The little hotel that Adrian found for us wasn't great but it wasn't exactly horrible either. The lighting us dim and everything looked like it might have costed a pretty penny. I was almost afraid to touch anything. Lucky for us this was all coming out of Adrian's pocket. God knows I didn't have the cash to shell out for this type of place. If it were up to me or Dimitri we would have settled for a plain old hotel with a phone and TV.

"You seriously don't expect me to sleep on the couch. Come on! I paid for this damn room!" Adrian was red in the face.

"Well Rose is kind of pregnant. Don't you think it would be better for her to sleep in an actual bed?" Dimitri was already lounging on one of the couches.

He sighed, "How about sharing?"

I scoffed, "You seriously don't expect me to sleep in the same bed as you."

"This is just plain old double teaming. It's two against one..." He dropped back into the long couch.

I shrugged, "Maybe you should have asked for a room with two beds or maybe we should have gone to a cheaper hotel."

He threw his bag in the air and kicked it. It flew across the living room, slammed against the wall and landed with a thud by the coffee table. "I hate those crappy little hotels. And all the rooms with more than one bed were all taken. All of them, can you believe that?" He dropped his head back and sighed. "My life is slowly starting to suck... even more than before if possible."

"Well that's a really sad story but I'm sure if you tried my shoes on you'd be pleased with your current situation." Sydney was still standing by the door.

Adrian rolled his eyes, "I am sure." He gave me a stern look, "Why did she have to come with us again?"

I threw a small pillow at him and it ended up smacking him across the face. "Considering that the Strigoi found her, what makes you think the Alchemists wouldn't have found her there too? We need to keep her with us."

He forced a chuckled, "Great."

"I can always get my own room. Wouldn't want Adrian sucking me dry in my sleep." She covered her neck with the palm of her hand.

"Now that you mention it, it doesn't sound like a bad idea." He taunted her and licked his lips.

Dimitri sighed heavily, "Don't you two ever get tired of fighting?"

Adrian shrugged, "I was just kidding of course." He eyed Sydney from head to toe. "I don't drink bitter blood."

Sydney made him a sour face, "Good one. Did you come up with that all by yourself." She clapped her hands slowly so that it came across as sarcastic.

"You are starting to really get on my nerves..."

"Just barely? Because you already burned through mine..."

"Okay! I think the guys should go get some food while Sydney and I unpack and get things situated here. It's going to be a long trip if it was anything like what I went through." I patted Sydney's shoulder and she half smiled. I could still see the line of sight between her and Adrian. If this were a cartoon there would have been electricity shooting from one to the other.

Dimitri grabbed Adrian by his collar and pulled him to his feet, "Let's get going then while we still have some time to find something decent to eat."

"As long as it gets me away from she-demon." He whispered the words loud enough so that Sydney could still hear.

She scoffed, "I am not the monster here!"

"Could have fooled me, Alchemist." He smirked. I could tell he enjoyed getting under her skin.

Before Sydney could respond the door slammed. "Ugghhh! I really do not like him!" She crossed her arms firmly over her chest.

"Really? I couldn't tell."

She forced a laugh. "Is he always like this? I mean, hiding out at his house even for that short time was exhausting."

I shook my head, "He's a good guy. You just got to give him a chance."

"I think I've given him plenty." She eyed the door and finally just relaxed. "There's just something about him that sets me on edge."

"Trust me, when I first met him I probably would have agreed with you. He's selfish, self centered, egotistic, and manipulative." I sighed and raked my fingers through my hair, "But then once I got to know him I found that he can be sweet, kind, and he has a good heart. He just tends to be stubborn about showing it to people."

She leaned against the bed frame, "There are times when he acts like he might be showing me some kindness but then he has to throw in his unending sarcasm. Like he's purposely sabatoging himself to look like a villain."

"It's the part that he thinks he plays best." I shrugged.

"Is it?" Her attention was more on the ceiling than it was on the conversation.

I shook my head, "No. It's not."

She twisted a loose string from the blanket on her finger, "I guess someone ought to tell him that."

"I think it would be best if he just figured it out himself." I patted her shoulder and walked off to start unpacking.

She followed behind me, "Why do you say that?"

I shrugged, "Because he's Adrian. He's not one to take what others say to heart unless he believes it too." I started on my own bag, "Everything else is just babbling to him."

"I suppose that sounds about right." She opened her own bag and started neatly unpacking. Definitely a candidate for OCD.

I couldn't help but notice that she looked like she was off day dreaming. I tapped her knee, "Why so interested in Adrian all of a sudden?"

She shook her head sharply, "I'm not."

"You're not?" I shrugged it off. "If you say so."

She instantly stopped organizing her things, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing. I just thought you might, I don't know, be a little intrigued by him." I kept my eyes down on the half unpacked bag and kept on going.

"Intrigued?" She sat up straight and tugged my arm, "You think I like him, don't you?"

I stopped and put my hands up in surrender, "I didn't say that."

She scoffed, "You're implying it."

"In what way?" I grinned innocently.

"I'm not having this conversation with you." She turned away and tried to resume her work.

I shrugged, "Fine by me..."

"I mean I get that he's completely gorgeous and he's got that whole bad boy thing down to an art but he's also completely arrogant and rude and ..." She stopped when she realized I was just staring at her ramble on.

I stifled a laugh and mockingly replied, "You totally like him!"

She shot up from her spot and stiffened up, "I do not!"

The door opened and Dimitri and Adrian walked in, arms full of food and gear. They both paused and stared at the odd scene of me unpacking while Sydney stood over me like she was about to explode.

Adrian cleared his throat, "This doesn't feel awkward at all..."

Sydney turned red in the face, "Nobody asked you." She pushed past him and walked into the bathroom, "I'm taking a shower." Then she slammed the door.

Dimitri rose a brow, "I am actually kind of scared to ask."

"Don't." I got back to unpacking when the scent of food reached me. I looked up at the bags. "Smells good. What did you guys get?"

Dimitri opened a huge bag and pulled out a white box, "Saw this and thought you might like it. Is that what you smell?" He held it out to me and the delicious smell intensified.

"Mmmm." My stomach grumbled. "Yes, yes it is."

He laughed and opened it. There were small tan circles that resembled funny shaped buns. Whatever was encrusted in it was what was making that smell. "It's called pirozhki. Kind of like a meat pie with veggies." He tapped two of them, "These ones are pastries. Jam fillings."

I grabbed at one, "That sounds really good right about now."

He pushed my hand away, "Dessert comes after you eat real food." He smiled and I caved.

"Fine." I picked up a meat pie and I have to admit it smelled great. My mouth instantly watered just before I took a big bite. "Wow, these are really good."

Dimitri grinned and glared at Adrian, "Told ya."

Adrian shrugged, "What do I know?" He pulled out another bag and sat at the table.

I looked between them both, "What are you guys talking about?"

"When I stopped to get these for you Adrian thought you wouldn't like foreign food." He shook his head.

"This is traditional Russian food?" I kept gobbling down the buns bit by bit.

He nodded, "My mother makes them from scratch too." He looked down at the box of pirozhkis. "I haven't had any since I left for the U.S. to join St. Vlad's."

I held up the box, "Want one?"

He chuckled, "No. I'm fine. I'd rather eat my mother's cooking."

Adrian laughed, "Aww! Isn't that cute?"

Dimitri just shrugged, "I honestly like my mother's cooking better. Don't you?"

He scoffed, "My mother? Cook?" He raked his fingers through his hair, "Right."

"We could always go by the house and visit your family if you want." I gulped down another. "I mean we're practically right next door."

"I wouldn't want to put any of them in danger. We're not in the position to be going on any recreational visitations." He sat down at the table and pulled out his own bag of food.

I laughed, "Why do you always make everything sound so official?"

He blushed slightly. "I don't mean to."

"You always seem so serious." Adrian forked some food into his mouth.

"I cannot help it." He looked like he was trying to be casual but something about our remarks bothered him. I could see it on his face. And I'm sure Adrian could see it in his aura.

I gently ran my hand over his shoulder and gave him a warm smile. I leaned over and kissed his cheek, "You're too sweet."

He smiled to acknowledge my attempt to change the subject and kissed my cheek back, "Thank you."

"Cute, real cute." Adrian looked like he was forcing himself to look down at his food and eat quickly.

Sydney walked out. She looked so neat and tidy with her hair slicked back into a pony tail. "So what did I get to eat?" She walked over to the table and sat beside me.

Adrian slid a box over to her. "Rose once told me you don't eat much so I got you some sliders and fries."

"Sliders?" She opened the box and found two little burgers with a medium fry.

He forced a laugh, "You don't know what sliders are?"

She blushed, "I'm not exactly use to names for food unless it's common."

Adrian shrugged, "I think sliders are pretty common."

"Can I just eat in peace?" She picked up a slider and started nibbling at it.

He saluted her, "Yes, ma'am."

Dimitri threw a glance my way and rose his brow. I nodded in their direction and smiled. He smiled back and returned to his meal. He probably noticed the same thing I did. Adrian was trying to be nice, in his own way. Either he was getting use to Sydney or he was just tired of bickering. It made me feel better about our situation.

Once everyone was done and the table cleared Dimitri and I laid back on the small couch together. He wrapped me in his arms and I felt so secure. The TV was blaring some corny movie we found on cable but it couldn't get me attention. Couldn't pull me from Dimtiri.

Sydney and Adrian sat awkwardly together on the long couch. One sitting on each end of it. It looked like they couldn't get far enough away from one another. She was curled up against the right arm of the couch. Her hands folded neatly on her lap with her legs crossed in the opposite direction of Adrian. He was lounging back in the left arm cushion. His feet propped up on the coffee table while his hands cradling the back of his head. He looked comfortable but I caught him sneaking uneasy glances at Sydney and shifting in his place.

I turned my face so that my lips were just at Dimitri's ear, "Does any of this feel weird to you?"

He smirked and whispered back, "I thought I was the only one."

"I don't know if it's that they cannot stand each other or... something else." I wiggled my brow.

He laughed softly, "I know what you mean. It feels like tension in the air but not the malicious kind."

I squinted at Adrian, "I wonder if he can see it."

"What do you mean?" he tilted his head to look at Adrian.

"You know, the aura. He can see it with his Spirit magic." I looked back at Dimitri.

"Maybe he does and that's why they're acting weird."

Adrian sighed loudly, "Okay. What is it that you two keep whispering about over there? It's distracting me from this cheesy movie." He tossed the remote on the coffee table.

Sydney looked around, "I didn't hear anything."

"That's because you're only human, Syd." He smirked.

She glared at him, "Seriously? Must I smack you to get it through that thick skull of yours that I do not want to be called Syd?"

He shrugged, "Why not? I like it."

She blushed intensely red, "I... I prefer my real name."

"Technically it's an abbreviation of your name."

"Well I like my whole name better."

He smiled, "Ahh, so you do kind of like Syd."

She shook her head, "What?"

He waved her off and casually replied, "Drop it." He turned back to me and Dimitri, "So what is it that you guys were discussing? Would you like to share with the rest of the class?" He made a grand gesture like he was giving us the floor to speak.

I looked at Dimitri, "Nothing really. Just mushy talk."

Adrian eyed me, "Really?"

Dimitri nodded, "Yea. Would you like us to share?"

He made a face, "I think I'm good." He leaned back into the couch and turned his attention to the TV.

Sydney kept staring at me. I mouthed the words 'what?' She shook her head and kept a serious expression. She finally mouthed back 'liar'. I grinned, shrugged, and turned my attention back to the TV as well.

There was a pretty young girl. Couldn't be more than sixteen. She had rosy cheeks and eyes so blue that they closely resembled Christian's. Her lips were full and stained a deep pink. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders down to her hips. She was laying back in a field of flowers that looked like they could be daisies. Her dress bellowed out around her nearly covering her feet. Suddenly a handsome young man with blonde hair and grey-blue eyes appeared. He stared down at her lovingly. She stretched her arms out to him and smiled sweetly. He smiled back and lowered himself down beside her.

My heart swelled as they kissed. It was always the small stolen moments meant to be private that made me feel warm inside. It brightened my mood to see that love still existed among the world today. Even if it was just in some cheesy movie.

Then the screen went black. Adrian stretched out his limbs, "Okay, kiddos. Time for bed."

"What? We didn't even get to see what happens?" I tossed a throw pillow at him.

He was barely able to block it from hitting his face, "Yea, well it's bed time, Little Dhampir."

"But..."

Dimitri kissed my head, "Yup. Come on." He gently scooted me off the couch.

I stood up and crossed my arms, "You cannot be serious."

Adrian pulled back the curtain and a beam of light ran through, "It's late... er, well technically it's early so it's time for rest until our time of day comes around again." He dropped the curtain and walked off to the bathroom. "I'm going to shower real quick. If I'm not out in ten, call the police."

I threw myself back onto the bed. "I guess I am kind of tired."

Dimitri splayed out right beside me. Our sides touched and I felt warmth spread through me. "Do you want me to lay with you?"

"Do you want to sleep in bed with me?" I wrapped an arm over his shoulder.

He leaned in so close that our noses were nearly touching, "I miss laying in bed with you."

I laughed, "It hasn't even been a day."

"Any time away from you is too long." He softly kissed my lips. I felt his fingers run through my hair and his other hand snaked its way around my waist. He pulled me against him and the lines of our bodies merged together. I felt him chuckle.

"What?" I pulled back a little. He was smiling from ear to ear.

He looked down at my stomach, "I can already feel your bump."

I ran my hand over my stomach. It was very small and hardly too noticeable but it was there. "Great. I'm going to be huge."

He shook his head, "I think you'll make for a beautiful pregnant woman." He pulled me to him and kissed me again.

I snuggled my head against his chest and stared towards the window across the room. Adrian had shut the blinds tight so there was no light. No sign that the sun was actually shining on the outside. In some ways I missed the sun. It had been a while since I last set foot outside during midday. Human hours midday at least. I could barely remember how blue the sky could be, how unreal the clouds could look, or how warm the sun could make my skin.

I relaxed as Dimitri started running his fingers on my side. It felt so comforting. It was the perfect distraction I needed from my day dreaming. I gripped his fingers and squeezed gently. He returned the favor by squeezing back.

The world started to get hazy and fade away. I saw Adrian come out of the bothroom. Hair still dripping small droplets of water. He walked over to the couch and he suddenly came to an abrupt halt. He smirked and shook his head. Sydney was fast asleep on his spot. She looked so peaceful and sweet. At first I expected him to wake her up and tell her to move but he didn't. He stood there just a moment more. Just staring down at her like she was something he'd never seen before. Almost in awe.

Finally he bent down and stretched her legs out on the couch. He stopped when she shifted and moaned lightly. When she stopped his smile returned. He took the small blanket and gently covered her from shoulder to feet. I saw his hand linger on her shoulder and a soft smile spread on his face.

Just like that he turned and sat on the small couch. He laid out as best as he could. His legs bent so they wouldn't dangle off the couch while one hand cradled the back of his head. He stared at the ceiling. His mind was somewhere else. I could see him looking up but he looked like he was staring through the ceiling, past the roof. Like there was some greater significance beyond these walls. He was day dreaming. By the content and longing look on his face I would think he was dreaming that he was bathing in the sun.

The world went dark and the last thing I saw were my lashes.

By Shadow Kissed Mori