*Updated 04-05-2018*

Chapter 30 - A Little Less Than A Million

"Am I still dead?"

"You're alive, princesa, you're alive." replied Vaas.
Rosa tried to sit up but she cried out, a shooting pain ripping through her abdomen. She fell back onto the bed, defeated.

"All in good time, Rosa. There's no rush." Vaas ran his hands over his head, "Oh my fucking god. My princesa came back to me."
She squeezed his hand tighter, deciding not to tell him about her experience.
"I told you that I would never leave you, Vaas." she said, her voice hoarse.
She coughed, Vaas handing her a cup of water, which she drank down quickly, her thirst becoming more apparent.

"So what happened then? How long have I been out for? Where are we?"
"So many questions, princesa. We're in your room in South. We couldn't move you and Hoyt wanted you close to him so he knew you were okay. You've been out for about 8 days ... everyone thought you were dead. Including me. You nearly just died in my arms but the Doc brought you back."
"And the Rakyat? Caddo?"

Rosa gently rested her other hand above the stab wound, which she could feel was heavily bandaged.
"All dead. Some of the boys went and burnt the temple so there is nothing left. They're gone. We won, baby."
"Oh my god. At last." Rosa said, relief flooding her body.
"Nobody has really been doing anything since the fight. They've all been on a downer because of what happened to you."
Rosa was humbled at Vaas' words and happy that the Rakyat were now history.

"What actually happened, Vaas?" I can't remember. It's all such a blur."
"You went to go and see Hoyt and ended up fighting with Caddo, when I told you stay safe."
"I always like a good plan deviation." she said, smirking.
"Hm." Vaas said, raising an eyebrow, "Anyway, that fucker stabbed you with his knife, poisoned the tip to make sure he finished you off. Doc wasn't sure if you'd make it or not so we had some men diving into the ocean for some magic mushroom shit that would help. Then we just had to wait."
"And the wound?" asked Rosa, grimacing.

"Fucking gross. But better. You still have healing to do and the Doctor has been coming everyday to change the dressing and give you drugs. Hoyt has been coming too."
"Hoyt." said Rosa, holding her breath slightly.
"He's fine. Stressed and depressed, but fine. He'll be over the moon that you're awake."
Rosa smiled at Vaas and put her hand out.

"Help me sit up." she commanded.
Vaas looked uneasy.
"I'm not sure, princesa. It's still early da-."
"Just help me sit the fuck up."
Vaas sighed but reluctantly got to his feet and supported Rosa in sitting up.
She felt a searing pain in her abdomen a few times but she held back the tears of pain, biting her lip to suppress her cries. Vaas propped her up on the pillow as Rosa got her breath back.
"Pass me a mirror, a hairbrush and my makeup please, dear Vaas." she said, Vaas then collecting the items for her.

Rosa grabbed the mirror and brought it to her face. She looked so strange without any makeup, looking just how she had seen herself in the bed on the beach. Just like death warmed up. Nice. She ran the brush through her hair and winced pulling on the knots. An expert in eyeliner, she applied it in under 2 minutes, put on a coat of lipstick and pinched her cheeks slightly, to bring some colour into them. She hurriedly brushed on some mascara and examined herself in the mirror. She nodded in approval, placing the mirror down.

"Nearly dead and still putting on that fucking makeup." Vaas joked.
Rosa rolled her eyes but felt better in herself now that she looked more like her and not like a zombie.
"Can you go and get Hoyt?" she asked, "I need to talk to him."
"He's going to be so fucking happy when he sees you. Everyone will be. I'm going to have a joint to calm my nerves."
Vaas was like a little kid in a sweet shop, so excited and giddy that Rosa was alive. He lent over to her and gave her a big, fat kiss.
"Mwah!" he said and Rosa just laughed.
The action pulled on her stomach, so she had to stop.
"Go and get him." she said and she couldn't stop smiling.
The pain was definitely worth it.

Rosa sat in silence, just taking in her surroundings, which were cleaner than what she remembered. She heard Vaas' boots sound down the corridor as they weren't that far from Hoyt's of a sudden a huge whoop was heard and the bounding of footsteps.
The door burst open and in the doorway stood Hoyt, grinning like the Cheshire Cat, his smile stretching across his face.

"Rosa!" he shouted and Rosa put her hands over her ears.
"Cool it, old man, I've only just woken up."
Hoyt chuckled, came over to her and kissed her head.
"And yet you still look like a million dollars." Hoyt looked at her more closely, "Okay, maybe a little less than a million."
Rosa rolled her eyes again, smirking.

"Listen, Hoyt, about the last time you were at -"
"Rosa, Rosa. It's all forgotten. I was wrong, okay. I admit that, coming into the compound the way I did. But you have to admit it to yourself; look what happened to you. You were hanging on by a thread. We thought we had lost you."
"I know, I know. But my place is here, on these islands. With Vaas. And with you."
Hoyt looked at Rosa and smiled.
"I would like nothing more." he said and cleared his throat, "If you'll forgive me?"
"All is forgotten, Dad. I promise."

"Now I know that you're okay and on the mend, I can get back to business. Just had a new arrival of men to replace the other ones, for myself and Vaas. Then hopefully, when you're better, you can return back to North."
"Sounds like a plan."
Hoyt kissed Rosa again and then left the room, humming to himself. He collided with Vaas in the doorway, who carried a tray of food for Rosa.

"Look who is my little bitch. Housewife Vaas, who would have thought it?" she mocked, knowing it would annoy him.
"Shut up. I ain't nobody's bitch. I'm just be a caring guy, wanting to look after his princesa."
Rosa scoffed.
"Yeah, yeah,. Just gimme the food Vaas, I'm starving over here."
Vaas put the tray onto Rosa's lap; on it was a bowl of vegetable soup, a bread roll and a glass of water.

"And for dessert." said Vaas, digging in his pocket.
He produced two joints and a lighter.
"I like your thinking." replied Rosa as she began ripping apart the bread roll.

An hour or so later and a room full of smoke, Rosa and Vaas couldn't stop laughing. The weed had relaxed Rosa's muscles and it wasn't as painful anymore.

"You're so fucking hilarious, Vaas, I love your sick sense of humour." Rosa spluttered, inhaling some more of her joint.
"I'm evil, I get it, okay?" Vaas replied and started laughing again, "I need to get my spot back as top dog, those fuckers think I'm weak because I'm with you. We'll show them though, won't we?"
"Of course, Vaas. You're number one."

"I won't let them forget it."

Again, kind of another filler chapter. Thank you to Geegasm for you're lovely comments about the previous two, I put a lot of thought into it:) If you guys have any ideas about new chapters, please please pleaseeeee, review or PM me, I would love to know! Until next time, happy reading!