A hidden past. (A Vampire Academy fanfiction)

Truly trying

DPOV

I would do anything to protect her. To be with her. If it meant sneaking around, it meant sneaking around. If it meant being her tough-love mentor it meant I'd be exactly that. If it meant avoiding her for periods of time, I would do it, no matter how painful. I would not, however, turn my back on her or hurt her. I would not stop fighting for her to graduate and I wouldn't stop fighting for us.

She was my world, and had been for a little under two decades. I wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, but I had been made to fit with her perfectly- what ever was needed at that time.

Over the week we worked through the albums and dairies after curfew. We learnt some interesting things about our childhood and her memories were coming back. She stayed in my dorm and I woke her so we could meet for training. In training I was her 'tough-love mentor' and we knew it when the address was 'Rose' from me, and 'comrade' from her. She was improving exponentially each day. I kept pushing her strength and endurance and she was adapting well. She was learning a minimum of two new moves each training and by the following Monday she'd won her first fight. I was proud of the comeback she was making.

Over the next month, even though I knew it made her uncomfortable, she kept up her facade of flirty-ness and 'I don't give a shit' attitude. She seemed to be having to protect Lissa from mainstream bullying. I still didn't, and Rose wouldn't allow me to, know why they were extra cautious with Lissa's emotional and psychological well-being. I still didn't have a clue why they'd run in the first place but knew it had to be huge if she wasn't trusting me with it.

We were keeping up a good show of just being student-and-mentor. But it was getting tougher. She was reading me more-and-more, and I was doing the same with her. Each time she faced an extreme bullying incident with Lissa she'd be in the gym earlier-than-early and having a good go at the punching bag. She was often fighting back tears and working out her anger. It tore at my heart that she was trying to fight Lissa's fight for Lissa all alone.

I eventually got her up to staking six weeks after her return. She was gobsmacked that she was considered ready enough. Except, she wasn't quite. She had to go back and learn what 'protection' the heart had, and exactly where it was. She came back at the end of the day with the knowledge she needed and I gave her her first try. She refused to leave until she could quickly, effectively, and efficiently get through to the heart. It took a while but she did it. Before dinner.

"Good. Very good. That's my Roza." I smiled at her once she'd done it- to a level she was happy at.

"Really?"

"Yes. Your dedication and sacrifice is what makes you one of the best. You understand some things better than most guardians twice your age. It sets you apart from your peers." It was true.

"Dimitri-" her voice was straining and she was fighting tears .

"Shhh. I know you're struggling to protect Lissa from the bullying and threats, from herself. You're almost a guardian, you're not a miracle worker. Though god knows you try," I smiled softly as I tipped her chin up to rest my forehead on hers and spoke against her lips. "God knows you try. I love you."

"I love you too, my Dimka."

I brought my lips down on hers and the world disappeared.