It was three weeks before the wedding. Everything was planned, except I couldn't decide a place in Court. Dimitri and I were looking in the dining hall, which had potential. I started thinking of how it could work. Dimitri naturally saw me thinking. He squeezed my hand and pulled me out of my thoughts.

"You like it?" He asked. Giovanni, our very gay and flamboyant Moroi wedding planner looked to me with hope in his eyes.

"It has potential." I said, looking around. "We could put the tables in sort of a square and then the dance floor in the middle." Giovanni smiled at me.

"I love it, Miss Hathaway. You have excellent taste. EXCELLENT!" He drew all the plans out on his iPad and showed it to us. We nodded and grinned. I shook his hand, but he pulled me into a hug. "He's a lucky man, Miss Hathaway." I blushed as he shook Dimitri's hand. Giovanni left and I looked to Dimitri.

"We did it." I said, pecking him on the lips. He accepted the kiss, but I didn't expect what was to come next.

"We're not done yet. Two more things." I raised an eyebrow at him. "You have to get your bouquet and the final fit. Same here."

"I didn't know you were getting a bouquet." I giggled. He smiled softly at me and tilted my chin up to meet his eyes.

"Oh Roza, you exasperating woman." I took a step closer and he inhaled sharply.

"Exasperating, am I?" I murmured against his lips. His lips came closer and closer. They were so close and DAMN IT! The door opened.

"Oh there you are! Giovanni said you'd be in here." Lissa said. Really. I should've seen her coming. I mean, I have a psychic bond with her. Surely I can see when she's coming.

"Lissa, remember when I said there were times that you need to call before coming to me?" I said, still looking at Dimitri.

"Yeah?" Lissa frowned.

I looked at Lissa. "It's one of those times." Lissa's eyes widened. Fill me the deets later! She giggled and left and Dimitri looked at me, shocked.

"It's a Bond moment. You wouldn't understand." I said, smiling.

"Oh, I wouldn't. Would I?" We were back where we were before Lissa came. He pulled me to his warm body and I kissed him. I kissed him with everything in me. He kissed me with more passion than I have ever felt. There was a bit of ferocity. Right when things were getting good, he pulled back.

"Hey, what gives?" I asked.

"Well, we're in the Court dining room, we're not in our room, and someone could walk in at any moment."He had a point. Damn. I bit my lip and looked to the door.

"Well, we can have a rain check. I have to go have a final fitting." I said smacking my lips and swayed my hips all the way to the door. Dimitri caught up with me and put his arm around my waist and squeezed my ass. He squeezed it! I gasped and looked at him. He was looking ahead. Damn him. Two can play at that game. I slipped my arm around and put it in his back pocket. I then squeezed his ass. He inhaled sharply and looked to me. I looked to him with a challenging look as we were nearing our room. He looked left and right to see if anyone was coming and then the cool and calm Dimitri was gone. He shoved me to the wall right next to our door and kissed me in a very, very ferocious way. Our teeth clashed and he picked me up so my legs would wrap around him. Dimitri carried me in and I thought I heard the door shutting. Thank you Mia! There was a cough. Our heads jerked up.

"Viktoria?" Dimitri said. I grimaced.

"MIA!" I screamed. She came out just as fast.

"Yeah, Rose?" She asked nervously. Oh, she knew she was in trouble. I got off of Dimitri's hips and glared her down.

"What is IT doing in here? IT needs to leave."

"Rose, you can't act like this isn't happening. Just accept her apology." I looked to the door and decided to bail. I turned around and but then I gasped. Lissa and Serena were on Door Duty. She wasn't letting anyone in or out. I turned to Dimitri.

"You did that on purpose!" I shouted at him.

"I'm just as surprised as you are." He blinked and I blinked with him.

"Mia, switch places with Lissa." Viktoria said.

"Don't boss my friend around!" I yelled at her.

"Rose, it's fine." The door opened and Lissa saw it was Mia. They said few words to each other until Lissa came in.

"Rose," Lissa started. "Your wedding is in less than 3 weeks. The less the fighting there is, the happier you'll be."

"She believed the shit that Mattie said!" I looked to Viktoria. "Answer this honestly. Do you really think I would try to ruin your brother's reputation? We went through Hell and back on that jailbreak but that just made me realize how much I love him. I loved him too much to see him Strigoi. I love him more than you will ever know. You may not believe this, but," I screamed this part. "I DID NOT RUIN YOUR BROTHERS REP!" I was breathing heavily and everyone was staring at me.

"Rose, I know –" I stopped her right there.

"Do you?" I laughed bitterly. "Do you really? The last time I saw you, you told me I never understood love. Look at me now. Do you really still think that?"

"No! Of course not!" I suddenly heard a cry and I groaned. Skylar woke up from her nap. I glared at everyone and walked to Skylar's room. She was standing up in her crib and she was whimpering. I picked her up and took her to the other room. Dimitri looked at me sympathetically and Lissa held her hands out. I shook my head.

"She keeps me calm. And it guarantees I won't attack anyone." Lissa just nodded. I looked to Viktoria and some of the rage in me felt released once I held Skylar. Lissa was right. I didn't have time for the drama. I was getting married in less than 3 weeks. I needed to cut my shit out and settle down. I took a deep breath. "I accept your apology." I muttered between clenched teeth.

"Really?!" Viktoria squealed. I nodded. Not an honest answer, but a necessary one.

"Now get ready. Unless I'm going for my final fit alone." Thank you. I half-smiled towards Lissa, but did nothing towards Viktoria. I may have accepted her apology, but there was a ways to go before we were buddy-buddy again. Everyone left and Mia came in. I glared at her, but then burst out laughing. Mia hugged me.

"This is your time to shine. You shouldn't be angry." God damn! I hate when everyone's right but me.

"I know. Just go get ready, okay?" I asked and she nodded. She went into her room. I handed Dimitri Skylar and he knew what I was going to do. I fell on the bed and let out an ear piercing scream muffled in a pillow while kicking my feet. So un-Rose Hathaway. Dimitri helped me up and I hugged him. I didn't even notice that Mia was watching with Skylar. I put my head on his chest and let out a deep breath. Rage was burning within me. It wasn't Spirit-Induced rage. It was Marriage Meltdown rage. Dimitri could feel me tense up.

"Mia, get Skylar out of here. If anything, reschedule the fitting. Just go! I'll deal with Rose." These words didn't register with me. Dimitri just started rubbing my shoulders and as soon as I heard a door click, all hell broke loose. I SCREAMED at the top of my lungs, burning tears falling down my cheeks. I punched Dimitri's chest over and over, crying. Soon, my legs gave out and I just fell at his feet. I cried harder and harder. Dimitri picked me up and put me on the bed. He lay down with me and pulled me to him.

"I CAN'T handle this anymore!" I shouted. "I have to be nice to everyone I fucking know. 'Yes, that would be great.' Or 'No, I don't like that.' Being a parent is hard enough, Dimitri! Marriage is just another thing to add to the bag!" I put my head in my pillow and let out a giant sob. Dimitri just rubbed my back. He knew I didn't mean any of the words I said. I got up and rubbed my eyes.

"No, get back in this bed." He said.

"I can't." I sniffled. "I have to go for my final fitting."

"You'll do it tomorrow. You are in no shape to do anything right now. Get under the covers and just take a deep breath. I have to make a call." I nodded and did what he said. I snuggled into the blankets and fell into a deep slumber.

Dimitri

Wow – I have never seen Rose like that. I don't want to pressure her into marriage. I kissed her forehead and made way for the living room. I called Lissa.

"Helloooo?" Lissa asked, giggling.

"Lissa, can you reschedule the final fitting?" I asked.

"Sure. What's up, Dimitri?" She asked, concerned.

"Rose broke down today. Marriage is really getting to her. Just, reschedule it. I have to go see how Christian is."

"He's going to try on his tux. You should go too, if Rose is conked out – which I bet she is."

"Okay. I'll talk to you soon."

"Kay kay!" She giggled and hung up. Now I have to go try on my tuxedo. I looked back to Rose. She was conked out. She looked so peaceful. I had to go before I joined her.

Rose

I yawned and woke up alone in our room. No one was there. Huh. I wonder where Dimitri was. I got a text from an anonymous number.

*MEET AT THE BURNING ARROW*

Well. I couldn't text back. So, I might as well go see who this mystery person is. I got dressed and made way for the bar. As soon as I saw the sign, I entered with my eyes peeled. The barman recognized me easily.

"You Rose Hathaway?" I nodded. He handed me a Sprite. How the hell did he know I like Sprite without ice? I nodded to him and took little sips.

"Who is this from, anyway?" I asked.

"Dunno. Just got a call from a female voice that said, 'Sprite, no ice for Hathaway,'" I shrugged. I drank a big gulp and sighed in happiness at the bubbles in my tummy. I looked around, still no sign of that mystery person, so I finished the Sprite, tipped the barman, and made way to leave. Suddenly, I did not feel good. The barman smirked at me. Oh shyat. I tried to walk away, but suddenly Avery Lazar walked into the room.

"So this is the infamous Rose Hathaway that ruined my chances of bonding with Lissa?"

"Wh-What did you put in my drink?" I asked, texting behind my back.

"A simple roofie. Don't worry. You'll pass out soon enough." She smirked at me. The text was sent. The room was spinning. I couldn't hear. I couldn't think. I soon couldn't see at all. It all went black.

*AVERY LAZAR IS HERE. HELP*