a new beginning. ✔ (va characters dimitri and rose)

Chapter 12: Keepers

Rose POV.

I found the gas station in Altwood. The sun was almost ready to set. It took me a little while to get her do to some necessary shopping and toilet breaks. Looking around is stood outside the car trying to remember where we went when Syd drove.

I closed my eyes and relaxed my breathing thinking back to over a year ago. It was dark then. I pulled out the parking lot and drove past the gas station deeper in to the darkness. I was surrounded by the mountains and forest just like last time. Driving slowly looking for the gravel road I needed to turn on. After 5 minutes I found it.  Finally I arrived at the large dirt-packed clearing, where the other rundown cars were parked. I grabbed the most imported backpack and a flashlight sins the darkness was setting in and the sun disappeared behind the mountains.

I started walking down the path until I heard a twig snap and froze in my spot while grabbing my stake.

I turned and saw Raymond and his son Joshua. I relaxed a little. Raymond smiled a little but was also wary. "Hello Rose, how are you?" I replied with a wider smile and relaxed somewhat more in the hoop not to look threatening. "Hey Raymond, I'm fine. It's good to see you. Sorry to barge in unannounced but I'm afraid I am in need of refuge again."

Joshua looked at me in amazement. "So you didn't come back to stay with us?" His words had a double meaning. He wanted to know if I reconsidered marriage to him. "No Joshua. I'm only here for a small amount of time until I know where to go next." I shifted my gaze to Raymond. "If that is okey with you?" Raymond was totally relaxed now and understood that my intentions were sincere.  Raymond nodded "Well come on then, everyone is quiet curies as what happened to you."

We walked towards the campfire every one we past had a look of aw and wonder. When Sarah saw me she actually look happy to see me and hugged me so I returned the hug. "Rose, Welkom back. How are you?"

"I'm fine" Then the questioned started about what happen. If the new queen was any good. And so on. So I launched in to my story from going away here to reviving Sonya, finding Jill and getting shot. Everybody was hanging on every word I said.  After the story was done people started to talk amongst themselves about the possibility of saving Strigoi. I shifted to Sarah and whispered. "Where can I sleep I need to switch back to the nocturnal schedule. "

"Same bed as last time sins Angeline is out, do you need anything to eat?"

"No I already ate. A little sleep would go a long way" I said while I stifled a yawn. And walked over to the little house.

Everything looked the same even the same Quilt laid on Angeline's bed. I ran my hand over it and started thinking of Dimitri.

How come things had to get screwed up again. We've been through so much. Why isn't it ever enough. We just end up hurting each other. I love him so much but what he said I don't think that is easy to forgive. Al the other things were either not his fault or he was right. Somehow it's like something in the universe doesn't want us to be together. I could feel the tears brim in my eyes and my throat close up. I silently cried myself to sleep without the actual tears.

After a three hour nap I felt refreshed and hungry. I popped my head out of the door and saw Paulette in the kitchen. She was making something and it looked like that amazing bread of hers. "Can I help" I asked. Paulette jumped and gasped. "Rose? Your back?"

"Yes, but only for a little while."  It was clear that I needed everyone here to know I'm not staying. "Can I help. I would like to know how."

We started to bake the bread together. It was a lot like the recipe for Olena's bread that Victoria send me.  I was glad to eat it to and it tasted great. By then Raymond walked in with a full on smile including his fangs.

"Rose? Would you like to take a walk with me?" I nodded and we headed out.

After a while and a quiet walk he spoke. "Rose why are you in hiding. I main what you told so far, live was good." I bite my lip. I knew I would have to tell someone or the probably wouldn't let me stay. I took a deep breath. "Well live was good. Guarding the new Queen and my best friend and being at college.... All was good."

"Then what happened? What went wrong?"

"I....I.... got pregnant." It was very hard to say out loud. Especially to someone I don't know very well.

"Who is the father? Last time you were here, you were involved with Adrian. If I remember correctly?"

"No." I said quietly. "We were never that serious."

"Then who?"

"I can't say. I need some time by myself. I told the father and the Queen to let me be for a while. My friends can't help me with this. I'm all alone." Ther was an awkward silence.

"Okey Rose. You can stay as long as you like. Just remember if you want to talk. Me and my family are here for you." He finally said with a reassuring yet sad smile

"Thanks" I whispered sounding somewhat shy.  

Everybody seem to leave me alone, maybe I was giving of the fibe to let me be. Not even Joshua sort me out. I spend my days learning Russian and helping Sarah and Paulette around the house. In the morning I would go on a light run and a swim in the lake at the edge of the mountain. There was a beautiful waterfall where the keepers would take a shower. The morning were for the girls an women and the evening for the boys and men.

Besides that I took a lot of time on the porch from Raymond's little house with my journal. I wrote a letter to Liss and Dimitri. Every now and again a group would head into town for some essentials. My mind still couldn't find any link how Dimitri and I could conceive.