A/N:

Hello! Rain here!

First of all I would like to shout out a big thank you to Nicia! Thank you Nicia for helping me edit and proof this story! It wouldn't
be as good without your help!

I would also like to thank you guys who reviewed!

Reviews make me happy! Don't forget that a happy me mean more and faster chapters!
More and faster chapters means happy you! Happy you means more reviewing! More reviewing Happy me!

See? We can all be happy if you just review!

I don't care if it's two words or the maximum amount of words. Just review! Every Opinion counts!

Another thing, if you didn't catch Guardian Glass' full name in the last chapter then here's a hint: pay attention to Dimitri's thoughts in this chapter!

Hoping you enjoy the story~!
~~Rain~~

Previously On: Memories And A Wedding –

Before we had the chance to react or assemble any type of defensive formation, all five of them were in front of us.

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

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" One of the Strigoi spoke as he looked at all of us. You could tell from his height and build that he had been a Moroi before he changed. And from the look in his eyes he wasn't that old… he'd maybe been a strigoi for a year or two. His hair was a dirty blond color that fell to his shoulders – just enough to put up in a tie at the nape of his neck like Dimitri. His eyes were brown with a red ring that took up most of the color – the tell–tale sign that he was Strigoi, besides his paler than normal skin for a Moroi.

He was also obviously their leader.

His eyes landed on Lissa and Christian first. "Two Moroi, and one by the looks of it, is an Ozera and the other is Princess Dragomir." Then, as if he had only just noticed us and was shocked at who he had in front of him, he declared. "Well, today is going to be a fun day. Besides Princess Dragomir we have two more celebrities. Two famous Guardians. Guardian Rosemarie Hathaway who is not only the daughter of Janine Hathaway, but is also the first Novice to ever get their first kills before their Promise Mark. And Guardian Dimitri Belikov, that's enough said to tell you who he is. What an honor this is, I'm going to have fun killing you both along with the Last Dragomir Princess."

Wow. Evil speech much?

Knowing I shouldn't do it, but had little choice and they were a little too close for my liking, I looked at Dimitri telling him what I was going to do. His eyes widened in understanding at what I was thinking, and he shook his head telling me not to.

A few months ago we were caught in a tight spot. The day before this…attack, I had been looking at some things about St. Vladimir and Anna and found out how to control the ghosts better. From this I found out that Strigoi don't like the ghosts because they had cheated death and that with the right control I could use the ghosts to distract the strigoi. The next day during the attack, we were outnumbered big time - there had to be at least twenty of them to our four.

So I tried to control the ghosts to distract them. Not only did it work but it took some of the darkness that I had taken from Lissa. We killed the Strigoi whilst they were distracted and left.

The only drawback?

I passed out as soon as we were in the car and was out for half a day. But the more we practice with it, the less tired I get. Right now, if do it I'll pass out for an hour, maybe two. It also depends on how long I use this…skill.

I know this time is not as bad as it had been the first time, but I don't want to take any chances. So going against Dimitri's answer I gave the signal behind my back to others. And again I looked to Dimitri conveying my answer. 'Too bad, I going to do it. Get ready.'

As I took off my healing ring, as I got ready to let the ghosts go. This was another thing we found at the same time as find out about the ghost control. We found that if we charm a silver ring with healing magic from a spirit user, we can 'heal' the darkness away. So we gave that a shot as well in the hopes that it would enable me to control the darkness better. It worked.

I placed the ring in my pocket as I let down my barriers - once they were down I saw them.

Taking my ring off was the signal saying 'Ready'. Putting it in my back pocket was like saying 'Set'. Once I took my hand out, it would be the gesture equivalent to yelling 'GO!' I kept my hand in my pocket for a few more moments till the right time.

"Any last words?" The leader spoke in an attempt to distract us. I used all of my control to not say what he can do with his request. And that was impressive…for me, that is. "No? Very well."

With that they attacked.

I took my hand out of my pocket and unleashed the ghosts at that same exact moment. As soon the first of the ghosts got to the Strigoi I ran forward and staked the leader right in the heart. He was too busy trying to fend off the ghosts to even consider protecting his chest. I went for another one, turning just in time to see one being kicked by Cat, which caused it to stumble back towards me. After I staked that one for her we went to help the others, but they had already taken care of the rest of the strigoi.

While walking over to Dimitri, I put up my barriers and reached for my ring. I needed to make sure that I didn't fall over as I placed the ring back on. As soon as it was on I started to sway and things started to move as if they were being spun around, making me extremely dizzy.

That's never happened before.

I could feel as my body gave in and started to crumple, but before I touched the ground a pair of strong arms caught me. They weren't Dimitri's, which meant Jason had caught me. The last thing I noticed before succumbing to the darkness was his stormy blue-gray eyes, filled with concern and worry and the distant sound of people calling my name.

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

"Roza!" I yelled whilst running over to her. I wasn't going to make it. She was falling and I wasn't going to make it in time to catch her. Jason and Cat were the closest to her, so I called over to them. "Jason! Cat! One of you catch Roza!"

Jason turned around – with shock written all over his face – and moved the few feet to catch her just in time. His shock had turned to concern and worry once he saw her fall. He loved her, but as a little sister – not romantically.

I didn't stop running until I reached the place where Jason had Roza in his arms. I took her from him gently, so that I was carrying her bride-style and cradled against my chest. At this point in time everyone had come out onto the porch with worried expressions on their faces, probably from hearing me yell to Jason. With Jason and Cat Glass on my heels I entered the house. I was about to ask where to put Roza while she recovered when my mother spoke. "Put her in your old room upstairs. That's where you two will be staying. Lissa and Christian are staying in the guest room."

Nodding in her direction, I took off upstairs, eager to place her down so that she'd be comfortable.

Once I reached the door I had to shift Roza a little bit in my arms so that I could turn the handle and open the door.

I didn't bother looking around once had I entered the room. I can reminisce later, right now I was busy. Walking over to the bed I pulled back the covers and placed Roza in it. After I removed her shoes and covered her up I walked over to the other side of bed, took off my shoes and laid next to her on top of the covers, drawing her closer to my body with my arm wrapped around her protectively.

As if she could sense that it was me holding her, she snuggled closer to me and rested her head on my chest.

I laid there, with my other arm propped under my head on top of a pillow from my bed – our bed, I loved the sound of that and would always love it – for God knows how long. It could have been hours or it could have been minutes. All I thought about was Roza. What happened was not normal. Normally it takes a few minutes for the exhaustion from using the ghosts to kick in. I have noticed that lately she has been getting tired more easily. Like on the plane here she slept almost the entire flight.

My thought were interrupted by a knock on my door. "Come in." I called quietly to the person on the other side so that I didn't disturb Rose.

The opening of the door revealed Vika, Mama and the princess.

"Liss, Vika, Mama. What's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing's going on, not really. How is she? It's been three hours, that's more than her normal rest period. Are there any changes yet?" Lissa asked. You didn't need to be able to read auras or have a bond with her to tell she was worried about Rose. Her next words confirmed it. "I'm worried about her. That was not her normal reaction after using the ghosts. She took three, maybe four steps after she put her ring back on, and then passed out. When she used them last time or anytime before, it didn't really affect her. Sure she was tired but not to this extent… I mean, she did get tired but she was always able to get somewhere she could rest like a car or the couch if we were at home before the exhaustion took over. Hell, even your lap!" That shocked me. Lissa never cursed unless it was serious.

"I know. If she doesn't wake up in the next hour I'll let you heal her, okay?" I asked her, knowing full well that she wanted to heal Rose now. Hell, I want her to heal Roza for me, but we also know what Rose would want in this kind of situation. And the less darkness that built up the better. For both Roza and Lissa.

I was brought out of my thoughts again by my mother. "Dimka, what are guys talking about? I don't understand. And what happened to her?" She was obviously confused about what we're talking about. I had totally forgotten that they were here; I was just so worried about Roza, and Lissa wanting to heal her that I forgot. "I was watching the fight through the living room window and saw she didn't get hurt. So why did she collapse like that? And why did you not tell us, your family, you were getting married? Is this the person you told us about? The one you wanted us meet?"

"I'm sorry, Mama. When Roza wakes up we will all explain what is going on, okay? Yes she is the one I told you about and that I want you all to meet. As for gett-" I was interrupted by a beautiful voice finishing for me.

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

I started to wake up to the sound of people talking near me. I decided to keep my eyes closed as I adjusted to the disorientation that always accompanied me, and instead I just listened to what they were saying. Dimitri and Lissa were talking about what happened and whether he'd give her permission to heal me. I just hope that he doesn't let her. Crap! He did!

I was also very aware of Dimitri's arm around my waist, something that I love to wake up to, besides his face in the morning.

That was followed by someone, and by the sound of the voice it was most likely either his older sister or his mother, asking Dimitri what was going on and what they were talking about. And why he didn't tell his family he was getting married. "I'm sorry, Mama. When Roza gets up we will all explain what is going on, okay?" He asked. "Yes she is the one I told you about and that I want you all to meet. And as for gett-" I decided to 'wake up' and answer for him.

"As for about getting married," As I spoke I opened my eyes a little to see Dimitri's staring straight back at me. They were filled with love and were happy. But they also looked worried. "We were going to tell you guys soon. We were planning on coming here and telling you in person so you could meet me and so I could meet you as well." I finished whilst sitting up and facing a very worried Lissa, Dimitri's mother and sister.

"Roza, how are you feeling? And what happened?" Concern laced Dimitri's words.

"I'm fine, just a little dizzy still. As for what happened… I don't really know. I was fine for a second there and then I got really dizzy; like someone was spinning me around." I answered him. "But I'm fine now, the dizziness that I have now should pass in a little bit. It might have been because I'm hungry." As if on cue, my stomach growled, breaking the tension in its wake.

There was a moment of complete silence before everyone broke out laughing. A knock on the door made us quite down for a second. After Dimitri told whoever was out there to come in, the door opened to reveal a very tired looking Paul and a woman that I had not been introduced to.

She looked as if she were in her early thirties and looked like a younger version of her mother. The only person I had not been introduced to – I haven't been actually introduced any of them, but still – was Dimitri's sister Karolina.

You could tell she was grieving a loss, by one look at her face. Even her body posture portrayed how she was feeling.

"Karolina, how are you doing?" Dimitri asked her. I looked to Dimitri to tell him to go to her, but he shook his head. As if he didn't want to let me go. I shook my head and whispered so low that only he could hear me. "Go, she needs you." He gazed into my eyes for a few seconds before he got up and moved over to her so that he could hug her tightly.

While he was doing this, Paul came over to the side of the bed I was in – which by the looks of the room it had to be Dimitri's – and asked. "Are you a Guardian like Uncle Dimka?"

When he did, every eye in the room turned towards him and me.

"Yes, I am a Guardian." I said, watching his eyes brighten when I said I was.

"How many Strigoi have you killed? I saw the two today, but how many did you kill before today?"

"Paul." Karolina warned. "Those are not a very nice questions to ask."

"Its fine, I really don't mind. He can't help it, he's rightfully curious." I said to Karolina. Then I turned so I was looking at Paul.

"Well, I'm not sure. Count how many Molnija Marks I have out loud so I can hear you, so I know." I turned and lifted my hair so he could see my neck.

"One… two… three…." Paul started counting in that cute voice of his. "…fifteen….sixteen…" He was counting for about a minute when he came to the last ones, which were on the bottom of my right shoulder blade. "Sixty-five…sixty-six…sixty-seven. Sixty-Seven! You have sixty-seven Molnija Marks! With two more to add from today so...Sixty-nine Molnija Marks! But you also have three stars… what do those stand for?" Yes, you heard right. Through guarding Lissa you tend to end up in a lot of fights with Strigoi who want to kill last Dragomir and end the Dragomir bloodline.

I hesitated before I answered. I looking at Dimitri and Karolina to ask for permission to tell him. With a nod from both of them I told him. "They mean I have been in a battle with Strigoi and killed a great number of them. The first three marks on my neck are very special to me, you see. The first two Molnija Marks on my neck I got when I was seventeen when my best friend Mason was killed right in front of me. He distracted two Strigoi that were going to kill me, to save my life, but at the cost of his own." I spoke to him gently, trying not to frighten him too much and give him nightmares. "And the third mark, the first star? Well I got that in a battle that happened at my old school. St. Vladimir's Academy last year, when I was seventeen."

When I said this, the Belikov's in the room looked surprised, except for Dimitri of course. "In which I saved your Uncle's life towards the end when everyone wanted to give up on him and leave him." I looked at Dimitri, who had a small smile on his face, then back to Paul who looked at me in awe. Like I was his new favorite person. "That is what makes that one so special to me. That I saved the person, no, the people I love and did something to prove to everyone who thought I was just trouble; that I wasn't just trouble. That and the fact that I earned it before graduation. But have to remember something. You have to remember that even though they are Strigoi they it is still killing. You have to remember that, okay?"

"I will." Paul said nodding.

"That's right. Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a year already, can you?" Dimitri's question was a rhetorical one, but I decided to answer him anyway.

"No, I can't. Can you, Liss?" I asked her seriously.

"Nope." She said, popping the 'p' at the end.

"I can't either." A voice said from behind Dimitri. Once Dimitri moved out of the way, we saw Christian standing in the doorway; leaning against the frame. His ice blue eyes looked distant, like they were half in the past and half in the present. "We were quite the team weren't we, Rose?"

"Yes we were, Christian. We were." I said, my memories drifting back into the past as well.

"Paul, it's time for bed." Karolina told Paul holding out her hand for him, which he took without complaint.

"I think we all should go to bed early tonight with everything that has happened today. We'll talk in the morning." Dimitri's mom spoke, gaining a chorus of agreements from everybody.

Once everyone left the room Dimitri said that he was going to find Jason and Cat to tell them I was alright and work out a schedule with them for tonight - we would work out a better one in the morning.

I kept saying I was going to come and help but once I started to stand, I fell back onto the bed and decided against it saying. "Never mind."

After about twenty minutes I was able to get up and get dressed for bed in pajama shorts and a red tank top. I was about to climb back into bed when the door opened and Dimitri came in.

After he'd closed the door and locked it, he got dressed for bed as well, but instead of going to bed himself, he came over to me and kissed me. It started off as something gentle and began building; going from sweet and loving to passionate need and lust.

He picked me up and placed me on the bed – so I was now lying on it – without breaking the kiss. After a few minutes we broke it, leaving both of us breathless. "We can't. Not in your mother's house. And especially not with Paul in the house." My voice was a pant as I tried to catch my breath.

He placing his forehead on mine, his voice still a little breathless he whispered. "We could be very quiet, yo–"

I cut him off by kissing him eagerly. As I broke the kiss, I looked him in the eye and lifted my head so that I could place my forehead against his. "Well, as long as we're both quiet..."

Later the next morning after a wonderful breakfast made by Olena and Karolina, I offered to help clean up afterwards to pay them back for letting us stay and eat their food. But no matter what I said they wouldn't let me.

When the dishes were taken care of and the kitchen was clean, we all sat in various places around the living room in silence with the Belikov's staring at us. Eventually it got to the point where neither Jason, Christian, Lissa nor I could stand it. Even Dimitri looked uncomfortable.

"So…" I started making everyone look at me. "Should we start with the introductions again?"

To this everyone agreed.

"So who's going first?" The girl who I'd found out at breakfast was Viktoria spoke.

"I will." Said Lissa. "I'm Princess Vasilisa Dragomir – but call me Lissa! I'm eighteen years old and I'm engaged to Christian Ozera." She said pointing to Christian. "My best friend – and someone I consider a sister – is Rose. My element is Spirit." She finished still pointing to me. "Oh! I also love to shop." Viktoria smiled at this. Oh no…

"I'm Lord Christian Ozera – but call me Chris or Christian. My element is fire. I'm also eighteen." Christian said forming a small fire ball in his hand to prove his point. "I'm engaged to Lissa here." He kissed Lissa to prove his point again, which made her blush. "And I'm for Moroi learning to use their magic for offensive and defensive protection." He finished.

"I'm Guardian Cat Glass. Just Cat, like the animal – not the abbreviation of Catharine. My mother loved cats, even if she was a Dhampir and they hated her. I'm twenty years old and I have seventeen Molnija Marks – not counting the one from yesterday, nineteen total – and one Zvezda. I'm also Princess Vasilisa Dragomir's second Guardian."

"Hi, I'm Guardian Jason Mathews. I have three Molnija Marks – not counting the one from yesterday, four total – and one Zvezda. I am eighteen years old and I'm Lord Christian Ozera's second Guardian."

"Well you all know me." Dimitri said bring the focus of attention. "But I have a few things to add. One is that I'm Lord Christian Ozera's lead Guardian. I also now have ten Molnija Marks – not counting the one from yesterday, eleven total – and two Zvezdas. I'm also engaged to this," he took my hand into his and smiled brightly at me, "beautiful woman here. Rose Hathaway." I couldn't but smile back at him when he this.

I guess it's my turn.

"I'm Guardian Rose Hathaway daughter of Janine Hathaway. I'm a Graduate of St. Vladimir's Academy in Montana. I am also Dimitri Belikov's Fiancé. I have sixty-seven Molnija Marks – not counting the two from yesterday, sixty-nine total – and three Zvezdas and I'm eighteen years old. I'm currently Princess Vasilisa Dragomir's lead Guardian and her Bondmate. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

When I finished I noticed everyone of the Belikov's were staring at me. Except they each had something different mixed in with the shock. "What?" I couldn't help but wonder if I'd said something wrong.

Karolina's expression – even though she was mourning the death of her boyfriend – was happy. I'm guessing it had to do with the fact that her little brother is getting married.

Sonya's was shocked but also disbelieving. I guess she doesn't believe me about the Molnija Marks.

Yeva was the only one who didn't seem shocked at all. In fact she was still looking at me with that expression from yesterday when we met her. Scary.

Olena had a shocked expression which morphed into a joyous expression. Again I'm guessing it was because of her baby boy getting married. Every mom and dad are supposed to be happy when their child gets married.

At least that's what I think.

Viktoria looked at me in awe and disbelief. Okay, that's not normal, I thought. I watched as her expression turned into excitement before she tackled me to the floor

"I can't believe I'm meeting The Rose Hathaway! I can't believe that my brother is engaged to her as well!" She yelled right in my ear.

My expression must have been funny because Jason, Cat, and Christian were laughing at me. After being let go I gave those three my death glare, which must have worked because the color drained from their faces.

I love watching people's reactions to it.

"Rose." I heard someone say. Turning my head towards the speaker, I saw it was Sonya.

"Yeah Sonya? I got it right, right?"

"Yes you got it right. But I don't care about that. What I care about is that you prove to me that you have sixty-seven Molnija Marks and three Zvezdas. Show them if you have them."

"Sonya." Warned both Olena and Dimitri said at the same time.

"No it's okay guys, I don't mind. Plus Paul counted them out loud last night in front of Karolina you guys and Viktoria. So I don't mind." I was sitting on the floor between Dimitri's legs, so I turned around so only he saw my front and pulling up the back of my shirt to show her. "Count them if you like." I said to her.

"Paul, sweetie, can you count them for me please?" She asked Paul. He must have agreed because he came over and counted all sixty-seven Molnija Marks and three Zvezdas – that I had – aloud.

After fixing my shirt I turned and saw her expression. The disbelief I saw earlier was gone and replaced with shock and awe.

After a while talking about random things, three topics came up that were…what's the word? Fun… I guess to talk about, but they were also expected to come up.

"Rose, Lissa?" Olena asked, drawing everyone's attention.

"Yeah?" Lissa and I said at the same time.

"How did you two meet?" She asked.

Lissa and I looked at each other at the exact same time, before we burst out laughing; to which everyone looked at us like we were crazy.

Even though she was still laughing mentally at the memory, through the bond Lissa asked. Should we?

"Yes, we should they will get a kick out of it and besides Dimitri, Jason, and Cat, hell even Christian doesn't know the story." I answered out loud. Our group knew what was going on but the Belikov's didn't.

Do you want to or do you want me to? She asked again through the bond.

"I will if you don't want to." I replied.

Go ahead. She said with a nod.

Nodding back I began.

"Lissa and I met and have been best friends ever since kindergarten, when our teacher had paired us together for writing lessons. Forcing five-year-olds to spell Vasilisa Dragomir and Rosemarie Hathaway was, in my opinion, beyond cruel and we'd—or rather, I'd—responded appropriately. I'd chucked my book at our teacher and called her a fascist bastard. I hadn't known what those words meant at the time, but I'd known how to hit a moving target. Lissa and I have been inseparable ever since."

Everyone from Dimitri's family looked either amused, shocked, or both. Even Yeva.

Dimitri and Christian were shaking their head and at the same time said. "Why am I not surprised?" The only difference was Christian added "Rosie." at the end. To which I picked up Dimitri's book, and whilst yelling "Fascist Bastard!", I threw it at him. He tried to dodge it but didn't have time. The book hit him square in the chest, which made him fall to the floor heavily and in a rather ungainly fashion. "Oww." Was all we heard before he sat back up in his normal sitting position on the floor like before.

Jason and Cat were trying their best not to laugh throughout the whole scene.

"Like I said. I knew how to hit a moving target."

Which made us all burst out laughing, expect for Christian who was grumbling about something.

After a little while we all calmed down.

"Dimka? Roza?" I heard Viktoria ask.

"Yes?" Dimitri answered at the same time as I asked "What's up Viktoria?"

"How did you two meet?" She asked. You could tell all the Belikov's wanted to know.

Before I spoke I looked towards Dimitri and whispered so only he could hear me. "Comrade, do you want me to tell them or do you want to tell them? They are your family after all."

"They're your family now too, Roza. You can tell them." He whispered back before giving me a small kiss.

"Fine." Though I have to admit, I liked that idea of his family being my family. Once I turned back to the Belikov's I started the story. "Should we start with the development of the bond between you and me, Liss? Or should we just tell them how we met? They're going to find out eventually, so we might as well tell them now." I asked both Lissa and Dimitri.

With a nod from both of them, I started.

"Okay." I said as I focused my attention back onto the Belikov's – who looked confused at my question. "Do you guys know about Spirit?"