Author's note: Thank you for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing. And I promise this chapter will prove to you why you should stick around for more. ;)

Happy reading!

Chapter Seven

Sydney knocked on Adrian's door before letting herself inside. The apartment was illuminated by candles.

Adrian leaned against the back of the couch. "Hello, birthday girl." He smirked.

She closed the door. "What did you do?"

He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I ordered a meal from a fancy restaurant." He kissed her. "And got a set of fancy dishes to put it on."

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. "You didn't have to do any of this."

"But I wanted to." He kissed the top of her head. "You deserve it, Sydney."

She lifted her head and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."

"And I won't talk about the baby tonight."

"I don't care if you do. I like hearing about her."

He smiled. "I have something for you." He moved away and picked up some envelopes from the coffee table. "I hope I'm not butting in, but I wanted to get you started. These are applications for schools in Pennsylvania and a few surrounding states that have the best architecture programs, from what I've researched. And you can use my address here to apply if you want. For the secrecy."

She took the stack from him. "Adrian…I don't know what to say."

"Say thank you. And promise me you'll look into it at least."

"I'll look into it and I'll apply. No harm in that."

"And if you're accepted?"

"We'll just have to see where I am in my life." She smiled. "I hope somewhere near you."

He cupped her cheeks. "I hope so, too." He leaned down and covered her mouth with his. He simply brushed his lips over hers again and again.

Sydney dropped the envelopes onto the couch and gathered the front of his shirt in one hand. The other reached up behind his head to tangle in his hair. "Hm." She breathed and then opened her mouth and flicked her tongue out to taste his lips.

He opened his mouth to her and slid his tongue along with hers. A moan escaped him as she pressed herself closer.

She responded with her own appreciative moan. She pushed him down on the couch and straddled him. "Is this okay?" She asked, reaching for the hem of his shirt.

His voice was strangled when he asked, "Sage?"

She paused. "What?"

"What are you expecting?"

"I'm not sure yet." She pulled his shirt off his head. Her hands splayed out on his bare chest.

He could feel her trembling. He covered her hands with his. "Don't do this because you think I expect it."

She looked at him a moment and then leaned down, taking control of his mouth. This kiss was far more subdued than the last. She wrapped her arms around his chest.

Adrian cradled her to him. He combed his fingers through her hair and mumbled her name against her lips.

Sydney's hand moved to his side. She slid her hand up and down slowly, getting the feel for his skin against hers.

He rolled her underneath him, pushing the college applications onto the floor. His hand went under her shirt and splayed it out on her stomach.

"You can do a little more than that." She murmured against his lips.

"Are you sure?"

"Mm-hm." She clamped her mouth on his and lifted herself off the couch. She tugged at her own shirt, breaking the kiss to pull it over her head.

He looked down at her, his breath ragged. He rested his hands on her hips and then moved them up slowly. "God, Sage."

"I really am trying." She said softly, knowing that he was looking at how thin she was.

"I know. And you look great." He leaned down and kissed her again, one hand sliding up to cup one of her breasts over her bra.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and moaned into his mouth.

Adrian pressed his knee between her legs and Sydney wrapped her ankle around his. He groaned and pressed himself down into her. "Sydney, tell me what you want."

"You, Adrian. All of you."

He kissed her softly once more and then sat back. "Not tonight." He said reluctantly.

She watched him a moment as she tried to regain her breathing. Then she sat up and wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

"For denying you what you want?" He asked, turning to look at her.

"For reminding me that I'm better than a mere conquest."

"Well, you are, Sydney." He cupped her cheeks. "I love you. And we'll do it when the time is right."

She kissed him and then moved away. They awkwardly put on their shirts.

Adrian walked into the kitchen. Sydney gathered the papers from the floor and out them on the coffee table. She walked into the kitchen just as Adrian's phone went off.

He took it out of his pocket and smiled. He held it up to show her. "Look at that. Lorelei is going to be a big baby."

Sydney walked closer to get a better look. "Rose looks miserable."

"I'm sure Dimitri does everything in his power to make her less miserable. But I don't want to think about that." Adrian put the phone on silent and then stuffed it back in his pocket. He reached up and cupped Sydney's cheek. "Are you okay?"

She leaned into his hand. "Why wouldn't I be okay? My boyfriend is doing some really sweet things for me for my birthday. It's the best one I've ever had and we haven't even had supper yet."

"You just called me your boyfriend." He smirked.

"I did."

"I'm glad you think that." He kissed her softly. "How hungry are you? This place sent over a ton of food. So whatever we don't eat tonight, we'll have to eat tomorrow." He pulled out a chair for her and poured her a glass of sparkling grape juice. He sat a plate in front of her and then kissed her temple. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you, Adrian. You don't know what this means to me."

"I think I have a bit of an idea." He sat down beside her and rested a hand on her knee. He kept it there the entire meal.

"Are you getting anxious?" She asked softly.

"Anxious?"

"For the baby."

He smiled proudly. "Just a little."

"Only a little?" She rubbed his hand. "I wish I could do something for you."

"Like a baby shower? Not much of a party. Eddie still doesn't fully approve and you and Jill are the only other ones who know."

"You deserve something."

"I just want your continued support. And for you to promise to help me spoil Lorelei once she's here."

She grinned. "I think I can do that."

He kissed her. "I love you."

She watched him a moment and then said softly, "I love you, too."

He pulled her onto his lap. "The best words you've spoken to me." He kissed her. "I'd ask you to marry me if I thought it would actually happen."

"We're not ready for that." She brushed her lips over his. "But how do you know it wouldn't happen if we were?"

"Are you saying it would?"

"I'm saying you shouldn't discredit how much I care about you. I plan on being around you as much as I can for the rest of my life. This is a forever thing. Maybe not marriage, especially not any time soon. But I love you, Adrian. I love you a lot. And now that I've said it once, I'm not going to let a day go by without telling you." She kissed him again. "I love you."

"And I love you." He kissed her lazily for a while. "I have dessert."

"Do you want me to lick it off you?"

"Oh, my god, Sydney." He laughed and buried his eyes in her neck. "I can't believe you just said that."

She laughed. "I have fantasies, too."

He looked up at her. "Really?"

"That was a joke. About the licking dessert off you. Maybe one day down the road, but—"

Adrian broke off her rambling with a kiss. "I know, Sydney. I like the joke. And I love you. And I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you in any way you will give me."

"I do too."

They kissed for a while longer. Sydney never wanted to leave his embrace. But it was getting late and she needed to get back to the dorm before the curfew. She broke the kiss with a sigh.

"I hate that I always have to leave you." She said.

"I know." Adrian sighed. He reached into his pocket. "This damn thing has been going off all evening. I'm sorry." He opened his texts. "My dad. Great."

"What?"

"He didn't realize Rose was going to keep the baby at Court. And the name has gotten around. He's not happy I'm giving a dhampir the most glorious Moroi name in existence. And he's pissed I haven't answered any of his messages all night."

"Well, you were schmoozing your girlfriend."

"Yeah, my human girlfriend. My Alchemist girlfriend. That would go over so well." He typed out a message.

Sydney combed her fingers through his hair and let him calm down.

"I don't mean anything against you." He put the phone down and wrapped his arms around her again. "I love you, Sage. I love everything you are."

"And I love everything you are, Adrian." She kissed him. "Are you okay?"

He smirked. "You've asked me that a lot over these last few months."

"I have. I like knowing you're all right."

"Well, I am. Don't worry about me. I have this covered."

She rested her forehead against his. "I need to go."

"Without dessert?"

"I really don't need it." She stood and walked into the living room to gather the applications. "I wish I could stay."

"You could call and say you need to stay out for a project."

"No, I can't. Not if I don't want detention." She smiled. "Listen to me. I sound like I actually belong there."

He grinned. "I'm having some schoolgirl fantasies now."

"Plaid skirt, white shirt, too much skin?"

He moaned appreciatively. "Oh, yes."

She kissed him. "Maybe one day." She giggled.

"Happy birthday, Sage."

"Thank you. I won't ever forget it."

Adrian walked her out to her car and kissed her one last time before finally letting her go.