"Exit coming up in 2.3 miles." The mechanical voice said.

"Is there a McDonalds or a Burger King around here?" I asked. I saw Dimitri raise an eyebrow to me.

"There are the following food joints: McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, Culvers, A&W."

"Mmm. That last one sounds fabulous, what do you think Dimitri? For me, it's a choice of Culvers or A&W."

I could practically see him shaking his head at me in exasperation. "You pick."

"Well, A&W has makes their own Root-Beer and their foot long hotdogs are to die for!" I glanced over and saw his narrowed glare. "Okay, they are addicting."

"Go there then."

"Oh, and everything is on me."

I saw his confusion out of the corner of my eye. "What do you mean, everything is on you?"

"I mean, the bills, it's on me- well, technically it's on the Queen." I smiled devilishly, "I'm trying to make the biggest bills I can manage. Having you here is just a bonus."

He tsked me. "Rose." He said in disappointment.

"Hey, just because I am going on a mission for the queen, doesn't mean I am going to go easy on her. I still don't like her."

"And that's not obvious?"

"I hope it's obvious. She's very self-absorb." That is a lie. She cares about her people, but Tatiana doesn't want me to give anything away that I agree with her about anything yet, I also don't know if I agree yet. I also, sort of feel, that we are becoming understanding acquaintances. At least, that is the way I take it.

"Why do you hate her so much? I don't remember you being so pessimistic towards someone like this. Well, that's not including Mia, you two warmed up to each other in the end."

Pessimistic was somewhat of an understatement when it came to the queen a few days ago. "Hate is a strong word. I would go as far as strongly dislike her. I hate strigoi, but not the queen. I hate the fact that she passed that age law. Our race is going die off, and she is letting it happen. I understand the moroi are scared, but they need to grow some balls and learn to fight. It scary as hell, I will give them that much. However, when we fight back, we are not just stronger mentally and physically, but we are sending a message to ourselves and others around us, saying 'we are strong, and we will not go quietly.' It's insane that they are hiding behind us! I will not be sent into battle fighting for cowards, but for the people I love." I meant that part. I won't.

He sat there for a moment. "I agree. They do hide behind us. But Rose, it is what we do."

"No, we allow them to hide behind us."

"Yes, but think about it, we are also protecting them."

"Because they expect it! I don't want to die for them at eighteen, or nineteen. I want to die for the people I love at eighteen or nineteen. Don't you get it?" I had to shut up. I practically said the same thing Dimitri said in the chapel when we were alone, when I was skipping curfew. They come first, I need to get that drilled back into my brain. "Forget I said anything. It was stupid. This A&W restaurant is owned by moroi, so it follows our schedule."

"How do you know that?"

"This being from Abe, everything is moroi related."

I got off, and drove into the parking lot. "I am sure you will like this. I don't know if you ever tired this food before. It's my favorite." We walked in. The floor was brown tiles, the seats, orange fake leather, with yellow wooden frame, and brown wooden table. We sat down at a booth, near a window. I picked up a menu, and decided to order a foot long hotdog.

"Well, I know what I want, what about you?"

"Umm…" He was looking at the menu strangely, like he didn't know what the food was. "I don't know."

"Are you, I mean, have you ate food since becoming a dhampire again?"

He looked at me, gone face pale. "Not really."

"Then you really need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

Involuntary, I moved my hand to onto his, and looked at him. His whole body went rigid, but didn't move or look at me. "Dimitri, your body is going to shut down if you don't get food inside of you. You are back, and you need to take care of yourself like you use to."

"It's still so strange." He said, and the way he said it, it was like he was vulnerable.

I smiled tentatively, though I knew he couldn't see it. "It will become habit and natural after a while." I squeezed his hand, and let go.

"Well, they have pretty good cheeseburgers here, too."

He forced a smiled. "I guess I can try that."

"Just try."

I picked up the phone and ordered. When I picked up the phone, Dimitri gave me a weird look. I laughed and told him this is how we order in this type of restaurant.

"I wonder what is going on back at Court."

"Well, your Lissa's guardian when you return form whatever mission you are on."

Yeah, the mission I sent myself on. I looked around our vicinity and saw that it is vacant; only Dimitri and I remained in the open. Know would seem like the appropriate time to tell him the truth. Well, here goes nothing. "Dimitri…" I said hesitantly, almost unsure if I should tell him right now. But really, if I wouldn't tell him, he would be walking into a lot of things blind folded, and that is dangerous, especially if someone is after that kid.

He picked up his gaze from the window, and looked at me. I think something in my voice drew his attention. "I have something to tell you… about what we are really doing." I sighed and looked out the window. I the sun was up, and it was getting hot. The sky was cloudless, and a beautiful baby blue. I leaned in, and Dimitri did the same. "Another Dragomire lives." I looked at him, and his face was what I expected, shocked.

"What? How is this possible? When did you find that out?"

"There is this wild, amazing thing called sex." I said sarcastically, then I went straight back to being serious. "I know, who would have thought that Eric would have had an affair? He was so in love with his wife. Even I was fooled."

"Its Eric's illegitimate child?"

"Yeah." I leaned in even closer. "I am trying to find this child, but there is something else."

He waited, looking at me expectantly, and even a little bit excited.

I looked him straight in the eyes, letting him know how serious this truly is. "There might be danger. A couple days ago, I found out someone broke into the Alchemist records and stole a file on Eric Dragomir. I think they are after this child, and I need to get to him or her before they do. We don't know what they found out, or if they found anything out. All we know is that they stole records."

"Does Lissa know this?"

"What do you think?"

"No."

I nodded my head. "I don't want to be the one to break the ice to her that her father was cheating on her mom. That would hurt Liss really bad." Our food came then, and I dug in. Dimitri picked at it. "Try eating a French fry first. If it tastes good, then go for the cheeseburger." I smiled, and he smiled back, shocking me.

"Only Rose Hathaway would think that."

"Well, it's a good thing I am Rose Hathaway." I smiled at him genuinely. I missed these moments with him. If I could keep this part of Dimitri with me, then I would be content with that. But all of me still yearned for the old Dimitri. The Dimitri who never gave up on me, the Dimitri who said he loved me, and wanted to be with me. I missed that Dimitri more than I ever care to admit. And thinking about that, brought the empty whole back into my chest. My heart, which seemed to forever be missing…

"What are you thinking about?" Dimitri asked, startling me.

I found that I was staring at my hotdog. "Just wondering how good this will taste when we find the other Dragomir." I said, lying smoothly.

He didn't say anything, and he didn't need to. He picked up a French fry, and took one bite out of it. Then, I saw it, the hunger that I got when I eat chocolate donuts. He devoured the rest of the fry, and went to his burger. Now, A&W's burgers are not that small, but Dimitri took about four to five bites, and it was gone. I stared at him in almost an astonishing approving way.

"The next time we are here, we are having an eating contest." I declared.

He rolled his eyes. "I don't think so."

"See, that is your problem! You hardly know how to have fun, let loose. Well, I am going to change that."

"Try."

I stared at him hard. I could feel that determination radiating off of me like I was a firework, showing all my colors. "Oh, I will make it happen."

I swear, he was smiling inside. His eyes lit up, in a way that you could only know if you knew him. Just the way his eyes lit up like that, made me want to help him in forgiving himself even more than I already do now. I have so many tasks on my hand, I think I finally met my match.

In a lame attempt to start a conversation, I decided to get back to business, but he cut in before I could start. "Adrian seems like a good man."

That shocked me. From the first minute Dimitri met Adrian, he completely disliked him. He told me, more or less, to stay away from Adrian. I secretly wondered if it was because he was jealous of Adrian, and a part of me still wonders that. Well, looks like this is my ticket to find out. And to think, Dimitri walked into this one!

"Y-yes he is. He sure knows how to throw a party." And kiss.

"Seems like it's serious."

"Whoa. Hold your horses." Seems like he has his own questions, and I am the one to walk into it. Damn he's good. "We have only been dating a few months. Nothing is serious, especially with Adrian. But, like me, you will grow to like him." And eventually love, I thought.

"He seems into you…a lot."

"Yeah." I said, and I looked down at my food, feeling guilty. All that pain I put him through, trying to get Dimitri back… He really doesn't deserve me. Adrian deserves better. I thought I was the one who was innocent. True, at one time I was, but when I got together with Adrian, he became the innocent, and me the criminal. I was supposed to be with him, not trying to get Dimitri back. "He…he shouldn't though. What I put him through…I wouldn't be surprised if he went out with another girl."

"If he did, what would you do?"

I thought about that for a minute. "I would let him."

"You wouldn't do anything about that?" Dimitri looked shocked. A normal reaction for anyone who asked me such reasonable questions, and I answer it with insane solutions.

I met his eyes. I couldn't tell you what expression was on my face, but I know it looked somewhere along the lines of repentant. "You don't know what I did to him. It's a miracle he still wants me. He should have thrown me away like a piece of garbage, but he didn't. I mean, he was upset, but he was there for me. He was comforting me. How on earth he did that, feeling the way he did…is just amazing. And that is why I would let him get away with sneaking around. And if he told me he didn't want me, I would understand. I really would."

He looked struck, like someone hit him over the head with a baseball bat. "What did I say?"

"You hold yourself down that low?"

Now I was in shock. Isn't that what he is doing to me? Doesn't he think I am unworthy? Because, that is the way he is treating me. He doesn't even want to be my friend. "Well, aren't I?"

He stood up, looming over me and I could see a spark of anger underneath those brown eyes. "You're kidding, right?"

"Why would I be kidding about something like that?" I said deadpan.

"Because…because, you are better than that. So much better." He said exasperated.

"You are looking at someone who caused an innocent man pain. A good innocent man. You don't know Adrian the way I do. He didn't deserve it." And he doesn't deserve me.

Dimitri didn't say anything, and I thought he would ask what I did to think I deserved that. Finally, he sat down, but he kept looking at me. And I was getting self conscious.

"Is my hair okay?" I asked, running a hand through it. Usually when people look at me the way he's looking at me now, they are one, thinking I am a sexy goddess. Or two, my hair is messed up and my make-up is smeared. I wasn't wearing any make-up, and I was ninety nine point nine percent sure he wasn't thinking I was a sexy goddess. That left me with one answer; my hair.

"Your hair is perfect, Roza. I just wish you would see yourself the way others do." I could tell what he mean was the way I see you, but I didn't push. I didn't want to push. Mostly, because we would go into that love fades, thing again. And that's just too damn much. Adrian patched it up a little bit, and I have no desire to rip it open again. Not now at least.

I went back to my hotdog, finally stuffing my mouth with good food. I could feel his eyes on me, and I didn't like it. I most defiantly didn't like the way this conversation went. It went from uh-oh to oh shit in just a few short sentences form each other.

"Rose, you ate that foot long hotdog if just five bites."

"I tend to make records. I think I can make a world record. I should try it." I smiled. "You ready?" I eyed his food. He ate everything, and I had a feeling he might still be hungry. "Should we order four cheeseburgers for the road?"

"That might be a good idea. And a large coke."

"A large Root-Beer, you have to try it."

"Okay."

I ordered the cheeseburgers and the drink, and before I knew it, we were off on the road again. The damn GPS told me to go, and fortunately, we made it to the hotel before noon human time. I parked the Hummer, locked it. And we went to check in. There was a young man, about Adrian's age. He was a blond, with cute blue eyes that could make any girl squirm. He had a nice lean body and from what his t-shirt would reveal, he has muscular arms.

"Reservations for Kimberly Ann." I said.

The guy looked me over, and from his smile, he liked what he saw. Horn dogs, I thought with a scowl on my face. I looked at his employee name tag, and it said Brian. I needed to get Brian off my back, so I placed my hand on Dimitri's bicep, secretly loving it. I felt the electricity go through my body. Quit it, Rose. This is Dimitri, not Adrian. "For show." I whispered to Dimitri, because I saw the scowl on his face.

The guy looked back at us then, and frowned when he saw the contact between me and Dimitri. I smiled in triumph. "Room 201. Here is your card, Ms. Ann."

"Thank you. Come now, gorgeous. Let's get ready." I said to Dimitri.

Dimitri pulled out that wonderful full smile of his, the one that I rarely ever got to see. And whenever I do, it takes my breath away, like it did just now. Somehow, I got the feeling it wasn't entirely forced. "Of course, sweetheart," he said, and with that accented voice of his, man, it made it sexier than hell.

I blushed, not even meaning to, as we walked away. I pushed the button for the elevator, and as soon as it opened up and we walked in, I reluctantly dropped my hand. Rose, you need to get a hold of yourself. You are Adrian's girlfriend. Not some single chick that can make moves on your ex whenever you want to.

"What was that for?" Dimitri asked.

"If a strange man or moroi asked or compelled him to see if two dhampires or people came in as friends, then he would have a room number and a description to give him. I want to leave as small of a trail as I can."

He seemed to understand that. Maybe letting go of his arm was a good idea. We walked up to the room, and I swiped the card and opened the door. I got in and I froze up at what I saw. The room was huge, big enough to throw a college party in. I also saw thick, dark blue, luxurious curtains, plain wall, dark wooden dresser and a desk with a classy lamp. But what caught my attention was something completely dangerous, it could quiet possibly end the world.

One bed.

Okay, maybe that was freaking out a little bit with the whole 'ending the world' thing, but with Dimitri, no. I don't think so. But come on! One freaking bed! What the hell is this bullshit! This is a nice freaking hotel, and they can't afford two beds in one big room, a room that can host a college party in? You have got to be kidding me. I looked over at Dimitri, who ended up standing by me when I froze, was also starring at the bed. Was he thinking of ways we could use the bed…no. That is impossible. We are talking about Dimitri here, the Terminator, for God sakes. He is invincible when it comes to his feelings…or his wants. GOD ROSE STOP THINKING!

"Let me call and see if there is another room available with two beds." I said hastily.

"No, that could draw attention." Mmm, maybe he does want to use the bed, a little voice inside me said.

"Right."

I went to the phone and dialed for the front desk. I heard a man say 'front desk' when Dimitri took the phone out of my hands and hung it up. "I am just trying to solve this problem." I defended myself.

"If you talk to Brian and tell him you want two beds, he will think we are not together."

"Then I will tell him a friend is coming over."

"The room is fine, Rose. End of discussion."

"Not 'end of discussion,' unless if you are volunteering to sleep on the floor."

"Rose, we are two adults, I think we can manage sleeping in a bed together."

I snorted. "I kick hard."

He sighed. "I don't really care." He likes it that way, Rose. SHUT UP, I told myself.

"Whatever, I guess we will just deal. I am going to make a call." I took the cell phone out of my back jean pocket, and called Sydney.

"Where are you at, Rose?" Sydney sighed.

I laughed, despite the mood I was in. Of course Sydney would think that, once she saw me on her colored ID "Haven't killed any of them just yet. I was wondering if you could fax or e-mail me the records that were stolen about Eric Dragomir."I said the last part as casually as I could manage.

"Rose you know I can't do that."

"Sure you can. All you are doing is just disobeying your superiors. I do it all the time."

"And look where you are."

"At a very nice hotel."

"I know, I picked it out, but that's not the point."

I wanted to yell at her, but I knew that would only make matters worse. Therefore, in a docile and smooth tone, I said "The point is, someone's life may be in danger. I need those files Sydney. Please, can you help me?"

"Whose life?" She asked flatly.

"I don't know, that is why I need those files. If I can't find this person, then they will be screwed."

"Fine, but Abe owes me, now."

"Thanks Sydney, and I am the one who owes you. Tell everyone I said hello."

"I will. Take care and be careful."

"Sydney, please don't tell anyone what I am asking you to do, especially Lissa."

"Okay, but just so you know, she is keeping an eye on me more than anyone else." And she hung up.

I turned back to Dimitri, who was sitting on the bed, looking at me. "Well, that was easy." I said.

"How is she going to fax it to you, or e-mail, for that matter."

"She knows what hotel I am at, and she also knows I have a computer with me. Abe would have told her, because he is her superior…somewhat."

"Okay, but until then, we should probably rest." Just like that, a million idea's slammed into my brain. But the one that my brain just grasped was the fact that I was alone, with Dimitri, in a hotel room…far away from any of our friends. Alone. With no one to disturb us….

Mmm, I wonder what sort of idiotic thing Rose will do now. OR, will Dimitri try something? Tell me your thoughts. How did I do on this one? I know, it's not my best, but really. I love having feeback, and you guys really help me. Thanks for the advice. I got a comment saying that someone liked the fact that I write long chapters. Thanks, I don't like short chapters, especially when its dealing with a story that you like. Well, I will update as soon as I can next time.

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