Dimitri POV

I didn't want to let her go, even though I knew she was dead. I just wished that I had been there earlier, maybe I could have stopped this. If I hadn't been with Tasha Ozera in the first place, then Rose would still be alive and well. I would have never had to live through this moment.

"God, please, you have to return her to me, please," My tears were falling onto her lifeless body, each one full of sorrow and remorse. My wishes and prayers had done nothing so far. So why couldn't I just accept that and just leave her there?

Because she's your one true love, if you left her, you wouldn't be whole, that voice nagged me again.

I cried harder, she should have been alive, if I had been there, I could have guaranteed that, if I had taught her to fight harder, and hadn't canceled our lessons, then she would have been alive. I sighed, there were too many ifs in this situation.

"Roza," I brushed her hair away from her face, "Roza, please, come home," I whispered it, for it was only meant for her to hear.

"Come home," I whispered again, a tear falling onto her face.

Rose POV

"Come home," That voice was so familiar, so alluring.

But sleep was much better, sleep didn't hurt, sleep made everything numb and sweet. Plus, I thought, this was my home now, the darkness, where no one can ever hurt you.

"Come home," That voice sounded again, desperate, and I felt a single tear drop onto my face. Then, the owner of the voice was suddenly very close to me. I could smell his aftershave, and a hint of mint. That scent was alluring as well, but who was it? I couldn't quite put my finger on who this mysterious stranger was.

Then, I couldn't hear anything anymore. It was quiet, and I was fully asleep again.

Dimitri POV

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see the princess walking to us, clad in black and crying openly.

"Is that Rose?" She whispered, she sounded and looked so much frailer that it broke my heart into even tinier pieces.

I nodded once, my tears still wouldn't stop, and each one was for Rose, for the times I got mad at her and pushed her away. Every single one of them.

"I didn't want to believe it until I saw her with my own eyes," She whispered, and sank to her knees in her best friend's blood, "She's really dead."

I nodded again. I couldn't speak, it all hurt too much to talk about Rose, it hurt so much just being with her, but I couldn't let go of her. I couldn't even move from where I was, not that I wanted to.

"Give her to me, I'm going to try and heal her," the princess motioned for me to give up my love.

She had no idea what she was asking me to do, I couldn't part with her, even if she were dead, I knew deep down in my heart that I would soon follow. I remembered how my mother had told me love made you do crazy things. I never believed it, but now I did. It seemed to make perfect sense.

"Please, Guardian Belikov," Lissa whispered.

"Do you have any idea what you're asking me to do, princess? Give up my one and only love?" I whispered, my voice was hoarse and dead.

The princess didn't ask any questions, but instead moved closer to me.

"Please, can you pull the knife out of her? It'll be easier that way."

I nodded, and gripped the handle of the weapon that killed my Roza. I gently yanked it out, not wanting to cause her any pain, even thought she was dead.

The princess waited patiently as I worked the knife out, and finally threw it to the floor.

She put her hands on the wound and I felt Roza's body start to get warmer.

"Please God, let her be ok," I whispered.

Rose POV

Suddenly, the darkness had a new bright light. It wasn't blinding, but it did seem to warm up my cold body. I looked at it, my eyes wide with wonder. The light grew bigger and bigger, until I was practically enveloped in it. I heard the sweet music of voices floating around me, and I felt the warm touch of calloused fingers from years of practice. Then, the music came to an abrupt halt, and the golden light and sweet bliss was gone. I felt myself being pushed out of the darkness, and a second later, I felt the heat of fluorescent lighting and heaters.

"Did it work?" There was that voice again, with that small Russian accent that never seemed to go away.

"I think so, she's starting to warm up," A high pitched voice answered him, her voice was like wind chimes and sweet bells ringing.

I opened my eyes a crack to see myself staring into a pair of warm brown eyes, almost the color of chocolate.

"Roza," He cried out, and I was in this strangers arms, he hugged me tight, and I felt tears running down my face as well as his. I clung to him, he was my life preserver, my shield, and I would never loose him ever again.

But, the question that was most important was, who was he?

I pulled away from him, and looked at him, my eyes wide.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I asked.

He gave me a shocked look, his face filled with pain once more.

"Dimitri Belikov," He whispered.

Then, a flood of memories seemed to go through my head. But I seemed to be a spectator watching them like a movie rather then the person who actual experienced this first hand. I saw memories of me in a gym with Dimitri, he was pinning me down and we were just inches apart. Another one was when we first met, the night he had captured us to go back to Saint Vladimir's Academy. Every since then, he was a loving and caring mentor. And we both loved each other, so much.

And then it clicked, he was the one that was calling me back after Isaiah had tried to kill me, he had stayed with me, and that's why he was all wet. He had called to me, every second, crying, and he never cried. He was my love, my friend, my mentor, and my teacher.

"I remember you," I breathed.

Then, I was in his arms again, and his lips were on mine. God, this was much better then the long and dark sleep I had just went through. I kissed him back, my arms wrapping around him, and his were around my waist. I heard the door open, but didn't care anymore if anyone saw us together. We were meant to be, and if they couldn't accept it, then screw them, I thought.

But he pulled away, laying me down gently.

"No," I whispered, and clung to his arm. I couldn't be away from him, not even for a second.

He gently brushed my fingers off, being as gentle as possible, he pulled me into a sweet embrace, but again, he broke it.

"People are coming," He whispered, and kissed my forehead.

"I don't care anymore," I told him, I just wanted him.

He shook his head, "If people see us like this, then we would both be in trouble, and I don't want to get you in trouble."

I saw a figure walking into the room, Dr. Olendsiki, I thought, I remembered her, with her black hair and kind face and eyes.

"Rose, how are you feeling?" She asked, flipping through pages on her clip board.

"I'm fine, just hurt a little," I told her, the truth was, I hurt a lot, but I wanted to get out of here, so the only way to do it was to lie.

"Rose," Dimitri warned, he looked at me with those brown eyes, he knew I was hurting.

"I'm fine, Dimitri," I said, tasting his name on my tongue.

"Well, if you truly are fine, then you can go. I have a lot more patients to attend to. The Strigoi has hurt most of them pretty badly." Then, she turned to Dimitri, "Guardian Belikov, would you mind taking care of Rose for the next few days?"

Dimitri nodded at once, "No, I would love to help get her back on her feet."

She smiled, "Great, then you may take her to her dorm."

Dimitri nodded as she walked out. He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me up, carrying me in his arms.

"I can walk, you know," I whispered, I was getting awkward glances from my classmates.

"I know, but it was the doctors orders," He laughed.

God, I love the sound of your laugh, I thought and smiled.

"You'll always have me, Rose, always," He whispered, and kissed my cheek as we reached my room.

"I know, I love you Dimitri," I told him.

"I love you too," He whispered, and I fell asleep.