Anna hugged Serena back and smiled, "Yeah... it has." She chuckled at Serena's struggle to find something nice to say and shook her head, "There is that... but don't let them get to you. You're great for Seb, he's so hard headed it's good to have someone around who can get into that thick skull of his."

Seb rolled his eyes, "Like I'm the only one..."

He tensed somewhat, despite the training he spent time doing with Serena certain auras were harder to block out than others... Like auras he was familiar with or ones he was around often. He sensed Gunner even before he turned around and saw him. Anna's eyes followed his and she felt a lump jump into her throat... Her heart clenching in her chest. She wanted to go after him, tease him like she had before... Get him to say... anything. Instead, she watched him glance at them stonily and walk away as if he felt... nothing.

She felt her eyes sting, bit her lip. Well, what had she expected really? They'd been apart for two years, she'd left without resolving anything, she'd avoided him pointedly. Did she think he'd welcome her back with open arms? She shook her head, swallowing down the lump in her throat and forcing back the tears. It was stupid to think he'd still feel anything for her other than maybe anger... She'd ruined things all because she couldn't take the idea that he might leave her if he decided their relationship was inappropriate or he wanted kids. The thought of children hurt and when she caught Seb eyeing her she knew it must be showing in her aura...

She pushed the emotions away, blocked them out like she had thoughts of Gunner, and forced herself to smile. "Guess he's in a bad mood," she joked.

Sebastian frowned, "He's changed a lot since you left..."

Anna could read more into those words... but she chose not to. What she'd done, she'd done for Gunner. He'd been constantly worrying about her when he noticed her being shut out but it had only held him back. He'd worked so hard, she didn't want that wasted and she couldn't help feeling his duties would always be more important. She had worried about how he felt when the other Elites noticed her scar... She'd worried about how he felt when they frowned on their relationship. She'd pushed hard to keep up with him, to be the Anna she had been... Somewhere along the way, though... She'd lost respect for herself. Maybe she'd never really gotten over letting herself be bitten... Or maybe it's what her mother had revealed when she'd graduated. She'd never told Gunner... Not Seb... Not anyone. She wouldn't... She didn't want them seeing her differently.

She'd given up on fitting in, she'd given up on keeping up, she'd given up on seeing herself as more than a tool for the Moroi. Seb was the only Moroi she still cared for... She did her job but she did it without getting attached. "Yeah well... a lot has changed," she said tiredly.

"Come on, let's get you two unpacked. I think they gave you teacher's quarters so you and Serena can stay together."

Sebastian glanced at Serena, shook his head... Apparently, Anna was going to continue to avoid Gunner. He sighed and wrapped his arm around his Shadow-Kissed Guardian, pulling her close. They'd agreed not to rub it in Anna's face but if they weren't affectionate at all then Anna would worry... and she didn't need more to worry about.

"You know you can't avoid him forever. The two of you are going to be working together."

Anna shook her head, "Not really, he's a teacher and I'm a Guard..."

Seb rolled his eyes, "You remember how it works Anna... and you'll be teaching also when Gunner is Guarding. Your paths are bound to cross."

She sighed, "What do you want me to do Seb? Go to him and beg forgiveness... tell him I didn't mean it and I was stupid to leave? You think he cares?"

"If it's the truth maybe you should tell him... and he cares more than you think."

She scoffed, "A lot of damage has been done Seb... but if it makes you feel better I'll talk to him... at least to make sure things are civil between us... for you two."

Seb groaned, "Still as hard headed as ever... Look, he's angry. Maybe you should give him time, all I'm saying is that time doesn't mean forever. Somehow you two are going to have to put this behind you... at least to work together."

Anna trudged up to the door in the teacher's dorm and shoved it open with a sigh, "I already said I'll try... but I doubt it will fix anything. It might make them worse. It seems like he's content avoiding me..."

Seb rolled his eyes again, stepped into his room with Serena. "Did it look like he was content to you?"

She shook her head and left them there, heading out of the dorm.

~*~

Seb looked at Serena and groaned, "Well that went well."