So, since I got some suggestions I'll keep my promise and try my best to fulfill them, as long as they don't deter from what I want to happen in the story as a whole.
Also, I'm very happy you're all enjoying my story. You guys are the best xD
Enjoyyyy!
And new readers, don't be afraid to review on old chapters. I love them all the same!

Disclaimer: I am not Richelle Mead and own none of the characters.

After that tearful reunion, we finally made our way back inside and straight to the kitchen. True to her word, Olena made each of us three sandwiches which we, er I, scarffed down in 2 minutes flat. I'd forgotten how good they were. Really, I should join one of those pie-eating contests. I would most definitely win and have room for more.

During some point in our kitchen chat, Yeva walked in. Dimitri gave his grandma a hug but all she gave in return was a very sad look and something almost like… disappointment. Even I shrunk back at the emotion, and it wasn't even towards me. In fact, Yeva looked at me with pride and when she walked past me to grab a sandwich herself, she spoke in a whisper so soft that I was the only one able to hear it, "You truly are the warrior I saw you to be." I smiled. Something about finally gaining her approval made me really happy. Not less scared of her but happier. I internally shook my head at myself for worrying about the opinion of a crazy person.

We didn't need to explain anything about Dimitri's new state to Yeva, her being able to see it all beforehand and everything so there were no convictions the needed to be straightened out or staking that threatened Dimitri's hard-worked-for life.

We moved out into the living room where all the others eventually joined us. Viktoria, thank god, was not pregnant and didn't seem to hate me anymore. All she did was stare at Dimitri and I, not saying a word. Having a flashback to my cereal on chin scenario, I quickly wiped my mouth for breadcrumbs but came back clean.

None of them took the explanation of Dimitri well but nothing as bad as Olena's and except for Viktoria's initial cry of "Where's the stake?" there were no threats on Dimitri. Soon we were all having a grand ol' time. Or as grand as one could be with their suppose-to-be-dead brother sitting with them... There still seemed to be an air of awkwardness, as if no one was really comfortable and didn't know what to say or put anything decent into words. But after five minutes of asking how our lives have been, what I've done since going back to the academy blah, blah, blah, Viktoria popped a question that made everyone shut up. Fast. "So, since you're back and all Dimitri, have you made it up to Rose yet?"

He gave a shaky laugh. "What do you mean?"

"You know, for dying and totally breaking her heart. I practically felt my own heart break when she told us about you guys." She gave a little longing sigh. "Such love. It's horrible to have that be taken away from you." Now, let's get some things straight. First, we hadn't told them about me and Dimitri breaking up. Or Dimitri breaking up with me. And I hadn't told Dimitri that I'd told them about us and that I was considered his… widow. And second, Viktoria wasn't being mean, at least not on purpose. She genuinely seemed interested in our relationship and must have noticed something was off. She seemed… concerned. Weird, eh? Especially since I was the person that took away her "love", even if it was in her best interest.

Yeva gave a knowing look that sent shivers down my spine as Dimitri gave an awkward cough. "Uh.. well…-"

I cut in, "The thing with Dimitri? Well, his loves fades." Oh, harsh. But well deserved.

Every sat looking at him in a shocked silence. Olena broke it. "But- but, you guys were so… so in love. How could you give up on such a wonderful girl that obviously loves you back whole-heartedly? Which she proved by saving you."

Dimitri's nostrils flared and his face took on a hard look, his voice growing cold. "You don't know anything about mine and Roza's relationship," I hissed at my Russian name, "so stop assuming stupid things. I may have once loved her but I. Have. Moved. On. And the sooner she does, the better." And with that he angrily stormed out of the house.

I slumped in my seat. Guess I hadn't been making any progress. Karolina looked pissed, Viktoria looked stunned, Olena looked like she was about to cry, again, and Sonya had gotten up and left the room with Paul, for fear his mother might do some ass whooping in front of him. Viktoria got up and sat beside me, taking my hands. "Oh, Rose! I'm sorry my brother is such as ass but, I guess you already knew that right? I can't believe he'd do that to you. I still count you as my sister." And then she surprised me even further by giving me a hug. She whispered in my ear, "I asked my sister who got her pregnant. You were right and I'm sorry for getting so mad at you." Wow. Who would have thought Viktoria would have forgiven me so easily?

"And I," Olena said, patting my knee, "still consider you my daughter even if my son doesn't consider you his anymore. I feel what is right and what he's doing is wrong."

I closed my eyes, feeling like I was about to cry. I honestly didn't think that I would have them after Dimitri said that. I felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders to know I was still accepted by them. "Thank you. Thank you so much." I opened my eyes to Yeva's staring, watchful ones.

"My grandson is an ass." I almost burst out laughing at Yeva's blunt tone. I never actually thought I'd see the day to hear her say the word "ass", especially directed to her grandson. I didn't burst out laughing but I still gave a loud laugh.

"That is true. Very true."

"Of course it is, silly girl," her normal harsh tone was back, "I'm always right." She swept out of the room, Olena following her to go make dinner.

Viktoria was the only one still with me after Karolina left to go hit something. She seemed royally pissed at Dimitri, everyone did, and it really confused me. Why would they care so much about a girl they'd met once, rather than the boy they raised and grew up with? Were they really going to take my side in this?

She gave me a long look. "Don't worry, Rose. You'll get him back. If you can do the impossible by bringing him back to life, then I have all faith in you." She winked at me, "And I'm more than willing to help you out. Weither or not you want me to."

I smiled, bursting with happiness. "Thanks." I paused, not sure if she meant to start helping right now but decided to push what I could. "Oh, and I need to go shopping."

XXX

After showing Viktoria what Lissa had packed, she agreed that this shouldn't be my regular attire for a town with so many Dhampir bloodwhores. It would totally give off the wrong message.

After a dinner of three cheese lasagna (Dimitri didn't show up), she took me to the mall. It was realllly small compared to the ones I always went to with Lissa. At least it still had all the essentials. So, with our mission of making me look sexy but not slutty, we made our way through the stores, spending way more money than I was used to, but that was because Lissa usually bought the majority of my clothes. Well, considering I was spending Lissa's money that she had stuffed in my bag, she was buying me all my clothes like normal.

And then we had to give me a new look. I'd filled Viktoria on why we were here and, after being a bit shocked, she convinced me that I need to look at least a little different so that I wouldn't get killed on the spot if seen. I'd get a little time to make an escape plan before they were sure I was me. It was a good idea as long as I didn't have to go dying my hair or anything. I was more than happy with a little change but too much was, well, too much. I liked how I looked.

I got my hair cut in a new style, now having it hang just below my shoulders instead of mid-back. I would have had more cut off but I loved my long hair and I'll admit Dimitri's love for it helped influence me to keep it longer. A few red and blonde high and low lights later, I wouldn't be recognized from the back and any Guardians that saw me would have to do a double look to make sure they weren't about to jump an innocent girl. While I was getting my hair done, Viktoria had slipped off to buy me some glasses, fake ones of course, to disguise me even more. Everyone knew that Rose Hathaway had 20/20 vision. There was never a chance for me to screw up my eyes anyways.

Shopping with Viktoria made me miss Lissa more so, sitting under the hair dryer whatever thing for my high/low lights, I slipped into Lissa's head.

She was in court, fighting to drop my search and look for other suspects in the Queen's murder. "There was no trail to prove her guilty, therefore she is still innocent. Instead of pulling all of your resources on finding Rose, you should put some on finding other suspects. I know for a fact that Rose Hathaway did not murder the Queen so I suggest that while you may not completely drop suspicion, that you at least take the chance that there are other suspects who fit the evidence better." She was doing a good job at influencing at least some of the court. They may not do what she says but her charisma and reflexive compulsion was at least planting the seed of doubt in their minds.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but even if she is innocent, which I highly doubt, she broke out of jail, a crime in itself. She is a danger to society as a whole and must be captured," said some old ass guy.

"You know that if Rose Hathaway doesn't want to be found, she won't be. This world is falling into chaos. We need order. We can't afford to waste all of our resources on one girl who may or may not have killed my aunt. And just so you are aware, I still hold my position in saying she is fully innocent." I was surprised that Adrian was there, vouching for me. I wasn't sure what had happened after that night and I guess I now knew why he hadn't come and seen me lately. He looked tired, like he spent night after night worrying, thinking and… doing whatever else he did at night. That thought scared me the most. What if he'd gotten so mad at me that he had to go find release in some other girl? I wouldn't blame him. What with me hanging out with my first lover all the time.

I faintly heard the hairdresser tell me my hair was done so I snapped back into my head, still curious as to what was happening back home.

Viktoria pulled me to my feet, shoving the glasses on my face and dragging me to a mirror. I held back a gasp as I looked at myself. My hair framed my face gorgeously and, though it hadn't been died blonde, it had been died a lighter shade of brown, the gold and red playing on my hair making my head look like it was a dying ember. I looked different and with my glasses, smart. And best of all, I looked sexy. "You look like a hot, badass librarian!" Viktoria squealed. Oh, joy. Note sarcasm.

"Um, I think you just ruined it by saying the librarian part."

She waved her hand, dismissing my negativity. "Who cares, you look hot. My brother would have to be blind to ignore you now."

I sighed, not completely sure this part of the plan would be successful. The part where I'd have just enough time to escape if seen would work but getting Dimitri to love me? I may be Rose Hathaway, goddess on Earth, but I still wasn't sure. And besides, I had more important things to worry about. Like finding Lissa's sibling and clearing my name. Damn, I still needed to phone Sydney.

5. Phone Sydney ASAP

"Come on. We should get back home," I said, still staring at myself. It was amazing how a new hairstyle could change your whole look.

XXX

We made it back to the house, finally, and I shooed Viktoria in, saying I wanted some alone time. I really did need to be alone after so much in my life had changed and I really didn't feel like calling Sydney just yet. I'd do it before going to bed but right now, I just wanted silence. Peace. A chance to just be. If not for a moment.

I wandered to the side of the house and saw the master of disappearance acts himself leaning against a tree, legs sprawled out, eyes closed. I walked up as silently as possible, knowing he'd probably just smell me, if he was awake. When he didn't move, I sat myself right in front of his face, leaning in. I touched his knee and he had a sudden intake of breath but he still didn't open his eyes so I moved my hand up his leg, creeping over his thigh. He squirmed slightly and I removed my hand after reaching mid thigh and instead, moving so I was between his legs, touched his cheek. I knew this was stupid, playing on luck, but after that one night of holding in all temptation, I couldn't fight it now that an equally opportune moment had shown up. Even after the speech he gave his family, I couldn't help being completely drawn to his being. I couldn't understand how a feeling like this couldn't be mutual. How after feeling like this, and I know he did, he could just forget, ignore it. I let my thumb glide along his cheek bone, the rough stubble sexily scraping my fingers and I moved my head closer to his. With me on my knees and him sitting, we were the same height so I didn't have to crane my neck to touch my lips to his. I pressed them lightly, taking in the scent of his aftershave heavily as my heart and breath sped up simultaneously. My heart was hammering, adrenaline pumping. He could wake up at any time but that fact seemed to turn me on even more. I pressed myself closer to him, allowing my lips to kiss fractionally harder, my tongue slipping out to taste him. His lips parted and a small moan escaped them, causing me to lean back, a guilty expression across my face. I was caught. He was probably going to beat my ass senseless. But still his eyes were still closed. I smiled. Guess I still had the almighty effect while he was unconscious.

Unconcious.

It didn't count but somehow I felt total satisfaction. I'd kissed him again, made him react, and to me that was progress. I touched his chest lightly and, deciding not to press my luck any further, stood up and made my way to the front of the house. He didn't have to know what had just happened, no one did. It would be my guilty pleasure, my dirty little secret. I looked back once more to see him still sleeping peacefully against the tree, the only change being his face held a lazy grin, one who'd find on a man imagining naughty thoughts. Smiling, I walked inside the house, picked up the phone and dialled Sydney's number.

There. You've got some R/D action, if not much on Dimitri's part, it was the only way anything was going to happen. :D
I feel like I kind of rushed and jumped around in this chapter but.. I think it turned out pretty good.

I'm just gonna say I'm kind of disappointed in the percentage of you guys actually review. I get 2-7 reviews per chapter but, if the numbers are correct, a gazillion more times amount of people who read them. So, REVIEW! Please? With a cheery on top? I love them so much D:
Now I'd like thank all who do review very much. They're kind of the highlight of my day after updating a new chapter. No big or anything... xD

More suggestions are still welcome! I've got the basic idea down (actually, no I don't but shh, don't tell anyone) but I need more… stuff for the chapters.
And I updated, so please grace me with your lovely notes of... loveliness

xo Darla