A/N Here's the next chapter. Things are finally going to start happening…

Oh, by the way, I'm English, so I'm going to be using a lot of English slang/products/mannerisms. If you don't get something, please ask me to explain it.

Disclaimer: *Sighs* Again, people, I don't own Vampire Academy. The lovely Richelle Mead does. (I wouldn't have turned Dimitri Strigoi…)

On with the show…

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Noooooooo!

Beep. Beep. Beepbeepbeep.

I refuse to get up!

Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep!

Ow, my ears.

Pushing the bedcovers down, I opened my eyes blearily. What time is it? 11 o'clock, the stupid thing read. I'd been on the night shift, and as you can imagine, it made me very tired. But I had to get up-I still had to do my job, even if I was sleep deprived. Groaning, I swung my legs out of my bed and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, my mind screaming "but I don't wanna get up!" I told it to quit its bitching. Yes, I was talking to myself. Guess I'm on the path to insanity. I was probably already half way there, anyway.

Blinking, I trudged towards my wardrobe and pulled out the first things I saw. I ended up with a pair of black jeans and a Muse t-shirt. Huh, look at that, I got lucky. I grabbed underwear from my drawer and walked into the bathroom.

To find a massive spider in the bathtub.

A giant, hairy spider, glaring at me malevolently. Well, I thought it was glaring at me.

My scream reverberated around the room. Footsteps came pounding up the stairs, and Alex came bursting through the door.

"What-what is it?" He panted, clutching his chest. "Strigoi?"

"N-no. It's worse. It's a fucking spider!" I whispered, quivering.

Alex looked at me. "A spider." He repeated. "Oh god, you have got to get over this phobia." He sighed, leaning over to grab a cup to catch the spider with.

"No, no not that one! It's my favourite. I don't want spider germs all over it! Use the plastic one." I said, pointing to a cup on the counter. Alex rolled his eyes and sighed again.

After he deposited the spider outside, after telling it never to enter my room again (my instructions), he came back.

"You are mad." He muttered, leaning against the wall. He was tall, as most Moroi were, but he'd outgrown the lankiness that seemed to come with that kind of height. His brown eyes and black hair completed the package of "very good looking man". Those brown eyes now looked at me, dancing with amusement at my "experience".

I huffed. "If you're just going to insult me, you can leave right now. Begone! I need to get dressed."

He laughed. "No. You're my guardian; I'm supposed to be with you at all times. Plus, I need to protect you from more spider incidents." His mouth softened, and he smiled at me, a proper smile, this time.

I shook my head. "I'm the one who's supposed to protect you, you idiot." I grinned up at him. I'm tiny compared to his 6'4' height. Then again, most people are. Wrapping my arms around his waist I told him "You've done your duty, now off you go." He pouted. "No, you are not sharing my shower! Go-I'll see you in the kitchen." With that, I kissed him on the cheek, and made a move to go. He caught my hand.

"Alright, I'm off. I still don't get how you can kill Strigoi, but spiders turn you into a terrified girly-girl." He muttered, shaking his head. "Girly-girl", moi? I don't think so. His lips quirked, and he bent down to return my kiss, this time on the lips.

I returned it fiercely, as I always did, forgetting that I hadn't yet brushed my teeth and that my hair looked like a haystack. The feel of his lips moving with mine, well…it was indescribable. Part of me still didn't believe that I was allowed to do this, while the other… the other part just revelled in it. I loved him so much, even when he teased me. I saw that same look in his eyes, the one that said "How did I get so lucky?", but I didn't understand it for him. I didn't feel like much of a prize. I knew I was okay, but I was nothing special.

He broke the kiss, cutting off my internal musing, and leaned his forehead against mine. "See you in a minute, darling" He breathed, and went.

"Thanks for getting rid of the spider!" I yelled after him. All I heard in response was a muffled chuckle.

Narrowing my eyes at the now closed door, I headed back to the now spider-free bathroom, humming along to a Queen song. My shower woke me up a little, and by the time I reached the kitchen I was halfway awake.

"Ah, sleeping beauty awakens!" Dom mocked. He smirked at me. "You know, you didn't have to burst my eardrums, screaming. It was only a spider." He sniggered.

I glared at him and he choked on his cereal. "I am allowed to be afraid of spiders. You scream just as loud when it's a moth!" I said, going to the cupboards to get some cereal of my own. "Where are all the Coco Pops? You guys better not have eaten them all, or I swear… Oh, here they are." Just then, Alex came through the door, phone in hand.

"Zanna, Ariana wants to talk to you." I perked up. Ariana was Alex's sister and we're good friends. Alex had an unhappy look on his face-I wasn't sure what that was about.

He handed me the phone, kissing my cheek as he passed me. I put it to my ear. "Ariana? I'm here."

"Oh, hi! How are you?" She enquired, sounding slightly less bouncy than she normally did. Odd.

"I'm fine. So what is it that you want to talk about?" I asked, pouring my cereal into a bowl. Dom silently passed me the milk. I mouthed "thanks".

She sighed into the phone. "Uh, it's nothing really. It's just… I think the queen's planning something. You know Vasilisa Dragomir? Well, apparently, she's having a baby and…" She paused, then continued. "They want to make you an extra guardian for her. Don't worry, I'm sure it's a rumour." She said quickly.

I wasn't so sure. I knew the queen had a grudge against me. I bit my lip. "Well, okay. If you think it's just a rumour. Thanks for warning me." I put some of my cereal in my mouth and chewed, mulling it over.

"Yeah." She breathed. "Just be careful, alright? The queens plans are never good, and even if it is a rumour, well, I don't want you to get into trouble. I like you." She joked. "Remember there are loads of people who've got your back if she does try something." I smiled into the phone.

"Liar. I know full well your parents hate me."

"Hey, don't be mean. You know I wasn't talking about them, and you know it. I meant your friends, and your parents. Me and Alex. Even Dom."

"Hey, I heard that!" Dom called. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I know. Thanks again. You're sure it's just a rumour?"

"Erm, about 75% sure." She told me, sounding serious.

I giggled. "Let's just hope you're right. I don't want to be dragged off to the Court. Though, I guess meeting Vasilisa Dragomir wouldn't be so bad. She's the one with Spirit magic? And she supposedly fought for Moroi to go defensive. Hmm, intriguing. Maybe I wouldn't mind guarding her." No, I wanted to stay home, but if I did have to leave, at least I'd be guarding someone interesting.

"Yeah. Her Guardian is Rose Hathaway, and they've got a bond and everything, so scandal!" She laughed. "Interesting people. Anyway, I've got to go. Sorry, hon. I'll talk to you later. I just wanted to warn you."

"Yeah, bye." The phone disconnected, and I palmed it hand to hand, thinking over the news I'd just gleaned from Ariana. It seemed unlikely that Yelena would use me as a Guardian for one of her most precious royals, but then, she was pretty determined to ruin my relationship with Alex. It could be true.

"What are you thinking about?" Dom asked curiously.

I blinked and shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Um, well, apparently Yelena intends for me to guard Vasilisa Dragomir. That's what the rumours are saying, anyway." I looked up to find Alex and Dom looking at me incredulously. I smiled innocently back at them and carried on eating my cereal.

Dom coughed. "And you're just going to leave it at that?" He looked surprised.

I sighed. "Look, guys, it's all going to come to nothing. It's only a rumour."

"But what if it's true?" Alex asked quietly.

"Then I'll deal with it, cross that bridge, and any other cliché you can think of." I was being overly blasé deliberately. I didn't want to consider the possibilities if it were true. I glanced at them over my shoulder as I grabbed a glass for a drink. "Oh, come on. You don't actually think it's true, do you?" I snorted.

Alex looked troubled. "I'm allowed to be worried. Yelena has a lot of power. Is it so terrible I don't want you to leave me?" He snapped. My eyes widened, and I could feel my eyebrows going up. This kind of outburst was rare for him – if he had something to say, he'd say it privately. His face fell, and he sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap, and I'm not trying to be possessive. It's just a letter came for you today, and it looks suspiciously Court-like. After Ana's call, I'm a little apprehensive"

"And you didn't give me the letter right away?" I was outraged-it was my letter, he had no right to withhold it from me!

"I-I was going to give it to you! I forgot!" Alex stuttered. If there's one thing I've learnt from having to live with men all the time, it's that they always cower before an enraged woman (especially one who can beat them up). He was so in for it!

"Give it to me now, Aleksandr Ivashkov! I mean it!" I shook my fist in his direction. He knew if I hit him, it would hurt. A lot. He scuttled off.

"Ha ha. This is like Eastenders. Any minute now, you'll be after him with the bread knife." Dom guffawed.

I glared at him icily, and he shut up abruptly. "I don't need a bread knife. I have a stake." I told him primly.

Alex returned, letter in hand. I snatched it out of his hand, noting that the Court seal was unbroken. I didn't need to kill him. Yet. I ripped it open, revealing the contents. It read:

Dear Suzanna (Ugh, the dreaded full name.)

Due to the disgraceful nature of you relationship with your charge, Aleksandr Ivashkov, we have decided to relocate you to Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, who is in need of an extra Guardian on account of her pregnancy. We hope that this will be incentive to end your relationship with him, so that you can return after the duration of the Princesses pregnancy. The honour given to the Guardian who protects the Dragomir clan is important, and we hope you appreciate this.

Apart from your personal indiscretions, we realise you are a capable, and some might say, impressive Guardian, especially with your 'gifts' to guide you. But we must insist that you end your relationship with Lord Ivashkov; you are not good enough for him, and as a dhampir, you certainly can have no future with him. You will not disgrace the Ivashkov name. Use this opportunity to reassess your life and jump start your career.

Yours sincerely,

Yelena Conta

(Queen of the Moroi)

PS Instructions for your job are enclosed.

I took a deep breath. How dare she. This was so unfair. Why, I hadn't even started the relationship, Alex had. Why was it my fault? Why was I the scapegoat for all her prejudices? It was all so awful that I couldn't stand it-she had no right! I crumpled up the letter into a ball and said, "It appears I am off to America", my voice tight with rage.

"What? No!" Alex gasped.

I uncrumpled the letter and read out woodenly: "Due to the disgraceful nature of your relationship with Aleksandr Ivashkov we have decided to relocate you…Blah. Blah. Blah. You are not good enough for him. Blah Blah." I was furious and shaking. The bitch.

"How crass." Dom remarked. "But then the Conta's have never been known for their impeccable manners. Yelena especially." He walked over and put an arm around me. "Ignore her. You know she's wrong." He said, nudging me. "Ooh, look at your face. If the bitch was here right now, she'd be a pile of ashes. Cheer up-it's only a year at most, and she can't split you two up for real. You two are so cutesy sometimes it makes me want to hurl, eh?" He hugged me, and I reciprocated. Dom is very good at hugs. It might have something to do with the fact that he is 6'5', and very broad around the chest and shoulder area, and he's always warm. I sniffed.

"It's not fair." I told him. It came out muffled against his chest. No, it wasn't fair, but there was nothing any of us could do. I looked at Alex from under Dom's shoulder. He mouthed "Love you" at me. I smiled weakly. How could I bear to leave here?

A/N And we're done. So what do you think? Please leave a review, because otherwise I have no idea whether or not this is any good. How am I supposed to continue this if I don't know whether or not you guys like it?

Shout outs to saraiibelikov for the favourite, and to Monstergirl245, for the reviews, and the favourite!