Author's Note:
Thanks to everyone for the support! I'm really enjoying the story and I love your reviews. Big changes coming!
Chapter Four
He stood in my living room, starring at me as if he was seeing a ghost. I mentally noted that this was his first time seeing me pregnant. He had to have a million things racing through his mind as he saw me living with Adrian and pregnant. Adrian took my arm and led me to the living room. I sat down on the couch facing Dimitri, feeling grateful to be sitting for fear that I would collapse at any minute.
Adrian looked uncomfortable. He gave my hand a squeeze and said, "I'll give you two a minute." He went through the archway into the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder at us both.
Neither Dimitri nor I had broken eye contact. I felt like my entire body was on fire as he stared at me. "No need. I'm leaving." He seemed to break from his trance and return to his normal, guardian attitude. With that, he walked out of my life as quickly as he had reappeared.
"I don't understand." I raced through possible explanations.
Adrian took a breath. "The queen commanded that he bring you to court as soon as possible." He said as if that were the most obvious thing in the entire world.
"What the hell does Tatiana want with me? And why would she send Dimitri!" I asked, furiously. "You'll just have to tell her I'm not going. She doesn't control me." I stood up, angrily. "I'm not a guardian anymore! She has no right to command me to go anywhere!" I began pacing the floor, thinking of how to get out of this. A strange feeling came from the inside of my stomach and radiated through me.
I looked down to see a puddle of water below me. I gripped the couch in agony. "Rose!" Adrian yelled.
"Looks like I'm not making it to court." I held my belly tightly, trying to breathe through the pain.
Adrian came running outside. "This is not the time for jokes!" He began running through the house, grabbing supplies. He was clearly freaking out.
I made my way down the front steps. "You keep looking." I said sarcastically through gritted teeth. "I'm going to go have a baby." Instantly, Adrian was by my side and helping me to the car.
The rest of the experience was a blur. I barely made it to the hospital in time. I felt like I was dying as I brought my babies into the world. It was ironic in a way that was only funny afterwards. Adrian stayed by my side through the entire delivery, holding my hand and encouraging me. The room was full of nurses and doctors and noise as I screamed. Finally, it was over. They placed my daughters in my arms and the whole world grew smaller. Everything I ever worried about or was frightened of or thought could go wrong faded into the distance. Two beautiful little girls laid against me. They were so, incredibly perfect. I looked into their eyes, and saw their father's dark brown eyes staring back. In that moment, I knew that we would all be okay. That we were a family.
Dimitri POV
The last person I had expected to see when I showed up at Rose's house was Adrian Ivashkov. It took me twenty minutes of circling the block to even be able to knock on the door. I took a deep breath and smiled curtly, "Is Rose here?" I asked. Just saying her name hurt. She left six months ago with no warning.
I probably shouldn't have been surprised. Especially after how I acted toward her after changing back. I hurt her. No—I killed her. When I thought back over the regrets in my life, Rose's expression in the moment that I told her I didn't love her anymore was my greatest. It wasn't that I didn't love her. I just didn't know how. The things that I'd done to her and countless other innocent people would stay with me forever.
"Belikov?" Adrian asked. He had every right to question my reappearance, but his very presence at Rose's house made me want to kill him. "What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" I cleared my throat and stood up to my full height. "I'm on official business for Queen Tatiana." I stepped into the house and found myself in the living room. It looked so…wholesome. So unlike anything I'd ever imagined for my Roza. But she wasn't my Roza anymore. "I'm here to bring Rose back to court."
Adrian looked outraged. "What do you mean, 'bring Rose back to court'? She's not a guardian anymore. What purpose would she have at court?" The idea that she wasn't a guardian anymore stung. Once a guardian, always a guardian. Rose couldn't just give up everything she'd worked for.
"Babe, who are you talking to?" I heard her voice before I saw here. The beautiful sound filled me with longing. I noticed the term 'babe', but was too consumed with her approach to investigate. I looked up the stairs and saw her round the corner. Her stunning brown hair had been pulled into a ponytail. She looked shocked to see me, something I couldn't hold against her. Finally, I noticed her stomach. It protruded out from her small body so intensely that I was surprised she was standing.
A million thoughts raced through my head. Roza—my Roza was pregnant. With Adrian's baby. Fury engulfed me. I wanted to reach out and kill him for what he had done to her. Her entire future was changed because of him. "Dimitri?" She asked. I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. "What are you doing here?" I was blinded by rage as Adrian led her into the living room. The rest of the world seemed to disappear as I looked into her eyes. This was my fault. If I hadn't hurt her, she wouldn't be in this position.
Adrian mentioned leaving the room and I knew he couldn't do that. I had to get out of that house. "No need. I'm leaving." I steeled my face and tore my eyes away from Rose. I flew outside, slamming the door behind me with no explination. I threw the car into drive and sped down the road. I hit the steering wheel repeatedly as I lost the control I'd so desperately fought to maintain. I lost her. I actually lost her.
After an hour of furiously driving through the streets of Denver, I pulled back into their driveway. I knocked on the door to no reply. I took a piece of paper out of my duster pocket and scribbled a note, sliding it under her door.
Roza,
The Queen insisted that you return to court as soon as possible. She would like you to take over an offensive faction of guardians. She will be expecting you soon.
Sincerely,
D.
In that moment, I decided that I wouldn't be an inconvenience on Rose's life any longer. She would be free to live out her life with Adrian and their new family.
