Adrian POV

We have to find her. We just have to find her. There is no other option.

The gates of the cemetery become closer and closer to us until we finally reach them. Fear hangs in the air of the SUV as we get closer to her gave. No one makes a sound; no one even dares to breathe.

I can't believe it was only a year ago.

The day started off fine. It was Christmas Eve and Court was full of festivities and music and joy. Christian and Lissa were supposed to visit Tasha a week earlier, but because of a horrible storm their flight had been delayed, but finally, they could fly out. Rose, as stubborn as she is, demanded to go with them to the airport to say a proper goodbye to her best friend, even though she was seven months pregnant and on bed rest.

They were attacked on the way home.

She never had a chance.

The car suddenly stops, bringing me back to reality. I look out the window and see her. Thank God, Rose is here! Eddie and Janine run out of the car, blankets in hand, towards her. Abe and I stare out the window, watching and hoping everything is fine.

It's going to be just fine.

With blankets thrown around her, Eddie and Janine help Rose walk towards the car. Her movements are stiff, but at least she's moving. It takes a few minutes, but they finally make it to the SUV. They carefully help Rose get into the vehicle, Janine getting in beside her. Eddie gets into the car and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Rose is okay.

I take her hands, and as expected, she's freezing. Warming her up needs to be a gradual process, otherwise it could cause more harm than good, but being this cold couldn't be good either. Carefully, I close my eyes and I can feel the Spirit rise around me. I give her just enough so the heating process can start naturally. She turns to me and I see the hidden pain in her eyes. I want to do something, anything, that can take that pain away, but there isn't anything I can do. There isn't anything anyone can do. The pain has been there for a year, hidden away from everyone, creating a façade, a mask. She only ever let that mask down with me. Keeping those feelings hidden was a bad idea. It took me ages to finally convince her to go to grief counseling. And of course, Rose got pissed at the fact she was going to any sort of counseling, something about how she wasn't a child anymore and no one could force her to go, so she left after the first five minutes and never returned.

Something needs to change.

The car stops again. We're at Christian and Lissa's. I help Rose out and lead her into the house, the rest of the group closely behind us. No one speaks. Everyone who stayed behind were congregated in the kitchen. Christian and Lissa look at us with sorrow while Dimitri, and even that bitch Tasha, had shocked expressions. Lissa comes over and gives Rose a hug, but she doesn't respond. Christian does the same, but she doesn't do anything. Everyone's looking at me to do something.

"Get some dry clothes for her, please," I ask Lissa, who nods and leaves. I ignore everyone else, especially that Goddamn Russian, and lead Rose into the living room. Her clothes are soaked from all that snow and I don't know how she didn't get frostbite. Lissa arrives with the dry clothes and I help Rose change. I've always wanted to see her sans clothes, but I never imagined my one chance would be like this, on this day and with Belikov in the next room.

With Rose dressed and wrapped in blankets we sit in front of the fire, waiting for her to get warm. I put my arms around her and she doesn't pull away. Instead, she puts her head on my shoulder and starts crying.

Oh, Rose. Don't cry.

But I know she has to. I can't stop it, so I just pull her closer to me and let her cry. After a while she stops crying and shaking, but she doesn't move. I look down at her and realize she didn't move because she's fallen asleep. Dimitri chooses that exact second to wander in. He sees us and with venom in my voice I tell him to get out.

He does.