*Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead does!*

Rose's Point of View

Epilogue

– Six months later –

I couldn't help but squirm as I stood amongst my classmates. I was dressed in a similar outfit to the one I had worn when the queen had come to tell the students about Jill, with one big difference. This outfit was fitted for Rosemarie Hathaway, not Robert Hemmingway. It certainly didn't emphasize my curves, but it was obvious I had them. The black slacks, white blouse, and black jacket fit me well, making me feel professional and free. I wasn't hiding behind the body of Robert Hemmingway. I was Rosemarie Hathaway and I looked it.

So much has changed in the last few months. I was assigned my own room. As the only female dhampir attending St. Vladimir's Academy, there was no one they could put in a room with me and there was really nowhere they could put me. So, they assigned me to guest chambers for the remainder of the year. I did not utter a single complaint about this. The guest chambers were set up like Dimitri's old room had been, with their own bathroom and a kitchen area.

Dimitri was also reassigned to guest chambers, coincidentally, the one next to mine. We alternated whose room we stayed in. It really depended on whether we had to shower. Dimitri's room was set up a little differently than mine. His kitchen area was larger, but he had a smaller bathroom. Our clothes were spread sporadically through both of the rooms. It would probably be very difficult to pack up our stuff, because it literally was everywhere.

While Stan said it was no longer necessary for me to continue my extra training, Dimitri and I still woke up at the crack of night every day to go get in some extra training at the gym. We didn't usually train after classes. We found we had much better things to do in that time. Dimitri's new schedule involved him only having to guard Jill's classes. Outside of her classes, he was off duty. We fully took advantage of that time, after I had finished my homework of course. School comes first, as Dimitri so kindly reminded me.

We went on our very first official date one night. To a little Italian restaurant. It was the first time we could go on a date without worrying that someone would recognize me as his student, or realize that I was a woman. It was enjoyable, being able to spend time in public with Dimitri as me for the first time.

One weekend, we went to visit my brothers. I had promised Charlie that he would see me more often. My mother was less than pleased to see me. She hadn't had a chance to talk to me privately while I was hurt, Charlie made sure of that. He had refused to leave my side, the queen's meeting with me being the exception. Once my mother had the chance to talk to me on my visit, she pretty much said that I wasn't her daughter and that I wasn't welcome to stay under her roof. It hadn't hurt as much as I had expected. I guess our relationship was pretty strained in the first place and my leaving had just shattered it. I had also been expecting it. She hadn't so much as asked me if I was okay when she had come seen me after I got shot. Most parents would be proud that their child had saved the queen and made a difference. Not my mother. Charlie was so upset with my mother that he asked Dimitri and me if he could spend the night with us in our hotel. We agreed and it was probably my favorite night of our trip. We stayed up with Charlie and watched Spongebob and ate ice cream. If that's not a good night, I don't know what it.

One of the things I was most excited for was how much my hair had grown. It hadn't grown a whole lot, but it had grown enough that I could pull it up into a short pony-tail that left my neck free for the ceremony. It had grown enough that humans stopped staring at me when I went shopping at the mall.

All of my classmates were dressed identically to me, but I still felt like I stood out like a sore thumb.

Everything about me was different. From my neck, crowded with tattoos, to the curves of my body. I just felt different and as awkward as I felt, I couldn't be happier for that.

We were in the main hall, again. It was decorated similarly to how it had been the last time the queen had come, but it was three times as crowded. Families and friends of the graduating class, both moroi and dhampirs were here. The moroi graduation ceremony wasn't happening until later tonight, but most moroi wanted to be here for this historic event.

That's right. My graduation was historic. It was really strange to think that something as simple as my becoming a guardian was a historic event, but it was. It wasn't just about me graduating, it was about the queen changing the law. The queen had revealed, only a week ago that she would be making a very important declaration at the dhampir graduation.

She was going to make the announcement after I got my promise mark. Females were now going to be accepted into dhampirs academies. It took perhaps five minutes after Dimitri and I found out, for me to get a phone call from Viktoria squealing about how she was going to become a guardian. Dimitri was awful at keeping secrets and Viktoria was the first person he told. I was happy she knew. She would make a great guardian.

After graduation, me and Dimitri would be taking another vacation to Russia, this time, hopefully Olena would welcome us more warmly. Apparently Dimitri had told her about how I saved him from Natalie and she wanted to thank me in person. I wasn't sure if that was some kind of code name for something, but I was hopeful that she was growing more comfortable with the idea of me and Dimitri as a couple.

We would be there for two weeks, arriving back just in time for me to be assigned my guardian placement. I was hoping that queen Tatiana would honor my wishes and pair me with Lissa.

Tasha was locked up in Tarasov prison. I had heard horror stories about that prison and as angry as I was with Tasha, I hoped she would be okay in there. Attempted murder of the queen warranted life in prison. If she had succeeded, she would have been executed. For Christian's sake, I was grateful that that didn't happen.

The ceremony passed in a haze. My classmate's names were called and they received their promise marks. I almost laughed when Eddie's name was called. Eddie had killed four strigoi the night of the attack and the tattoo artist frowned as if trying to figure out how he was going to work the promise mark in there. Usually when a novice receives a promise mark, their necks are bare. If he was having difficulty with Eddie, he going to have a heart attack when it was my turn. My neck was practically covered in tiny molnija marks and a little star that was their way of saying they weren't sure exactly how many strigoi I had killed.

All of my male classmates were called before me. I hadn't made it a secret that I was a girl. I also hadn't offered any explanations. I had just showed up for class one day in a work-out outfit that Abe had let me buy on my little... well maybe not so little, shopping spree. I can't even put into words how excited I was to wear girly clothes again and put on make-up.

I knew that my classmates were shocked when I walked in, but Eddie and Christian made it clear that no one was getting through to me. While I hated feeling weak, like I needed protection, I was grateful for their help. After I made it clear that I was still the same dhampir that they had wrestled with, and lost to I might add, they lightened up and welcomed me back as if I were still Robert Hemmingway.

I cheered like anyone else as my classmate's names were called. Though I will admit that I behaved fairly childishly and refused to clap when Dean graduated. He didn't deserve my cheers. The ceremony had to have lasted a couple of hours, but I felt as if it flew by. I was standing the entire time, but I didn't mind. After everything I've been through, including passing my trials, I could handle standing a few hours.

When my name was finally called, the entire hall went silent. Aside from the students, most of the quests hadn't known that there was a female dhampir in the sea of graduates. And most moroi hadn't taken the time to check, so this came as a shock to them. I internally cursed the queen for assigning me a seat in the very back of the room. I stood up and made my way down the long hall. I was probably overreacting, but I could feel eyes boring into my back. I was the reason so many moroi were here. It was unprecedented to have moroi even attend this ceremony.

I was relieved when I finally reached the little makeshift stage. I had to sit down and I heard the tattoo artist's breath hitch as he considered my neck. I could practically hear his thoughts as he tried to figure out his way around this dilemma. Finally, he decided to loop it around two molnija marks. When they announced my trial scores, even my jaw dropped. I had the highest scores in my class, which I had been expecting, but I wasn't expecting them to be that high.

The queen walked up onto the stage to shake my hand. Then she turned to the entire hall. "I present to you Guardian Rosemarie Hathaway, the first female guardian," Tatiana said loud and clear. "Thanks to Guardian Hathaway's actions, I have learned that it isn't one's gender that makes them a guardian, it's their determination to protect moroi. So, from this day forth, female dhampirs can enroll in academies to become guardians."

The applause as I walked off the stage was tumultuous. I am not ashamed to admit that I nearly teared up when one by one, my classmates, then the guardians and then the moroi stood up. I had never in my life received a standing ovation. I had never thought about it. But in that moment, I understood the significant meaning behind one.

Over the roar of applause, I could hear Headmaster Kirova congratulate the dhampirs class. If possible, the cheers got louder.

When I finally reached the back of the hall, Dimitri was waiting for me. He welcomed me with a hug and a kiss. When I broke apart, I looked out at all my classmates. Classmates that were finally able to see me for the real me. I had never been happier in my life, never been more excited. I had finally made my own life.

The End!

Wow. I can't believe this is finished. Thank you to everyone that has read this and reviewed it. Your feedback was always greatly appreciated. I hope you all enjoyed it. I know I certainly enjoyed writing it. Thanks again!