The dormitory hallway was even busier than last night, newly allocated Guardians gathered in groups comparing their allocations and celebrating, or commiserating, as the case may be. Someone had found a speaker system and put some tunes on, and the alcohol was flowing.

"Where've you been, Hathaway?" Shane Reyes bellowed as Dimitri and I made our way up to the third floor. "And what the hell is a 'Queen's Project' anyway?"

"Seeing Croft, and not allowed to say," I replied, feeling a little out of sorts. Normally I'd be in my element at a party like this, and part of me still wanted to be, but I had to go to Baba's in a bit.

"I couldn't believe it when Meredith got the Princess and not you," Chelsea said, looking at me with genuine pity. "Are you ok? I knew how much you wanted to guard Lissa."

"It's ok," I said with a small smile. "I've known for a few days I wasn't going to be allocated to Lissa. Croft told me in Russia I'd been selected for a special project."

"What can you tell us about it?" Dean asked. He was one of those not so thrilled with his new charge, an older Lazar Lord, so I suppose he was hoping misery might find company.

"Not a lot. It's a five-year mission and I'll be going with Belikov here."

While I'd been chatting with my friends, Dimitri had been standing awkwardly beside me – not part of the conversation, yet not removed from it, either.

"Makes sense," Dean replied. "The way you two fight is something else. If anyone were to be sent on a Strigoi hunting mission, it would be you two!"

I smiled. I wasn't sure there'd be a lot of facing Strigoi where we were headed, but they might as well believe that.

"Does that mean you'll be living away for five years?" Ryan asked shrewdly.

"Yeah. But we'll be coming back each month to report to the Guardian Council."

"Reporting direct?! That must be one hell of a mission," Ryan said with a whistle.

I shrugged. There wasn't much I could say.

"Well come on – let's get you a drink," Shane said giving me a flirty smile. "What about you, Belikov? Want a beer?"

I was surprised when Dimitri nodded. Usually, he avoided social gatherings like this.

"We can only stay for one, Shane," I called out as he was headed across to a cooler someone had placed in the middle of the hallway. "My father is having a party for me tonight."

That started another conversation about who my father was. While a few knew, the rest of my former classmates had no idea I was related to the infamous Abe Mazur.

"So that's why you got a pink envelope while the rest of us got white ones," a rather drunken Justin voiced. "We all got fifty buck vouchers – what did you get?"

I had no idea, so I fished the envelope out of my pocket and opened it, tenting the card inside open I could see my father's messy scrawl.

Congratulations on your first allocation. With love, Baba

Next to it was a gift card. And I had no idea you could get them in such a high value!

"I got a gift card, too. One hundred dollars," I lied, shaving two zeros from the end of my father's beneficence. I handed the envelope to Dimitri, who immediately knew it wasn't a one hundred dollar voucher.

"Take care of this for me will you, Comrade?" I asked.

He nodded, taking the envelope and slipping it into his inner duster pocket.

"Congratulations, Meredith!" I said when she and Eddie made their way down the corridor to greet us. "You happy with your allocation?"

"Thrilled!" she said with a grin.

"We both are!" Eddie added, slipping his arm around Meredith's waist and leaning down to kiss her temple tenderly.

It looked like it was going to work out for them, after all. As secondaries around the same age as Lissa and Christian, they'd probably be mostly on the day shift and attending classes with the Royal couple at Lehigh, which meant they'd be off-shift every night together. Exactly the arrangement Dimitri and I had hoped for. I didn't begrudge their happiness and good fortune, but it was hard not to wish things had worked out that way for he and I.

The four of us chatted for a while, and then Dimitri and I started wandering from group to group. This could be the last time I saw some of these people, so I took my time saying my goodbyes and wishing everyone well with their new roles.

At six, Dimitri and I moved to our separate dorm rooms, changing out of our dress uniforms and into casual wear to attend Abe's gathering.

"You ready?" Eddie asked as I stepped back out into the corridor. He was waiting for me with Meredith. They must be going to Abe's party, too.

"Just waiting for Dimitri," I said, looking up and seeing my Russian God walk down the corridor toward us. With his height, hair loose around his face, and in a casual pair of cargos and a dark, tight TShirt, he looked mouthwatering! Oh the things I wanted to do with that man.

"Come on. Let's go to Abe's. The drinks will be better there," Eddie laughed, referring to my father's habit of perennially, and expensively, over catering any function.

"So do you always work so hard Pavel?" Tasha was asking, her voice low and husky. "Surely you've earned a little time for fun?"

Tasha was standing uncomfortably close to Pavel on the landing outside Abe's house; the two of them completely oblivious to our approach. Pavel wasn't appreciating Tasha's overtures, but she couldn't see that.

"I know you don't make it to Court often. I'd be very glad to take you around the sights. I could show you a good time."

Eddie was trying not to snigger at Tasha's blatant come-ons. I started grumbling about nothing in particular as we approached the house, making our presence known.

"Ahh Belikov! I have an urgent matter to discuss with you," Pavel said, his relief clear when his eyes lit upon us. "Excuse me, Lady Ozera."

"Hi, Tasha – how's it going?" I asked.

She sighed.

"It goes," she replied, eyeing Pavel's ass longingly as he walked back inside with Dimitri. "Come on – let's find Christian and Lissa."

Eddie had been right – as usual, Abe had gone overboard. Waiters were moving around flutes of champagne and elegant canapés, and there was classy music playing in the background. Personally, I thought most of those invited would have preferred a keg and some sizeable steaks on the grill, but there you go.

Mom was seated on a sofa in the formal lounge, chatting with Alberta. Both of them were wearing casual gear, although I could see Mom had dressed up a bit. A few other Guardians were floating around the living room, but Tasha led us toward the less formal family room out the back where the younger people were gathered.

"You're late," Lissa said, checking her watch. Quarter to seven.

"Sorry. There was a party in the Guardian dorms, so it took us a bit to get away."

Eddie and Meredith stood a little awkwardly next to me. As of 7 pm tomorrow they'd be Guardians to Christian and Lissa.

"Glad it all worked out," Christian said, taking the initiative and stepping forward to shake Eddie's hand.

"Thanks. Me, too," Eddie said returning his handshake.

"I was so happy when I got the text to discover you'd be my second Guardian," Lissa said smiling at Meredith. "I'm looking forward to working with you."

The polite formalities aside, Meredith was soon talking earnestly with Celeste. They were going to be guarding partners, so they needed to get to know each other better.

Dimitri found his way back to us, Pavel conspicuously absent. Seeing my man, and not the one she was hunting, Tasha excused herself to rejoin the main party; presumably to go in search of her reluctant prey.

"So Sparky? Any ideas on who your primary Guardian is going to be?" I asked curiously.

"Guardian Alto," Dimitri interrupted, greeting Stan as he walked through the kitchen and out to the living room where we were all standing. "I didn't expect to see you here?"

Stan looked ill at ease in his casual clothing. He was the sort of guy you could imagine being born wearing his Guardian uniform.

"Just here to see Lord Ozera and Castile," he replied stiffly, walking over to where Christian stood chatting with Eddie. The two looked up as Stan approached, both looking a little surprised.

"Lord Ozera? Guardian Stan Alto," he formally presented himself. "I have been allocated as your primary Guardian."

"Rose - you were so rude!" Lissa admonished as I was splashing water on my face, still chuckling. When Alto had announced he was Christian's primary Guardian, I had started laughing so hard tears were running down my face. Lissa had decided my display was unseemly, so had dragged me to a powder room off the family room until I could control my mirth.

"I'm sorry," I spluttered. "But it's Alto!" I said, starting up again.

"From what I've heard he's a fine Guardian," Lissa said a little frostily.

"He is," I replied honestly. He might be annoying and hung up on protocol, but he was a decent Guardian, and he'd look after them. "I just can't imagine him fitting in at a university. He's so… starched!" I wailed, descending into laughter again.

Lissa's lip twitched. I had a point!

"Come on," she said smiling, looping her arm around my waist. "It's an awkward time for everyone. Go out there and try not to laugh at the poor man!"

We moved back out into the family room.

"I'm sorry – I don't know what came over me," I said, the corners of my mouth still twitching. "Congratulations, Alto, when do you start?"

"7 pm tomorrow, same as the others," he said stiffly.

"Well that's good – you can all get used to each other together," I said, glancing at Eddie who was looking a lot less delighted about his allocation than he had ten minutes ago. "What's the plan? Will you all be staying at Tasha's?"

"I think so," Christian answered. "We'll be staying at Court until Lehigh, although now we both have Guardians, we were thinking of returning to St. Vlad's to sort and collect the rest of our stuff. Lissa also wants to visit the Dragomir estate."

That thought was enough to wipe the smile off my face instantly. Lissa hadn't been back to the family house since her parents and brother died. It was something she had to face sometime, but I hadn't imagined she'd do it without me by her side.

"There's a couple of months before classes start. But I should fix things up in Montana," Lissa explained soberly.

"See how you go," I suggested gently. "If you do it over a weekend, maybe I could fly down and help you with it?"

Lissa's eyes lit up, and I could see they were welling with tears.

"Would you?" she pleaded. "I know Christian will be with me, but…"

"Of course I will," I promised, giving Dimitri a look which told him I wouldn't listen to any arguments to the contrary. All else aside, Lissa was still my best friend and bond mate. Just because I wasn't allocated to her didn't mean I didn't care or wouldn't be there to support her when she needed me.

"Let's wait until I'm where I'm going then we'll talk schedules. I might only be able to come for a day or two," I warned.

Lissa nodded.

"I just want to store my stuff from St. Vlad's at the house," she explained, "and there are a few of my parents' things I'd like to take to Lehigh."

Christian had moved around to stand beside Lissa, winding his arm around her waist.

"So you guys having a good time?" Abe asked, moving into the family room. The mood was pretty somber.

"We're about to," I said merrily, snagging a couple of glasses of champagne from a passing server and passing one to Lissa. It was time this turned into an actual party!

Christian and Eddie found an X-box game console and hooked it up to the flatscreen, and soon the guys were on the sofa taking turns at a car racing game.

Celeste and Meredith were still talking, which left Tasha, Lissa and I.

"So what does Pavel do in his time off?" Tasha asked with no attempt at subtlety.

I had no idea, but the guy had been good to me, so I tried to lead Tasha off the scent.

"I'm pretty sure he spends his time at the Guardian Gym. You know - working out."

Tasha looked like she was going to swoon at the idea of the forty-something Guardian in his workout wear all hot and sweaty. He didn't do anything for me, but each to their own!

I was listening to Tasha and Lissa talk as I watched Dimitri taking on Eddie in the race game. They were both taking it far too seriously, and I swear I heard Dimitri say something filthy in Russian when Eddie thrashed him. After all his comments about my language, Guardian Belikov had quite a dirty mouth himself, I'd discovered. Sipping a champagne, I watched him for a moment, fantasizing about what he could do to me with that mouth later in the evening.

The guys switched to a baseball game, then after a couple of hours, they moved on to a karaoke game. We all joined in, and were having a great time humiliating ourselves with our largely non-existent singing abilities. Even the older partygoers moved through to the family room to join the hilarity.

"Where's Pavel?" I asked Abe, noticing Tasha sitting dispiritedly on the arm of a sofa.

"Hiding upstairs," Abe sniggered in a rather juvenile manner. "He's feeling a little overwhelmed by Tasha's interest."

"You're not really going to stay at Court, are you?"

"No," Abe laughed. "We're going to return to Russia after you leave. But make sure you email me a copy of the dates you're going to be back at Court. I still have to visit regularly, so I'll make sure I coincide my trips."

It was a sobering thought. Baba had become such a huge part of my life, and soon he'd be back on the other side of the world.

"Thanks for my voucher, by the way. Completely over the top, just so you know."

"Only the best for my little girl," he said, pulling me into a hug. "Make sure you spoil yourself. Now, the night's getting on… I suppose I should say a few words?"

"Not tonight, Baba," I pleaded. "I don't want to make a big deal of things, ok?"

"Understood," he said, squeezing me against him. "No speeches."

Abe went across to ask the servers to freshen the drinks, and I moved to sit on the sofa between Mom and Alberta. The two of them were howling with laughter as Celeste and Alto hammed up the duet 'I Got You Babe.' Alto could sing, while Celeste couldn't, but it was the way they were pretending to make eyes at each other that made it all the more hilarious. Perhaps Alto wouldn't be such a drag at Lehigh after all?

After that, Meredith, Celeste, Lissa, Tasha, and I sang a singularly tuneless version of 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' before Alberta convinced Emil to accompany her in a surprisingly good rendition of 'Today I Started Loving You Again.'

"Come on Belikov," Alberta said, passing the microphone to Dimitri. "Your turn!"

He shook his head, trying to pass the microphone back.

"No getting out of it, man," a tipsy Eddie piped up. "Viktoria told us you used to be good at karaoke!"

Dimitri muttered a few choice words that I now understood before rolling his eyes and crossing the floor to the console, looking up an Elvis song. Can't Help Falling in Love.

Viktoria was right. My man could sing. And it was beautiful. Dimitri's deep brown orbs didn't leave mine as he crooned the well-known words to the classic love song. There might as well not have been anyone else in the room because they ceased to exist as far as I was concerned. All I could focus on was my love and the tender words spilling from his lips.

"That was wonderful," Alberta beamed as Dimitri handed back the microphone, "and a hard act to follow! Anyone else want a shot?"

She was met by headshakes and yawns.

"It's getting late. Some of us start new jobs in the morning," Meredith joked standing up, Eddie doing likewise and moving to stand beside her. And like that, the evening was over and it was time to say goodbye. One by one everyone left, me getting increasingly teary with each farewell I had to make.

Alto and the St. Vlad's Guardians left first, Alberta giving me a long hug.

"I'm proud of you, Rose," she said, her eyes glistening. "You'll do well. Don't be a stranger - come back and visit when you can."

She moved on to Dimitri. "You look after her," she growled fiercely.

"Always," Dimitri promised.

Lissa, Christian, and Tasha were next to leave. Lissa and I had agreed she'd not come to the airport in the morning, so tonight was it. I was unashamedly bawling as we embraced.

"I'll text you when we get in," I promised, "then I'll call you on Sunday. But if anything comes up let me know," I requested, referring to our bond.

Dimitri and I had talked about it, and we had agreed other than texts to let everyone know we'd arrived safely, we wouldn't call anyone until the first weekend. We needed to settle and focus on our new roles and not the friends and family we'd had to leave behind.

"I'm going to miss you," Lissa wailed. "I've never had to do things alone."

"You won't be alone," I promised, giving Christian a look. He stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, Liss. It's time to go."

"You'll call Sunday? I want to know everything!" she asked, dabbing at her eyes in a futile attempt to stem the flow of tears.

"I promise, Liss."

Then with a final hug and a kiss, Christian was leading her toward the door, Celeste and Emil following.

"Good luck, Rose, Belikov" Christian called back over his shoulder. "We'll see you soon."

Tasha hugged me and then Dimitri. It was weird to see her with her arms wrapped around my man and not worry about it. She lingered just a moment, and for just a second I wondered if the compulsion was wearing off, but when she pulled away, there was only friendship on her face.

"Hope it goes well for you guys," she smiled referring to both our mission and our relationship. "All the best!"

"Thanks, Tasha," Dimitri replied on behalf of both of us.

Then it was Mom, Baba, Eddie, Meredith, Dimitri and me.

"Thank you for everything, Abe," Eddie said, holding his hand out to Baba. "Meredith and I can never thank you enough for all you've done for us."

Meredith agreed. "Thank you. We'll always appreciate your kindness."

Abe blustered how thanks were not necessary and that they were welcome.

"Rose? Eddie and I might start walking back. We'll see you back in the dorms?" Meredith suggested.

I nodded. It was time to say goodbye to my parents. Now Tasha had left, Pavel had miraculously reappeared, so I started there.

"Take care of him," I whispered as I hugged Pavel goodbye. "And thank you."

"Shall do, and you're welcome," Pavel replied.

Then it was Mom's turn.

"Lord Szelsky has decided to stay at Court for another few months," she announced, "so I'll be here when you come back for your first report to the Guardian Council."

"And in the meantime, I could call?" I suggested tentatively.

"I'd like that," she said, pulling me to her. "We'll plan that visit to Elaine and Bridget's."

"Janine," Dimitri acknowledged once I'd let Mom go.

"Don't you let anything happen to her," she ordered.

"I won't."

They hugged awkwardly, and it wasn't just because of their size difference.

After a cuddle and a few final words with Abe, Dimitri had his arm around my shoulder, guiding me to the front door.

"We'll see you in a month," Dimitri said by way of farewell.

We walked back to the dorms in silence, holding hands with scant regard for who might see us.

"It will be ok, ангел. We'll face the change together."

"I know. I'm just sad. Stay with me tonight?"

"Tonight, and every night from now on," he pledged.

"Wake up, Roza. It's 6 pm."

I groaned, burying my head under a pillow. After Baba's party, we'd come back to the dorms and shared a final drink or two with Eddie and Meredith. We hadn't gone to bed until 1 pm, so I was feeling tired and a little emotional today. And frustrated. Dimitri and I had been too tired to spend any sexy time together, last night, instead falling into bed beside each other, asleep almost before our heads hit the pillows. So I was feeling irritated by that, too, this morning!

"Everyone will be up, soon. I need to get back to my room," my Russian God whispered as he nuzzled against my neck. "Up you get, sleepyhead!"

I finally moved when Dimitri ripped the quilt off me, earning himself some particularly descriptive threats.

I threw on a robe and checked the hallway – giving Dimitri the all-clear before closing the door and climbing into the shower. We were flying out at 7 pm along with a few other Guardians headed east. Croft had warned us it would be a bit of a milk run – ours being the third and final stop.

Washed, dressed and packed, I opened the door to my room, dragging the two bags that comprised my lifelong belongings out into the hallway. I could see several other doors along the corridor were open, too. 7 pm being the start time, Guardians were packing up to fly out, others dressing for their first shifts if their charges were local.

Meredith opened her door, stepping out dressed in the everyday Guardian uniform.

"Big day," she said nervously when she saw me.

"I know but you'll be ok. Lissa gets a bit cranky if she needs to feed," I counseled, "and if she's getting tired, make her a cup of Lady Grey tea. It's her favorite, and perks her up."

Meredith nodded, committing these details to memory.

The door to Chelsea's room opened and she dragged out three large bags.

"I can't even zip them up," she groaned. "Rose? Meredith? Can you help me?"

The three of us were bending over helping Chelsa with her overflowing suitcases when I heard footsteps in the corridor behind us.

"Now that's what I call a fine view," a voice behind me said so quietly I almost missed it. Shane Reyes if I had to hazard a guess.

"Hmm. Nothing like a tight pair of pants on a woman," Justin agreed in an admiring whisper.

A third guy chuckled. "I wouldn't say no." Ryan.

I was about to turn around and tell them in no uncertain terms exactly what I thought about them staring at our asses.

"You guys are perverts," a voice I recognized as Eddie's chided. "And what you're doing is not a good idea," he cautioned.

"What? It's just a bit of innocent fun," Shane defended. "Hathaway can stare at my ass anytime she wants," he justified.

"What's innocent fun?" my love's deeply accented voice asked disdainfully. He didn't sound pleased, so there was no doubt in my mind he'd heard the rest of Shane's comments and taken exception to them.

"They were checking out the girls' asses," Eddie said matter of factly, disapproval evident in his voice.

Ok. It was time for me to step in. Helping Meredith secure Chelsea's final bag, I stood up, turning to face the guys. Dimitri was standing with Eddie, Shane, Justin, and Ryan - and he was looking murderous.

I checked my watch. 6.40 pm.

I sauntered over to the group, adding the slightest bit of swing to my hips as I did so. I walked straight up to Dimitri, ending up close and well within his personal body space.

"Are you all ready to go, Comrade?" I asked, looking up at him and giving him a sexy look, the fingers of my right hand toying with the button on the pocket on his shirt.

"Uh ha. We should get going," he replied, his voice husky. "Our ride will be here in five."

Dimitri's eyes dropped to my bottom lip which I was biting coyly with my teeth. Lifting his eyes back to mine, he saw my loaded look and knew what was going to happen next. I was going to help him stake his claim.

Stepping closer, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, standing on tiptoes and letting my lips find his for a long, smoldering kiss. One of his arms snaked around my waist as his lips pressed firmly against mine, the other hand finding its way to my ass, holding me there possessively. Lips still locked, Dimitri growled - using the hand on my backside to pull me harder against him as he deepened the kiss.

Finally, I pulled away with a disappointed sigh.

"Time to go," I said, stepping back and picking up one of my bags. "Good luck, everyone," I called out over my shoulder as Dimitri picked up his bag, and my second one, walking beside me down the hallway. No one said anything – I think they were all taken back by our impromptu display of affection.

Dimitri and I were at the landing at the top of the stairs at the end of the hallway when Eddie chuckled.

"And that's just one reason it's not a good idea to check out Hathaway's ass."