Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of this story and some of the plot is taken from VA. All characters belong to the awesome Richelle Mead.

Enjoy chapter 2 and please R&R.

xx

Chapter 2.

Dimitri's POV.

I waited in the gym for Rose, but she never showed. I sighed, picked up my book and made my way out of the gym. I headed towards the dorms. I had to see that Rose was okay. I had seen Eddie earlier. If looks could kill, I would be dead by now. The look he gave me was full of hatred and disgust. I felt bad. Eddie and Mason had been best friends.

I reached Rose's room and knocked on the door. Rose opened the door. Looking at her, I could see that she had been crying. Her face was red and tear streaked. My heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces seeing her like this. She looked so vulnerable and breakable, like a small child.

"Oh, Roza," I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly to my chest. I led her over to her bed, kicking the door shut behind me, and sat her down on the edge of the bed. I dragged a chair over so that I was facing her. Rose closed her eyes and new tears ran down her beautiful face. Reaching out hesitantly, I stroked her cheek, wiping away the tears. She opened her eyes when my hand touched her face.

"Are you okay?" I asked. I know, stupid question. It was blatantly obvious that she was, in fact not okay. Instead of answering she moved forward and wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in the hollow between my shoulder and my neck. My arms automatically circled around her waist and I pulled her onto my lap, cuddling her close and whispering soothing words in her ear.

Slowly, Roza's sobs began to subside and she lapsed into an exhausted sleep with her arms still around me and mine around her. I stood up with her in my arms and I cradled her to me before placing her sleeping form back on her bed a pulling the covers up around her. She stirred slightly and murmured something that I didn't quite hear. I stayed still and I watched her sleep. I waited hoping that she would speak again. I wanted to know what she was talking about.

I was about to give up and leave when she spoke again. Her lips parted slightly and she whispered; "Dimitri... mmmm... I love you." Shock and pleasure ran through me. I had known that Rose loved me, but to hear her say it was like an early Christmas for a child. I was so happy! "I love you too, Roza," I murmured quietly and left her room with my heart soaring.

Rose's POV.

Dimitri and I were standing on the edge of the forest that surrounded St. Vladimir's Academy. We were just talking. He was telling me that I was going to be a great guardian for Lissa and that we would make a great team working together.

The dream scene dissolved around me and then re-appeared. Dimitri and I were on my bed and he was kissing my neck.

Dimitri was whispering in my ear. "I love you Roza... you have no idea how much. I have always loved you, ever since I met you. He continued to kiss down my neck making me shudder. "Dimitri... mmmm... I love you." I whispered into his hair as I brought his lips back to mine and crushed mine against his.

Someone was banging on my door. Ugh, who would wake me up! I rolled over and sat up. Suddenly my dream came flooding back to me. I smiled as I remembered that my dream Dimitri had said that he loved me. It wasn't the same as having the real Dimitri say it, but it was much better than nothing.

More knocking on my door and Lissa's voice came through. "Rose! Come on... open up!" I rolled off my bed and walked to the door. Lissa burst in yelling at me. "Rose, I have been knocking on your door for ages! You knew I was coming, so why did you go to sleep?" I sighed and sat back down on my bed. "I'm sorry, Liss. I fell asleep. You know I'm not feeling well." I lied. She gave me a look that said she knew I was lying. I ignored it. I hated it when she did that. Lissa knew me too well. Better than I knew myself sometimes.

"Rose," Lissa said, her voice and face softening. "I know it's something else. In fact, I think I know what it is." What? Shit! Had Eddie told after all? Oh my gosh! I was so dead. So was Dimitri. But, what Lissa said next made me sigh in relief.

"It's Mason's eighteenth birthday tomorrow," There was sadness and regret in her voice. She hadn't been as close to Mason as I had been, but she had been friends with him and she missed him greatly. "I was thinking... Maybe we could do something special for him?" She said it like a question, hesitantly. "You know, just you, me, Christian and Eddie..." I sighed. Lissa was too nice.

"Um... I don't know, Liss," I said. It was a good idea, but I wasn't really in the mood for it. And I didn't want to see Eddie. "You know Mase never liked birthday parties." This was true. I know, how could someone not like birthday parties? But Mason had always been shy and didn't like people making a fuss over him.

Lissa looked sad and taken aback. I had never said no to a party before. "It won't be anything big, just us," She said. "Just a little get together... some food and drinks. We could have it in my room or wherever really." She looked desperate, trying to say something to make me say yes.

Sighing, I stood up and walked over to my mirror where I had a photo of Mason and I at a school dance. He looked cute in his black tuxedo with his red hair all messy, just the way he liked it. I picked up the photo and took it back to my bed, sitting down beside Lissa. She looked at me curiously and I passed her the photo. "This was taken at the dance before we left." I told her. As I watched, her eyes filled with tears and they slowly rolled down her beautiful face. I pulled her into a hug and let my tears come. We sat silently for a while, both of us crying quietly.

"I miss him so much, Liss," I whimpered into Lissa's shoulder as she held me. "If it wasn't for me, Mason would still be alive." I felt a sob run through Lissa's body. "This is all my fault!" I was crying loudly now. Lissa held me until I stopped crying. Mason would not have wanted me to be this upset over him. He would have told me to move on and be happy. But, how could I possibly be happy when Mason was dead?

Sighing, Lissa gave me one last hug and stood up. I looked at her, her beautiful green eyes were all puffy and red and her face was streaked with tears from crying. "I better go," She said. "I need to get back to my room before curfew and I also need to finish my homework... um..., we'll talk tomorrow, but, I really think we should do something for Mason." She finished with a hopeful smile. She knew I couldn't resist that smile.

"Aw, Liss don't give me that face!" I cried. "That's not fair!" I giggled. Looking at her, I knew she was right. We should do something for Mason's birthday. I finally relented. "Okay, fine, but nothing big and just you, me, Christian and Eddie. Oh, and maybe Adrian... I guess we shouldn't leave him out." I concluded. Lissa jumped with joy. "Thank you, Rose. You won't regret this. It'll be the most special birthday." She exclaimed. Then she said quietly; "A final goodbye." She smiled slightly and left my room.

I laid back on my bed thinking. Lissa was right, this would be good. A final goodbye to my best friend. "I miss you Mason... and I love you." I whispered, hoping that he could hear me from wherever he was. Slowly, I drifted off into a much needed deep sleep.

Awww, I miss Mason

I will post the third chapter if I have at least 5 new reviews.

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