I woke up about an hour later. I woke Bailey up quickly, knowing we didn't have long before we were going to dinner with Lissa. I helped Bailey into a different pair of clothes, and brushed her hair out. I then changed out of my uniform, and into appropriate clothes. Liss knocked on the door about ten before seven.

"You guys ready?" She asked, as Bailey opened the door.

"I am." She sang. Lissa smiled. I walked up behind Bailey.

"We're good." I put my money in my pocket, my stake hidden in my pants, and my keys in my other pocket. We started out of court, and to the van that was driving us. We were going to the café right outside court. We could have walked, but Moroi are a bit lazy. When we got there, we went inside and got a table. Christian and Bailey were chatting about Bailey whooping Adrian's ass at Candy Land. We were all laughing. We sat down and started looking through the menu.

"So.. Rose, how are you?" Christian asked.

"I'm breathing." I said. He nodded.

"So.. Liss, how does it feel to be queen?"

"It hasn't really sank in yet." I chuckled.

"I think there's a bunch of stuff that hasn't sank in yet." I said. Lissa looked upset about this. The waitress came up and smiled. She was looking directly at Christian. I almost laughed. She was very pretty. She had black hair and these green eyes, almost like Adrian's.

"My names Courtney, and I'll be your server tonight." She said, looking directly at Adrian. I could see Lissa about to lose it. Calm down. I sent her through the bond.

"Can I start you off with drinks?"

"Sweet tea, and a kids Pepsi." I said, trying to take the attention off Liss and Christian.

"Okay.. And you two?"

"Sweet tea." Christian said.

"Water." Lissa almost hissed. She nodded and threw an unnessicary smile at Christian. His face was so red, it was hilarious.

"Whats wrong Fireboy?" I asked. He glared at me.

"Shut up Rose." I laughed. Lissa finally composed herself, and turned to me.

"Dimitri came to me after you two were in the gym." Liss said.

"Oh yeah? For what? To tell on me." She shook her head.

"So I could heal his jaw. You broke it."

"Score." I said. Christian laughed and gave me a high-five. Bailey sort of looked upset.

"She's just kidding. I accidentally hit a friend of mine in gym today. We were practicing. Guardian's fight all the time for practice against strigoi. I didn't mean to hurt him." I heard Christian almost snort. I turned my glare on him and he automatically shut up. The waitress came back with our drinks. We all ordered our food, and waited.

"He really wants to talk to you. Like seriously." I nodded.

"I know he does. He had his chance today and he-" I cut myself off knowing I couldn't say it in front of Bailey.

"I'm not planning on it anytime soon." I said, wrapping my arm around Bailey. We ate in pretty much silence. We were discussing what we were going to do now that Liss was queen and all, but that was a short conversation. The waitress came back to take plates and winked at Christian. I could feel Lissa's anger, so I got tired of it. I was actually annoyed with her and Christian wasn't even my boyfriend. She started to walk away, and I called after her.

"Hey." She turned.

"Yes ma'am."

"You see this girl right here?" I asked, pointing to Liss. She nodded.

"That is his girlfriend. If you wanna be a slut, do it with someone who's girl isn't sitting right next to them. Just a bit of advice.. Okay? Thanks." I said. I turned back to Liss and Christian. She stood there for a second, staring at me. I almost laughed. Lissa's eyes were wide. Christian was smiling.

"Thanks Rose."

"No problem." When she brought back the check, she didn't even look up. I threw a fifty on the table, and smiled.

"Lets go."

"No Rose.. I've got it." Liss protested. I shook my head.

"This is your celebration dinner for your coronation. Its fine. I wanted to pay anyway." She sighed.

"Alright." We got up and started towards the door.

"Have a nice night." Our waitress said. I smiled brightly at her.

"You too." She said, trying to pretend she wasn't afraid. We got outside, and stood there.

"We can walk right?" Liss asked. I nodded.

"If you guys want." She nodded. Bailey and I walked hand in hand, as did Christian and Lissa. We were about half way there when my stomach stirred. He was close.

"No." I whispered. I pushed Bailey back into Lissa and Christian.

"Go back to the restaurant.. Now." I snapped. The strigoi stepped out of the bushes and smiled.

"Awe, look what we have here, the new Queen." They were all frozen. My baby and my best friend were not even five or six feet away.

"Go." I called. They started running. I pulled my stake and grabbed him the moment he started to go after them. I threw him back and hit him. He faltered for a second, but threw himself back at me. I fell to the ground, but wrestled myself back to my feet. I threw a punch and caught him in the face. He stumbled and threw one, clawing my neck. I flinched but still continued fighting. I kicked him in the stomach as hard as I could, he stumbled back. I jumped at the opportunity and brought my stake up and brought it down into the center of his chest. My hands were slippery from the blood, but I still managed to keep a good grip on it. I worked and worked until his eyes finally glazed over and the fight drained out of him. He slowly sank to the ground. I pulled my stake out, and took a deep breath. I started back towards the restaurant. They all saw me and started running out. Bailey was crying, and the moment she got to me, I scooped her up into my arms. "Mommy… your bleeding."

"Mommy's fine baby. I promise."

"Rose… are you okay?" I nodded.

"I'm fine. Its just a scratch." "Let me hea-" I shook my head.

"No." I noticed that Liss had tears streaming down her face too. I turned with Bailey still in my arms, and started back towards the court. Liss must have called someone because Dimitri and two other guardians were standing at the door.

"There was only one. I took care of him." I told Guardian Leona. He nodded.

"Are you sure?" I nodded.

"I'm pretty positive." He turned and walked away, probably going to alert the court. Dimitri was staring at me, at my neck."Rose… your-" I shook my head.

"I'm fine." Our gazes were locked. This reminded me so much of when I was in school. How just the meeting of our eyes said everything between us. No words nessicary.

"Its just a scratch. I promise."

"Let Lissa heal it."

"No. I'm tough. I'll be fine." He sighed. Then, his gaze went from me to the little girl in my arms with tears streaming down her face. She turned to look at him, and I knew what he was seeing. He was seeing a mirror image of himself. I was scared, terrified that he'd say something right here… but he didn't.

"Hey there." I said. She smiled slightly at him, wiping the tears off her face.

"Hi." She cooed. I was so afraid. I hadn't been this scared when I was fighting the strigoi.

"We're going to go." I said.

"Rose… please, let me heal it." I looked up to see Adrian come hauling ass down the stairs.

"Rose.. Oh my God, I heard-" He cut himself off when he saw the blood.

"Are you okay?" He said. He was frantic. Bailey began laughing at him.

"Mommy's fine." She said. I saw Dimitri stiffen at the word. Adrian's gaze went from him to me. I gave a slight shake of my head, not wanting to give anything away.

"Rose.. Let Liss or me heal it." I shook my head.

"No. I'm fine. Jesus." I muttered.

"I'm going back to my room. I'll see you all tomorrow."

"Goodnight Rose." Dimitri said. I turned to meet his eyes.

"Night." I said, before I could say something stupid. I turned and walked away. Bailey refused to let me put her down, so I carried her all the way to our room. When we got inside, I set her down and she turned to me.

"Mommy, who was that man you were talking too?"

"Dimitri."

"Who's he?"

"He was my mentor at school. He taught me everything I know about fighting and strigoi. He taught me how to protect auntie Liss." I said, going into the bathroom to clean my wound. It was a lot deeper than I expected, but it wasn't too bad. Bailey cringed at the sight of it.

"Mommy, are you sure your okay?" I nodded.

"I'm fine baby girl." She smiled a little.

"Your so brave." I patted her head.

"Thank you." She smiled brightly up at me. I bandaged my neck, and went back out into the main room. Bailey and I curled up on the couch. I stared up at the ceiling as she snored lightly laying on my chest. I picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. After I laid her down, and kissed her forehead.

"I love you." I whispered, before walking out of her room. I went back out to the living room. I stood there for a second, before grabbing my keys and starting out. I locked the door, making sure no one would get in. I walked downstairs and onto the first floor of court. I walked out the back and onto the deck, overlooking the mountains. I stood against the railings, staring off into the distance. Things were getting so crazy. I had my lover here, who I hadn't seen in three years. I had his kid, and he had no idea. I was protecting the Moroi queen. Things were spinning out of control. Without Bailey… I would have lost it already. I was so thankful to have her in my life. I heard the sliding glass door open behind me. Adrian walked out behind me.

"Hey." I said. He smiled.

"What are you doing out here? Where's Bailey?"

"She's upstairs, sleeping. I needed some air." He nodded.

"Are you okay?" I nodded.

"I'm fine." He touched my neck.

"How's the injury you refuse to let us heal?"

"Its all good." I said. He smiled.

"How'd you know where to find me?" He shrugged.

"I just wandered around until I found you." I smiled.

"You came to see me in my dreams?"

"I tried. I couldn't find you." He said. I chuckled.

"Sorry." He smiled.

"Its okay." "You haven't told him yet?" I shook my head.

"I heard you dislocated his jaw." I nodded.

"Sure did. Felt good too." He chuckled. He stared at me for a second.

"You regret hitting him?"

"Kinda." He smiled.

"It happens. You have excuses… remember? You have darkness being bled into you."

"True." I smiled.

"You have to tell him sometime Rose. You can go on forever without him knowing he has a kid." I sighed.

"I'll tell him eventually."

"Rose… You would want to know if things were reversed."

"But if things were reversed I wouldn't expect him to tell me. If I did to him what he did to me, I wouldn't expect it out of him. I wouldn't deserve it.. Just like he doesn't."

"You can't deny your child her father." He said.

"He's going back to Russia, Adrian."

"If you told him, he'd stay."

"I don't want him here." I said.

"That's a lie, and you know it." He said. He knew me too well now.

"Adrian.. I don't want him here. I don't want him around after he just left me. Can you blame me?" He sighed.

"I guess not, but Rose.. You have to tell him that she's his."

"I'll think about it."

"Rose!" He said, almost sternly.

"Don't raise your voice at me Adrian. She's my child. I'll do what I want. Maybe its in her best interest not to tell her. You know, she's going to question why he hasn't been around, why he left her all alone. Maybe its better for her that she doesn't know."

"Do you like not knowing who your father is?" I was caught completely off guard by that one.

"That's different, and you know it." I snapped.

"Not so much. She would want to know, and in the future… she'd be thanking you."

"I don't know."

"Rose.. You'll do the right thing. I know you will." I sighed.

"Can you leave me alone for now.. I kind of need time to think by myself." He nodded.

"I'll see you later." He said. He kissed my forehead and then turned to leave. I stood there, staring off into the darkness as the sun started to rise. Adrian was right.. I should tell him, but the only problem was… he didn't deserve to know. He slept with me and walked out. He left me. If he left me, what guarantee do I have that he wont leave Bailey. That would rip her little heart out. Meeting her father, and then him just walking away. I would rip his head from his shoulders if he ever hurt my baby girl. I was still undecided about telling him. Actually, I was still undecided if I regret breaking his jaw, but its whatever. I'd decide soon. I had too. I turned and went back inside, and upstairs. Instead of going into my room, I went into Bailey's room, and crawled into her bed with her, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close.