A/N: Apologies for the late update, I hope you enjoy this chapter, there's not a huge amount of drama in this chapter but I hope you like it. It's in Dimitri's POV because atm I feel it's easier to write as him. For the time being anyway. Excuse any missing words or typos, this hasn't been edited. Anyways, ENJOY.

Oh and a HUGE thanks to those reviewed the last chapter! I truly appreciate it.

Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own anything.

I held Rose tight in my arms watching her sleep, it had been so painful to find so bloody and broken. I hoped that she could see past her anger with Vasilisa and allow her to heal her; I knew the pain would be unbearable. Even though she had been killed the thought of what Gina had done made my blood boil, her issue had not been with Rose it had been with Guardian Eastwood. I felt the guilt eating at me, this was my fault; she knew of Rose because of me, everything that happened to Rose was always because of me. I would always love her but I would never look at her the same, everything I did haunted me every day. Those people, those innocent people. I killed them in cold blood. Every face haunted me; it was painful. I was a different person now. I didn't want to live anymore; there was only one thing - person I had to live for. Rose. She needed me.

Rose's pattern of breathing increased slightly, she was waking up. She groaned loudly, I imagined it was due to the pain.
"What's wrong Roza?" I questioned quietly, I didn't want to worry her
"pain…" she murmured, the cuts on her face were painful to look at. Every mark on her body made me want to hit something.
"Vasilisa can heal you" I offered cautiously, I was lucky she was so injured or she probably would've bitten my head off
"Please…" she sounded reluctant but she was in too much pain to care.

I reluctantly let go of her, as if something could happen to her in the matter of moments it would take to get Vasilisa. I understood why Rose was angry at Vasilisa, but why wasn't she angry at me? I did feel connected to Vasilisa and I felt as if I'd gotten between them. I entered the living room conscious of leaving Roza.
"Vasilisa, Rose wants you to heal her." I said simply, there was no other way of saying it
"She does?" her voice filled with excitement, I knew there would be only disappointment for her.
"Don't get your hopes up Vasilisa; you know she can hold a grudge." I said quietly before leading her into the room. She approached Rose silently, placing her hands above Rose's abdomen; she closed her eyes as I saw her magic work before my eyes, slowly Rose's pained expression faded and was replaced by relief. All of Rose's cuts and bruises faded. Rose looked at Lissa and something within her changed, she spoke softly "Thank you Lissa, we'll talk later" she looked sympathetic "you need to rest." Vasilisa simply nodded before turning to leave, I followed her out the door smiling a little.
"she's softening up"
"you think so?" she looked hopeful
"I do" I nodded "Roza is right, you need to rest Vasilisa" she nodded once again and entered the other bedroom.

I entered the bedroom to find Rose cowering in fear under the covers, she was shaking uncontrollably and sobbing, it had to be the second scariest sight I'd ever seen in my Dhampir life. I pulled the covers back pulling her frail body into my arms "It's okay Roza…its okay…" I whispered quietly cradling her against my chest. It was like a whole new person had taken over, this wasn't the Rose I knew "you're safe, Gina's gone. I'm here to protect you" I cooed, she sobbed for hours as her sobs finally subsided she was once again exhausted, she soon fell asleep. Abe entered the room a few hours later, his face looked grim.
"How is she?" he questioned
"Scared, I've never ever seen her like this, she cried for hours." I sighed "she only stopped to give in to exhaustion" I explained, I knew she had been through a lot of torture, Strigoi were twisted creatures and they could inflict pain without any hesitation, they enjoyed the pain of others. Abe nodded and left the room once again, it was a strange sight, he reminded me so much of Rose and his fatherly concern for her was somewhat unexpected.

His face had worn a grim expression, even though he had killed the source of such terror, it pained him – as much as it did me, to see her like this. She was broken. She wasn't the same Rose Hathaway. A part of the carefree, sarcastic, innocent girl had faded in Spokane, then Russia had taken a huge chunk of that away and now it seemed as if maybe there was none of that Rose left. I wondered if the darkness had been a part of such an extreme reaction, after all, Vasilisa had used a great deal of magic to heal both Rose and Asher.

I held her for hours until she finally awake, she smiled weakly as if she was trying to hide the fact that she was ashamed. I knew Rose well enough to have expected this reaction, Rose Hathaway didn't cry, she didn't show fear and she didn't hide.
"Thank you Dimitri" she said quietly
"don't thank me Roza" I kissed the top of her head.
"I was so scared" she sighed
"I know you were but you're safe now" I said attempting to reassure her
"I guess" she murmured, it was hard to digest the fact that, even in my arms she didn't feel 100% safe "Can I see Asher?" she asked out of nowhere
"sure you can, let me go check if he's awake." Her attachment to him stirred up some jealousy within but I quickly shook it off knowing it was immature. I kissed the top of her head realizing leaving her alone was not an option "Actually how about I take you with me?" I spoke casually, it almost sounded like a different person was speaking. I selfishly wanted to keep her in my arms but that was only part of it, I wasn't prepared to leave her alone, I didn't want to find her cowering under the covers again. Getting up slowly, I scooped her into my arms carrying her bridal style, she could walk – but I didn't want her too.

"I can walk you know Comrade" a bit of her old spark returned
"I know you can Roza but I feel like carrying you" I replied chuckling a little, she gave me a lazy grin clinging to me. I carried her across the living room toward another bedroom; I opened the door quietly to find Asher sitting on the bed looking like hell. He had been crying, his eyes were bloodshot and puffy and there were dark circles them; his face was gaunt and undernourished - he had refused to eat since we had returned.
"Do you want me to leave Roza?" I asked
"No…" she looked away, almost ashamed to admit that she needed me there
"Okay, well I'm just going to stand by the window and give you some privacy, is that alright Roza?" she simply nodded, the old Rose would have had some sarcastic remark about me acting like a parent, maybe something like 'Are you my father now, Comrade?' I couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the thought of it. I placed Rose on the bed kissing the top of her head before moving to stand by the window; the bedrooms in this apartment were particularly large. Rose moved to sit closer to Asher before speaking.
" I'm sorry about Gina" she said, I think both Asher and I were shocked by the statement, Gina had subjected the two of them to hours of torture and Rose was apologizing
"if anyone should apologize it's me, I didn't protect you and she hurt you because of Me." He sounded extremely weak
"Asher, there was nothing you could do to stop them we were out numbered." Rose said compassionately. She was remarkable, this experience had caused her a great deal of pain, both mentally and physically and she still supported him "and you know, minus the death part, I do know how you feel to some extent Asher. Dimitri was Strigoi before Lissa and I turned him back, he held me captive and fed from me…" her voice by now was barely a whisper but Dhampir hearing was sensitive enough to pick up on a whisper. I felt my heart begin to wrench in my chest, I had done that to her. How could she ever forgive that? I clenched my fists tightly attempting to push anger and resentment I felt toward myself away. We both had a lot to get through but we would get through it together.

A/N: It's a wee bit corny but there is more to come to do with Lissa's sibling and everything like that. Review please :D