𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑 ▸ Rose and Lissa have been best friends since kindergarten. Their friendship has grown and changed but they still have each other's backs - even as Queen and Head of the Queen's Guardians. Rose has always said she do '...
"What are you doing here?" Rose asked when she knocked at Sydney and Brooke's apartment door. She knew Brooke was at the infirmary with Maxim and Dimitri. Janine and Abe had taken Lara to feed the ducks that congregated on the Academy's pond, so Rose had decided to visit Sydney.
Adrian looked a little uneasy. It was the middle of the day, after all. By rights, he should be asleep.
"Sydney doesn't know anyone else here other than you guys and your family. I thought I'd keep her company." It wasn't what Adrian said, it was the way he said it. Usually, Adrian would follow up a statement like that with a smutty comment, but he didn't. Actually, looking at Adrian, it wasn't just his language that was different. He was sober, as far as Rose could tell, and he didn't reek of those horrid clove cigarettes he usually smoked. Clean shaven, Adrian was dressed casually but neatly, and looking at the coffee table it appeared he had been drinking iced tea, a tall glass placed beside Sydney's usual coffee cup. Sitting beside the coffee table was a wicker picnic basket, complete with a red plaid blanket rolled up and tucked under the handle.
Subtle, Adrian. NOT! Rose grinned as the pieces fell into place. Adrian was there to take Sydney on a date.
Adrian shot Rose a pleading look. He was already so far out of his comfort zone, and the last thing he needed was for Rose to frighten Sydney off. It had taken half-an-hour to work up to asking Sydney to enjoy lunch outside in the sunshine, and Adrian could honestly murder Rose for showing up when she had.
"Rose," Sydney greeted, appearing at the door. "Adrian just asked me to join him for lunch. Please join us? I'm sure there's plenty of food..."
Of course, there would be. Sydney barely ate!
The young Alchemist's look was pleading. It looked as though she'd given in to Adrian's invitation out of politeness.
"Sorry, Sydney. I was just coming over to see if you'd like to join Dimitri and me for dinner on Saturday night? Eddie has the day off so is taking Lara, Mom and Abe are going to stay with Maxim, and since Brooke is off campus visiting her boyfriend, we thought it would be a good chance to catch up?"
Rose turned and looked at Adrian artlessly, as though she was only now really registering his presence. "Come too, if you're free, Adrian. Sonya and Mikhail are probably going to be there."
"Are you sure you don't want the time alone just you and Dimitri?" Sydney asked Rose.
"Maxim still sleeps more than he's awake. Dimitri and I have spent hours together in the infirmary," Rose answered truthfully. "Some adult conversation not centered around our kids would be wonderful," she admitted, laying it on thick. "Please, Sydney?"
"Sure. Just let me know what time."
Rose turned to Adrian, lifting her eyebrows with a small smirk that Sydney missed.
"I'd love to. Thanks for the invite. Are you sure you wouldn't like to join us for lunch?" Adrian asked, his tone neutral. For a moment Rose considered saying yes just to annoy him, but remembering how he'd drained himself healing Maxim, she thought she well and truly owed him.
"Sorry. I have something arranged with Alberta," Rose said begging off – escaping before Sydney realized that given it was midday, Alberta would probably be asleep.
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