A/N: I didn't get as many reviews as I would have liked, but I got a lot of Story Alerts so I decided to continue in hopes of getting more reviews soon. So enjoy the next chapter.
I still don't own anything.
We stared down at the plus sign. So it was official, I was pregnant. But there were such things as false positives right? It could be one of those times. This could all be a big mistake. That made sense. Dimitri couldn't have gotten me pregnant. I knew that, and he knew that. Hell, everyone knew that. So I wasn't pregnant. No, this was all just a mistake. It had to be.
Who am I kidding? I am pregnant. It was weird, like I could already feel everything changing inside of me. But what was I going to do? Who would tell Dimitri? Would anyone tell Dimitri?
No.
No, no one could tell him. He would give up his duty, leave Tasha, and maybe even leave a life he loved living to be with the baby and me. I couldn't do that to him. I couldn't have him live a life full of regret.
Regret for sleeping with me. Regret for leaving Tasha. Regret for leaving his guardian status to become a dad.
I couldn't do that to him. He would never have to know. No one would really have to know except for Lissa. We could go out and tell them it was negative. I could take my trials, graduate, and then leave. Go off into a city and raise the baby. Then when I send them to school I could do what my mother did to me and let them stay in school. That way I could become a guardian and protect Lissa.
No, I couldn't do that either. I couldn't do what my mother did to me to my own child. I would see this through and through, and do everything I could to be a kick ass mom and guardian.
I looked up resolved to see Lissa staring at me. Her emotions swarmed to me. She was thinking about how scared I must be. She was furious at Dimitri. How could he not have thought that this might happen? How could he have slept with this student? How could he have left?
Jackass.
"Lissa," I said softly, reaching out to her, "it's going to be okay."
She shook her head. "How can any of this be okay? He left you! He wasn't careful, he didn't think! How could he do this to you? How will you graduate?"
"Lissa!" I could feel it. She was starting to be consumed by the by the spirits madness. I could feel the black spot start to grow in her mind. "Lissa, look at me."
"He's a pig! He's an idiot. He should have never come back to school. He should have just stayed with Tasha-"
"Lissa! Look at me now," I demanded pulling at her arm to get her attention. There was so much, so much clouding her.
Her eyes snapped at me, her green eyes seemed to be shooting daggers at anyone her interrupted her. But the eye connect was all I needed. I focused in on her anger, on all the hate for Dimitri and sucked it from her.
I felt all her anger hit me like a boulder. I saw her transform before. I saw everything change through the hate clouding my own judgment. Lissa was herself again.
And I was going to kill someone.
Lissa noticed the change when I gripped the handlebar on the wall behind me. I was trying to push the madness back down inside of me, but it was coming at me in full force. She didn't know what to do.
"Rose, look at me," she said calmly bending over me.
"No," I said gritting my teeth. "How could he do this to me? That bastard. Didn't he think of what could happen, what did happen? Is he that stupid?" I was pulling at the handlebar now, trying to just rip it out of the wall. I don't know what I was going to do with it; my only thought is that I wanted it.
"Rose," she said taking hold of my chin and forcing me to look at her. "Calm down. Everything is going to be okay. You are going to be okay. We are going to get through this together, and Dimitri will never find out and will never have a chance to hurt you."
Yes, everything will be okay. As long as I had Lissa with me nothing could harm us. Dimitri will never know that I'm having his kid. Everything was going to be- wait.
I'm never this rational, even when the spirit madness isn't consuming me. Shit.
"Lissa, you shouldn't have used compulsion on me. I just got rid of the madness consuming you and you are ready to let it take over you again."
"You were losing yourself Rose. You wouldn't have been able to control it if I didn't tell you to."
I let go of the handlebar and went limp against the wall again. "You just voiced everything I have been feeling. I wish he never came back here. I wouldn't even be here right now if he hadn't. But he did, and I'm stuck in this situation."
"What are we going to do?" Lissa asked, falling to the floor beside me once again.
"You are going to graduate and go to court with Christian. I'm going to have a baby and hopeful become a guardian later."
"The trials are only in two weeks, do you think you could still do them?"
I shrugged. "Doubt it. I'll be what? Five weeks along?"
I could see Lissa calculating in her head. "Yep. By that that time the vertebral column will be fully developed, and the heart and brain will be developing."
I turned and stared at her. "How do you know this?"
"Remember when we took classes at that one college? I took an anatomy course that you tended to sleep through."
"Oh."
"Actually, you probably should wait to take the trials. I'm sure they will figure something out for you. Five weeks is a long time."
"So is nine months," I said softly staring at the wall ahead of us.
She nodded. She didn't know what to tell me. She wanted to make everything better, to protect me from everything that I was about to face, but she couldn't. No one could. And no one could know who the father is. I was alone.
Lissa got to her feet and pulled me up next to her. "We should probably tell Dr. Oledenski."
I nodded, walking to the door with Lissa falling in step behind me. Everything is going to change now.
4 Years Later
A lot can happen in four years. You can kill a bunch of Strigoi's, become a full-fledged guardian, and save countless of lives. Or you can become a mom.
Nine months and twenty-six painful hours after I had sex with Dimitri, I gave birth to our daughter Veda Alexandra Hathaway. She looked a lot like me. Same dark hair, tan complexion, but in the first couple of years anyone who knew Dimitri like I did, knew that she was his daughter. She acted just like him. Always calm and in control of her emotions. She rarely burst out screaming, and was easily soothed by music. She was the perfect daughter.
Shortly after having Veda, I was training with Alberta again, gaining back my strength and endurance. Two month after that, I took my own personal trial and passed with flying colors. I got my promise mark, and Veda and I moved to court.
Surprisingly, the queen let me become Lissa guardian. I think she found a new respect for me raising my daughter and becoming a guardian. That, and maybe she thought Adrian was the father, like so many other people did. I don't really know the reason. I never really talked to her about, and I didn't want to talk to her about it.
The only people who knew who Veda's father is, is Lissa, Christian, Adrian, Alberta (she put the pieces together shortly after I told her that I was, in fact, pregnant), and my mother.
Many Moroi think Adrian is the father because we played it that way. Adrian was always around Veda and I, playing with her or holding my hand. He wants to protect her more than anything, so he picked up the role as her father. Veda knows he isn't, but she loves him as if he was.
Within the last couple of months, Adrian and I have sort of become a couple. We're together so much, that things happened and one night we kissed and the next thing I knew he was coming over early to cook breakfast for Veda and I.
He's been such an amazing guy these past four years, couldn't imagine life without him, so I didn't mind being his girlfriend. And as long as the queen doesn't bitch me out about it, then we will be a happy family.
"Momma, Auntie Lissa's here," Veda said in my ear as she sat on top of me.
I groaned and looked at the clock beside my bad. It was 6:45 in the morning. Why the hell would anyone wake me up this early? "Tell her to go away," I said lifting Kira off me.
"But mom," she said pulling my hair gently, "she says it's important guardian stuff."
I rolled my eyes and sighed. What the hell is so important at 6:45? "Okay, okay, I'm up."
I threw the covers off of my and rolled out of bed. I swept Veda up suddenly, making her laugh, as I carried her downstairs with me.
We lived in a small condo that was attached to Lissa's house. It was small, but for two of us it was just the right size. Plus it made things so much easier being so close to Lissa without having to live with her.
Lissa, of course, looked like she just did a runway show, her hair and makeup done for a business meeting. Meanwhile, I looked like the walking dead. "Hey, Lissa. What's so important it couldn't wait till at least ten?"
It's about Dimitri. She said flatly in my head.
I stopped in my tracks as I reached the last step. Veda looked up at me with a smile on her face. When she saw mine, though, it quickly faded. "What's wrong momma?" Veda had a knack for knowing my emotions like Dimitri had, but at this moment anyone could tell that I was about ready to collapse. I haven't heard his name for almost two years; and hearing it now, even if it was only in my head, was enough to bring back all the pain I went through.
I placed Veda on the ground and bent down so that our eyes were level. "Mommy's okay. She and Aunt Lissa just need to talk in the kitchen, so will you go watch some TV?"
She nodded, excited about watching cartoons, and ran off into the other room. Boy was I glad children were easily distracted when they were this young.
I lead Lissa into the kitchen and shut the door that connect it to the living room where Veda was laying on the floor gazing up at the television. I took a deep breath and turned around to face Lissa sitting at the island. "What about him?"
She looked down at her hands; twisting around the bracelet I got her last year for her birthday. "Well, I don't know when this is going to be, but Tasha called Christian yesterday and…"
"And?"
"She's coming to court," she said bitterly.
I walked forward until I could collapse into a stool opposite of Lissa. "And Dimitri's coming with her," I told her.
She nodded. Suddenly she smacked her hand off of the table.
"Lissa!" I said in a loud whisper, looking back at the closed door behind me.
"I'm sorry, but I'm so pissed off," she said staring at the refrigerator. "I mean why come to court? Why now? She hasn't been here since everything happened with Christian's parents so why now? And why bring him?"
I looked at her pointedly. "She wants to be closer to you and Christian. You can't blame her for that."
"I know I can't. But the fact that she would bring Dimitri is unacceptable."
"Lissa, he's her guardian. He has to come with her."
"I don't want him here though. I don't want him to see you or Kira. I just wish he couldn't hurt you anymore. But I know he can, and I hate it."
"I know," I said taking her hand. "But I will be fine, and Veda doesn't know who he is, so she will be fine. I haven't seen him for almost five years. I'm over everything. He can't hurt me anymore."
That was a lie. A bigger lie than saying Adrian was Veda's father, which I never actually said out loud. This lie was loud and clear. Dimitri knew just how to hurt me, even if he never did so on purpose.
As I lead Lissa to our connector, I squeezed her arm. "I'll be fine. Just give me a heads up when they arrive, okay?"
She nodded and hugged me tightly. "Tell Veda I'll see her later tonight for dinner."
I nodded and smiled at my best friend. "Happy birthday."
She smiled back at me. "Thanks. And promise me no party and no gifts."
"Would I ever not hold up my promises?" I asked faking that I was offended.
"If a party could be involved, yes." And she walked through the door to her own house.
I laughed, shaking my head before getting Veda to take to day care. Lissa's not going to like me after her surprise party tonight.
Taking on last look in the mirror, I found my appearance acceptable. I had my hair up with two strands lose to frame my face. My dress was black, floor length, and tight to show off the figure I was able regain even after gaining fifty pound while pregnant with Veda.
I took a deep breath before heading out of my room and downstairs to where Veda was sitting with Ambrose. "Mommy, you look so pretty," she said running over to me.
I laughed and kissed the top of her head. "Thanks baby. Now please be good for Ambrose." She nodded and ran back to the couch waiting for the movie to start. "Thanks again!" I yelled and Ambrose just smiled and waved as I opened the front door.
Adrian was there waiting for me with a smile on his face. "Beautiful as always Little Dhampir," he said bowing before holding his hand out for me.
I rolled my eyes, but took his hand. "Thank you. You look pretty handsome yourself."
He gave me a wicked smile as he led me down the steps and across the street towards the restaurant. "So Lissa doesn't know that fifty or so people are gathering here for her birthday?"
I shook my head. "Nope, not a clue."
We shortly entered Lissa's favorite restaurant, where many people were standing and talking, waiting for the signal to hide. I greeted a few, and Adrian left my side to greet the royals he knew well.
Everything was going pleasantly until I felt a pang through the bond. I reached out to see what was wrong, when I suddenly slammed against a wall. Lissa wasn't letting me find out what was wrong.
But before I had time to process this further Christian burst through doors stopping only to search for me. When he found me ran for me and pulled me aside.
"Christian what's wrong? Did something happen to Lissa?" I asked holding him up right as he bent over trying to catch his breath.
"She… Lissa told me… That I had to run… run here to tell… you that…"
"She's coming!" someone yelled out across the room.
"Wait! Rose!" Christian yelled.
Forty-eight people shushed him before they turned off the lights. I grabbed Christian's hand and pulled him behind the table with me.
"What did you run here for Christina," I whispered. "What's going on?"
"She needed me to tell you-," he whispered as the doors opened.
"What's going on?" I heard Lissa asked.
"-that-" the rest of what Christian said was drown out by the outburst of "Surprise's" coming from the guest.
The lights turned on, and we all jumped out of our hiding spots except for Christian and I. I felt Lissa's surprise, anger at me (but only for a second) before happiness sunk in, and joy.
I shrugged a Christian who tried to pull me back down as I stood up to yell Surprise with the rest of them. But when I opened my mouth nothing came out.
Lissa wasn't alone. A woman with scars on her face and jet-black hair stood next her smiling, along with her guardian. Tasha and Dimitri decided to come to court today. So much for the heads up Lissa, I thought. But then I understood what Christian had to tell me. They came back, and they were coming tonight.
I stared at the man who broke my heart four years ago. He hadn't changed much at all. He looked a little older, but somehow it made him much hotter. Except, looking at him just made me realize how much of him was in Veda. She had his strong jaw and lean face. While her eyes were dark, they weren't as dark as mine, but more of the brown color Dimitri had. And she could raise her eyebrow like he could. She was his daughter. How anyone could look at the two of them together and not see it was beyond me.
Christian didn't tell you in time! I'm so sorry, I didn't know they were here until an hour ago, and I was going to tell you, but you had weren't home! So I had Christian run here as fast as he could, but apparently it wasn't fast enough. I'm so, so sorry Rose. Lissa's voice said in my head.
She probably saw my expression, which I assumed looked like I saw Mason's ghost again. Instead of easing her anxiety by looking at her, my eyes continued to watch Dimitri as he walked around the room following Tasha and Lissa.
Lissa tried to steer them clear of Christian and me, but Tasha saw us out of the corner of her eye before I got feeling in my feet again. "Rose!" she yelled walking over to us. I saw Dimitri stiffen, but he followed Tasha without hesitation, keeping his eyes on the ground.
I felt Adrian put his arm around my waist pulling me close to him. "Everything's going to be okay," he whispered.
"Rose how nice to see you! I heard that you were Lissa's guardian. You must have made quiet an impression with Tatiana."
I forced a smile. "Yes, I believe I must have done something right for once."
She laughed and turned to Dimitri. "I'm sure your training help her a lot."
"It did help," I said still smiling. I wasn't going to let him win. "Alberta was able to help me with a lot of things that he couldn't when he left." I saw Dimitri lock his jaw as he stared off at the door.
Tasha nodded, probably feeling as uncomfortable as the rest of us, but probably not for the same reasons.
Mia, an old friend of ours from the academy, walked over to wish Lissa a happy birthday and say hello to the rest of us. "Rose, I've been looking around from Veda. Did you not bring her?"
I felt Tasha and Dimitri's eyes flash to my face. "No, this would be too late for her, and she's not really one for dressing up." Mia nodded understanding completely. Veda like to stay simple, wearing jeans and t-shirts everywhere she went. When I made her wear a dress, it was like I was giving her Chinese water torture.
"Who is Veda?" Tasha asked.
I turned to both of them. I knew the world just got so much more complicated now. This is just what I needed.
I took a deep breath. "She's my daughter."
A/N: So they're back, and everything is going to get complicated. Tell me what you thought!
