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Chapter Four

"Paul Anders is on his way here," Mr. Ivashkov explained.

"Your lawyer?" Adrian asked in confusion. "Why was he invited?"

"Adrian…will you ever learn? You have to protect your assets," he said to his son. "Since it's too late for a prenup we'll have to be creative, but Paul can handle it."

"I'm sorry…but I think we're both confused, sir," Sydney said.

Mr. Ivashkov sighed, as if they were both trying his patience just by standing there. "As you are insisting on bringing this…abomination into the family I'd like all affairs to be in order," he said.

"What the hell did you just say?" Adrian growled before his father even finished his statement.

"Oh, please, Adrian…did you really think this was going to be some kind of party?" he asked. "Since it's too late for an abortion and no one wants to adopt some useless dhampir child I'm taking the proper precautions."

"Sydney…go get our coats," Adrian instructed her.

She grabbed for his hand. "We'll go together," she said to him. Leaving Adrian alone with his father was not going to end well.

"Sydney, please…" Adrian said, trying desperately (and failing) to keep his temper even.

Mr. Ivashkov sighed. "Adrian, aren't you too old for this theatrics?" he asked him.

"No one can stand being around you," Adrian said. "Aren't you tired of having no one in your life?"

Luckily for all parties involved Elise entered the room carrying Sydney and Adrian's coats. Sydney tugged on her husband's hand and they quickly escaped the house.

Once they were in the safety of the car Adrian started on a tirade. "Who does he think he is? An abomination? Who even talks like that?" he hissed.

"Adrian…" Sydney said slowly.

"I knew this was a bad idea…and you with the 'sir' business…what was that all about?" he continued.

"Adrian," she repeated.

"We're not letting him anywhere near the baby," he said to her. "Your mother can be the sole grandparent. At least she's sane. Well, she married your father, but she got out of that."

"ADRIAN!" she exclaimed.

"What?!" he demanded as he looked over at her.

"Something's wrong…" she said softly, her eyes fixed on the blood trickling down her leg.

xxx

"Do you need anything else?" Adrian asked Sydney.

She shook her head no. "I'm fine, thanks," she replied.

Adrian rushed Sydney to the hospital within seconds of her noticing the blood. She underwent a plethora of tests before she was released the next day. The baby was fine, but Sydney's blood pressure was higher than the doctor liked. She was ordered to take it easy, which Adrian decided meant total bed rest.

Adrian fussed around the room, messing with the blinds and fluffing Sydney's pillow within an inch of her life.

"Why don't you sit down…you're making me dizzy," she said to him.

"Oh, sorry," he apologized and sank down onto the mattress next to her.

They lay there quietly for a few moments before Sydney spoke up. "It's going to be okay. The doctor didn't seem overly concerned," she said softly.

"I know, but…I mean obviously that was scary for you, but…I mean there was nothing I could do for you," Adrian said with a sigh. "I hate feeling so helpless."

"It was out of my control too," Sydney reasoned. "And besides think of all the other times you saved my life." Adrian had been instrumental in breaking her out of the Alchemist stronghold and then the eventual downfall of the regime.

Adrian shrugged a little. "You could have done that all without me," he insisted.

Sydney rolled onto her side and stroked his cheek gently with her fingertips. "I always need you," she told him.

"For a minute I wasn't sure if you'd be upset if you lost the baby," Adrian admitted softly.

Sydney furrowed her brow. "How could you think that?" she asked him.

"You're treating this whole thing like a research paper or something," Adrian explained to her. "I'm not sure if you want to get an A plus or be a mother."

Sydney didn't say anything for a minute. She needed to choose her words carefully. "Babies aren't something that have clear cut answers," she said to him. "I like facts, certain truths…so I thought if I had all the answers maybe this wouldn't be so scary."

"Do you think I'm not scared?" he asked her.

"You wanted this…I figured you weren't as nervous as I was," Sydney said.

"Oh, sweetheart…I am terrified," Adrian said with a little laugh. "I haven't had the greatest examples of family."

"Me either," Sydney pointed out. "But maybe between the two of us we won't mess this kid up too badly." She chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"Something is still wrong," Adrian said.

Sydney decided to leave out all her other fears about the baby having to be a guardian…as well as the magic stuff. She leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. "No…I'm okay. Is there anything else you want to tell me…ask me?" she asked.

"Actually yes…" he said as he slid his arm around her waist and rubbed her back gently. "What do you think of the name Caroline?"

"I think I have a book of names around here," she teased him.

"You have to promise me you're not going to read anything from now on," he replied.

"Anything ever?" she asked him.

"Okay, let's not be so extreme," Adrian replied. "I'll just give you a list."

"Do you want to find out if it's a boy or a girl?" she asked him.

"No way," Adrian said. "This is life's greatest surprise."

"But how can we plan?" Sydney replied.

"Oh, Sage…" he said with a mock sigh. "What am I going to do with you?"