

Rose,

I don't know how you reacted to Adrian bringing you this letter but I really hope you didn't send him away. You have to believe me when I say that it was terrible for him to be away from you, he really did miss you like crazy…we both did.

I'm sorry Rose for everything I said to you. I didn't mean it, none of it. I still can't believe I said that stuff to you. I was so hurt and disappointed and you were the one bringing it to me.

I know and always knew that you never did that to hurt me. Going on this Quest by yourself was your own way to protect me.

I'm truly sorry for everything I said and I know that, if you look deep down, you know that I didn't mean it. How could I ever wish you out of my life? You have been my best friend for as long as I can remember, you are the closest family I have.

Now I had the time to appreciate what you did, you gave me an opportunity, a sister…another sister as for me I already have one and it's you.

I hope you decide to come back, at least for a little while so we can talk things out. I don't want to lose you, not over something that trivial. I love you Rose.

Your friend

Lissa.

I had to do my best to contain my tears of joy, Lissa was not mad at me anymore. I was so happy to know that we were not broken beyond repair.

"She still wants me in her life." I said turning to Adrian who was scrutinizing my face.

"Do you doubt the impact you have on people lives?" He smiled leaning down to kiss me. :Once we have you in our lives, it's very hard to let you go."

I smiled at that.

"This brings me to item number two." He said putting his hand on his pocket.

I placed Lissa's letter in the inside pocket of my jacket and reached for the paper. "Okay…" I trailed off.

"I've been in a lot of mess. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I'd prefer you didn't. I don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain." He chuckled "So I make a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. But there's only one thing I've ever been sure of. You."

I looked away still not very comfortable with him expressing his feelings.

"Hey, look at me." He said gently bringing his hand to my chin so I looked in his eyes. "I'm not asking you for anything…yet. When I say I love you, it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you - it has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try... I've seen your kindness, and your strength, I've seen the best and the worst of you and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Rose."

He took the little black velvety box out of his pocket. I recognized it from Las Vegas and it took my breath away. Oh please no, not now, not yet I thought. "Adrian…"

He shook his head. "Don't worry Rose I'm not making the same mistake twice. I'm not asking for you to marry me now, I know you better than that. I'm just asking you for a promise…for a someday." He opened the box and I could see the emerald and diamond ring.

"I thought you brought it back" I admitted somehow relieved.

He chuckled. "Rose I had that ring custom made, almost as soon as we started to date. This is your ring, always will be. So Rose, what do you say?"

I looked down at the ring again. He didn't ask me to take the commitment now and I already knew I couldn't confidently imagine my future without him. He wasn't asking much, he wanted a promise, just a gesture to show him I knew we belonged together.

I nodded. "Yes Adrian, I'll marry you some day. Of course I will."

Adrian let out a breath I didn't know he was holding, took the ring out of the box and slid it on my finger. "Perfect" he whispered before bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it.

"And now the final item" he said with a smile getting a folded piece of paper out of his jacket pocket.

I opened it to find the drawing Adrian had been working on when I went in his room except this time, beside the old version of Adrian there was an old lady on the bench and they were holding hands. This old lady looked a lot like me and the look in old Adrian's face was hopeful and peaceful.

I smiled looking at him.

"My soul mate has returned. There is nothing else I would want. You- You are coming back with me right?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, I bet Tasha will be happy with that. She wanted me to go back to the Court for so long."

Adrian kept a tight hold to my hand and even if I was not so hot for PDA I snuggled against him, resting my head on his shoulder. We stayed like that silently for a while and it felt good, like we really were meant to be there at this exact moment.

After a little while, I looked at my hand with the huge, probably excessively expensive ring. "What's going to happen now?" I asked keeping my head on his shoulder.

Adrian kissed the top of my head and I could feel his smile. "I don't know" he said hugging me closer "But I think it's going to be good"