Surprise, Surprise - Part 1
A/N:
Takes place a month after Last Sacrifice. Rose discovers something alarming and she needs Adrian's help. Will he put aside his heartbreak to help Rose and Dimitri?
RPOV
"Hi, Doctor."
It's been a month since I was shot. A very long month and hectic month. Between me guarding Lissa and the additional duties of being head guardian to the queen I've been stretched out pretty thin. Thankfully, at the end of every day I get to go home to my Russian God. Dimitri and I moved in to a suite in the palace adjacent to Lissa and Christian's suite. Things were looking pretty good for all of us.
I'm basically back to my old self, minus me being shadow-kissed. Never thought I'd miss that. This is my last check-up. I wasn't planning on going but when the clinic called to remind me of this "crucial" check-up Dimitri was the one who answered the phone. He insisted on me going, claiming that if I'm not at my peak I'm endangering Lissa. I hate it when he's right. Plus I didn't want him to know that I've been a little queazy for the past week or so. It's just stress, right?
"How are you feeling, Rose?". The doctor asked, she reminded me so much of Dr. Olendzki.
"I feel fine, a little tired but that's expected with the stress of guarding the Queen". Actually I was a lot tired. A better word would be fatigue, but she doesn't have to know that, right? Good thing Dimitri isn't here, he would have called me out on my lie.
"Alright then," the doctor continued. "Rose, as you remember, we did blood work last time you were here." I nodded. "Well, an intern was the one who ordered the tests and was over zealous - he ordered too many test. The good news is that all the results came back clear and I'd like to give you a clean bill of health."
"Great!" I said and started to get up to leave.
"However," she stopped me, "some of the results for the unnecessary tests were a little odd leading me to believe that there was a mix-up in the lab. So I'd like to take some blood again and re-do all the tests."
"Ok. Doc, I don't want to be rude, but I have a Queen to guard, I don't have time to deal with your lab's mistake".
"I understand Rose, but until I get the labs back I can't sign off on your full instatement." She looked wary. "We can take blood now and have all the results by tomorrow."
"Alright, fine. Tomorrow's my day off. I had planned on spending it a little differently but I'll be here." She took my blood and asked me to return tomorrow at 9:00.
With that I left, frustrated about having to come back the next day for her to tell me that everything's fine, instead of spending the day in bed with Dimitri.
When I got home, of course Dimitri asked about the doctor's appointment. After filling him in he said he'd come with me and we could have a late breakfast at the cafe afterwards. I was so tired that after dinner I almost immediately fell asleep on the couch. Dimitri carried me to bed. Oh, how I love this man, he spoils me so.
The following morning Dimitri and I were sitting in the Doc's office again.
"Good morning Rose, Guardian Belikov. How are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine Doc. What's the news?" I asked impatiently, I was very hungry and Dimitri promised me breakfast.
"Well Rose, it looks like you're in great health. The tests came back all clear"
"Great! Let's go!" I grabbed Dimitri's hand ad started tugging him to the door.
"However," she stopped me again. "There are still some test results I need to discuss with you."
"What's wrong? I thought all the results were fine"
"I didn't say something was wrong, just that the results needed to be discussed".
"Doc, you're confusing me".
She looked between Dimitri and I, "Maybe it would be best if we discussed this matter in private".
My eyes widened. I took Dimitri's hand in my and said "Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him."
"Don't say I didn't warn you", she muttered. "Rose, when was your last menstrual cycle?"
"I don't know, it's been a while a guess. Why, do I have hemoglobin deficiency like I had after the surgery? I know it's odd for dampers - " she cut me off.
"No Rose, it's not that. Think. When was your last cycle?"
I looked over at Dimitri, but he wouldn't have an answer for me. How could he?
"I vaguely remember having finished one about a week before my arrest, which was almost 2 months ago, I guess."
"So you missed your period?"
"Yes. But it's not the fist time. With the amount of training I do, it's happened a few times before. Plus there was the whole getting shot and almost dying" Dimitri cringed at my last words.
"Rose," the doctor said, "I'm just going to come right out and say this. You're pregnant".
I burst out laughing. That had to be the funniest thing I'd ever heard in my life. I was clutching my stomach and in tears from laughing. The doctor and Dimitri just stared worriedly.
"Am I being punk'd?!" I asked. "Did Christian Ozera put you up to this? I am so going to get him back" still very amused by what was happening.
The doctor looked between Dimitri and I again and said "I'm sorry, but this is not a joke. You are pregnant and should be due in about 8 months. You need to take this seriously."
I just stared at her. I couldn't be pregnant! Never mind that I was way too young to be a mother, I've only ever been with Dimitri. There's no way he could get me pregnant. The must be some mistake.
I must have zoned out for a while, Dimitri and the doctor were trying to get my attention.
"I have some pamphlets for you so you know what options you have. I've also spoken to an OBGYN who is the best in his field and a close friend. She agreed to see you today, but you have to call her secretary to set it up. Here's the number". Dimitri took the pamphlets and I just nodded, not really sure what to say.
The doctor turned to Dimitri and said "I know that this is a lot to take in. She should go home and rest for a while".
"Understood. I'll get her in into bed. Come Rose, Let's go home". I just nodded again. I was too stunned to say anything.
DPOV
Days like these I was thankful I'd already mastered what Rose called my guardian mask. I may have looked calm on the outside, but inside I was a hot mess. I know Rose didn't cheat on me, She was with Adrain before we were together, but it still felt like a betrayal. I know that we can't have children but would I really ask her to give up her chance at having a child, even if it wasn't with me? No.
I started wondering if she'd leave me to be with the father of her child - Adrain. I just hope that he does the right thing for the baby. I don't want to lose my Roza. But can I bring myself to rise a child with her that isn't mine? Yes. I loved her that much.
While we were walking home from the clinic, my arm was wrapped around her waist guiding her the entire way. It felt like she wasn't really there, completely lost in thought.
"Roza?"
"Mmhh?"
"I love you. So much. I'll support whatever you decide to do, I'll do what ever you ask me" no matter how much it hurts me, I thought to myself. I kissed the top of her head. She nodded and said thank you.
When we got back to the apartment she broke down, I'd never seen her cry so much before. My shirt was completely soaked with her tears. Not that I minded. After what felt like hours she finally calmed. She looked up at me with this resolve in her eyes. And caught me completely off guard with her next request.
"Please, Dimitri, I have to talk to Adrain. Now. Please. Will you get him for me?" I agreed reluctantly. At this point I'd do anything to make her happy, or at least not as upset.
I hated Ivashkov so much right now. The worst part was that a part of me wanted to run screaming and beat him up. But I couldn't do that to Rose or her unborn child. I knew how much she still cared for him and how much this child would need a father. Every step I took towards the royal Moroi housing I felt another pang in my chest.
I knocked loudly on his door.
"Oh, it's you. What do you want, Belikov? I'm a little busy." He didn't look good - his eyes were bloodshot from the drinking, he had dark circle under his eyed, his hair was a mess and not in a good way. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Adrian, come back" I heard a girl call him from in the apartment. Apparently he was "entertaining" company.
"Rose needs to see you, she asked me to fetch you". Guardian mask still on.
"I didn't take you for the lap-dog type, Belikov." The distain in his voice was clear.
I knew there wasn't much I could say that would get through to him, but I also didn't want to make a scene by dragging a Royal Moroi screaming through court.
"Rose got some news today from the doctor during her last check-up and she needs to discuss them with you." This seemed to sober him up a bit.
"What's wrong with Rose?" He was clearly worried about her. "Why can't Lissa fix it?" He was procrastinating.
"She should be the one to tell. Now you can come with me now willingly. Or…"
"Or?" Did he really have to ask?
"Or I can make you".
"It's that important, huh?" He asked more to himself. "Lets go". He stepped out of his apartment closing the door behind him. I looked at him questioningly with an eyebrow arched. "Don't worry about her, she was there when I woke up this morning - I'm sure she can keep herself entertained for a while", he said. We walked in silence the rest of the way back to mine and Roza's place.
When we got there Roza was in the living room, eyes red and puffy from all the crying. It nearly broke my heart.
As soon as he saw her Adrian ran to her engulfing her in a strong embrace.
"Little Damhpir, what's wrong?" he asked softly.
There was the pang in my chest again. I wanted to give them some privacy. "I'll just leave you two alone". I said quietly and headed to the other room.
RPOV
Dimitri tried to excuse himself when Adrian and I hugged.
"Dimitri, please stay. I need you". He nodded and sat in the armchair while Adrian sat with me in the love seat. Ironic, huh?
"What's going on Rose?"
"Adrian, I was at the doctor's today and got some news, and I really need your help".
"Are you sick? Please tell me you're not sick". He looked paler than usual.
"No, I'm not sick. Adrian, please don't be mad and don't hate me".
"How could I ever hate you?" he asked, whiping a lone tear from my cheek.
I took a deep breathe. "Adrian, I'm pregnant", It was almost a whisper.
He just sat there, staring at me blankly.
"Adrian?" He stood up abruptly.
"Why are you telling me this? Haven't you hurt me enough?" I could see Dimitri in the corner of my eye clenching his fists.
"Adrian, please calm down".
"Calm down?! What do you want from me?" I could tell Dimitri was about ready to go all Hulk smash on him. "Who's the father Rose? You and I both know it's not me". I glanced a Dimitri, whose eyes widened when he realized that Adrian wasn't the father.
"Rose, if Adrian's not the father who is?" Dimitri asked. His gaze was holding me firm in my place. This was it. This was when I tell him the truth.
"Dimitiri, I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier but I was just in a state of utter shock. This shouldn't even be able to happen." I paused. "Dimitri, you're the father."
"Rose please don't lie to me". Dimitri said with a hurt expression.
"I swear to you that I'm telling the truth. I've only ever been with you. Only you"
After a few minutes of silence he said "Even if that's true, we haven't been back together that long. Especially since we waited for you to recover from being shot." His voice was slowly rising.
I really didn't like his tone but I could understand where he was coming from.
"I know. I did the math. This happened before I was shot, right before I was shot".
"We were only together once…" he trailed off.
Adrian suddenly chimed in, "It only takes once". After a moment of thought he turned to Dimitri and said "She's telling the truth, you know".
"How would you know, you're too drunk to see her aura". He retorted.
"I know because I know her. I know she'd never lie about something like this. And you should know that too!". I couldn't believe that after everything, Adrian was still defending my character.
Dimitri got up from the armchair and knelt in front of me.
"I'm the father?" I nodded. His eyes were watery.
He took my hands in his and kissed them, then leaned his forehead to mine. Then he kissed my forehead. "I love you so much, Roza. I'm so sorry I didn't believe you. Please forgive me". I nodded.
"There's nothing to forgive", I replied.
He gently brushed my lips with his and placed his hand on my stomach. I was kind of an awkward position since I was still sitting on the couch and he was kneeling in front of me.
"I promise you Roza, That I will love you and our baby for the rest of my life. I'll protect you both and take care of you for as long as I live. You are my everything, Milaya". I loved it when he called me that. All I could say way "I love you too", now I was teary-eyed. Stupid hormones!
We were in our own little bubble of joy until Adrain cleared his throat. We had completely forgotten about him, how sad.
"Congrats to you both." He said without emotion. "But that still doesn't explain why you needed me here."
Oh, right. "Adrian, this baby has two dhampir parents. As far as we know, he or she will be the first ever." I looked at Dimitri. Everything that needed to be said pasted between us in that one look. I turned back to Adrian and said "No one can know that Dimitri's the father. Or Our baby will become a lab-rat." I shuddered at the thought.
"You want me to pretend to be the father?" Adrian asked dumbfounded.
"No! I'd never do that to you!" We all knew that he'd wind up being a third wheel to our little family, he'd try to actually take care of us no matter what, which would only hurt him more. He'd get a bad reputation for ditching his dhampir kid, not that most Morio would even care.
"I need you to play the wronged ex-boyfriend. I need you to tell anyone who will listen that I cheated on you left and right. That while I was away I slept with so many Moroi there is no way I could ever tell who the father is."
They both looked at me like I was crazy. But crazy plans were my specialty, weren't they?
It was Dimitri who spoke first. "Rose, do you have any idea how that will look? What it would do to your reputation?"
"I don't care. I'm doing this for my child."
"So no one's going to know the truth? besides us? No one's going to know the baby is mine?"
"This isn't time for pride, comrade". I continued "We'll just make sure everyone knows that we didn't know about the pregnancy when we got back together and you so graciously stayed with me even after you found out. Which technically you offered to do anyway. You get to be the knight in shining armor."
"You've really thought this through, haven't you?"
"Well I was hysterically crying for an hour. I had to work out the details."
"But you know that's not what I'm talking about. One day we're going to have to explain it to the baby".
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, Comrade."
"Rose," Adrain suddenly said to me "I think you're going to have to tell at least a few people. Like Lissa. She's going to want to know why her head guardian is suddenly being called a pregnant blood whore, especially with all the rumors I'll be starting. Not to mention the fact that she'll be able to tell you're pregnant in your aura in a few weeks at the most."
That rattled Dimitri. "No one said anything about blood whore rumors!"
"I'm not going to call her that. But everyone else will. Pregnant dhampir and blood whore are kind of synonymous to the Royals."
"Fine," I replied hesitantly. "I'll step down. It's not like I'm any use to her in this condition anyway."
My resolve didn't falter at this. But Dimitri's did. "Roza, are you sure about this? You'd be giving up everything you worked for your whole life".
"Not everything" I said simply. He just nodded.
"Then it's settle. Adrian, you'll start rumors of my unfaithfulness and we'll get Lissa up to speed".
I called Lissa and made plans for all of us for dinner. Dinner wasn't for a few hours, so Adrian left. I thanked him again and he was on his way.
