The place looked like a giant bonfire. I stayed staring into the hot blaze until the sun started rising. We all did. I was laying back in Dimitri's arms while he ran his hands through my hair. I still had tears on my face and I tried to hold back the sobs I had stuck in my chest and throat. I sighed heavily and one escaped. Dimitri hushed me and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"It's going to be okay," his voice was a low whisper.

I bobbed my head in a pathetic attempt of a nod, "This is so unreal. It's like a terrible dream. It has to be a bad dream."

He pressed me to him, "I wish it was too." I felt something wet hit my face and was instantly reminded of Gabe's blood leaking on my cheek. I wiped at it quickly. But it was clear. Just a tear. Dimitri was crying again.

I cupped his face and wiped away a tear. I wanted to comfort him. To say anything to take away the pain. I settled for a kiss. I pressed my lips to his. The sensation helped to mask some of the pain. But it tasted of salty and bitter tears.

"We should find his remains," Eddie was up and dusting off his pants. "I don't want to leave him in that pile of monsters."

Mia stood beside him, "Let me put out this fire." She walked towards the burning building and inhaled. She still looked so weak as she meaded her hands through the air.

"You're still too weak, Mia." Adrian was the only one that had stayed standing. He was leaning up against a tree in the shade. His face was kept hidden in the darkness that shade provided him.

She scoffed, "I can muster up enough strength to try."

He adjusted himself so that he was facing away, "Suit yourself."

She kept at it. But nothing was happening. Suddenly her knees buckled and she fell. Eddie ran to her. He wrapped an arm around her, "You need to rest."

"We need to find Gabe," tears were running down her face. "I can do this."

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a soft spot in the grass. "Please, Mia. You've done enough. We can find him," he said as her laid her down.

She nodded and wiped her eyes, "Okay. I'll... I'll be here."

He turned to us and stuck out his hand to me, "Let's get him out of there."

I pulled myself up. Dimitri stood beside me. Alek came towards us too. He was staring off at the fire, "I want to help too."

Adrian stepped out into the light. His eyes were red and dark circles marked under them. His normally messy hair was nearly flat. The green of his eyes seemed dim as well. He was wore out physically and emotionally. Just like the rest of us. "I'll come too."

I shook my head, "No, you should stay here with Mia. Make sure she's safe."

He smirked but it looked forced, "So now I'm on guard duty?"

"Please don't. I... I don't have the heart for it right now," I ran my hands over my face.

He stayed silent and just nodded. He stalked off back to his spot in the shade and leaned on the tree. He kept his back to me. I felt like reaching out and hugging him. God knows I needed the comfort too. But I couldn't. I had to find Gabe first.

I turned back to Dimitri and the others. We crossed the fence and looked around at the disaster. I hadn't notice just how much damage we had done. There were pieces of the building as far as a few yards out. The grass around us was burnt black and brown. The air smelled like burnt plastic, wood, and flesh. I cringed as I realized that Gabe could possibly be burnt to a crisp. It was hard to imagine what condition his body was in.

"You and Alek check the building. He was on this side," Dimitri told Eddie.

He nodded, "Yes, sir." Both men ran off to search the debris.

Dimitri and I went to search through all the rubble that had flew every which way. There were still pieces of Strigoi laying under some parts of the building. Some times I would stop and wonder if it could be a part of Gabe. But once I uncovered them they turned to ash in the sunlight. I just brushed it away into the wind.

"Hey! I found him!" Dimitri's voice carried out over every sound.

I ran towards him. And just at his feet laid Gabe. He was partially burned on his arms, legs and chest but his face was untouched. Dried blood had turned to crust on his lips and chest. The stake was still in him. Dimitri bent down and pulled it out. It left a hole in his chest that made me shudder.

"How do we get him home?" I kneeled beside his body and placed a hand on his chest.

Dimitri brushed away some more debris that were still on his legs. "We'll carry him to the van and lay him in back. We'll discuss the details for... well we'll discuss it when we get back." He pulled off his duster, "Help me put him on it."

Eddie, Dimitri and Alek lifted him onto it. It was like a sling. They carried him off towards the fence. I held it open so they could get through. Once we were on the other side Adrian and Mia stood up. They stared in dismay.

Mia walked up and touched his head. She placed her hand over her mouth to silence a sob. "I'm glad you found him."

Adrian just grabbed the extra corner from Dimitri. "I want to help carry him." Dimitri nodded to him in thanks.

I had taken a few steps. My eyes never left Gabe's face. And suddenly we were already loading him into the van. Once he was settled in the back Alek, Eddie, Mia and Adrian climbed in. Two sat on either side on him.

Dimitri walked me to the passanger side of the van. I leaned against the door. Unwilling to face to truth that we were going back and Gabe didn't make it. He cupped my face, "I know. I know it hurts."

I crashed into his chest and held him there. His arms encircled me and tightened. I started crying again. Hot tears ran down my face and my head was starting to hurt. But nothing compared to that empty void I had in my chest. It ached so badly. I just wanted it all to stop. He rested his chin on my head and sighed heavily.

I looked up at him, "Can we take him home? Please?"

His smile was fragile, "Home?"

I nodded, "Back in the states. So he can always be close by."

He pressed a kiss to my head, "Yes, we can take him home."

I was finally able to release him. He helped me into me seat and closed the door. I leaned my head on the window. The coolness of the glass helped soothe my headache. I heard Dimitri's door open and close. The engine hummed as it came to life and we were off on the road again.

The scenery seemed so much different now. The sun was peaking over the horizon giving everything a golden color. Even the green of the trees were painted with streaks of gold. The buildings and houses were lit up and made even the abandoned ones look wonderous. Everything seemed so alive. And I envied it. I shut my eyes to block out the view.

It wasn't fair for everything to look so peaceful. For everything to look like it was so full of life and fire. Not when Gabe was laying just a few feet behind me lifeless. I turned my head and looked back at him. The sunlight was breaking through the back windows causing his face to be lit. Aside from the dried blood on his body he looked like he could be sleeping. The light brought everything to life. I had to turn away.

Dimitri's hand found mine and squeezed gently. I looked at him. His eyes were still on the road but the hard look on his face gave him away. He was trying to hold all the hurt inside. He was trying to be strong. But if anyone here had the right to feel that way it would be him. He had every right to be in utterly unbearable pain. But I knew him better than that. He wouldn't let the world see him break.

I rested my head on the window again and shut my eyes. The day had just started and I want it to be over already. This has to be a bad dream. It's all so unreal.

The van came to a stop. I opened my eyes to find us in front of Dimitri's family's house. I reluctantly opened the door and stepped out. I walked around to the back and opened the door. My four comrades came out slowly. Each looking back at Gabe before walking off to the house.

I stayed there. Dimitri made his way to my side. He placed his hand on my arm, "Let's go inside. We'll have to move him at night."

I nodded, "Okay." That's all I could think to say. I didn't really want to just leave him there but I didn't want any wondering eyes to see us moving a dead body.

We walked to the door where the others were waiting. Dimitri opened the door and we all filed in. I couldn't help but look back at the van. I couldn't help but picture Gabe laying in there. And I couldn't help but see that smile. The last one I saw on him before he died.

"You're back!" Sydney came running down the stairs. She wrapped her arms around Adrian's neck. He hugged her to him. It must have triggered something because he started crying. He buried his face in her hair and cried softly. Her smile broke as she held him. "What? What's wrong? What happened?"

That only made the rest of us break down as well. Mia and Eddie held one another. He walked her to the living room where they left my view. Alek rested his head on the wall and was covering his face. I could see his body shake as he tried to hold in the sobs. As for me, I was buried in Dimitri's arms. My heart shattered the more I thought about it. Gabe's death was an unwanted reality.

Viktoria appeared on the stairs. Her eyes wide with worry. She descended slowly, "What happened? Why is everyone so upset?"

Dimitri looked up, "Gabe. He didn't make it."

She clasped a hand over her mouth, "What?"

"Oh my God," Sydney's eyes widened and watered. "I'm so sorry." She tightened her hold on Adrian.

I pulled away from Dimitri, "We're going to take him back home for the funeral."

"When are you all leaving?" She sat down on the bottom step and crossed her arms over her chest.

Dimitri and I exchanged glances, "We should leave tomorrow."

She frowned, "Oh."

"I cannot go with you," Alek still had his head against the wall. He didn't look our way as he spoke.

I nodded, "I know. I'm sorry."

He shrugged, "We didn't get along too well anyways." That didn't change the fact that he was still hurting. They may have argued the day before the mission but the next day they had settled things between themselves. And it always hurt to lose a comrade.

"I'm going with you all," Sydney said as she smoothed her hand over Adrian's hair.

He shook his head, "No. It's not safe for you over there."

"I'm not just going to stay behind and wait here," she looked him in the eye. "You can make me a disguise. I don't care. I'm giong."

He nodded. No snark or smirk to accompany his words. It was strange. He was rarely ever serious. "Okay. But once we get there you are staying in doors unless it's for the funeral."

She gave him a crooked smile, "I promise."

Those words stung. A promise. What good was a promise if someone died? Apparently Dimitri and I had made Gabe the same promise. That we would leave if anything went wrong. That no matter what we would live. And I wasn't sure if that promise alone costed him his life. Maybe if we had just tried he would still be alive. If we had just moved a little faster. If I had killed more Strigoi. I don't know. I just wanted to go back and bring him home with us. Alive.

"We should all get some rest. It's been a hard day," Dimitri's voice was low and meek. He wrapped an arm around me.

I placed a hand on his chest, "He's right. Let's all get some rest." I looked around at everyone. They all looked so worn out. Whether it was from the fight or the loss I couldn't really say for sure. Perhaps it was everything.

We all parted ways into our perspective rooms. Dimitri and I somehow managed to get to our room without releasing one another. I walked in first and he shut the door behind us. I turned to look at him and he was still facing the door. He started leaning on it. And then he started shaking.

I went to him, "Dimitri..." I reached out to him and he suddenly turned to me. His face streaked with tears. The look in his eyes broke my heart. I had never seen him so sad. Not since the day he was saved from being Strigoi.

He pulled me into his arms and buried his face in my hair. He sobbed heavily. Soon his legs gave out and I helped to lower him to the ground. He laid there on the wooden floor with his head in my lap. I brushed his hair back and hushed him. My legs felt wet and warm from his tears. But every time his body shook from the sobs my chest would tighten. At times I found it unbearable to breathe. I wanted to take his pain away.

We stayed like that for what felt like hours. He soon fell asleep. I kept running my fingers through his hair. The silky feel helped to pull my thoughts away from this world. I focused all of me into that feeling. The gorgeous shine of browns that highlighted the darker shades of brown. The smooth and soft texture as each strand slid from my fingers. And before I knew it I was fast asleep as well.

The darkness had crept up on me. I was floating in a blanket of blackness. It was silent and peaceful. This was the comfort I wanted. The escape I needed. This was my paradise. But then paradise appeared. The fields of grass and peonies. The tall and blooming cherry trees filling the air with its sweet fragrance. The waterfall that seemed to crash and flow so perfectly. The moon and sun that kissed the purpled sky. And sitting by the pool of water was Adrian. His head was hanging and his feet were dipped in the water.

"You think I could have saved him?" His voice sounded like an echo.

I walked up and stood just behind him, "What?"

He didn't move, "If I had at least tried, do you think I could have saved Gabe?"

I sat beside him and slowly lowered my feet into the water. It was cool and comforting. I sighed, "I don't know. Maybe not. I saw..." I shut my eyes and turned away.

His hand gently cradled my shoulder, "What did you see?"

I took in a deep breath, "When Dimitri and I were climbing down his body had gone limp. He had," I took in another deep breath, "had already died before we even got out. And you were weak. I really don't think any of us could have saved him." I opened my eyes and looked at him. His eyes were so sad.

"How did it happen? He was right behind you."

My heart ached and I clenched my hands into fists, "He was. I crawled in first. Dimitri came in right behind me. Gabe was just about to climb in when... when.." I planted my face into my hands and cried.

Adrian wrapped his arms around me. He hushed me, "You know it's not your fault."

I nodded since that's all I could do.

"And even though he is gone he would have been happy to know we all made it. And that we blew those demons to hell." He tilted my face to look at him. He smirked, "You know he would be."

A laugh forced its way out of my lips. "I know."

He pulled me back against him. He was so warm. And he smelled like his cologne. I could feel his chest rising and falling heavily. He was trying to control his breathing. His hands were firm on my back. "I just can't help but wonder if it would have helped any if I had tried."

"It's not your fault either, Adrian. We were both spent. There was really nothing to be we could do. What's done is done. There's no changing it. No matter how much it hurts." I pulled away enough to look at him.

He was staring at me with those gorgeous green eyes. Here they didn't look so worn out. The redness was gone and so were the dark circles. But then I remembered that this was a Spirit dream. He smirked, "I wish I could be as accepting as you."

I pulled out of his hold and looked down at the water. It looked so cool and welcoming. "Accepting?" I don't know if I was accepting or trying to convince myself. But then again I am becoming pretty good at acting mature and stuff. I returned my thoughts so the water. I'm tired of acting mature. I leaned forward and let myself fall in. My body tightened from the sudden shock of cold.

I began to let myself sink. The lower I got the darker the surface of the water became. Soon all the blue had faded into darkness. It felt like floating in the emptiness of sleep. And that's all I wanted. I just wanted the pleasure of having darkness engulf me as I slept. But then I realized I couldn't breathe.

A hand shot at me and pulled me out by my arm. Adrian was staring at me with confusion, "The point of that was?" He sounded a little upset.

I coughed a little and shrugged, "I don't know. I just wanted to go for a swim."

He shook his head and a traitorous smile smoothed over his face, "Little dhampir, I am seriously getting to a point where I will not bring you here anymore if you want to act childish." He chuckled.

I couldn't help but laugh. That laugh turned into an uncontrollable one. I couldn't stop. I was stuck in a fit of giggles. And apparently so was he. We was laying down beside me holding his stomach while cracking up. I rocked back and forth trying to calm myself. Soon our laughter was slowly stifled. I sighed out the last of my laughs.

"Feel better?" Adrian was smiling at me.

I nodded, "A little I guess." I felt my smile fade, "I'm going to miss him. We didn't know him for long but he was a good guy. And we were planning on taking him back with us. To get him a spot with the Guardians or something."

"Kind of reminded me of Dimitri," He said as he ran his hand through his hair.

I smiled, "Me too. I even told him so."

He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow, "Are you really ready to get back to Court?"

"No. I don't really feel like going anywhere," I propped myself up on my elbows. "And how's Sydney?"

He grinned, "A mix. She gazes at me with this dreamy wanting look but then she gives me this look like she's unsure of herself." He laid back again, "I don't know what to do with her."

I laughed, "She does want you. But you have to realize she is also fighting her unbringing. She was raised not to like Our kind all too much."

"You mean my kind. The Moroi." He scoffed, "We're not even bad!"

"No, I mean Our kind. Dhampirs included." I gave him a sour face, "And you guys still drink blood."

He grinned at me, "Didn't stop you from dating me."

I shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a sucker for danger."

He chuckled, "I thought it was due to my undeniable charm and ridiculously good looks."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," I looked away innocently.

"Oh, ha ha ha! Good one, little dhampir." He sat up, "We ought to get back to sleep. It's been a long day."

I sat up beside him, "I thought we were already asleep. Isn't that what you always tell me?"

He nodded, "True. But you should really get some real rest. Tomorrow is another long day."

I laid back again, "You're right. And thank you."

"For what?" He looked over at me.

I smiled, "For being such a good friend."

He leaned down towards me and I felt my body stiffen. Is he really going to try to kiss me?! And he did. On my forehead. It was a soft little peck. I relaxed again.

His voice was no more than a whisper, "Good night, little dhampir."

By Shadow Kissed Mori

To My Readers: May we all take a moment to send a thought or a prayer to those we have lost dear to our hearts. It never easy to cope with any kind of loss. And we all deal with it in our own ways. May the souls of our lost rest in peace and receive our love. Thank you.