Roran's apartment was nicer than I expected. Whatever job he had must have been paying him well. As we made our way into the living room it took all the willpower I had not to take off my sandals and dig my toes into what looked to be the softest carpet I'd ever seen.

"Are you hungry?" his deep voice rumbled from my right. I turned my attention away from the plush grey carpet and noticed he was already digging through cabinets and drawers in his immaculately clean kitchen. I wandered over and took a seat at the table to watch him.

"Can you cook?" I asked, wondering when he would have had time to learn.

Roran shrugged and said, "A few things. I'm not a master chef, but I get by. Is parmesan chicken okay?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Sure. I would have been good with anything though. Don't go to any trouble just to impress me."

He gave me that toe-curling grin and I felt my cheeks flush. "How else am I supposed to make you fall in love with me?" he teased.

"I'm pretty sure the saying is 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.' I don't think that applies to me," I replied with a laugh.

Roran said nothing in response, but the grin never left his face. Peering at him out of the corner of my eye, I watched as he moved around in the small kitchen. He looked happier than I had ever seen him - not that I had known him for long, but he hadn't had any reason to be happy in purgatory.

Laying my head down on the table, I realized how right this all felt.  Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window next to me and I felt warm and happy. Safe. I never wanted to leave.

That thought startled me. It was strange how comfortable I felt with Roran, as if I had known him my whole life. There was no doubt in my mind that we would be good together. But there was no way I was going to stress myself out over a relationship when we would be leaving soon to find a way to stop Moroi and one or both of us might be killed. Again.

"What are you thinking about that's got you looking like your dog just died?"

I looked up from the table to see Roran leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. His shirt was pulled tight across his muscled chest and I might have stared – a bit.

"I'm just worried things are going to go badly with Moroi. Our luck hasn't been so good in the past."

He walked over and kneeled next to my chair so that we were nearly eye to eye. Taking my hand in his he said, "I need you to trust me, Thea. I have a plan and it's going to work. I won't let you get hurt."

"And you are going to explain the details of this plan to me soon, right? I don't want to be kept in the dark like I was about you sacrificing your phoenix powers."

I give him a glare after I finish the sentence, just so he knows I mean business. But it only seems to amuse him.

"Of course I'm going to explain it to you. But not now. First let's just have a nice dinner together without worrying about Moroi or purgatory."

When I start to protest he squeezes my hand gently. "Please, Thea? Can you stop being stubborn and let it go for just a little while?"

His big brown eyes look at me earnestly and I can't refuse him. "Fine," I snap, without any real malice. "But I expect answers. Soon."

My cell phone chirped from my pocket and as I worked to fish it out Roran retreated back to the kitchen without another word. I scowl in his direction, knowing he's intentionally keeping things from me.

I sigh and brace myself for the nagging of a lifetime as I tap the green call button on my screen. "Hi, Mama."

"Don't you 'Hi, Mama,' me! I've been calling you since yesterday! How could you just up and leave like that without even saying good-bye? I was worried sick!"

I wince at the volume of her voice and hold the phone farther away from my ear.

"I know and I'm really sorry, but Dad needed you there and I knew if I told you where I was going you would want to come with me."

A soft sob travels through the speaker and stabs me in the heart.

"I just don't want you to have to face this alone," she whispered, her voice small and sounding nothing like the brave, steadfast woman who had raised me.

My head thumps down onto the table and I curse myself for hurting her.

"I'm okay, Mama, I promise. I'm not alone and everything is going to be fine-"

"You're not alone?" she interrupts, her voice stronger now. And curious. I wince, realizing my mistake. "Who's with you?"

"Do you remember me telling you about Roran?" A soft gasp echoes from her end of the phone and I continue quickly before she can interrupt. "Well, I found him and he has a plan to stop Moroi. So stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine."

"But I thought..." she begins, but drifts off. "Nevermind. Let me talk to him."

"What? No!"

"Alethea Dawn Roberts, you put that man on the phone right now!"

I cringed at her tone and shoved the phone into Roran's hand. I knew when to pick my battles and arguing with my mother when she was already angry at me was one I couldn't win. Roran looked confused, but put the phone to his ear anyway. "Hello?"

A frown appeared on his face and I wondered what she was saying.

"You don't have to thank me." I heard him mutter into the phone as I watched him pace the kitchen floor, obviously restless and uncomfortable. "Yes. I understand. I give you my word, I will keep her safe."

There was a moment's pause before he looked up into my eyes and said, "She means the world to me too."

I didn't know how it was possible but his eyes looked more intense in that moment than they had ever looked when he had his powers and I found I couldn't hold his gaze for very long. A flare of heat radiating from my face and neck clued me in to the fact I was blushing harder than I ever had in my life.

"It was nice talking to you too, Mrs. Roberts and I hope your husband feels better soon," he said before passing the phone back to me.

"What did you say to him?" I hissed to her and walked farther away from the kitchen for more privacy.

"That is between him and me, Thea. Don't be nosy. It's not an attractive quality," she replied.

I took a deep breath, clenched my eyes shut, and prayed for patience. Changing the subject seemed to be a good way to keep me from snapping, so I asked, "How is dad doing?"

"Your father is doing much better. He is going to have to be on a liquid diet for a week or two, but mostly he's just worrying about you."

"You'll tell him I'm okay and not to worry right?" I ask, feeling guilty for causing them so much stress. "And that I love him."

Her voice is soft when she replies, "Of course I will, sweetheart. You just stay safe and call whenever you can, okay?"

"I will."

"And, Thea?"

"Yeah, Ma?"

"Kick some vampire butt!"

I laugh, really and truly laugh, for what feels like the first time in ages.

"Love you, Mama," I whisper, after my laughter subsides.

"Love you too. Give Roran a big kiss for me!"

"Goodbye, Mama." I roll my eyes and blush, glad Roran no longer had super-human hearing.

"Bye, baby girl."

I press the red end button on the phone, but I can't seem to go back into the kitchen just yet.

"Everything alright?" Roran called from the kitchen.

I nod, returning to my seat at the table. "Yeah, I just feel guilty about involving them in this. I hate that my dad is hurt and I hate that my mom is worried sick about me. It's just a mess."

"It's not your fault though, Thea. You aren't to blame for what's happened."

I sigh, but repeat his words as a mantra in my mind to make me feel better. He smiles and places a plate of something delicious looking in front of me. I inhale deeply and groan in appreciation.

He chuckles at my enthusiasm and says, "So your mom seems nice. It's good we got that 'meet the parents' thing out of the way early. I've heard that can be really awkward."

I raise an eyebrow at him and reply, "You say that like we're in a relationship."

He smirks at me. "Well, we aren't yet, but I'm pretty sure you'll fall in love with me soon enough."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"And what makes you so sure of that?"

"Eat that," he replies pointing to the chicken.

"You think your cooking is enough to make me love you?" I ask with a skeptical laugh.

He shakes his head. "No, but it's a start. And I already have knight in shining armor under my belt, not to mention I'm incredibly good-looking. The odds are in my favor."

"I think those qualities are undermined by the fact you're also incredibly arrogant," I argue. "And infuriating."

But as I tasted the chicken I found I wanted to take back every bad thing I had ever said about him. The man wasn't lying when he said he could cook. We were both quiet after that, as I was too busy stuffing my face to talk and he seemed pleased with my reaction.

I offered to help him clean the dishes after we finished, but he refused, ushering me toward the bedroom and telling me to get some rest. It was a beautiful room, a dark navy with grey accents that matched the living room carpet. I sank down onto the bed and sighed at how soft it was. It was like the apartment was also conspiring to make me fall in love with him by making me feel more comfortable.

"If that bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub I am never leaving this apartment again," I muttered to myself.

"Good to know," Roran remarked from the doorway, making me jump. "I'll get one installed."

I glared at him. "I know this is your apartment and all, but it's kind of rude to just barge in on your guest. What if I had been changing or something?"

He laughed in response to my question and replied, "Did you forget that the last day in purgatory you were naked?"

I blinked. And then blinked again. My memories from that day were hazy at best, but, yes, I did vaguely remember them taking my clothes. Well then. This was...awkward.

"I don't suppose there is any way you could forget that ever happened?" I asked, feeling completely mortified.

After shooting me a devilish grin, he asked, "Why would I want to?"

I flushed and shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, not really knowing how to respond.

"You're a beautiful woman, Alethea," he murmured, moving away from the door toward me. "There's no reason for you to be embarrassed."

Scoffing, I argue, "I would hardly use the word beautiful. I'm average at best."

Roran cupped my cheek in his hand. "I know that men today will tell women whatever is most likely to get them sex, but during my time when we told a woman she was beautiful we meant it. You will hear nothing but truth from me."

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling shy. His eyes immediately locked onto the movement and a soft groan escaped his throat. Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him in close for a kiss. He grunted in surprise, but almost immediately reciprocated.

Part of me was nervous that this would complicate things, but I ignored that voice and concentrated on how good it felt to be pressed against him. It felt better than good, better than anything I'd ever felt before. I couldn't help pressing even closer and wrapping my arms behind his neck. Roran's heart was punching so powerfully against his ribs that I could feel it as if it were my own.

But after what felt like far too soon to me, he was pulling away.

"Wha-" I managed to squeak in confusion.

"I love you, Thea, you know that, but if I stay in this room we will wind up doing something we will both regret in the morning," he replied, his voice deeper than I had ever heard it.

Tingles and goosebumps spread across my skin at his words.

"Y'know, I'm not really sure I would," I said, trying to pull him close again.

He refused, giving me a sad smile and walking toward the closet. As he pulled out blankets and a pillow I scowled at his back.

"This means something more to me than it does to you," he whispered, and I immediately felt guilty.

He was right. It would be cruel to continue this knowing how deeply he felt about me when I didn't return the feelings.

"Besides, I'm a bit old-fashioned," he joked with a grin. "So you're not getting any of this," he said, motioning toward his body, "until you put a ring on it."

An unattractive snort came out through my nose and I collapsed into giggles as he strutted from the room. I fell back down on the bed after a he was gone and thought about everything that had happened in the past few weeks. My life has always been a confusing mess, but things had recently become somewhat clearer. While I wasn't sure whether or not I loved Roran, I did know I cared for him a great deal. This crazy relationship was definitely something I wanted to explore further.  And I wasn't about to let Moroi stand in my way. I was going to do what my mother told me to do and kick some vampire butt.