A.N: Hey guy!!

Check out the new poll on my page. Thanks again to the one who reviewed and I really appreciate you guys being more tolerant about my grammar and stuff. You know i'm really trying my hardest =D

Well I really hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter I sure enjoyed writing the fight =D.

Enjoy and don't forget to review.

Hugsies.

Steffy.

Chapter 9:

When I woke up that morning, I stayed in bed for a little while looking at the ceiling. I didn't know what I wanted to do…burst into tears or broke someone's neck since what I was feeling was so intense. It was the kind of feelings that only a good cry or a good fight could ease.

It had been almost a week since I last dreamt of Dimitri and like a reminder I dreamt of him last night and that one was brutal! It was not like the dreams I had since I came back. Usually Dimitri was frightening, threatening…a Strigoi, but last night was completely different, a new type of dream that I hope I never have again.

In that dream, I was lying in bed, when the alarm clock started to beep annoyingly. As I started to emerge, I felt a manly arm tighten around my waist and I couldn't help but smile.

I moved slightly to snuggle closer in the warm body beside me.

"Hey" I said with a sleepy voice.

The man beside me started to kiss my neck making me moan.

"Hello beautiful" he said against my neck and it was not Dimitri like it had been so many time before. No, it was Adrian.

I slightly turned in his embrace to face him. I brought my hand to his cheek brushing it lovingly. I was thinking on how much I loved him, how he healed my heart and that, even if it was just an echo of the love I had been able to give, I was still in love with him and in his eyes there was only joy and love. I was making him happy and he brought me peace and love…What else could I have asked for?

I closed my eyes again with a small smile on my lips.

"No no my lil'dhampir we don't have time to go back to sleep" said Adrian with a small laugh.

"I thought you liked being in bed with me" I said eyes still closed.

"You know I do, if it was up to me we would never leave that bed but Lissa is graduating today…She needs you there. It's not everyday you graduate from University." He added kissing the tip of my nose.

I nodded giving up. I opened my eyes, kissed him hard before getting out of bed.

"I'm taking care of the coffee" I said to him before getting out of the room leading into a very massive, luxury living room.

I was about to reach for the kitchen door when a voice behind me startled me.

"Really Rose…That's the life you want to lead?" Said a deep voice that I would probably recognize till my last breath.

I swirled around briskly and my heart jumped in my chest because it was not the strigoi version of the man I loved with every fiber of my being that was standing in front of me no, it was the real him!

"Dim...Dimitri? I…How…" I looked around but Adrian was nowhere to be found. I looked back into his deep chocolate eyes, his perfectly tanned skin. It was really him.

"Honestly Rose I'm really disappointed in you." He said standing straight about 10 feet from me.

Those words hurt me so deep, much more than anything else. "But why?" I let out in a cry.

"Is that the life you want to lead? Really?" He said gesturing around. "I mean…." He took a picture frame on the coffee table and showed it to me.

On the picture, I was standing in my graduation gown, diploma in hand. Adrian was behind me with his arms wrapped around me possessively. He was leaning down resting his chin on my shoulder, his cheek brushing mine. He was smiling brightly and his eyes were full of pride. I was smiling too and I had my empty hand resting on his arms around me but there was some sadness deep in my eyes. A sadness that was probably still there now.

"That's precious!" he said sarcastically.

"It's---" I started.

"Let me guess…Not what I think? Complicated? What you had to do?" He said with a playful smile. "I mean Rose explain me what made you give up your life as a guardian to become Adrian Ivashkov fiancée?" He asked pointing to my left hand.

I looked down and saw the completely insanely huge diamond on my ring finger, my silk pajamas, and all the pictures of Adrian and I in different places.

"Is it why you broke your promise to me Rose? Is he the reason why you let me down?" He asked and I could hear both accusation and sadness in his voice. "I thought we were special, that you loved me and…and you moved on."

"No I---"

Dimitri closed the distance between us in a second and put his hands on my shoulders to make me face the full size mirror on the wall. I looked to us and couldn't help but gasp when I locked eyes with his reflection. The Dimitri beside me was the real one, warm, tanned, alive but the one in the mirror was sickeningly white, the eyes cold and ringed with red…it was the Strigoi version of Dimitri.

"Do you think I wanted to be like that?" He asked still facing the mirror. "Honestly Rose you promised me! And now you're letting me wander the world like that!" He said pointing to his reflection. "How could you do that? How could you let me down? I'm…I'm like that because of you Rose if we didn't go to rescue them, I'd still be here."

Tears started to fall down my cheeks, "It's not happening, I'm...I'm just dreaming". I said as an excuse.

"No it didn't happen yet but it will…Sooner than you think. Don't you see it? It already started." He said this time turning me around so I could face the 'real' Dimitri. "Your will is already wavering isn't it? I thought you were brave…" He took a deep breath. "I love you Rose please…please save me. I need to find peace, to have my redemption." He added and there was pure pain in his eyes.

That was when I woke up, feeling angry, guilty, sad, ashamed and most of all I felt like I was betraying my one love. Yeah I needed a good fight as I didn't want to cry anymore, I cried enough and it was not me. I was tough, not a wimp.

I quickly jumped out of bed, changed into my sweats and training shirt, tightened my hair into a high ponytail, splashed some cold water on my face to wash off the reminder of that torturing dream and rushed to the gym.

I was always happy to train so it was the one hour when I truly felt in peace with myself. I didn't think while fighting and it was good. Today I literally considered training as a blessing since I needed it more than ever before.

"Well how lucky I am!! Miss Hathaway honored me with her presence today" said Stan with a snort as I walked into the gym. "That's already better than yesterday!"

I rolled my eyes with exasperation. I was very very touchy today already and Stan Alto would be a real challenge.

"Good morning to you too guardian Alto." I said going to stand at the center of the training mat. I decided, for the first time in my life, not to fuel the fire.

"So you're not drunk today?" He asked coming to stand in front of me. "Old habits die hard I see?" He added with clear reprobation in the voice. "I knew people like you couldn't change" he added so smug it took all the self control I had left not to jump on him.

"What's your twig with me Alto? Bad time of the month?" I asked with my sarcastic grin meaning 'screw-you' in Rose Hathaway language.

"You are just a waste of time." He said taking an attacking stance.

"I see…your problem is jealousy" I said as we started to circle each other. "Tell me Stan, How does it feel to know that I'm better in my bad days than you in your best?"

Stan snorted. "You had potential but you keep wasting it with your attitude…" He shook his head. "They see you as a little hero now but they'll figure out you're phony soon enough. Belikov would be so disappointed in you."

I was pretty sure that pure fury crossed my face at this instant. It hurt bad!! Probably since Dimitri said exactly the same thing in my dream. It hit home.

I tried my best not to show him to what extent his words touched me but he was going to pay for it and I swore to myself that he was going to feel it.

I forced a laugh. "Say the guy who is 30 and only has 1 molnija! Was it a natural death? Did the Strigoi actually killed himself because he was tired to hear you talk? Well…You know what we say don't you? The one who can't do, teach."

I saw the anger increase on his face and knew I touched his soft spot.

"You know what, I give you a freebie" I winked. "Let's fight, really fight! No rules… no limits. If one of us say 'enough' he loses. Deal?" I asked with a teasing tone.

I could see incertitude on his face. I knew he was tempted but he was not that hot to go against school policy.

"Come on…it will be a secret I won't tell anyone." I said still circling him. "Unless…Unless you know I'm going to annihilate you and you're too chicken to have it proven fair and square."

Stan laughed. "Ok but don't go crying when I'll break bones novice" he said with an malicious smile. "You want to play? Let's play!"

"Is that what you said to your mom last night?" I had the time to ask before he launched at me.

I dodged him quite easily punching his left side making him wince.

"Come on dude make it believable, it's like fighting with a cripple " I said laughing.

He tried a sidekick but I blocked it with my forearm. It was harder than I thought and I stumbled a bit. I would have an ugly bruise in the morning.

He didn't manage to avoid my next punch and he grimaced under the pain as I was pretty sure I partially dislocated his jaw.

He automatically replicated with an uppercut in the stomach. It was hard enough to take my breath away but I was too proud to let him see the pain. I already got beaten up a lot more than that in my life… unfortunately.

"You hit like a girl!" I said as we started circle each other again.

"Yeah well I'm giving what you can take….Seeing the shame you are to Belikov's training" he said obnoxiously.

"Say the guy that nobody want as a guardian so he sucks." I said with a light bow. "I'm getting bored Alto, I think I'll go fight with a preschooler, I'll get more action."

Stan launched again but I twirled on myself so I faced his back and pushed him like a kid in the sandbox. I knew it was petty but I wanted to humiliate him since he was trying to humiliate me by denigrating my whole training with Dimitri.

I was too full of myself and didn't expect him to get his balance back that fast. I only had the time to see his fist connect with my nose and heard the sickening crack.

The blood started to flow and that's when I really lost it. I just blocked the pain, and as he probably didn't expect me to continue fighting with a broken nose and blood all over me, he fell backward very easily when I jumped on him.

I started to punch him over and over again. He maybe called quit I didn't know but I only stopped hitting him when a strong hand pulled me away.

"Are you two crazy?!" Shouted Pavel astonished.

Well I could imagine the picture. Stan was half undress, his brown hair a real mess, a cut lip, a purple mark on the left side of his jaw and a brand new black eye.

I probably didn't look much better. My shirt was ripped and covered in blood, my hair was half down and even if my nose was not bleeding that much I was pretty sure I could run for 'Miss Psycho.'

Stan and I just looked at Pavel without a word. How could we justify ourselves?

"I…" He shook his head. "You're a guardian for god sakes!" Said Pavel to Stan.

"It was my fault" I said trying to stand up. Stan was a dick yeah but a good teacher. I pushed him over the edge, I wanted us to fight.

Pavel looked at me with pursed lips. "Mr. Mazur wants to see you" he said reaching for my hand to help me up.

I ignored his outreached hand and winced standing up.

Pavel sighed with exasperation letting his hand fall to his side. He took the towel on the floor and threw it to me so i could wipe my face.

"He wants to see you now." He added reaching for my gym bag on the floor.

I nodded to him, threw a quick look at Stan who was still breathless on the floor. I could see some blood dripping from the arch of his eyebrow.

Man we really went far didn't we? I asked myself silently walking outside.

"We…We can't let your father see you like that." Said Pavel matter of factly. "He'll go crazy and believe me I wouldn't want to be Alto if he ever found out."

I groaned with both annoyance and pain. "Let me just find Lissa then, she will heal that in no time…I hope I can just avoid the full interrogatory."

I quickly scanned Lissa's mind and was startled to find her in Adrian's room. What the hell what she doing there so early? What the heck was Adrian up to? It was like a miracle to have him up by lunchtime so now? An hour before class? It was total science fiction and I didn't like that.

"I guess I've got my answer" grumbled Pavel beside me.

"Uh?" I asked coming back to reality. "Sorry I was trying to locate Lissa. What did you say?"

"I asked you if you wouldn't mind telling me what happened in there?" He asked walking by my side mostly following my lead. "Why did you guys fight?"

I snorted. Even if I wanted to confide in someone Pavel would be at the bottom of the list. "Oh so they don't introduce you to each other once you joined the club?" I asked evasively.

"The club?"

"Yeah I thought that each new member of the 'I-hate-Rose-Hathaway' club was introduced to the others." I laughed hiding my discomfort. "Stan Alto is a pretty active member, he has been for years!!"

Pavel stopped to look at me, I was sure I looked drop dead gorgeous with my broken nose, swollen lip and dried blood all over my face and shirt.

"You have many members here on school ground but it would take hours to give you every name. I think Adrian Ivashkov might join it very soon but wait for it" I said with an overplayed cheerful tone. "You'll never guess who is the president of the club! Queen bitch herself yes sir!! Well wait it's Queen Tatiana for you I guess" I said with my wide sarcastic and sufficient smile.

I couldn't say what he was thinking staring down at me with his damn sunglasses.

"I don't hate you Hathaway" he finally let out.

I shrugged dismissively. "It doesn't matter anyways." I said walking a bit faster to reach the guest building.

"No I mean it! I don't hate you and what I said to you in the plane was out of line" he said with a tone that seemed sincere enough. "I just…Well sometime I get a bit--"

"It was totally right, every word was true, I was just too foolish to see it" I said opening the door of the building.

"I---" He started again.

"Let's drop it k? I swore Abe would never find out and he never will."

"It's not for that I'm apologizing." He insisted.

"Honestly dude whatever." I said reaching Adrian's floor. "I truly don't give a shit about what you think" I added walking my back at him hoping he wouldn't see through my pretense, and figured that his words touched me far more than I wanted them to.

I knocked at Adrian's door and when he opened he paled at least 2 shades on his already ultra white skin…Boy I surely looked hideous!

I chuckled trying to ease the anxiety in his eyes. "Don't worry buddy, it looks worse than it is. I just need a quick healing and…" I looked down at my shirt "and maybe you can lend me one of your shirt" I grimaced. "I'll send it back to the Court no worries."

Adrian narrowed his eyes in suspicion letting me in closely followed by Pavel.

"Lissa I need you !!" I said trying to sound as teasing as I could.

Lissa looked at me shocked for a second.

"Training" I said with a little guilty smile.

She chortled rolling her eyes, not suspecting much more. Well it was not like I didn't end up hurt before.

"Is that so?" Asked Adrian to Pavel. He was looking at him coldly like if he was investigating.

Pavel looked at me for a second and nodded. "Yeah I came in the room without warning while they were training. She was doing some figure on the bench she lost her concentration and fell flat on her face."

"Uh huh" said Adrian clearly not convinced but I couldn't comment as Lissa was healing my lip now.

Lissa was done within minutes.

"Thanks" I said kissing her forehead.

"Anytime" she said smiling apparently relieved to be useful to me which was totally insane if only she knew how useful she was every minute of every day for my broken heart.

"There is a shirt for you in the bathroom" said Adrian still eyeing me suspiciously.

I almost snapped at him that he was not my mother but it was not worth it. I just took a deep breath and walked to the bathroom.

I removed my shirt and threw it in the bin. I washed my face to remove the dry blood, put Adrian shirt that looked more like a summer dress on me than a shirt. I tried to put some order in my hair and tighten it in a ponytail.

"Well thanks guys" I said to Lissa and Adrian still super curious on why she was there but I guessed I would find out later on. Adrian was now relocking his suitcase as he probably opened it to give me the shirt.

I hugged Lissa whispering to her ear that she needed to find Stan and heal him too.

"Stan did this to you?" she asked directly in my mind.

I smiled guiltily to her before locking eyes with Adrian. I knew at this instant that if I asked him to stay he would and things would change but I wouldn't ask him to stay, not today not ever. Dimitri did have a point in my dream, I was losing my way.

Pavel nodded to them before leading me out down to Abe's room.

I was getting uncomfortable as we got closer, I really wondered why he wanted to see me that early in the day.

As soon as I walked in I saw Abe fully dressed ready to go.

Are they all leaving me? I asked to myself stupidly. They all had lives and it was just naïve to expect anything more. But still it was only 3 days since he came.

"Are you leaving? Why so soon?" I asked him trying to sound as detached as I could.

"I have some business to attend" he said dismissively. "Life continues you know."

I give him a tired laugh. "Yeah I know. Well it was nice to meet you" I said with a smile. "You take care ok?"

"We'll see each other again Kazim" he smiled. "It's not the end of it, just the beginning."

"I guess" I said starting to look around his room as I was getting a bit uncomfortable with the building intimacy of the moment. "But don't worry about me. I've been foolish and reckless enough for a lifetime. I won't look for trouble." I said doing my best not to add that trouble was stalking me anyways and that even if I stayed here my personal living nightmare was going to find me.

"I see…'' Said Abe raising an eyebrow. I could see the worry cross his face.

"I'm not crazy you know" I said standing straighter "Maybe a little impaired right now but I will get back to how I used to be eventually." I was not sure it was a good thing myself and I knew well enough that I would never be the fearless Rose i once were. All those things were changing me and I would never be the girl I used to be.

Abe pursed his lips thoughtful probably trying to read my face. He then gave me an half smile but frowned detailing my clothes.

"Do I even want to know?" Asked Abe pointing to the way I was dressed.

I looked down and saw some faint drops of blood on my sweat pant and it was clear that the navy blue shirt I was wearing was not mine for many obvious reasons as it was a Ralph Lauren man polo stopping just above my knees which would be very hazardous for a fight.

"No, not really." I said sincerely.

Abe shot a quick gaze to Pavel who shrugged.

"But…'' I bite my bottom lip not sure on how to say things without sounding like a brat. "Why did you want to see me?"

Abe jerked back a little before bursting into laugher. "I really do enjoy your candor you know that?" He shook his head still having a smile on his face. "I wanted to tell you goodbye and tell you that I'm not abandoning your or anything. We'll see each other again…soon" he added.

And being the damaged girl I was I only managed an 'ok cool'.

Abe smile progressively swept away. "And you really need to take care of yourself Rose, follow the right path, the one that is set in front of you don't…don't sway." He said the voice urgent yet not commanding. It was far more a prayer than an order and it was the only thing that really stopped me from snapping at him.

"Your friends…your mother as more fragile than they seem to be. You have to be prudent for them." He added walking to me resting his hands on my shoulders.

I looked up to meet his eyes that were the exact same shade than mine and nodded.

Afterward he did something that I never saw coming, he bent down and kissed my forehead. "You have to be safe for me" he added in a whisper.

That brought tears in my eyes. I never EVER imagined that Abe could be affectionate too, and that kiss brought some fatherly love in my life. And I needed it!! Needed it so much, I realized that now that I found him…or rather he found me, whatever. I hoped he would be a part of my life forever, whatever small that part might be.

"I'll do my best" I said with a small smile reaching up to squeeze the hand that what on my shoulder.

He nodded resigned and reached for a paper on the table. "This is my private cell number, only few people have it." He said giving it to me. "Call me if you need anything or if you…just want to talk" he said and I could see he was as uncomfortable in his new father role than I was in my daughter's one.

"Thank you" I said reaching up giving him an awkward hug. "I'll see you soon."

"Of course" he said with his trademark grin. His phone started to vibrate on the coffee table and as he reached for it I realized the moment was over. It was better anyways because I only had 30 minutes left before class and I needed to shower, change and grab something to eat.

I still took a few minutes to talk to Pavel.

"You take care of him ok?" I asked in a hiss. "If anything happens to him I swear to God that I'll hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands" I said glaring trying to sound as threatening as I could.

I expected Pavel to snap at me, getting on his high horse, but he just smiled taking off his sunglasses to look me in the eyes. Looking at his eyes was as surprising the second time around but I tried to keep my face blank.

"I swear on my life and honor that I'll do anything in my power to keep him safe Rose." He said seriously.

"Good" I said surprised that he called me Rose. I walked to the door but turned around just before opening it. "And for your eyes, you shouldn't hide them. They are not freaky…they are beautiful." I added and couldn't help but chuckle when I saw the shock cross his face.

"Bye" I said before running back to the dorm. My first class was bodyguard technique and after missing it yesterday I was sure to get my ass kicked if I showed up even 2 minutes late.