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I woke up in the same room I had before but this time my surroundings seemed more lived in and less empty. I slowly got out of the bed. My limbs were stiff and sore. I wasn't sure how long I was a sleep. There was still a pain around my neck but it wasn't nearly as bad as I remember it being. I walked to the bathroom to see what was wrong with it.

I stood in front of the mirror scared of my own reflection. On my throat and a little on my shoulders and collarbone were burns. Like I was sitting in the sun for and it only burned in those places. Except this was much worse. It was itchy and sensitive to the touch. Picked up a face cloth that was on the rack next to my sink. I wet it and dabbed it on the areas most affected. It brought a temporary cool relief.

I put the towel on the counter and opened the medicine cabinet. To my surprise there was some stuff in it. Someone must have been unpacking my stuff for me while I was sleeping. There was nothing for burns but I took a pain killer and swallowed it with some sink water.

I got my hair out of my face and put on my bathrobe. I went downstairs and saw Dimitri and my mother sitting in the living room drinking coffee and talking about something.

"Good morning?" I said it as a question because I wasn't really sure what time it was. Both of them looked at me and smiled. Dimitri was the first one to say something.

"Don't worry you were only asleep a few more hours than normal. How are you feeling?"

"Fine." My mother gave me a strange look.

"Don't lie to us Rose, does your neck still hurt?" I was just going to be honest. It wasn't that bad so they shouldn't have to worry.

"A little but its okay. Where's Lissa?" My mother smiled at me again.

"She went with Christian to the feeders, she drained herself too much so she needed to feed early." I felt bad, she drained herself just so this burn would go away sooner. I was glad Adrian stopped her. I was scared of the answer to my next question.

"What happened last night? I heard it but I couldn't open my eyes." Dimitri and my mother seemed uncomfortable. My mother had a serious tone in her voice.

"Tasha burned you with her fire magic. I don't know why but she was specifically going after you." Dimitri seemed even more uncomfortable than before. He finally said something.

"She's Jealous." My mother looked at Dimitri and tried to see if she could get a further explanation from him. I understood what he meant. Even after she took Dimitri away from me she was still never got what she wanted because of me. I was reminded of the things I heard in the van last night before I went to sleep. He still loved me.

My mother changed the subject, she probably thought the motive was unimportant at the moment.

"I'm going to make you a doctor's appointment Rose. You should go get ready." My mother stood up and went into the kitchen. Dimitri looked at me. He seemed to relax a little when my mother left.

"So, Comrade, uh." I don't know why this was so hard for me to ask. "Did, um, did you mean what you said last night?" I couldn't read his expression.

"Of course I did Roza, why would you think I…" He stopped himself. We both knew why I would be apprehensive. "I'm sorry, I really am." He stood up stood in front of me. "If you never forgive me I understand, but please, just give me a second chance. A want to be a good father." I looked into his eyes and felt my own eyes tear up. I had never noticed how worn they looked, he was hiding his pain behind his guardian mask. He couldn't fool me though. I stood looking at him for a while, when I realization hit me.

I was being so selfish, he only left because he wanted to get away from the mourning. In a way I did the same think when I tried to end my own life. He was going through the same thing I was. It was because of that realization I could say what I did.

"I forgive you." I was a little quiet but he still heard me. He looked at me with uneasily for a moment, I think when he realized I was telling truth he smiled. It was a full smile. I hadn't seen anyone smile like that since the school was attacked. He pulled me in for a hug, but I shoved him away from me.

The fabric on his duster burned my neck. He looked confused, until he notice me wincing when I touched my neck.

"Roza, I'm sorry. I didn't…" I cut him off.

"Its fine, I just need to put something on it." My mother walked in.

"Oh, Rose I thought you were getting dressed. Well you better hurry your appointment is in an hour."

"I thought that the clinic was an hour and a half away from court." I frowned. "I can't go to the clinic at court. I don't want people to know yet." My mother looked at me sympathetically, but Dimitri was the one to speak up.

"Rose, when Tasha goes on trial everyone is going to know. Wouldn't you rather be the one to tell people?" I knew he was right but I wasn't going to let him know that. My mother continued.

"You need to get the burns on your neck checked out too." I sighed and didn't protest anymore. "Dimitri, would you mind driving Rose, I have to pick up something." My mother was hiding something from me, whatever it was it must be important if she was off duty for a year. Dimitri seemed a little hurt by my next outburst.

"Can't I just walk? I want some time to clear my head." My mother shook her head.

"You don't what to work yourself to hard. I think it would be better if you just let Dimitri take you." Dimitri never agreed yet, but he was smart enough to not argue with my mother. She said it like it was a suggestion but I knew this would only go her way. I went upstairs and got ready.

When I went downstairs no one was in the house so I went outside. Christian and Lissa were coming up the front steps as I closed the door. Lissa ran up to me but stopped herself right before she gave me a hug.

"Sorry, Rose." She grabbed my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. I felt the magic in her stirring, so I pulled my hand away quickly.

"Lissa, I'm fine you can't drain yourself again. You won't get another feeder in time."

"But Ro…"

"But nothing, you should go take a nap, I can talk to you when I get back but I have to go." She gave me a weak smile, her mind told me she was reluctant to leave me.

I got into the car and sat next to Dimitri. This was going to be awkward.

"Comrade, so um, do you want to just drop me off and go do something. I can call you when I'm done." He took two coffee cups out of the cup holders.

"Don't worry it's not coffee, its hot chocolate." He never answered my question.

"Thanks."

"I'll wait in the waiting room, I'm not leaving." I felt bad, he still though I wanted to get rid of him still.

"No, that's not what I meant. I just though you wouldn't want to." He gave me a surprised smile. "but honestly I would feel a lot better if you were in there with me." I was a little surprised how nervous I sounded. Truthfully I was terrified, this was the first time I would really be learning anything about my baby other than it existed. Dimitri smiled at me. He started the car and began heading for the doctor's office. I took a sip of the hot chocolate.

"Why would I have to worry about this being coffee?" Dimitri kept looking ahead.

"You're not supposed to have caffeine Rose." I didn't know that either. I was finding out only little pieces of information the past few days. My ignorance about little things like this might hurt my baby. I didn't like the thought of my stupidity killing my own child. I felt tears in my eyes but I wiped them away.

I think Dimitri noticed and chose to ignore it, I was grateful for that. He reached his arm into the back seat. He handed me an envelope.

"You left this in here." I looked at the envelope, I had forgotten all about it. I opened it slowly as if strigoi was hiding inside. I started to tear up and his time I didn't try to hide it. I slowly pulled the little black and white image out. I looked and saw a small figure glowing in the middle of a blackness. I was my baby.

The car parked and Dimitri looked at me, warily.

"What's wrong Roza?" I handed him the little picture and wiped my eyes. I really need to stop crying so much. I swear my guardian job is going to get taken away so I can end all of the world's droughts.

Dimitri had a full smile on his face again. He slipped the picture back into the envelope. I wiped the tears again and got out of the car.

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