Rose

I was dead. I knew it. I didn't make it. I could see Lissa crying over me. I could see Dimitri's solemn look on his face as he was holding Lissa. Suddenly, Mason appeared.

"Dying isn't as bad as I thought," I told him.

Mason smiled sadly. "Sometimes, Hathaway." He held his hand out to me and I took it. I followed him through the portal to end back in The Land of the Dead.

"Is this real? Am I really dead, Mason?" I whispered, looking around. He nodded and hugged me.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Mason whispered back.

"Don't be." I sniffled. "I had Dimitri and Lissa. You saved my life though." I kissed him on the cheek and he blushed.

"Some people want to see you." Mason said and led me towards Lissa's family.

"Little Hathaway – Not so little anymore, I see!" Andre laughed. I smiled and hugged him.

"How've you been, Big Dragomir?" I asked.

"Pretty good," He ruffled my hair and I grimaced. "I got to see you and Little Lissa every once in a while. Thank you for looking out for her, when we couldn't." I smiled sadly at him.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat." I whispered and I faced Eric.

"You darling, darling, girl. Thank you for finding Jill and giving Lissa the throne. Her mom wasn't too happy when she found out about The Witching Hour." He winked at me. I blushed. "Things will work out with them in the end with Lissa's special Element." I nodded and faced Lissa's mom. She just hugged me and brushed a hand through my hair. Could I pass out here?

"I'm sorry she saved me and not you guys." I said.

"It's how Fate works." Andre said. "She loved you too much to lose you. Seeing you dead broke the Spirit out of her." I suddenly started floating. I knew I had felt this sometime before. I just couldn't remember when.

"Andre? What's happening?" I asked, scared.

"Lissa's calling you back. We knew you weren't going to stay. We just wanted to let you know we love you both still and we'll see you in a couple years, hopefully no time soon." I started floating away. No. No, I didn't want to leave. It was my time to go. I had to die. Lissa couldn't heal me.

"ANDRE!" I screamed and suddenly woke up in the hospital bed gasping. Lissa and Dimitri poured tears of joy.

"I'm alive?" I asked, feeling my body all over. Lissa felt wonderful, she felt happy, but she also felt exhausted. "Whoa…" I said, feeling Lissa's feelings.

"It's back?" Dimitri asked as he was hugging me. I nodded, numb from what I just experienced.

"Lissa, your family wants you to know they still love you." I said while trying to sit up. Her eyes widened.

"You were in the World of the Dead?" She asked.

"Yep, I saw Mason, Andre, and your parents. Eric says don't sweat about Jill. Things will take their time and he's happy I found her so you could have your voice." Lissa started crying more and I cried with her.

"We need to get out of here." Lissa said, wiping her nose. Dimitri was suddenly on the phone.

"Okay, but I have an IV in me," I said pointing at the IV. Lissa told me a plan and it sounded perfect.

Lissa looked into my eyes. "Go to sleep, Rose. You're tired and will sleep for one hour." I conked out. Huh. Lissa must've gotten better at her compulsion. Lissa ran out of the room screaming, "SHE'S BREATHING! SHE'S BREATHING!" The doctor who we still hadn't learned the name of came in and checked my pulse.

"How is that possible?" He asked. Lissa sat on my bed with me.

"What's the matter, Doc? Don't believe in miracles?" Lissa asked.

"Not in the ones that can't be explained."

"If you don't mind, we'd like to take her home." Dimitri said.

"Are you kidding? We have tests to run. She's spending the night or at least two." Lissa took over.

"We're taking her home now. Please give us the discharge papers." He nodded and walked out of the room robotically. Lissa shook me awake.

"Ahhh, what?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"It worked!" Lissa squealed and hugged me.

"Dimitri, who was that on the phone?" I asked, while trying to sit up. A nurse came in and took out my IV.

"That was Abe. He found out who it was that hit the car. I can't find him anywhere in this hospital and that bastard's lucky. Otherwise he'd be dead. So I called Abe because he came here with Lissa and well… he's not going to walk anytime soon."

"He shot off his legs?!" I asked, horrified.

"No, he broke them, slowly and painfully." Dimitri grinned and then looked to me in all seriousness. "No more driving. When I thought that you couldn't of come back, it scared me, literally." I cut him off.

"Okay. I get it. No more driving. Is the car and the stuff I bought salvageable?" I asked.

"All of it is, thank God. The car… well, it's a good thing Abe has car insurance." Skylar started crying and Dimitri picked her up and handed her to me.

"Hey, Babe. Mommy's okay. I'm sorry I scared you."

"MOMMY?!" Lissa screamed. I nodded.

"But… the… how… what… HOW?"

"We found her in a trash can behind a restaurant. She's a Dhampir and she's mine. I love her, Lissa, as my own." I said.

"What's her name?" Lissa asked.

"Skylar Marie Belikov," I said and gave Lissa a few minutes to get the last name hint.

"Wait…" She said after three minutes. "He proposed?!" She squealed again. I nodded, grinning.

"Do you want to hold her?" I asked. She nodded and I held my hands out to her. Lissa cradled her. Then suddenly, Skylar spit up on her. I burst out laughing.

"Ewwww. Yep, Rose, this is definitely your daughter." Lissa said, handing Skylar back over to me. I got out of the bed all shaky like and grabbed my clothes. I started to get dressed while Dimitri was holding my arm. Reluctantly, Lissa took Skylar again. With her Spirit abilities, Skylar instantly loved Lissa.

"I got this, Dimitri," I said as I was getting my dress back on. Dimitri shook his head.

"I will carry you out of here if I have too. You may be healed, but you must be exhausted." I was, but I didn't say.

"Alright, alright. But I have no clothes! Do I have to wear this hospital gown?" I groaned. They both nodded and I grunted.

"Lissa, could you do me a huge favor and carry Skylar out?" I didn't even notice that Lissa was making baby faces at Skylar and just put her in the carrier and then nodded to me. "Some special night, eh Dimitri?" I asked, looking at him as we left the hospital room. Dimitri just chuckled and kissed my hair. Lissa's Guardians went in formation when we were outside. She nodded to them and a car appeared. The door opened and speak of the Devil, my father is there.

"Old Man," I said wearily, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure you were okay, of course and to make sure the bastard who did this to you won't walk for a while, but I'm sure Belikov has filled you in already on that." He eyed Skylar. "Whose baby is that?"

"Ours," Dimitri said. "We'll explain in the morning. Rose and Lissa are exhausted. Let them sleep for the night."

"Alright," Abe nodded and Dimitri kissed my hair again. He started murmuring soothing words in Russian, and I just lost track of everything around me.

I hadn't expected Lissa to dream walk to me. I had expected it to be Adrian. I hadn't heard from him in a while. Were things okay? I sure as Hell hoped so. Lissa was in the cemetery where they buried her parents and her brother. I walked up to her.

"Hey," I said softly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm – I'm fine. I just wish it was me who saw my family. I just wish I got an explanation from my Dad about Jill and why he did it. I just wish that I could hug my family one more time." She looked up to the sky. "IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"

"No, you're not fine. And yes, it is too much to ask, sadly. You just did a really powerful spell to bring me back from the dead. You should stray from using magic for a little bit."

"I just miss them so much." She wiped a tear and I hugged her. "I think about that day every day…" And we were suddenly in Lissa's parents car.

"Lissa, stop. This is major magic. You will wear yourself out." I said fiercely.

"Are you kids okay back there?" Eric asked, looking back briefly.

"Fine, Dad." Andre said.

"Fine, Dad." Other Lissa said.

"Fine, Mr. Dragomir." Other Rose said. (This is not how the accident happened! I wrote this before I saw the movie! I still hope you like it!)

"Rose, I've told you and I've told you. You're practically my daughter. Please just call me Dad." Other Rose blushed.

"Whoa…" Lissa and I both said. We were just here to view it.

"Lissa, get us out of here. I don't want to see this." I said, nervously.

"I want too," Lissa said.

"So, Andre," Other Rose started. "Are you gonna be a heartbreaker when school starts up again?"

"Why? You offering, Little Hathaway?" He asked and she blushed.

"Please, Andre. There has to be one girl that's stolen your heart." Other Lissa said. Lissa started to fume due to the story she came to terms with about Andre and Mia.

"Nah, not yet. I'm a prince. I got time." He grinned his full megawatt smile and Rose flushed.

"OhMyGod, you had a crush on Andre!" Lissa exclaimed.

"No! Yes! Maybe… I don't know! It was a while ago. I can't remember." I said, blushing in embarrassment.

"Let's prove how tough you really are, Guardian-to-Be."

"Andre," Scarlett groaned. "Not in the car. It's not safe."

"Mom, I'll be fine! I wanna see how tough Rose really is and see if she can protect my little sister!" Air surrounded Rose, suffocated her. Rose gasped, blinking back tears. Then, he took air away from her. Rose tried to breathe, but it was no use. I knew I had felt that before! When Lissa was being tortured by Jesse's stupid Air User, I had felt it and it felt so familiar, I had just forgotten where I had felt it.

"Andre…" Other Lissa said uneasily.

"Chill, Little Lissa. She's got strength. One more round." Andre started to have another go, but Eric turned around.

"ANDRE, YOUR MOTHER SAID IT'S NOT SAFE!" And that's when it happened.

"DADDY, LOOK OUT!" Other Lissa screamed. Eric turned around and rammed into a drunk driver. Lissa and I got out to see what would happen.

"Someone's moving." I whispered.

"It's me." Other Lissa got out of the car with cuts and bruises all over. She screamed over and over for her parents to wake up, but when she saw me – or Other Rose, she lost it.

"ROSE!" And Lissa's hands started to turn gold. She had no idea what was happening, but she went with it. Other Rose woke up gasping and Other Lissa pulled her out of the car.

"You're alive," She choked out. "You're alive," Lissa and the REAL Lissa started crying. I hugged Lissa and then I could suddenly see Lissa's family's spirits move towards the Land of the Dead.

"ANDRE!" I screamed. He looked back at me and winked. I waved at him to come over here because I have his bawling sister here. He nodded and nudged his parents. Their eyes widened at the sight of Lissa and me, but they came over nonetheless.

"Hey," I murmured towards Lissa. "Turn around." Lissa turned around and the image of the car accident dissipated, but her family was still coming towards her.

"She's badass," Andre observed. I nodded in agreement. Lissa didn't move.

"Wait. Can she see you?" They shook their heads. "Why the HELL not?" Lissa looked at me confused.

"I mean, there's a way, but it's difficult." Andre said.

"Just do what you have to do. The Spirit is going to destroy her if you don't tell her yourselves that you love her." I looked to Eric. "The news of Jill was a huge shocker to Lissa and she doesn't know what to think anymore. You have to tell her what happened. I only know from what Emily told me." He nodded at me. Suddenly, Lissa's family appeared right before her eyes. It was like a magic trick.

"Mom? Dad? Andre?" She asked, looking to them.

"Oh, honey." Lissa's mom went to hug her and Lissa cried in her arms. It felt so real to her. Andre came next to me.

"So, you had a crush on me, huh?" OH MY GOD.

"How the Hell could you hear us?" I demanded, my face flushing.

"Magic," He said while wiggling his fingers.

"To answer your question, yes, I did have a crush on you. You were a total flirt and I liked that sort of thing at the time. I also liked the idea of Lissa and I *actually* being sisters. I knew it would never work out between us though. A Dhampir and a Moroi? They only have flings with each other and I wanted a relationship. You never would've wanted that."

"How come you say that?" He asked as we watched Lissa reunite with her parents. Right now she was talking with Eric.

"Okay, how do I put this lightly? I know about your fling with Mia Rinaldi." I said, looking at him straight in the eyes. He looked guilty.

"Yeah, I admit I was a jerk. I wish Mia knew that so she would forgive me." He said running a hand through his hair.

"She took it out on Lissa and I after we came back from breaking out of the Academy." I said and he grimaced.

"You shouldn't have done that." He said, deadpan.

"What? You too? Victor Dashkov was after her for her healing abilities. You must have seen that."

"Yeah, I did. It sucks because he was a really good family friend. My dad was really pissed when he saw what Victor did to Lissa and you, not that you minded." He winked.

"Okay, hush you. He toyed with what was already a mess of a relationship. He was 24, I was 17. You think that would go well with the Academy Officials?" I asked.

"Rose Hathaway dating an older man!"

"Correction: Rose Hathaway marrying an older man." I said.

"Holy shit. Well, we'll look over you at the wedding. You can count on that." He hugged me.

"Andre, can I talk to you?" Lissa asked.

"It's probably just about Mia. Please be honest with her." I pleaded. He nodded and went over to Lissa. I went over to Eric and Scarlett.

"What did you tell her?" I asked Eric.

"I told her everything right from the moment I met Emily to the moment Jill was born."

"How mad is she?" I asked, chewing my lip.

"She's pretty upset that I didn't tell her, but hopefully she'll come around."

"Would you have recognized her – Jill if Emily said you could?" I asked. Scarlett went by Lissa and pat her back.

"Yes, actually, I would've. Lissa then would've understood more and we wouldn't be in this situation." Eric and the others started fading in and out. Eric brushed a hair behind my ear. "Be the best Guardian you can be. Always be there for Lissa and she'll be there for you."

"Thanks, Dad." I mustered up a smile for him.

"Ah, you remembered." He hugged me, but I could barely feel him. Lissa came by me and waved to her family. They disappeared and Lissa hugged me. I suddenly gasped awake in Viktoria's bedroom with Lissa beside me. I shook her awake.

"What?" She groaned.

"What the HELL did you just put me through?"

"I had to know. I didn't know it was going to end up like that – nah-uh."

"Well, now you know your family loves you. Please stray away from Spirit for a little bit. Or I will call Dr. Olendzki and get the anti-depressants." She paled.

"Okay, I promise. No more Spirit until I've completely healed." She said confidently. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I said. Dimitri came in with breakfast in bed for both of us.

"Good Morning – or well Afternoon. You two slept like there was no tomorrow." Dimitri put eggs sunny-side up and bacon on my side and then waffles and sausage for Lissa on her lap.

"Well, we were exhausted." I said and Lissa agreed.

"I think Abe wants to talk to you." Dimitri disappeared and Abe walked in. Oh boy.

"Good Afternoon, Old Man," I said while yawning. "What brings you to the Belikovs this nice day?" I love my sarcasm. On the other hand, other people did not.

"A baby, Rose? Really? You're only eighteen." I stopped him right there.

"Okay, so what am I supposed to do? Leave the baby to starve and die? Or give her to a fire station when the baby is half-Moroi, half human?"

"Give her to a family that's chosen to be domestic. I know you want to be a Guardian to guard your best friend. Being a mom isn't really your thing."

"I could make it my thing." I said while taking a bite out of bacon. Lissa was shocked. She never expected me to be a mom.

"Rose, don't keep the baby. It'll be too hard with Guardian duty." Abe said harsh.

"Old Man," I said just as harsh, "I'm going to raise this baby, then when it's time, I'll give her to the Academy. I'll visit more than Mom ever did. I'll be fine. Thanks for the concern, though." He was fuming when he left the room.

"Rose…" Lissa started.

"Lissa, I can be a mom. Please don't ruin this for me."

"I know you can," She smiled. "I was just going to say, we're going to need backup if you're going to do this."