I want to say thinak you to everyone who had reviewed. I am glad that you all thought it was good. I was stressing over that. I tired to make this one longer and cut it off. I have not had as much free time as I had hope so that I could write two chapters this weekened, but I promise you that I am goign to update as fast as i can. I hope you guys will like this chapter.

Dimitri opened the door of a middle class restaurant for me. We met the waitress as soon as we entered.

"Table for two." He said, and he practically sang it. He smiled down on me and took my hand, entwining our fingers. I smiled back at him and then at the waitress. She was a redhead with kind blue eyes. She looked like she was in her early or mid-thirties. She looked at us and smiled radiantly, like she was happy to see a couple so much in love. I knew my heart was shining as much as Dimitri's, if not more so.

"Right this way. I know the perfect table for you two."

She led us down a corridor, and then to a patio that gave us a wonderful view of a lake. The sun was shining, and there were people on the lake, swimming, tubing and water skiing. The patio were either three or two chairs to a table. All the tables had white candles in a glass bowl that fanned out with white rose petals on the table, which screamed romance. The table clothes were a deep crimson red, with sampan glasses and fancy water glasses.

I looked around me, and noticed that it was really big patio. There were at least twenty five tables to my lift. There was step, adding more room for more tables. On my right, which is when we turned to go, there was the same number of tables. There was also a step, which we went up, and there were more tables. The waitress lead us to the end of the patio, giving us a beautiful view of the lake.

She set us there. "I think this would be perfect for you two." She said, smiling at us.

"It is perfect." Dimitri and I agreed in unison. If there were fireworks nearby, they would have gone off with the happy buzz we had.

The woman smiled. "What can I get you to start off with?"

I smirked at Dimitri. "Sweet tea for me."

Dimitri laughed. "Make that two."

She smiled again, and handed us menu's. "Ok, I will be back with your drinks and to take your orders if you are ready."

"Thank you." I said.

I turned to Dimitri, who was looking at me with pride and love, and smiled. "This is a beautiful restaurant." I commented

Dimitri moved his hand to the middle of the table, and opened it for me; an invitation. I gladly took it, and my hand lay my on top of his. His hand was warm and callused with years of training. I never took my eyes off of his. His were like a pool of happiness brown. They smoothed out like melted dark chocolate, making me want to get lost in them.

I rubbed small circles over his hand with my middle and index finger. His fingers bent inwards towards my fingers, showing complete relaxation.

He cleared his throat as quietly as he could, like he was either nervous or suddenly turned on. "It is." He agreed. "We better look at the menu and decide on something before she comes back." He said.

I nodded and with my other hand, I opened up the menu and looked down to read it. I scanned. Stuffed shells, spaghetti, burritos, lobster, fish, sandwiches, hamburgers, turkey burgers; everything you can think of that is high or middle class was on this menu.

I went with the Mexican burrito. It sounded good.

We heard footsteps and looked up to see the waitress with the drinks in her hand.

"Here you go." She set them down in front of us. "Are your ready to order?"

I looked at Dimitri and he nodded.

"Yes we are." I declared, and then she looked at me expectantly. "I will have the Mexican burrito."

"Bean dip on the side?" she asked.

"No."

Then she turned to Dimitri. "Bacon cheeseburger, with everything please."

She nodded. "I will be right back with that." And she left.

Dimitri turned to me. "So, you have formed a posse." She smirked.

I laughed. "No. They are more of a family than a posse."

He looked at me curiously, and rubbed circles on my hand. I got lost in the feel of his hand. It felt so right, and so warm. I could lean my head against his chest and sigh in relaxation.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked curiously with a smile.

"We all understand each other. We all fight like siblings, but love each other regardless of what we do." I smiled, thinking of one of them. "Gab is the calm one in the bunch. Larisa is the troublemaker." I laughed, and sighed. I missed them already.

He laughed. "You have grown attached to them, Roza."

I smiled. "Anyone with a heart would. They grow on you. Their kindness and balm is not to be missed by a stranger. When we rescue someone, they immediately relax when one member my group approaches. And I have seen it; their face mask with trust and protectiveness that anyone would jump into their arms and cry with relief. I am so proud of them.

"I helped them realize that death is not something to cheer about. In a video game, yes, but in reality, no."

"You taught them well, Roza."

I smiled. "Well, some things you can't teach a student, like the meaning of death." My eyes went teasing, "or self control."

He laughed. He lifted up my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it-his eyes never leaving mine.

I smiled. "I love you." I said, my heart swelling in this moment.

"I love you." He said back, with as much passion as my voice had. We looked at each other for a few moments, then he broke it. "So, are you still convinced my native country is an arctic wasteland?"

I laughed out loud with carelessness and humor. "No." I chuckled. "It is as beautiful as you had described; even more so."

He smiled back, smug. But then his smile went back to being curious. "You have changed."

I was slightly shocked. Lissa had said the same thing. "What do you mean?"

His smile turned tender. "You have gotten wise with life and fighting. You have most likely developed your own techniques in fighting and making plans."

I shrugged. "Life comes at you hard, you just have to be ready for the blow." I said.

He nodded.

"But you know the two most important lessons I learned?"

He looked at me questioningly and curiously. His left eyebrow slightly lifted up. His eyes, still tender and warm.

"One is: enjoy the little things. You have to enjoy your life. Life gets crappy, so you need to take a hold of what is in front of you."

He shook his head. "But you knew that lesson before you met me."

"That thing kind of happens when you die once and nearly die twice." I was thinking to back to the strigoi kidnapping us, and when I went to hunt the strigoi Dimitri down.

He smiled sympathetically at me. "It took me turning strigoi and nearly loosing you to spirit darkness to realize that."

I shrugged and squeezed his hand in comfort. "Life hits people harder than others."

He shook with a smile on his lipshis head. "Now look who is giving Zen lessons."

I chuckled, realizing he is right. "I learn from the best." I said, teasing him.

He chuckled. "How did your group form?" He asked.

"When I first went to Russia, Denis, Lev and Tamara was my original hunting party. When I went back last year, they were still and wanted to hunt again. We ran into another group of unpromised ones. They were bigger than our group was, but we were better at fighting than they were. The others were savages, pretty much. They could care less about their safety, or saving innocent people. All they wanted was to kill the strigoi.

"In that group, we found Gab, Larisa and Zena. They liked the fact that we were careful and that planned our attack. They would never admit it to me, but they were always scared for their lives in the other group. When we told them that we were leaving, Larisa and Zena immediately asked if they could join. At first I was timid about letting them in our group, but when I looked at them, I saw desperation and longing. They wanted security, and we had that. I figured with my tough attitude, I could make that wild beast in them, become tame."

"I'm sure they were happy when you allowed them in."

I nodded. I could tell my face was full of adoration. "Gab and Zena were the two that you could see visably relax. You could see the tension that they had in them, vanish."

"That about Larisa?"

I grimaced slightly. "She still had that beast in her. She wanted security as well, but she was still eager for the kill, but most of all, she had trust issues. It took her a long time to realize that we were here for her, and if something had gone wrong, we will always have her back. She was so use to watching her own back and not caring about others, but when she got use to us, she became happy. She even opened up to us. Like the others, she looked to me for help and approval."

"Sounds like they have a lot of respect and love for you."

"They do. I respect them and love them just as much. Having a family like them, it makes you feel loved and at ease."

I expected him to smile, but he grimaced and his face fell a little bit.

"What is wrong, Comrade? Is it something I said?" Is it something I said, damn it! It is always something I say!

He gave me a sad smile. "You will be leaving again soon, wont you?"

I suppressed a sigh. "It depends on what Tatiana has to say to me."

His eyebrows came down, and his face showed confusion. "What does the Queen have to do with this?"

I felt myself get into business mode. "Tatiana wanted to see me. I was pulled into Lissa's mind when Tatiana asked me where I was, and that she needed to talk to me."

He went into somewhat of a business mode, but was still the Dimitri I walked in with. "What does she want to talk to you about?"

I looked down on the table. It's time he should know. I looked back up at him. "I've noticed a pattern, Dimitri. Strigoi are not attacking just anyone."

He stiffened. "Tell me everything."

"Before I got kidnapped in Spokane, I discovered a list of letters. I immediately noticed that they were the beginning letters of royal moroi. Some were crossed out, some had other slashes. I found out that they were there for a reason."

"You have a theory." He stated knowingly and squeezed my hand.

I smiled. "Don't I usually?" I wipped off my smile, knowing how serious and disturbing it was. "The x's stand for termination of a person. I noticed the Dragomir's had three x's: one for Andre, one for Mr. D, and one for Mrs. D."

"And the slashes?"

"I believe that slashes mean that the family line is becoming rocky and that they are no longer a threat, but an unaware ally. The Ivashkov's is an example.

"But the a small thing to everyone else's eyes, but big to me, is that they are mostly targeting…wait for it…guardians."

Clear shock was on his face. He didn't even see that one coming. "Are you sure?"

My face was dead serious and very positive. "Never been more sure. I mean, think about it. Guardians are scarce and strigoi numbers have increased. Why? And the strigoi are not mostly moroi, but dhampires- ex-guardians. But what I don't get is why didn't they turn Arthur Schoenberg? He was the best of the best, yet they killed him. He could have been a great ally for them."

"Maybe it was a mistake to kill him, that they didn't notice realize who he was." Dimitri chimed in with his theory.

I shrugged. "Possibility, but then again, if you think about it, they targeted that house for a reason. The Badica's house had a ward around it, meaning they planned that attack."

Dimitri's eyes were deep in thought, speculating and observant. Little did I know that he was observing me. "You have another theory. I can see it. You are so full of tension."

I sighed. "They are out for moroi in general. They are out for everyone; humans, dhampires and moroi. Everything will become turbulent."

I could see everything click into place in Dimitri's head. It was like a lightbulb. "If they kill the dhampires off, then there will be no one to stop them! That is why they are targeting guardians first! Roza, this is big! When did you realize this?"

I looked down to my right in shame. "Last year, before we went on our mission."

"Why didn't you tell me this?"He was angry now. He let go of my hand and leaned into the table. His hands were on the edge of the table, and his elbows were slightly bent upwards, as if he was primed for a fight.

I looked up in astonishment. "Because I was not sure about anything, but now I am. Which is why I am came back. Well, it was half the reason I came back."

Just then, the waitress came in. Dimitri relaxed, but didn't put his hand back on the table. He gave her a small smile, but it was forced. "Thank you." he said when she put his food in front of him. He then looked at me hard, like he couldn't believe I never told him. I looked at his food, and saw that the bacon cheeseburger he had ordered looked extremely good.

She nodded. "No problem. Enjoy your food." And she left, looking confused at our sudden change of behavior.

I didn't look away from his obstinate gaze. "I don't believe that, Rose. I believe you knew your theories were correct."

Shock ran through my body, and I was mad now. "Since when has anybody ever believed my theories were ever correct? If I remember correctly, Dimitri, you and two other people thought I was clinically insane!" I was referring to the plane when I told him, the doctor and Alberta that I was seeing ghosts. They sent me to a counselor; joy, right?

"I never thought you were insane!" He argued back.

"Right, because you always took what I thought as a high possibility."

"I did!" He threw up his hands in frustration and anger. He was fuming now. His eyes were no longer a melted dark chocolate, but had steal in his eyes and voice. "You know that."

"Then look at my theories again, Dimitri! Many of them were proven wrong." I crossed my arms over my chest. He is going to see it my way, and why I thought the way I did.

"But most of them were proven correct, Rose. If you knew this was a possibility, why did you ignore it and not look into it?"

"Because I had no leads to go on! Isaiah is dead, along with his sidekick, Elena. What the hell am I suppose to do? Dig into useless files that can take more than a lifetime to go through? If you have any idea's I'm listening!" I was very, very angry now.

He relaxed, but was clearly still angry too. "If anyone can find a lead, Rose, it will be you."

"So I'm supposed to know exactly where and who the fucking serial killer is?"

"Of course not! Rose, you are being ridiculous."

"Well that is what you make it sound like. I'm trying, okay. I am giving it all I got, but I only have so much to go on, which is pretty much nothing. I have the queen on my side and helping me out, but she doesn't know much either, hell she doesn't know anything."

"When are you going to meet up with her?" His voice was soft and not angry anymore. His body had relaxed somewhat. Probably relaxed as much as he could with the deplorable news I had just given him.

"My connection to her is Ambrose. I have to go see him first, then he will come and find me and give me the when's and where's."

He nodded and started eating his food. I followed.

I was still upset with him accusing me of doing nothing and thinking so little of this topic. I knew it was huge, but what was I supposed to do without any leads? I mean, I knew what he was getting at. I can do anything if I put forth all I have, but I had nothing. Zippo. I just wish he would realize that.

I finished my food before he even finished his. The amount of food was big, but I was starving, which meant that it was perfect for me. I wouldn't meet his eyes throughout dinner. I constantly felt his gaze on me, but I wouldn't look at him. I was still pissed, and I didn't want to ruin the time that I had with him. I will leaving soon, so every moment with Dimitri is very precious.

"Are you finished, Roza?"

"Yes." I said, getting up before he could help me get up. The waitress came by halfway through our meal to check up on us and give us the bill. She smiled at us like she held a sweet secret, but never said anything out of place. Dimitri had paid the bill.

I waited for him to get up. When he did I started walking through the door. Dimitri followed on my heels. Five yards from the door was a podium that the waiters and waitresses stood for customers. Our waitress was standing right there and smiled at us. I smiled back when I passed her.

I was two feet from the door when Dimitri grabbed my waist and spun me around. I looked into his eyes, preparing to back myself up with steel, but his eyes held regret.

"I'm sorry, Roza. I should have listened instead to you until you were done explaining." He took my hand and kissed it, then kissed my wrist.

Just like that, all my anger towards him vanished and a smile crept to my lips. "It's okay. I should have told you before I left. I had no solid evidence to give you or anyone. Like I said, just a theory, but it is a big theory, and it can be viewed as pretty farfetched if you don't know me."

"I know." He said, still holding my hand and entwined our fingers. "I will listen all the way through, next time."

I narrowed my eyes with a smile. "I will make sure you do."

He chuckled and gave me a smile of his own too. "I love you, Rose Hathaway."

My smile vanished and I could feel my eyes go completely soft. "I love you, Dimitri Belikov."

He leaned down and gave me passionate kiss, putting his other hand around my waist. One of my hands went to one side of his face, pulling him towards me.

We pulled back after a few moments. "Let's go home." He said, and I could litteraly feel the warmth and happiness in his voice. It was literally shinning through him, and that put a big smile on my face.

"Let's." I agreed.

Dimitri drove, and I had no idea where the house was, but I knew home meant back to everyone else. And I was ready to go home.

We pulled up to Lissa's house and walked through the door. Dimitri had his arm around my waist and my arm around his. I saw that everyone was sitting down around a long coffee table, playing some sort of card game. I saw pretty much everyone there: Jill, Emily, Lissa, Eddie, Christian, Tamara, Lev, Denis, Zena, Larisa and Gab. Then the Belikov's- Viktoria, Sonya, Karolina and Olena stood up watching. Yeva sat in the rocking chair, smirking up at Dimiri and me. I think she couldn't be happier. Emily was sitting on the couch, watching the everyone else playing the card came.

"Ouch! Eddie you hit my hand again." Jill complained.

I laughed. "Playing Egyptian Ratscrew, are you?"

"Yes. Eddie is playing rough, as always. Zena is awesome at it. You should see her play. She won the whole deck within four or five minutes. It was great." Lissa said. She walked up and hugged me. I looked at Zena, and she smiled, realizing that Lissa told me she won the game.

"How was your night with Dimitri?"

I gave her a wicked smile. "It was amazing."

"I'm glad." She said, smiling at both of us. Dimitri smiled back, but he was blushing slightly from either my comment, or Lissa knowing what we did, I wasn't sure.

"Rose, your parents are here. They are in the kitchen cooking up lunch, but so is someone else."

"who is it?"

"Its only me Rose." I turned around and standing in the doorway was Ambrose.

I smiled, letting go of Dimitri's waist and hugged Ambrose. "It is so good to see you." I said while hugging him. He returned the hug with a small laugh. He is still as good-looking as I remembered.

"Good to see you to." When we parted, he reached his right hand up and scratched his head. "Listen Rose, this isn't a social visit."

I gave him a small smile. "I figured she would hear about my return eventually."

"I called her." Lissa said.

I nodded to Lissa, then looked back at Ambrose. "When and where?"

"Well, the thing is, she wants to see you now. But she won't recognize you very much. You're- no offence- kinda scary and intimidating"

I looked down at my clothes, and to my left, I saw a mirror hanging on the wall for decoration. I took a few steps to it and saw my reflection for the first time in a while. I did look intimidating, no question about it; Ambrose is right. My hand careesed my cheek and nose. I turned around and pulled out my sword, and I heard the metal scrape the metal holder (it sounded awesome) and I looked at it. The sword was pointing down to the floorboards so I won't hurt anyone if they run into me.

I have changed a lot more than I thought I did. I mean, it's not just my clothes that have changed. My fighting style has changed along with my perspective on fighting and on life. My heart has opened up to other people, and my affection has become much more passionate for the people I love. But when I fight strigoi, I do not hesitate and I know exactly how to handle the situation.

Last year, I never knew how to do that. I wasn't as tough and I closed off, without the mission in mind.

Ambrose took a step back and cleared his throat. "Lissa told the Queen, who told me that you were that woman that we have been hearing about."

I reluctantly drew my attention back to Ambrose. "Well, it wasn't just me; my gang is also behind it. We don't go out hunting separately, we go together. If we go separately, we will lose someone, and I don't want to lose any of them."

Ambrose nodded in agreement. "Well, I'm ready whenever you are."

I looked over at my group, who was starring at us. I looked back at Ambrose. "I want them to come."

He looked over at them, and then at me. He gave me a pained expression. "Rose-"

I cut him off there. "Ambrose, I hate to do this, but I'm not going to go or do anything without them. I need them as much as they need me."

He sighed loudly in frustration. "I don't know how Tatiana will react."

"Well, she can give me all the hell. They are coming." I turned towards my group and spoke in Russian, addressing them only. "Guys, we are meeting the Queen. You ready?" I said with a smile.

Tamara and Zena looked at each other with excitement and back at me. "When?" They both asked in unison.

I turned to Ambrose and he shrugged, guessing what they said. "Whenever you are ready." He said, and I quickly translated. All of them quickly got up. The girls went in the bathrooms, probably to up make up on, or do their hair.

Hair! I looked in the mirror again and saw that I never put a brush through my hair before we left the hotel room. My hair wasn't so bad, but still, you could tell I had sex last night (my stomach did summersalts thinking of last night).

Knowing what I was thinking, Lissa came over with a brush and started running through it.

After a few moments of silence she spoke. "I've always envied your hair, Rose."

I let out a laugh. "And I have always envied your family and beauty."

She smacked my ass. "You are beautiful. Besides, you're hair is your best feature, besides your body, of course."

I laughed.

"What do you want done with your hair?" she asked.

I responded automatically. "The way I usually have it."

"In a bun?"

Oh, okay not my usual anymore. "No, in a crown braid."

It took her about fifteen minutes to get it all done. She ended up putting hairspray on it to keep it intact, along with a few bobby pins. The girls came out of the bathroom with new outfits- dressy, but still stretchy if we needed to fight- and a small amount of make-up on.

I turned to Dimitri and smiled. "Am I everything you heard about?" I said in Russian.

His eyes shinned with amusement. "Everything and more." He responded in his native language.

I chuckled, then turned to Ambrose and spoke in English. "We are ready."

He nodded and walked out the door. My group followed, and as we walked, I was in the middle of the pointed V.

Someone grabbed my hand and I looked over and saw Dimitri.

"Вы не делаете этого только. Я буду прав около Вас," (You are not doing this alone. I will be right beside you).

I smiled and took his hand. "I will have it no other way." I said in English and kissed his hand. Together, we walked hand in hand. I looked behind me, and saw that Lissa, Jill, Emily, Abe, my mother, and Eddie were in the middle. The Belikov's followed afterwards.

Wow, some protective V. I thought. What the hell is this? A circus parade? I was the one the queen wanted see. I shook my head. They will be waiting outside.

We finally arrived to the courthouse- what? Two guardians were at the door, and their posture was stiff. By the time we came face to face with them, their muscles were ready for a fight.

"I'm sorry, this is not a museum." Said Hans. The other one was smaller, but sill had a guardian built to him.

I smiled. Smartass. Of course, you can always expect that from him

"Allow us entry." Ambrose said.

And the guardians eyes narrowed at him.

"we are suppose to let only you in with Rose Hathaway. Where is she?"

I crossed my arms. "I'm not leaving my family. They are here to help as well."

The guardians looked me over. "My god Rose, you have changed!" He said, and this time, with an amused smile.

I smiled back, relaxing and my arms came down to my side. "That is what everyone else has been telling me."

"Who are these people?"

I smiled back warmly. "They are my family now. My gang, I pointed to the outside of the V. "And my family." I pointed to the inside of V. "Of course, all of them are family to me, but my gang is my hunting party."

He looked startled and did another check of me. "Wait- your not…"

I sighed and took a step back. I reached behind me and pulled out my sword. Hans didn't see that coming, but didn't lunge at me, knowing I wasn't a threat. He walked up to me, and looked at my sword.

"No shit!" he excaimed in amused shock.

"I guess I'm well know." I said in amusement.

"Yes, you are." What he did then, surprised me. He extended his hand to me. "You have my greatest respect Guardian Hathaway.

As I said, I was shocked, but quickly recovered and shook his hand. "And you have my greatest respect as well, Guardian Hans." It was the first time I regarded him with his title.

Then he moved aside. "You and your party may enter."

I smiled at him. "Thank you Guardian Hans." I patted his shoulder as I passed and walked inside.

My head spinned from what just happened with Hans, but I was happy.

Now to see the Queen.

Please Review and tell me what you think