Walking through the door to the local playgroup I smiled as my twins laughed gleefully and run of to play with thier friends. I missed my friends. Most of all I missed Lissa. Every night I slipped into her head to see how she was going and what she was up to. I had hurt her so bad when I had run of. What else could I do? I was pregnant against all possibility, and when he had said those few words to me my world had felt like it crumbled. I can recall that day well, night, as if it happened only yesterday.
"love fades, mine has."
I had left the church in such a mess. I wanted to tell him about the pregnancy. But those words had sliced my heart open. I went straight back to my room, packed my stuff and left. I found out later that the Queen had been murdered with my silver stake. I wasnt a suspect because I wasnt there. Lissa called me for days through our bond and on my phone. He had called also as well as many of my friends. All trying to get me to come back.
It still hurt so much . That was just over four years ago and I had a life for myself and my children now. I had a job and friends my kids had friends. I still trained, as soon as I got my house I had a home gym installed with all the mod cons. I had even started to mentor my kids. They were my life now. A son and a Daughter. Both of them had my lovely hair but they also had thier fathers eyes. That beautiful deep brown. My daughters name is Cally Marie, My sons is Mason Dimdre. They were smart and had brilliant potential. I had considered sending them to an academy but couldnt bare to be seperated from them. Not to mention they had no idea about that part of thier heritage. I was living and working in the nomal human world with very little contact from the vampire world. I still saw Adrian on occasion and of course I went to Lissa's head. She was doing well her and Christian had married. I would have loved to have been there. The twins were six months old when they got married. I had known about the wedding for months before it happened. Naturally I slipped into Lissa's mind for the big day. It was beautiful Lissa looked so stunning and the church was full of all thier Friends and Family. They had a little girl now she was 2 and a half. Her name was Andrea Rose, and she was a spitting image of her mother.
As I was making my Chia a couple of the other mothers called out to me. They had a cup of coffee, I still couldnt bring my self to drink that stuff. Yuck. I smiled and walked over to them to chat. All of a sudden I was dragged into lissa's mind. She was frantic. She was at St Vlads. They lived there Christian taught defensive magic classes and Lissa was the resident Doc. She had flown through med school and was now a fully fledged doctor. The campus was under attack again and she couldnt find Christian. He had run off to help the Gaurdians. She had gone to pick up her daughter and the nursery was empty with signs of fighting everywhere. She couldnt find her little girl. Lissa looked everywhere under the tables in the cupboards. "Andrea its mommy please come out. Please. Please." She called over and over again. After searching everywhere she could think of Lissa sunk to the ground clutching what I knew was Anrea's favourite teddy. She was sobbing great heart wrenching sobs. Please Rose I know you are here. I need you. I dont care what has happened in the past. I know you had your reasons. Please I need you. I think they have taken my little girl. Oh please I need you so much.
I came back to myself with a jolt. I dropped my cup and it shattered on the floor. The others moms that where talking to me a few minutes before got up and started toward me. I pulled out my phone and pretended to check it. "Oh my gosh" I said.
"Is everything ok Marie?" Tiff asked me. I had changed my name to Marie to avoid people finding me.
"No! I just got a message. Its my mum."I answered. lying smoothly. I had been Lying for years now and could do it without batting an eyelash.
"But you freaked before you got the msg." Said Sarah the other mom there.
"Yeah I know I just had the worst feeling it shocked me and then I felt my phone vibrate and it scared me. I will clean this mess up and then have to grab the kids and see what flights I can get."
"Dont worry about it we will clean up the mess you just get going. Our prays are with you Marie." Tiff said giving me a brisk hug around the shoulders.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"Yeah. Of course. Go be with your family."Answered Sarah.
"Thanks heaps you guys are the best" I said smiling at them both. Little did they know I probably wouldnt be back.
"Cally, Mason." I called. "Come on we have to go quickly."
"Awww but we only just got here" Cally complained.
"Sorry baby." I said giving her a smile and a hug. "But we really have to go its an emergency."
I took the kids out and put them in the car. The drive home only took 15 minutes. When we got to the house I pulled my phone out and sent a text to a number that I hadnt used in a long time.
Got ur msg b there in 12 hrs.
I hit the send button and went to pack clothes for the kids and myself. The kids saw what I was doing and drilled me about where we were going.
"We are going on a plane ride so both of you get a bag and pack a few things that you really want to take with you. It will be a long ride and I will explain as much as I can on the flight. I love you both now go and do as I ask."
"Ok mom love you too" they chorus together.
My phone buzzed letting me know I had a new msg.
Thank u. There is something you should know though. D is the head gaurdians here. I know he is the reason u left well part of. I have so much to tell you. I have missed u. xx
I smiled as I typed in my reply.
Liss I no what has been happening. I check on you at least once a day. Missed you oh and I have a couple of things to tell you also.
Man she was going to be pissed when she read that.
As if the thought had conjured the msg my phone buzzed again.
Yeah i fugured u would. And i think u have more than a couple of things to tell me. He still loves u.
Ah shit this was all I need. Well we will see if thats the truth when we arrive. I msged back with the only response I could think of.
Deal with that shit when I get there
Typical Rose Hathaway cockyness. The kids came out of thier rooms carrying a bag each.
"Ready?" I ask them
"Yes mom." They answer me together.
"I love you guys so much. Some of the things I am going to tell you might seem weird but it will all be ok." I told them.
They both looked at me with serious brown eyes and nodded. How they looked like thier father when they did that. I smiled and hugged them both.
"Okay lets get this show on the road." I called over my shoulder as I headed for the door.
"Where are we going mom?" asked Mason
"We are going to mommies old school to see some of mommies old friends. They need some help and have asked us to come."
"Really your old school. Wow." Cally exclaimed.
"Is there any cool stuff there." Askeds Mason in typical boy fashion.
"Yes the last time I was there the Gym was really really good. I spent alot of time in the gym when I was there." I smiled remembering the good times I had had in the gym.
The drive to the airport was quiet. I hired a private jet and we were away. The kids fell asleep half an hour into the flight so I didnt have a chance to try and explain anything to them. Not that I had the slightest Idea of how to explain anything to a pair of four year olds. With nothing else to do my mind wondered to the last few months I had had in this world I was now flying back to. I know I am going to get all sorts of shit hurled at me for running of. But I dont care I am still a fully qualified Gaurdian and nothing can take that away from me. The twins have often asked about my tattoos and I tell them that when they are old enough to understand I will explain them. They are content with that answer for the moment. I wonder what it will be like seeing him again. I cant get Lissa's msg out of my head. He still loves u. I wonder if he will conect the dots. I wonder if he will work out that the twins are his children. Will anyone else work out who thier father is. I am pretty certain that Lissa and Christian will work it out in next to no time. Adrian of course already knows and that is going to piss Lissa of to no end. Man I am going to have a lot of explaining to do all round it seems.
I shut my eyes and Breathed slowly and easily as a slipped into Lissa's head.
She was talking to someone she had her back to.
"Rose is coming back." She said.
"It will be good to see her again." Said a voice I recognised too easily even after these past few years I knew that voice anywhere.
Lissa turned to stare at Dimitri. "Will it?" she asked him.
"Yes it will. I stuffed up the last time I saw her. She needed to talk to me, she had something on her mind. But I was still traped in my own guilt and couldnt handle talking to her. I hated my self so much for what I did to her most of all." He answered.
"From what Adrian says she has changed. I will be glad to see her. Rose always made everything right, she will help us to find Andrea and the other children who were taken last night." Lissa's voice started to shake. I could feel her worry and fear for her little girl. I was a little shocked to hear that Lissa knew that Adrian was the only one whom I had stayed in contact with. He visited my dreams consistently and when I had given birth I told him where I was. He came to visit often, the kids loved thier uncle Adrian. He promised not to tell anyone about them. When he asked I told him who the twins father was. Adrian was shocked at first but now he is used to it and he takes every oppertunity he can to spoil them. If it werent for Adrian I dont know if I would have gotten my life together at all. I owed him alot he was a god send and I was so proud to call him my friend.
Dimitri was talking now. "I did not know that Adrian has been seeing Rose." He sounded a little pissed. Lissa looked at him sharply. I saw a flash of what seemed like anger before his Gaurdian mask was back in place. "You listen to me Dimitri Belikov. You will not upset Rose ever again. Do you hear me?" She took a deep calming breath and continued talking "You messed things up with her. You and your self pity. She loved you so much and you threw it in her face. Do not expect her to come running back into your open arms. To be honest I wouldnt even expect the same old Rose Hathaway that we all knew. People change and going through something that must have been painful enough to make her run. Well, something like that leaves its mark. So please be polite and keep your distance and let Rose decide what she wants and doesnt want." Lissa finished with a shaking voice. I could feel her wondering if she had done anything wrong.
"Yes. You are right Lissa. I need to leave it to Rose. She will decide whats right for herself. She has always known what she has wanted, and has never been afraid to go and get it. What time does the plane land?"
"Rose sent me the msg at 6.30am but according to Adrian she is living somewhere that is a few of hours in front of us so it was probably about 9.30 am where she is. Rose said that she would be here in 12 hours." Lissa was trying to work it out in her head but she was exhausted.
"Then I shall go and see to the arrangements for her room. You Princess should get some sleep. Its been a long day and there will still be plenty to do when you awake."
Lissa talked around a jaw breaking yawn. "Hmm-mm Yep sleep sounds good. Night. Oh dont forget to wake me for when Rose's plane lands."
"I wont. Now get some sleep." Dimitri said firmly.
As Lissa wondered into her room she heard the front door shut.
"I hope he doesnt act like an ass when Rose gets here." she mumbled to her self. Lissa sat on the bed and picked up Andrea's teddy. "Oh, my little girl where are you I miss you. I am so worried about you." Tears were falling down her face. Lissa swiped at the tears and looked at the teddy again."Dont worry sweatheart you Aunt Rose will find you. She has always made everything right. You wait and see she will."
I slowly came back to me. Lissa's conviction in me was a little scarey. I hope I dont let any of them down. Leaning back in my seat I decide its a good idea to get some sleep. No sooner do I shut my eyes and I am sitting in a lovely garden in the sunshine. I look down and see I have a red tank top and black skinny jeans.
"Adrian you could have let me sleep. I will see you in a little while."
"How many times do I have to tell you My Little Dhampir you are sleeping. Also I wanted to check and see if you were okay about comeing back." He looks at me with worry. I smile Adrian is always worrying about me.
"Yes. No. I dont know. I am more worried about the kids though. Will you be at the airport to pick us up?" I ask Adrian.
He smiles at me and kisses me on the head. "Wouldnt miss seeing my neice and nephew for the world not to mention My Little Dhampir. Dont worry to much things will be fine you will see."
"Hey you told Lissa that you come to visit me still." I looked at him with my angriest expression. He paled and stuttered.
"It wasnt on purpose. I slipped she was really down one day and started talking about you and wondering about where you were and what you were doing. I couldnt help myself I told her you were doing well and that you had a lot on your plate. But that you were dealing. Of course Lissa pounced on me and tried to get me to spill everything, But I told her you needed time that you were still heart sore pretty bad."
"Relax Adrian I am not angry. If anything I am a little releived that you told her I was safe and well."
"Get some rest My Little Damphir I will see you in a few hours not to mention my magnificent neice and nephew." He smiled and kissed the top of my head. I woke about a half hour before the plane was due to land. The kids woke just as the plane touched down. Great they would be fireing on all cylinders after a sleep like that. I wondered why they had slept that long until I heard them talking excitedly.
"Uncle Adrian said he would get us a kite just like that." Mason said
"I am going to ask for one thats all the colours of the raindow." Cally answered "What colour are you going to ask for Mase?"
"I dont know. Do you think I could get a spiderman one?" He asked his sister. His face lighting up with pleasure.
"Yep I reckon he could. Uncle Adrian can do anything." The pair of them giggled.
Adrian must have spent the whole flight with the kids playing in thier dreams. Which means he will be dead on his feet. Adrian was such a great friend and the kids loved him without reservation.
"Come on kids lets get our bags. I want you both to be on your best behavour please."
"Yes momma we will be. Uncle Adrian will be there to pick us up he told us so." Cally answered me.
I sighed "Yes he told me so as well. But remember after playing with you in your dreams he will more than likely be really tired." I warn them.
"But Mom he wasnt in our dreams the whole time. He would only come in and give us a huge pile of new toys to play with then he would say he was going to get some sleep. He would come back every few hours with even more toys. He only stayed around just before we woke up." Mason told me with his adorable smile.
"Great then he can help keep you two occupied. Considering he kept you asleep for so long." I mumbled more to myself.
"But mom he said we should stay asleep because you were going to have a lot to deal with." Cally informed me with a big cheesy grin.
The door opened and we walked down the steps I could see the car and Adrian striding towards us. Then I heard a shriek and looked past Adrian to see Lissa running towards me with tears running down her face. Her emotions battered me. Love, Relief, Worry, Happiness. all of it was thrumming through our bond. I hurried down the last few steps and dropped the bags as she flung herself at me.
"Shh. Its ok Im here now. I will get this straightened out. We will get her back Liss we will get them all back." I said all this to sooth her.
I had no idea how or where to start. I could hear the kids yelling.
I turned to looke at them and smiled.
"Uncle Adrian, Uncle Adrien. Can you get us a kite. Just like the one in our dream. Please. Please. Please." They yelled in unision. Launching themselves towards Adrian.
Adrian laughed he knelt down to hug them both at the same time.
I turned back to Lissa she was looking at me with her mouth hanging open. "Rose" She whispered "You have children. Twins. you never told me." She turned to Adrian and glared at him "Adrian" she yelled "why didnt you tell me?"
Adrian looked at her and shrugged "Wasnt my place" was all he said.
Lissa turned back to me with accusing eyes.
"Rose, why didnt you tell me?" Lissa said to me. I could feel the hurt and worry that she had done something wrong to me.
"Lissa this wasnt about you. It was about me. I needed time and space. I needed to work out my own head without worrying about everyone else. Liss I am sorry that I have hurt you but I couldnt think of anything else to do. Maybe I should have done things differently but I cant go back now I cant change what I did. All I can do is ask that you forgive me and try to understand."
Lissa looked at me with tears streaming down her checks. "Oh Rose. I am sorry. I didnt think about what you might have needed. Still it would have been nice to have known. Now I have to make up for missed Birthdays and christmasses." She sniffed primely.
I laughed. It felt good to laugh. Adrian straightened up and grabbed the kids bags. I called the kids over to me.
"Lissa these are my beautiful children. This beautiful younge lady is Cally Marie. And the handsome younge gentleman is Mason Dimdre." Lissa gasped at hearing my sons name then she smiled and I felt approval through our bond. "Kids this is Vasilisa Dragomir an old friend of mine. My best friend" I said to them
Lissa knelt so that she was at eye level with the kids. "It is very nice to meet two such beautiful children. I would be honoured if you would call me Aunty Lissa. After all I am closer to your mom than a sister could ever be."
"Wow your so pretty. Are you who momma visits every night." I sighed thats my Cally straight to the point.
I jump "Hang on a minute. How do you know I go and visit her Cally?" I ask.
"We see it momma. On the colours around you. Its what happened today at playgroup when you dropped your drink and it broke all to pieces."Mason answered.
I looked at Adrian "Did you know about this?" I ask him.
"I suspected. But I had no proof just slips the children made whilst they were talking to me. They are unique you know that." He smiled at me. "Dont worry My Little Dhampir. We will deal with this. They are young still we have plenty of time."
"Yeah I guess you are right. So how about we get out of this weather." I ask "Oh who is driving?"
"That would be me" Says a smooth deep voice behind me.
I turn slowly and look into deep brown eye.
"Its good to see you again Rose" He says with a hint of a smile.
"Momma Momma. can we go" Says Mason
"Because we are hungry Momma" Cally Finishes the sentence.
I glance a Dimitri. He is looking at the twins with complete awe on his face. Great I hope he doesnt say or do anything infront of the twins.
"Nice to see you again Gaurdian Belikov" I say in my hardest voice. I was angry and hurt and so didnt want to deal with him right now.
I turn to the kids " come on you two into the car"
They climb in argueing over who was going to sit where. I smiled indulgently at them and climbed in once they were settled. I actually laughed when I noticed that they were sitting on either side of Adrian. He smiled at me. I lent over the seat and gave him a quick hug.
"Thanks for the peaceful flight." I whisper in his ear.
He smiles warmly at me again. "No problems My Little Dhampirs"
he says. I turn around in my seat and put my seatbelt on. "Kids buckle up" I say over my shoulder.
"All taken care of." Adrian answers. I smiled to myself of course he would have made sure the kids were buckled in. I looked to the front and Dimitri caught my eye in the rear view mirror. He looked at me sadly. I looked away. I am not going to deal with this infront of the was sitting next to me and we made our way to the school in silence. Lissa kept glancing between me and Dimitri. I caught her eye and shook my head slightly.
You are going to have to talk to him sooner or later.
I looked at her and flicked my eyes to the back where the kids were sitting.
Oh I get it not in front of the kids. Yeah that would be smarter. hey I know if you want Adrian and I can look after the kids and you can talk to Dimitri.
I felt like she had electricuted me. "No I dont want" I hissed at her.
Lissa just looked at me and raised her eyebrows. I sighed and turned my head so I could look out the window. As I did I noticed Dimitri watching me intently.
"Arent you supposed to have your eyes on the road" I ask tartly.
His lips just curled up at the corners in that little half smile he always did. I growled under my breath and stared out the window.
When we arrived at the school I leapt out of the car and walked around the back to get the bags out. As I was getting them out I felt someone behind me I couldnt be bothered looking up.
"Would you like a hand with those." Asked that same smooth voice.
I glanced up "No just leave me alone. I can handle it. Give. Me. Some .Space." I panted trying to get the last two bags out they were jammed in tight. At last they popped out together and carried by the momentum the bag I had swung around a hit Dimitri on his hip knocking him down. I lost my balance and landed on my ass also. Dimitri started chuckling. That did it my anger boiled to the surface. I started yelling "Do not laugh at me Dimitri Belikov. You dont get to laugh. You dont get to be all happy and smiley. No. You dont get that. .." I got up and stalked of I was so angry I was shaking. I headed for the gym. I needed to punch something. I entered the Gym and started my warm up. When Lissa contacted me.
Adrian and I have the kids and the bags all sorted. You do what you need to.
I smiled and walked over to the practise dummies. I started kicking and punching as hard as I could. I must have been in here for almost an hour when I heard the door go. I didnt bother to turn around. I just kept hitting the test dummies.
"Roza we need to talk."
I huffed and hit the dummy once more before I turned around.
"I have nothing to say to you." I told him. wiping sweat off my forhead.
"I have much I want to say to you." He answered.
"Yeah well I'm not much in the mood for listening. So just suck it up and deal with it. I had to once." I saw him flinch and got satisfaction that i had hit a nerve. I walked past him towards the door that led to the track.
"Mind if I join you" he asked whilst streching.
"Yeah actually I do. I like my personnel space." I put my head phones in my ears and turned the volume up on my ipod. I jogged out the door and set myself an easy pace. Pushing myself on every second lap. I saw movement at my side and turned my head to get a better look. Sure enough there was dimitri jogging beside me. I sighed to my self and kept running he kept pace with me barely. I ran like this everyday. I had a feeling he had let himself slip a little. He still looked good though. I tuned out those thoughts and listened to my music again.
I was onto lap eighty when Dimitri left me to it that was fine with me I still had another twenty to go. I pushed my self to the limit on the final ten. As I cooled down Dimitri walked out with a water bottle and handed it to me. As I took it my fingers brushed his. It felt like and electric shock passed through us. After all this time we still had that. I snatched my hand back. I pulled my head phones out of my ears as I continued walking to cool down.
"You do a hundred laps every time?" he asked me with a smile.
I couldnt help but answer it had been so long since I had someone to talk training with. "Yeah I built up to it you know gradually. I had to get back into shape after I had the twins." I continued walking. If I didnt cool down properly I would be sorry. He was quiet for so long that I thought he had left me to it. I looked over and he was watching me walk.
"That must have been hard." He said. I just smiled and nodded my head.
"Roza the twins." I cut him off I didnt want to talk about this just yet.
"No. Not yet. I am not ready to tell the twins story yet. Please, I need everyone to just wait and be patient." He nodded his head in understanding. I smiled a small smile and walked of. As I left the Gym I ran into Christian he saw me and smiled. "Rose its great to see you" He said and gave me a huge hug. I was a little gobsmacked at the show of affection. We had had a antagonastic relationship at best. But I guess people change and grow up. I know I had to in a hurry. "Its good to see you to Sparky." I say smiling.
"I wish it was under better circumstances though." He said whilst running his fingers through his already messed up hair.
"Yeah so do I. We will get her back. I am going to check on the kids then I am going outside the wards to see what info I can get." I tell him.
"Huh? What kids? Whose kids?" He asks me with shock clear on his face.
I look at him. Obviously no one told him I have two children. I smiled and said
"Gee Pyro your getting behind the times arent ya? I have twins a boy and a girl."
"Seriously?" he askes me.
"Yup" I answer.
"Well go you. How old are they? I thought the only person you saw was Adrian. Are they his?"
"They are four and I will tell you about them when I tell Lissa." I answer him.
"But if they are four that means you where when you left. Wow. That must mean that they are. Does he know?"
"No." I answer quickly. " He doesnt know though I expect he suspects. Its hard not to. You will understand when you meet them. So far you are the only one other than Adrian who has figured it out. Please dont say anything I need to do this my way. Its going to be hard enough on the twins as is to meet thier Daddy."
"Yeah no prblems I wont say anything. They must be very special to have the parents they do. Dont tell me theyhave your appetite though. Because if they do we wont have any food left on campus after one meal." he laughs.
"I am not that bad" I say punching his arm."How has Lissa been I keep getting the feeling that she is in denial about what has happened."
"Ow. And yes I think she is. She keeps locking herself in Andreas room with her teddy and talking like Andrea is still there with her. Rose I dont know what it will do to her if anything happens to our little girl." A single tear rolls down his face.
"Hey we will work this out. I will work this out." I tell him and hug him with one arm around his shoulders.
"I was so glad when Lissa told me about your msg. Strange huh me being glad that you wer coming" He smiled
"Yeah well alot has happened since we were at school" I say to him.
