A/N- Hey guys! Don't hate me! I know you all want them to have their whole special Valentine's Day scene but I said earlier that some things were going to happen first. From a suggestions from a reviewer, this chapter is going to have some Adrian POV too. It'll be fun and a challenge to write what Adrian is thinking for you guys. Thanks for all the reviews and favorites guys! Okay, now on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Vampire Academy, it all belongs to Richelle Mead.

Chapter 10: Trouble in Paradise

Adrian POV

After Rose stomped off, I got one of the novices to help me clean up my mess. I would have just left it there, I was Adrian Ivashkov after all, but I didn't need any more reasons for Kirova to ban me from the academy. I hoped she at least found it amusing. I knew Rose would hate it, public displays of affection weren't really Rose's thing. Well, at least not with me. Well Little Dhampir was with Cradle Robber now, maybe now she was enjoying herself. She should be thanking me, I realized, I had given her a reason to spend more unscheduled time with the Cradle Robber.

I was wandering around the edges of the academy with my smoke when I saw the guard towers light up and guardians began to run towards the gate. Was there any trouble? Were the strigoi attacking the academy? I put out my smoke and hurried to my room. Even though it seemed like I had a death wish because I taunted Little Dhampir every day, it didn't mean I really wanted to die, or even worse, turn strigoi.

Back in my room, I kept thinking about earlier. Would it really be that bad if I turned strigoi? It would stop the pain, the pain and insanity of spirit. And I could take Rose with me, I could turn her and then she wouldn't have to be with Cradle Robber anymore. She would be mine. 'NO!' a voice in my head shouted. There was that rational voice. I rarely ever heard it anymore. It was always clouded by spirit. 'ding' I heard my phone go off. Who would be texting me at this time, I wondered. I peered out the window and saw the sun beginning to rise. It was almost curfew, did Lissa want to meet to practice again?

Opening my phone up I saw I had gotten a message from a new number. Oh fuck, I thought, which random girl did I give my number to while I was drunk. When I saw the message I just stared. How the fuck did Belikov get my number? Did he steal it from Rose? Take it from Alberta?

Ivashkov, this is Belikov. I know I have no right to ask you of this but could you give something to Rose for me. I had to go on a mission and I don't know when I will get back. Its a large white box thats sitting on the floor of the closet. I'm sure you can figure out a way to get in my room. If you do this I'll owe you.

-Dimitri Belikov

So the Cradle Robber was on a mission huh. That left my Little Dhampir all alone on Valentine's Day. Maybe I could go through with my plans and take her to dinner. Maybe then she'll see that I'm not the moroi douche bag she assumes me to be. I wasn't about to do the Cradle Robber any favors, especially one that would take Rose further away from my arms. I texted him my refusal before lying down and going into the dream world. Maybe I could find Rose and tell her about my plans.

I searched for Rose all night that when I finally let the magic go, it was dark out again. Or maybe it just seemed that way to me because I passed out once I let it go. I actually got up some time later and took my time getting dressed for later today. I wanted to look good to take Rose out to dinner. Before I went to find Rose, I checked the time on my phone. It was just past the moroi noon. No wonder I was starving, I probably had to stop by the feeders first. I also had another message from Belikov.

Please Adrian. I promised Rose I would spend the day with her but clearly I wasn't expecting to be called away last night. Can you just give her the box. At least if I can't spend the day with her I can give her something on Valentine's Day.

I sighed. I really didn't want to help Dimitri. But I wouldn't make my decision now. I decided I would ask Rose to dinner first before I did anything for Belikov. I headed to the feeders and had my fill. Ugh, the academy really needed to get new feeders. Their blood was getting old. I found myself heading to Rose's room. I pounded on the door, "Little Dhampir! Open up!" I waited for a moment, but no one answered. "Little Dhampir!" I yelled again. Maybe I should just peek in, Rose never locked her door, although she really should.

I decided to creep open the door and peer my head in. The room was empty. I wonder where she could be? I knew that Christian had released her from service today because he wanted to do something special with Lissa. I guess I would have to wander the campus for Rose. Sigh... This would be a lot easier if Rose had a phone. Then I could just call her, maybe I could get her a phone for her birthday. I knew it was coming up in a couple weeks.

I went back to the dining hall to see if Rose was having a late lunch. Walking around campus I noticed that almost everyone's aura was a light pink or red. Everyone was in love, except for me, I could only get my love if I could beat the great Russian warlord. As my eyes scanned the room I spotted Rose's shadow ringed aura, but today it was ringed with the color blue as well. The color of sadness. I knew I was going to regret my decision but I hightailed it out of the dining hall and back to the dhampir dorms. I was going to give Little Dhampir that damn box from Dimitri. I knew I was probably ruining any chances I had with her but I couldn't take her looking so sad. She wasn't going to accept any kind of gift from me, but something from the Cradle Robber would make her day.

When I got there, thankfully no one was in the lobby. I compelled the dorm matron to give me a master key to the rooms and I got up to Belikov's undetected. In the room, the closet door was already open making it easy to spot the big white box. It was like he didn't even try to hide things, then again, no one was going to be breaking into the big, bad, god, that was Guardian Belikov's room. I don't even think I would dare to, if he hadn't instructed me to do so himself. I grabbed the box and headed back down the stairs. I slipped the key back to the dorm matron and as I was walking out, I ran into Little Dhampir. Well that saves me a lot of time. " Happy Valentines Day." I said as I handed her the box.

Rose didn't take it. Instead backing away from me and holding her hands up as if to push me back. "Adrian . No. I told you I didn't want to take anything from you." she said. Ouch. That stung a little. What if I actually did get her something for Valentine's Day? Her rejection was strong. I ignored the feeling instead holding my own hand up saying, "Take it. It's not from me, I'm just the delivery boy."

Rose looked carefully at my face, and hesitantly took the box. "Nothing is going to pop out? Is it?" she asked. She flipped the box around in her hands looking for a tag. When she read it, she immediately brightened up. Belikov must have written something on there for her to know for sure that it was from him. "Do you know what it is?" she asked, now in a much happier mood. "I don't know what it is, but if it's from the cradle robber you probably shouldn't open it in public." I said slyly. Rose looked so happy at the moment, maybe making losing my chance with her worth it.

"I'm going to go then." she said, pulling me into a hug. I froze, Rose had never willingly touched me before. I took me a second before I hugged her back. "Thank you for getting it to me." she said quietly before kissing me on the cheek. Now I was really surprised. I think that was the most contact I had ever had with Rose. I stood there smiling, watching Rose skip down the hallway towards the stairs up to her room. This little gesture had made her so happy. Maybe second best wasn't so bad after all.

Rose POV

I didn't sleep the whole night. I just laid there watching my fan go in circles. I was so worried. I knew Dimitri was a god, but what if he didn't make it back? I didn't want to think that way, but it was a possibility. This was the downside of our job, the downside of 'they come first.' For once, I'd like to come first, I wanted Dimitri to be with me right now and not off fighting dangerous strigoi. Hours past and the sun started to pinken, light creeping through the window. I decided to go to the edge of campus and watch for Dimitri. Maybe he would be back soon.

I put up the pretense of going on a run in case any of the remaining guardians questioned my presence at the edge of campus. I made three loops around the whole campus before stopping at the front gates and noticing that Dimitri wasn't back yet. I was worried. It shouldn't have taken them this long to take care of some strigoi at the gates and return back to campus. Were they hunting the others? I hoped it was that and that they didn't get captured. I didn't know what I would do without Dimitri. I was so preoccupied by my thoughts that I didn't even remember that it was Valentine's Day until I felt a burst of energy from Lissa. Looking towards the church I saw small fireworks exploding in the courtyard. Christian had really outdone himself this time.

Sitting at the gates, I peered through Lissa's eyes. I was curious and bored, plus if Christian was performing fire tricks they weren't getting hot and heavy yet. When that started I would get the hell out of Lissa's mind. Who would have thought about fireworks at dawn would be romantic. As I sat there I felt the sadness and depression start to creep in. I couldn't tell if it was my own feeling or a spirit side effect. It was probably a mix of both. I didn't mean to feel that way. I knew Dimitri had a job to do, and that I couldn't be the center of his world. That wasn't how things were. 'They come first.' I'm starting to get really pissed at who ever made that saying. Once Christian pulled Lissa into a kiss I decided it was time to get out. Plus it seemed like Dimitri wasn't coming back anytime soon. I just hoped he would be back by tonight so we could spend some time together. I got up and dusted myself off and started back.

Breakfast was a quiet affair. Most people were still asleep or with their own significant other. I was lucky that it was too early for the moroi douche bags like Jesse to be pestering people with their presence on Valentine's Day. If they saw me alone they might approach me, and this time Dimitri wasn't here to make sure their asses didn't get kicked.

After breakfast, I went to the gym and spent my morning there. It was empty in the gym, and there I could almost imagine Dimitri with me during a training session. One where he was exceptionally quiet and let me run and do weights on my own. I worked up a sweat by lunch and I was starving. I grabbed a late lunch and then headed back to my room. I figured I should be semi-productive and try to clean. Maybe even get some more shadow kissed research done. In the lobby of my dorm, I ran into Adrian holding a large box. I hoped to god that it wasn't for me. I didn't want any gifts from him, it wasn't right considering someone else held my heart.

"Happy Valentines Day." he said, trying to hand me the box. I stepped back and put my hands up. "Adrian . No. I told you I didn't want to take anything from you."

"Take it. It's not from me, I'm just the delivery boy." he said, holding one hand up in surrender. I looked closely at his face to see if he was punking me. But no, Adrian seemed sincere. I slowly took the box from him. I wonder who it could be from then. "Nothing is going to pop out? Is it?" I asked him as I looked at the tag on it. 'Roza' Oh...OH. I smiled and sat down. "Do you know what it is?" I asked as I shook the box. I was excited. I had questions though. First thing was how on earth did Dimitri get Adrian to help with something like this. The second was when did Dimitri have the time to drive to civilization and buy something for me.

"I don't know but if it's from the cradle robber you probably shouldn't open it in public." Adrian said. I stood up and nodded. "I'm going to go then." I stepped forward and grabbed Adrian in a hug, startling him. "Thank you for getting it to me." I said quietly. When I pulled back I kissed his cheek before trotting off towards my room. I went to my room and shut the door. But that was as far as I made it. I slid down the door, sitting on the floor and placed the large white box in my lap. I slowly flipped the top open to look at what was inside. "Oh my!" I exclaimed as I pulled the red cloth out of the box. "Wow" I muttered with the biggest smile I had had in weeks. The dress was beautiful. It looked just like the dress I wore the night of the lust charm except it was a nice dark red. The kind of red that would make any man drop dead. Who knew Dimitri was capable of finding, or even purchasing such a thing. Standing up with the dress I saw an envelope drop to the floor." Oh!" I said as I grabbed the letter. I ripped it open and read it quickly.

My beautiful Roza,

I'm sorry we couldn't spend the whole day together but I have to prepare for something tonight. Please meet me in the guardian cabin in the woods where we run in the morning tonight at 8. Wear the dress.

Love,

D

I smiled. Dimitri always had the perfect things set up. It was like he knew that he was going to be busy in the morning. I tilted my head at the letter then looked back at the dress. "I have to start getting ready " I muttered to myself, I scrambled around my room looking for my make up, and the new lingerie that Lissa had me buy earlier. It was a dark red like the dress, so not only did it would perfectly but I knew I would look sexy in it. Red was my color, it complimented my skin tone perfectly. I had so much to do. I had to take a shower and fix my hair the only way Dimitri liked it. Down and curly.

I was about done with my makeup when Lissa came knocking on my door. I let her in and she went on and on about Christian and how she hoped that he asked her to marry him tonight. I personally thought she was moving way too fast in to their relationship. But who was I to judge, I was getting ready to spend the night with my mentor who was seven years my senior.

After she finished saying her own thoughts, Liss asked the question I knew was plaguing her mind the minute she walked in. "So rose, why are you getting all dressed up?"

I knew she was going to ask it, but I still didn't have an answer. I didn't know what to say. "I have a date...with Adrian." I had to lie. It was the only way. I tried not to grit my teeth as I said this. "That song. Yesterday he won me over and I can't stay away anymore." I couldn't believe what I was saying. I was making no sense at all right now, but it wasn't like Lissa could know I was with Dimitri. If I had it my way, she wouldn't know until months after graduation when Dimitri was securely Christian's guardian and I was hers.

"What?" Lissa said, her mouth dropping open. I just brushed her off. It seemed like the best way to get through this. "Yep." I muttered and ran a hand through my hair. I changed the subject. "Why aren't you with Christian?" I asked. I could feel in Lissa's mind that she still hadn't dropped our earlier subject. The possibilities of different guys were still running through her head when she said, "He needed some time to set something up."

"Oh." I muttered as my eyes drifted to the clock in my room. It was almost 8 o'clock. "I really need to go.' I told her as I slipped my high heels on. The dress fit me well. Dimitri must have really been focused on my body during the lust charm and the hotel room. He got shape of my body perfectly. It was tighter than a glove on me. I started walking down the hallway when Lissa opened the door and started running after me. She had a long cardigan in her hands. "Rose!" she called. "Here" she said when she caught up to me, "in case you get cold." she said and winked at me. In her head she told me that the guardians would probably skin me alive if they saw me like this. She was right, as always. I took the cardigan. "Thank you Lissa." I said smiling at her "Now go to your honey." I pushed her playfully, skipping away.

I made my way to the cabin. Trying my best not to get caught by anyone on my way there. The cardigan was a good idea. It was kind of chilly out. When I finally did get there, the cabin was dark and seemingly empty. Had Dimitri not returned yet? Did I beat him here? I looked for a light, when I finally found a few candles spread out on a table. "Thank god." I muttered, lighting a match. That's when the smell of Roses and strawberries hit me.

I turned around, the match still burning in my hand in awe of what was around me. "Shit" I hissed as the match burned out in my hand. I turned back around and actually lit the candles this time before coming back and appreciating the rest of the room. Rose petals covered the bed. In the middle of it was a box shaped like a heart. "Oh my god. He really is a god." I muttered. I didn't want to move a thing. It was so sweet and perfect. I looked around more closely and noticed there was a small wrapped box on the table. It was unlabeled, but I assumed it was for me. I picked it up, but didn't open it. I shook it. It sounded like two items were inside it.

I guess there was nothing left to do but sit and wait. I hopped on the bed letting flowers petals flutter around me. I was still astonished that Dimitri could pull this off. When on earth did he find the time to buy all these things and set everything up. It seemed like Dimitri spent every free moment with me, and he even took extra shifts this week. I didn't know how he did it. He was a god in every way. My comrade. I sighed. After a while of just sitting there I got bored, and hungry, and started eating the chocolate covered strawberries in the box. They were delicious. When I was finished there were only 1 or 2 strawberries left, oops. I laid back on the bed, licking the chocolate off my fingers, sooner or later, I fell asleep.

I thought someone was waking me up, but then I recognized one of Adrian's dreamscapes. Alright, I appreciated him helping Dimitri today but this was my time. "Come out Adrian." I called. He walked out from behind a tree. " Is it already over?" he asked with a smirk. I frowned, before sitting on a bench with a worried expression. Bringing timing up just made me more worried. It was probably long past 8 now, where was Dimitri? I wanted him to be okay. "It hasn't started...I hope...what if.." I started mumbling to Adrian. I didn't know how to justify this. I didn't want Adrian or even Lissa or anyone say 'I told you so'. I was determined to make Dimitri and mine's relationship work.

Adrian could probably clearly see my worry. "He is going to be fine " he said sitting down next to me. "He's probably on his way right now, with his strong cologne leading the way. I was about to say something when a sound pulled me out of the dream. My eyes were blinking open and closed. I was on the line between sleep and wake. " Dimitri." I muttered. I really hoped it was he who was here right now. If someone else had found me in this position who knows what they would have thought.

I rolled over again and looked up at someone touching me. I waited until my eyes focused. "Dimitri?" I asked again as I sat up and slowly put my arms around him. He was here, he was really here, and he was okay. I hugged him tight before he gently pushed me away. I pecked him on the lips. "Happy Valentine's Day."

A/N- Whooo that was long. God Adrian's pov is so hard to write! I hope you guys enjoy it! Anyway I've decided that Valentine's Day is going to be released on Valentine's Day. So get ready guys!

Ciao!

~Tiffany 3