A full day of Updates! Two new chapters up on the Collection of Songfics, and your new chapter here. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Twenty Four

Rose

Sitting at the top of the stairs, I listen in on Dimitri and Dad's conversation. I should be in bed, sleeping soundly while pretending my life isn't a giant shit show, but alas, I am here. My ass numb from the hardwood step, my throat burning from the massive amounts of acid reflux I have acquired lately, and damn it, everything hurts. I am so beyond ready for this to be over.

"What are you going to do about it?" Pavel's voice carried into my ears.

"What can I do? I can't very well run off and try to find her," Dimitri's voice sounded pained, making me feel worse for shutting him out of the room earlier.

Ever since the Conta attack showed signs of a future planned attack, we have been on lockdown. Hans declared it too great a risk for Dimitri to be outside of the wards with Lissa- which, I agree. For both Dimitri's safety, and Lissa's and the gangs. Mom and Eddie, along with a dozen Muzar Guardian's are protecting Lissa and Christian at Lehigh. Dad offered his assistance to Hans and Tatiana, allowing them to have one less worry about the impending attacks. Keeping him here at Court insured his, our, safety. Between the wards and the number of Guardians on location, we are safe here.

And even though I am grateful for their help and concern, I want out of this damn house so badly. Two straight months of not being able to leave our front yard. I'm not even allowed to go and visit Adrian, my charge of all people, nope, I am stuck right here. And don't get me wrong, Dimitri is the most amazing man on the planet for putting up with me, and I love him dearly, but I want to gouge his eyes out ninety percent of the time.

Up until now, he has had the distraction of work to keep him from going all 'daddy' mode before Munchkins arrives. Without that distraction, he is losing his damn mind. Everything and I mean everything, has been baby proofed. From locks on the cupboards to the little rubber stoppers on the corners of every counter and table. All the dangerous chemicals have been moved to the locked cabinet in the washroom, and baby gates have been set up at the top, and bottom, of the stairs, the doorway to the kitchen, and the living room.

I tried to tell him it will be a while, months before we needed to worry about her getting up the stairs, or trying to open cabinets, but he wouldn't hear it. I just want to be prepared, there is nothing wrong with that, Roza, to which, I roll my eyes behind his back when he walks away to put another plastic cover over the wall plug.

"Do you think she is watching?" Dad asked.

"Someone is, the attack outside of the Academy, the night…" Dimitri paused, not wanting to finish his train of thought.

"The night you tried to leave my pregnant daughter… continue, son," Dad laughed.

"Yeah, that night, I think that was tied to this too. Not once, but twice, I managed to escape because of Roza," he paused again, I could almost hear the gears shifting, "She was never supposed to be a part of this, but now Galina wants her gone because she is what is keeping me from her."

"Well, that and the fact that you don't want to be turned," Pavel chuckled.

"Obviously," was that sarcasm, "But she would ensure I didn't have a choice. If anyone can beat me, when I am at my best and not distracted, it's her. She is the one who taught me everything I know."

When I am at my best and not distracted…… Those nine words shot me dead in the chest, ripping through the fleshy muscle of my heart.

Dad and Pavel weren't around to know exactly what happened in the caves, and I doubt explaining it to them would do it justice. It's been six months and yet, it feels like just yesterday I made the choice to save his life and risk everything. Even if it panned out really well, up until now that is, that night changed the course of our future forever.

"Rose, we have to get out of here!"

"He's in there, Dimitri's in there! We have to go back for him! We can't leave him!"

"He is dead, Rose. We can't go…."

Hearing those words, he is dead, snapped something inside of me. Darkness swarmed my mind, my heart and nothing mattered anymore. Not my Mother's futile attempts at dragging me away from the mouth of the cave. Not Stan blocking my line of sight to where Dimitri laid, bleeding, injured and if I didn't do something, he would be dead. Or worse.

"Rose! Run!" Mom yelled again, and I did just that. I ran. Right back into that fucking cave to save the man I love.

There were five Strigoi standing just behind the mouth of the cave. There is a ninety-nine percent chance that this move is going to get me killed, but what did it matter. If he is dead, there is no point for me to live. Lissa will be assigned another Guardian, Mom would mourn the daughter she barely knew, and the rest of the Academy will probably breathe a sigh of relief. Reckless and insubordinate Hathaway will no longer be a problem on campus.

Reaching the first Strigoi, my stake was in his heart before he could register my speed. I pushed him back, sending his lifeless body into the other four right behind him. A domino effect of Strigoi fell back, sliding down the slight hill of the cave floor. I was able to stake two more before the third backhanded me into a wall. My head bounced off the hard stone, stars dancing behind my eyes. Fuck that hurt.

The same Strigoi came back toward me, fangs bared and dripping with the blood of another unfortunate soul. I remained as still as possible, tightening the grip on my stake. When he was close enough I struck out, sending him back to hell. Shoving him to the side, I waited for the next to attack, but none came.

The sound of fighting could be heard off to my right, and a low painful groan off to the left. Steadying myself, I searched for the source of the groan, finding Dimitri sitting up against the wall, a large part of his shoulder missing.

"Shit!" I whisper yelled to myself. "Comrade, I'm here," I called out to him, stumbling closer to his defeated form.

His eyes opened just a peek, before falling closed again. "Come on, Dimitri, wake up, look at me," I begged, pleaded, and every other word you can think of to get him to open his eyes. "Come on, Comrade, I need you to look at me, baby, please."

He managed to open one eye, the other, at a closer look, appeared to be swollen shut. "There you are," I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, the taste of sweat and blood filling my senses. "Now, let's get you out of here."

Before I could put my arms under him, I heard movement behind me. Whipping around, stake in hand, I faced my foe. The blond. Twice now I have been this close to him, well this makes three, I'll be damned if he gets away from me this time. First, he threated Lissa, then again here before he tried to take my reason for breathing away. No. This fucker is going to die. Now.

He opened his mouth, I assume to say something witty and annoying, but I was moving before a word could pass his lips. Normally I don't take to the offensive right away, but this guy has lite a fire and it's raging to the point of explosion now. Lunging at him, he sidestepped out of the way effortlessly, laughing all the while. Grabbing my footing, I tried again, and again. Around and around we went, both of us landed hits, but we made no progress in ending this screwed up dance. He was getting annoyed with my evasions, I could see it in his cold eyes.

He launched into the air, crossing the few feet between us quickly in an attempt to tackle me. But I am smarter than that, Dimitri trained me well. Dropping to the floor, he soared right over me, hitting the wall behind me. I spun on the balls of my feet and slammed my stake into his chest. I watched the light vanish from his eyes, his body stilling before I withdrew my weapon.

Standing up I moved back to where Dimitri laid slumped against the wall. Attempted to pull him with me, but my five-foot-seven was no match to his six-foot-seven. Coaxing him just enough to help me get him off the floor, I supported his weight as best as I could. We struggled together to get back to the exit, his injuries were far worse than just the bite. By the way he is shuffling I would bet money that he broke, or at least fractured, his left leg. His large hand resting over his ribs told me he would have a few cracks there too. I'll get Lissa to heal him once we are back behind the wards. If we make it that far.

"Why did you come back for me," Dimitri grunted.

"Because I love you, I couldn't just leave you there."

"I taught you better than that, Roza, you should have run. You could have died," he tone grew angry, but I didn't let it upset me. I knew he would be pissed that I went back for him. Hell, I disobeyed a direct order and failed in his training, but it is worth it.

"Let's not talk about that right now," I sighed, still struggling to walk with him bearing down on me.

"Holy Shit, you made it," Stan yelled as we crossed the exit. Coming to Dimitri's other side, he helped support his weight. "Alberta called for a few ATV's, they are on their way, but let's keep moving."

Thankfully, the ATV's arrived shortly after, taking the three of us back to the safety. Well, safety from the Strigoi, but my mother was a whole nother story.

"Are you saying this is Rosemarie's fault," Dad growled, pulling me from my memories.

"No. Not at all. Only that it's why Galina wants her too," Dimitri rationalized.

"What if it's not her that wants me," I called from the stairs. Standing up, I slowly walked down, all three sets of eyes turned to watch me, "Rather, what if it isn't just her."

"Care to elaborate, Kiz," Dad gave a small reassuring smile.

"The blond, I… I think I missed his heart." I hadn't thought too much about it then, because he looked as if he was dead, but now looking back, yeah, it's possible. Between the fatigue of fighting and my fear for Dimitri's life, I didn't make sure I hit the target appropriately.

Dimitri's eyes widened, if I had to guess, he was remembering that night. He wasn't conscious enough during my fight with the blond but I had told him the full story after he healed up.

"If that is the case, you are not leaving Court, ever," he growled.

"Not like I am doing much of that anyways," I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. "And what about you? You will be stuck here too."

"I have an idea, but I will need some help," he looked over to Dad, whose interest just got peaked.

"I'm in, talk to me."

For the next hour the men tossed around ideas, as for me, it was time for bed. More or less, time to watch re-runs of Gilmore Girls until exhaustion finally let me get a few hours of sleep.