Hello readers! Two things, italics are flashbacks, and this chapter takes place about a year after chapter nineteen. I wanted to thank everyone who has been with Rose and Dimitri's journey. It was a tough story to write, but two years in the making, we are at the end and everything worked out. This is the final chapter in this story, and I hope everyone enjoys it. Finally, chapter twenty.

~Witch

April 20, 2012

Chapter Twenty: Forever and Always

"Lissa, will you quit it already?" I asked frustrated as my best friend burned, yet again another small patch of skin.

Lissa took the curler out of the strand of hair and smiled softly at me. "Sorry Rose, but it needs to be perfect! Plus, beauty is pain and I know you have felt worse then this." She said rolling another strand of hair into the curler, and holding it there for a moment before letting the curl out of the curler.

"It still stings." I complained, and fidgeted in my seat as I moved a strand behind me.

Lissa shook her head laughing and went to retrieve something from her bathroom. She soon emerged with black clips and a bag of makeup.

"Aren't you going a bit overboard?" I questioned her as she poured out the makeup and started to go through it all.

"No, I'm absolutely not going 'a tad overboard'! You and Dimitri are finally going somewhere special and you have to look stunning for it." She replied pulling my hair into the clips.

I sighed and let Lissa do her thing as I played with my Nazar necklace. After a few more minutes of hearing her struggles with my hair, I let out a small laugh which caused me to get hit in the head with my brush. I tried to rub my sore head until Lissa then smacked my hand and waved her finger at me. Ah, best friends I thought as I looked at her in the mirror. It was amazed after only a year we were able to put the past behind us. A couple days after my return home, Lissa and I had hung out around the pool and it was the first time I was really, truly happy.

We entered the pool easily since she was a princess and I was now an almost famous Guardian at the school. We set our stuff down on a chair and I was relieved that the pool was empty (I have a feeling Dimitri did something for this occasion). I walked over to the ten feet side and waited for Lissa to undo her dress. My blue bikini brought out my tan, I'd received in Russia, and looked sexy as hell as on me. Lissa, of course, went with her angel, white bikini with a small skirt bottom that made her look like a child again. She soon reached the edge near me and I turned to her with a wicked grin.

"I dare you to jump without feeling the water." Everyone knew St. Vladimir's pool was one of the coldest anyone has ever been in.

"You're my Guardian aren't you not supposed to put my life in danger?" She emphasized the not and I took a step toward her.

"It's a pool Lissa it won't kill you." I said before pushing her in.

She screamed and then fell gracefully into the pool. After a couple of seconds, her head popped up showing a failed attempt to look mad. I grinned at her backing up against the tanning chairs.

"Cannonball!" I yelled, jumping close to her as the cold water hit my body. We were right, the water was freezing. We spent the next hour splashing around and decided to lie out. The sun beamed down on my cold skin and Lissa glanced at me smiling.

"We'll be friends forever right, Rose?" She asked, but already knew the answer.

I smiled back at her as we cheered our drinks together. "Forever and always" I replied.

From that day we were Rose and Lissa joined at the hip again, unless we were too busy kissing our boyfriends to actually keep up a conversation. Lissa had just finished my makeup as there was a knock on her door.

"Come in!" Lissa shouted, cleaning up her mess of makeup.

Christian came into view and gave her a long kiss I had to clear my throat twice to get those two to quit it.

"Whoa, Rose is that you? You look like the bride of Frankenstein." He commented and I flipped him off.

"Says the boy who can only go to second base. " I countered and he snickered.
"You don't want to know where I've gone, Hathaway. Lissa bending over the-""Christian!" Lissa said mortified, her cheeks blaring red. "Not the time." She hissed and Christian stroked her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Lissa it was too good to resist." She kissed him quickly before shooing him out of the room.

She opened her closet and pulled out the garment bag and turned, handing me the dress. She walked out of the room to meet Christian while I got dressed. I opened it and took out the silver dress. It came above my knees with sparkles around it and a small diamond at the top of my dress. My curled hair and makeup would give me a sexy, confident look while the dress remained simply and pretty. I put it on carefully and groaned as I heard Lissa and Christian kissing. It was no surprise that they would get back together.

I was attempting to write a letter to my parents explaining how I was until I was pulled into Lissa's head. Lissa and Christian were sitting in their hideout a picnic basket was there along with many candles with blankets covering the area. Christian was feeding her some sort of dessert, and her she dropped some of it on her chest purposely. He grinned and licked it off of her as she threw her head back and laughed. Once he was finished, she leaned into him and they laid together staring at the sky.

"You have no idea how sorry I am." She whispered burying her head into his chest. He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was hurt and-"

"I know, I'm just upset she used me like that…I thought she actually liked me." Lissa started to cry then, but stopped and she toughed it out. I was extremely proud of her.

"Don't think about that, babe. Tonight it's just you and me." He said before laying Lissa down climbing on top of her and kissed her passionately. She leaned into him and I pulled myself out her head. I did not want to witness them having sex, and Lissa and Christian needed their time to reconnect and be alone together.

I glanced in the mirror and was pleased at Lissa's work. She had framed my eyes with a light brown eye shadow, mixed with some gold, with a hint of silver near the corner of my eyes. I painted my lips with Chap Stick and topped it off with light pink lip gloss. The curls framed my face making me look, indeed, dangerous, sexy, mysterious, and desirable. I grabbed my heels, bag, phone, and made my way out the door.

"I'm heading out!" I called as Lissa crawled out of Christian's lap and hugged me.

"Have a great time." She said, kissing my cheek and Christian stepped forward and hugged me, which was surprising.

"You look great, Rose. Have fun with your man." He winked and I smirked at him.

"We always do, Christian and thank you." I said happily and walked out of the room.

I didn't get a step before I was swept into a hug. "Little Dhampir!" Adrian cried spinning me around before setting me back on my feet.

"Watch the heels, Adrian." I said as I grabbed the wall for support.

Even though Adrian had some feelings for me back when we first met, we had always been able to stay good friends even with his flirty charm. Since he had helped me save Dimitri, they had some sort of guy respect I would never understand. Where it left us, was a pair of really good friends. I trusted Adrian like I would trust Lissa. From what I know, he even has his own romance going.

"Dimitri, I'm going for my run already! Damn, you don't have to be so pushy, Comrade." I zipped up my sweatshirt and went outside to the tracks. I got a half a mile in before I spotted Adrian near the hurdles talking on his cell. I decided to creep, and go up the bleachers and listen.

"I know you can't talk long, but can you tell me when you will be back?" Adrian asked as he paced back and fourth. The other person was talking loud, so I was able to hear her.

"I should be back in a little bit. I'm going on another mission, but you will be happy it's in the States this time. I miss you too, and this time you will be taking me on a real date." The girl said in a serious tone.

Adrian smiled and laughed playing off his 'I'm so cool' charm. "We will we can fly to anywhere you want: Rome, Paris, or the Bahamas anywhere I can just be with you." He admitted as a small blush appeared in Adrian's face. I had never seen him get this nervous, or admit his feelings like this.

"How did you know where I wanted to go?" She asked, a hint of playful tome was there mixed with her serious voice.

"It's because I know you. "Adrian said seriously and ran his fingers threw his hair.

"I have to go, Adrian I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" She said sadness took over her voice meant she wasn't trying to get out of the conversation, no, she truly had to go.

"I love you, Lilly." Adrian said with such raw emotion it nearly brought me to tears; almost.

"I love you too, Adrian." She said and hung up as Adrian started walking back to the dorms putting his phone away.

Dimitri jogged forward spotted me climbing down from the bleachers.

"Rose start your jogging!" He said and I groaned and started my run.

"You better go meet him." Adrian finished, I smiled, thanked him, and ran to Dimitri.

Dimitri stood at the gates of the academy dressed with a dark tuxedo and a red rose. Even though roses brought back bad times, I was about to replace them with new ones. I ran to him and his arms circled around my waist as he kissed me with such force, I thought I was going to melt to the ground. He set me down on the trunk of the car and put the rose in my hair and ran his finger along my jaw.

"You're so beautiful." He whispered, and kissed my lips one more time before helping me down so I wouldn't ruin my dress. He opened my car door and I stepped in touching the flower in my hair as I felt a sense of peace rush through me. Dimitri stepped into the driver's seat and started the car as we pulled out of the academy.

"Dimitri, you know I love you, right?" I asked leaning my head on his shoulder.

"Yes, I know and I'll love you in this life and our next life." He said kissing my lips one more time.

Reviews, comments, or feedback? Important annoucement! A reader suggested a sequel, and the idea has been playing in my head for a couple of days now, and I've decided to write a sequel. It will be much more happier than this one, for those who've asked, and look for it! Have a good night everyone.

~Witch