Hi again everyone, I'm sorry for not updating for so long! I completely forgot about this story for a bit, I thought I'd finished it :3
This is the last chapter of this story :( But I have another short one that I'll be putting up soon, 'Just a Dream' and ALS and Next Generation are still ongoing, so head over to one of those and have a read if you want :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Academy. Richelle Mead does.

Dimitri's hand moved at his side, like he wanted to reach out to me, but he restrained it. I wasn't sure if I should move forward or not. With one pained word, the decision was taken out of my hands.
"Roza..."

I sprinted the remaining distance between us, and threw myself at him. He caught me and wrapped his strong arms around my waist, holding me a couple of inches off the floor. My arms were around his neck, holding on so I didn't fall, holding on so he knew he could never leave me behind again. My head was resting on his shoulder and I breathed deeply, his scent making me forget everything else in the world. He gripped me back just as tightly, and I looked up into his eyes that I had missed so much, and a silent message passed between us. I am never letting you go again.

Our lips crashed together and moved in perfect synchronisation. In that moment all the pain of the last 4 months faded away, the familiar electricity running between us everywhere our skin touched. I felt complete, the piece of me that was missing was here again, and we fit perfectly together.

After a time that felt like eternity but wasn't nearly long enough, a message came through the bond.
Uh, Rose...incoming.

We pulled back, again in synchronisation. A breathtaking smile lit up Dimitri's face, and I had a feeling a similar one graced my own lips.

He put me down, and I wrapped one arm around his waist, the other hand against his chest, where I rested my head. I sighed and whispered "I missed you, Dimitri."

He kissed the top of my head, and his breath ruffled my hair as he spoke. "I missed you too, Roza. I love you."

"I love you too, Comrade."

Somebody coughed, and I was suddenly very aware of everyone around me. The whole scene had probably taken less than a minute, and I guess the shock had kept people quiet. That was wearing off now, and people began to talk loudly, shouting to be heard over each other, when in truth I couldn't actually pick out a word that anyone was saying. I reluctantly pulled away from Dimitri, and turned to face the crowd. Everybody was silent once more.

"Well? Don't you people have lives of your own? Stop staring and go live them, perverts!"
Though I didn't really expect it to work, a lot of people turned around and left, though I knew it was just to go and gossip behind my back. Not like I cared, it was kinda normal for me. At least this time it's true.

As the remaining crowd dissipated, into my line of sight stepped a 5 foot hurricane, her face as red as her hair. Legendary Guardian Janine Hathaway. My mother.

Now was one of those times I wished Dimitri had taught me to swear in Russian, because no swearwords I knew seemed to do this situation justice. Still, I used a few favourites in my head, as I pushed Dimitri behind me slightly, but still held onto the hand I had taken hold of when we pulled apart.

As my mom began to step forward, however, Lissa moved in front of her, blocking the way. There were hushed, harsh whispers, until my mum shot me a glare that should have pinned me to the floor and stomped off back to Abe.

Through the bond, I could feel that Lissa had convinced her not to make a scene in public. She had agreed, but only after Lissa used some mild compulsion on her. One thing was for sure, though. We had to leave before she broke through it. Yeah, we were putting off the inevitable, but I didn't care. I had Dimitri back, and that was all that mattered right now.

I closed the door behind me, not letting go of Dimitri's hand. We hadn't yet broken contact since the kiss, and I didn't intend to yet. We walked in silence over to the bench I had sat crying on earlier, just enjoying the other's company. He sat down first and pulled me into his lap. I buried my head in his chest, pulled myself as close to him as possible with my arms around his waist. He held me just as tight, and I wanted to stay like this forever. We did for a little while, until I pulled away and looked up at him.

He was just staring down at me with wonder in his eyes, like he couldn't quite believe I was here. Hell, I couldn't believe he was here.
I must have said the last part out loud, because he sighed.

"I know, Roza. I'm so sorry for leaving you. I thought it was best for you. I regretted my decision even before I made it, and when I saw your face when I said I was leaving, I wanted to take it back, but it was too late. I was leaving that day, and you ran away from me before I could finish explaining. So I left with Tasha, and with every step I took away from you, my heart broke a little more. I planned to come back after you'd had some time to heal after Spokane, I just thought you could do with some time without me complicating your life. But I explained all that in the note."

"Wait, what note?" I asked.

Dimitri looked confused. "The one I in your room, the just before I left. After you ran away before I could finish explaining, I left a note for you, promising I would be back. You never got it?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Tasha must have taken it." I realised.
Dimitri growled in response, looking like he wanted to beat her up.
"Anyway, carry on. Bitch screwed with us, what happened after you left?"

His face softened and he continued quietly, "For 2 weeks I felt like this, terrible for leaving you, terrible for breaking your heart. Then Tasha told me she got a phone call from Christian, who mentioned that you had moved on and were with Adrian. I thought you were happy without me, and that is why I didn't come back then like I had been planning on doing." I had been quiet up until now, but I couldn't hold back after that.

"What? I never moved on, and definitely not with that creep. I mean, yeah, he's a friend now, and a good one, but never anything more. However much he may have wanted it. I always loved you, I will always love you. I'm not going to let that jealous bitch take you away from me. Of course I forgive you for leaving me. There was never anything to forgive, not really. You did what you thought was best for me, for us. I love you, Dimitri." That look of wonder was on his face again, and he leaned down and kissed me. It was slow and soft, soothing after the betrayal I felt. He ended the kiss.

"Though I don't know why you do, I know you do. After their song, I went and asked Adrian how you were, if you were happy with him. He looked at me like I was crazy, and told me that you were still in love with me, 'though he couldn't work out why, because I was such an asshole'". He quoted. "I asked Christian about the call, and he said he hadn't spoken to Tasha since she left, because he knew that you would be upset, and she hadn't bothered calling him. So I realised that she had been lying to me, and knew I had to make everything alright, because I had hurt you." He sounded appalled with himself, like the thought of hurting me sickened him. "Christian went to confront Tasha, which is why she wasn't in the way of our..." He searched for a word. "Reunion."

What a bitch. She had deliberately kept Dimitri away from me so she could have him for herself. Then an unpleasant thought hit me.

"Did you and Tasha ever... were you..." I couldn't get the words out. For a second he looked confused, then understanding flashed in his eyes and he looked shocked.

"Rose, no! I love you, No one else could ever compare to you. You're beautiful, amazing, and have a light and determination in you that I've never seen in anyone else before. You have so much compassion; you would do anything to protect the people you love, even with the small things, even if you hurt yourself in the process. You're the only one in the world like that, which is why I will always love you, and never anyone else. You are my soul mate. This is further proved by the fact that you forgave me for leaving you. I swear it will never happen again."

My heart swelled with happiness, and I felt like I was going to start crying. Once upon a time I would have thought that was incredibly cheesy, but now, I knew the truth. I reached up and gently touched his cheek, running my fingers over the smooth skin. He was so perfect.

"You're wrong." He looked at me, concerned. I laughed, and explained. "I'm not the only person like that in the world."

"You are, Roza. No one compares to you."

I smiled and shook my head. "One person does. The soul mate of that amazingly awesome person has to be equally awesome, otherwise it would be unfair."

He laughed, understanding finally. "If you say so. It's probably in my best interests to agree with you on this." Clueless man.

"Comrade, it's always in your best interests to agree with me."

"Yes Roza." He agreed, leaning closer.

"Good boy."I said, closing the remaining distance between us.
When we broke apart for air, we were both breathing heavily.

"I love you, Roza. I'm sorry for leaving, and I'm sorry that I missed your 18th birthday. I will make it up to you, I swear. Anything you want." He looked so sincere, and I leaned into the hand that was cupping my face, and kissed it.

"I have you here. What more could I possibly ever want or need? You are my everything, Dimitri. Just promise you'll never leave me." I know he had already said that, but I needed to hear it again. "I can't lose you again."

"I promise to never leave you. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, and trying to erase all the pain and sadness that you have ever felt. I will always be here for you, and never let anything or anyone hurt you. я тебя люблю, I love you, my beautiful Roza. So much it hurts me."

My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I pressed as close to Dimitri as I could, feeling perfectly happy. I listened to his heartbeat; steady, but faster than usual. It was my new favourite sound, better even than hearing him say 'I love you', because the heart couldn't lie.

"I love you too, Dimitri. Forever and always." His heart beat even faster, and met his lips for a kiss. He smiled against my lips.

"Forever and always."

Aaw, fluffy goodness ^.^ Stupid Tasha.

Well, that's the end. Unless you wanted some sort of epilogue, then I could probably do one tying up the loose ends.

Review and tell me what you think :)