Hi everyone!

So I hope you review this because it has taken a long, long, long, long time to finish.

This chapter may seem a little crazy, but I hope you keep reading and find out why some of the things that are happening are happening. If that makes any sense. If you have any questions please ask me, I'll reply to all signed reviews. This story is supposed to be sad at the moment, it isn't supposed to seem like Rose is sane... Also, it may seem like this is an AdrianxRose fic but I'm not trying to make it like that, the story is just flowing... you never know who may be back in it... some old characters may re-appear or not...

This is the first chapter that I've had a beta for, so thanks very much to MyLifeIsEdwardCullen, who was very fast to reply.

This is 12 pages on word, so everyone who complained about short chapters, there! XD

Chapter 18

Adrian's POV

Christian and I paced in front of the bed, Lissa and Rose seemed incapable of stopping this breakdown.

Christian walked impatiently; he hated this as much as I did.

"What should we do?" He asked for the fifth time.

I stood still, watching Rose. I needed to do something... my best idea yet was for everyone to get drunk. Somehow that didn't seem appropriate. Maybe if I talked it through I could think of something...

"I don't know. I just don't know. How did this happen? We need Lissa to be sane. Maybe we should work on that first. She could help with Rose. This is even harder because they're girls, I mean if it was guys then it would be easy – go do something crazy. Not that guys would be crying... Wait. I have an idea. Girls normally have chocolate and ice cream when they're sad in movies. We can have a mini-sleepover party." I spoke to myself, most of it ridiculous.

Christian smiled, "Okay that is just the sort of thing I expect from you, party boy. You could be right though. Can you even organise that?"

"Yep," I pulled out my phone, "I just need to make some calls."

I called and organised the food, then I called the guardian's office.

"Hey, it's Adrian Ivashkov."

"Oh. Good Evening, Lord Ivashkov."

"Yeah, thanks. I ordered some food; can you bring it to my room when it comes? I would come get it but I can't leave right now. I'm kinda busy."

The guardian sounded disapproving, "Lord Ivashkov! This is highly inappropriate. Not to mention how unsafe it is for you to be ordering food from outside the school. Guardians are here to guard you, not be your servants."

"I understand that. Can you please make an exception?"

The guardian coughed, "Lord Ivashkov," she paused, considering. "This is not the court; do not let this happen again."

I smiled, "Thank you."

She hung up.

Well, so much for being polite.

Christian was on the bed between Rose and Lissa, speaking to Lissa quietly.

"Liss, I know it's hard. But we have to be strong for Rose. Adrian and I need you. Rose needs you. She's having a breakdown. We can't handle both of you having breakdowns. Can you be strong?"

She sniffled, clearly not sure if she could.

I ignored Christian as he continued trying to persuade her. I sat beside Rose. If I still knew her then she would be easier to talk to than Lissa, she was strong. But a lot had changed. Maybe I was wrong about her, still I had to try.

"Little Dhampir, Are you okay?"

She didn't look like she was going to answer, so I continued.

"You fainted before. Then you were screaming. What happened? Can you tell me? Please?" I pulled her up against the headboard so she was partially sitting.

She looked at me for a moment considering, then in a haunted voice, spoke. It was eerily calm and resolved like nothing could change her words.

"Eternity together, We could end the Dragomirs! I just wish... It wasn't this way, Why's life so unfair? I need your stupid Zen comments! Rose, you need to stop. You will stop. You will sleep until we get back to the academy. I don't want you to scream anymore. So you will stop."

I remembered some of what she was saying, from when I'd used compulsion on her, the rest seemed like quotes taken and mixed together, dark and terrifying. I didn't understand what they meant but I knew when they'd been said, and by who. This must have been her and Dimitri's final encounter.

I shook my head, "Rose, this isn't right. You can't torture yourself with the past. You're killing yourself, you're killing Lissa."

She looked lost, like a little girl who'd lost her mother at the park. Her voice was weak, vulnerable.

"Can you help me?"

It seemed so out of place for Rose, normally she rejected all support. Somehow, this wasn't Rose. I think it was part of her, a part that had been forgotten. She'd been independent for so long, I don't think she recognised herself. I didn't know how to react to that, so I treated her like a little girl. I don't know how this will help her be Rose again but it will help right now.

"Sure, Sweet Heart. I would never let anything happen to you. I'll be here, always."

She smiled and crawled onto my lap, hugging me. I held her there and whispered gently into her ear,

"You're not okay, huh?"

She stayed there, thinking. Finally she whispered, "I don't know what else to do. Can't I just pretend for tonight? I trust you. You'll look after me. You promised. Tonight, I just need to be... helpless."

I nodded and she pulled back, looking at me expectantly for what to do next. I wasn't very good with children. Rose wasn't a child but I was still a little out of my depth. Christian spoke, saving me. It was directed at Rose, his face bright and kind.

"Adrian is having a slumber party, it should be fun. Do you want to get changed into pyjamas?"

I laughed lightly, "It will be more than fun. It will be incredible."

She giggled and took Lissa's hand, "Let's go get changed."

They crawled off the bed and Christian whispered for me to get them clothes, I nodded, running to the draws and searching for clean clothes. Thankfully I found two shirts that smelt fine and were probably big enough to be dresses on them. Short dresses.

As they walked into the bathroom with the shirts, Christian sighed.

"This is strange." I stated.

"Indeed, I thought they were going to start singing wiggles songs." He smirked.

"Mm, but at least they're coping. The food should sober them up."

He looked amused, "It is funny to see. So, we just play along?"

I nodded, "Yeah, until we think of something else."

He laughed just as Rose and Lissa walked out, holding hands again but in the shirts. They whispered something to each other and Rose spoke,

"Are you going to get changed? Sleepovers are more fun in pyjamas." She seemed serious.

Lissa giggled, "Rose wants you to get changed out here!"

Christian and I shared a look and frowned, other than it being odd of them to act like kids that implied both of us... Rose wasn't into Christian like that – I hoped.

Rose looked shocked "No! Eww! Liss!"

Lissa laughed and jumped onto the bed, pulling Rose with her. Rose sat down and Lissa kneeled behind her, slowly braiding Rose's hair. Like most little girls do, Rose wanted to tell us every detail of her life.

"Lissa promised she'd do my hair for me because she wants to be a hairdresser. No, that's just our joke, but she's really good at doing people's hair. She could do yours. Like at real sleepovers. We could have makeovers! Oh, wait. No. You don't get a makeover."

Christian looked outraged, "Why not?"

She giggled and whispered to Lissa, who hit her arm to make her hold still. Lissa looked very serious as she explained,

"Because you can't. Rose and I are best friends. That's why we give each other makeovers. You can't have makeovers. Besides, you're boys." She said it like the most simple, obvious thing in the world. You're boys. Right.

Christian smiled at his girlfriend, "What's wrong with boys?"

Rose bit her lip trying not to laugh; she obviously thought it was very clear what the answer was. Lissa just shook her head and gave Christian a 'you-can't-be-serious' look.

I had no desire to find out what they were talking about. I looked at their auras trying to figure out why Lissa was being childish. Rose's aura showed how miserable she was but there was true happiness there as she and Lissa laughed and whispered about Christian. Lissa's was golden and it looked pure – like a child.

They must both be brain damaged from crying so much. But somehow, I understood. I understood it all, why Rose was so depressed, why they were acting like this, why Christian was helping them.

He walked into the bathroom and came back with an elastic hair tie.

Lissa thanked him and I raised an eyebrow, I didn't tend to keep hair ties in my bathroom.

"It was in the pocket of her jeans." He stated and handed it to Lissa, "Can I have a makeover now?"

She smiled, tying off the braid. Then she pointed at the bed and Christian sat down. Rose turned to stare at wall thoughtfully. I walked around the bed to her and sat beside her.

Lissa ran her fingers through Christians hair thoughtfully and then messed it up roughly.

"There you go." She told him happily and jumped onto his lap.

I wrapped my arms around Rose and kissed her cheek. She rested her head against my chest and tried to tickle me.

"Rose, what are you doing?"

"You're not ticklish. That's not fair!" She said indignantly.

I smiled, "'Course it is, Sweetie." Then I tickled her.

She laughed and with clumsy yet still guardian-fast movements tackled me back onto the bed. She refused to believe that I wasn't ticklish and continued trying until she was on top of me, straddling my waist. I don't know how far the 'child' pretence went for her, if she realised how provocative she was being. I didn't say anything and she stayed where she was, tilting her head to the side.

"You are an alien.' She finally decided.

"Ah, why do you say that?" I questioned.

"Because you are."

"Oh. Okay." I agreed.

She laughed and crawled off me.

Christian was staring at Lissa, searching her eyes. Probably wondering the same thing I had. I knew she loved Rose, but it seemed odd that she was having a breakdown over Rose having a breakdown.

She smiled at him and walked over to Rose. They whispered together and then sat on the floor.

"What are you up to, girls?" He asked.

Lissa, who was apparently being the serious one, listened to Rose for a moment and then as her spokesperson/ translator told us,

"You need to change into your PJs or else it won't be fun. We have agreed to let you use the bathroom. Hurry up." She motioned for us both to go into the bathroom.

"Lissa, we're not best friends. We don't get changed at the same time like you and Rose, which would be weird." I explained.

Lissa nodded thoughtfully, "Then who is your best friend?"

I grinned and spoke sincerely, "Rose."

Her brow furrowed, "But she's my best friend."

I laughed, "She can be both of our best friends."

She grumbled something and then said, "Fine. Who is Christian's best friend?"

I looked at him and he laughed, "Um, that is a hard question... let me think..."

Lissa shot him a look which clearly said 'wrong' and Rose shook her head sadly. Lissa spoke to Christian firmly, like he was the one with a problem.

"You tell Adrian and he tells me." She rolled her eyes.

He gave me a 'they're crazy' look and I shrugged. He leaned over and whispered Lissa in my ear and I smiled and turned to her.

"Christian says his best friend is Lissa."

"Me Lissa?" She asked.

Christian whispered yes and I repeated it to her.

"You could have just said that he said I was his best friend. Jeesh."

Christian leaned toward me and whispered, "Ask her if I can talk now."

I laughed, "Can Christian talk now?"

She nodded and Rose grinned, "It doesn't matter anyway 'cause boys can't talk."

There was a knock on the door and a feeling spread through me, somehow I knew that this game of happiness was about to end.

I stood up and answered the door. A guardian stood with 2 bags, one full of little boxes of Chinese food. I took the first bag and set it on the table next to the door then he handed me the other, which contained four containers of chocolate ice cream, a few blocks of chocolate and a box of cream centred chocolates.

The guardian was young and formal, his voice confident.

"Good evening Lord Ivashkov."

"Hi, thanks for bringing these up."

He nodded and bowed in standard Guardian etiquette. As I closed the door I felt a hand on my arm, tugging me back to the bed. Rose was dragging me along and Lissa had the Chinese. Christian was in the 'kitchen' getting cutlery. We all sat down on the bed and began to eat in silence.

Rose was the first to speak and she sounded more like herself,

"Thank you for the food, Adrian."

Lissa and Christian nodded their thanks and continued eating.

Rose stopped eating though and stared at the ceiling sadly,

"Thank you for trying to help, all of you." Rose continued after a moment.

Lissa spoke softly but was clearly back to normal, responsible Lissa.

"We are here for you, Rose. Please let us help."

Rose set her food aside and stood up, pacing. She looked back with tear-filled eyes,

"I just wish... It wasn't this way." The same words from earlier.

I stood up and lead her back to the bed, handing her the food again.

"What does that mean? Why do you keep saying it?" I asked gently.

She choked on a sob as she took a deep breath, "He said it, right before he was gone. But his eyes... were brown."

I didn't understand and Christian seemed to be the same way but Lissa understood,

"Oh. That normally doesn't happen. Maybe..."

"Maybe there was something I could do!" Rose exclaimed.

"You did the right thing, Rose. You did what Dimitri would have done." Christian said honestly.

"Do you honestly believe that? That he wouldn't give his life to bring me back?" Rose argued.

"Rose, that's not what I'm saying. If he was forced into the situation you were, he would have done the same. It would have killed him, but he would have done it." Christian said calmly.

"Don't...Don't let this dictate your life. Don't be powerless, Rose. Everyone knows how strong you are and they admire it. Don't stop being you. So many people depend on you... I depend on you. Please, don't become someone different." I put my heart into my words; using all the force and truth I could find to back my words. I did everything besides compulsion.

Lissa didn't let Rose respond, speaking directly at her with a power and importance that was almost harsh.

"Rose, stop scaring us. You need to mourn, I get that. It takes time. But you don't forget who you are just because you're mourning. You don't get to be Anna. The only reason you're going crazy is from guarding me all day, not because you needed help and we ignored you. You're hurting me now. I know you love me, because we are best friends. You can't say you don't. You can't do everything – you can't change the past. Tonight, we mourn him, we celebrate him, and we remember him. Tonight, we stand together even if we are weak. Tomorrow, we have to be strong."

Wow, Lissa didn't normally say things like that. Well, maybe she did. Rose was looking at her like maybe Lissa had done that before. But it was still amazing. She killed my speech. Killed it, mashed it up, ran over it and fed it to a strigoi.

Christian decided that he needed to give another speech. No wonder they were perfect for each other.

"Rose, do you know what it was like hearing Lissa crying into the phone tonight? Do you know what it was like finding you both in the locker room? Do you know how it felt when you fainted and there was nothing I could do? How helpless and pathetic it feels to watch your friend scream and cry in agony and just stand there, watching? Don't you dare do that to me again, ever. Or to Lissa. I want Rose back."

"Tomorrow." Lissa added.

They both nodded and Rose looked a little stunned.

"Um, Okay...?" She said confused but agreeing.

Lissa and Christian nodded again and he kissed her whispering,

"I'm glad you're back but that was cute."

Rose looked to me. I didn't want to give another speech, I didn't want to accidently rub salt into her wounds.

So, I simply said "Huge tub of Chocolate Ice cream to soothe the soul?"

She smiled, "Ice cream can soothe the soul?"

"No, but a huge tub of chocolate ice cream can." I replied laughing.

"Will wonders never cease." She murmured as I handed her the tub and a spoon.

I laughed and pulled her into my side for a quick hug, I didn't want to let her out of my reach.

I wished I could hug her pain away. Everyone laughed and ate as much Ice cream as they could, then forced themselves to eat chocolates.

... ... ...

I was feeding Rose cream centred chocolates and she was dancing to some unknown song on the radio. We would probably all be sick soon. Lissa was spinning around with Christian and every time he passed the box of chocolates he would dip her backwards and feed her one. I think sugar is nearly as good as alcohol at getting people drunk. Or maybe that was the "hot chocolate" Rose and Lissa had been making for the last few hours, which tasted disgusting. It was hot chocolate powder, warm milk and vodka. And marshmallows. Couldn't forget the marshmallows.

Lissa and Christian moved on to more... adult themed dancing. While making out. Rose laughed at them and started dancing against my back. While eating leftover Chinese.

I averted my eyes when she and Lissa decided to do hand stands because they were in their "short dresses" aka my shirts.

After many more "hot chocolates" and the rest of the Chinese, ice cream and chocolates (a horrible combination) we finally stopped dancing. Rose had forced me to lay on the bed while she danced around me and fed me. She should never become a chef. She gave me a piece of chocolate and some sweet and sour chicken at the same time. I could still remember the taste.

We all crashed into my bed, squishing together, arms and legs tangled. I was pretty lucky really, I had the edge of the bed with Rose beside me. Unlike Christian who had been between Rose and Lissa until he convinced Lissa to switch. Rose had an arm around Lissa and one on top of me. Her legs were under mine – I had no idea how that happened. Lissa had somehow reached her hand over rose to pat me good night. She hit my face a few times in her version of a 'pat' before falling asleep. Apparently I was the last to crash.

That's the problem when you hold liquor better than everyone else. I was left to remember Rose's words.

Spirit users seem to have an uncanny ability to read people. Something told me Rose wasn't okay yet, that Lissa had said to be strong tomorrow but she had been doing it already. I just had no idea what to do with her. You can't just let people like her suffer – they don't get over it.