Hi, guys seriously sorry for the delay in updating. Its been like family world war 3 around here and writing has been the last thing on my mind. I've either been part of a row or refereeing one lol

Certain reviewers PMed me and reminded me that I promised I would update soon and it guilted me into writing so thanks lol Also I got a review saying that Dimitri was a little out of character but I kinda like writing him like this. Its easier than having him standoffish all the time. So yeah that was intentional. Someone also brought it to my attention that my linebreakers aren't working so I'll have to improvise because I don't like messing about with the editor.

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I jumped a mile at the sound of the voice behind me and looked worriedly at Dimitri who seemed to relax when he saw who it was that had shouted.

Alberta was hurrying up the corridor behind us looking thoroughly stressed out.

"I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"What's wrong?" Dimitri asked sounding a little concerned at Alberta's tone.

"Janine Hathaway is on her way in; she should be here by lunchtime.

You and Rose can't have any contact until after she sees her and we set the record straight. Rose you have to see another counsellor and actually co operate with this one."

I considered protesting but Dimitri's hand on my shoulder kept me silent and I just nodded.

Alberta and Dimitri exchanged a few more pleasantries and then Alberta said she would escort me to counselling. I guess she didn't trust me to go if I was left to my own devices.

Dimitri squeezed my shoulder and said he would see me at training that evening if things with my mother went well.

"And, Rose?" He shouted after me as I left.

I turned back.

"What?"

"Try not to traumatise this one, the counsellors really are trying to help you. It's not their fault you don't need it."

I just about made it through counselling, though I did seriously consider the merits of faking a heart attack and getting sent to the clinic just to get away from her probing questions. This one was a lot harder to scare off than the last and it annoyed me that I couldn't just glare and she would change tack.

Her name was Laura, she was Moroi and had a sort of softly spoken look about her. On meeting her I had wrongly assumed that she would be a pushover but I now found that I was woefully mistaken.

Laura was like a dog with a bone. In particular she seemed interested in pursuing the topic that had 'Triggered my outburst' with Deirdre.

"So how would you describe your relationship with Guardian Belikov? You're certainly defensive of his honour."

I hesitated wondering how to reply. I could think of any number of hilarious answers I could give but knew I had to toe the line with this one if I wanted any chance of clearing Dimitri.

"I dunno." I shrugged, uncomfortable. "We're close I guess. I mean not like all touchy feely but if I was in trouble or something happened I could tell him."

Her face was inscrutable and I wondered if I had revealed too much or looked guilty. After a second she nodded and wrote something down.

"That's good, Rose. It's good that you feel you can go to him with any problems. Does he ever tell you things? Confide in you?"

I shrugged again, well aware that shrugging was a defensive mechanism and I was doing way too much of it.

"He tells me some stuff. I mean I know where he grew up and his sisters names, stuff like that. I wouldn't say he confides in me though."

I was fairly confident of that one. I made it as though Dimitri and I were friendly but not anywhere near relationship status. Laura didn't notice my expression of relief thankfully as she scribbled more notes into her little blue notebook.

"How about your mom? How's your relationship with her?"

I figured she already knew the answer to that one so I didn't bother pussyfooting around it.

"We don't get on but you probably already knew that. Basically she's a huge disappointment to me and I am to her. He career was more important to her than bringing up her kid so she palmed me off on the Academy and now she doesn't like the result." I shrugged. "Not my problem."

Laura regarded me calmly.

"Again you're very defensive. There's nothing wrong with not getting along with your mom, you know."

I glared at her, unable to formulate a response.

She took the hint and changed tack.

"What do you do in your training sessions? Do you Spar much?"

"Some." I replied cautiously, knowing that if I let my guard down she would try and verbally trip me. Get me to slip up and confess that something had happened.

"Do you like Sparring? Is it something that you're comfortable with? There must be quite a lot of bodily contact."

I couldn't believe she had the audacity to say it like that. Breathe, Rose, you promised not to traumatise this one. That includes telling her that you love the Sparring because it gives you a chance to test the limits of Dimitri's control and jump him.

"The Sparring's fun. Contact with Dimitri isn't something that bothers me. I trust him totally, he's never try anything even if he wanted to, which he doesn't." I knew my voice had adopted a steely tone and was very cold but seriously, why should I try to be polite. She was hardly even trying to veil the insinuations.

"So nothing untoward has ever happened during your training? Guardian Belikov has never had any...inappropriate reaction to the training."

It was delicately worded but I knew what she meant and fixed her with a cold stare.

"I don't know how you can even say that with straight face! Have you met the guy?"

I had been about to say that I had never met anyone so sexually repressed but realised that it might pose the question of how exactly I had come to that conclusion. I shut up.

She sighed.

"Alright, Rose, I think we're done here. You can go but I have been asked to remind you to avoid contact with Guardian Belikov as much as possible until this matter is resolved."

I didn't even dignify that with a response and just left the room, shutting the door behind me with a satisfying bang.

There wasn't much point in going to class what with it already being half over so I took great pleasure in defying the express wishes of the higher ups and going to find Dimitri. He wasn't hard to find. Unfortunately he was where a lot of Guardians were at this time of day. The staffroom.

I ended up just knocking and asking the Guardian who opened the door if I could speak to him. He took pity on me, maybe because of the truly pathetic look on my face and said I could have two minutes. Dimitri came out a moment later, closing the door behind him.

"Rose, what are you doing? You know you aren't supposed to have any contact with me until your mother gets here and gives the go ahead."

I shook my head, suddenly feeling choked up. Dimitri sighed.

"Roza... What am I going to do with you?"

I had some pretty good ideas but none I could talk about in a public place. Instead I just stayed silent until Dimitri took a quick look around before pulling me into a hug. He rocked us gently back and forth for a moment before letting go.

"Its going to be okay, you know." He squeezed my shoulders and stepped back. "Go back to class, Roza; take your mind off it all. Your mother will be here soon and we can get this straightened out."

I watched him go back into the staffroom before walking back down the corridor and heading up to my room. I knew I was going to cop it later for all these missed classes but right now I didn't care. I just wanted to be on my own and get my head straight.

The lunch bell rang and I groaned. She would be here any time now. Time to face the music.

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Yeah I know its a little short but I just wanted to get it out before I have a full scale mutiny on my hands. looks warily at RoseClary93 You wont kill me right? Anyway please review, I know I probably don't deserve it, taking so long. But without them I dry up and take even longer. Fancy that, I might still be writing this when I'm seventy lol Will be faster on the next one.