Chapter Three: Plans

I walked in to the guardian headquarters after lunch with Lissa full and happy. What can I say? I love my food and the food here at Court was some of the best.

When I entered the building there were only a few guardians present, others probably on patrol or taking care of their charges.

I sat down at my desk. Every guardian had a desk though, unless they were on desk duty in general, they rarely saw use.

I smiled at the picture I had on my desk of Aria and me when she was a few months old.

"Hathaway!" I looked behind me to see the head Guardian, Hans Croft, walking toward me. I sighed. I knew where this was going.

"Yes Guardian Croft?" He stood at the side of my desk, arms crossed and glaring at me.

"I thought I told you to take the year of maternity leave?" I gave Hans a cocky smile. "Aww come on Hans, do I look like some delicate little girl that can't handle coming back to work two months early?" I waved my hand and scoffed. "Please."

He gave me an angry glare and I could hear a slight growl in his throat.

I rolled my eyes and stood up. "Oh come on Croft! Look at me," I gestured to my fit and toned torso, my lean muscled arms and legs. I hadn't played around when I was pregnant. I did safe exercises for pregnant women and as soon as my body had been able to handle it I began to run in the mornings and evenings while Adrian or Lissa watched Aria.

"I'm fit as a horse. I could take down a Strigoi right now, right here."

Hans groaned and lifted his hands in surrender. "Ok fine, but until I'm satisfied you don't go on patrol alone. Understand?"

I sat back down and nodded. "Yeah, yeah." Then I turned around and went through the mail someone had kindly thrown on my desk. There wasn't much there just a magazine, a doctors reminder for Aria's next check up… and a letter.

I looked behind me to make sure no one was behind me then opened the letter.

My Dearest Rose,

You haven't left the wards since you arrived in court almost a year ago. Are you afraid? That wouldn't surprise me, if it were anyone else, but you, my Roza, don't know the meaning of the word fear. Could it be you are hiding something? You know whatever it is I'll find it and I'll find you. No matter where you go I'll always find you.

When the life I see the life and your blood flows through my veins… lets just say I can't wait.

Forever Yours,

Dimitri.

I took a deep, shaky breath as I put the letter down and I realized I was trembling. The only saving grace I had in all of this is that none of he's spies had seen me pregnant. And so Dimitri never found out about Aria.

I knew Dimitri had his spies watching me waiting for me to step out of the wards. I never had.

After I unwillingly helped him kill his boss and former mentor, Galina, Dimitri had become something of a leader among the Strigoi.

"Hey Rose." I quickly folded the letter and stuck it in my pocket to put with the others in the shoe box in my closet, then I turned around in my chair to see Eddie walking toward me.

"Hey Eddie, what's up?" He smiled as he sat on the edge of the desk. "You the usual, how's my favorite niece doing?" he asked as he picked up the picture frame on my desk.

I leaned back in my chair. "She's eating baby food and not throwing it at me… yet, sleeping through the night…" He smiled. "So basically she's the perfect baby?" I couldn't help the big grin that spread over my face. "Yup! She's my perfect angel."

He laughed but as we settled into a comfortable silence, he began to look worried.

"You got another letter… Didn't you?" I looked down. My close circle of friends knew about the letters and Dimitri's connection with Aria. Sometimes it seemed like Aria had three fathers instead of none, Counting Abe for a grandfather there wasn't a shortage of men who adored my little girl but they could never replace Dimitri in her life.

"Yeah… Eddie we need to get…" I looked around seeing that we haven't drawn anyone's attention I leaned closer to Eddie and he leaned closer to me. "We need to find Robert Doru and the only way to do that is to get Dashkov out of prison."

Eddie nodded. "I'm in. I'll help anyway I can." I nodded and he stood up. I can try to find the lay out for Tarasov." He said. "Then we can go form there."

I nodded. "I'll talk to Lissa see if Adrian will watch Aria when it comes time to go." He nodded then he turned and left.

I looked to Aria's picture again and felt that overwhelming need to hold my baby. I hated being away from her for so long. They don't really need me right now, right? I asked myself as I got up to leave. And if they do they can always call my cell.

I gathered my stuff then walked out waving to some of my colleagues as I go.

10 minutes later

I walk through the door to hear Aria screaming her head off. I walked to the nursery to find Mia bouncing Ari in her arms trying to calm her down. Mia caught sight of me and I saw relief flood her face.

"Oh thank God!" she exclaimed. "I've feed her, I've changed her, I even tried to put her down for a nap and nothing works!" I took Aria from Mia's arms and held her to my chest and as soon as she was in my arms she stopped crying and giggled happily at me as she babbled in her normal baby talk.

"Are you freaking kidding me!" Mia said as her eyes widened at the ease I quieted my daughter.

I shrugged as Aria nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck. "What can I say? Aria's a Mommy's girl" Mia smiled tiredly. "I guess I'll be off then." I nodded as I saw her to the door.

"Thanks for watching her Mia." I said. She kissed Aria's forehead then said. "It was no problem. She was good until she started to miss you apparently."

I looked to the baby nestled on my hip as she talked at me almost as if she were trying to tell me about her day. I could hear what sounded like mama in with the babble but there were no real words.

"Did you miss Mama?" I asked as she smiled at me the hugged my neck tight.

"I'll take that as a yes."

After Mia left I gave Aria a bottle then rocked her to sleep until one when she would wake up for me to feed her once more then change her.

Then I called Lissa. The phone rang three times before she answered.

"Hey." She said. "Hey Liss. I got another letter today."

She was quiet for a minute. "He doesn't know anything right?"

We were all scared that one day I'd get a letter that had Aria's name in it and a threat to her life. But it hadn't happened yet.

"No. But Eddie is gonna find the plans for Tarasov. Lissa its not too late we don't have to do this."

When she spoke next I heard determination in her voice.

"Rose my niece deserves the best of everything and that includes her father. You've said that Dimitri would be a loving, devoted, and protective father and I'm gonna make damned sure that she gets him."

I smiled. I had always known Lissa was a loyal person. She was always so sweet and kind with an open, compassionate nature. She had taken the role of aunt and godmother as soon as I learned I was pregnant. All of my friends and family had taken a part in Aria's life even Dimitri's family had.

There where a lot of what ifs in my life. I could die at any time that left for patrol or even a store off court. But one constant I knew I had was that if anything happened to me my parents, my friends, Dimitri's family… they'd protect and love Aria.

"Thanks Liss."

"Anytime. Goodnight Rose."

"Night."

then she hung up and I was left with only my memories of the past and my hopes for the future.


Thank you for all the reviews I've gotten so far here is chapter three . Please review and let me know what you think. If you have any questions or suggestions let me know.