I stared at the broken man in front of me and tried to fight away tears. It had been almost a week since the attack and he had yet to wake up. Even after multiple attempts to heal him from Lissa and Adrian, he still didn't move. So every day I would leave the confines of my room, disobeying Dr. Olendzki's strict order for bed rest.

I heard her walking down the hall, time for morning rounds as usual and made no effort to hide. I wasn't going to leave his side, no matter what. I promised myself. Today the doctor wasn't by herself.

"Rose?" Albert quietly asked, checking to see if I was all there.

I made a grunting noise in response. Far too tired to form words. She sighed. "Monologue it is. I know you're worried about Guardian Belikov but you really need to rest. Would you let us bring an extra cot in here? We won't make you leave." She gently almost like she was talking to someone slow or as if she cared for me.

I nodded never taking my eyes off of Dimitri's face. I could hear the both of them whispering out side. 'Unnatural connection' I heard Dr. Olendzki say. I fought the urge to roll me eyes. Even if I hadn't been in love with Dimitri I would still be concerned for my mentor.

Alberta seemed to be thinking the same thing as me. "He's her mentor, there is no way you could understand that kind of connection." She said voice colder than usual. I heard a muttered apology from the doctor and someone walk away.

Alberta stepped back into the room, not looking as gentle as she had a moment ago. "Rose, I can't cover for you forever. Other's will notice how attached you to are eventually." She said quietly and left without looking back at me.

Wow. That was unexpected. I filed that bit of information away to worry about later and continued to watch Dimitri. It seemed so cruel that only a few hours after we had worked everything out we would be ripped apart. I shook those thoughts away. Philosophy and fate were Lissa's area not mine. Speaking of which: I glanced at my watch. She would be here any second.

There was a soft nock followed by Lissa's soft voice. "Hey Rose, you mind if I come in?"

"It's open." I managed to say. My throat was still bruised so my voice was all gravely.

She gave me a sympathetic look and sat on the chair beside me. "How are you guys."

"He's the same as yesterday and they're bringing me a bed in here so I don't have to leave." I glanced at up briefly. She looked almost as broken as I did.

"That's good." She said trying, and failing, to say cheerfully.

I just nodded. Seems that was the only thing I was capable of doing as of late.

She sighed the same sad resigned sigh that Alberta had. "I was thinking about the last time I healed him, I could kind of feel his mind. Maybe if you talk to him while I heal, he'll wake up." She said hopefully. I'll admit she was grasping at strings but it was worth a try.

I nodded and scooted closer to him so I could whisper in his ear. I felt Lissa gather the magic in herself and literally push it at Dimitri. "Dimitri? If you can hear me you have to wake up. I need you to wake up. I miss you so much. Can you please wake up for me?" I pleaded over and over again.

I felt his hand twitch in mine and gasped. "It's working." My voice held an actual emotion for the first time in three days.

"Dimitri, I need you to wake up. You have to wake up for me. Please wake up." I squeezed his hand and continued with my pleading.

I heard a slight groan from him and Lissa and I smiled at each other. "Dimitri? Can you hear us?" Lissa walked to the other side of the bed and held his hand still pushing her magic at him.

"Yes Princess." He sighed again.

She patted his hand. "I'll go get the doctor."

He nodded and turned to me. "Roza?" I tried to lift his hand but winced. "What happened?"

"Well, we were on our way back when that blonde guy grabbed you. My mom and I were the only ones left so I went back for you. She followed and helped me get you back here." I answered giving him the edited version.

He did the one eyebrow thing, "You're not telling me something Roza."

"The strigoi did a lot of damage. Most of the right side of your body was crushed, and Janine had a concussion. Lissa healed me and my mom but she couldn't do anything while you were asleep." I said.

But before he could question me further Lissa and the doctor walked back in. "How are you feeling Guardian Belikov?" The doctor asked a string of questions and did series of 'can you feel this' and 'how about this?'

Finally she told him he would heal and to stay in bed. He didn't seem to happy about it but agreed. Lissa smiled. "I can fix everything else if you'd like?"

He tried to smile but it came out as a grimace. "I appreciate the offer Princess but I'll be fine."

She frowned but did as he asked. She glanced at her watch and said something about meeting Christian. She gave me a peck on the cheek and patted Dimitri's hand. "Feel better both of you."

Before Dimitri could continue his earlier line of questioning I wrapped my arms around him as best as I could. "I missed you so much." I sobbed into his neck.

He ran his fingers through my hair. "I'm here now." He said gently. He kept that up until I couldn't cry anymore.

I sat up and rubbed my permanently puffy eyes. I couldn't push the urge to kiss him away and the tears threaten to spill over again so I decided conversation was necessary. "Why didn't you let Lissa heal you? She really doesn't mind."

"I don't want you to catch any more darkness than necessary. Besides it probably isn't a good idea for me to restrain you again." He joked.

I laughed. "I know I wouldn't mind…But I do see your point."

There was a knock on the door and Alberta stepped in. She took in my position at the foot of his bed, only holding his hand. "I'm glad you're awake. You gave us quite a scare." She smiled at Dimitri, and then gave me a teasing look.

"it seems you won't need that extra cot after all." My smiled quickly faded and she laughed. "I never thought I would see the day. You can have the cot as long as you promise to stay on it." She said the last bit firmly.

I nodded and she rolled it in and handed me a stack of sheets. "The Princess left these. Apparently hospital sheets aren't comfortable." She looked at Dimitri and I again and shook her head. "Just stay on the cot please." She said before leaving.

"What all does she know." Dimitri asked getting right to the point

"She knows we have feelings for each other but nothing else." I said looking down afraid he might get angry, or upset. As usual he was calm.

"She is probably the only one that would understand." He stated.

"Don't tell me Alberta has a secret affair with one of the other guardians." I asked only half joking.

He chuckled. "No, but she understands the need to put ourselves before the Moroi sometimes. She was one of the first to suggest guardians and Moroi should be equal. Don't get me wrong, she would never do anything to compromise a charge, but she has a more modern way of thinking."

I was about to say something when the door opened yet again. "Guardian Belikov, Rose, I'm leaving for the night, if you need anything call the night nurse at the front desk."

Dimitri nodded his thanks and opened his arms to me the second she closed the door. I snuggled in closer to him and sighed. "You have no idea how much I missed you."

I felt his lips on my forehead. "I dreamed about you, what our life could be like if we weren't guardians."

I snuggled in closer not all that opposed to the picture he was painting. "Sounds like a good dream." I muttered.

"Are you going to tell me what else happened in the cave?" he said, braking the comfortable silence.

I sighed, of course he hadn't forgotten. "You how I've been seeing ghosts?" I said choosing my words very carefully, "Well usually the wards keep them away so up in the cave they were kind of just around me…until I made them attack the Strigoi. They distracted them long enough so I could stake him."

I looked up to see him frowning. "I don't think you should do that anymore. At least not until we figure out the repercussions."

I nodded having no desire to see the shadowy creatures that honestly scared the crap out of me. "Oh you'll never guess what Christian asked me." I said

He smiled, "What?"

"He asked to sit in on our training lessons. He wants to learn how to fight. There's even a few others that want to learn too." I laughed at the thought of Lissa or Adrian actually fighting.

"That's not a bad idea. Though you are not allowed to fight with him." He gave me the no argument look when I pouted.

"I was looking forward to that." I shrugged, I could find other ways to piss Christian off. "They canceled classes for the next few weeks."

He shook his head and yawned. It was actually kind of cute. I gave him a soft kiss before climbing down to my own bed. "Good night comrade."

I heard a faint chuckle. "Good night Roza."

---

The first thing I was aware of when I woke up was the smell of bacon and two people banging around in the bathroom. I wanted to go back to sleep but my stomach wouldn't let me. I slowly got up and smiled. Lissa had been in our room.

The windows were open, creating a nice breeze there was two stacks of clothing on the counter and two plates filled with food. The only thing missing was Dimitri. "Lissa?"

"In hear." She called from the bath room.

I peaked in the door and found her helping Dimitri shave. I smiled at his helpless expression. "What's with the mother henning Liss?"

She laughed, "I don't have classes and Christian is too busy practicing with Eddie so I have nothing to do."

I nodded. "You okay Comrade?" I teased.

"Doing great." He rolled his eyes and let Lissa finish.

"You know I was thinking, since we don't have classes and your birthday is coming up Rose, why don't we go on a trip?" Lissa gave me that thousand watt smile.

"Can we go to the beach?" I asked, picturing Dimitri and I laying in the sand.

"It's your birthday, we can go were ever you want." She responded and began loading clothes into a hamper. "Now go shower so I can take your clothes."

I sighed. She was in productive mode just like her mom. "You remind me of your mom when you go into these productive moods." I said.

Lissa stopped what she was doing. "At least I don't take a tooth brush to the tile." She said after a moment. I laughed, her mom was slightly eccentric at times. "Now go shower." She demanded.

I did as told and handed her my mom clothes through the door. While I knew Dimitri couldn't join me in here, I still hoped. I set the record for shortest shower eager to be alone with him again.

I stepped out of the bathroom in the sweats and tank Lissa had left me and found Dimitri talking to Alberta. I felt his eyes rake over my body and saw Albert roll her eyes. "Dimitri and I were just talking about your new guidelines."

I tried very hard not to smirk, but me and guidelines… "Guidelines for what?"

"This forbidden relationship you seem to have with your mentor." Alberta said quickly losing her patience. I shut my mouth and just nodded my head.

"While at the Academy, you will follow the normal male/female interaction rules. You will continue your training sessions that I will periodically check in on and one of you will be reassigned when the Princess graduates. Now I understand the Princess wants to take a trip. If Kirova lets her you Guardian Belikov and Eddie will go with her. What you do on this trip is up to you. Do you understand?"

"Yes." I nodded trying not to focus on the fact that she basically said we could do whatever as long as we weren't at the school.

She gave us both a firm look before shutting the door behind her. Dimitri and I shared a look. Apparently I wasn't the only one reading between the lines. "You should probably tell Lissa." He said.

I knew Lissa would understand. Eventually. She was my best friend and she would want me to be happy, but she wouldn't like the fact that I hadn't told her before. "I will but right now all I want to do is this." I pressed my lips to his and tried to be gentle, he had other ideas.

With one hand in my hair and the other holding me close he showed me just how much he missed me. I leaned into him and heard him groan in pain.

I jumped off. "Sorry. Sorry." I sat back on the foot of his bed.

He was frowning. "I wasn't finished kissing you."

I couldn't hold back the laughter. He was actually pouting. "I need to go anyways. You rest and we'll do more of that later." I gave him a kiss on the cheek before setting off to find Lissa.