So, here it is... the last chapter, hope you like it x

Two years later (Rose and Dimitri's first wedding anniversary.)

'Happy Anniversary.' Dimitri murmured softly to me, bringing me out of my sleepy slumber.

'Happy anniversary to you too Comrade.' I replied, turning over to face him and reaching out to caress his stubble covered cheek.

Lying there, staring into his deep chocolate eyes, filled with love, lust and passion, I couldn't quite believe that this wonderful man was all mine, and had been officially for the last year. It was insane to think that we had been married a full twelve months, it didn't seem five minutes since our wedding day, and now here we were, celebrating our anniversary a whole year on.

Dimitri and I had had a small ceremony in the gardens surrounding Lissa and Christian's house. We didn't want some huge lavish wedding, the whole circus act just didn't appeal to us. We had been through so much together, and we didn't want our wedding to be arranged for our guest's entertainment. We wanted it to be a small intimate gathering, only the people close to us attending. The ceremony was beautiful; Lissa had really outdone herself with all the decorations, it had looked amazing. Dimitri's family had flown over for the wedding and for once my mother had taken time out of her busy schedule and come to see me. Obviously, Lissa, Rosie, Christian, Eddie, Adrian and my old friend Mia came as well.

The day was everything we had wanted and more. It was so intimate and special, it was exactly what Dimitri and I had hoped for. It was without a doubt the best day of my life – how cliché is that? I never thought I would be one of those women saying that about her wedding day, but then again, I never thought I would get the pleasure of having a wedding day.

Surprisingly, the year after Christian was returned to his old self, it was pretty uneventful. And to be honest, I was glad for normality and boredom to return, it was refreshing to not have to worry about anything but the usual trivial stuff. Christian wasn't exactly welcomed back to the Moroi and Dhampir community with open arms, but eventually people started to settle when they saw him, and not fear him. We are still not one hundred percent sure as to what happened when Lissa saved him, we know it was something to do with the spirit enhanced stake Lissa later informed me she had used, but still, it was hard to get our heads round it. The biggest fear everyone harboured, was that he might suddenly change back, because the spirit effects were only temporary, but thankfully that was not the case.

Lissa and Christian were as happy as ever now that all was right in their world again. Rosie was now five and was getting ready to attend the academy soon. She had grown up so fast, and we were all sad to see her going to school, the only plus side was that both Lissa and Christian had been offered jobs there, Christian teaching defence classes for moroi who want to use their element power as defence against strigoi, Queen Tatiana had finally agreed that it would be in both the Dhampir and Moroi best interest if they could at least defend themselves enough to ensure they were safe until further help came. And Lissa was at the school, helping in the infirmary with her healing, and they had received more students – not many, but a few – that held the spirit element and needed help in knowing how to use it, so she was now also teaching those few.

Obviously Dimitri, Eddie and I had gone with them back to the academy where we had spent most of our lives. Going back there was strange, I had become me there, I had undergone some of my most life changing experiences there and of course, it was there that I met the love of my life. It wasn't just us three going with Lissa and Christian though, they now had a nine month old son, Eric. They named him after Lissa's father.

Dimitri and I still agreed that we wanted to adopt a child some day. We wanted to adopt a Dhampir who wouldn't have the upbringing that they deserved. We had researched and found out that there was a children's home in Russia for children and babies whose blood whore mothers had abandoned them, loving the thrill of the endorphins of being bitten more than they loved their kids, and their children weren't old enough to attend an academy yet, so they were just left in a children's home. However although Dimitri and I knew we were stable and happy, we wanted time to adjust to being married and get used to being ourselves again before we welcomed a new member into our family. I knew it wouldn't be long though, and to be honest, something I never thought I would ever say, I am really looking forward to becoming a mother. I think I will be good at it, and as for Dimitri, Dimitri is already in father mode, all he needs is someone to be a father to.

'Do you want you present now or later?' He whispered seductively in my ear, his strong arms wrapping tightly around my waist.

'That depends.' I sighed. 'Does it involve getting out of bed?'

He released me and turned to the bedside on his side of the bed, then quickly turned back to me again. 'Nope, I've got it right here.' He chuckled, handing me a thin envelope. If he had just got me a card for our first anniversary, he was seriously going to be sleeping somewhere else tonight.

As if reading my mind, he raised one eyebrow at me. 'And don't worry Roza, it isn't just a card.'

I nodded and ripped the seal messily and quickly. Curiosity had gotten the better of me and I really wanted to know what was inside the envelope. Slowly, I stuck my fingers inside and felt thin paper. It was too strong to be money or anything like that thank god, but I knew Dimitri wouldn't give me money anyway, that was kind of a cop out anniversary present.

I pulled the paper out and looked down at it. There were two... plane tickets to Russia. We were going to Russia?

'We're going to Russia?' I asked, a small smile making itself known on my face.

'Yes, I cleared it with Lissa and we're going just before school starts.' He replied, watching carefully for my reaction. There was something I was missing, I was sure of it, but he was desperate for me to figure it out.

'So, are we going to stay with your family?' I asked, still not understanding what I was missing.

'Yes.'

'It will be nice to go and see them; we haven't seen them since the wedding.' I smiled. It had been a year since we had seen them, and I knew Dimitri missed them, it would be great for him to spend some time with them.

'Rose, although that is going to be great, that's not the main reason we are going.' He stated, judging my reaction carefully.

I looked at him questioningly.

'I was thinking maybe we could check out that children's home.' I heard a gasp before I could register that it had come out of my own mouth. Dimitri completely misinterpreted my reaction however and started trying to reassure me. 'We don't have to make any decision or anything, if you're not ready, but I thought we could look and visit, just get an understanding of the procedures we would need to undertake to adopt.'

'Would you be willing to finalise an adoption this soon?' I asked I didn't want him to think I wasn't ready, because I was; I was so ready for us to move from a married couple, into a family.

'Would you?' He questioned, his gaze probing mine.

'Yes.' I answered honestly.

'Me too.'

'So this is it then... we're seriously going to go forward with adoption?'

A full smile spread across his gorgeous mouth, his whole face lighting up. 'Yes, we actually are.'

I threw my arms around his neck and held tightly to him. I loved this man more than anything in the world. It was hard to think that once I had thought my life would consist of nothing but guarding, and now... now I was happy. I had an amazing job, an amazing husband, a healthy happy best friend, and now I was going to get the one thing that would make everything in my life complete.

It's funny how things work out, I had never imagined that what happened to Lissa and Christian, and the hurt I had injured from it, could have brought me such happiness afterwards. Now all that was left to do was forget about the hurt and betrayal I had in my past, and embrace my upcoming future. And one thing was for sure, with my loving husband beside me, I knew I could handle anything else the world decided to chuck at me.

And that is it; this part of story has finally come to an end. I hope you liked it and please review and let me know what you think of the ending. I want to say thank you to everyone who has read the story and reviewed, it means a lot. I was going to say the end at the end of the story, but I am going to carry it on and make it into a sequel, the next instalment will be up soon and it is called 'Defeating the Darkness'. It will follow Dimitri and Rose as they adapt to their new life, back at the academy and try and overcome new problems that present themselves. So please give it a read. xx