Oh my goodness. I AM SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRRYYYY! You all do not know how incredibly sorry I am, and I don't even have that long of a chapter to make up for it! I am hopefully getting a laptop or computer for my birthday which is at the end of this month. If all goes well, I'll get one, if not, I'll have to figure something out.

Anyway, I will be thanking my lovely reviewers now! (:

A WHOPPING TWENTY-FIVE REVIEWS! Seriously… You all make my day. ^.^ It takes a long time to type out all of your usernames or penname fill-in things, so I'm just going to respond if that's alright with you. It's sequenced in the order of who reviewed first to last, so just scroll and find your name. (: And if you DO NOT WANT TO READ WHERE I RESPOND, skip to- not the gray line right below this- but the NEXT gray line!

Hilda0829- Aww. (: Sorry this update wasn't sooner, but thanks!

KvAaTmHpLgEuNrAl- What does your penname stand for? It was easier to type than last time… lol. (: I'm glad you like it and all will be revealed in this chapter! Thank you!

Guest- Thanks. You could be reading my response, you could not be. Oh well, but thank you!

XxdudealiciousxX- Haha, (: Thanks! And sorry for the SUPER late update.

Guest- Again, you could be reading this, you could not be. I'm still responding. Thank you!

Sunayna4sho- Sorry for the super late update, but here it is! (:

CookieStorm- Did you follow me on Polyvore recently? If you did, thank you for that, and thank you for your review! (: Adrian will be in it. The Sydrian choo-choo train is taking it's time though. But they'll get here eventually. Lol, are Rose and Vika gonna be best friends? :o Who knows? I DO! Sorry, but you'll have to be patient with that one. ^.^ Thank you for taking your time to write a LONG review! You, CookieStorm, deserve a cookie. (: Thanks!

Katy251225- Aw. Thank you for reviewing!

RozaRoseBelikov- Girl! I never see you except in the mornings and at lunch! :[ You've got a busy week too. I feel bad for ya. :P But thanks and here's the update… FINALLY. (:

Charboday- Thank you! Sorry this chapter wasn't up sooner. (:

LovelySound- Aww! Thank you! I'm trying to get as much up as I can! (:

Nellyrose1994- Sorry! It seemed okay to end it there. (: And no… it's not any of those three. I liked reading your guesses though! This wasn't a soon update, and sorry for that. But here's the chap!

Booklover(Guest)- Don't know if you're reading this, but if you are, thank you for reviewing! Means a lot! (:Yarza- Haha, thanks! But all will be revealed in this chapter. Well… who the person is. The "tall figure." (: Lololol. Here's the not-so-soon update!

LuPeters- Yuppers. When I first came up with the idea, I hadn't even intended on having them be kind of in the same position. But stuff happens. :P Here's the sucky and next chapter, and sorry for the late update. (:

Radioactive hearts- Aww! Thanks a billion! (: Even though I'm the author/writer, I too feel sorry for Dimitri. :[ But here is the VERY late chapter and yeah. Thanks for reviewin'!

Do'B- Goodness. Your reviews always bring a smile upon my face, and even though I take months to update, you still review. I can't tell you how much it means to me! (: Sorry, I loved your guesses, but they were wrong. They were great guesses though! Thank you very much for your lovely review. (:

XxXLost-In-The-CrowdXxX- Hay girl hayyy! Jk. Hay is for horses… ^.^ Thank yers for your review, chickee!

Emoroza(Guest)- I'd like to say, one- thank you very much for your review. It made me smile. (: Two- No matter how long it takes, I'm going to finish it. Sure, there will be VERY spaced out updates, but I will try my hardest to get these things up for you all. Much support has come from you all and I couldn't be more than willing to finish this story up. Thank you for your review. (:

TheBookShelf- Hey hey hey! Thank you so much for your kind review! I loved it! (: I'm sorry I hadn't reviewed sooner with your stories, this is the first time I've actually been able to sit down and try to type something out for my lovely readers. Anyway, I'm sorry to say that neither of your guesses were correct. :P But I think I will be adding a part of Rose going to work and seeing Dimitri. I'd like to see him shirtless… But yeah. Sorry for the late update, schools a b****. Btw, idk if I ever told you, but I like the picture you put up for Hand in Hand. How'd you do that? Lol. Alright… I've got to get a roll on this chapter! I hope to see another chapter of Hand in Hand! (:

Xxsezaxx- Haha, it wasn't a soon update, but here's the chapter! Thank you!

Roseskyangel- Like I've been telling everyone else who wanted me to update soon, this wasn't a soon update. The reason she'd being so rude will be revealed eventually… who knows? Maybe in this chapter. I don't know. :P But you'll eventually read why. You spelled his name right… don't worry. (: Thanks for your review!

Guest- Haha, thanks. Not a quick update, but here it is. Thank you!

Shadow-kissed angel- Haha, thank you! This was a very not-soon update, but thanks anyway! (:

Hollywood17- Hello to you too! (: Thank you and here is the next chapter!

Phew. Crazy. Anyway, I'm warning you all now. These updates have a VERY LIKELY chance of becoming slow. I used to update… eh, once every one or two weeks, but now it might start to be months, as you can see. And I know for a fact they'll be sporadic too. :/ Thank you all for all of the support, whether you reviewed or added me to your favorites or alerts. You all ROCK! (: Thank you so so so so so much for all of the support. Thanking you all a million billion GAJILLION times CANNOT cut it! Okay okay, I'll shut up now so you can read. Though I also warn you that it might have a chance of being sucky. But I'll try to make it somewhat decent. (:

This chapter has NOT been EDITED! I wanted this up as soon as I finished it, so I told my beta and she said it was alright. But my lovely beta for future chapters when it isn't so hectic is- XxXLost-In-The-CrowdXxX. Thanks girl for sticking with me through my whacky and insane and crazy moments. GO and CHECK OUT HER STORIES! They'reeeee GREAT! (: Lol. Frosted Flakes.

DISCLAIMER: ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO RICHELLE MEAD. I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT ANY CHARACTERS I MAY CREATE AND THE PLOT. I ALSO DO NOT OWN ANY SONGS THAT MAY BE USED.

Previously in Worth Everything: (It's a lot, but it's been a while so I just took a chunk out for you guys.)

"So, Rose, I heard you tried seducing Jesse in the hallway." I gritted my teeth.

"Go away, Camille."

"And if I don't want to?" Her annoying, preppy, high-pitched voice turned dark. "Listen here, you little punk." Angeline and Meredith, the two bulkiest girls of the group that weren't exactly walking sticks, threw me against the wall lockers. "No body likes you. If you try making one single move with Dimitri, I'll rip your pretty little head off your body, got it?"

"Calling my head pretty now, are we?" "Shut it." she hissed, smacking me.

"No." I bit down on my tongue when she made Angeline and Meredith drop me, kneeing me in the stomach. Carly and Abby- Lissa nowhere to be found- were laughing as I doubled over in pain.

"Is that all you got?" I asked, laughing bitterly. Her mouth made a perfect little "o" as her face turned red with anger. She punched me in the face.

"Camille, touch her one more time and see what happens." We all turned our heads towards the tall figure standing a mere five feet away.

(3rd Person POV. It's confusing, but just go with it. All will be revealed later on! :])

"I don't want to keep doing this," she told him. His head dropped. Of course she wouldn't want to be with me anymore. It was bound to happen… He thought, scooting her off his lap. At least he tried to, because she just threw her arms around his neck and clung tightly. "You didn't hear me out." she breathed in his ear, resting her head in the crook of his neck. He nodded for her to continue.

"I don't want to keep on hiding. I love you, and that's all that matters." He lifted his head and then lifted hers, meeting her eyes before smashing his lips against hers in a fiery passion.

"I love you too." he whispered along her jaw, hugging her waist and never wanting to let go.

(Christian's POV- A little bit of him… Just a tad. :])

As I walked down the hallway to towards the lunchroom, I was slammed into the lockers to the right of me.

"I need lunch money." Tasha said, her voice annoyingly ringing throughout my ears.

"Then why didn't you just ask? There was no need to shove me into the lockers, you brat." She backed up a little bit and brushed invisible dust off of her hideous plaid skirt.

"Shut up, dweeb and just give me the freaking money." I rolled my eyes, pulled a fifty from my pocket, crumpled it up, and then flicked it at her face. I got her in the eye.

"Ow! You mother fu-" Stan Alto, a math teacher, was walking by. He glared at Tasha and told her to watch her mouth. I laughed and walked away.

Tasha was so "ashamed" of our parents. She doesn't even admit to me being her brother. She says I'm only a very distant cousin who looks like her. That you could just say we weren't even related. I didn't mind all that much, though, because the way she acts is embarrassing. Why someone would do that… I had no clue.

I was, by my parents, chosen to take care of the money we had access to- or rather just me since Tasha wasn't allowed to. I took care of the bills and grocery shopping. If Tasha wanted money for something, she'd either have to get a job or come to me for it… at least that's what my parents had written in the will. We were wealthy before my parents passed, and we were even wealthier because of the expenses of two people had gone and that all the extra money left over had gone straight into the bank account they had left for us.

If I died before Tasha did, then Tasha would get all of the money. But that was to only happen if I died first. Tasha's always been greedy, reckless, and irresponsible… and I seemed to be the opposite. I wasn't sure if I was greedy, I didn't think I was, but then again, no one can really judge themselves and tell what kind of person they are. I knew I wasn't reckless though and if I had to be, I would be responsible. You'd think that with Tasha being older, she'd be more responsible, but no.

Tash was nineteen. We were only in the same grade because she'd been held back one year. Her nineteenth birthday was last Tuesday… and guess what she did. She went clubbing. She does that on a weekly basis, but she couldn't have waited a few days to go and get drunk? No. It's all about her.

I was brought out of my thoughts though when I heard someone laughing.

As I neared the corner, I heard talking.

"-that all you got?" The girl laughed humorously as I rounded the corner. Rose was bended over, but looking up at Camille. With my jaw set and my fists clenched in anger, I walked towards them. I liked to call them Tasha's minions, but my sister was nowhere in sight. For once, I could stand up for somebody without having my sister back me down from it. I pulled my pocketknife from my pocket and spoke.

"Camille, touch her one more time and see what happens."

(Rose POV- I'm surprised none of you guessed it was him. Here you go!)

As I looked at him, I couldn't help but actually freak out a bit over the fact that he had a knife in his hand.

He wasn't going to use it… was he?

Of course not! He's just using it to scare them off. I decided to listen to my conscience and believe that he wasn't going to go all psycho on them. Or me.

He slowly started walking to us, getting closer and closer.

"What are you doing?" Camille rushed out, not bothering to hide the fright that was emanating from her voice.

"No, Camille, the real question is- what are you doing?" Her eyes were as wide as saucers as he took a step closer.

"I-I- w-w-we we-"

"For heaven's sake, just spit it out already!" he told her, annoyance and anger radiating off of him.

"I don't know! W-we were j-just mess-messing arou-around! Don't hurt me!" she blubbered, her eyes watering up. My gosh, she was such a baby!

"I won't tell anyone about you or this thing-" he flipped the knife and gestured to all of us. "As long as I don't see it again. If I do see it again-" He walked forward again to where he stood right in front of Camille. He ;leaned forward, whispering something in her ear as she let out a sob and tried backing up. He just came closer, almost to where they were touching. As I picked myself up, I watched in fascination as she nodded and then ran off, headed straight to the girls' bathroom. All the other girls stood, shocked and wide-eyed.

"What are you looking at?" he seethed. "Go. I want you out of my sight." His eyes were ice as he pointed to the direction Camille had scampered off to. Like a dog on command, all five girls turned and walked away hurriedly. He waited till they were gone and then put his handy-dandy knife up, turning to look at me.

"You okay? Your lip's busted."

"Huh?" I reached up and touched my mouth and realized it was, and that there was quite a bit of blood coming from it. The right side of my lower lip. Nothing some alcohol wipes and Neosporin couldn't fix. "I'm fine… Thank you. What'd you tell her?"

"Eh, nothing. I just threw around some gruesome details about gauging eyes out and pullin' organs. Nothing too crazy…" he said, smirking a little when I looked at him oddly. We stood in silence for a few seconds before he placed his hand on my back and guided me in the opposite direction of where Camille and the rest went.

"Where are we going?" He didn't reply but stopped when we reached a locker. He put in the combination and then popped it open. While he dug around the bottom of it, I saw pictures taped to the door and along the insides of the locker walls. A lot were of him and some girl's face who I couldn't see because they were either kissing or her head was nestled into the crook of his neck or she just wasn't in the picture and it would only be him… but then there was this one picture.

It was of them both, his nose touching hers as they stared into each other's eyes. It looked like a very private picture… to me at least. But I saw the girl's face. It was Lissa.

Lissa Dragomir. The one who would always be the one to either prevent a fight from happening or the one who would drag the rest of the girls away by saying, "Oh, come on. Leave her alone… she's not worth our time." or "I don't see the point. As long as she stays away from us, it's less trouble we'll have to deal with. Let's go." but never once had I missed the sorrowful looks she gave me. It was odd. She seemed so innocent, yet she hangs around people that were total opposites.

"Aha!" Christian yanked something out… and I saw that he held a miniature first-aid kit in his hands. Since I couldn't just do one eyebrow, I raised both.

"She's prepared, and I figured you didn't want to go to the nurse or walk around with an infected, bloody cut."

"Are you dating Lissa?" I asked after he handed me an alcohol wipe, but not before giving me a few drops of the little Germ-X that came from another part of her locker.

"Yup." was all he said as he watched me dab at my lip using my pocket mirror.

"How come not many people know?" I dabbed a little too hard and hissed as the chemicals stung the wound.

"You're the only person that knows. And I didn't want to make it known for her sake… if anyone found out, her reputation would go down the drain like ours." I gave him a questioning look.

"What? There's no reason to deny it." he said, giving a little shrug.

"Didn't say I was denying it." I threw away the wipe in the nearby trashcan and took the tube of Neosporin from his outstretched hand. I squeezed just enough onto my finger and spread it over the cut. After cleaning my hands with the Germ-X again, he put the box back in its respective place and shut the locker door.

"Thank you… for stopping them and for helping me with the cut." He smiled a small half-smile.

"Anytime. If they start messing with you, don't hesitate coming and finding me and then dragging my butt back where they are. You and me… we'll make one bad-A team." he told me, raising his hand up for what I assumed, a high-five. I fived him and he patted my back, walking off to only God knows where.

*After school, and after Rose's shift of working. She's going to pick up Jill now after receiving directions on how to get to the Belikov's from Sydney.*

"Take a turn on Burns…" I took a sharp right. "Left on Meadows…" I took a slight left… and "Third house on the right." I pulled into this grand cobblestone driveway and parked behind somebody's Escalade.

I jogged up to the door and rang the doorbell, checking my watch the fifth time in ten minutes. I had to go and pay the water bill or else a late fee would be added for paying the day it was due but not on time. And on top of that I had to clean the house and do homework.

The door opened and I saw a girl with chocolate brown hair and brown eyes. She looked to be around her mid-twenties or so.

"Hi, um… I'm here to pick up Jillian." She gave me a smile and held out her hand.

"Hello. I'm Karolina, it's nice to meet you; you must be Rose. Please, come in." I shook her hand and was about to refuse to come in when I heard someone yell, "Don't you think about leaving, Rose. Get your butt in here!" I heard faint laughter and walked in.

"Follow me." Karolina said, walking towards the room with the giant opening and no doors. "Jillian was such a pleasure to have… She's so adorable!" she told me as we got closer to the room. She turned around and gave me a bright smile as she entered the room with me trailing right behind. I looked around first for Jill and saw her dozing off in Sydney's lap. Next to Sydney sat Viktoria, next to her was Dimitri, and then there was another lady and two kids playing on the floor. The other lady was very pregnant, it seemed, as she cradled the bottom of her stomach.

"Hey, Rose." Dimitri said, giving me a half-smile.

"Hey." For a second or two it was quiet for a long moment before the pregnant lady spoke up.

"Hello, Rose. I'm Sonya Belikova, it's nice to meet you." She gave me a warm smile as her words were laced with a strong Russian accent.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you too." I smiled back, and surprisingly to myself, it wasn't forced. I felt welcomed here and like I had nothing to be afraid of. Like nobody was judging me.

I felt a tug on my shirt and I looked down at a boy who looked like an exact mini clone of Dimitri.

"Hi there." I told the little boy. "What's your name?" He grinned shyly. "I'm Paul. Wanna play racecars? I've got this one new car that my mommy got for me and it has flames and the wheels are shiny-"

"Paul, Rose came here to pick up her little sister. Maybe she can play racecars with you some other time." Dimitri said, standing up. I was silently thanking Dimitri in my head. As much as I didn't mind staying, I had to go and get things done.

"He's right. Jill and I have to go, but I promise I'll play with you some other time. That sound cool?" His little face lit up like a Christmas tree and he nodded eagerly. Paul sat back down and Sydney stood up too, Jill in her arms. She passed Jill over to me and I carefully held her with one arm while taking her little school bag in the other.

"Thank you for taking care of her." I whispered to Sydney. She nodded and gave me a light punch on my shoulder.

"What are friends for, Rose?" she whispered back, smiling. I then thanked the Belikovs for letting Jillian stay with them the whole afternoon but they only replied with how well she behaved and got along with everyone.

A few minutes later Dimitri was walking Jillian and I to the door.

"Thanks again for letting Jillian stay here."

"No problem. She's a pretty cool kid." I only responded with a nod and opened the door. "Oh, and good luck if you try to undo the promise you made to Paul." I turned back around as stepped onto the porch. He smiled.

"Paul doesn't let go of promises easily."

One word. Well, two. 1) FILLER! And 2) AWFUL! Sorry for the late, short, and sucky chap. I have to go to bed though, 'cause I've got a long day ahead of me. One quick thing. Do you know what aggravates the poop outta me?

When authors here on FF tell people that they won't update unless they get a certain amount of reviews. I think asking for reviews isn't bad, but saying, "Hey! Alright, I'm not updating again unless I get twenty-five reviews!" just ticks me off. If the readers want to review, let them. If they don't, don't force them to. Gah. Sorry, but I think it's annoying. So, if you want to review, have at it! But if you don't, then don't. I won't force you to. Anyway, I's gots to goes, but much love from me and I'm super sorry for the late update! Until next time (and only God knows when!) Xx,

~R. :D!

P.S.- Sorry for any mistakes… I'm crazy tired for no darn reason. :/

P.P.S.- For those of you who are reading my other stories- they will not be updated for a while. Just a heads up... But I'm Now Content in My Little World will be the next to be updated. Thank you!