Dimitri

I looked from the TV screen to Lissa who was crying silently beside me.

"She's coming back," I whispered. I snapped my eyes over to Rose's sleeping figure. She was mumbling and something told me that she was saying that there was no place like home.

I went over to her bedside and stared at her face. It was calm, peaceful, and perfect. Her full lips moved as they spoke, and at one point, I thought I saw her feet move. Almost as if they were clicking their heels together.

Lissa moved to her other side and noticed Rose's eyelids fluttering. She jumped up and ran out of the room. A few minutes later, she came running back with Christian and Adrian tailing her. They both stared at Rose as she moved a little.

"Lissa," Christian said. "Nothing's happening. You brought us in on a false alarm."

"No she didn't," Adrian stated. His eyes were far away and I knew that he was dream walking. "She's coming around. Everything is brown and white in her head. I wonder what she was dreaming about."

Lissa gave me a knowing look and shook her head. She didn't want Adrian to know that I knew what Rose had been up to for the past two hours. Adrian was already jealous of me, this would push him over the edge.

I turned my attention back down to Rose just in time for her to open her eyes. She moved her head to see Lissa first and then turned her face to me. Her brown eyes got huge when she realized that I was standing next to her.

"Well hello," she said in a surprised tone. "Since when have you been here?"

I looked down at her sheets before looking back at her. "All day. I got in right after the storm hit."

"The storm?" Rose looked at me like I was crazy. After a few seconds, she remembered. "Oh! The storm that I got attacked by a tree branch in. Okay I gotcha."

Rose reached behind her and pushed herself up into a sitting position. She looked around to see everyone look at her. She crossed her legs out in front of her and put her arms behind her head. "How's life, fellas?"

"Rose," Lissa sighed. "You've been unconscious for almost twenty-four hours and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is, 'how's life'? You're insane."

"Maybe that branch hit you harder than we thought," Christian added. I didn't like the idea of the tree limb hitting her in the head to begin with, the thought of it causing worse damage than originally thought was painful.

"I'm fine guys, chill out. I have a small headache and I had one crazy ass dream, but other than that I am fine," Rose promised.

"That's fantastic!" Lissa jumped onto the bed and hugged Rose until she yelled at her to get off.

"Liss! If you don't let go than I'm going to be in here longer than needed."

"Sorry," Lissa blushed.

"Okay," Christian started. "Let's leave Rose and Dimitri alone. I think that they need to have some alone time and I'm afraid that Lissa might try to tackle Rose again."

He nodded at me in encouragement before ushering out Lissa and Adrian. Once the door was shut behind them, everything was silent. Rose was sitting on the bed in a comfortable position and I stood awkwardly beside her.

"So…" Rose started. "Christian said something about us talking."

"So he did," I agreed.

I sat down in a plastic chair that was across from the foot of Rose's bed. I folded my hands together and leaned my elbows on my knees. I watched Rose sit up a bit and cross her legs under her.

"Why are you back?" She asked me.

I looked up into her brown eyes and saw that she was keeping herself guarded. She was keeping her emotions locked up behind barriers that weren't there before I left.

"Tasha wanted to see Christian and Lissa. Just a visit," I answered simply. I kept my eyes on Rose's face.

"Oh okay." Rose stopped and looked at the bed sheets in her lap. "How long you staying?" She asked.

"I don't know. I…" I stopped myself from telling her that I wanted to stay for the rest of the school year with her. I don't care if I get into trouble for being with her, as long as I got to be there with her.

"You what?" She asked. It wasn't a mean or condescending tone of voice like I expected. It was gentle and sweet.

"Nothing. It's not important. What is though, is that you are awake and fine," I said easily. I knew that she could see through my act, but she wasn't going to push me. Not yet at least.

"Yep. Never felt better." Rose leaned against her pillows and drew her knees up to her chest.

"That's good," I nodded.

Silence fell between us again and for a while, I thought it would never leave.

"You know," Rose said looking down at her hands, "things haven't been the same since you left."

"How? You don't wake up at the crack of dawn anymore to train. How else could things be different," I scuffed.

"I miss you." That was all she said, but those three words held all the meaning and explanation to us. I looked at her face and noticed that a tear had left a trail running down her cheek.

I got up from my chair and sat on the edge of her bed. I took my thumb and wiped away the tear. Rose looked up at me and we stared at each other. A look of bewilderment and disbelief was in her eyes. She couldn't believe that I was this close to her after being away for so long.

"I've missed you, too," I whispered. I then leaned down to kiss her and everything felt right in the world.

So i'm not sure if i want to do an epilogue on this story or just leave it. This kiss at the end pretty much wraps it up haha. But yeah i think this is the end. I hope you liked it for those of you faithful followers of Rose and Dorothy.

Lots of love, SagWarrior