A/N: Due to the fact that this story was started before the release of Richelle Mead's 'Last Sacrifice', I will be continuing it along the path I had previously written out for it. To go back and make it accurate to the books, would mean changing the dynamics of the entire story. This story was slightly off the main story to begin with, so I hope you still enjoy what I have to give :)
She'd said it. She'd finally said the words Adrian had been waiting to hear, and he couldn't be happier. As he buried his face into her hair, he held her almost too tightly, afraid to let her go in case this wasn't real. She squeezed him back, rubbing her cheek against his chest, feeling content.
"We're supposed to be in the dining hall soon," Adrian said softly, "Do you want to go change?" She nodded, taking his hand, "Come with me?" He grabbed his keys, and put his tie around his neck, not bothering to tighten it to his collar just yet. They walked to Rose's apartment in silence, with their hands entwined. Every now and then, Rose couldn't help but sneak a glance in his direction. She hadn't said those words in so long, she'd forgotten how it felt after. The warmth in her chest was better then any joy she felt from Lissa's Spirit, or the bliss from when she used to feed off her. She never forgot those feelings, but this would top that list. Adrian caught her eye at they reached her door, and gave her a big smile, pecking her quickly on the lips, "What's on your mind, babe?"
"Just you," she mumbled softly, leaning in for a longer kiss. As they pulled away, he busied himself unlocking her door, "This is new."
"What is?" Rose frowned, walking in after him. She went straight to her closet in the bedroom, opening it with a scrutinizing eye.
"This softness," he said, sitting on her bed, "The gentle side of Rosemarie Hathaway." This made Rose scowl deeply, and she leaned her head out of the closet to look at him, "Excuse me?" He laughed, launching himself up and walking over, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Its a good thing," he insisted, "Remember, last year, when I caught that nasty flu, and you played nurse?" Rose snorted, sorting through materials, "Yeah?"
"That was the only other time you'd ever been that gentle with me. That's when I really realized I would never be able to live without you." Rose sighed, leaning back into him more, "Don't turn into a sap on me, okay?" His rumbling laugh was felt through his chest, and he reached forwards, plucking a dress out of the bunch that had caught his eye. It was elegant, done in a shimmering gold - he'd bought it for her their first Christmas as Moroi and Guardian.
"This one?" Rose asked, shimmying out of her jeans. He nodded, enjoying the view as she quickly slipped the dress on. It fell to just below her knees, and she took her hair from its ponytail, waves falling haphazardly down her back. He nodded, confirming his choice, and held out his arm. She rolled her eyes, but took it as they left her suite and headed towards the reception hall.
Lissa had worked hard on the decorations the past few days, and the hall looked beautiful. With less then a week until the wedding, things were already in place, with a color scheme of white and gold. A few planners danced around, rotating centerpieces or fixing the drapes. Seated at the end of a wide, rectangular table in the middle was Lissa and Christian, both dressed in their very elegant evening clothes. Christian had even got a haircut. Tasha sat to Christian's right, a loose purple dress draped over her large front, and Dimitri was beside her, having gotten there faster then Rose. Eddie, Mia, and a few others Rose recognized as Ozera's or friends of the Dragomir family. This would be the main wedding party - and this is where they would sit after the ceremony bonding Lissa and Christian, as they celebrated. Rose saw the only two empty seats were to Lissa's immediate left, and sat right next to her, not letting Adrian's hand go as he sat with her. Lissa gave her a big hug, and Rose said, "You look beautiful, Liss."
"So do you," Lissa replied earnestly. She spied Rose and Adrian's joined hands, which were sitting in Rose's lap at the moment, and grinned even wider, sending, 'Hmm, this is an improvement.' Rose rolled her eyes, and Lissa laughed silently, her eyes sparkling as she thought, 'We'll talk later.' Rose gave her a quick nod, and squeezed Adrian's hand at his questioning look.
"Thanks for coming to our rehearsal dinner, everyone!" Lissa said as she turned back to the table, and Tasha raised her glass of juice, "A toast!"
"A toast, to the soon-to-be Vasilisa Ozera!" Rose chimed in, raising her wine glass. Eddie held up his glass, "A toast, to Christian, who gets to be the monkey in a suit in a few days!" There was appreciative laughter as everyone drank, and the waiters served them the first course. As they dug in, Mia asked, "So, when is the bachelorette party?" Rose stopped her fork midway to her mouth, and gasped, "We get to have a party?"
"No, I was thinking I don't need one..." Lissa trailed off, giving Mia a look. Rose shook her head, a wicked gleam in her eyes, "No way. No. Way. Mia, we have some planning to do! I had no idea we got to party first." Mia nodded eagerly, and Tasha laughed, "Oh no."
"Oh, yes." Rose insisted, picking her fork up to resume eating again. Adrian shot her an amused look, "What are you planning?"
"I think a night at Karma would do just fine," Rose said smugly, leaning back with her arms folded. Karma was the only establishment within Court walls that provided liquor until the wee hours of the morning, making it the only safe one to go to. They had to get drunk, that much was obvious. She figured Lissa had even stepped foot in Karma before - it was time to change that. Lissa winced, as Rose expected, and mumbled, "I don't know..." Adrian gave Rose a wicked grin as they ignored Lissa's feeble protests, and said, "So, you'll be drinking then? Drunk Rose.. that's something I haven't seen in years." Rose laughed, elbowing him, "Don't get excited, Ivashkov."
"When, then?" Lissa asked, resigned to her fate. Mia looked excited, and said, "The night before the wedding, obviously. Its not until the afternoon, plenty of time to not be hungover. Tasha, you'll have to come drink water! In fact, everyone should come!"
"But its supposed to be just girls, isn't it?" Rose said, frowning. She glanced around, and then shrugged after a moment, "What the hell? We all deserve a night out!"
"Now that's more like it," Adrian nodded in agreement. Talking and eating continued around the table, but Rose's mind was racing a mile a minute with all the preparation she wanted to do for their night out. Adrian chuckled, pinching her leg, "Eat, Little Dhampir. I know you want to."
"I-" She started to reply, but a loud noise resembling a bell rang out through the ancient, rarely-used intercom connecting the whole court. Rose's eyes met Eddie's across the table - the only other time the intercom had been used, in their entire career at court, had been to assemble the guardian's for a meeting. They were then informed of the gruesome deaths of a family of Moroi, who had just left Court for a vacation and were ambushed along the way. They had sent out search parties for survivors, but came up empty.
"All Guardian's are to report to the main conference room immediately." Rose sighed, pushing back from the lavish dinner. Lissa pouted slightly, asking, "Do you really, really have to?"
"Yes," Eddie answered for himself, her and Dimitri, who was giving Tasha a quick kiss on the cheek. Rose leaned over, doing the same to Adrian, "If we're not back before the dinner is over, I'll meet you at your place." He nodded, giving her his easy smile, "See you later." She made for the door, hearing Eddie and Dimitri following her, and soon they joined other Guardian's making their way to the conference hall. They stood out - the boys in their suits, and Rose in her flashy gold gown. She ignored the looks though - at least she wasn't in her pajama's like half the people were. They reached the conference hall, sitting in silence, knowing something was wrong. Alex stood in the front once more, a grim look and worry lines decorating his face. He waited for everyone to get inside, and started to speak, not bothering to use his microphone. No one was uttering a thing.
"An hour ago, the South Gate was attacked. 8 Mature Strigoi. At this point we are unaware of how they broke the wards, but one glimmer of good news is they didn't make it past the reinforcements. Unfortunately, they made it past the guards posted at the time. We must bid farewell to Guardian White, and Guardian Gorbachov."
"Jesus Christ.." Eddie muttered next to Rose, who sat in shock. She knew without looking that Dimitri's entire body was still - she knew first hand how hard it was to suddenly lose a friend and mentor. All around the room, people were muttering to each other. If a great, decorated guardian like Alexei Gorbachov could fail, how could they stand to this threat? This was going through every ones mind as Alex looked around with a tight-jawed expression. His eyes landed on Rose, and he quieted the room, and said, "Guardian Hathaway. Did you make any progress on researching the leader's history?" Rose hesitated, biting her lip, but she quickly squared her shoulders, standing with a nod. She felt out of place in her golden dress, but she walked to the front of the room like she was wearing her black combat gear. She stopped next to Alex, and cleared her throat.
"We couldn't find much on Lara herself, but we found a first source document dated during the mid-1800's. It held an account of an attack on a previous Ivashkov heir and his female Guardian - Lara attacked and killed the Guardian, and the Lord Ivashkov killed himself, due to the fact they were committed in marriage. Our theory, other then the obvious large-threat targets like the Queen and Princesses Li-Vasilisa Dragomir and Priscilla Voda, who are monumental for their families, she is targeting Lord Ivashkov as a personal vendetta."
"What personal means are you talking about?" Alex quickly asked. Rose shrugged, and admitted, "I think she used to be a Guardian. A Guardian for an Ivashkov heir, many years before the account we found. And she targets those she find resembles her Lord." Alex nodded, and flicked his eyes down at Rose's dress, giving her a quick grin as he said, "Good, Hathaway. You can sit." She did so, and Alex spoke a bit about each of the departed Guardian's. As they wrapped the meeting up, Rose checked the clock - yep, they'd completely missed the rest of the dinner. Sighing, she started down the hall towards Adrian's, eager to get out of the now-uncomfortable dress.
"Rose?" Dimitri's smooth voice came from behind her, and she paused, letting him catch up. They kept going together, and he finally said, "You spoke well."
"Thanks," she said easily. He shot her a sideways smile, and said, "No, I mean it. You've changed so much in these years. You were completely professional, even though you were screaming on the inside against Lara. I'm proud of you." Rose's step faltered, and she turned to face Dimitri, expressionless. He put his hands on her shoulders, and kissed her forehead softly, "I think the student has finally surpassed the teacher." Rose cracked, and laughed, "Should have seen it coming, comrade. Now get home to that very pregnant woman of yours." He nodded a farewell, and walked off down the hall. She watched him go, and smiled, shaking her head as she resisted doing a victory dance. Surpassed the teacher? Damn right, and very proud of it.