Eddie cradled me in his arms. I felt so weightless as he dashed across the grounds. Had he gotten so strong since we last trained together? How had I missed that? It had only been seven months ago. He looked down at me with those hazel eyes and it was then I noticed something different. He wasn't just the old Eddie anymore. He had really grown up. The man looking down into my eyes was all new to me. I rested my head into his chest and braced for the next contraction.

His grip tightened on me, "Just hold on, Rose. We are almost there."

I tried to nod my head but my body didn't want to move. All I could manage was to wrap my arms around my stomach and pray that we would make it on time. That Dimitri would make it on time.

Eddie stretched out his leg and kicked the doors open. "Someone, anyone, help!"

A couple of people in medical scrubs caming running up to us. One of them I recognized immediately. Israel. I grabbed the collar of his top and pulled him to me. "Get me Sonya Karp now!" With wide eyes he nodded and ran off to the front desk.

I didn't get a wheel chair like Liss. Instead Eddie carried me the rest of the way. We stepped into the elevator and he began to pace. I shook my head, "Calm down. It's alright. We made it."

He looked down at me, eyes so full of concern. "We're not out of the dark just yet."

I cringed as another sharp pain shot up my back and my stomach muscles contracted. A low groan hummed out of my lips. I made myself light headed by trying not to scream out. How the hell did Liss manage this?!

The sleek metal doors opened and Eddie nearly jumped out. Sonya was already making long strides towards us. "This way!"

She led us into a white room, it was identical to the room Liss was in. Eddie slowly laid me back on the bed and took a step back. I reached out and grabbed his hand, "Don't leave me alone."

His hand went from limp to a tight grasp, "I won't."

Sonya pressed a few patches on my stomach and flipped on a machine. It began to beep and scratch lines out like a lie detector. She studied the long sheet intensely before slipping on a glove, "I'm going to need to check how low Gabriel is."

"Okay..." Like I know what that means.

She nodded at me, "So, take off your clothes."

I don't know how I didn't expect that. I looked up at Eddie. He looked just as surprised. "Should I... should I step out for a bit?"

"You can stay. You can just face the other way," Sonya said with a smile.

I couldn't understand why she was smiling. I was stripping down in a room with two people I didn't quite feel comfortable getting naked in front of. I waited until they both had their backs to me before throwing off my clothes and slipping into the gown.

Sonya was the first to turn back around. "Wow, you were fast."

"I try."

"Okay, now, legs open." She spread them like she had so many times during my final check ups but for some reason I felt so exposed this time.

Maybe because Eddie is here too. I looked up at him but he was thankfully looking the other way. I tried to relax and not mind that there was a Moroi checking my under carage. Or that I was still in considerable pain and nobody was offering to do anything about it. "Um, Sonya?"

She peeked her eyes just over the covers at me, "Hmm?"

"Is there any way I could get something for pain?"

She gently lowered and closed my legs, "Not just yet."

"Not yet? Why not yet?" I tried to shift my body into a more comfortable position, with little success.

Eddie pressed an arrow button on a control beside my bed and it began to whir. The bed started to take on a more comfortable reclining position. "Better?"

I nodded, "Thanks."

"Not yet because you are only dialated at a five. If we give it to you now it will ware off by the time you go into active labor." She snapped off the gloves and tossed them in a trash bin.

That's disappointing, "Oh. Well how long do I have to wait?"

She took on a thinking pose and frowned, "I guess just let me know when the pain gets unbarible and your contractions are constant."

"You can't be serious. I have to wait until I feel like I'm going to die?" I didn't like the sound of that at all.

She laughed, "Of course not! Just until you're in a significant amount of pain."

"Right..."

"You have a friend here for comfort and distraction," she gestured to Eddie.

He looked over to me, "Yea, just ask."

I dropped back and sighed, "Thanks." I had just shut my eyes to relax when a thought struck me. "When is Dimitri getting here?"

He grimaced, "Not for a couple of hours."

"Where is he?" I began to grow anxious.

"I... I don't know," he broke eye contact.

I shut my eyes and they rolled back in frustration. In my head I was screaming and lashing out. I was grabbing Eddie by his arm and twisting it behind his back demanding that he tell me exactly what he knows. But in reality that was quite a ways from actually ever happening. I dared a peek out at him. He had his head hung low and gazed sheepishly away.

He noticed my small glare and shrugged, "Sorry. I wish I could be more help to you."

"It's fine," I sighed out heavily.

It felt like a hundred hours slipped by while Eddie and I flipped through the channels on the tiny box set on the wall mount just a few feet from my bed. Every so often I'd curl up and cringe from the pain of contractions. And every hour my contractions were getting closer and harder. A small pressure was beginning to build on my hips. Eddie would take my hand and let me squeeze out the pain. He'd gently brush my hair back to soothe me and whisper calming words. Some times he'd remind me how strong I was while others would be of Dimitri's return.

My stomach growled loudly, "I'm so hungry."

"Um, Sonya said you cannot have anything but icecream or ice chips.." he looked like he was bracing himself for a lashing.

Instead I grabbed the control and paged the desk. Sonya came in immediately, "Is everything alright?"

"I'm hungry."

She nodded, "Okay. Well Eddie can bring you icecream or..."

"No," I interupted impatiently. "I want real food."

She shook her head and smiled, "I'm sorry, Rose, but you cannot have any solids."

This was turning annoying. Not only did I have considerable pain but now I couldn't eat anything other than frozen ice or frozen flavored milk. I threw my hands up in exasperation, "Fine! Can I get a bowl of icecream?"

"Yes, ma'am", and Eddie was gone before I could tell him what kind.

Sonya sat down on the recliner beside my bed, "I'm sorry. I know this sucks."

"Completely sucks", I agreed unembarassed as I bit my pillow. A hard contraction came unexpectedly.

"But it'll be over before you know it," she patted my knee and got up to leave.

I hugged my pillow and buried my face into the fluff. "I really hope not." Dimitri has to get here first.

The sound of the door opening and closing brought me to the realization that I was now completely alone. Sonya had to go back to her duties, Eddie was on the icecream run, and Dimitri still wasn't back yet. I got up and took my cell out of my pant pocket. I stared down at the list of contacts before picking someone and putting it to my ear. I bit my lip as I nervously awaited.

"Rose? Before you say anything, I just want to tell you how sorry I am about how things ended when you left. I'm really just trying to look out for you and the baby," Liss' apology left me speechless... for a moment.

I smiled to myself, "Don't worry about it. I get it. But there's something I want to ask you now."

"Anything. You just name it," she sounded eager to please.

"Could you keep me company here at the hospital?" I groaned as I held back the cry I wanted to scream out. These damn contractions are getting worse.

She gasped, "The hospital?! What are you doing there? Is everything alright? How's the baby?"

"I'm fine, everything's fine. My water broke and I'm just waiting on Gabe." And Dimitri. "I'm dialated at a five so far. I think." I heard sniffles on the line, "Liss, are you okay?"

"Mm-Hm. I'm just so happy for you. But sad too because Dimitri isn't here yet and I know how much you wanted him here," she let out a soft sob.

I almost started crying with her, "I know. But Eddie called him and he's on his way."

"Eddie? How did he know you were in the hospital but I'm just finding out? Were you that upset with me that you didn't even want me around?"

Great, now she thinks I'm bitter, "No, Liss. He came by to see me and that's when it all happened. He carried me over here and neither of us thought to call anybody else but Dimitri." My jaw locked as a strong contraction tightened my stomach and a pain shot through me.

"Oh," she sounded slightly relieved. "Okay then. I'll be there in a bit. Christian can stay here with the baby."

"Thanks. And Liss," I paused for a moment to muster up some courage and swallow my pride. "I'm sorry too. About earlier. I acted like a jerk and I should have known that you really were just looking out for me."

She quietly answered, "It's okay. I'll see you soon."

I flipped my cell closed and sat it on the nightstand beside the bed. I bundled myself under the blankets to shield myself from the cooling room. I began to click through the channels again. Nothing good is ever on. Then without any warning the door swung open. I was expecting Eddie to waltz in with a big bowl of frozen sweets, Sonya to come check up on my progress or come to find Liss had sprinted across the Court grounds to be a supporting friend at my side. But instead it was someone unexpected. Or at least not expected for a few hours more. Dimitri stood there, chest heaving and hair undone around his face.

"Roza," he breathed out heavily. "I'm so sorry I'm late." He quickly approached me with open arms and I fell into his embrace. "I should have been here for you."

The sobs broke through and I completely broke down in his arms. "Don't beat yourself up about it. I'm fine. Eddie has been with me."

"But that should have been me," he ran his hands through my hair before cradling my head to his chest.

I shook my head, further buring myself deeper against him, "It's fine. I'm fine." I felt my hot tears seep into his white cotton shirt. I inahled his scent. He had only been gone a little less than a day and it felt like forever. Having him there with me was bliss.

He pulled away as I tightened up when a contraction came. He looked me in the eye, brushed back some hair and tucked it behind my ear, "But still, I should have been here."

I reached out and softly shifted his hair from his face, "Dimitri, stop. All that matters is that you made it. You're here. Safe with me."

He rested his forehead against mine and sighed. We stayed there like that in silence. I shut my eyes and pictured us like this frozen in time. Just to be with him. That was enough.

"How was the trip with my dad?" I asked cautiously.

He groaned, "We can talk about that later."

"That bad?" I laughed out.

He chuckled and it warmed me to hear it. "Later, Rose."

The doors swung open again. "I've got chocolate, vanilla, and... strawberry. Dimitri, you made it." Eddie sounded relieved.

He let me go for a moment to take Eddie's free hand. They shook firmly. "Thank you. For keeping Rose and Gabriel safe while I was away."

Eddie nodded, "I was just in the right place at the right time. But thank you." I could see the pride well up in him. He had always looked up to Dimitri as a kind of role model. The kind of Guardian he wanted to be. And now he was getting praise from him. It might not be about some huge mission but this was something more for Dimitri and Eddie knew it.

I began to get another contraction but I brushed it off as best I could. I was so hungry. "My icecream, please." I pulled Dimitri back by his duster and reached out for Eddie.

"Oh, right!" He handed me the bowl. There were large clumps of icecream lumped one overlapping the other with a large silver spoon stabbed into the side of the chocolate pile.

Dimitri chuckled, "Icecream?"

I shoved a scoop into my mouth, "What? I was hungry."

"And you asked for icecream," he had this smile on his face that made me feel childish.

I licked the spoon clean before returning it to the bowl for another spoonful, "It's all I was allowed."

"Correct," Lissa's voice rang over to me. I hadn't even noticed her enter.

I gestured to her, "See? And she would know."

Liss glided over to my side and took my hand. She looked around at Dimitri and Eddie, "Looks like you won't be needing me anymore."

"Are you kidding me?" I laughed out. "Of course I still need you."

She gave me a warm smile, "Kidding. I'm just glad Dimitri made it back on time."

He stroked my hair, "Me, too."

"So how are you feeling? Almost ready?" she asked, taking a seat at the edge of my bed.

All I could manage was a shrug. "I'm ready. I don't know about him." I ran my hand over my stomach.

"Well then let's just see about that," Sonya chimed as she walked through the door. She walked over to my bed and patted my feet, "Time for another check."

A groan escaped my mouth as I braced for the building contraction, "Great."

"I'm just going to step out," Eddie gave me a quick nudge on my arm and smiled. "Just call me if you need something."

"I guess that's my exit as well. We'll be waiting," she gave my hand one last squeeze before releasing me.

I returned a smile, "Thanks, you guys."

Sonya placed my feet apart and "spread 'em". I tried to relax and once again ignore her actions. Dimitri leaned towards me with his back to her. I guess he felt just as awkward about it.

He ran his fingers through my hair before picking up a strand and wrapping it on the tip of his fingers. "Are you nervous?"

I shrugged, "A little. You?"

"Of course," he breathed out.

I cupped his cheek in my hand, "Be glad you don't have to push him out."

A sly grin slipped on his lips, "I still have to be here to hold your hand and take whatever you throw at me. Verbally or physically."

That made me laugh. "I feel sorry for you." I cringed and squeezed onto the edging of the bed as another hard contraction hit me.

"Remind me to take out all the things that she could possibly pick up and throw," Sonya noted as she stood back up and slipped off her white gloves.

I lowered my legs, "So what's the dialation, doc?"

"Eight. Want that pain medicine now?" she asked arching her brow.

I nearly lept out of the bed to dart out of the room and medicate myself. "Please!?"

She nodded, "I'll get someone to put in an IV drip and a epidural. Just give us a few more minutes."

I dropped back into my bed and sighed. Thank God! Relief flooded over me. I ran my hand over my contracting stomach and took a deep breath. "It's almost time."

Dimitri took my hand and squeezed, "I'm here for you."

By Shadow Kissed Moroi