Wow, you guys.

Wow.

I cannot believe all of your support! I'll always appreciate your constructive criticism, but I have to admit, I do love your positive feedback.

I know I owe you guys a much better story - and it just wasn't able to happen this time. If I decide to write a new story this summer, I will try my best to make this a good one!

Forever appreciative,

-PRG

He looked absolutely angelic when he slept, don't get me wrong. His eyes were closed gently, his lips parted slightly. The dark circles that weighed down his eyes had disappeared overnight, and the crease in his brows had smoothed.

Yes, he looked so peaceful deep in slumber, but it took everything I could not to reach down and shake the man awake.

I had been lying here for hours, and I was bored out of my mind. It seems Dimitri was finally having good night's sleep. Unfortunately, I had nothing to occupy my time while I waited for him to wake. I could hardly just leave - Dimitri had just confessed to me the night before that he was afraid that I was going to leave him again. How would it look if he woke up to an empty bed?

But as another hour passed, just as I was starting to go absolutely crazy, his eyes opened.

Eyelids heavy with slumber, it took him several seconds to really see me.

He smiled.

"You stayed," he murmured softly, slowly sitting up.

"I promised I wouldn't leave." I kiss his cheek. "Morning."

"Good morning." Dimitri reaches to his bedside, his eyes widening when he sees the time.

"Yeah," I tease. "You sleep like a baby."

He presses his lips lazily against my temple and pushes himself off of the mattress. "Not true. Babies wake up every other hour in the night, screaming. The first month after Paul was born was Hell. How long have you been up?"

"A few hours."

"And you didn't wake me?" He shakes his head. "You must have been going mad with boredom."

I smile, and stand up on the bed, cupping his jaw in my palms. "How are you feeling?" I whisper. His lips touch mine, so briefly.

"Quite a bit better, actually. But we still need-"

"To talk," I finish. "I know, but lets not ruin this morning, okay? Besides, I need to find Liss, too. Do you mind if we meet up, later?"

Frowning, he nods, and wraps his arms around me once more before setting a time to meet at the cafe.

Turns out, Lissa was in the tiny cafe on the outskirts of the Court, where I was set to meet Dimitri only hours later.

She sat alone, beside the large window, staring out into the distance.

I carefully sat down beside her. "Lissa?"

She turns to me, tears in her eyes. "Aren't you getting sick just being near me?"

I grab her hands, holding her cold and clammy fingers. "Lissa, it wasn't you. It was the magic. The compulsion you used to get into my room to visit me. I was already so overloaded with magic... Any more just made me sick."

She lets go of my hands to wipe away the tears that streak her pale cheeks. "But that doesn't make any sense! The bond, Rose. Everyone thinks that the bond has been broken! But it doesn't make any sense! How did you absorb the magic from me if the bond is broken?"

"I don't know, Liss, maybe the bond wasn't broken. Maybe it's just weak. Maybe I can't access it yet, I'm still really weak from what happened."

"But they said-"

Frustration takes over. "Who said, Lissa? Who could possibly know more about our bond than us? Neither of us felt it break, and I can still absorb Spirit from you. I don't believe the bond is broken, Lissa. It can't be."

She nods, brushing away more tears, and tries to smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Sore," I sigh. "Lissa, how have you been?"

Again, she gives a small smile. "I'm not the one who was tortured."

Despite the tense subject matter, I try to lighten the mood.

"Hey, I've had worse," I lie. "But I'm curious, how much do you know about what happened that night? I'm trying to piece as much information as I can together."

"Like what?" she asks, her eyes drifting to her glass of water.

"Like, what the hell was Viktor even doing there that night? Why was he trying to kill me? What was he trying to accomplish?"

Her hands clamp around the water glass, spinning it, her eyes completely focused - she was trying to avoid my gaze.

"I...I went to talk to Robert."

My heart stops. "And...?"

"He doesn't even know where he is, who he is. The magic has completely fried him."

"So it's a lost cause?"

Still avoiding eye contact, she shakes her head. "Well... he's... he's rambling. He just rambles on and on, some things are entirely random, and don't seem to even be complete thoughts. But sometimes..." she shakes her head again. "Sometimes you can actually understand him. I don't know everything, but I've kind of guessed what was going on with whatever information I got."

I lean forwards in my seat. "Lissa," I beg desperately. "Please, please I have to know. What happened? Why was Viktor trying to kill me?"

Tears spring into her eyes once more, and finally, finally, she turns her jade eyes towards me.

"He was trying to seperate us, Rose. He was doing everything he possibly could to keep us apart. You leaving was the perfect opportunity to get rid of you without having to kill you. Your death would have caused too much suspicion, I presume."

How odd it is, to talk so casually of the plotting of my death.

"So he was trying to keep me away from you?" I suppose this made sense. Spending too much time away from Lissa while blocking the bond had caused me to suffer memory lapses, ones that, without Dimitri and Adrian there, might have kept me away from my friends and family forever. Viktor seemed to have an extensive knowledge of Spirit, and I guessed he might have known this.

"Wait," I pause. "Then why did Viktor have his followers attack the train? Why did he want to kill me, then? That seems like an awful lot of effort just to end one person's life."

I could tell Lissa was scared, even without the aid of the bond. "I guess it was a good way to get rid of you, Adrian, and Dimitri, without making it look like you were specifically targeted. I suppose the last thing they needed at that point was to be watched by the police."

Oh God, my head was ringing. "Wait... Me, Adrian, and Dimitri? What do Adrian and Dimitri have to do with this."

Lissa's whole body began to quake. "You... all three of you... you would protect me."

I swallow the lump in my throat, tears stinging my own eyes. "This wasn't even about me, was it? I was just an obstacle, a barricade between Viktor and you."

She nods. "And by torturing you, I think he was hoping to make you give up my location, and at the same time, break you so you wouldn't be in the way."

"But... why did he want you? Why was he trying to get to you? Because of your powers?"

She sighed. "Yes. I think it might have been my influence, too. The Royals might be more apt to listen to his demands when he threatened the last Dragomir."

God, this was sick.

"So he was still trying to start an army?"

"He wanted power," she said simply. "He claimed he wanted to free the dhampirs, but he wanted to be in control."

"But I thought he said I could help his army..."

"I guess it was pretty clear to him that you wouldn't be volunteering to be of assistance. He gave up, and you were just in the way. He had to get rid of you."

I shake my head. Nothing would have changed. He would have overturned the government, just to put himself in power and favour the Moroi and their powers. At least in our system, dhampirs have a role in society. The way Viktor wanted things, we would have been completely disregarded. The Moroi would have been favoured, and we would have lost the rights we've spent centuries fighting for.

I steal Lissa's glass of water, taking a long sip. "What happened to the dhampirs? Viktor's dhampirs, I mean?"

"A lot of them returned home. Some are still in Court, some are actually in therapy, the magic had horrible effects on them." It was a reminder, an awakening: for all the good that Spirit could do, it could have devastating results.

Lissa bursts into helpless sobs, and I immediately move to the other side of the round booth, and wrap my arms around her.

"It's alright," I whisper. "It's all over."

But we both know that's not true.

Adrian is in an even worse condition than he had been in before. Apparently, we've all been suffering the ill effects that Robert's Spirit has had on us, and the darkness has been overwhelming.

No, it wasn't over, and it certainly alright.

But, that was hardly something to point out to Lissa, who was weeping in my arms.

When I finally manage to calm her down, I am desperate to change the subject matter. Lissa beats me to it, turning back into her composed, concerned self.

"Have you been feeling the darkness's effects? Any mood swings? Nightmares?"

I smile, trying to lighten the dark mood. "I'm tired. A lot, actually. I've been sleeping pretty much steady over the past few days."

"It's like we're back at the academy. God, you slept until midday, sometimes." She smiles through her tears.

"Shut up!" I laugh. "Besides, you should have seen Dimitri today. He slept for like, fourteen hours! It was ridiculous!"

Suddenly, her laugh fades, and she takes on a serious demeanor. "He slept... You slept with Dimitri? Last night? Oh my God, Rose-"

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "No, Liss, we didn't... well, we did sleep together, but we didn't... have sex or anything. We just... slept." I blushed. I actually blushed. I wasn't comfortable talking about my sex life with anyone, even with my best friend, even though I knew more about her sex life than either one of us would be comfortable with, even if it was unintentional.

"Oh." She sounds almost... disappointed. "Well, have you two at least... reconcilied?"

"I suppose. We haven't really dealt with everything yet, but we're talking, at least."

She smiles. "Good. God knows the two of you could use some human interaction. And you both definitely use some action-"

"Lissa!" I cry, burying my face in my hands, absolutely humiliated.

She just laughs, her old, joyful laugh, one that warms my heart, even if it is at my expense.

"Good God, Lissa!"

She just begins to laugh harder, which triggers me into my own laughing fit, until tears are running down both of our eyes. Not that anything we've said is particularly that funny, but it feels good to laugh.

I have my best friend back.

With at least a general understanding of what has happened, I was able to relax, able to enjoy my time with my friend, without worrying. How long had it been since I had just been able to talk, to gossip, like a normal nineteen-year-old?

Suddenly, I feel an ice cold hand on my shoulder. I jump and spin around, only to see Dimitri's startled expression: his eyes wide, his lips parted. His clothes are soaking wet, his hair dripping. It must be raining outside, I guess, by his appearance.

"Dimitri! You're hands are freezing!"

He instantly pulls them back, away from my shoulder, as if he's been burned. "I'm sorry, Rose! Really, I didn't intend-"

I sigh. Dimitri's starting to pull away again, seeming to be scared that I'll flip out at him for no reason. I suppose with the way our relationship has been the past few months, my behaviour has been a little unpredicatable.

"Hey, it's alright, I'm not mad, you startled me, is all. Take a seat," I encourage. He instantly relaxes, relieved, but shakes his head.

"I don't want to intrude-"

Lissa and I both smile. "You're not intruding, Dimitri," she promises. "Please, sit down. You two were planning on meeting anyways, maybe I should go..."

After a round of fussing and arguing, we all manage to agree to stay where we are, safe from the storm outside. I hold Dimitri's hands under the table, rubbing his palm between mine, trying to bring warmth into his stiff, icy fingers.

We order coffee, a hot chocolate for me, and a few plates of french fries. Even the room has begun to get chilly, and we all end up huddled together at one end of the round booth, trying to keep warm.

That is, until, Lissa's phone rings and she gives us an apologetic smile. "Christian. He wants me to come over."

We wave off her apologies, bid her farewell, and lapse into a not-entirely-comfortable silence after she is gone.

"Well..."

We stare at one another, unknowing what to say. Things have never been this awkward between us, we've always been able to strike up a conversation.

"Lissa and I think that the bond might not have been broken," I offer, desperate for some conversation, even if it forces the solemn mood back into my conversation. "Maybe it's just weak, maybe I'm just weak and unable to use it. For now, at least."

Dimitri nods. "I hope you're right, Roza." He sighs, leans further back into the cushions, his head resting on the back of his seat. "I'm glad you're... back. Awake, I suppose. Lissa was panicking about the bond. She was completely frantic, and I had no idea how to console her. I don't know how many times when you were unconsious that I would have given anything to have you awake. I kept thinking that if you were here, everything would be okay."

I smile, and reach across the table to touch his forearm. "Dimitri, I am here, I'm back, and everything's not 'okay'."

He sighs. "It's a hell of a lot better, though, Rose."

I slide around the circular booth and rest my head on his shoulder. "Things will get better, Dimitri. They have to."

He rests his own temple against the top of my head.

"Dimitri?" I ask, biting my lip.

"Mmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

He tenses, as if afraid of my question. "Alright..."

"When... when Robert attacked me with Spirit... when he gave me all of those magic-induced nightmares... the last one... where Mason died." Tears threaten to spill from my eyes at the painful memory. "Were you really there? I mean, did Adrian really put you into my dream? Was it really you, or was it my hallucinations?"

I wait several moments for a response. "It was really me, Roza. I looked over at Adrian, just for a moment, but we made eye contact. And suddenly... suddenly you're standing in front of me, sobbing, just like in Spokane." He seems to have to take a moment to compose himself. "Yes, Rose, it was really me."

"You said you loved me," I blurted out, not at all beating around the bush.

Another pause. "Yes. I did."

"Did..." I am nearly gasping for breath. "Did you mean it? Or did you just say it... Just to calm me down? Did you just say it to give me strength?"

This time, there's no pause. He immediately grabs onto my hand, holding it tightly.

"I do. I meant it. I'm so sorry, Roza, that it took almost losing you to realize how much I really did love you. When Viktor…" His eyes filled with tears. "When he was trying to kill you… Rose, I thought I was going to lose you. I have never been so scared."

He brings my knuckles to his lips, lingering there. "Rose, I've taken you for granted. I've always just assumed that you were going to be there, that when I was ready for a relationship, you'd be waiting. I was wrong, Rose. I was wrong, and it almost caused me to lose you forever. I don't think I could have done this, could have survived the past days without you."

Taking a deep breath, I nod. "Dimitri, I know. I understand. But you have to start opening up to me. You have to trust me, completely and totally. I know that your afraid, afraid to really be vulnerable again. But you have to do this. If you can't," I sigh shakily. "If you can't, then we... we can't do this. We can't be together. I'm sorry, Dimitri. I love you, but I can't go through this again."

He nods.

"I know, Rose. I know. I just... I..." He squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face in his hands. "I'm trying," he whispers.

Hands shaking, I reach out, gently stroking the back of his head. "I know you are. Just... I need to know if you can really do this. I need to know that we can do this."

His head lifts, and I brush the tears from his face. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I break away, reading the message. It's from Lissa.

"I need to go. Lissa-"

He nods sharply, his face slipping back into a neutral position - his guardian mask.

"I understand. Go."

Hating to leave him, but knowing he needed time, I slip away from the booth. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay, Roza."

What, you didn't think that it would just be fluff from here on out, did you? I couldn't resist a little more Dimitri/Rose angst.

Don't worry, it'll all be over soon. Very, very soon. Like, now. :)

By the way, I'm thinking about starting a new story, but cannot decide what I'm doing for a plot. I was thinking Dimitri's POV, with a lot of angst... maybe? Can anyone offer me any ideas or advice?

PM me or just review, I'm desperate!

Thanks!

-PRG