Rose POV

I don't know how this happened. It… it doesn't make sense.

This little blue plus sign doesn't make sense.

I can't be pregnant. I just can't be.

The only person I've ever slept with was Dimitri and everyone knows Dhampirs can't reproduce with other Dhampirs. We're like mules! We can't…

We…

Oh my God!

The pregnancy test I was holding falls out of my hand and I slump to the bathroom floor as the acceptance hits me.

I'm pregnant.

I don't know how. It doesn't any sense! It's physically impossible!

It's…

Tears swell up in my eyes and start to fall. What am I going to do? I can't tell anyone and even if I do they won't believe me. If I say anything I'll have to lie, or at least omit certain things, such as Dimitri, and they won't take silence as an answer. And if they do believe me… well, that's a whole new different thing. Dimitri would be in trouble, that's for sure. But it's more than that. It's more than just us now. I have a baby to think about; a whole new life growing inside me. If I tell them the truth about my baby then they're going to experiment on him or they'll take him away, or worse.

My hand involuntarily finds its way to my stomach and I cringe at the thought of anyone hurting my baby. I'm not going to let that happen. Never. Not to my child.

I can't tell anyone here; it isn't safe. I could wait until graduation, but the longer I stay around here the bigger the chance of someone finding out or something happening.

I only have one choice here.

I have to get out.

I have to find a safe place, even if it's only for a little while. I have to try.

I wait until midnight. Lunch time at the academy is always hectic and it's very easy to lose track of someone. I walk through the woods, passing by our cabin, and make it to the wall without seeing a soul. I'm about to throw my bag over the wall when a voice calls out my Russian nickname. Before I know it Dimitri's arms wrap around me and I drop the bag.

"Roza," he whispers in my ear, "what are you doing?"

I can feel my stupid tears running down my face, but I ignore them. I have to be strong. I have to be; there is no other choice. "Let me do this, Dimitri," I whisper back. "Please." His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer to him. "Please!"

Fearing the desperation in my voice, he spins me around and sees me in all my glory: my eyes puffy and red from crying, the dark circles underneath them surrounded by pale, fragile skin. "Roza," he breathes as he's wiping the tears from my face, "oh, my Roza." He stares at me, a look so powerful and full of raw love, I can feel my heart start to race. I don't know if it's the moment, my hormones, or just him, but I knew I had to do it. I had to kiss him.

Before he even knew what was happening my lips were on his. He didn't freeze like I thought he would; he just pulled me closer to him and for that moment we weren't outside in the open for all to see and we weren't mentor and his student, but instead we were just Dimitri and Rose, a couple in love. This wasn't like our usual stolen moments. It was something much more meaningful; it was a promise. A promise I can't let him keep.

"Roza," he says softly after we break apart for air, "Roza, look at me." I didn't want to. I didn't want him to see that I was crying again for the countless time that day. But, unfortunately, he's Dimitri. He doesn't take no for an answer. Once again, I find myself looking into his deep brown eyes and it only makes me cry harder. He tried to comfort me but it doesn't work. Not this time.

"I have to go," I whisper as I place my left hand on his cheek. "Dimitri, you have to let me go. It's the only way."

He says my name again, only this time it comes out as a pain filled whisper. He puts his hand on top of mine. "Whatever is going on, I promise I can help you. Please, please let me help you."

"Dimitri-"

"We can get through it together, Roza. I swear. Please don't go."

I know it's wrong to want what he's promising even though that's all I desperately want. But he has a life ahead of him, one filled with an honorable job guarding Lissa. I can't just let him throw that all away for me. I can't let him ruin his whole life just for me, no matter how badly I wish I could. "Dimitri, please… please…" I cry. I start sobbing uncontrollably and he pulls me closer to him again. He starts says soft, soothing words in his native tongue until I finally calm down. I press my face into his chest wanting to never leave the safe embrace of his arms. He gently strokes my back until I finally find the strength to pull away from him. I look up at him with my tired eyes and say the words I never wanted to admit. "I'm so scared."

"I'm going to protect you, Roza, I promise you I will always protect you."

Deep down I know he's right, but I usually ignore that part. But I can't do that. Not now. Not when I have to think about someone else. I need Dimitri, more now than ever. Please, just don't let him hate me.

I nod at him, not trusting my voice because it will most likely lead to me sobbing again, and wrap my arms around myself, not realizing how cold, or tired, I am. Dimitri takes off his stupid cowboy duster and wraps it around me. "You're probably freezing." I try to laugh, but the sound gets lost in my throat. I catch Dimitri looking at me and I can't help but wonder what he sees. A scared, helpless little girl? His student that needs a little help? The strong woman that he loves? "You look so tired." He kisses my forehead before grabbing my forgotten bag and then my hand. He flashes me a grin and I can't help but laugh. "Come on." He winks at me before leading the way back towards campus and the entire time I can't stop thinking about how I'm going to tell him.