Disclaimer: I do not own VA Richelle Mead does and the only characters I own are Mason Jnr and Abe Jnr, but the plot is all mine - sorry if it upsets anybody - what can I say I have a twisted mind sometimes J.

Big shout out to the few people who reviewed I will mention ye in the next chp but I'm short of time L

Love you all

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DPOV

I landed in Russia and soon arrived in Baia. I was becoming less and less unsure of what was the right decision to make but a life without Roza was unimaginable and while she wanted me to go back to her it was so I wouldn't become stirgoi, so she didn't have to deal with that guilt and Mason. I felt so bad for how I was about to rip their lives apart but I felt I had no other option. Maybe I would be able to communicate with my grandmother, while she was cryptic she was full of advice!

My grandmother had told me to stay away from my family but I had to see them one more time. I put my excellent Guardian skills into use and blended in perfectly so much so that my own mother had not even noticed me. On the last day however Yeva did and gave me a lot to think about!

"Dimka is this what your heart really desires? You still have the chance of a HAPPY future - be responsible and don't act so rashly it is most unusual for you. Remember for once in your life follow your heart."

With that she had walked off, leaving me torn into bits. My heart told me to return to Roza but could I bring myself to do it?

ROSE POV

I was very unsettled over the last couple of days and didn't know why. I missed Dimitri so much and had came to the conclusion he wasn't coming back. The thought deeply hurt. I had thought he would come back for Mason if nothing else but no avail. The only news I had from him was that he had been in Russia, possibly saying goodbye to his family. The thought filled me with guilt, I had never intended for it to get this far but once Dimitri got an idea into his head he stuck with it, he was like me in more ways than one would think. Adrian had been sooo supportive but it's not doing any good - I just want to wallow in self-pity and inflict as much mental pain as possible on myself, a small penance for the turmoil I have inflicted on him. I was shaken out of my mind however by my precious little son who reminds me sooo much of Dimitri it hurt to look at him

"MOMMY AUNTY LISSA NEEDS YOU"

I hurried out after him to see what Lissa could possibly want this time.

DIMITRI POV

I was seated most uncomfortably in the plane. I felt uneasy and I reckoned it was coming from Adrian. Right now he was blocking me so I had no idea what was causing his sense of unease. However my curiosity did not have to wait long. I was pulled into Adrian's head and was horrified with what I saw.

ADRIAN POV

I was feeling uneasy - something was not right but I couldn't for my life figure our what. I decided to try and take my mind off things by going to visit Rose, my Little Dhampir. She was very out of sorts without Dimitri but I put up a mental barrier so as not to be influencing his decision on what he wanted to do with his life - as his grandmother says it is up to him to follow his heart, I just hope it leads him to Rose or she will be severely distraught.

I arrived at Rose's and couldn't find her - I guessed she was at Lissa's so I made my way over there. Little did I know what I would be getting myself into.

I waltzed in the front door as per usual but instead of being met in the doorway by Lissa I heard a grunting sound followed by a high pitched, cruel laugh - the laugh of a stirgoi after severely injuring her prey. I hoped their weren't too many and wondered if Christian was around as I would be of no assistance to Rose when it came to stirgoi. Out of the corner of my eye I spied a terrified little Mason. I motioned for him to silently make his way towards me. He did so without attracting any attention from the stirgoi. Despite his fear there were no tears - I was amazed but I suppose I shouldn't have been, he was so like Dimitri and Rose. Once Mason reached me we made a hasty exit. I didn't want to leave Rose and Lissa behind but I knew that if it came down to I,t both Rose and Lissa would have wanted it that way as would Dimitri, if he were here - in mind or spirit or should I say in mind or body? But anyway I had to get Mason to safety and alert the Guardians of a stirgoi invasion through the wards - to the Royal Quarters none the less.

I told the first Guardian I met about the intrusion and trusted him to deal with the matter in an efficient manner. He told me to alert as many people as I could and to keep Mason out of harms way. He also advised that I keep him occupied so as not to let his mind dwell on the attack. I did as he advised and soon the court was put in lock down. I sat for hours awaiting any news.

DIMITRI POV

I couldn't believe it - what had happened to the rest of the Royal Guard? I hoped that against all odds that Roza would be okay. Adrian was far to stressed to put up his mental barriers. He was worried about Lissa and Roza as he had heard no news -good or bad- of them. He knew that the Royal Guard was severely depleted and that Mason was getting fed up, wanting to see Rose.

ADRIAN POV

Mason eventually fell asleep so I took this as an opportunity to ring the clinic and see if their was any news.

"Hello Linda speaking how may I help you?"

"Hello Linda this is Adrian Ivashkov I was wondering if you could give me any news on Guardian Rose Hathaway or Lissa Dragomir please?"

"Just a moment Lord Ivashkov"

"Well Lord Ivashkov-"

"Adrian"

"Adrian both are alive. Guardian Hathaway is barely hanging on and the only survivor of the Royal Guard while Queen Dragomir had collapsed, most likely from her attempts to heal Guardian Hathaway while she herself was badly injured."

"Thank you" I replied in a monotone and hung up. I wondered if Rose had actually been revived again which would cause Lissa to be out for a few days at the least.

ROSE POV

I was awake, well my mind was at any rate. I could remember what had happened and I knew I was at the clinic but I couldn't move. I Could here people around me Christian, Adrian and Mason. I felt very relived that they were okay. I had hoped Christian would get Mason out. I wasn't the least bit surprised that Adrian was here either as himself and Mason got on so well despite Mason's behaviour was very similar to Dimitri's most of the time. Part of me wished that Dimitri would arrive but still no word. With a loss for anything better to do I remembered back to that evening.

Mason had rushed in telling me that Lissa wanted me. I thought nothing of it but hurried over all the same, I could feel she was stressed. When I got there I instantly knew something was amiss. The door was wide open and I walked in, and became face to face with a stirgoi, or rather face to back. I silently stabbed him with my stake and told Mason to leave, to go to Adrian. I advanced into the house and found the stirgoi were gathered in the kitchen and Lissa was tied to the chair with her Royal Guard littered around the house, dead. Lissa was terrified and I was confused as to how her emotions had not spread through the bond. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and focused on the job at hand. One by one I took down the stirgoi til finally there was only one left and she was pissed! Particularly since I had killed her mate. Lissa was bound to the chair, scared but unharmed. When she seen us square off she started to cry and struggled to get free. I decided to take a great risk. I was drained and didn't know if I would survive this battle but I had to ensure Lissa made it, she was queen but more importantly she was my charge. I planned my defence so that I ended up with my back to Lissa's back. I swiftly untied her bounds and hoped she'd go along with my plan and leave but nooo Lissa had to join in. she grabbed a carving knife off the counter and tried to fight alongside me despite my attempts to shield her. At least she had the brains to fall back after a few minutes and let me do my job. This Stirgoi was obviously very old and had been a dhampir before her transformation. She struck out and hit me on the side of the head, I started to see stars but tried to battle on for Lissa. I was starting to feel weak between this fight and the rest of them and soon found myself on the flat of my back with my stake under me, which was no use to Lissa. I hoped that Lissa would leave before I conked hoping that Dimitri would return for Mason's sake and guard Lissa for me.

I woke up to the familiar white walls of the clinic. And everything came rushing back, I didn't know what had happened, was Lissa okay, how come I was still alive and what had happened to Mase? I struggled to wake up but couldn't I did however hear that Adrian was going to try and dream walk. Because of this I willed myself to sleep and soon felt the thug of an Adrian induced dream.

"Adrian" I cried and rushed into his arms.

"Lil' Dhampir how are you?"

"I'm fine, well I feel fine, I just can't wake up but enough about me how is everybody is Liss okay and Mason?"

"There all fine Lissa's still out cold from the amount of Spirit she used on you and Mason is worried about you, he misses you but Dimitri is distracting him."

"Dimitri?"

"Yea he's back, he knows what's after happening because he slipped into my mind and returned immediately"

"Oh any idea when Lissa'll wake up"

"No but there's something you should know, you died"

"Again"

"Yup again so Lissa should be out for a few more days"

"what happened after I conked?"

"Well Mase alerted me fairly soon and I told the first Guardian I could find who made a bee line for the house. The Guardians found you and Lissa unconscious and brought you to the clinic. The Stirgoi was knocked out, butchered really so the Guardians finished her off. So do you want to tell me what happened, why Lissa was the hero or do you want to leave it for awhile?"

I told him what I could remember and concluded that Lissa must have held her own against the Stirgoi and that I might even arrange to get a stake for her - if she was going to fight she was going to be prepared.

"Well anyway Rose they're all anxious for my report so I've to go but I'll check in on you later?"

I nodded at him and woke up when he left although I still couldn't move. I heard them all leave as Adrian said he would talk to them only when they all agreed to get something to eat and get some sleep now that they knew I was okay.

I was left alone in my thoughts but before long I heard the door open and I knew it was Dimitri that had entered, I could smell his aftershave.

"Roza, Adrian said your mind is awake even if your body isn't so I'm guessing this is the best, possibly, the only time I will get to talk with you, that is, without you interrupting me. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left. I know I upset you and I should have came back but I just couldn't face the thought of having to see you day in and day out especially if you were with Adrian. I had to escape - I'm sorry, I love you and that won't change. My proposal is open to you if you should ever wish to accept it."

He planted a tender kiss on my lips and with that he left and once again I was alone with my thoughts.

That has got to be the longest chapter I've wrote so far!

Anyway reviews are much appreciated good or bad (but please be nice about it- CONSTRUCTIVE criticism or nice comments preferably)

Love you all

xxxaddictedxxx