I do not own this story, all rights belongs to Richelle Mead. The characters and the plot is all hers :D

Everybody was laughing, drinking champagne, and having a great time. The Belikovs were there. Along with Lissa, Christian, Adrian, Mia, Eddie, my mom, Abe, Alberta, Kirova, Jill, and just about everyone else that meant anything to me. We were all sitting around a long table, dressed up nicely, and clearly celebrating something.

Lissa used her fork to clink her champagne glass. Through the bond I could feel a swirl of emotions; excitement, happiness, overwhelmed, and even a little bit jealous. Odd combination, I thought.

"I would like to propose a toast," she stood up and I could tell she was choking back tears. The good kind. "Rosemarie Hathaway is not only my guardian, but she is my best friend, my sister. We have known each other for so long, and for that whole time Rose has done nothing but dedicate her life to me. She is the best guardian that I could ever ask for. We have been through so much together. Especially last year, when Dimitri turned Strigoi. As much as she loved me, she left me, and though I was hurt at the time, I can now understand why. When I see the two of them together, it is clear that they are head over heels in love. In fact, I don't know how I didn't see it before! I don't have to be able to feel Rose's emotions like she can mine, to know that there is no one else she would rather be with. Congratulations Rose." She held up her cup, "Here's to their happy ending."

All of her words hit me at once. Her guardian? Head over heels in love…with each other? Happy ending? What the hell was going on? I looked to my left, and there he was. My Prince Charming. Dimitri Belikov. Apparently I must have looked confused, because when I looked at him he took my hand in his and squeezed it, sending reassuring vibes. Sending comfort. Just like he always used to do.

I got it then. Me and Dimitri were getting married. My heart was flying, I was so happy. Lissa was right, Dimitri was the only one for me, and I was about to become his wife. I had waited so long for this, and after months of Lissa, Mia and I planning it was finally going to happen. Tomorrow I was going to be Mrs. Rosemarie Belikov. Or Mrs. Rosemarie Hathaway-Belikov. I still hadn't decided.

Dimitri leaned towards me, putting his lips to my ear. His low, seductive voice whispered, "Love fades, mine has."

I was then screaming. I woke up in a cold room with a lumpy bed. It took me several moments to reorient myself and remember where I was. The court. Prison. Ah, that's right. I was in the courts holding cells.

My breathing was still heavy after that dream, and I was on the verge of tears. I brought my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, rocking back and forth slowly. Don't cry, Rose. I told myself. Not because you're in prison. But the thing was, I knew I wasn't crying because I was in prison. I was well aware of the fact I was innocent. I didn't kill Tatiana Ivashkov. That's sick. Plus, I had full confidence Abe would find some way to get me out of here.

No, I was crying because as much as I tried to erase Dimitri's words the first time he said them, they were now etched in my mind. Bouncing all over the place. Repeating over and over again, Love fades, mine has. I closed my eyes and took deep breathes trying to calm myself.

I was nearly settled down when someone panting almost as loud as a dog sounded from outside my cell. I opened my eyes to see a breathless Adrian Ivashkov. I got from the bed and walked over to him, holding his hands through the bars.

As much as I loved Dimitri, and I longed for him, Adrian was still my boyfriend, and a part of me was beginning to feel stronger than I ever would have imagined I could feel for him.

His breathing returned to normal and he shot me an incredulous look. "You're fine?" He asked, and I was suddenly confused. "Not that just made that upsets me. It's just that you probably one of the loudest screams I've ever heard. Like literally I could hear it from my room. Right away I knew it was you and I ran here as fast as I could." Apparently that wasn't too fast, because I already had time to calm myself. But still, I appreciated the gesture.

"No," I sighed. "I'm alright. I'm sorry. I just had a bad dream." He let go of one of my hands and moved it to my face, gently wiping a left over tear from below my eye.

"It's all right Little Dhampir," he smiled. "I was just worried about you. Do you wanna talk about the nightmare?" His voice was gentle and caring, and I knew Adrian loved me. A lot. He was just trying to help, but there was no way I was going to tell him that I was totally freaked out because I was constantly reminded of Dimitri's displeasure with me. Even if he was at the hearing I knew that Dimitri no longer wanted me. He made that perfectly clear.

"No, I'm better now. It was actually pretty stupid to all worked up over anyways. But thanks." It wasn't entirely a lie. But Adrian could read my tell now, after spending so much time with me, just like Dimitri had been able to do.

"It was about Belikov," he said it as a statement, no question in his tone. "I told you Rose, this is something you and I need to start talking about this. Remember, keep it honest. We'll make it work." I did remember. And the way his voice was filled with such care and understanding nearly broke my heart. It was the first time I felt undeserving of his love.

I shook my head. "It's not important. What matters is that you're here right now, and he's not." And it wasn't like he didn't know where to go. I was staying in his old cell. I still couldn't believe that they did that, but part of me thinks it was intentional, and they did it just to put me through more hell.

He smiled. "Of course I am, Rose. I'll always be here. You know that." And I did.

I hated that there were bars between us. I wanted nothing more than to just hug him, and kiss him, and hold him. Then, an idea came to me. "Adrian, do you think you could make the guards let you in here? " I asked him, feeling a little smile play upon my lips.

He looked confused for a moment. "What, why would they-Oh." For someone who actually has the ability to compel, I was pretty shocked that he didn't think of it first. " Well, I could," He said, obviously there was going to be a 'but', and I had a pretty good idea of what it was, though he didn't smell of alcohol. "Except that, and please don't get mad at me, I've had a little bit to drink. I know that it probably upsets you, but you gotta know that the situation I'm in isn't easy. I'm really worried about you." He truly did look sorry.

I sighed, "I understand, Adrian. Really, I do."

"But you're still upset with me?"

"No, no, no. I'm not upset with you, exactly. I just wish that you could come in here with me. We can't really do much with this shit between us," I said, tapping one of the bars.

"I know, Little Dhampir." He put my face between his hands and gave me a light kiss on the lips. "I promise, as soon as I'm sober I'll come back."

I smiled, "Please hurry." He nodded and then left.

I wasn't left with much to do then. The court supplied me with some books, and Lissa brought me some magazines, but the I had read all of the magazines and the books held no interest to me. Right now really wasn't the time to read a biography of the Queen. Yes, that was the books they gave me. It really was a sick joke. Especially because in one of them, the last page said:

And then she was violently murdered in her sleep.

Ha-ha. Isn't someone quite the little joker.

Anyways, I didn't want to read the books, and I most definitely did not want to sleep. I was horrified of returning to that awful dream. Therefore, I decided to go into Lissa's head.

Ironically enough, when I entered, she was with the one person I was trying to avoid.
Dimitri Belikov.

This is actually pretty short. But, I know chapter two is longer. Why? Because I have already written it :D Hehe. I'll be posting it sometime today, because I promised I would. But you should most definitely give me reviews and tell me what you think. Thanks 3