A/N

Hello Again! Rain here!

Firstly, Thank you guys for all the reviews! I'm glad you like it! Keep reviewing I love hearing what you guys think! Don't forget to please
pass the word long about this story! Lol!

Secondly, If you guys have any ideas and/or suggestions don't hesitate to Private Message me! I'd Love to hear them!

Thirdly, Here is the beginning of that plot twist I was talking about last chapter! Again a big thank you to
CandiGal for the ideas! They were a big help in writing these next few chapters!

Fourthly, Another big shout out to Nicia for helping me edit this story! Thank you!

Lastly!

I hope you enjoy reading this story/chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Disclaimer - I do not own Vampire Academy or any of it's characters! I do own Guardian Aleksandr Frost that is mentioned later in this chapter along with
Guardian Jason Matthews and Guardian Glass that are mentioned in Chapter 1. I decided I will bring Guardian Jason Matthews and Guardian Glass back in later chapters.

~*~Rain~*~

P.S. - This is the longest chapter yet! Over 5,100 words!

Previously On: Memories And A Wedding –

"What will these 'demonstrations' consist of?" He asked. I was right he did like my idea.

"Well, on our way here I heard some of the rumors that were being spread. Some of them wanted to spar with us, so I thought 'why not give them a chance to spar with us and give them a chance to learn something at the same time.' And I didn't think you would mind. Was I wrong in thinking that?" I asked him, all of sudden not sure.

"I think it's a great idea." He told me in a husky voice so his Russian accent was thick and pronounced, as he leant up to kiss me again.

Effectively ending the discussion.

~~**~~*End of Flashback*~~**~~

I was brought out of that memory by the sound of the gym door opening and novices and some Moroi-which surprised me, then again ever since Tatiana started to consider the Moroi learning, I guess it shouldn't surprise me- came pouring in.

"I think it's time, Comrade." I whispered to Dimitri giving my man-eating smile and running my hand along his chest as I walked over to the middle of the gym, wiggling my hips as I did. I took great pleasure in watching him shiver.

"Roza… now is not the time for that." He whispered back.

Once everyone was settled, I noticed there were a lot of Guardians here as well. Whether they were here to watch or participate I didn't care.

After nodding to Dimitri telling him it's time to start, he addressed the group.

"Hello I'm Guardian-" He was cut off by the door opening.

Turning my attention to the door saw a couple of novices coming in.

"Sorry, we're late!" One of them said.

"It's alright, just take a seat." Dimitri said gesturing toward to others. Once they were seated, Dimitri continued.

"As I was saying. Hello I'm Guardian Dimitri Belikov." He said introducing himself.

Looking at Dimitri as I introduced myself I said. "And I'm Guardian Rose Belikov." Hey it's going to official in a few months, might well start saying it. And it was worth say that just to see the look of happiness on Dimitri's face. Then I turned back to the others and continued.

"Yes I said Belikov. I'm also known as Guardian Rose Hathaway. Now, when walking through that quad the other day I heard some rumors. I'm not going to say what they were, but I'm going to say that I'm glad I heard some of them. With the permission of Headmistress Kirova, today and tomorrow after school only, Guardian Belikov and I are going to do some demonstrations, so to speak. As sort of a morale booster and just to help you guys out." I said normally.

Changing from my normal tone of voice to my serious one, I said. "Since a lot of you are going to be graduating in a few months, I suggest you take these seriously, for more than one reason I might add."

People, who know me know I don't use this tone a lot, but when I do people don't usually mess with me. Again, I said usually because there's always that 1 percent that doesn't take me seriously.

Like now.

All of sudden there was someone laughing. The kid was a senior novice who, by the looks of it, thinks he's 'all that'. He had short brown hair and brown eyes. And by the way he was sitting he was pretty tall, not as tall as Dimitri, but up there.

"Did you find something funny in what Guardian Belikov just said?" Dimitri said in a serious tone. If I didn't know him so well, I would not have picked up the way he said Guardian Belikov. I could tell he was enjoying calling me that, I know I was.

"Yeah, I did. She thinks she's all that and I found it hilarious." The kid said.

"Not smart John." The kid next to him whispered. This John kid just shrugged it off, which was seriously starting to piss me off.

"Your name is John right?" I asked. Well if this kid was going to shrug things like this off I'll just have to teach him something.

"Yeah, what's it to you?" John asked. Cocky little bastard was really really starting to piss me off, now even more so.

"You think you can take me?" I challenged him. Judging by his character he won't back down from a challenge.

"Are you serious? Sure." He said getting up and walking towards me, where I was standing one of the mats we had setup for this.

Yup, I was right.

"Dimitri, don't worry." I said to Dimitri. Turning around I put a hand on his chest to calm him down because I could tell this kid was starting to piss him off as well. "I'll take it easy on the kid. Go stand by the wall. I'll be fine."

With a sharp nod, he left to stand by another Guardian.

"So are you done? Because I would like to get this over with and see some real action soon." The kid said from behind me.

Turning back to the kid noticed I was right about his height. He was probably about 6'4".

Without answering him, I took my fighting stance. As soon as he got into his stance, he attacked.

Lunging at me he swung out and tired to connect his fist to my jaw. Side stepping it, I dodged. I brought my leg out with a swift kick, getting him in the stomach. Doubling over with my leg still in his gut, used a spinning motion and knocked him to the ground. I automatically jumped on top of him so I was straddling him, I pinned him to the ground with my hand over his chest effectively 'killing' him.

I did all of this in seconds.

With him still straddled by me I said, loud enough so the entire gym could hear me. "Now this is me holding back. If you don't stop being the cocky bastard you are, not only going to get yourself killed, but also your charge as well. Do you understand?" I told him in the same tone I was using before.

He just laid there, glaring at me.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" I yelled repeating myself.

"Yes, Guardian Belikov!" He answered.

"Good." I said getting off of him and giving him hand up. He just laid there for a second and glaring at me before knocking my hand away, getting up and going back to his seat.

As Dimitri came back over to me again, I looked at the whole group. Some of the Guardians looked shocked, mouths hanging open and everything, but when they saw me looking they composed themselves.

The students' reactions were similar. Shocked but mixed with a bit of awe and disbelief.

"Now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. Facing things like this in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake or lose a fight you can always try again tomorrow. But out there…when you are seconds away from getting killed…" I paused. I couldn't help but remember Spokane and Mason. "…or watching a friend die right before your eyes…" I paused again, trying to get a grip on my emotions. Once I did, I finished. "You don't know what it's like. Once you step out of those wards a life will be in your hands whether it be your own or both a Moroi and your own. Either way you need to stop being cocky like John here. The quicker you are to take down the enemy, whether it be Human, Dhampir, Moroi or Strigoi, the better." I concluded still pointing at the kid from before.

"Now both Guardian Belikov and I are going to do a mock-fight between the two of us. But before we start, are there any questions?" I asked looking around, to see a Moroi with her hand up like she was in class still. "Yes?" I asked. She had green eyes similar to Adrian's and long blond hair.

"When you said 'watching a friend die right before your eyes' you sounded like that has happened to you. Did it?" She asked.

"Yes, it did happen to me. My friend Mason Ashford. He was not only my friend, but someone I considered family, an older brother. It happened last year, when I was 17. We, everyone at here 's, went to a ski resort for Christmas break in Spokane. This was during the massacres that were happening, if you remember them. A few students, including Mason, went off on their own. Me and my friend, Christian, went off to get them and bring them back, since it was my fault they left in the first place. Mason and the others were being cocky, like John here. Thinking that they could take on anything. We didn't tell any of the Guardians what had happened when we left and neither had they. So when we found them they were in a mall, they had given up. When we arrived they argued that they were going to take another look around while Christian and I argued that we needed to head back. We came to a compromise saying they would come back after they showed us something. I agreed to this." I paused.

It's been had been a while since I lasted talked about this. And it still hurt, but I also knew that it would hurt to talk about this for the rest of my life.

"After they showed us what they wanted to show us, we left. On our way to the bus station, we got taken hostage by some humans. Later we- Mason, Eddie, Mia who was a Moroi, Christian Ozera and myself- found out that the humans were working for the Strigoi who were leading the Moroi Massacres last year. After, what? Three days? We were gone for three days right, Comrade?" I asked turning to Dimitri for clarification. With a nod from him, I continued.

"After three days, with no food, no water, barely any sleep and no blood for the Moroi, we made our escape. Thinking just because it was during the day and the humans were taken care of, we thought it was safe. But right before we managed to get out of the house, the Strigoi caught us. Eddie was useless because one of the Strigoi had been feeding on him over the past few days. It wasn't enough to kill him but enough to make him more of a liability during our escape or if it came down to a fight. And Mason had to take care of both Moroi and Eddie. So that left me. I distracted them both just long enough for Mason to get the others out." I paused again. After taking a breath to get my emotions back under control, I continued.

"I was at a big disadvantage. They were blocking the door so I couldn't run and I had no weapon to use. Christian was a fire user, but I had endangered his life enough as it was at this point. He was outside safe for the moment and I didn't want to put him at risk again. While I was fighting the Strigoi, Mason came back in and picked up the gun we had taken from the humans that I had dropped. The Strigoi named Isaiah, dropped me once Mason started shooting. The bullets hurt his accomplice Elena, but it hardly affected him. He just kept walking towards Mason as he tried to protect me before breaking Mason's neck, killing him right in front of me. I went berserk sort of. Isaiah was getting pissed off at me- I had and still do have that effect on people and apparently Strigoi- and was about to kill me when Mia came back in and exploded the fish tank that was in the room with her water magic. It distracted them both long enough for me to shove a piece of glass in Isaiah's chest. That's when I remembered the swords that were hanging over the fireplace on the mantel. I ran over and grabbed one. Turning around just time to see Elena, the other Strigoi, coming up behind me. I fought her a little till I saw my opening and took it. In the process I decapitated her. My first kill. Then just as Isaiah was coming around and pulling the glass out of himself, I did the same to him. My second kill."

"I scared Mia and she left. I crawled over to Mason's body and cried, still holding the sword till the Guardians came in and took control. I few weeks later I got my first two Molnija marks. You all think Molnija marks are cool and that once you get them you'll be unstoppable. Not mention that at this age you see them only as badges of honor and something to be proud of. And they are something to be proud of, but don't let it go to your head. When I lost Mason, I felt broken and I still do to an extent. When you lose someone like that it's not something you get over. I never imagined that's how I would get my first two kills, gaining something but loosing something more important in the process. To this day I keep thinking about how I could have, no, should have prevented his death. I probably will keep thinking about this for the rest of my life. You can never stop thinking about all of those 'what if's' and 'maybe's'. If you ever lose someone like that then you will understand. Even if it's just your charge, you will be affected. Mason was and always will be family, and that hurts more. The pain is close to unbearable. So you can't be cocky and think you're all that, if you do then prepare yourself for unbearable pain."

"If you don't believe me about getting my first two marks before getting my promise mark; then go ask Guardian Alto, Guardian Petrov, Guardian Belikov here, or any of the Guardians who were here last year. And they will confirm this. And for that matter, if you still don't believe me then the next time you see Christian Ozera, Mia Rinaldi, or Guardian Eddie Castile ask them and they also will confirm this since they experienced it first hand with me. Now if there are no more questions, then Guardian Belikov and I will start." I told them.

"I can't believe you're the Rose Hathaway." Someone in the crowd said, but I didn't pay them any attention.

No one spoke up with any questions, so Dimitri and I went over to the same mat that I used before getting into our fighting stances and starting.

Circling each other, waiting for the other to make the first move, I thought of the times Dimitri and I would spar and I used what he could do against him. I knew what he could do from all those months of sparring and training together: but the thing was, he knew me in same way.

I guess it's time to pull out some of the moves I've been secretly working on.

Getting tired of waiting, Dimitri made the first move. By faking a punch with his right he brought his leg up to kick me. Dodging both, I spun around and used a roundhouse kick before he could recover fully, getting him in the ribs. Making him stumble backwards.

Again, before he could recover from my attacks, I swung my leg low and out so I caught him behind the knees. With a spinning motion, I took out his knees bringing him down to my level. With a punch to the shoulder (I didn't want to hurt that beautiful face of his), he fell backwards. At that moment I jumped on him, straddling and pinning him at same time. I moved my hand to his chest effectively 'killing' him.

Trying to get my breathing under control again, we had one of those moments just like during the field experience. Where everything around you disappears. Where there is no sound but your breathing and heartbeat pounding in your ears; where there is no one but the two of you, looking at each other. One of those.

But unlike the field experience we were free to kiss each other. As I was bending down to kiss him, he wiggled out of my hold so he could prop himself up on his elbows to kiss me. It took everything I had in me, when kissing him, to hold back.

When we finished kissing, I was distantly aware of all the students either wolf-whistling or cheering and clapping. I think I even heard some of them clearing their throats.

After the fight, they answered questions about what he or I did wrong and right in our little fight, why we did it wrong, and how they thought we could make corrections.

Then it got more hands on for them.

After warming up the ones who wanted to participate with some laps on the track we let them work on sparring in pairs, getting the occasional novice to spar with either Dimitri or I. We even got the staking dummies out to help them with their staking.

With that we ended our first demonstration day.

As we all, the novices as well as Dimitri and I, put the equipment we'd used away, I got the feeling that I was being watched.

Turning around I saw someone who should be at court.

"Lissa, what are you doing here?"

"Well you never called me to tell me you got here safe so was worried about you. And you never called to tell me what Kirova's answer was to the thing I asked you to ask her about."

"Sorry. I've been busy. And she said yes and that you should talk to her about it, to get it the finer details worked out. How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Since this morning. And I saw the whole demonstration." She stated. "I think you would do a great job as a teacher."

"Roza! Who are you talking to?" Dimitri asked from the storage room.

"Lissa! She's here!" I told him just as he was coming out of the storage room.

"Princess." He greeted her with a sight bow as soon as he saw her.

"Lissa. How many times do I have to tell you, Dimitri? It's Lissa!" Her tone was scolding yet friendly as she rolled her eyes at him whilst shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, Lissa. Habit."

"It's ok. Just try to break that habit. Well I have to go meet with Kirova. Come with me, Rose?"

"Alright. Just let me finish here." I turning to grab the next mat to help pack away. But before I could Dimitri had grabbed it and was making his way back towards the storage room.

"Go with Lissa and I'll finish." He told me.

"You sure, Comrade?" I asked.

"Yes. Go." Dimitri said disappearing into the room.

After heading to Kirova's to get things finalized, Dimitri, myself, Christian who came with Lissa, and Lissa herself just hung around Christian and Lissa's Guest Room; before Dimitri and I headed to the cabin at curfew.

~**~~**~~**~~Karolina's Point Of View, Monday Night In Baia~~**~~**~~**~~

Walking home from dinner with Aleksandr, I started to get a bad feeling creep over me. The closer we got to home the worse the feeling got. I was just about to tell Alec about it when they appeared.

"Alec, I'm getting-" I was cut off by being pushed behind Alec. He had his stake out and was in a fighting stance.

Looking around I saw them. There were four of them. With their red-ringed eyes and pale skin.

I had just enough time to grab my stake before one attacked me – thank God I still took a stake with me whenever I left the house. I might not be a Guardian, but I was trained, just like Dimka and all the other Guardians were. So were Grandmother and Mama, Sonya and Viktoria. Too soon my little Paul would be, as well as my little Zoya a few years after Paul.

Focusing on the fight, I fought two of them while Alec fought the other two. Once mine were taken care of, I couldn't help but notice that Alec was struggling with his last one. Coming up from behind it, I staked it feeling the life drain from it.

Dragging it off Alec, I noticed Alec was badly hurt. With him leaning on me for support, we arrived home shortly afterward. Answering the door with a towel in her hand, Mama helped me with Alec and taking him into the other room. She called the others to help, but I wasn't really paying attention to that. All of my attention was other on Alec or on what had just happened

By slapping me hard across the cheek, Viktoria got my attention.

"Lina, what happened?" She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, trying to comfort me.

"Strigoi. Four of them. Attacked us one the way home. Two blocks away." Was all I could stutter out.

I reached into Alec's pants pocket for cell phone, knowing I need to call the Alchemists and report the kills to them. After a few minutes I found the number and called, letting them know all the necessary information.

Afterward I must backed out because I woke with Viktoria crying somewhere next to me.

With the events of the previous night flooding back, I sat up startling Viktoria. "Where is he? Where's Alec?" I all but yelled at her. I grabbed her hands in my and begged her with my eyes to tell me where my Alec was.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." She said crying still.

That was all it took for me to know what happened.

"No. NO! Not my Alec!" I begged for it not to be true, before blacking out again.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~*Tuesday at St. Vladimir's*~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~

~~**~~**~~**~~Rose's Point Of View~~**~~**~~**~~

We were just about to finish the second demonstration when Dimitri's phone went off. With a look at me from as if asking: May I? I nodded. As he left the gym, I heard him answer with a simple "Belikov." I didn't get to hear the rest of the conversation as he had left the gym. I couldn't help but wonder who was calling.

~~**~~**~~**~~Dimitri's Point Of View~~**~~**~~**~~

As Roza and I were finishing up with the last demonstration my phone went off. Looking at Roza I asked her without having saying anything to her, May I? With a nod from her, I walked out of the gym.

"Belikov." I answered it.

"Is that really anyway to greet your sister?" said a voice I knew very well. Something must be wrong if Karolina is calling, not to mention that she sounded like she was or had been crying.

Usually it's mama or Viktoria, and even if it's Viktoria then it still worries me.

"Karolina. It's rare for you to call me. Not to mention I can hear the tears in your voice. Are you alright? Is something wrong? Is everyone alright?" I asked not sure if I should be worried or not.

And by her silence I could tell something was wrong.

"Everyone is fine and nothing is wrong with the family…" When she said this I could tell that she was crying fresh tears.

"You said 'nothing is wrong with the family'. What's wrong then? Karolina you can tell me, I'll listen." I told her trying to figure out what was wrong with her, but I couldn't.

"Well…Do you remember me telling you about the Guardian that I've been seeing?" She asked crying even harder.

"Yes, I remember. Wasn't his name Aleksandr Frost?" I asked. I think I know where this is going.

"Yes, it was. Last night, when we were coming home… just the two of us… four Strigoi and…" She couldn't even finish before breaking down. Just then the phone dropped. Hearing mama in the background, Viktoria picked the phone off the ground.

"I'm sorry about that. Mama took her to lie down for a while. Do you think you can come home for a little while?" Viktoria asked me. I could hear the worry for Karolina in her voice. "I think it would help. Having you here, that is."

"Of course. Plus there is someone I would like you all to meet anyway. Don't tell that to the others."

"What? That you're coming home?" Viktoria teased me. In the background I could hear the excited voices saying: Dimka's coming home?

"Exactly. Well I have to go now. I'll be there as soon as I can." I said.

With us both saying goodbye, I hung up.

I couldn't help but feel extremely worried about my sister and sad for her too. As I turned to go back into the gym, something blurred in the edges of my vision. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear to God that I saw Tasha standing by the woods. But when I turned my head to look properly she wasn't there.

Shaking my head at that, I entered the gym to see Roza answering questions. I couldn't help but worry that might lose her like that one day. I really hope with all my soul that it never comes to that.

~~**~~**~~**~~Rose's Point Of View~~**~~**~~**~~

"Alright everyone, that's it for the demonstration. I hope you all enjoyed it and found it helpful. I still can't believe how many of you showed up for it. So go get showered and I'll answer some questions afterward." I told them bringing their attention back to me, as Dimitri's call had distracted them.

"Are there any questions?" I asked them once everyone was assembled back in the gym. Hearing the door open and looking over, I saw Dimitri walk back in.

"Yeah, I got one." I heard someone say.

When I turned my head, I saw that the kid was most likely about 17-18 years old and a senior novice. He had ice blue eyes that reminded me of Christian's and short bronze colored hair. From the way he was sitting, I could tell that he was few inches taller than me.

"What's your name first? Then what's your question? I'll answer it to best of my extent." I said that's when Dimitri rejoined me by standing right behind me.

"My name's Josh and I was wondering if you would go out on a date with me, hot stuff." Josh asked wiggling his eyebrows up and down at me.

As if to answer his question, Dimitri put his arms around my waist to turn me gently before pulling me into kiss. In front of everyone. I placed my arms up and around his neck and threading my fingers into hair, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.

After breaking away, feeling a little breathless and giggly, I turned around and answered. "Does that answer your question?" Then I glared at the kid.

You could tell that not only did it answer the question but also confirm some of the rumors. Like I care.