Chapter 22 Back at the Academy

Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy. Everything is the property of Richelle Mead.

Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I was on Spring Break in Las Vegas. Man was it cold there. I was expecting it to be in the 80's. It was in the 60's blah!!! Anyways thanks for your reviews and I have to say that you all have very vivid imaginations and great ideas about what Babushka gave Dimitri. Let's just say that one of you is right about what she gave him, but still not entirely on the right page. Keep reading to find out.

DPOV

While Roza was asleep I thought back to my conversation with Abe Mazur.

(Flashback)

Just as we were getting ready to leave Baia Abe pulled me aside.

"Belikov, I want a word with you." He said gruffly speaking in Russian.

I was not afraid of Abe Mazur, but I didn't want to get on his bad side. I didn't want to cause Rose any pain or make her choose sides so I obeyed his instruction.

"Mr. Mazur what is on your mind?" I asked politely.

"I don't doubt that you've been intimate with my daughter. I wasn't born yesterday so don't try to deny it." My God where was he going with this?

"Look I have high respect for what you do and for your family. From what I know you are an honorable man and I trust that you won't do or say anything to hurt Rosemarie in any way. Although I have been absent from her life I care deeply for her and will not hesitate to remove anyone or anything that hurts or threatens her happiness. Do you understand?" he asked his voice never changing from its even tone.

"Yes, Sir I do. I love Rose and I would never do anything to hurt her and I promise to protect her at all costs." I said truthfully.

"Good. Then we have nothing to worry about." He said turning on his heel rejoining the rest in the living room.

I sighed and rejoined the rest as well. I wasn't expecting him to be so civil.

End Flashback

When we showed up at the academy Roza was still asleep. I'd asked Adrian to keep her that way until she was in the safety of her own room. I didn't want her getting into it with Kirova or anyone. She'd been through enough.

I carried her off the plane under the watchful eye of Janine and into Headmistress Kirova's office. I had already phoned Alberta asking her to meet us there. Lissa and Adrian joined us in case we needed to use compulsion. I disliked the idea of dishonesty, however in this case there wasn't much I could do.

When we arrived Alberta and Kirova were already there waiting. They both gasped as they took in the sight of the precious girl in my arms.

"Guardian Belikov how is this possible?" asked Alberta the shock waring off of her first. "I thought you said she was taken?"

I set Rose down on the couch on the far end of the office and Janine stepped forward.

"I had a lead as to where my daughter was taken and I asked Guardian Belikov to accompany me to find her." She said.

"I know it was risky, but she is my only daughter and I needed to do everything I could."

"Of course Janine I wouldn't expect any less of you." Replied Kirova with a kind smile on her face.

I looked at her in disbelief. Really she wasn't going to make a scene? That was a first.

She glanced over to a sleeping Rose.

"Janine your daughter is by far the brightest, most well trained novice at this school. She is an asset to us all. Her part in the battle last week was tremendous. I am more than thrilled to see that she is alive and well I presume." She said genuinely.

"Has she been examined by Dr. Olendski yet?" Alberta asked.

"No we are headed there next." I said.

"Her room is the same we haven't had the heart to change it yet and with you being gone we have yet to organize any sort of service so that won't be an issue. Thank God." Alberta explained.

I knew I had to speak with her privately because of what she had seen after Rose was taken.

Adrian and Lissa entered the office.

"Princess, Lord Ivashkov I'm glad to see that your trip to visit your parents went well." Greeted Kirova.

"Thank you it went very well." Said Lissa. Then she got a strange look in her eyes as she moved in front of Kirova and Alberta.

"You will forget that Adrian, Christian and I left the country. If anyone asks we were unexpectedly summoned to the Royal Court and that is where we were. Do you understand?" she asked forcefully.

They both nodded in agreement then snapped out of their daze.

Janine looked as if she were about to have a stroke, but remained silent.

"Oh my God Rose you're alive!" cried Lissa running over to Rose and throwing her arms around her.

At this Rose stirred and opened her eyes.

"Liss?" she asked fake tears in her eyes.

"Shhh it's okay everything is okay." Whispered the princess winking at her inconspicuously.

This whole scene of course had been skillfully orchestrated on the plane ride home.

"Guardian Hathway. I'm sure you'll want Rose to get checked out at the infirmary now." Said Kirova.

"Of course." Said Janine walking over and scooping Rose up into her arms. Which given that she was so tiny was quite hysterical to watch. Although she was tiny she was freakishly strong even for a Guardian.

"Mom." Rose groaned. "I can walk you know."

"Just go with it until we're out of here." Said Janine. I chuckled as we all left Kirova's office.

Rose checked out fine with Dr. Olendski seeing as Lissa and Adrian had healed her completely.

"Rose can we talk tomorrow?" asked Janine hesitantly as we walking back from the infirmary.

Rose seemed a little surprised.

"Sure how about you come get me for breakfast tomorrow." She responded.

Janine agreed and went off to guest housing with Adrian.

"See you later Little Dhampir." Called Adrian over his shoulder. He winked at her.

I groaned. How much trouble can one get for killing a Royal Moroi? I wondered. It might be worth it to get rid of him though I pondered this as we reached the Moroi dorms.

"See you later Rose." Called Christian.

Lissa enveloped Rose in a huge hug before joining Christian.

"So." Said Rose kicking halfheartedly at a stone on the ground in front of her.

There was no doubt about it this was awkward. We were standing in front of the Novice dormitory. Should I walk her in? Should I leave her at the door? Should I go in with her and stay? Well I know which I would prefer but I needed to speak with Alberta.

"I guess I'll see you at practice tomorrow?" she asked looking at me expectantly.

"Practice?" I asked dumbly.

"Yea we are still doing that aren't we?" she asked nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

"Of course, but I thought maybe you'd take the rest of the week off and start them up on Monday." I said.

She looked disappointed. "Oh." Is all she said.

I smiled at her. "Roza you don't need to have an excuse to come and see me now." I said chuckling lightly.

"I don't?" she asked surprised.

"No, I always want to see you." I said earnestly. "We have a lot to talk about, but first you need to sleep."

"Okay." She said reluctantly.

I glanced around. We were alone it was dinner time and everyone was in the dining hall. We'd eaten on the plane.

I drew her to me and gently kissed her soft lips. "I love you Roza."

"Mmm Back at you Comrade." She said pulling out of my arms. She turned and went inside her dorm.

I definitely needed a cold shower before bed tonight.

I walked over to the Dhampir dorms and knocked on Alberta's door. I hoped she was here. I didn't think she usually took dinner shift.

I was right and she answered the door. She didn't seem at all surprised to see me.

"Come in Dimitri." She said skipping the formalities now that we were alone.

"Have a seat." She gestured toward one of the two chairs facing each other on the far side of the room.

"I suppose you're here to talk about Rose?" she asked breaking the silence.

I nodded.

"I'm very happy for the two of you." She said bluntly like it was no big deal.

"Wait what?" I stuttered staring at her in disbelief.

"I've known about the two of you for a while now." She admitted with a slight smile.

I just stared at her with my mouth hanging open.

"It was so obvious after the Spokane incident. You were out of your mind with worry much more so than the rest of us. I think you were more upset than Janine."

Had I really been that obvious? I wondered.

"The look on your face when you saw Rose covered in blood holding that sword over Mr. Ashford's body was indescribable. It was relief, mixed with love and fear that she would never recover."

I stared at her dumbfounded. I can't believe I was so easy to read. I had spent years perfecting my guardian mask. Although Rose could see right through it most times.

"Also I do understand Russian." She said with a wink.

Well I'll be damned. The things I'd said when I thought no one was listening.

"And you're not going to report me?" I asked with a grimace.

"Why would I? It's rare that guardian's find true love like you and Rose have. Who am I to say that it is wrong? We are afforded very few luxuries in this line of work so I advise you to hold on tight to what you have and never let go."

Wow to say that I was surprised was the least. I can't believe what I was hearing, but I would take it.

"Besides if Janine granted you permission then the hard part is over." She said letting out a deep chuckle.

"To be honest I thought she'd be on trial for your murder when she found out."

"So did I." I said. "But she was surprisingly calm about the whole thing. Although she did slap me."

"You got off easy."

"That I did."

I got up to leave. "Thank you Alberta. You have no idea what this means to us." I said.

"Just don't get caught until after next week." She said sternly.

"What's next week?"

"I thought you of all people would know?" she said with a smirk.

As I left her room and trudged slowly down the hallways towards my own I thought about her words.

I scratched my head. What's next week? Hell I didn't even know what day of the week it was right now let alone the date. When was the attack? How long were we gone?

I didn't realize now tired I was until I sat down to remove my shoes.

I needed a shower. As I went through my nightly routine I ran through the list of things I had to do in the next few days. I determined that today was Friday. The attack happened on a Thursday the rescue on Friday. I left for Russia late Saturday we were there three days one at my mother's a day and half back that puts us at today being Friday which makes tomorrow Saturday the 27th of February?

It hit me then. Rose's birthday was the first week in March. March 7th I think. That's what Alberta meant by keeping it under wraps until after next week. She will be 18. I smiled I had her birthday present all ready to go. It wasn't much, but I think she'll like it.

I had Guardian duty tomorrow. I still had to talk to Rose about what Babushka had said as well as Abe Mazur and how she escaped the Strigoi. Then there was the relationship talk. I needed to call over to the Royal court and put in a favor. My head hurt just thinking about it. Thank God my shift was in the evening tomorrow.

I needed time to sleep and then to settle things with Rose.

I fell asleep the instant my head hit the pillow.

Review or Abe will send his assassins after Dimitri=)