Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Academy.

Ch. 10 Waking Up

Dimitri POV

I sat by Rose's bed and took her hand, putting it against my cheek. Her long dark hair was spread across the white sheets, and her normally healthy glowing skin had faded to a pale color. The color had faded out of her lips, and her breathing was very quiet and shallow.

She was still hooked up to lots of tubes and machines from the Strigoi attack the morning after Christmas. It had been three days, and she was still in a very heavy coma from the severe injuries that had been inflicted on her.

The doctors had said although she was mostly out of danger, there was a possibility she could die from her injuries. When they'd left, Lissa had come in to heal her. She said it had been very hard and strenuous, but she'd healed some of the life-threatening injuries. Still, it would be left up to Rose to heal herself because Lissa hadn't been able to heal everything.

Her skin still felt very cold. I gently moved my hand so it rested over her heart. And her heartbeat felt very slow, compared to mine. I was scared, just listening to how slow her heartbeat was.

Looking at her, I felt pain wash through me. It was my fault that the Strigoi had come after her, as revenge for Natalie Dashkov. It was my fault that Rose had been so badly injured and was still so close to death. But that time…if I hadn't killed Natalie, Rose would've died. I'd had no choice.

I sighed, and brushed my hand against her cheek.

I didn't deserve to have Rose. Someone so beautiful, passionate, and willing to stand up for those she loved and what she believed in. I'd made the biggest mistake of my life to turn my back on her and leave her to guard Tasha. The even worse mistake was that I'd lied to her about why I'd left.

My heart had ached so much seeing her with Liam. And that night when I'd walked in on them…my heart ached even more at the thought. But when she looked at me right before she'd lost consciousness, I could see her love for me in her eyes. She had always loved me, and always would.

Now it was probably too late for us. Even if she did wake up…would she ever want me again? I had to tell her the real reason I'd left her. It wouldn't guarantee anything between us, but it was a start. I owed her at least that.

I looked down at her, tears brimming in my eyes again. I hated to see her so pale and still. If it hadn't been for her shallow breathing, I would've thought she was-

No, I scolded myself. Stop thinking so negatively like that. She will wake up soon. And when she does, I'll stay by her side as long as she'll have me there.

I closed my eyes, and waited.

Rose POV

I dreamed that I was floating on a very puffy white cloud in the sky. The sun shone down around me, and I felt very warm. Flowers bloomed around me, and I could see nothing but fluffy clouds in the distant blue sky.

My dream changed, and I fell. I screamed as I fell, but I landed on the ground. I looked around. Now I was in a cold gray mist, with lots of other people around me. There was no sunshine at all, especially compared to earlier. We were standing on a grassy plain, and the wind was blowing hard. Suddenly, the mist vanished, but now it was nighttime, with a full moon in the sky. Or it looked like nighttime anyway.

I looked around myself. Where am I? Am I dead?

I looked at one of my neighbors – a small girl – and gasped. She was transparent and see-through, and she floated off the ground. She had to be a ghost.

I don't want to be dead, I thought as a tear trailed down my cheek. I didn't want to leave behind the people I loved. Especially Lissa, my best friend…the last Dragomir princess who I was sworn to protect. And Dimitri…my one true love, despite everything I'd said to him and the lies I'd told myself.

"It's not your time yet," I heard a soft voice say.

I turned around and saw a beautiful woman approach me. She had pale gold hair that blew lightly in the wind. She was very familiar…

I gulped as I recognized her. "Rhea?"

This was Lissa's mother. She'd died in the car accident four years ago with Lissa's father and brother. This meant that I had to be dead.

She gave me a sad smile. "Hello, Rose. It's not your time to die yet. You are not dead yet. Return to the living. Watch over my daughter for me…and tell her that we all love her very much."

The mist returned, and I couldn't see anything now. I was left by myself now. I sat down and waited.

I opened my eyes. Everything was a little blurry around me, but gradually came back into focus. I coughed, and pain shot through me. God. I still felt like I was in pain. Was I dead after all?

I looked around and took in my unfamiliar surroundings. Nope, not dead.

I felt something in my lap and looked down. I gasped quietly.

It was Dimitri, sleeping on my blankets. Although he was asleep, he still had a fierce and protective air around him. He also looked very tired and stressed, which surprised me.

The full realization of how I'd treated him and how much of a bitch I'd been washed over me as I looked down at him. Why had I treated him like that? I asked myself. My actions, which I'd thought were justified at the time, were just…bitchy. Putting it mildly of course.

I hesitantly reached out and stroked his hand softly.

His eyes flew open and he sat up. "You're awake," he whispered, looking at me in awe.

I tried to stretch but flinched as pain shot through me. "Ouch!"

He lunged for the door, but I managed to grab his arm in time before he brought down a whole fleet of doctors and nurses on me. "No, it's nothing! I just…stretched. It kind of hurts." More like really, really hurt, I added mentally.

He relaxed, but I realized I was touching him, and blushed. I was technically supposed to be with Liam… I let go of his arm, and he sat back down next to me.

"How long have I been here?" I asked.

Dimitri shrugged, looking at his hands. "Three and half days."

"What?" I gasped. I'd been clinging to life for the past three and half days? It seemed impossible that so much time had passed.

"You fell into a coma after you were attacked," he said sadly. "Do you remember anything?"

I tried to think back, but my memory was a bit hazy. "A little. I remember that brunette Strigoi…"

"He took out his anger at me on you," Dimitri whispered, his voice heavy with pain. I hated to see him like that. "In a way, it's my fault you were so close to death."

"Blame it on the stupid Strigoi," I muttered. "And his obsession for getting revenge for Natalie. Who killed him in the end, anyway?"

"Lissa," Dimitri said quietly. "He was going to torture you more with the glass, but Lissa took your stake and staked him. And, she was here earlier but had to go back to Tasha's to rest."

"Lissa?" I asked, in disbelief. My best friend? I couldn't imagine sweet, delicate Lissa being able to kill a Strigoi at all, let alone on her own.

"Yes. I helped her out…but together, we managed to kill him," Dimitri said quietly. "We took the bodies out and the sun incinerated them."

"Was anyone else hurt?" I asked, amazed at myself for being able to talk rationally like I'd never been hurt. Then a pain passed through my stomach, and I winced. Still, it wasn't nearly as bad as during the attack...

"Just some minor cuts and scrapes. You were the worst injured."

"Why couldn't Lissa have healed all of it?" I sounded petulant, but seriously, the pain was killing me. But then, I remembered encouraging Lissa to use more of her spirit powers was going to bring back her darkness more easily…I guessed it was just as well she couldn't heal everything.

"She tried. But the injuries were very life-threatening, so it was hard for her," Dimitri explained. "She's been healing you in short bursts when the doctors aren't here. Adrian tried…but healing isn't his strength in spirit."

At this point, there was a light knock on the door and Dimitri got up with a sigh. "That's probably…Liam."

It was a struggle for him but he managed to say the name without too much emotion on his face. He gave me a sad smile, and whispered, "Get well soon, Roza."

Liam entered the room as Dimitri left. His blue eyes had some shadows under them, and his hair was messed up. "Hello, Rose."

"Lancaster. You look like you've seen better days," I said to him a little tiredly.

Liam sat down next to me, and sighed. "I don't think our fake relationship can continue anymore, or even the flirtations."

I just looked at him. I didn't feel shocked or upset, just a little curious. "Why so?"

"You're obviously still in love with Belikov," Liam said, running a hand through his hair and trying to straighten up. "And if you'd seen the way he was always by your bedside every day you were here…"

"He was here every day?" Warmth shot through me. He'd been watching me every day I was in my coma?

"Yes…and I realize everything now. You shouldn't be with me at all if you still truly love him." I opened my mouth to argue but he held his hand up. "No, listen. I know he hurt you – in however way he did. But shouldn't Belikov watching over you and trying to apologize for his mistake at least indicate that he's very sorry for his mistake?"

"I guess," I sighed. Liam was right…in a way. Now after my close encounter with death, I saw how much of a bitch I'd been acting. But this didn't mean I could run back to Dimitri and we would live a fairytale ending together for the rest of our lives. We still had some issues to work out. A lot of issues.

Liam squeezed my hand. "So what I'm saying is…just think about giving him a chance at least. We weren't meant to last, but I think you and him could at least stand a chance of being together forever. Just think about it, alright?"

"Okay," I agreed.

"And I'm sure Lissa would say the same thing," he added.

I frowned. "Why would she agree?"

"You'll see," Liam said mysteriously, patting my hand and getting up.

The doctors ran some tests on me the rest of the day. They said I'd be free to go home after one more night in the hospital. Great. I'd be getting out the day before New Year's Eve.

"We're extending our stay at Tasha's for a bit," Lissa said as she straightened up the area around my bed. She'd come in to heal some of my still aching wounds away. I felt so much better now. "We were supposed to leave on the second…but now we pushed it back to the fifth, so you can recover."

"I could go home right now," I argued back.

"Nope, you're not in any condition to go anywhere," Lissa said firmly, arranging my blankets now and fixing me with her green eyes.

She paused for a moment, seemingly hesitant. There's something I need to tell you.

"What?" I grumbled.

She looked around, but remembered she was talking to me through the bond. Look…don't yell or anything, okay? I went to Dimitri a little before Christmas, and told him of some of the things I was noticing due to your auras.

Uh oh, I thought. Aloud, I asked warily, "What did you tell him?"

Lissa sighed. I told him…that I could see both your auras reflected that you were still in love with each other. Your auras are also in synch, but I don't know what that means exactly. Maybe that you guys are soulmates? That you're meant for each other? I don't know.

I was speechless after her words. My aura still reflected my feelings? Ugh...

Look…I'm sure Liam said the same thing to you…but could you at least hear him out? I'm not saying you have to take him back – although I think it'd be better in the long run for both of you – but at least hear him out. He hasn't told me, obviously. See what he has to say about when he left you, okay? Lissa asked me, hope radiating to me through the bond.

"I'll try, but I don't make any promises," I said dryly, brushing a lock of my hair out of my face. "Although…I am kind of curious about what he has to say."

Lissa smiled wryly before hugging me softly. That's all I can ask from you.