A month outside the gates (a VA fanfic)ON HOLD

Chapter 39

Christian'sPOV
In the month since Rose had been back the group dynamic had changed. Again. And again. And again.

It had changed the first lunch after she'd returned. Then again that dinner, because of her kills. And, as I'd learned later that night, because she'd rejected Mason. It had had Lissa fuming.

It had changed yet again after Rose and Belikov had been party crashers. God. That had gotten awkward and weird. I still had no clue what had happened. Anyway. The group dynamic had changed after that because Lissa and Rose's had. Said pair of bestie's dynamic had changed again after the Missoula trip. That change had caused another change within the group's dynamic.

Christmas lunch, and another change had occurred thanks to the fallout of Tasha's offer to Belikov and his rejection. Again, I still had no clue what was happening, but Liss and Rose had become just as frozen in shock as Belikov had. That had changed changed their dynamic, yet again. And whenever those two's dynamic changed, the whole group's did.

Then she'd disappeared, to Russia and joined Belikov's family- by way of his sister and nephew. Her disappearance had had Belikov holed up, my Aunt overjoyed and the rest of us wondering 'what the hell'. Liss had been insanely worried about her best friend, and it had impacted on our relationship. Yeah. I was stuck with Rose being around somewhere and in someway for the rest of forever.

The group's dynamic had changed again when she'd returned from Russia. And it was about to change again apparently. Rose had just found me in the lunch line.

Field experience was starting today. I'd expected to be one of the ones without a 'guardian' for the month and half. Apparently not. "Rosie? Getting a change of scenery?"
"I'm your guardian for the next six weeks, Sparky. Sundays included."
"Say what?!"
"You heard." I got glared at.
But, like most other times recently, "that was atrocious, Rose. Seriously. You're losing your edge."
"I am not!" she tried huffing and being indignant.
"You are too. You know that bravado didn't come through."
"Am I near guarding? Or far? Stiff and formal? Or, laid back and casual?"
"I don't get a say. Remember?"
"You get some say. You dictate meal times- at bare minimum."
"Hmm." What did I want? It didn't matter. Liss would want her near. So near guard it was. "Near. For Lissa's sake."
"I hope you realise just how much she loves you. She's addicted. So addicted I swear I feel it more than you."
Ugh. I hated that bond. Rose got to know my Princess in ways I didn't. She got to know exactly what was going on with my angel.
"Rose? What have you been put through?" I'd never adjust to the fact Rose could be pulled in to Liss and experiencing everything.
"Too much. I know way too much."
"That damn bond!" we both muttered simultaneously. Then exploded into laughter at the freakishness.

"Rose?" I asked warily after a few minutes of studying her and reflecting over the past month.
"Yeah?"
"You're not, ya know? Involved with someone, are you? I don't want to know who." I truly didn't. I didn't care who, "just that."

She'd been changing, but she'd also been glowing. She'd been doing that post-sex shining thing rather a lot lately- nearly as much as Liss. And she'd rejected Mase, the guy who was crazy about her. She hadn't been near guys. She had to be involved with someone, but it was clearly hidden. She'd turned as private as Belikov, clearly. Because, back in the day, any guy who was anywhere close to being 'with' her was all over her. This relationship was being kept hidden and was a tightly guarded secret. She'd clearly fallen in love and wanted to protect whoever it was. He had to be dhampir if he wasn't showing her off.

"You wish! You wish I was in a relationship!" she laughed half-heartedly.
"Rose," I sighed and pulled a hand through my hair. "I can see you're shining."
"She's what?" the rest of the group asked with curiosity lacing those two little words.
"Shining." I smirked at her.
"I am not! You're seeing things Firecrotch."
"I'm not, Rose. And you know it."
"It's going to be a long six weeks." the lethal Novice muttered, already exhausted.
"You wouldn't be so exhausted and the next month and a half would go a lot quicker if you fessed."
"I've got nothing to admit to."
"Ro," I sighed. "Someone's touch makes you glow. That much is clear. I just want to know if he truly makes you happy."
"Fine." she sighed, then whispered, "Yes. He does." She raised her volume just a little, before any of us could respond. She cut us off with, "now, drop it. That does not leave this circle."
"Seconded." Liss stated before snuggling into my side.
"Agreed." the rest of us agreed in turn.