Chapter 7: Twenty-four weeks

Dislclaimer: I do not own Vampire Academy

RPOV

"What's the matter?" Lissa asked walking in the door to our kitchen with Andree close behind her. I was sitting slumped over at the breakfast bar.

I groaned not picking my head up.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to call Dimitri or the doctor?" she asked rushing towards me.

"No, they don't have a cure for what ails me," I told her.

"What is it? Is it serious?" she asked walking Andree into the living room and switching on one of Lexie's Spongebob DVDs.

"Yes, very serious. I have a major case of blue balls," I told her.

"Say what?" she asked sitting down across from me.

"You heard me. My boyfriend apparently finds me repulsive and refuses to engage in any sort of sexual activity with me, thus I am so horny I've been looking at vibrators on the internet."

She busted out laughing. "You're going to buy a vibrator?"

"Hey you try going a month without Sparky pleasing you. Trust me it isn't pleasant," I groaned. Truth is I was so hard up that I'd actually thought about slipping into Lissa's head while she and Sparky were going at it. I didn't, but I had seriously considered it.

"Have you tried asking him about it?"

"What? No of course not. I don't want to hear that he thinks I'm too fat to have sex with."

"Rose, I'm sure that's not the reason. You're hardly fat and Dimitri loves you. I have a hard time believing he doesn't want to sleep with you."

"Well then why hasn't he tried?" I cried exasperated.

"The last time we had sex was on my birthday. He hasn't so much as laid a hand on me in any way since."

"Nothing at all? I find that hard to believe. I've seen him kiss you and he always has his arm around you," she argued in his defense. "Just last night he was massaging your back while we watched that movie."

"Sure, he'll give me perfunctory kisses and he holds my hand and hugs me and stuff, but nothing sexual, nothing that could possibly lead to us ending up in the bedroom. Liss it is so damn frustrating. Am I that hideous?"

"Don't be ridiculous,you are far from hideous. Have you tried you know seducing him? Maybe he's just leaving it up to you."

"Oh I've tried just about everything. He won't touch me. He just makes excuses about having to be somewhere or that he's tired or needs a shower. Do you know how much time he spends in the shower these days? I think he takes at least three a day. I mean how dirty can he be? The other night I made him dinner, lit candles, played soft music and wore a really slutty French maid outfit and he nearly ran out of the room like his ass was on fire saying he had to take a shower. I'm starting to think there's someone else? I mean why else would he need so many showers? He's washing off her smell," I cried breaking into sobs.

"Oh Rose no, Dimitri would never cheat. He loves you too much. There has to be some other explanation."

"That's what I thought until I was going through his credit card statements," I said gesturing sadly to the pile of bills in front of me.

"What about them?" she asked.

"There's a charge from a jewelry store a few months ago when you guys were in Las Vegas. He bought whoever it is a really expensive piece of jewelry. Don't you see? This has obviously been going on for a while," I said the sobs coming quicker now as I rubbed my now quite noticeable belly.

"Do you know what he bought her?" I asked. She looked incredibly guilty and I knew she was hiding something from me. I could feel that she knew something.

"No, I don't and you're jumping to conclusions. How do you know that what he bought wasn't for you?"

"That's easy," I snorted. My birthday was last month and he didn't give me anything that cost six thousand dollars," I bit out.

Her face turned sympathetic. "Rose, I'm sure he's not cheating. You should really talk to him before jumping to conclusions.

"If he is I'm going have Abe take care of him," I muttered hoping she was right, but fearing that she wasn't.

"Just talk to him and try not to accuse him of anything. You don't have any proof that he's cheating. Try and give him the benefit of the doubt until you're sure," she pleaded.

"Fine, but I'm confronting him tonight," I told her hopping off the stool.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To buy a gun," I told her. Her face paled.

"Relax I was being sarcastic. I have a massage scheduled with Ambrose today and I really need to keep that appointment. I don't need to be any more tense than I already am."

"Oh and Rose?" she said as I was grabbing my keys from the hook.

"What?" I asked turning around.

"You might want to hold off on the whole vibrator thing."

I was a lot more relaxed after my massage, but I was still in a pretty pissy mood. Dimitri had texted me telling me that he made reservations for dinner. I was so not in the mood to go out, but whatever at least if he was taking me in public he mustn't be as repulsed as I thought or maybe he was taking me out in public so he didn't have to touch me. Either way by the time I got home my mood was even more sour.

There was big white box with a red ribbon on it sitting on our bed waiting for me when I exited the shower. It hadn't been there when I went in. That meant Dimitri must be home. There was a note on the box.

~Roza,

Please put on what is in the box and meet me downstairs.

~Dimitri

"So now he's telling me how to dress, probably doesn't want me looking frumpy in case he runs into his mistress," I grumbled tearing the cover off the box. Inside was a silver dress. It had a v-neck and was slightly iridescent. I rolled my eyes, but pulled it out of the box and grabbed some undergarments. I didn't bother with the sexy ones seeing is that I would be the only one who saw them. I blew my hair out, dabbed on some under eye concealer, a little blush and some lip gloss before slipping the dress on over my head. It was a perfect fit and accentuated my growing belly. I huffed as I looked in the mirror though. There was no mistaking it now though. Even with this beautiful dress on. My eyes looked worn and tired, my cheeks were puffy along with my fingers. My feet were swollen and my breasts were sore. I felt like an elephant and the color of the dress proved my point.

"Whatever, it's not like it matters," I grumbled slipping on a pair of black flats and grabbing my purse.

When I got downstairs Dimitri was already there waiting for me. He looked really handsome in his khacki pants and black button down shirt.

"You look amazing Roza," he said kissing my cheek softly which only sent tingles to every part of my extremely aroused body. I had to try hard to remember that I was mad at him.

"Do we have to go out?" I complained as he helped me into my coat.

"You don't want to go?" he asked looking panicked. I shrugged.

"Whatever, it's fine," I told him. He grabbed my hand and led me out the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we headed in the opposite direction of most of the decent restaurants at court.

"It's a surprise," he said and if I wasn't mistaken he sounded a little nervous. He had pulled on his collar three times already like it was suffocating him. Oh man, if he got me all dressed up to take me somewhere and tell me he was leaving, I was so going to have a meltdown. My heart began to race at the thoughts of the reasoning behind taking me out. If we were in public, I couldn't kick his ass or breakdown and scream. I tried following Lissa's advice and attempted not to jump to any conclusions as we continued to walk in silence.

After a few minutes we reached the gazebo in the park on the west side of court. It was usually pretty deserted as it was so far from the main part of the town. I stopped as I saw that it was lit up with white twinkle lights and there must have been a hundred candles lining the walkways forming a circle around it. In the middle there was a table set for two. Soft music was playing from somewhere as well.

He took my hand and escorted me up the stairs. I continued to gape in awe as he pulled the chair out for me. I took off my coat and hung it on the back of my chair. It was a mild day for early April and I was beginning to sweat. I couldn't figure him out. He was being so sweet right now taking me out on a romantic date and being all loving, but whenever we were alone he clammed up like if he touched me he'd get some sort of communicable disease. I was entirely confused, extremely sexually frustrated and about to blow my top.

Maybe he had orchestrated this whole dinner because he felt guilty about sneaking around behind my back. My mind began to wander as to who he would be fooling around with. Was she a dhampir, another guardian or was she some moroi? I wondered if she was better looking than me.

"Roza are you okay?" he asked breaking me out of my disturbing thoughts.

"Fine," I responded curtly.

"You don't seem fine. You look like you're going to be sick," he said with concern.

I took a deep, cleansing breath. "I'm fine," I insisted taking the cloth napkin off my plate and spreading it out across my lap, which was hard to do now that I was gaining weight at a steady pace.

"If you're sure," he said uncertainly.

"I said I'm fine," I snapped. He backed off finally taking the hint that I was not in a good mood.

"I took the cover off my plate revealing a mini pepperoni pizza."

"You should eat Roza," he said uncovering his own plate.

I tried to force down my food, but it was no use. My stomach was churning trying to figure out what his end game was. He was fidgety and nervous and kept grabbing his coat pocket. I finally decided I couldn't take it any longer.

"So what's with the fancy dinner and all?" I asked wanting some answers once and for all.

"You don't like it?" he asked his face falling as he eyed my barely touched pizza.

I shrugged. "It's okay, I just meant why are you trying so hard? Have you done something you want to make up for?" I prodded.

"What?" he asked looking perturbed at my blunt question.

I took a deep breath. "Who is she?" I asked softly.

"Who is who?" he asked looking genuinely confused.

"The woman you've been seeing behind my back?" I blurted out.

His eyes widened and he began to choke on his pizza. "What are you talking about? I'm not seeing anyone else? Where would you get an idea like that?" he asked his voice elevating with each syllable.

"I don't know you tell me? Maybe it's because you haven't made love to me in over a month. You never want to touch me, you take three showers a day, you're always running off to unknown destinations and I know you spent six thousand dollars at a jewelry store over two months ago!" I shouted rising to my feet.

"What am I supposed to think?"

"I, well, I can explain," he stuttered standing as well.

"I'll bet," I countered.

"Is she prettier than me?" I asked traitorous tears making their way down my cheeks.

"Rose, you have to stop this. I am not seeing anyone else. I would never do that? I love you. You're the only one for me. How could you think that?" he asked coming around the table and putting his hands on my shoulders.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked looking deep into my eyes.

"I want to. It's just that you're acting so strange."

He sighed. "This is so not how I imagined this night," he muttered.

"Roza, the reason I haven't wanted to be physical with you is not because I am not attracted to you. Just being in the same room with you makes me want to make love to you."

"It does?" I sniffled.

"Why do you think I have to take three cold showers a day?" he asked exasperated. "It's the only way I can effectively stifle the arousal you cause in me."

"Why would you want to do that?" I asked bewildered. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Roza, you said you're uncomfortable all the time. I don't want to add to that by making you satisfy my sexual needs. I want you to be comfortable and if that means not having sex for a while, then I'm willing to do it. I love you and I just want you to feel better." He looked just miserable as he said it.

"Well if you think it is more comfortable for me to be sexually frustrated twenty-four seven and think my boyfriend is repulsed by me then you're very wrong," I cried.

"I'm sorry," he said. "You don't know how badly I want you right now, especially in that dress," he said pulling me closer to him. I indeed could feel his arousal straining against his pants. He bent down capturing my lips in a passionate kiss. He tangled his hands in my hair and continued to possess my lips roughly. We broke apart gasping for air.

"I love you so much, I would never ever do anything to cause you pain. You have to know that right?" he asked stroking my hair softly his hand on my cheek.

"What about the jewelry store?" I asked still suspicious.

He sighed, but smiled which I found odd.

"That is a good question and speaking of jewelry, I have a question for you," he said fiddling in his jacket pocket. Much to my surprise he pulled out a small velvet box and I gasped as he dropped down to one knee taking my hand in his.

"Rosemarie Hathaway, you are my best friend, my lover, the mother of my children and the most beautiful woman I've ever met. Words cannot begin to describe what you mean to me. Make me the luckiest man on Earth by becoming my wife," he said gazing up at me with his smoldering chocolate brown eyes.

I just stared at him feeling like a complete idiot. All this time I'd been angry with him thinking he was running around behind my back when all he was doing was trying to make sure I was comfortable. I had no idea what to say to his proposal. How in the world he could possibly want to marry me after what I'd just accused him of proved what a saint he was. I'd never thought about us getting married before. It seemed silly. We were both dhampirs. We already had children together, we lived together. What need was there for us to get married? But now as he knelt in front of me holding out that little black box pouring out his heart and soul to me I realized just how much I wanted to be Mrs. Dimitri Belikov. He cleared his throat nervously alerting me that while I'd been spacing out he was probably freaking out at my silence. His hand was trembling in mine eagerly awaiting my response.

"Yes," I said calmly meeting his worried gaze.

"Yes?" he questioned incredulously.

"Yes Dimitri, I will be your wife," I told him my lips curving into a smile. He let out a breath of air as I held out my hand. In all the surprise I hadn't even gotten a good look at the ring. He slipped the ring gently onto my third finger placing a gentle kiss over it before standing up and sweeping me off of my feet twirling me around in a small circle.

"You have just made me the happiest man in the world my love," he said kissing me softly.

"Why did you look so surprised when I said yes?" I asked.

"Your parents both told me you'd say no when they gave me their blessing to ask you," he said. My jaw dropped.

"You asked their permission?" I asked. He nodded.

"And they said yes?" I squeaked.

"They did."

"They thought I'd say no?" I asked. He nodded.

"But you thought I'd say yes?" I questioned skeptically.

"I was pretty sure, but when you got so quiet, I thought maybe they were right," he said.

I looked down at my ring. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. It was so sparkly it was nearly blinding.

I punched his arm hard. "Hey what was that for?" he asked.

"You spent six grand on a ring?" I screeched. He laughed.

"You are worth every penny," he said pressing me up against the wall of the gazebo assaulting my lips as he pressed himself up against me.

"Ugh, Comrade, I need you so bad. Please don't make me suffer anymore," I pleaded. He looked around making sure we were entirely alone before spinning me around. I put my hands out bracing myself against the wall as his hands roamed the length of my body underneath my dress.

"Oh that feels so good," I moaned as he grazed his hands over my breasts.

"Please don't tease me anymore," I begged. I heard his zipper and then felt him pull my dress up and my panties down around my ankles. He put one arm around my waist and the other to anchor us against the wall before taking me from behind.

We made frantic passionate love right out in the open. It didn't take long before we reached a mutual release and he pulled my panties back up and my dress back down. We were both panting and my hair was matted to my neck and forehead with sweat.

"That was…"

"Just the beginning," he finished for me.

We hurried home to finish what we'd started in the gazebo only to find all of our friends waiting for us. Lissa who I now knew was in on the whole thing had organized an impromptu engagement party.

"Oh my God! Let me see!" Lissa squealed grabbing my hand.

"Don't act all surprised. I can feel that you knew the whole time," I hissed. She blushed in embarrassment.

"Sorry, but I couldn't spoil the surprise," she said.

All of our friends wanted hugs and Viktoria and Mia gushed over my ring.

"What were you two up to in that gazebo?" Christian asked smoothing down my tousled hair with a wink. Now it was my turn to blush.

"None of your beeswax Sparky," I said punching his arm.

"Congratulations Little Dhampir," Adrian said hugging me tightly.

"Were you in on this too?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, but I figured it was only a matter of time."

"Oh Roza, it's so sparkly you're blinding me with that thing!" Viktoria exclaimed. "I can't wait for you to be my sister!"

"Does Mama know?" she asked. Dimitri nodded.

"She knows I was going to ask. We'll have to call and tell her the good news," he said wrapping his arms around my waist kissing my neck, which fueled my already aroused body. Damn cock blocking friends.

"Yes, they were thrilled when we called and told them about the baby," I told them.

"Are you going to call your parents Rose?" Eddie asked.

I shook my head. "No, I have other plans for them," I said with a smirk. Dimitri raised his eyebrow at me.

"Aren't you afraid your eyebrow will freeze like that someday?" I asked him.

"So when do you want to get married? Have you thought about where you want to have it? What about a dress?" Lissa started chattering away.

"Woah, we just got engaged an hour ago. I haven't really thought that far," I told her.

"I know it's just that if you want to do it before the baby is born there isn't much time," she said.

"Well I would hardly think we'd be ready to get married in the next three months," I said. "Besides I don't want to look like a cow on my wedding day."

Dimitri had a funny look on his face as we continued our discussion.

Later as we climbed the stairs to our room I had to ask.

"Why did you look so funny down there? Is something the matter?"

"No, everything is fine," he said. I knew he was lying.

"What is it?" I demanded my hands on my hips.

"It's just that I can wait to be married to you. I was sort of hoping we could do it as soon as possible."

"Oh," was all I said.

"It's okay. If you really want to wait, then I'm fine with that. Whatever you want, I just can't wait until you are Mrs. Roza Belikova," he said putting his hands on my hips.

"Why is it Belikova?" I asked. "Why not Belikov? Adrian told me I had to add the A to Lexie's name on her birth certificate, but never really explained why."

"In Russia, a woman adds an A to the end of her husband's last name. The same with female children."

"But why?"

"You are too curious my love," he chuckled. "You don't have to do it. You can be Mrs. Belikov if you want. There is no law stating you must add it. It is tradition, but we live in the states so you don't have to follow it."

"What if I want to keep Hathaway?" I asked. I wanted us to all have the same last name, but professionally I felt like I would always want to keep the Hathaway name. It carried weight and prestige because of my mother's reputation and the one I'd built for myself. I wouldn't want to give that up.

"It would please me greatly if you would be Mrs. Belikova, but if you don't want to I will not take offense to it. You can be called whatever you want as long as you promise that no man will ever hold your heart or your hand," he said sweeping me off my feet.

"I promise," I told him. "Now put out that fire you started earlier," I commanded pulling at the buttons on his shirt.
"Your wish is my command," he said with a grin.

So how many people are surprised she said yes? Who thought Dimitri was really cheating? What did you think of the proposal? Don't worry plenty of drama yet to come. Please review.