Author's note: I glossed over and slightly altered events from The Indigo Spell in this chapter to help us advance some things. I did take some actual lines from the book, but I do not own them. Thank you for the reviews, follows, and favorites.

Over on my tumblr (booksrockmyface), I'm doing cuddles week and I have some Sydrian planned if you're interested.

Happy reading!

Chapter Four

Adrian pulled Sydney over to the couch as soon as she walked into the door. His laptop was open and there was an odd video paused on it. When she sat down she realized what it was.

"Oh, wow, is that her?" She asked leaning forward and pressing play on the ultrasound video.

"Yeah. She's getting so big." He said proudly. "Rose said she's moving around a lot more."

"Is she sucking her thumb?" Sydney leaned closer.

"Yeah." He sighed happily.

"She's so cute." She sat back and watched him for a few more minutes. Adrian was so sweet like this. She had the urge to reach out and touch him.

He said softly, "I've been watching this for over an hour. I can't get over it." He turned to her and reached out to touch the small wooden cross he'd given her as a replacement for the golden one she'd lost. "I like this little bit of normalcy in all the craziness lately."

"It's only going to get worse." She put her hand on top of his.

"I know."

"Ms. Terwiliger has some spells she wants me to cast. Will you come with me?"

"Sure. Same place as last time?"

"Yes."

With one more look at the screen, he closed his computer and stood. "Okay. But first, I think we need some provisions."

"Provisions?" She watched as he put together a picnic basket with a blanket and a thermos.

"Lemonade." He explained. "To help fortify you. I thought I'd be prepared for another one of these."

It was then that she noticed what he was wearing and smiled. "Your AYE shirt?"

He just grinned and headed out the door. "I'm going to see if I can start a chapter on Carlton's campus."

"The only chapter."

"Gotta start somewhere, Sage." He smirked as he climbed into the car.

They drove mostly in silence. Sydney watched Adrian. He smiled slightly. Most likely he was thinking about the baby. It was really sweet how much he was in love with this person that he really had no contact with other than seeing the occasional picture. It was a depressing situation. At least Rose was giving him the opportunity to be part of her life.

"I can't believe this." She grumbled looking at the dragon—callistana—in the aquarium. He was curled up in the corner asleep. She stretched out on her bed.

Adrian had been kind of distant all afternoon. That is, until the dragon had appeared. His mind was on the baby. She knew it was. He was pretty excited about the dragon, though; but only enough to promise to have him over the weekends.

She fell asleep and was pulled into a spirit dream. Adrian had his computer with him, showing off the ultrasound video some more.

"Are you trying to impress me with that?" She asked, sitting down beside him on the couch.

He smirked. "Is it working?"

Sydney shook her head and sat down beside him on his couch. "So have you started talking about names?"

"Not talking, but I know what I want. I really like Lorelei. It's pretty, don't you think?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it is."

He leaned back. "How is the dragon?"

"Asleep. Jill loves him."

"I figured she would." He watched her a long time. "I don't want you to leave me, Sage."

"Leave you?" She turned on the couch. "What do you mean?"

"All this business with Marcus. I don't want you to leave. But if you think it's what you feel you have to do, I think you should go for it."

"Adrian—"

"I don't think I would have been able to handle any of this if it wasn't for you. I'm happy about this baby, but I would have gone crazy with worry of you hadn't made me feel like I was worth it."

"Worth what?"

"Love. You may not admit it to me ever, but I can tell you love me. And I don't care if you never tell me. I have her. And I know there will be no conditions. She'll love her daddy because there will be no prejudice keeping her from it."

Sydney swallowed. "You know I'd…If I could run away with you…" She shook her head. "Send me back. Get some sleep yourself. You need it."

"Wait." He cupped her cheeks and leaned in. "I need you to know something else."

"What?"

"If not for Jill and our connection, I'd follow you to Mexico. I wouldn't beg you to come back. I wouldn't even beg you to come with me, but I'd follow you around like a lost puppy because there's nothing I want more, that calms me more, than simply being with you." He brushed his lips over hers for a moment and then sat back.

"Please let me go." She asked softly.

He nodded and the dream slowly started dissolving.

Sydney woke up and looked toward the aquarium. She sighed and rolled over. She tried to go back to sleep, but it never happened. She kept running Adrian's words over and over in her head. He loved her so desperately. Did she love him the same way?

Every time he was alone or had a moment to think about things, Adrian took the ultrasound picture out of his wallet and just looked at it. He sometimes scrolled through the pictures of Rose showing off her ever-growing stomach that Dimitri sent him almost daily. She always smiled or tried to make silly faces. It's what made it even better.

This practice got him through his time away from Sydney as well. His love for her was all mixed up in his love for his daughter. She was always so supportive, even when she could have told him, like his father and Eddie had, that he had done something incredibly stupid. She had always smiled and let him talk about the baby and his fears and hopes for her.

Even when they were in danger, the baby and Sydney kept him going. They were what was important in his life. He had never felt like he was worth it, just like he'd told Sydney in the spirit dream. But he knew they would always be there.

It took some convincing from Jill to go to the museum. She suggested getting Sydney to meet him somewhere when she realized what was going on. Standing there in the garden—waiting, hoping she'd show up—Adrian pulled out his phone and scrolled through the pictures of Rose for the millionth time.

He felt Sydney step up behind him. There was a shift in the atmosphere. "Sage." He sighed.

"She really is getting big." Sydney commented as he turned.

He put the phone away. "I was beginning to wonder…"

"I know, me too."

They stared at each other for a long time, saying nothing. Then as one, they reached for each other. Their lips locked and they held each other so tightly it was a wonder either could still breathe when they finally broke the kiss quite a while later. Even with all the people surrounding them, they felt they were the only ones that existed. They kissed again and again.

They spent the rest of the afternoon—between kisses—exploring the museum and making a lot of promises. They laughed together, a thing Sydney hoped wouldn't ever go away for them. She didn't think this would last forever, but she hoped it would at least last a long time.

They were in love. Adrian was going to be a father. And Sydney assured him that she would always accept the little girl for as long as they knew each other, even if they didn't last. Which was something they also talked about.

"I'm not letting you go, Sage." He said very seriously.

"You may not have a choice." She said, kissing his hand.

"We're keeping this a secret. And I'll have you know I for one am pretty damn good at keeping secrets. And you? Well, it's kind of your job."

"It is my job. You're right."

"So we have this covered."

In the end, they swore it was something they would work on. They both wanted this, despite all the outside factors that could break them apart.

After he dropped her off at Amberwood later, Adrian sat in his apartment, waiting for the text she had promised to send him when she was settled in for the night. Their winter break had started and they were going to be leaving the dorms the next day. They would be staying at a nearby hotel over the break. They had all wished for something better, like going home, but that was too risky. They would be spending Christmas together as they had Thanksgiving: at Clarence's house.

Adrian's phone finally rang and he put it to his ear. "Sydney." He said seductively.

"My sister is here." She said frantically.

"What?"

"My little sister Zoe. She's here. Adrian, what are we going to do?"

He took a deep breath. "I guess we'll figure it out. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"If we can get away."

"I'll come by to have lunch with you guys. We'll maneuver a way to be alone."

"Okay. I think I can work with that."

"Breathe, Sage. It'll be okay." He assured her. "And I'll try to turn on my charm with her."

"No, better not. I don't want you seducing my little sister. Or even trying it. She might go back to our superiors with it."

"Okay. So I keep my distance?"

"Please?"

"Sure. No problem. I'll see you tomorrow, Sage." He assured her.

She didn't feel the reassurance.

They had been put them all in a large suite in the hotel. There were three bedrooms and Sydney set up the room assignments: she and Zoe would share a room, Jill and Angeline would share the other (much to Jill's discomfort, but it was for the best), and Neil and Eddie were in the last room.

"I know the place is secure, but I think I'd personally feel more comfortable sleeping in the living room, closest to the door." Eddie said after Sydney laid out the plan.

"I agree." Neil said, nodding. "We should actually set up a watch."

"We're in a very secure hotel, I think we'll be fine." Jill commented. "In fact, I don't know why I couldn't just stay with Adrian."

"You know why you can't." Eddie said softly. "But we'll be seeing him quite a bit."

Sydney had to work to keep her face straight. "That's right. In fact, he said something about meeting us all for lunch."

There was a knock on the door then. Eddie moved toward the door tentatively and looked out the peep hole. "Speak of the devil." He opened the door and let the Moroi in.

Sydney had to fight even harder. Just the day before they had declared their love for each other, with the promise to keep it a secret. And now here they were surrounded by everyone else and the only person who knew was Jill.

"Hello, all." He said kindly. His eyes landed on Sydney and he gave her a special smile. It was quickly turned off and he plopped down on the couch.

Jill sat down beside him and whispered something in his ear. He put and arm around her and pulled out his phone. Sydney figured they were looking at pictures of Rose.

They made plans to order room service on the Court's tab. Zoe stuck close to Sydney who tried hard not to relax like she was used to doing around these people. Zoe took in everything. She asked Sydney several questions about everyone and spoke about what would be expected.

Then she said, "I can't believe they put us all in the same place." She said it loud enough for the others to hear.

Jill and Adrian ignored her easily, still whispering to each other on the couch. Neil Glanced her way a moment and then went back to his observation of the world through the window. Eddie smiled and watched them a moment before going back to his own perusal through an adjacent window. Angeline stared at her outright.

"And what's wrong with us?" She demanded.

"Angeline." Eddie warned.

"I just don't get what's so wrong with us."

"You're unnatural." Zoe argued.

"Zoe, I think you and I could use some fresh air." Sydney stood and pulled her sister to her feet.

"But they are. That's what they teach us." The younger alchemist argued.

"And I'm taught that we're all the same." The young Keepers girl argued.

"You're even worse. Consorting with humans. It's wrong."

"Zoe." Sydney warned.

"Sydney, you can't agree with them. You know I'm saying the right thing."

Angeline stood and took a step toward the other girl.

Adrian stood and put himself in between the two before the dhampir could advance any more. He spoke softly to her and she bristled even more.

"You can't be taking their side."

"I'm not taking sides." He said at a higher volume. "I'm telling you to calm down. This isn't about you or Zoe or all the things either of you have been taught from birth. This is about keeping Jill safe. And if we can't get along in our own group, how are we ever going to do her any good outside of it?"

Angeline scoffed and then stomped off to the bedroom she and Jill would be sharing and slammed the door.

Sydney sent Adrian a grateful look. "I still think you need some air." She said to her sister and dragged her outside.