Recap:

I told him all of it. The reason for the cover up, the nails, the dhampir soul mate connection. He held me while I cried, again for my situation. It just wasn't fair.

But I needed to do something productive. Sitting and crying for days on end wasn't going to make any difference. Not to mention the effect it would have on my emotional state. Adrian forbade me from going after Dimitri, and I had no doubt he would send people after me if he thought I would ignore him.

We agreed that he would tell Lissa about the problem, and then we would all work out my next move.

Chapter 6

Going back

A week later the plan turned out to be to meet up at the airport and work from there. So at 6 pm I was at the airport with Lyn, eating junk food as I waited for our flight to be called. Russian music droned through the various speakers around the airport, reminding me of where I was. After my second hamburger, our flight was called and we rushed to the gates.

I'm not going to bore you about the flight before I fell asleep, because it might wreck your computer if you fall asleep on it; especially if you drool. So when I opened my eyes to a cafe in Montana, I couldn't help the smile that crossed my face. I hadn't seen Adrian for a whole week and I'd missed it.

Hands wrapped around my waist and I turned around; Adrian was smiling at me. I grinned in return and threw my arms around him, hugging him. His hands tightened around me and we stood there in each other's embrace for a while. Adrian sighed happily and we let go, sitting across from each other at the nearest table. "Good to see you too, little dhampir." He smiled at me.

I grinned again in response. "So, what's new at the Academy?" I asked, generally interested. I'd been away for about a month, a lot of things can happen in a month.

"Well, obviously you're still the talk of the school. Everyone wants to know why you left, what you're doing. People are making up theories. That you had a fight with Lissa, that we made a plan for you to leave and I'll meet you somewhere and start a family," He chuckled at that, then became serious. "But the one that's believed most is that you're pregnant. The bit about it being my baby was wrong, but if this Lyn is right, they'll be half right at least. And-" I stopped him.

"Can we not talk about this? I've kinda been worried sick about it and I don't think I can handle anymore thought about it. And you know I've never really been one for crying." Adrian nodded apologetically and started talking about some trouble that Jesse and Ralph got into. I wasn't really listening.

"Hello? Earth to Rose. You there little dhampir?" I shook my head and paid attention to Adrian, he was waving his hand in front of my face. I muttered an apology and he sighed. All of a sudden the scenery changed and we were at the lake again. For some reason I found comfort in the peaceful surroundings. Adrian hesitantly put an arm around my shoulders, I didn't shake him off. I leant into his side; my nose detected the faint smell of clove cigarettes, the smell following him into his dreams.

I sighed happily in his arms, I felt protected, loved. I know you're all thinking 'what the hell Rose? Since when do you like Adrian?' Well, you try going a whole week without seeing anyone you love, and then not feel loved when a nice guy holds you in his arms. I closed my eyes and relaxed, I didn't notice how tense I'd been lately. We started discussing what we were going to do next. Going back to the academy was almost a definite no for me. We considered sending another guardian out to find Dimitri, but thought better of it; guardian numbers were too low as it was.

After a while, Adrian said he had to get ready to meet me at the airport. He kissed my forehead and blurred out of the dream. The lake disappeared and was replaced by a dream I can only describe as weird. At least now I know what Adrian would look like as a duck. I woke to the seatbelt sign flashing red before the plane angled downward. My ears popped at the sensation.

I waited impatiently for them to start letting us off the plane. I was really anxious to see Lissa. We were eventually let off and I ran towards the luggage collection. Me and Lyn grabbed our bags and made our way to where we were going to meet my friends. I scanned the faces and a smile lit my face as I saw Lissa hanging off Christians arm and Adrian with a welcoming smile on his face. They were accompanied by three guardians that I remembered from the academy. I ran to Lissa and she squealed, throwing herself into my arms.

I laughed and hugged her back, only pulling back when I heard Christian gasp. I looked to him, trying to understand what was wrong. He was looking at my nails. I bit my lip and looked towards Adrian, hiding my hands behind my back. "Didn't you tell him?" I asked. He shook his head and said he hadn't told anyone. My heart dropped at the thought of telling both Lissa and Christian about Lyn's theory. I heard someone clear their throat and looked back to see Lyn standing awkwardly behind me.

"Oh guys, this is Lyn. She's been helping me since I left the academy. She's a nurse." Lyn said hello and shook everyone's hand. After that, we left the airport, piling into the school's van. Two of the guardians sat up the front, me, Adrian and Lissa behind them and Christian sat in the back with Lyn and the other guardian. We talked quietly about small matters until we got to the academy. We'd agreed that I was going to stay there in one of the guest rooms while we figured everything out. Lyn offered to help at the clinic.

Kirova had been surprised to see me back, but let me stay anyway. It wasn't curfew yet, so we all went to my room to talk. Adrian told them about Lyn's theory, me adding anything he missed. About half way through Lissa went and got me a box of tissues. I thanked her and told Adrian to keep going. He got through the explanation and we sat in silence for a few moments. Then Lissa grabbed my hand and studied my nails. They were still the same sky blue they had been when Adrian first noticed them.

"So," she started, "So you and Dimitri actually. . . "I nodded, sniffling. Lissa hugged me, saying that she was sorry.

"Well," Christian had his eyebrows furrowed, thoughtful. "This may not be definite. I mean, Lyn said this hadn't happened for what, 83 years? That's if it happened at all. Just don't get too upset til you're absolutely sure, is all I'm saying." He actually had a point. And I guess all that's changed has been the nails. Then I remembered what I ate at the airport. I only just realised that I'd been eating more than usual. But that's nothing too bad, right?

It was then that they left, not wanting to get caught out by curfew. Only Adrian stayed, giving me a long hug and a kiss on my forehead before going to bed too. I had a shower and changed into my pyjamas. As I crawled under the covers, I wondered; what would happen next?