Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, so usual disclaimers.

Rose POV

I walked back to my room just thinking about what I was going to say to Lissa, when I walked into someone.

"Watch it," I yelled.

"Rose," I looked up only to find my mother standing in front of me.

"Hello mother," I said sheepishly.

"Rosemarie, weren't you meant to be in class? I arrived early so I stood in on your seventh hour class and you were not there." Crap.

"Err, no I'm not feeling well. Between all the stress from the battle and the amount of magic that Lissa used healing injuries after, it affected me. I got a cold and ended up out of commission for a few days per doctor's orders." I fibbed knowing she would wonder why I had gotten hyperthermia if I said so.

"Oh right. Well I hope you're better soon." We stood there silently for a moment… well this is getting awkward.

"How long you staying for?" I asked, knowing this wasn't a trip to visit me. I wonder if she knew where I had just spent the last few days.

"Not long Rosemarie. I am just here on business and then I'll be going back to Lord Szelzky. I was hoping I would see you before I left." she replied.

"Oh, okay. Well I'll see you later then," I said and she smiled.

"Of course goodbye Rosemarie," then she walked off. I knew that the chances of actually seeing her again before she returns to her Moroi are slim. Duty comes first to Guardian Janine Hathaway, spending time with her only child is nothing more than an afterthought.

I gotten up to my room and I looked around it felt different. I hadn't been here since Alberta told me, the room just felt empty. I stood over by the window staring out at the tree line across the running track. I could see the faint outline of the mountains, evidence of the coming down but it would be awhile till the sun fully rose. I was brought out of my thoughts by a knock at the door.

I walked over to the door and peaked through the peep hole even though I could feel it was Lissa, I could feel her trying to keep her thoughts busy. I shook my head and opened the door, Liss hugged me as she walked past.

"Hey Rose," she said as she sat down on the end of my bed and patted the spot next to her.

"Hey Liss, so what'd you want to talk about?" I asked knowing she was trying to work out what to say. I had an idea of what she wanted to talk about but I don't know how she might have found out. I felt her resold to just be upfront and say it.

"Okay. So what about you and Guardian Belikov," I sighed, knowing she was going to go for that topic and she was never going to let it go.

"What about it?" I asked, steeling myself as best as I could away from my emotions. It would be fruitless I'm sure but I had to try.

"Well, I know something was going on between you two, so spill it," she replied.

"I need a bit more of a question than that." My mind screamed at me to evade.

"Okay, when did it start? Did he have feelings... don't answer that I know he did." She stopped.

"What where you about to say, Liss" I asked curiously. She was babbling more than I ever heard her before.

"I err, got pulled into your head when you were remembering something the other day," she said and blushed, ah crap not good.

"So what was it?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. Knowing it had to be something for Lissa to be blushing. Surely not…

"Um, can I just show you?" she asked blushing even harder, by now her cheeks were like a tomato.

"Um okay," and I slipped into her head and she replayed my memory.

I rested my head on Dimitri's bare chest, taking comfort in his warmth. He kissed my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair and down my back, caressing my skin in the most delicious way.

"I love you, Roza." He kissed me again. "I'll always be here for you. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." I've never felt so safe, loved and wanted in my entire life.

I slipped back out and this time I was the one blushing. I never imagined that Lissa would have to see me like that. Furthermore I was humiliated because she would obviously think Dimitri and I are together in some kind of clandestine ongoing relationship but the truth was he used me and left. I let the numbness take me for fear of letting tears fall.

"Ah, so you know." Was all I said, she nodded and then scooted the space between us and hugged me tightly.

"I'm so sorry Rose," she whispered to me.

"Why in earth are apologizing for?" I asked pulling back.

"Because, something about that seemingly beautiful memory brings you immense pain." I smiled sadly at her as she wiped tears I hadn't even realised were falling. Her face morphed from pure concern to confusion. "Rose, where is he? I haven't seen him much since the attack. He should be here with you now. Did he get in trouble, did they send him away?""

"Liss, No he wasn't sent away, he left me." I sniffed. "It was his choice, wanted something more. With her... He gets to continue being a Guardian and though a relationship between them is frowned upon it isn't forbidden, with her he gets benefits that a relationship with me lacks." I told her, now she looked confused.

"Who's Guardian?" she doesn't know.

"Tasha's," I whispered. Just saying her name pierced my heart.

"WHAT!" Lissa shouted. "He left you to be with Tasha?"

"Liss, calm down. It was his choice. He made it. There's nothing I can do about it," I told her.

"Sorry, but come on what does Tasha have that you don't have?" she asked.

"She can have kids. He wants kids," I said quietly.

"Oh Rose," she pulled me into another hug. "I know it hurts right now but you are young, one day you may look back and not hut over this, over him. There will times when you might have to see them and I know you can deal with it with dignity because you are … YOU. Rose Hathaway can perceiver over anything." Then we both sat on my bed talking about classes and Christian and Eddie until I started yawning.

"Oh, I have to go. Sorry Rose but I got permission to stay to curfew but I have to check in with the dorm matron before sunup." She said looking at the window.

"It's okay, I'll walk you back," I offered.

"You sure?" I nodded and grabbed my keys and jacket, and we both headed off towards the Moroi dorms. I walked her to her stairs and then we said night and she walked off upstairs and I started walking back outside

"Rose, can I speak with you please," Alberta said while walking towards me.

"Um sure," I replied as she joined me in the direction of my dorm. She remained quiet till we were safely in the privacy of my room with the door closed.

"I've spoken to Princess Vasilisa, about you and Dimitri." Uh oh.

"Yes? And?" I asked wanting to know what Lissa told her.

"Is it true that you and Dimitri slept together," Oh fuck, Lissa told her.

"Um, what did Lissa say to you, exactly?" I asked.

"She told me about something that you remembered and her seeing it. She said that you slept with him in one of the cabins."

"Um it only happened once Alberta," I said, she raised her eye brows. Shit I just admitted that I had slept with him. Nice going Rose.

"Ah'ha." She looked at me and smiled sadly. She gave a pensive sigh but said no more on the subject… for that I was grateful.

"Rose, I also wanted to tell you. You will be getting a new mentor. Since we still have a few months before trails and graduation, it would be best to continue with your training. We have had new Guardian assigned to the Academy we have Guardians wanting to mentor one on one. It seems the Moroi and Guardian Counsels agree that the one on one training you have received was integral to your success during the attack. You'll be starting in two days once you've gotten better and so new guardians can get settled in. I'll see you to tomorrow to give you more information. Your training times will be the same so bright and early Hathaway."

"Yeah and pigs will fly," I replied sourly and she laughed.

"Good night Rose, now get some rest," she said and walked off. Great another mentor. She didn't even tell me their name, let alone if they were a man or woman. This was going to be just great for all I know my new mentor might just be the great Janine Hathaway herself… No she would never leave her Moroi to teach me. I guess I'll just have to wait.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

So chapter 5 there. The secret is out... sort of. Do you reckon it will spread or not?

Happy reading and REVIEW :)

Vickie-Louise