The weeks seemed to pass by uneventful. Winter was already upon us. The trees brittled and the leaves crisped. Every breath felt like inhaling the cold. The days were blurred with decorating the room for a baby and keeping Liss company. My parents had come by and brought some things we needed as well. Like a crib, baby clothes, bottles, and such. I was actually pretty impressed from how involved they were getting. My mom was treating me like I was so fragile. My father was just as snarky and sneaky as ever. My pregnancy didn't seem to effect him other than his opening to pick on Dimitri.

Dimitri, he watched me closely every day like I was a ticking time bomb. And when he left on missions I felt nervous. But he was never gone more than two days at a time. He rushed right back home. And it was like a surge of relief to have him there. I felt like as the weeks began to turn into months I was getting more and more scared. Inside my stomach Gabriel grew bigger and bigger. With my normal checkups with Sonia I was always put at ease. He was a normal little baby boy. Nothing peculiar or strange. Just a baby. That's what I had been hoping for.

Then one day I was out with Liss. Both of our stomachs buldging beneath our shirts. Liss was already a week past her due date but she didn't seem to mind. If only I could be that carefree.

"Now he is basically climbing up and down the walls. He's more nervous than me!" she laughed sweetly and held her tummy as she told me about Christian's anxiety.

I laughed, "I'm nervous for you! I don't know how you can be so calm. You can go into labor any minute."

She just shrugged, "I know. But I'm not scared. I'm excited but yet I feel so calm. So at ease. Maybe it's the tea."

"Tea?" I needed some of that tea.

"Christian started learning to brew teas and coffees. There is one that smells like chamomile and honey. Just breathing it in makes me so relaxed." She sighed in content.

I scoffed, "I need to get him to make me some. I'm so tense lately. For both of us!"

"Rose, we are going to be fine." She looped her arm with mine, "Now let's go to the spa and get pampered before we go out to eat. I'm craving some chinese food today."

I nodded, "You're right. I'm freaking out over nothing. We're going to be fine. And chinese food sounds pretty good." My taste for food had expanded, if at all possible, to things I never thought twice about eating regularly. Every flavor intensified due to my enhanced senses.

We reached the spa in our waddling walks. I was always watching my feet now as I stepped. It seemed I had suddenly developed a bad habit of point my feet out. I sighed from frustration. Yes, frustration over the way I was starting to walk. But the spa was something to get my mind off of things. Off of all the stress.

I propped my feet up for my temporary rest as I sat back in the large plush seat that they offered me as we walked in. "I think I really needed this."

"I could tell. You seem to be on edge. What's bothering you?" she wingled her toes as the masseuse rubbed the arch of her foot.

I sighed, "Too much to mention during one set of massages."

She laughed, "Come on, Rose. You've never been the type to keep your aggitations to yourself. Spill."

"Are you saying I complain?"

She glared at me, "Rosemarie, you better start talking or I'm going to tell Dimitri you're stressing yourself out."

I cringed at the sound of my name, "Okay, Vasilissa. If you must know, I am just restless. I haven't been on a mission in what feels like forever, my feet and back ache all the time, and my due date is approaching with exceptional speed." I scoffed, "Not to mention your state. And Christmas," I groaned, "that's just around the corner."

She snickered, "What you need to do is learn how to relax."

"Oh! Thank you! I knew there was a reason I've been going crazy. I just need to learn to relax!" I patted my masseuse's shoulder, "See that? Miracle worker right there. You should hire her here when she's not busy being queen."

Liss frowned at my sarcasm, "You just let every little thing get to you. Don't worry so much. Every thing will work out fine."

I rolled my eyes, "Easy for you to say."

"No. Not easy for me to say. I could be driving myself crazy like you. I am the queen of an entire race of Moroi and Dhampir. But instead of drowning in it all I choose to pace myself." She inhaled and exhaled slowly, "Being at peace helps. And all stress will manage to do is give us grey hair, bad health and drive us insane."

She had a point. "Alright. Let's say I get what you're saying, how do you just pace yourself when the lifestyle I had before was so..."

"Chaotic?" she guessed.

"Active."

She shrugged and adjusted herself as the masseuse started massaging her calves, "Find a hobby. Something to keep you busy."

"Like?"

"Like Christian. He has his cooking and now he's learning to brew using his magic. Mia and Eddie train when they aren't on missions. Dimitri has his books. Adrian paints..."

I stopped her, "Whoa, he paints?"

She nodded, "Well, yea. He's been at it for some time now. A bit abstract but some of his stuff is really good. You've seen some of the paintings I have in my room."

"Yea. You have one of his?" This was news to me.

She smiled, "The one in the living room. The eye."

The eye? Then I recalled seeing it. It caught my attention once while I was waiting for Liss. It was a dark eye. Brown, gold and black swirls of colors with a black pupil. The lashes were long and curved painted in black. A creamy almond color was the backdrop. It was actually pretty good. "Huh. I never would have guessed."

"It was a gift." She sat up and held her stomach, "Rose."

I was a little lost in my own thoughts. Wondering what else Adrian had created, "Hmm?"

She laughed uneasily, "Would you mind walking me to the hospital?"

I shot up, "What? Why?"

"I think my water just broke," she patted her feet in the puddle of water on the floor.

"Oh my God... Oh my God! Your water just broke!" I got up as fast as I could and grabbed her hand.

"Calm down, Rose. We need to stay calm. I'm not in labor just yet. Let's just take it easy," she pulled herself up by my arm and smiled at me. She looked so damn calm.

"Okay, okay. Calm. We have to stay calm," inside I was freaking out!

And she was so freaking calm! She took the time to slip into her coat and hand me mine. She buttoned up each button until she finally nodded to go. We started on our walk to the hospital. It felt strange walking. In my version of this I would have been doing a quick pace across the grounds or possibly sprinting if I could manage.

"Call Sonia. She is in charge of delivering Aiden." She suddenly stopped and bent slightly forward. She made a soft groaning sound. But just as quickly as she had gone down she straightened up and started walking again.

"What was that?!"

She smiled and inhaled slowly, "A contraction. Have you called Sonia yet?"

I reached into my pocket and fumbled for the cell phone. I whipped it out and jabbed my fingers quickly on the buttons dialing Sonia. The rings were separated by endless gaps of silence before a voice on the other end answered.

"Hello, Rose. What can I do for you?"

"Liss is in labor! Her water broke! She's having contractions! We are on our way to the hospital!" I couldn't help the words coming out harshly from my mouth.

She cleared her throat, "Rose. I need you to stay calm for Liss. Just keep walking and I'll be there waiting on you. I am already here. How far away are you?"

"Two... two blocks." I inhaled and exhaled slowly like I had seen Liss do.

"Okay. You are fine. She's fine. Just stay calm."

Why the hell was everyone telling me to stay calm?! Liss was about to have a baby! But calm I would stay. That's all I could do right now anyway. But I couldn't help the mini heart attack that struck me when Liss would stop, lean over and grip her stomach. The contractions were getting closer fast.

"Almost there, Liss. We're making good time," finally the double doors appeared around the corner. "We're here." I could see people on the other side. "Hey! Hey!"

One turned and looked at us. He must have noticed my panic stricken expression because he came running out the door, "Is everything alright?"

"She's in labor, her water broken and we are looking for Sonia Karp," it came out in a string of words. I reminded myself of Jill. Which was ridiculous considering the circumstances we were in.

"Tanner," he said as he nodded and waved over another hospital assistant. "Wheelchair!"

I gave him a confused look, "What?"

He smiled, "Sonia Tanner."

Really? He was going to try to correct me in a time like this? If I hadn't been holding on to Liss I would have been tempted to smack him over the head. Instead I just scowled.

"You don't want to upset her right now, Israel." Liss smiled at me, "She's pregnant and under alot of stress. Plus that's Rose Belikov." The other hospital worker came up and sat her down slowly into the chair.

His face went still, "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Apparently Liss knew him but him and I didn't know one another. But it was clear my reputation preceded me since he responded to my name. He was about five foot six-sevenish, short dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. His skin was tanned so I was guessing he was Dhampir like me. His build should have given him away. He looked like he might work out. Nobody could get muscles on their arms like that by working in a hospital all day.

We were escorted down the hall. Each light we passed seemed like a beam of light highlighting our every step. We passed through a few sets of double doors before being put into an elevator to get to the third floor. It was an awkward feeling being stuck in an elevator with Liss in labor and two hospital workers watching over us.

The doors opened and Sonia was standing there waiting, "Liss. Rose. How are we feeling?"

"Stressed," I grumbled.

Liss laughed but held her stomach, "Calm. But my contractions are getting really..." she stopped midsentence and held her sides. It lasted a little longer than the ones before. She finally loosened back up. "Getting closer together."

She nodded to Israel, "Go help finish prepping the room. I will take them from here."

"Yes, ma'am," he bowed his head and hurried off to a hall around the nurses' desk.

Sonia sighed, "Rose, you may stay in the room until Christian gets here. Then I'm going to need you to wait in the waiting room with the other guests."

"I need to call Christian!" Liss for once looked like she was nervous.

She shook her head, "I already did. You have enough on your mind. Just keep calm."

"Thank you," she scrunched up again as we walked into the room. She exhaled heavily before trying to sit up straight again.

Sonia and I helped her out of the wheelchair and onto the small white bed. She clung to the railings as she sat. Another contraction already? I bit my lip. She looked like she was in alot of pain.

"Did you want to have the epidural?"

She nodded, "Yes, please." The tone in her voice was firmer. She must have been in some considerable pain.

"Just change into this gown. Rose, if you can please help her."

I shrugged and nodded, "Sure."

Sonia nodded and walked out of the room. Liss didn't seem to need my help. She slipped out of her clothes and into her gown with ease. I think the most I did was help tie the little string on her back. I was already pacing. I couldn't sit. Even if the small chair beside Liss' bed did look comfortable. I had my hands resting on my own high risen stomach. Four steps one way then a quick pivot to send me the opposite way and back again.

Liss' hand grabbed my wrist, "Please sit down. You're making me dizzy."

I sighed, "I just can't help myself. You're about to have a baby!"

"We've known this day was anytime soon for a while," she giggled. Then her grip tightened and she squeezed incredibly tight. Some of my skin pinched between her thin fingers but I could take it. From the look on her face she was in more pain than what she was inflicting on me.

Sonia walked right back in, "How close are the contractions now?"

"Close!" I was rubbing Liss' back with my free hand. Trying desparately to soothe her.

She exhaled sharply, "I am pretty sure he's coming any minute now."

"Any pressure on your hips?"

She nodded quickly, "Yes. Lots of pressure."

"The nurse will be in here soon to administer the epidural," she slipped her hands under the blanket to check how far along Liss was. The faces she was making were making me nervous.

I was ready to chew my nails to the nub, "So?"

"About dialated to a seven. Cutting it close. This is moving along very fast," she slipped the gloves off and dropped them in the trash.

The nurse walked in, "Hello. I am Ms. Bianca Redder. I will be doing your epidural today." She was way too cheery for these circumstances.

"Hello," Liss tried sounding polite but it still sounded firm.

She just kept her smile, "Are you ready?"

Sonia nodded to her, "She's at a seven and moving along relatively fast."

"Good, good," she said as she started placing all the needed equiptment on a metal table. The one thing that caught my eye was the long needle. I shuddered.

"Liss!" Christian burst through the doors.

The nurse spun around with some medical tools in her hands and took a fighting stance. "Sir! I'm going to have to ask you to back up slowly."

"No, no! He's my husband!" Liss tugged on the nurses shirt to move her to the side.

She straightened up and smiled like nothing had happened, "Hello, sir."

He looked like he was still in shock. "Uh, hi." He looked over at Liss.

She waved him over, "Come here."

I was nearly ready to laugh from the whole scene that just unravelled in mere seconds. "I'm going into the waiting room. Just yell if you need me."

Christian grabbed my hand and bowed his head, "Thanks for getting her here safe, Rose."

"Of course. She was my best friend first, remember?" I smiled trying not to feel overwhelmed. Damn these intensified emotions!

He smiled and let me go. I watched them as I walked out of the door. He put his hand to her forehead and smoothed it back over her hair. From the looks on their faces they seemed excited. Aiden would be here soon. I guess that would make me an aunt in some ways. We had become family over the years. And our close pregnancies had gotten us even closer. I sighed in content as I let the doors close behind me and made my way to the waiting room.

The waiting room sure fit its name. All there was to do there was wait. The magazines on the small tables were all the ones I had read. Even the TV seemed to be lacking on any interesting shows. But my bordom was deminished when Eddie, Mia, Jill, Adrian, and Sydney came rushing in.

"Where is she? Is the baby here yet?" Eddie was the first to run up.

I smiled, "She's in the room with Christian. And no, Aiden isn't here yet."

Adrian eyed me, "Why are you so calm?"

"There's no use in freaking out right now. She was fine when I left her ten minutes. About ready to bring the baby into the world." I shrugged, "And I don't want to put myself into labor."

He nodded, "Smart. I guess Liss has been talking to you about that then."

"Yes, she was just telling me about it right before her water broke." Thinking back on it the whole situation sounded kind of funny. I laughed to myself.

Jill came over to my side and placed her hands on my stomach, "What about you? How's Gabe doing?" She put her face close to my stomach, "Hello in there."

My stomach moved slightly, "He's being good today."

Adrian looked me over and smiled, "He looks fine. I think he likes Jill's voice."

She lit up like the sun, "Really?" Her face turned a bright pink as she looked back at me, "That's so awesome! I cannot wait to meet this little cutie. I hope Aiden likes me too."

"I'm sure he'll love his aunt," I gave her a reassuring smile.

Sydney nudged me, "So when's Dimitri getting back?"

My smile dimmed a little, "He's suppose to be back tomorrow but Hans already has another mission planned out for him soon. Which I cannot seem to understand why since my due date is right around the corner. I mean, is he trying to make Dimitri miss it?" I felt my temper rise.

Adrian's hand softly gripped my shoulder and I felt myself calm again. "Easy, little Dhampir."

"I know, I'm sorry. I just get so worked up. And I swear that man has it out for me," I scowled.

"That's just the pregnancy talking," Mia giggled. "He's been good to us in his own ways."

I rolled my eyes. But inside I knew she was right. He would have Dimitri back home when I go into labor, right? He wasn't a complete jerk.

Then something amazing happened. Christian walked in. With a small bundle tucked safely away in his arms. "Hey everyone." We all instantly shot up to our feet and surrounded him. "Meet Aiden Ozera." He pulled the blanket down so his little face peeked out. His eyes were wide open and I was in complete awe. His eyes were a cloudy storm of sea blues. Not as bright as Christian's but beautiful all the same. And his hair was thin and jet black.

"Wow, Christian. Who would have thought you could make something so cute?", Adrian draped his arm over his shoulder.

Jill leaned forward and stared down at the baby starry-eyed, "He's just so little and precious!" Her eyes watered and she wiped at her eyes before a tear even got the chance to escape.

"He's gorgeous," I touched his cheek and he snuggled deeper into his father's arms.

He chuckled, "He's perfect." Christian looked so happy. The smile he wore was all new to me. I couldn't quite pin it but there was something different about his smile. "I'm sorry to cut it short but I have to get him back to Liss. Sonia said she'd come get you all when they are done in there." He turned and disappeared around the corner. We all stayed standing around, smiled still stuck on our faces.

I felt someone garb my hand, "You should sit back down, Rose." Of course it would be Adrian.

I nodded, "I'm fine." But I let him lead me back to my seat.

"Your heart is beating pretty rough. Don't want to strain yourself." He put his hand on my wrist and I could feel the calm effect taking over me.

"Thank you," I was getting use to him doing that. He had been that pull back into a safe place over the time that I had been pregnant. As strange as it sounds, he was the one to pull me back from insanity. Even when he was falling into darkness himself.

He grinned, "You know me. Just doing what I can to help."

"Just your friendly neighborhood Spirit guy," Eddie laughed.

We filled that waiting room with laughter. And suddenly it wasn't a waiting room anymore. It was the place we met our new member to our crazy, wacky, wild, and loving family.

I was lost in my thoughts when the elevator door opened. The tall handsome Russian smiled brightly at me and my heart nearly leaped from my chest. "Hey. Did I miss anything?"

By Shadow Kissed Mori