I am so very thankful/grateful to Lauren Rose Ivashkov for writing all this chapter for me! She literally saved my ass. I only have a few more weeks till my broadband gets canceled and I am working really hard on this story. And sorry if everything seems so rushed. This story was going to be 30 chapters but since I am going to get my internet taken away soon, I had to cut it short to 20 chapters. Again, I am VERY thankful to Lauren. She's the best. All the credit goes to her. And thank you all for your amazing reviews!

I don't own Vampire Academy . . .

"No!" I yelled feeling like my heart just stopped beating.

The phone slipped right out of my shaky hands as the tears fell down.

The world exploded. Kyle was my best friend, my brother forever, was dying. I just went crazy, screaming out his name. Tony picked up the phone and started talking with Cade; reasoning with him, asking to know what happened and why was I so freaked out. I stole the phone away from Tony, not caring about anything.

"Where is Kyle?"

"We're here with him in the hospital. Tony knows where, he can take you there."

"Is he going to be okay?"

"Maya . . . I'm not going to lie to you. Nobody knows."

I threw my phone on the ground not caring about anything but Kyle.

I was shaking, from shock, from the cold, from the hate that something was wrong with Kyle. I was angry at him; he couldn't leave me, he just couldn't. I needed him, and he needed me. Numbly, I got up and walked through the woods, Ton directing me, but I didn't pay any attention to him; I just needed to be with my brother. I was sure I had a frown on my face as I stumbled through the woods, barely glancing at the path we were on, the one my parents had created. I tripped and Tony caught hold of my arm and held me up.

"Careful," he mumbled, then immediately let go, like had some type of deadly disease or something. Then I thought, oh God, what if that's what Kyle has. We walked in an uncomfortable silence, not speaking, as he guided me to his car. He put his hand to my back and I sank into his touch, but he pulled away too soon. I sighed internally as he then opened his car door. I sank into the seat and closed my eyes, all my thought's pointing in one direction.

Kyle.

Tony didn't exactly break any speed barriers getting to the hospital, and it just made me even more angry. I wanted to last out at him and take the wheel myself, knowing would we get there in less than half the time it would take him to drive. He kept glancing at me, which made me squirm in my seat. I looked at him through the corner of my eyes, and he was staring at me again.

"Look . . . Maya . . . "

"I know what you're going to say . . ." I started to say.

"No, You don't!" his voice was like steel, hard and cold. I looked at him again and he had his guardian mask on. Great, one dose of discipline that I didn't need right now coming up. "I know you understand that we can't be together, but you don't understand why. I'm a guardian!" he said, his grip on the wheel tightened, making his knuckles pale.

"I know," I said softly, not wanting to fuel his anger.

"I can't love you—I won't love you." He seemed to be trying to convince himself of something than talking to me. "It's not only against Guardian rules, it's against my rules, because, deep down, I know I would rather save a Moroi then another dhampir, even one I could have loved, but that's the problem, of course it is; I don't love you." Kyle was dying and that had been like a stab of ice in my chest, but this was just as bad. "I was leading you on without thinking, a relationship between us couldn't work, and I wouldn't allow it to work. They come first. It's what we are told from day one when becoming a guardian, no matter what, the Moroi matter. I won't let myself fall for someone I have no future with; I just can't Maya, so get over it." Tony said, but I wasn't paying attention; I could barely hear him, so I just nodded. It took nearly forty five minutes to get to the hospital, and there was mom, waiting for us. Tony let go of the wheel and you could see the dents that were left from his temper.

I jumped out of the car and Tony followed. I moved faster than ever before, sprinting and then barreling into my mother. She caught me, and took a step back to brace herself, wrapping her arms around me; she probably caught sight of Tony because she stiffened.

I sniffed and wiped away the tears that had fallen over my cheeks, which had betrayed me. I tried to ask where Kyle was but the words wouldn't come out of my throat, they kept getting stuck and it sounded like I was choking. She nodded and looked into the waiting room through the see through doors.

After a minute, we walked in; Cade was there and in tears, his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands, his body shaking in silent sobs. I ran over to him, leaving my mother and collapsed on the floor near his chair, I rested my head on his knees and he held me, resting his head on top of mine. I sniffed and I felt a hand got to my shoulder.

Once I could get a coherent sentence together, it was the matter of speaking it. I took a deep breath and looked at my mom. Tony helped me up and then I looked at dad.

"So, what's happening?" I said, my voice was husky from all the crying and I'd done, I caught a glimpse of Tony's face and I saw the hurt across his face, just a flash, before the guardian mask was in place.

"We don't know yet, but he fainted and he had a terrible fever sweetheart, but it looks bad." Daddy said. I nodded, trying to hold myself together, but I just couldn't do it. A life without Kyle wouldn't be much of a life at all. And all my barriers came crashing down; I sank to the floor and Tony was there holding me. I turned and grasped at his shirt, crying.

He murmured soothing words, saying he'll be fine and other things to sooth me, as I felt my parents gazes bore into my back, they could tell something was going on. Then I saw my mother lead dad away, and then they were having a hushed argument. My mom kept glancing at us and I strained my ears to pick up their conversation. I caught bit's like, "despised," and "Not him, not on my watch" then "Dimitri's son" and finally, "he can go to hell". I didn't know whether she was on about Tony or Dimitri, but it was one of the two. I sighed and wiped my tears away. I caught daddy's gaze and he was shooting daggers at Tony. I was his little girl and the only man I was suppose to need was my father. Dad never was one to share, especially when it came down to his two princesses.

When I looked back at Tony, he was staring at me with only longing in his eyes.

"But you said …" I muttered, looking up to his face and seeing the pure trust and love in his eyes.

"I lied; I love you, Maya, I do, but you know as well as I do that we can't be together. I do. I love you so much it hurts. I had to be mean to you so you would be hurt enough to maybe hate me instead of love me, but I can't do it," he whispered back, dropping his head to hide it in my neck, while he left small kisses on the skin that was showing. I shivered as he did. I did the same and buried my face in his shoulder; he sighed and we lifted our head at the same time.

Tony helped me stand and I kept hold of him till my mother put her hand on my shoulder, she didn't like this anymore then dad did. I looked at her and she nodded down the hall way. I sniffled and turned, reluctantly letting go of Tony's shirt, which was now crumpled and wet from my tears, and the hand that was tangled with mine. I dragged the back of my hand across my face. When we got to the end of the hallway, my mother stopped and spun so she was facing me, then put both her hands on my face, forcing me to look her in the eyes.

"Maya, now promise me, there's nothing going on between you and Guardian Lewis?" she said sternly. I hated it when she talked to me like I was seven, not seventeen. I mean, it was like she couldn't trust me to tell her the truth on my own.

"Mom, there is nothing going on between me and Tony." My was voice flat and absent of any emotion.

"Are you sure? You better not be lying to me, Maya!" she said, her guardian mask slipping into place without her even knowing. She said she never wanted to be the kind of mother that her mother was. And here she was, yelling like only Grandma Janine would be yelling.

There wasn't anything really going on between and Tony and me so there wasn't really much to tell my mother. "Mother, I am only going to say this once, I don't like Tony. He's a friend, nothing more, nothing less. There is nothing, nothing! going on between Tony and me. And there is never going to be anything in between me and him." My face was a copy of hers, no emotions on my face or in my eyes; my voice was flat with little emotion, as if I were talking about a friend. And it killed me, but it was necessary.

"Good" was all she said and walked off. I looked around and dad was there, walking away from where Tony stood. My father and my mother both gave short, sharp nod's and I sighed in relief which wasn't long lived as the doctor came out of Kyle's room, looking remorseful. My heart literally shattered right there, no matter what, it wasn't good. Nothing would ever be good ever again.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ivashkov . . ." The doctor stared at Cade and me when we stood up. Only then I noticed Dante wasn't there, and did Zara even know? We held each other's hands and then looked at the doctor together. "Can we talk?" he asked. We all nodded. "Privately." Oh. He looked at me and my brother standing inches behind out parents.

They both nodded and walked off, following the doctor down the corridor. I let go of Cade and followed stealthily. Making no noise, Cade behind me, we silently followed mom and dad. I could see them walk into a room. Getting closer, I saw the door was about to shut, but I slowed it down to a stop, an inch away from the white wooden frame. I leaned in closer, making sure my shadow didn't cast into the office, and Cade was behind me. We listened but we only heard one tenth of what was said. But it was enough to know that Kyle was going to die. "Leukemia—he won't be able to respond to chemotherapy—disease is rapidly progressing—his days are counted here on Earth." I heard mom break down and I followed. Cade dragged me away knowing I could barely walk and then I was running, right into Tony's arms, he sat down with me on his lap.

I rested my head on his shoulder and he stroked my hair, saying comforting words in Romanian, which I knew because of dad; he'd made us take lessons when we were younger, since some of the family, distant relatives, he said lived in Romania. But it calmed me down as I threw a fit, screaming and pounding into Tony's chest. I was sure bruises would be there tomorrow, but he was used to getting rough. He rocked me gently and I slowly began to drop off. I couldn't have been asleep for long, because when I woke up, I was cranky and still groggy as my head resting on Tony's muscular thigh.

Mom was crouched down in front of me, lightly shaking my shoulder and softly running her hands through my hair. I blinked and sat up, then rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

"The doctor said Kyle is awake, I'm going—"

"No, you're not! I'm going in first; he's my brother, and I'm going to see him before any of you!" I said stubbornly, my mother gave in and sat back on her heels then nodded. I got up and followed the nurse into the room.

"You have five minutes dear," she said softly then closed the door. Five minutes was better than no time at all. He looked so vulnerable when I sat on his bed, I couldn't help but cry. I flew into his arms, and rested my head on his chest. I was shaking from the crying and he rubbed my back.

"You can't die." I said, gripping his hand.

"Maya, I already know my fate; it's inevitable. I don't want to spend the rest of my days with people crying because I'm leaving; I want to spend the rest of my days with people smiling because I was here." The rest of my days . . . Kyle's words echoed in my ears. Of course, it brought out a billion more tears from my eyes.

"You can't leave me. I thought you would always have my back in everything." I sobbed like there was no tomorrow. It was then when Kyle lost it.

"Maya, I'll always have your back. From wherever I go, I'll be protecting you, no matter what." He put an arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry, Maya. This is a nature that we just can't control. Even if I'm not with you in person, I'll always be there in spirit," he finished.

Why was he comforting me when it should have been the other way around? It just proved how weak I was. "The doctor said there wasn't anything we could do for you . . . and it kills me—it kills me—that I can't do anything about it."

Kyle sighed. "Dr. Ayala said that if I stayed here, that he could expand my life span by two months. I don't want to stay here. Why not go out into the world and live my life normally, like I always wanted to live it? Why should I stay here when I already know I'm going to die? Two months of life won't make a difference. I'm still dying anyway."

I wiped the tears away. "You're strong, Kyle. You'll pull through this no matter what." Even to me, the words sounded weak.

Kyle smiled for my sake, nonetheless. "You know that I know that you don't believe that . . ." I reached over and hugged him, very tightly. I didn't want to let him go. Ever. I felt if I let go of him I would lose him forever. How was I going to move on without my brother shadowing every step I made?

How was I going to survive, without dying myself?

The nurse then knocked on the door and pocked her head in. I nodded and gave Kyle one final hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I had better go, mom wants to see you, and everyone else, and you're only allowed one at a time. But I'll come back tomorrow, I promise, and then we can talk more, okay?" I kissed his cheek and then got up. I walked out of the room. And Kyle called my name. I turned and looked at him.

"Maya, look out for Cade. I mean, Dante will be off being Dante and Zara isn't here to keep him company, and you're the only one I can trust to do that. Just keep an eye on him for me, please?" he said. I nodded, trying not to cry again, and gave him a forced smile. Then I walked out and Dante was standing there, looking a little sheepish.

"You bastard!" I yelled. Running at him and punching him in the chest, I pounded and he took it. "When I needed you, when we all needed you, you were out being a complete man whore!" I cried, pounding his chest till I finished and fell to the floor. Tony was there, and picked me up bridal style, then held me close to his chest. He sat us down again and soothed me.

"Shhh, Maya," he said quietly.

I rested my head on his shoulder.

But of course my mom would interrupt our moment of comfort.

"Maya?" She called out for me softly.

"Yeah, mom?"

"Your cousin is waiting for you outside. She said to go meet her."

I stood up, bringing Tony with me. My mom stared at our intertwined hands and went to go speculate to my dad. In that moment, I couldn't care less of what she thought or said about Tony and me being in a relationship.

It was getting chilly outside. The sun was just setting and it was dangerous to be outside without a guardian for Moroi. Tony noticed that I was shivering, took of his sweater and put it on me.

"But then you'll freeze to death . . ." I argued.

"I'll keep you close so that you can keep me warm," He said, stroking my cheek softly.

I saw Kayla running towards me, dragging Matt behind her.

"Maya," she said as she pulled me in for a hug. "How are you? I heard what had happened and I sneaked out. I just had to! How's Kyle?"

That brought out the sobbing again. "Kayla . . ." I gasped out. She put her arms around me again. "Kyle is going to die."

She tightened her hold on me. "Oh, my God . . ." I felt her shudder. She had taken this bad just like I had. Kyle was my brother but he had been a brother for her, too. "Your dad has all the money in the world . . . can't he do anything?"

"Money can't buy life." I told her firmly and a little sad.

"We should get inside." Tony told us as he looked around. It was really dark and he was the only guardian around at the moment. He couldn't protect everyone right now. He followed us inside, making sure everything was clear before going inside. Both of my parents, most of all my mother, was crying. They looked older than they actually were. They were worrying an awful lot. We all were.

They didn't even say anything as Tony and I walked together. They didn't care in this moment about anything, except Kyle.

My dad, being the voice of reason, walked up to me. He didn't wear that she's my baby girl look when he looked at Tony and me. My dad put a hand on my shoulder. "You two should go back to the academy and get some sleep. The doctor said he was going to release Kyle in a week or so."My mother had overheard what my dad was saying and she was walking up to us again. My dad looked Tony. "I trust that you will get my daughter safely back to the academy."

"You have my word, Mr. Ivashkov."

"Good, I trust you."

"Adrian—" My mother began.

"Rose, he's not going to hurt our daughter. I can see that. He's loves her." My father reasoned.

"Your words are fact, Mr. Ivashkov; I only want to make Maya happy," Tony said.

"I know." My dad said curtly.

I hugged both of my parents and they told me to get some sleep. "If anything . . ." I paused. "Keep me updated." I scanned myself to see if I had my phone on me. Oh, crap. I had broken it earlier.

My dad smiled. It was not the first phone I had broken. He pulled his out his pocket and handed it to me. "There you go, Maya. Love you, darling. Take care."

"You've saved me a lot today," I said to Tony.

"Somebody had to. It's the number one rule in life: Take care of the ones you love . . ." he answered me, holding me closer to his strong form.

Aww…Tony and Maya. I love them now. . .

Take lots of care and be ready for the next chapter that's gonna be in Tony's POV . . .

Lots of love

-Mel