A/N: Hey Everyone, I started this a few weeks ago and have been building this chapter in the little bit of spare time I've had between uni and work. This is what I'd like to call a trial chapter…Basically, the idea of this is that, If I get enough positive feedback I will continue the story, I know this storyline has probably been done A LOT but this is my own spin on it, I tried to make it a little more realistic. So let me know what you think! I will add a link to the outfits mentioned ( Rose's airport outfit and Aleksander's airport outfit) on my profile if they don't work from here (Replace (DOT) with an actual dot) www(DOT)polyvore(DOT)com/aleksanders_airport_outfit/set?id=29448247 & www(DOT)polyvore(DOT)com/cgi/set?id=29434175

On a more sombre note…A month ago there was an Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, I myself am from New Zealand and I have seen the devastation this has caused, It may not be on par with the tragic events in Japan but I think it deserves to be promoted, New Zealand is a small country with a small population and our economy Is not as bright as others, 1000's of people have lost their businesses jobs and homes and hundreds have lost their family members in collapsed buildings, so if you haven't already, please donate to Red Cross for Christchurch…That's not to say you shouldn't donate to Japan either, the images from both places have been truly chilling and life changing. Thanks for reading this…if you did ;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing…except Aleksander. The story name "Sleepwalker" belongs to Adam Lambert (love that song) and the chapter name "A Loaded Smile" belongs to Adam Lambert as well ;)

I watched Aleksander sleep peacefully looking beautiful in his crib, life was finally coming together for the two of us. After two years of struggling to come to grips with everything and working hard, I was finally going to graduate and every day it became easier to look at my beautiful son as he grew up. It had been fourteen months of looking at the baby version of the man I still loved with all my heart, the man who had abandoned me and had never bothered to make any contact with me despite my numerous attempts. This was without even considering the seven and a half months that I spent resenting him for the fact that I got pregnant after my first and only time. It was that good ole Rose Hathaway luck.

I had been forced to grow up with yet another life in my hands. That was two and counting, although I wasn't even a guardian yet, I had been pleased when Eddie had become Lissa's guardian it was a small comfort. My training had been postponed for a year – almost like maternity leave, during that year I had moved to the court where Lissa had of course pulled numerous strings to get me a room in the Dragomir wing – I hated to say it but it really shouldn't have been that hard…there was no one else, we had been about six months from Graduating from Saint Vladimir's, so she and the others were there with me for the last two months of pregnancy.

Lissa had been enjoying every minute of being an 'aunty', that was of course because when Aleksander started crying, she could leave. I on the other hand, could not, being a mother soon turned out to be harder than any combat classes, training or fighting. Because as a mother there was always something to learn, I suppose my true graduation would come when Aleksander graduated from Saint Vladimir's, but I wouldn't be like my own mother in that aspect, I would make sure I kept in contact with him, every chance I could get I would visit. I did however have a lot to thank my mother for, she had been a rock through this whole thing, taking time to come see me and help me look after Aleksander in the first few months. She had made it clear that I could call her whenever I needed too and she had kept in regular contact.

I finally left Aleksander's room and went back to my own changing into shorts and a tank top before pulling my long hair back into a pony tail, Lissa would be here any minute to watch Aleksander for me while I trained with Alberta. When Aleksander was two months old, Alberta had come a-knocking; she had convinced the royal council to allow her to train me so that I could become a guardian. Out of everyone she had been one of the most supportive people, she had been aware of Dimitri and I being together and had accepted it. She was the only one also aware of the fact that he was the father – well the only person outside of my circle of friends who believed that two Dhampir's had produced a child. The only explanation I could offer for this phenomenon was that I was Shadow-Kissed which made me different from anyone else even then it was a stretch for me. I opened the door of our apartment before Lissa had a chance to knock, that was the beauty of our one way bond.

Lissa stood there with her hand up ready to knock on the door before shaking her head "You like doing that don't you Rose?" she chuckled
"I do…let me go wake Aleks up" I let Lissa in before going to Aleksander's nursery, the walls were a pale green colour that I had picked, Lissa had intended on painting it the usual baby blue that all boys got, my son was anything but stereotypical. His intials A.M.H. were painted on his nursery door. Aleksander Mason Hathaway, I had put the names in the opposite order originally but I had soon found that he responded more to Aleksander; I supposed he had wanted to be his own person. Aleksander was still fast asleep in his crib, finally sleeping through the night with no interruptions, at first I had once thought that maybe he'd be nothing like me but it had been increasingly difficult to wake him up every morning.

I picked him up out of the crib kissing his cheek lightly "Aleksander..." I whispered "wake up baby" he opened his eyes slowly revealing his beautiful chocolate brown eyes that I often found myself lost in, I ran my fingers through his thick dark brown hair, it was a similar shade to mine but that was where, apart from sleeping habits that the similarities ended.
"Aunty Lissa is here to take care of you baby" I cooed at him carrying him out of the nursery and back to the living room where Lissa was waiting
"there's my favourite nephew" she grinned taking Aleks away from me, he grinned wildly and clung to her, so much for family loyalty. I gave him a big smooch on the cheek and picked up my gym bag. "See you soon baby boy" I waved and blew him a kiss before heading out the door.

I found Alberta waiting for me at the gym, we had been training for 12 months now, the academy and royal council had agreed that I had enough experience with Strigoi compared to anyone else. Alberta had taken me on a few missions to stake out Strigoi and during 3 of the 5 stakes we had been on, we'd been found by the very Strigoi we had planned to kill, instead of staying outside on watch, I had joined the guardians in battle and I now had 4 additional Molnija marks but still no promise mark… There was also no doubt in my mind that the fact that two well respected guardians at different times had taken a keen interest in training me to be the best had also contributed to the council's decision to allow me to graduate with no trial.

"You're on time" Alberta chuckled
"Of course, I don't know what you're talking about Guardian Petrov" I feigned innocence. We had what could be called a dysfunctional friendship built on our mutual dedication to protecting Moroi as well as the fact that she had provided emotional support throughout my pregnancy. There were four people who knew who Aleks' father was, at least four people who knew me well enough to know I was telling the truth, Lissa, Christian, Adrian and Alberta. Everyone else believed that I had slept with a random Moroi and I would let them believe that for now.

Until I heard from Dimitri there would be no chance of anyone else knowing, I've tried so hard to contact him through Letters and by phone and not once have I gotten a call or a letter back, so stuff him, Aleksander and I are just fine on our own.

Alberta and I entered the gym and started on our reps, after the first few months they became mutual training sessions as she taught me her arsenal and I showed her everything Dimitri had taught me, I was pretty sure with all the extra expertise I had gained I could easily – well not easily but it'd be easier beat Dimitri in a fight (in theory). After we finished our reps we began to spar, we were fairly evenly matched now and it took a lot for one of us to win.

We circled each other as I gave her a cocky grin; I had a new move in my arsenal thanks to sparring with Christian's guardian, Ryan Ardal. He was an American guardian who graduated from Saint Basil's when his mother – a trained guardian moved him there 8 years ago. He had so graciously taught me those unattainable Russian swear words. We really did get on like a house on fire and it drove Christian up the wall, which was just a bonus. Ryan was only 21 but had the experience of guardians twice his age. He was also extremely good looking, he had chestnut brown hair that sat in almost a messy bob, or whatever a guy's version of a bob was, he had light blue eyes, he had a cheeky smile that lit up the room and his face looked like that of a models. He was about 6'2 and was completely cut; he always looked amazing regardless of what he wore. For now we were just friends, even though he had made it clear he wanted more. I knew I wasn't ready.

My feet connected with Alberta's shoulders as I performed a drop kick, we both hit the ground but I was on my feet as soon as I hit the ground. Alberta on the other hand was startled by my amazing new move and was struggling to get to her feet; I gave her back a hard kick as she hit the ground and straddled her placing my hand on her back as if I had staked her.

"Getting a bit rusty there Alberta?" I grinned as I got to my feet offering her my hand. She took my hand as she got up and chuckled shaking her head.
"You really are something else Rose" she laughed
"and that's why you like me" I gave her a lazy grin "well it was nice training with you but I gotta go…"

"Before you go anywhere, there's someone I need you pick up from the airport, they're coming for your graduation…"

I arrived home and took a long steamy shower whilst Lissa kept an eye on Aleks. I wrapped the towel around my body and stood in the mirror studying myself for a moment, my body had matured in the last two years, my boobs were bigger and my curves were killer and my body had really filled out. I'd lost all my baby fat within the first few months of training. It was tough and I had taken advantage of eating for two but the baby weight was all gone. I went into the bedroom picking out a pair of denim shorts, a simple blue wife beater and some black Chuck Taylors. I picked out my favourite hat - a straw fedora. It was simple but cute at the same time. I walked out of the bedroom finding Lissa and Aleksander playing with blocks on the floor.
"Thanks Liss…" I sat down beside her watching Aleksander running his hands over the blocks before picking one up and chucking it right at me before breaking out in a giggle. He was definitely my son. Today Lissa dressed him in a black, yellow and white check shirt, jeans, brown Chuck Taylors and a fedora, as if she knew what I was going to wear.

I stood in the arrivals lounge waiting for this mystery guest, Aleksander was fast asleep in his push chair snuggled into his favourite toy elephant that was half the size of him, Adrian had bought it for him when he was born, at first Aleks had been smaller than the toy and he slept had beside it, now Aleks was twice the size of it, at 14 months old he was in 2 year old clothes and rapidly growing out of them. I smiled to myself as I knelt down pulling a blanket out from the storage basket and wrapping it around him. He looked so cute with his fedora all askew and his face cuddled right up to Dumbo – I had named the elephant that in the hops that when Aleks started talking it'd catch on. I unhooked the cover and pulled it down keeping the light off of him and the sound away from him, it was better when he had long naps, he got grumpy otherwise.

I stood up starting to wonder if this mystery guest was ever going to arrive…

"Roza…" his familiar accent cut through the air like a knife, I felt my heart rate speed up instantly, he looked beautiful, his long hair sat at his shoulders and his eyes looked smouldering, they were filled with emotion, he had a gorgeous smile on his face, he wore a tight black t-shirt and pair of jeans that made his body look amazing.
"You…you're who I'm picking up?" I questioned starting to get pissed off
"that's what Guardian Petrov said" he shrugged
"better go to the car then" I sighed and led him out to the car, suddenly very glad that Aleks was asleep and I had pulled the cover down.
"Did Christian and Vasilisa have a child?" Dimitri questioned very confused as he eyed the pram "Tasha never mentioned it."
"This is my son…Aleksander Mason Hathaway" I said as I picked him up out of the push chair careful not to wake him the combination of the hat, Dumbo and the blanket kept his face covered as I placed him in his car seat, he was adorable.

The look on Dimitri's face was on of hurt and confusion "Is that why you're only graduating now?"
"Yes" I said simply getting into the driver's seat; Alberta was going to pay for this. Dimitri got into the passenger's seat glancing back at Aleksander who was starting to stir. I cooed at him making sure he went back to sleep before turning my attention back to the road, I planned on ignoring Dimitri for the ride home.

"Roza…talk to me…" Dimitri sighed watching me from the passenger's seat
"why would you want to talk to me? You never replied to any of my calls or letters" I hissed at him
"There were none of those Roza; I would have replied if there were" he replied looking sad
"Are you calling me a liar?" I questioned him furiously
"No Roza…I'm just confused" he sighed loudly
"well stop being confused, I sent you a letter every month for a year, I even photo copied them, I have phone records to say I tried calling but your precious Tasha always answered and said you weren't there, I figured you probably told her not to let me speak to you." I growled at him, careful to keep my voice down "and do not raise your voice or you'll have a grumpy fourteen month old to deal with"
"I…I…Tasha must have kept it all from me" he said looking truly distraught; one of his best friends and probably his girlfriend had lied to him. He didn't understand the importance of the letters or the phone calls however.

I pulled up outside the hotel in court once we had gotten through court security; I was still pissed off with Alberta.
"We can meet for dinner Comrade…we have a lot to catch up on" I gave him a small smile it would take a long time for me to forgive him for leaving but I intended on telling him the truth
"Okay Roza, I will see you later…" he trailed off looking sad as he opened the passenger door
"Look Dimitri, I'm sure that there's a room in a Dragomir wing that you could take. You're only here for my graduation right?" I internally cursed myself for not thinking things through before I spoke
"are you sure Roza?" he asked sounding nervous
"I'm sure. Now shut the door…" I smiled again; I was beginning to get annoyed with my traitorous heart. My brain was screaming no, but my heart was in my throat, every time I said or did something nice I was acting on my old feelings. I was still pissed off with him for leaving but I knew that Tasha was capable of doing something like this and next time I saw the bitch I would tear her apart. My son had missed out on his father from the start of his life because that dumb bitch was so damn jealous she made sure we had no contact. I even felt a little sorry for Dimitri; he had missed a few key firsts, first smile, first steps, his first word, all of it, and it wasn't even his fault, because though he left, I had no doubt in my mind that if he knew about Aleksander he would have been back right away, that's just how he is. I pulled up in front of the royal housing so caught up in my thoughts that I failed to realise that Aleksander was babbling away to Dimitri who was watching intently…surely Dimitri would realise by looking at Aleksander's eyes that he was his father. I certainly I hoped I would get the opportunity to tell him myself before he realised it…this was going to be a long night.

A/N: This is kind of a trial chapter, I would love to get some feedback on this before I post more than one chapter; So PLEASE review If I get enough positive feedback I will continue it.