A/N:

Hello boys and girls!

I'm guessing you guys were wondering where the fuck this tubby bitch has been holed up.

To answer, nowhere.

I started a new job, still getting used to the new office, new people and the hours. But it's all good!

In my last author's note, I wrote that I really didn't know where to take Guarding Partners next. That is still true. In my mind the story is done. And thus my mind went on to other storylines.

I tried writing something in another fandom. I really didn't like they way it was coming together, so I put it aside for now.

Then I started writing something else Romitri. It was supposed to be a one shot, a small pallet cleanser for me, so I could get back to work on Guarding Partners. That one shot had turned into a monstrosity which I will be posting in my Romitri shorts once it's done (or as a stand alone story, depending on how much further this thing will blow up). And there's still more Romitri ideas swimming around in my head!

But, I can not leave a story without an actual ending. This story need to be whole to be real. I won't leave Rose and Dimitri (or my readers) hanging. All of us need the closure. So without further ado, here is the last chapter of Guarding Partners.

Enjoy!

Thanks to the new schedule, most of the guardians had a lot of spare time on their hands. For Rose, Dimitri and Eddie, it was some much needed down time. They hadn't enjoyed this much freedom since they were at court on Christmas. Eddie and Rose thanked their lucky stars since now they had actual time to study for finals.

Sunday morning rolled around again and with it came family meal time. The gang congregated around the table that was overflowing with pastries, pancakes and waffles, juice, bacon and eggs. It was one of the last family meals they'd have since in a few weeks, when finals were over, they were all going to court for summer vacation.

"I got a call from the queens office last night", Lissa started as everyone was chowing down. "There's an apartment that's going to be made available down the hall, with 3 bedrooms and two baths. I was asked if we'd like to utilize it and continue living here, or if we'd rather move to a large house".

"What kind of house are we talking about here?" Rose asked, thinking if it was large enough, it might provide them all with some much needed space and privacy.

"That's the catch", Lissa answered. "The house is big and closer to campus, but it's an old sorority house, meaning it's right in greek central, noisy as hell, especially on weekends. And since it's a bigger more central location, they're going to station even more guardians with us should we choose to move there".

"I think we should stay here", Christian said. "We already have a routine here. Plus adding more guardians to us is wasteful, we're only two moroi and already have 6 highly trained guardians. There are others in much greater need than we are".

"I tend to agree with sparky", Rose input.

Dimitri nodded.

"Eddie? Guys?" Lissa asked the rest of the occupants that remained quiet.

"I think it's less logistics for us to stay here and much less of a hassle to move half of us down the hall than to move all of us anywhere else", Ryan put in his two cents.

"Agreed", Mitchel add, "we just need to figure out who's moving into the other apartment and who's staying here".

"Great. Then it's settled", Lissa said gleefully. "I'll get in touch and let them know we're staying here".

They continued their breakfast, cheerful as can be. Conversation flowed, as did the o.j. and coffee. Over the past few weeks an easy and fun atmosphere had formed in the apartment. To make the newcomers feel welcome, Lissa wanted them all to partake in bonding activities. Sometimes it was just the girls, sometimes just the guys. Lissa urged Rose to spend some time alone with Guardian Mitchel since they hardly knew each other. Though Rose was hesitant as first, she didn't even know Mitchel's first name, turns out, they had a lot in common and they share a witty and snarky sense of humor.

Rose tried to encourage Benji to come out to the rest of the house residents. She was only able to convince him he could confide in Mitchel. Of all the apartment dwellers, Mitchel and Benji had the least interaction, yet Benji felt like he could open up to her.

Rose hoped Benji would slowly trust the rest of them. Especially since she'd already told Dimitri…

It was Lissa and Ryan's turn to clear off the table and do the washing, while everyone else was debating what they should watch for movie night. As he was scrubbing and she was wiping, Lissa suddenly said, "Ryan, I just realized we don't know your first name!"

"Yes you do", he answered.

"No", Benji jumped in. "I don't even know your first name".

"It's Ryan", Ryan answered.

"Then what's your last name?", Christian asked confused.

"It's Ryan", Ryan answered.

"Then what's your first name?", Benji asked, even more confused than before.

Dimitri rolled his eyes, obviously he was the only one to have read Ryan's file. This loop they were playing of 'what's his name' got real old real fast, and Dimitri wanted to put them out of his misery. "His first name is Ryan and his last name is Ryan", he stated, somewhere between annoyed and amused.

"Your name's Ryan Ryan?" Rose asked, shocked.

"What can I say? The people who named me weren't very creative", Ryan shrugged.

"Are you kidding?! That's awesome!" Eddie piped up.

"It's like a super hero name, or a rock star name", Benji added as Rose nodded along.

Not everyone noticed Ryan's aversion as he said 'the people who named me'.

"So, who came up with it?" Eddie asked tentatively.

"I'm not sure", Ryan shrugged. "I was raised in a dhampir orphanage till I was old enough to be sent to an academy. They told me the groundskeeper found me in a bassinet just outside the wards. They said he named me Ryan, but I don't remember him at all. He raised me as his for a few months before he died and I was handed over to the orphanage where he worked. Nobody every really told me whose gem it was to add the other Ryan".

The room went quiet. It was an odd story if ever there was one. But Ryan carried on as if what he'd just told them was completely normal. He didn't want anyone's pity. He was fairly sure all the dhampirs in the room didn't know at least one of their biological parents. Now that he'd shared that bit of personal yet horrifying information, he felt free. And they all felt a little closer to him. Till that point he'd always been the odd man out, never quite connecting with any of the others.

"Hey, Ryan", Rose called out towards him, "You're the tiebreaker. Are we watching 'Howard the Duck' or 'Kissing Booth'?"

Ryan, burst out laughing. "Why the hell are those the only 2 options?! In what world could they even be tied?!"

Everyone else burst out laughing. They ended up watching 'Kissing Booth' later that night, because apparently Benji has this thing about ducks.

Other than the mass doses of study time for Rose and Eddie, the new schedule also allotted Dimitri free time to go surprise Rose on campus and whisk her away to lunch. He'd already talked to Lissa and knew when he could kidnap Rose after her final exam. He also knew that Rose needed a break. She had been studying non stop. He was sure she was going to ace her finals and she deserved an afternoon off to let loose and enjoy the warm and sunny weather, before packing up and leaving for court in 2 days time.

Just outside the quad, Dimitri leaned against the motorcycle he had rented for the occasion and waited for Lissa to steer Rose towards him. He was not expecting to run into Danny, who Rose still called James.

"Dimitri, right?" Danny asked tentatively, with an outstretch hand.

"Yes", Dimitri shook his hand. "Danny?"

Danny nodded, "Um, I just you should know, some guys are bothering Rose on the other side of the quad", he pointed somewhere that was rather distant.

There didn't seem to be an altercation. But they were quite far off. "Rose can handle herself", Dimitri's jaw clenched again at the society they lived in where Rose needed to handle herself instead of predators being put on a leash.

"Right", Danny answered slowly.

"If you think she's in trouble, why didn't you stick around to help her?" Dimitri raised his eyebrow. There was no accusation in his tone, but Danny felt like a coward all the same.

He cleared his throat and replied, "Rose said she was fine. That she didn't need or want my help. She sent me away".

Dimitri could tell Danny more than likely felt humiliated. He could've walked away without telling Dimitri a thing, but he didn't. That was his saving grace in Dimitri's eyes.

"I'd better go before those boys do something stupid and Rose destroys them", Dimitri muttered and heaved off the bike.

Dimitri speedily walked to where Danny had pointed. When he spotted Rose, his pace increased. She hadn't noticed him yet. Which was good, he didn't want to overstep. And she really could handle herself. Especially with humans.

Dimitri saw Lissa standing to the side with another girl he'd never met before. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Those guys were bothering Alice", Lissa motioned to the girl beside her, "and Rose stepped in", she gestured to Rose and the two boys she was talking to.

It did seem like talking, till he heard what was being said.

To answer his raised eyebrow, Lissa added, "This has been going on for a while. Those guys are being lewd and disgusting. And Rose is just standing there taking it".

"She's not standing there taking it", Dimitri corrected. "She's waiting for them to make a move, so that everyone here", he directed their attention to the crowd that assembled equipped with smartphones all set on record, "can see that she was not the first one to strike, she was just defending herself. As soon as one of them lays a finger on her, she'll pounce". Dimitri was calm as he explained the situation. But he was not pleased, not by a long shot.

Lissa hadn't thought of that, it was actually quite brilliant. It saddened her that she was no longer the person that knew Rose better than anyone else. That's the way these things go, she supposed and idly wondered who knew her better, Christian or Rose.

"Well, aren't you going to do something to stop this?" Lissa asked Dimitri.

He shook his head. "Guys like them need to be taught a lesson by women who don't take crap from anyone. Besides, if I intervene now, Rose will kick my ass".

That was the moment Thing1 made a grab for Rose's ass. She could have easily evaded, but she needed his hand to make contact with her, before she allowed her hand to make contact with his face.

A collective gasp sounded as the smack Thing1 laid on Rose's bottom resonated through the air. Thing1 and Thing2 laughed.

Dimitri gritted his teeth, holding himself back against his most basic instinct to protect Rose. But his head knew better - Rose was not a damsel in distress. And this was not to the time to intervene.

And Rose. Rose smiled at the two dip-shits. "Thank you", she murmured before she went wolverine on them.

Rose grabbed Thing1's hand, which was still on her ass, and twisted it into an unnatural angle. At the same time she kicked Thing2 in the gut. Once he keeled over, Rose flipped Thing1 onto his back, holding him in place by the lock she had his wrist in. Thing2 got to his feet and in an extreme cowardice move, he tried to sucker punch Rose in the face. Rose caught his fist in the palm of her hand. Thing2 was in attack mode and threw another hit while Rose was still holding his fist. Rose let go of Thing1's arm in order to catch Thing2's second fist.

Rose had an iron grip on both both Thing2's hands. He was beyond flustered and went straight to scared shitless mode. Rose didn't have the patience to see what he'd try next. She lifted her leg and kicked him in the face. Thing2 fell to the grass, unconscious.

Thing1 made a run for it while Rose was otherwise occupied. But she was much much faster than he was. Plus, she wasn't disoriented from being thrown around like a rag doll. He managed to get 20 feet away when Rose dropped him to the ground with a swift kick to the back of his knees. She dragged him by the hair to where Thing2 was stirring awake.

Rose lightly smacked Thing2 in the face, to make him come to faster. Now that she had Thing1 and Thing2's undivided attention, Rose whispered, "This is what happens when you mistreat others. There is a price to pay for disrespecting woman". All the while she had a finger jabbed into a pressure point beneath each of their collarbones. They were writhing in pain.

Dimitri thought it best to step in now. Though she seemed in control, Dimitri was afraid she may have been under the influence of spirit darkness. "Rose", he said gently, "if you kill them, they learn nothing". He made sure only she and the two asshole she was pinning down heard him.

Rose never removed her eyes from her opponents. "You get to keep your wicked lives. For now. But if I ever hear about either of you bothering anyone ever again", Rose leaned in closer making sure no one would hear, "no one will ever find your bodies".

It was an empty threat, Rose was not a killer. But Thing1 and Thing2 didn't know that.
Alice was delighted at the turn of events. She got on the grass beside them, dramatically struck her palm against the grass 3 times, counting loudly, "1!…2!…3! Winner!"

Rose hopped to her feet and only then noticed the cheering crowd. Alice grabbed her arm and hoisted it into the air declaring Rose the victor. She took a bow. Dimitri chuckled. Rose continued bowing dramatically until her audience dispersed. After thanking her profusely, Alice too went her way, followed by Lissa and Dunn who seemingly appeared from nowhere.

"Are you done?" Dimitri smirked.

Her attention was on Dimitri. "What's up, comrade?", she sounded suspiciously like Bugs Bunny.

"I came to surprise you for lunch", he answered, "I didn't know you already had plans", he referred to the can of whoop ass Rose just opened.

Rose was heartened. "You came to take me to lunch?" Now she understood that Dunn was there to fill in for her guarding Lissa. She melted into his embrace. When Dimitri nodded, Rose said, "Let's get out of here".

Ever the gentleman, Dimitri grabbed her book bag from the ground and lead Rose to the bike.

When she saw the bike, Rose gasped. "Where have you been hiding this monster?" The motorcycle was huge. It was a cruiser with room to fit 2 quite comfortably.

"I rented it for the day", Dimitri smiled at Rose's excitement.

"Is it a Harley Davidson?"

"Kawasaki, actually. It's a Vulcan".

"A vulcan?" Rose's eyes widened. "Like Spock?" she chuckled.

"Yes, Roza, like Spock".

Dimitri placed a helmet on Rose's head and kissed her before securing the chin strap. He handed her a jacket. He got on the bike and let Rose climb on after him. She clung to him as they drove down the road.

It was a beautiful day and pretty quickly Dimitri got to roads that were less traveled. They stopped by a small diner, where Dimitri had ordered a picnic basket to go. They continued on a scenic route, as they drove through Hellertown Reservoir Park.

Rose couldn't get enough of the closeness she and Dimitri shared as they rode together. But she was grateful they had arrived at their destination at last as Dimitri parked on a secluded patch of grass, which Rose wasn't entirely sure was a legal parking area. Once again, Rose was in awe of the view as they were overlooking what was no doubt the reservoir.

"This place is beautiful, Dimitri. How did you find it?".

He laid down a blanket, shrugged off his duster and toed off his boots before answering from where he had sprawled out. "I actually overheard a neighbor mention this place".

That shocked Rose even more. "You know our neighbors?!"

Dimitri laughed and opened his arms for Rose to join him. Rose too stripped off her jacket and shoes. She laid beside Dimitri, engulfed by him immediately. Everything was serene and quiet until Rose's stomach growled and Dimitri burst out laughing.

"It's not my fault you haven't fed me yet, comrade!" Rose defended in good nature.

Dimitri spread out the contents of the picnic basket. When he pulled out a bottle of wine, Rose asked "What's the occasion?".

"Can't a guy just open a bottle of wine with his girl?" Dimitri raised an eyebrow.

Rose smiled, secretly loving it when he referred to her as his girl. Her smile morphed into panic as a haunting thought popped into her head. "You're not going to do anything crazy, like propose or something, right?"

Dimitri chortled. "No Roza!"

Rose was relieved, happy in the knowledge that even he wasn't that crazy.

"We've never had a first date", Dimitri bit his lip.

The comment seemed out of the blue till Rose realized this was their first date. And Rose's heart melted. She cupped his cheek and kissed him tenderly.

They ate and drank and laughed and cuddled. Rose played music from her phone. It was an oldies playlist. Not old like the eighties. Real oldies. Like the sixties.

They laid on the blanket. Rose's head on Dimitri's chest. She traced lazy patterns over his sternum while he ran his hand thru her hair. Everything was perfect. "A girl could get used to this", she kissed his pec.

"Good", Dimitri answered. "You deserve nothing less".

They were both well aware of how dangerous their conversation was getting. Yes, they were set in the notion that they cold make their relationship work, but as long as they were "in the closet", they'd never be in a position where Dimitri could give Rose anything her heart desired and vice versa. For now, that would have to do.

"Thank you for this, Dimitri".

Dimitri kissed the crown of her head. "You're welcome".

"I have another surprise for you, Roza", Dimitri peeked Rose's interest. He told her about a 3 day get away he set up for them in cabin he rented outside court. He made all the arrangements regarding their time off with HQ, replacements as Lissa's guardians which were Sarah and Benji, and Lissa promised to stay put for the duration.

Rose was ecstatic. "I can't believe you did that!" She wasn't even mad that She wasn't going to be with Lissa for a few days. She'd be safe in the wards and Rose trusted Mitchel and Dunn completely. "Three days alone in the woods with my man?!" Rose bit her lip thinking of how hoarse she'd be when they returned to court.

Elvis Presley started playing "Can't help falling in love" on Rose's phone. In a grand romantic gesture, Dimitri pulled them to their feet. He wrapped Rose's arms around his neck and placed his hands on the small of her back. They swayed to the sound of the King's deep velvety voice.

Dimitri cupped Rose's cheek and stared deep into her eyes as he sang along. "Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you".

Rose leaned up on her tip toes and pulled Dimitri down to her. Their lips met in a kiss so loving you could write a song about it. Dimitri pulled Rose so close that her feet lifted off the ground. Instinctively, Rose wrapped her legs around him and Dimitri slowly sat down with her in his lap. By now, "Unchained Melody" started to play and with it a hungery, fiery passion ignited in the lovers.

They still had hours of daylight before they need to head back to the apartment and they took their time. There wasn't any need to rush. They made love, wrapped in the blanket Dimitri brought. Dimitri worshiped Rose's body, much the same way she worshipped his.

Rose and Dimitri weren't supposed to fall for each other. In their world, it was every kind of wrong. But how could they not? They were perfect together in every way, fitting together like 2 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Falling in love was inevitable. Fighting it was foolish, as the fight was doomed from the get go. Rose and Dimitri belonged together. No one and nothing could come between them.

As they laid together, cradled in the blanket, with Dimitri's head nestled in the crook of her neck, Rose said, "I love you, Dimitri. So so much".

Dimitri leaned up on his elbow and looked down into her beautiful soulful eyes. The smile that spread across his face could have lit up the whole world. "I love you, Roza", he sealed with a kiss.

They had gone through so much to be together. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but they would make it work. They loved each other enough to always make it work.

A/N:

So that was it!

I hope you liked it! To date, this story (of all my stories) has had the highest average reviews to chapters ratio. And it didn't start out that way. Needless to say that has made me extremely pleased (understatement).

Other than closing the school year, I was trying to bring all the characters together as a unit and also give a little more Romitri wrapped up nicely in a bow. Hope I hit the mark!

I want to thank all the reviewers, followers, favoriters and readers!

I certainly don't take credit for everything, the characters and the perfect world of VA belongs to Richelle Mead. There's just something about Rose and Dimitri that's addictive. I certainly can't get enough of them.

Don't forget to leave a last review or favorite. And hey, if you liked it, tell a friend (just kidding LOL).

Stay gold,

Kooki