This is a one shot that popped into my head last night. Set in Blood Promise after Rose drops out of the academy to hunt down Strigoi Dimitri.

Disclaimer: I do not own VA or any of the characters

Please review! This is my first one shot!

Enjoy!

Janine POV

"Hathaway." I answered the phone in my no nonsense voice. I knew it was the academy calling, and I foolishly assumed it was because Rose had simply gotten into trouble again. She never stayed out of trouble; I don't know how she ever expects to because Princess Dragomir's guardian if she was always in trouble.

"Guardian Hathaway, this is Alberta. I'm calling in regards to Rose. Do you have a moment?" I recognized her voice the moment that she had spoken. How could I not? She was always the one who called when Rose got into trouble.

"What did she do this time, Alberta?" I sighed in defeat, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"Janine," she dropped the formal names before continuing. "She left." My heart stopped momentarily; Rose had run away again.

"What do you mean, she left?" I snapped.

"She withdrew from the academy, and walked out the front gates. No one could stop her. Even Vasilisa tried to stop her, but she left anyway." She paused, and I felt my chest tighten. "I'm so sorry, Janine. I know how much you wanted her to follow in your footsteps as a guardian."

I mumbled out that I had to go. I'm not sure that she heard me, but she understood what I meant. She said goodbye, and we ended the call.

I sat on my bed, frozen, unsure of what to do next. I thought back to the few days prior that I had spent at the academy. I had been called in as reinforcement due to the attack the night before, and we ended up arranging a rescue mission with Rose's help. Seeing her help with everything that day, I was so proud of her. I knew that she would be the amazing guardian that I knew she could be. She was a Hathaway afterall.

I thought back to the day of the rescue mission when Belikov was taken down. Rose lashed out, and tried to go to him. When I stopped her, she had screamed in agony. Oh, god. How could I have been so stupid not to notice? She loved him. She had to of loved him. If he had only been her mentor, she wouldn't have reacted that way.

I started to wonder if Belikov had harbored feelings for my daughter as well. If he did, how far did their relationship go? Had he taken advantage of Rose? I have heard many stories of Rose sleeping around, but I never believed them. The same lies were told about me in high school.

As much as Rose hates to admit it, she and I are so very much alike. That's why I push her so hard to be the best she can be. I didn't want her to follow my footsteps, and have a child at the young age that I did. Suddenly, I understood what I needed to do. I had to call Rose's father. He would know what to do.

I picked up my phone and dialed a number that I haven't dialed in quite some time. His voice was like melted honey when he answered.

"Janine, dear. I'm so very happy that you called. Business or pleasure?" I smiled slightly at our old joke.

"Abe, it's about Rose." I told him, unsure of how to continue the conversation. My voice must have portrayed my feelings, because he was instantly on alert.

"Is she okay? What has happened? Did something happen after the attack? I was told that she was fine."

"She left, Abe. She withdraw from school, and just disappeared. She is no longer an obligation to the school, so no one is looking for her. The Princess couldn't even stop her from leaving." I told him, a sob catching in my throat.

"I'll find her, Janine, and I'll convince her to go back. What could have possessed her to leave?" Abe inquired. Another sob caught in my throat; I couldn't answer him. He started murmuring to me in Turkish, knowing that it always helped soothe me when I was upset. Once I finally found my voice, I tried to answer his question.

"Her mentor-" I started, but was interrupted.

"Belikov? I thought his life was lost in the attack."

"Abe, would you shut up, and let me explain? If you interrupt me again, I'll be the one breaking your kneecaps." I threatened. He knows how much I hate being interrupted. He didn't speak, so I started over.

"Her mentor, Belikov, was not killed in the attack. He was turned during the rescue mission the following day. She seen him fall. Abe," I paused to try to organize my thoughts. "I think she is in love with him."

"What makes you think that?"

"When Belikov was bitten, she screamed in agony. She tried to go back to him. It was suicide, so we had to hold her back." Again, I paused to focus on my words. "Her reaction was not one that she would have had if he had only been her mentor."

"Do you think he harbored the same feelings for her?" Abe asked after I finished talking.

I thought about his question, and the few times that I had encountered Belikov and Rose together. Now that I focused on it, I remembered all the times that he seemed to focus on Rose when she was in the room, even though it was evident that he tried not to. I remembered how he had spoken up for her, in defense of her. He always spoke highly of her, even though I knew how much trouble she could be. Realization flooded me; he loved Rose just as she loved him. I didn't know whether to be relieved or pissed.

"I think he did. Oh, Abe, how could I have been so blind? He was distraught when she was missing from the ski lodge. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but now, I don't know whether to be pissed off or relieved." I sighed heavily. "He was her mentor for crying out loud. Seven years older than her." I huffed. I was getting pissed. "If I ever see him again, I'm going to kill him. The fact that he is strigoi just gives me an excuse." I shouted.

"Janine."

"What?" I snapped.

"I'll find our little girl. If she ran because she is broken up about Belikov, she is most likely heading to Russia, possibly to his family. I have contacts there that will be looking for her. I will find her, and I will keep her safe. When she is done grieving, I'll send her home to the academy." As he spoke, I began to calm down. Oh, how I loved this man.

"Thank you, Abe." I said. "For everything."