A/N: I felt really inspired tonight, and Rosebelikov101's review spurred me on to write chapter 8. I couldn't help but leave the chapter before this one on a cliffhanger. Believe me, there will be more cliffhangers to come :) I hope you all appreciate how devoted I am to all of you, and your reviews are my main inspiration. Happy reading :)

Disclaimer: The usual.

-Sarah

Chapter Eight: Guilt

When I became semi-conscious, I heard voices in the room.

"Dimka, I promise you that she'll be alright." Olena said in a calm voice.

"How do you know?" Dimitri asked in a panicked voice.

"Because I do. We will get Oksana here in the morning to heal her arm and her concussion." Olena replied.

"I never should've listened to Rose. If I didn't run like she told me to, she wouldn't be as hurt." Viktoria said sadly.

"Viktoria, if you didn't run like she told you to, you would be really hurt. Rose did the right thing by making you run." Olena told her.

"She must be in so much pain . . ." Dimitri's voice cracked on the word pain. I wanted to open my eyes, talk to him to assure him that I wasn't in pain, even though I was. I couldn't find my eyes or my mouth though. I was so lost in my own body, so I decided to try to talk to Lissa.

Liss? You awake?

Yes! Oh my God Rose! I've been trying to talk to you for an hour! I was sucked into your head when you were attacked and I was panicking! Are you alright?

I don't know! I can't open my eyes or my mouth and I can hear that everyone's worried about me and I can't even reassure them that I'm okay!

But Rose, you're not okay! You have a broken arm, a concussion and you've lost a lot of blood! I should be there to heal you.

Don't worry. I think I heard Olena say something about calling Oksana over in the morning to heal me.

If I was there with you then you wouldn't have to wait until the morning.

It's okay Liss. I think I can manage until the morning.

Talk to me in the morning okay? I have to report to everyone how you're doing because they're all freaking out. You were so unconscious that Adrian couldn't even reach you!

Wow . . . okay I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Bye Rose. Please be more careful.

I will Liss. Bye. The bond went silent. My eyes fluttered open moments later. Dimitri was sitting beside me on the bed with a haunted look in his eyes.

"Dimitri?" I croaked.

"Roza! Oh Roza I thought I lost you! I was terrified!" Dimitri said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." I lied.

"Roza, don't lie to me. I know when you're lying because you're a terrible liar." he replied.

"Fine. I feel like me head is gonna explode and my arm is killing me. Does that make you feel any better than if I lied to you?" I asked.

"It doesn't make me feel better but at least I know how you're feeling." he replied. I tried to put my hand in his but groaned when pain shot through my arm.

"Don't try to move Rose. You'll just hurt yourself." Olena chastised.

"Sorry Olena." I said with a small smile. Then I though of something. "Viktoria? Did you get all our shopping bags?" I asked.

Viktoria laughed, and replied "Yes Rose don't worry about your clothes just worry about yourself."

"Well if I didn't have clothes then I wouldn't have anything to wear!" I said.

"Okay now Viktoria let's leave and let Rose get some rest." Olena ordered.

"Yes mama. Goodnight Rose." she said.

"Goodnight Viktoria, Olena." I said.

"Goodnight Rose." Olena replied. They left the room, leaving me with Dimitri.

"Oh Roza . . . You always seem to find trouble, don't you?" he asked with a small chuckle.

"I guess I do. I'll have to get a stake from somewhere since I don't have one . . ." I replied.

"I got one for you at court but I forgot to give it to you. If I wouldn't have forgotten to give it to you, you wouldn't be hurt like you are now. It's all my fault." he said with a sad look on his face.

"No. It's not your fault. I probably wouldn't have been hurt anyway. There's no way I could've gotten out of that fight unscathed." I replied. "Everything happens for a reason." I added.

"Wow . . . now you're going all 'zen life lessons' on me." he chuckled.

"Ugh. You're right. I've been around you for waaaaaay too long." I laughed.

"Oh Roza . . . I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would've done without you." he said.

"I know the feeling . . ." I replied. "If something ever happens to me then you have to promise me to keep living your life."

"I can't make that promise." he replied.

"I know . . . can I ask you for something?" I asked.

"Anything for you Roza." he replied.

"Just shut up and kiss me already!" I said with exasperation. He just chuckled and lowered his lips to mine. My breathing hitched and my heart raced. The kiss was passionate, hungry . . . my stomach rumbled.

"Well damn. That kind of ruined the moment." I said.

"I'll go get you some crackers and cheese." he said.

"Hurry back!" I told him.

"Will do m'lady." and with that said he turned and left the room. I really wanted those crackers and cheese so he had better hurry up. He returned moments later with my snack.

"Took you long enough." I grumbled.

"No 'Thank you Dimitri for the lovely snack you made for me.'?" he asked.

"Thank you Dimitri for the lovely snack you made for me!" I said, mimicking his tone. I ate my snack in silence. After eating, I was completely exhausted. Being careful as to not jostle my injured arm, he crawled into bed beside me and sang me Russian lullabies until I fell asleep.