Chapter One

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS FROM THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES-THEY BELONG TO THE AMAZING RICHELLE MEAD-HOWEVER I DO OWN ALL THE NEW CHARACTERS INTRODUCED IN THIS FANFIC. THERE IS NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.

SIDE NOTE: This book is based off the Vampire Academy Series after Last Sacrifice. This will be explained in the book, but Rose is able to have a baby with Dimitri because when he is turned from Strigoi back to dhampir his Moroi genes are enhanced. This book also is more about Dimitri and Rose’s life after Last Sacrifice and is mostly about their love and life with each other and their friends. I’m taking my approach on the characters and how they appear to me in the books. I am going to try to make them as similar as I can, but obviously people see the characters in different ways. 

Chapter One

“Hey.” 

“How long have you been up?” I asked and smoothed down my hair.

“An hour-maybe two.” Dimitri took my hands and kissed my forehead.

“And you have just been...watching me?” 

“Yes.”

“Creep.” I accused.   

“I like watching you sleep. You’re so peaceful. I wish I could make the world like that for you all the time.” Dimitri told me. I smiled and snuggled myself up to him. It wasn’t like him to say those kind of things randomly. I kissed him softly, gently. He took over and pulled me on top of him, deepening the kiss. 

I pulled away reluctantly, “We have guardian duties today.” I reminded him. Lissa was queen now and, after her first month of having the role, she was finally settling in to it. You could hear the authoritative ring in her voice now, and no one had a problem with listening to her. She was already proving herself to be a great leader. The only thing people-and by people I mean the snobbier of the royals-had a problem with was Christian. Lissa had arranged for him to live in the Royal Court with her. Christian was trying hard to adapt to the role of being Queen Lissa’s boyfriend. She hasn’t changed at all and she doesn’t expect him to either, but I think he expects him to change. Others who lived on the Courts grounds gave him dirty looks, but no one started anything. Who would want to go against Dimitri? Besides me, but I’m his girlfriend and I’m allowed to give him a bad time. Hmm...his girlfriend. Dimitri’s girlfriend. I had never been a typical teenage girl who swooned over those words, but Dimitri made me different. A good different, happy different. Because of Lissa becoming Queen, she made college a second priority. Which meant her being at the Court most of the time along with Christian-and where they are, so are Dimitri and I. We got weekends off and during the week we had little hours because of the great security. 

“Well damn.” Dimitri kissed me quickly once more, and slipped out from under me. I glanced at the clock only to realize I had about fifteen minutes to get to Lissa’s housing. I sprang to my feet and pulled on my underwear, bra, and all black guardian clothing. “How do manage to look beautiful in a pair of ripped up black jeans and a holy black tank top?” 

“I only look beautiful to you.” I rolled my eyes. He rolled his. We walked hand in hand to Lissa’s house, knowing Christian would be there too. I knocked on the door. 

“Hey. We’re not ready yet.” Christian said as he opened the door in just his boxers. I covered my eyes. 

“Ew, sparky. Get dressed.” I squealed.

“Shut up.” 

Dimitri pulled my hand away from my eyes and pulled me into the ‘Royal Apartment’ as I liked to call it, “Come on.” 

“I guess we’ll get ready.” Christian sulked and stumped up stairs. 

“Because that is so much to ask.” I said sarcastically. It’s not like we get to stay in bed and have sex all day. 

“Rose,” Dimitri sighed, “for once in your life don’t be difficult.”

“Comrade. You say that like it’s possible.” He sighed and I walked into the kitchen. I poured myself a small glass of orange juice then walked into the living room when I heard Lissa asking for me. “Hey Liss.” 

“Rose! Today is a girls day.” Lissa smiled.

“Meaning?”

“Shopping, manicures, pedicures, girl talk.” 

“I’d love to Liss, but I have to be your guardian today. Not your friend.” I frowned and looked up to see what she was thinking. It still bothers me that I have to do this. The absence of the bond is like an absence of myself. I don’t miss knowing everything she was thinking and all the other perks and disadvantages, but I miss the way it made me feel whole. Of course Dimitri fills any part of me that needs filling. I snuggled into him and he kissed my forehead. 

“I’m the Queen. I arranged to have substitute guardians. Besides, it’s Friday. You’ll be behind locked doors with Dimitri all weekend. I won’t see you.” she grinned. 

I, in a very non-Rose way, blushed, “Like you wouldn’t be with Christian.” 

“Shopping or no?” she asked. 

“We could come with you Roza, there are some things I need.” Dimitri told me. Things? What is he up to?

                                                                                    ~o0o~

Dimitri, Christian, Lissa, and I got dropped off at the front door of the mall. Another guardian, Guardian Shaw, took up far position while I took the up close. He had also gotten out of the van with us. There was another guardian for Lissa parking the car. We walked through the front doors and Lissa immediately started to pull me towards a store. I grabbed Dimitri’s collar and pulled him in for a quick kiss before getting pulled away. I went into guardian mode until Shaw walked up to us and told me Guardian Azarov had taken far off position. I relaxed, but only slightly. “Thank you. I’m Rose, by the way.” 

“Well, yeah. Who doesn’t know who you are? I’m Daniel.” he held out his hand. I shook it and suddenly realized how young he was. He was also very good looking. He was about twenty-four, had beautifully messy copper hair, blue eyes, and a great smile. I found myself appreciating his muscles then chastised myself. Oops. But damn. If he was being trusted with the Queen at such a young age then he must be good. 

I realized he complimented me, “Oh well, thanks?” He shrugged. 

“Rose!” Lissa squealed. She had a hot pink lacy top in my size and was holding it against my torso. I smiled. It was cute, so I grabbed it in black and threw it over my arm. “Uh. You know you can wear other colors than black on the weekends.” 

“I know, but it’s better to be ready at all times.” I told her. 

“Fine. But try to get some color.” she plead. I nodded then froze. I felt like someone was watching me. I swept the room only to realize, to my surprise, that it was Daniel watching me. Well, actually he was checking me out. I frowned. 

“No Strigoi detection?” I asked him. 

“Oh, um, no.” he said and focused his priorities. 

“Come on.” Lissa pulled me over to the dresses.  

                                                                                 ~o0o~

Dimitri’s Point of View

“So what do you want to do?” Christian asked, already bored. I frowned. I should have asked if he wanted to go to the mall before I volunteered. “Earth to Dimitri.” 

“Oh. Sorry.” Crap. What the hell was I doing? I need to focus. Last time I faulted...I got turned and I tried to kill Rose. Oh Roza. If anything ever-Crap. Focus. Then again, today was all about Rose. 

“So, what are we doing?” Christian asked again. 

“Um. Okay. So I’m about to be a little...immature. But, you need to promise me you won’t tell anyone-not even Lissa. No, especially Lissa.” I told him feeling ridiculous. 

“Okay...what?” He was curious and cautious at the same time. 

“I’m going to ask Roza-or Rose-to marry me.” I told him feeling very young.

“Oh. That’s great man. Congrats.” he told me.

“Yeah, well. She hasn’t been asked. I haven’t asked Abe. She might say no.” I stammered. Stammered? What’s happening to me?

Christian grinned, “Dude, chill. She’ll say yes. I’d be more worried about Abe.” 

“Oh, I am. But I want to get her a ring.” 

“You need to get her a ring.” Christian said. We walked through the mall and I looked around. No Strigoi. No Rose. But there was a jewelry shop. I walked into the store and Christian went straight to the engagement rings. 

“What are you gentlemen looking for?” a little man asked us. We spent probably an hour and a half in that store. None of the rings felt right though. Not for my Rose. I walked out into the mall. Still no Strigoi. We kept walking until we found another jewelry shop. I glanced around once more and my eyes got caught on Rose across the way in a Victoria’s Secret. She glanced up, met my eyes, and grinned. She held up a lacy thong, wiggling her eyebrows. Desire shot through me. I smiled back at her and then looked around for Lissa. She was standing right behind Rose. There also was one of the guardians-Guardian Shaw?-that was in the van with us. He was good for being so young-very good. But if he kept looking at Rose’s ass like that, I would ruin him. My eyes settled back on Rose. She was frowning. Probably at the look on my face. I flashed her a reassuring smile and turned around. Christian and I waited until they left the store and walked away to go into the next jewelry store. There I found her the perfect ring. At least I hope I did.