I've just checked back with this story and saw how long it had been since my last update. I'm sorry, really, but don't want to go into details for my delay just now. If you wish to know, you can check out my profile. ;)

Just some other news by the way: Right now my mind is filled with ideas for my very own novel I'm writing right now. I've named it "Dark Guardian" and it's about vampires. But it's no fanfiction. If you wish to read it, look at my profile, I've posted the link up there.

Well, lets' not dwell too much on the not interesting life of mine, shall we? Here's the next chapter of my story. Please enjoy!

CHAPTER 12 – Unexpected Help

Returning home was an experience I didn't like very much. After our talk, I had stayed with Dimitri for the rest of our flight only having been disturbed only once when my mother came to check on me. When I saw the worrying lines on her face, I nearly choked her in such an intense hug. I wanted to show her that she didn't need to worry about me, that I was strong enough to get through this. When I asked her how the big wedding was, she looked at me disbelievingly and told me that the wedding had been rescheduled to next summer. She would never marry when she didn't know where her only daughter was, she told me sincerely. I promised her to attend next time for sure.

When my mother left us to ourselves again, I quickly felt my mind drift off into a deep slumber. I didn't even fell the landing of the machine neither being moved to the house into my bed.

The rays of the sun were warming up my face, when I slowly started to drift back to the surface from a deep and wonderful slumber. Another warm body laid next to me, cradled against me. Opening my eyes slowly, I jumped up startled when seeing the figure lying next to me: it was Lissa.

Lissa started to stir from my sudden movement, but didn't wake up. Scooting away from her a little bit, I saw another tall figure standing in front of the window, turning around to me when he heard me move.

"Hello Rose. How are you feeling?" Dimitri asked quietly, taking slow steps towards me.

"I'm better now. The pain isn't as bad as it has been." I answered truthfully. I had promised him to always tell the truth and I would keep this promise no matter how hard it was for me to admit something. I knew that sooner or later I would have to tell him all the dirty details of what had happened, but I knew that he would still help me through it. "What is Lissa doing here?"

I got up on my knees when he had reached the bed, scooting over to him more closely. Staring into his eyes, I saw the affection he held towards me.

"She came to help with the healing." Dimitri answered, wrapping his arms around my torso.

We staid enveloped in each other's arms for a long time, until Lissa started to stir und finally woke up. Staring up at me and Dimitri, a smile crept onto her face.

"Rose!" she said. "It's so good to see you!"

I wasn't sure how to act around her, so I tightened my grip onto Dimitri's torso, smiling back at her. "Well, I guess, it's good to see you too!" I said weakly.

Lissa's face fell, when she heard the uncertainty in my voice. "I guess you're surprised to see me here. I'm sorry what happened back at the Academy. I was selfish about not asking what was the matter with you though I clearly saw you being hurt. I'm a bad friend, hm?" she said, not really expecting me to answer that.

When I didn't respond, she got off the bed and walked to the door. "I'll get something to eat. See you later." And with that she vanished from the room.

When I looked back up at Dimitri, he only shrugged his shoulders. "You both should have a talk as soon as possible. I know that she means a lot to you. Still. I think it would help you to talk to her." He answered my unspoken question quietly.

"Yeah, I guess it would help. I've missed her." It's been the first time for me to admit this and it felt as if a heavy load was taken from my shoulders when admitting this out loud. "But now? Now I need a shower."

Heaving me off the bed with no effort, he smiled down at me. "You want me to join?" he asked jokingly, his deep brown eyes sparkling with laughter.

Smirking up at him, I shocked him by saying "Yes, I was hoping you would offer that." Dimitri was staring at me unbelievingly.

Smiling broadly at him I went to the bathroom to get a warm shower to relax my tense muscles. When I heard Dimitri tapping along, I smiled to myself. For the first time I felt myself being sure about another person joining me in the shower. Both of us knew that it wasn't about sexuality, but about safety and me about keeping my sanity.

Undressing quickly, I groaned from time to time when the thick material of my clothing scraped over still open and sore wounds. When I had gotten rid of all the clothing, I quickly stepped into the shower while Dimitri sat down on the toilet to accompany me. He had known all along that I hadn't been serious with the invitation to shower with me. It had been a nice mental picture though.

When the warm water washed over my body I felt as all the bad memories would be washed away, creating a space to put up new memories of a happier time. For the first time in weeks I felt clean again, not caring that some of the already closed wounds opened and started to bleed again. But I quickly reached my personal boundary, namely when trying to apply shampoo in my tousled and knotted hair. My sore arms muscles made it impossible for me to reach above my shoulders.

Hearing my stifled cry of pain, Dimitri jumped from his seat and walked over to me quickly. Overlooking the situation and my problem without a second glance, he took the shampoo bottle out of my hands, putting some of the cream in his palm and slowly started to massage it into my hair. Feeling his hands starting a sift massage on my scalp I felt myself relaxing even further.

After a while he pushed me under the jet of water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair, getting himself wet in the process. Obviously not caring at all, he retrieved some conditioner and started the massage again. When he had finished, Dimitri took a towel off the pile near the cubicle, wrapping my hair and body up tightly.

When I stepped in front of the mirror I sighed. My hair looked a total mess. It would be impossible to get a comb through it, let alone a hair brush. There was only one option.

"I guess I need to cut my hair off. I'll never be able to brush out this mess." I hated getting my hair cut, especially so short.

"Don't think about it, Rose. I'll brush it out for you if you like." Dimitri offered. "I like your hair way too much to see it being cut short."

Looking at him through the mirror, I gave him a sad smile. "It's not only that I like it, but he would always tell me that he loved my hair. Some days he let his fingers wander through it, almost in a caring way. On other days he pulled at it, until he had ripped out some strands." I sighed at my reflection. "I don't know if I want to keep it that way."

Stepping behind me, Dimitri put his hands on my bare shoulders, gazing at my through the mirror. "It's your decision, Rose. Just know that I will do my best to brush out the knots for you."

"Thanks, Dimitri. I'll think about it."

When I was dry again, we both walked back into my room looking for something comfortable for me to wear. Before I could pull on some clothes though, Dimitri looked over the wounds on my back, tending to those who had started to bleed during the shower. After they had been taped up, he helped me pulling on some pants and a long sleeve shirt, which wasn't too tight.

I felt tired as soon as I was clothed fully. I knew that my body was too weak to do much and it certainly would take time to get my old strength back.

"Are you tired?" Dimitri asked, his eyes never leaving my face to not miss the first signs of discomfort.

"Yes. It's still too exhausting to walk around for me." I said, forcing my already shaking legs to carry me towards the bed. When I sat down, I sighed in relief.

"Let me get you something to eat. You can rest meanwhile. After that I will get your parents to talk our plans through. They have to know, Rose." Dimitri said, already on his way out.

"Okay, but don't take too long. You promised me to always stay with me, remember?" I tried being funny to not let him see the fear I felt at the thought of him leaving me alone in my room. But to no avail.

Dimitri still returned to my spot on the bed, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, whispering softly. "I will be coming back, you know that."

Then he was out the door, leaving me to my thoughts.

That's it for today's update. (I know, it's always too short! ;) )

Please don't forget to leave me a small review!

Thanks so much with sticking through this story!

Lilian85