Yay! Darla updated! Exactly a week since last UD.

Happy? I sure am.

It makes me so sad that I can't update as much because of school. Sigh. At least I'm enjoying my classes, right?

So, you're all saying get on with it, screw the ANs, so without further ado *drum * Chapter 27, ZENTASTIC!

*the crowd goes wild*

I watched through the tinted kitchen window as Abe drove off into the setting sky. Everything had that orangeish hue that came with the ending of human day, the beginning for Moroi. I sighed, my breath fogging a spot on the window, and turned to face Dimitri. He stood leaning against the counter, also staring out the window. He was worried. Worried about me and the trial that would be soon to follow if I decided I didn't want to live on the run for the rest of my life. Zero worried about himself, he immediately collected me into his arms at the sight of my glum yet anxious expression. I was going to be free again. A Guardian. Able to see Lissa and my other friends again. Have my normal hair, even though it was probably eternally fried from the treatment of hair dye. I pressed my face into Dimitri's chest, revelling in the warmth his body provided me. I was finally going to be safe. Finally going to be able to live my life with Dimitri. Really, what else could life throw at us to keep us apart? Wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know.

If I was going to be free, safe, why was I filled with such a feeling of… sadness? Sadness wasn't good. This wasn't a time to feel sadness. Shit, Rose, why are you feeling depressed when you should be filled with so much joy and excitement? Count your blessing, Rose. One: You are currently snuggling with Dimitri. The moment you're back under the Moroi law that'll be, well, illegal. Not necessarily illegal but difficult and looked badly upon. I can deal with that. I've always done things that are looked down upon. I am the meaning of looking bad. Not physically per say but… continuing on.

Two: You have tons of friends waiting for you back home. Adrian's going to be pissed. What should I do about him? Lissa will be ecstatic but all her time will be now filled with Jill and court crap, now that she has a sibling. No Rose time. I might have Eddie, but I don't know if he's still mad at me or not. And Christian is out of the question.

Three: I will soon be a Guardian again. My reputation may be forever tarnished and who knows what Rose Hathaway will mean when I get back. Maybe my name will represent people who did what was right to the very end. A tale of victory always being served to those deserving and strong. It could also mean breaking every rule that can be broken in any situation. A tale of undisciplined girls that had so much potential but managed to throw it all out the window for impulsive actions and rogue notions.

Huh. No wonder I was so depressed.

I pushed my face deeper into Dimitri's chest and squeezed my arms a little bit tighter.

"Dimitri," I said softly.

"Yeah?" he responded, also whispering softly.

"Everything's going to be shit when we get back, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is. Did you count your blessings?" Same old Zentastic Dimka.

"Yes. That's what made me realize everything is shitty."

"Huh. I've never needed a back up plan for that technique."

"Zen isn't one hundred percent effective." Score one for Rose.

"Guess not. Nothing is a hundred percent anymore."

"Promise me you will be."

"I promise. I've left you too many times to not be."

"Good." I took one more deep breath before pulling back and looking up at him. "Wanna take my mind off the fact that Victor is going to be on trial in a couple of hours?" I asked, suggestively trailing my hand down his chest, resting it on his lower stomach.

He smiled, flashing me his pearly whites. "You know, if we keep this up, Abe will be correct when he says we're as bad as rabbits."

"That's fine. I think rabbits have the right idea," I grinned as I grabbed his hand and dragged him down the hall.

Maybe life wasn't as crappy as I thought it was.

XXX

The slam of the door jerked both of us into motion, first grabbing a stake and then silently pulling our clothes on. Our eyes met for a split second before we automatically took on a Guardian partner stance, him going forward and listening for anything outside the bedroom door, me being backup in case he was attacked. I wasn't nauseous so I knew it wasn't a Strigoi, hell it could just be Abe. It probably was but we could never be too careful.

I heard a gasp/girly scream from outside and Dimitri's shoulders suddenly relaxed and the arm holding the stake lowering back to his side. He turned back to look at me and smiled. "Just Abe."

I shoved my stake into my belt and followed Dimitri into the kitchen where Abe had an annoyed yet happy expression on his face. "Huh. I thought Justin Beiber had given us a surprise visit." I said, swinging onto a chair at the table.

He just glared at me. "I take it you were one of the people waiting to welcome your dear father with offensive stances holding stakes, ready to kill me with them?"

"Well, yeah. When you enter the home of two trained Guardians, you're suppose to make yourself known. You know how the human couples do it? 'Honey, I'm home!'"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry but-"

"Kay!" Dimitri interrupted, "are we going to continue bantering or is Abe going to fill us in on what happened at the trial?"

"Thank you, Dimitri. As you probably expected, he was found guilty of all charges, except murdering Tatiana. Ambrose's video provided a very… interesting reaction. At first people were in disbelief, refusing to think that someone of his status could do such a thing. Surely, they thought, someone of such close contact with the Queen wouldn't dare. Everyone who knew Tatiana as a person loved her dearly. Eventually though, they took in the facts. There was video prove, not edited, a recorded and video confession, not edited, a suicide, obviously true, and more than enough evidence to be convinced that Ambrose did indeed kill the Queen. They still need to go through it but if Rose stepped onto Royal grounds right now, she would not be killed due to reasonable doubt on her account.

"Rose," he continued, staring right at me, "You're trial is tomorrow after they come to a conclusion on Ambrose. Everyone but a few are confident on your innocence. Some believe you manufactured that video and somehow complused Ambrose to confess and kill himself." Abe rolled his eyes. "Just look all good girl like and plead that you did what you had to do in order to maintain an order given to you by the Queen herself and that if you didn't, they would have killed you out of fear, causing them to lose the only one truly worthy enough to protect Lissa, the oldest Dragomir, and if not for you she would have stayed the last."

"Deep," I said. Dimitri nodded in agreement.

"I'm sure you'll get off most charges, that worst that could happen is that you get thrown in jail for a couple of days or get a mega big fine, which I would cover. I heard you Guardians don't make much, even when you're working. My Guardians make much more money for their skills at keeping me alive. So far, it's working." He smirked. I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Sadly." He ignored me. "Dimitri, you're trial is right after Rose's. Chances are, you'll get a minimal charge for helping an escaped criminal, no matter the innocence or intent of said criminal. I shall cover that as well."

Dimitri shook his head. "You do not have to do that. I can cover my own charges." Did men not see the chance at getting free money through their haze of pride?

"Nonsense. It is my thanks for helping and protecting my daughter."

"I did it because I wanted to. I don't need your thanks." He glared, begging him to just back down.

"Well, then graciously accept my gift," Abe retorted. Ohh, a gift. What other outrageous things will the Pride Wars lead to next?

"Well, if it's a gift…" I attempted to raise an eyebrow at him, surprised at his quick give in, never mind my earlier question of male stupidity. He shrugged. "Hotel rooms, gas, cars, food, the fact that I haven't worked for quite a while. It all adds up. Or minuses you might say."

"I could have easily helped contribute-"

"Shh!" Abe suddenly hissed. Both Dimitri and I immediately fell silent, blood and adrenaline rushing through my veins at the sudden threat of danger. My ears went out, searching for any disturbance of sound, of an intruder. I heard the breeze of wind shaking leaves, a hoot of an owl, a soft scuffling of feet, many feet, moving to the doors and windows, trapping us in. Surrounding us. I looked a Dimitri, the startled expression on my face mirrored back at me. He shrugged his shoulders, as confused as I was, and drew out his stake just as a gruff, loud voice shouted, "Rose Hathaway, Dimitri Belikov, you are hereby under arrest by the will of the Royal Court. Put your weapons down and put your hands above your head. If you do not come willingly, we will force you."

Sorry it's not long (at all) but I wanted to get something posted up for you guys, even if it's not as high of quality as usual.

You still love my cliffies? I know I do :D

Tell me how much you love them in a review!

And the new season of Bones started tonight! No spoilers please. My mom won't let me hook the TV back up so I have to wait till tomorrow to watch it on the computer D: