A/N: So...I'm SUPER DUPER SORRY this has taken so long to update! This chapter has literally been written for almost 2 months, but I got really busy with college and my school's undergraduate student government so I couldn't type it up. However, the next chapter is almost done. I'm a little stuck (writer's block grr) but it's only for that chapter so I might skip over it and go to the next person. This is a little format that the chapters will be in. They may change, but it will stay pretty similar:

Anya

Rose

Christian

Dimitri/Nicolai

*Disclaimer*:

Me: *whistling*

Christian: Jordan

Me: Hmm...

Christian:...the disclaimer?

Me: What? OH! Ahem...I don't own VA only Anya, Nicolai, Shawn, and Anthony. *goes back to whistling*

Christian: I'm sorry folks. She has issues.

Enjoy :)

"Lord Ozera, good morning."

"Good morning, Guardian Petrov," Christian responded as he walked into the Guardian meeting held in one of the classrooms.

"How was your class?"

"Pretty good. I think the kids are starting to get their elements under control. They haven't burned down the classroom, at least."

Christian started teaching at the Academy after the attack, helping with the fire element users.

"Well that's always good to hear."

"How are the wards looking?"

"They are holding tight. We have Guardians patrolling every night apart from your patrols."

"That's good. Where is Rose and Belikov?"

"Knowing Rose, she probably went back to sleep," Alberta said with a slight smile.

Christian laughed as he took a seat at the table.

"That does sound like her. Didn't she have a class a couple of hours ago?"

"As a matter of fact, I did, and stop talking about me!" Rose said, jokingly, as she walked into the room and sat in a chair next to Christian.

"You know I can never stop talking about you," Christian teased.

"Talking about or thinking about?"

"Flirting with my girlfriend, Ozera?" Dimitri asked, as he walked in the room and took the seat next to Rose.

Christian laughed again as he leaned back in his chair.

"I'm pretty sure both Rose and Lissa would kill me if I was serious and that's scary enough."

Dimitri chuckled and turned to a guardian next to him. Rose leaned close to Christian and whispered.

"How is she?"

Christian didn't have to ask to know who "she" was.

"She's still not really talking to me. I moved into the guest room because I just can't handle the silence."

Rose gave him a look.

Don't give me that, Rose."

"I'm sorry. How's Nathan and Anthony?"

"Nathan is doing okay. I think he's still a little confused to with what's going on with Liss and I."

"He seems like a perceptive kid. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Yes, that's true. Sometimes I think he's more afraid of what could happen."

Christian sighed thinking about his fractured family.

"Anthony is doing really well. He's a smart kid for only being 8."

"Are you still carrying him around everywhere."

A bubble of laughter burst from Christian's chest.

"Of course! And he hates it. I told him once he hits 5 feet, I'll stop," Christian said, still chuckling.

"And will you?"

"Doubt it."

"Christian!"

"I'm just kidding. He really reminds me of Nate when he was younger. I guess I just miss when he was that little. It's crazy that Nate's growing up so fast."

Rose nodded thinking about her own kids. Anya and Nicolai were almost 16 and Rose could still picture them 5 years old and looking up at her.

"Let's start everyone."

Everyone focused on Alberta standing at the head of the table.

"The wards are still holding stable. We are going to be switching around shifts in the next upcoming weeks so make sure you check the posting board for time changes."

"Why are we switching?"

Christian glanced over to the voice seeing that it was Stan Alto.

"I swear he's never going to retire," Rose muttered with an eye roll.

Christian snorted and refocused his attention back to Alberta.

"Queen Vasilisa is going back to Court next week. All of her Guardians, including Guardian Hathaway, myself, and Lord Ozera are going as well-"

"Which brings our numbers down by 10," Alberta finished, cutting off Dimitri.

"9," Stan grumbled.

"Excuse me?" Alberta asked, eyebrow raised.

"You mean we're down by nine," Stan said, a little louder.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rose asked through clenched teeth.

"I mean, Rosemarie, that we are losing 9 Guardians not 10."

Christian stilled, eyes darting from Rose to Stan. Rose clenched her hands in a fist and slowly rose from her seat.

"Guardian Hathaway. Take your seat. Guardian Alto, Lord Ozera has done a lot to assist us in protecting the Academy in the last month. He has patrolled with us and-"

"Killed more strigoi than you did, Stan," Rose said, interrupting Alberta.

Guardian Petrov gave Rose a look, but continued.

"He has done a lot to help and deserves to be recognized for it."

Stan leaned back, a disgruntled look still on his face.

"That's fine. I just think he should not be counted with the Guardians. No offense to Lord Ozera."

Christian shrugged but kept silent. The meeting continued with duty checks and classroom coverages. As everyone broke apart, Christian walked to the door with Rose close behind him.

"Stan is an ass. Always has been and always will be," Rose said, trying to comfort him.

Christian turned to Rose smiling.

"Rose. I'm pretty sure we both had him in class and I've had to deal with him for 15 more years than you have. Believe me, I know he's an ass."

"Then what are you worried about?" Rose asked, stopping Christian.

"What makes you think I'm worried?"

"Chris."

Christian avoided looked at her.

"You didn't tell her, I'm assuming."

"How am I supposed to tell her? Have you told Dimitri?"

"Well...no, but at least I've mentioned it to him...kind of."

Christian raised an eyebrow at her.

"Okay okay. Don't give me that look. I'll tell Dimitri if you tell Lissa."

"Fine."

"Tell me what."

Rose and Christian looked over to see Lissa standing there with a curious look on her face.

"...I'll talk to you later, Pyro. See you Liss," Rose said hurrying away.

"Tell me what, Christian?" Lissa asked, stepping closer.

Christian sighed. I guess it's now or never.

"I wanted to tell you...that I don't want to go back to Court."

"What do you mean you don't want to go back to Court?"

"It's just...I don't want to leave Anthony. I want to make sure he's settled in and they could use my help around here."

"Christian! You're NOT a Guardian!"

"I never said I was."

"Well, you've been acting like it, ever since the attack. Going to Guardian meetings, patrolling the grounds. That's GUARDIAN work!"

"Liss..."

"You know I don't mean it like that. It's just you're a Royal and my husband and I'VE BARELY SEEN YOU!"

"I believe you're the one who has been ignoring me."

Lissa gave him a dirty look before responding.

"When you find my husband, tell him I'll be at Court, where HE belongs."

As Lissa turned, a tear rolled down her face. She hastily wiped it away before storming off.

A/N: Hope you liked it! I like feedback. Tell me how you really feel! I should hopefully have the next chapter up soon! Fingers crossed! Oh! And Adrian will make an appearance soon!