Sitting in the centre of my small room, packing the few things I had I was beginning to wonder if this was the right thing to do. All I've ever done is run away from my problems or fight tooth and nail for what I thought is right, and now I felt as though I was throwing away everything that ever meant something to me but this was the way it had to be, never had I thought that Janine wasn't my mother yet she actually isn't, I never thought that he could be so cold hearted as to say those things to me, I never thought that the one person who had always stood by me would turn her back on me when I needed her most, but most of all I never thought the person who would come through for me would turn out to be Christian Ozera. He had done so much for me, getting me assigned to be his guardian, organising plane tickets and a small get together of our closest friends so I could say good-bye to the ones I'll miss and hadn't lied to me.

I was nervous about Adrian finding out that I was leaving with Christian, we all knew that when he was drunk we never really knew what he could do, and it worried me because I didn't want Christian getting hurt because of me, he'd done too much for me not to choose him over anyone else.

As I continued packing I heard my door open and Christian sauntered in without his trade-marked grin in place. He'll talk when he's ready, I'll let him sweat it out for a wile before I say anything. It was taking forever to pack, but when he woke me up he said I only had 20 minutes which, once I was up, mysteriously turned into 2 hours. As he keep sitting there not saying anything I returned to my inner musings, trying to think if this was the right decision for me at this point in time, when I'd only just graduated from school 3 months ago and had yet to be punished for taking Lissa away from Court grounds, but to add to that I also wanted to go see the friends I had made while I was in Russia, but going there would only remind me of him. Unless I rejoined with Denis and the gang, they'd be glad to hear I'm alive, so would Olena.

Thinking about the Belikovs that had welcomed me into their home and hearts made everything that was going on with him all the more real, it was like I never really knew him and he was breaking my heart every time I had to see him, so maybe this will be a good thing, leaving and finding my own way, finding out if hewas really it for me or is there someone else out there that would love me the way I want to be loved. Either way my mind was made up, I was leaving, and there wasn't a thing that him or anyone else could say that would make me stay.

I knew deep down that I was doing this for some very selfish reasons, but when it comes down to it, the only thing I've ever done for myself was to hunt down him and as much as I wish it hadn't come to that I was glad I did get out and see some of the world. And maybe, one day I'll go back and see them all, and they'll forgive me for just disappearing like I did.

Leaving everyone I've ever known was going to be hard but Christian was right, it was time to strike out on our own and do some growing up. Neither of us wanted to be near the ones that had broke our hearts, so we were going to set off together, whether or not we can back together was another story.

"So are you packed yet?" Christian's voice knocked me out of my thoughts.

"Almost, just a few little things left and then I'm done. Did you tell Eddie and Mia?" I replied with a question of my own. "I want to say good-bye to them at-least."

"Yeah, I told them. Eddie was almost in tears, but Mia told me they'd both be there." He started fidgeting nervously, "And I saw Adrian on my way here."

"WHAT?" I practically jumped at him. "What did you tell him."

"I told him that I had been granted a guardian and that we were leaving in an hour," He smiled softly, "He said good luck and try to come back in one piece, and didn't even ask about who my guardian was, but he did say to try not to fall in love with her because if I hurt her, you'd hurt me."

I laughed, "Yep, you bet I would kill you if you fell in love with me at all." I glanced at him, "I'd kill you even if you thought about it. You're my best-friend's ex, I can't go there, its against the sister code."

"The sister code?"

"Sisters before misters."

"So like bros before hoes?"

"Yeah, but that's just rude. Anyway I'm done now. How long do we have until the plane leaves?" I was thoughtful for a moment, "And where exactly are we going?"

"Well... the plane leaves in 40minutes, but they're expecting us in 10 and we, my dearest Rosie Posie, are going to visit some friends of mine in a far off country." He had wrapped his arm around my shoulders and was waving his hand in-front of our faces as he said, "And it could all be yours, if you just relax and trust me."

"Trust doesn't come easy to me, Sparky. You of all people should know that." I sighed, "But for you, I'm gonna make an exception. You've helped me the least I can do is trust you."

"Wow, really? Thanks Rose. That means a lot to me, that you're willing to let me make the decisions for now." He squeezed my shoulders again, "If you want to cry, I don't think I'm any good at being someone's "shoulder-to-cry-on" but I'll try for you, because I know some of how you feel, so I'm here for you."

"Thanks, Chris but for now I don't want to cry any more," I grinned at him, "So lets get this show on the road. I'll meet you at the airport with the others, I have a heart to go break."

"Good luck with that, just don't tell him where we're leaving from or that Eddie and Mia know already." He shuddered, "I'm scared of what he could do."

"I guess that makes 2 of us then." I said, "I don't even know how he's going to react to me breaking up with him, I don't think I should tell him I'm leaving just yet, I think I might wait until I'm gone, then call in a couple of weeks, and say..."

"Say what exactly, Rose?"

"Say that the Queen sent me away just after I broke up with him and I wasn't aloud to call until the mission was over." I sighed, it sounded plausible, "And we all know how much the Queen hates me so I'll say that it was really difficult but I finished it. Then say something like, oh my God, I wasn't supposed to say that, I was supposed to say I went on holiday. Then he'll be fine."

"Are you sure about that, he's very good at picking when people are lying?" He asked, "I mean it's good, but what if he sees through the lie?"

"He can only tell you're lying through your aura, he's not the human lie detector." I snorted, "He's more likely to get drunk and not be able to dream stalk me."

"That sounds good." He smirked at me, "Guess that means you'd better get moving, don't want to put that off do you, or have him pining after you while you're gone."

"Or think that I'd been cheating on him while I've been gone, if I do find someone."

He laughed, "Now that would be a interesting conversation to listen in on."

I punched him in the arm as I moved my suitcase to the door, "Just remember, I'm leaving with you which means you're first suspect on his list."

Even though he was Moroi, I saw Christian's skin go paler, "Perhaps not a good idea to, umm, listen in then."

I laughed and shoved him out the door slamming in shut behind us, locking my things in my room.

I walked in one direction as he went in another, it was time for me to break a heart.

Slowly I made my way across from the guardian campus to royal housing, looking for a house I'd only been to once before.

The Ivashkov's family home.

I walked up the steps at a sedated pace, I knew he'd know I was coming, and he'd also know exactly why I was here. I never came here, not after that disaster of a dinner with his parents and the Queen, I shuddered just remembering about it.

I had to force myself to knock on the door, that was a cheerful shade of yellow, it looked as though it had been freshly painted.

Adrian's mum answered the door with yet another cheery thing, a smile and a bright, "Hello dear, Adrian's in his room, I trust you know the way?"

I smiled softly, "Thank you, Lady Daniella. And yes I do."

She ushered me inside with a look that seemed to be contradictory to her to her usual self, it seemed to scream I'm up to something, and that in its self was enough for me to want to bolt back out the door and not bother. But I wasn't here for her, I was here for Adrian.

I walked further into their home as she pushed the door closed behind me. Down along the hallway I walked past new photos, old photos, even paintings of Ivashkovs long gone or long forgotten and into the stairwell that led to Adrian's floor.

As I climbed to the top I had to think about how I was going to break his heart, and how bad we both were going to feel after today. But today had already gone down hill for me, and something told me that it wasn't going to get any better, and I would remember this for the rest of my life.

I pushed open the door to his bedroom, still expecting him to be asleep at this hour,but what I saw truly shocked me.

"Adrian?" I tried to say but the word barely left my lips before it was lost to the noises coming from his bed, and that's when it hit me.

He had been right, Adrian was only after sex, the woman in his bed with him was proof to that statement. I had thought that he had truly loved me and when I did move on it would be him I fell in love with, but this right here validated my need to break up with him.

"Oh, Adrian. That felt so good. Do it again."

That voice, I'd know it anywhere.

"How could you..?" I screamed at them and watched as Adrian leapt off the bed.

"Rose? It's not what you-."

"Don't give me that bull shit, Adrian. We're all adults and I'm not blind, but with her how could you!" I took a deep breath, "You know what, both of you. I kind-of expected this, after all Adrian, you've never been faithful in your life, and you, you cheated on the only guy who wanted to be with you for you."

"Don't speak to her like that!"

"I'm not sorry for what I said, but just so you both know and well, I don't have to go find you since you're here anyway. I'm leaving in 3 hours to start my duty as Lord Ozera's Guardian." I couldn't help but smirk, thinking of how Christian would have reacted to me calling him Lord, "I do wish you both the worst in your lives and do have a nice day, Lord Ivashkov, Princess Dragomir."

With my words still echoing in the now silent chamber, I turned and walked back down the stairs and out into the night.

My footsteps rebounded back to me as I ran back to my room, pulling the key from my pocket as I went. I wasn't going to cry I just didn't want to be where they could find me, and my room would be their number one spot to start looking.

The fresh air felt great on my face as I ran, I was free, there was nothing left here stopping me from moving on with my life. I did a little dance of joy as I got to my room only to see that someone was indeed waiting to see me, and I felt my heart skip as he grinned at me.

"I got them to take your things to the plane, everyone's waiting at the cafe to say good-by."

I laughed, already feeling the weight and stress lifting off my shoulders. "Come on then. We don't want to be late to our own farewell party!"