A/N: Hello everyone. Just a little warning, that A these chapter may seem a little boring and useless, but I have to get these out of the way before I get to the good stuff, and trust me it is going to happen very soon! And B is that I won't be updating as much as I would like because I am back at college, and no matter how much I try to sit down and I write, I then realize I have chemistry homework, and hate my life a little bit. Spring break is coming up soon so I'll try to write a chapter or two then, but I do have two other stories I have to update and as much as I wish that was it, my brain started to form a fourth story in my head... Don't ask me why, I don't even know. Anyways I promise to finish at least one of my stories before I start a new one. Well, enjoy this chapter!

I don't own anything

I've never believed in soul mates. How could two souls be so right for each other that they make everything else in the world go away; that those two souls become one? I never believed in that you could be so attuned to someone that you can literally know what they are thinking just by the shift of their eyes or change in their stance.

Then I met Dimitri.

Within just months of knowing each other we understood the other's feelings better than anyone else. Soon I was able to look at his stance and know if he was worried about something. He was also the only person who could calm me down when the spirit got too much for me. When his arms were around me I actually felt safe, and sane.

We were each other's rocks. We were connected in so many ways it was like our souls become one when we were around each other. We knew what it was like to give up our lives for the people we love. We knew what it was like to never put ourselves first. We knew what it was like to be so deeply in love we went against everyone to be with each other.

Then we were ripped apart. Our souls severed, breaking beyond repair. Now I really wonder if the cracks will ever be filled.

I laid in the grass listening the birds chirp around me. I distantly heard Veda laughed and scream as she played on the swings with some of her friends. If I could just tell her the truth, then maybe things will finally start falling into place. If I told her than there wouldn't be any secrets between us and maybe, just maybe, she would understand.

Maybe Veda wouldn't feel the need to tell Dimitri. Maybe she will understand the importance of the secret.

I rolled my eyes at myself as I shook my head back and forth. Who am I kidding? She's five years old! She would want to know everything. Why we weren't together anymore, or why I never told him. She would want to spend every minute with him, making up for lost time. She would never understand.

Truthfully, no one would understand. No one would be able to take the truth that dhampirs could have children with other dhampirs. They would probably think I was some kind science experiment. Only people who were shadow kissed could go against the rules. And right now, I'm the only one…

The truth about Veda could never come out. No one would know what to do with that information. Nothing would ever be the same if they found out. Just like how many people still don't know that Lissa can heal people. Everything would change for the worst.

Suddenly my phone buzzed in my pocket. "What's up Lissa?" I asked not even bother looking at caller ID. With the wedding coming up, Lissa has been calling me ever couple minutes freaking out about something.

"Rose I don't think I can do this," she said softly.

Before she had time to utter another sentence, I snapped my phone shut and called Veda over from the swings, and within five minutes we were off towards Lissa's house.

"Momma, what's happening?" Veda asked pulling my hand to slow me down.

Without missing a step I swept her up into my arms and continued my quick pace. "Lissa is having a little bit of a crisis about the wedding sweetheart, and I need to be there to calm her down."

"Why?"

"This kind of thing happens when there is a party this big. She's just a little stressed out about planning her party. Remember how mommy was when I was planning your birthday part?"

Veda nodded. "But Adri told me that was because you didn't like some of the people coming."

He always tells her unnecessary things… "Well, that's true. And it's also true with Lissa."

"Well, why does she have to invite people she doesn't like?"

"Because sweetheart, we live at court. Some things are just expected. You'll understand when you're older," I said softly as I opened Lissa's door. "Now can you do momma a favor and watch some television as I calm your Aunt Lissa down?"

She nodded as I set her down, and took off into the living room. I watched her get settled and then walked into the kitchen shutting the door behind me.

Lissa was pacing back and forth with her hands on her hips. She didn't even look up at me as I entered the room. "I can't do it, I just can't. I've only ever loved one person. What if a couple of years from now I fall out of love with Christian? I am only 23 years old. Isn't that a little young to get married? I mean I still have my whole life ahead of me! I'm not ready to settle down and miss out on all the adventures I could have!"

I took a seat at the counter waiting for her to get everything out of her system, and I knew it could be a long time before she got it all out. I knew this was coming, according to all the movies the bride freaks out at least once.

" I mean do you remember when we ran away from the Academy? All the adventures we had traveling from place to place, going to different colleges and never knowing if we were going to get catch or not? It sucked having to live in fear, but we always had such a great time! No day was ever the same; every night was a party! And now I feel like I have this routine every day and I just can't deal with it anymore!"

She stopped pacing and turned to look at me. "Let's go. Let's get away from everything. Let's go to Pittsburgh or Washington DC. Let's go to New York City or Boston. Let's just get away and have our own adventures!"

I smiled sadly at her, remembering the same freak out I had when I was pregnant with Veda.

I paced around the cabin, my stomach protruding in front of me. I was bouncing up and down shaking my hands. "I can't do this. I just can't do this. I'm not fit to be a mother. I don't know how to care for a baby. I stake evil things; I beat up Strigoi's for a living! I can't handle doing that with a baby attached to my hip."

"Rose, it's going to be okay." Lissa said sitting on the couch watching me pace. "We are all going to be here to help. You aren't going to be alone."

"It doesn't matter! I'm only 18! I'm not supposed to have children. I didn't even know if I wanted any children. And now because of one stupid night I have to spend the rest of my life caring for a child!"

"Rose, just calm down," Adrian said softly. "Once the baby comes into the world, you won't care about how scared you are now. You will just love this child so much, and it will be the luckiest baby in the world."

"No, it just needs to stay in there. Then everything will be normal, nothing will change."

"The baby just can't stay in there," Lissa said trying not to laugh.

"Liss, I can't do this! I'm all-alone. I know you guys said you are going to be there for me, but this baby needs its father! I need its father!"

Adrian stood up and walked over to me, holding me still for a moment. "Rose, listen to me, I am going to be there for you every step of the way, and love this baby as if it were my own. Lissa is going to be there as well, and this baby is going to have a family like no other child will have. It's going to be the luckiest baby in the world."

I smiled sadly at him. His words were comforting, but he couldn't calm me down the way I knew Dimitri could. I didn't feel safe in his arms. I didn't feel like I could do this with Adrian. He was my safe harbor the way Dimitri was. "Adrian, I love you for doing this and saying all these things, but I need Dimitri."

Lissa then stood up and walked over to me. "Rose, you never needed anyone else in your life before. You don't need anyone now. But you are going to have everyone to help you. We love you Rose, and we love your baby. Everything is going to be fine."

And that's when I knew it was going to be…

"Lissa, everything is going to be just fine. I've never seen a love like the one that you and Christian share. I know in my heart of hearts that you are never going to fall out of love with him, if anything you are going to love him more and more every day that you are together. I've seen your love grow with my own eyes, any time I am around you guys."

But Rose," Lissa started.

I shook my head, cutting her off. "No Lissa, trust me. If you and Christian were to fall out of love, then I have no hope for anyone else in the world."

She smiled at me for a moment, until that smile turned into a frown. "Rose, I used to believe that too, but about you and Dimitri."

"Lissa-"

"No, listen. I may not have known about you guys at first, but when I found out, I looked back on your relationship and it was so obvious I'm still mad at myself for not seeing it before. But I still see it in his eyes every time he looks at you, and every time you look at him. Then with Adrian teaching me how to read ora's I can see the way you affect each other. Of course I'm not as good as Adrian at reading them, but he tells me just how bright your ora's get. He says it's a little ridiculous."

I shook my head. "Lissa we may have been that way, but we have brighten each other's worlds in a long time. We've hurt each other too much," I said softly reaching out and taking her hand in mine. "But Lissa, you light up Christian's life every single day! He smiles all the time when he is around you, and I can't imagine him ever getting mad at you. You are too perfect."

"That's what I'm worried about Rose. I just am afraid that it's too perfect. If your epic romance with Dimitri ended than how can I be sure that Christian and mine won't?"

"Lissa stop thinking about my romance with Dimitri. It was hardly epic. It was tragic."

"It rivaled Shakespeare, though," she teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Not even."

Lissa laughed at my grimace, and then sighed. "Rose?"

"Hm?"

"I love Christian, I really do. I just feel like I need to get away for a little bit. I feel like I need to just collect my thoughts and get away from these wedding plans for awhile."

I nodded, knowing what it felt like to just want to get out of your skin and away from everyone. I felt that way a lot of the time, but Moroi come first, so I was always stuck.

"Pack your bags."

"What?" Lissa asked straightening up.

"Lissa, I know I've never been married, but I know exactly what it feels like to want to get away from everyone. So pack your bags. We're going to the beach!"

Lissa didn't need told twice. She hurried to give me a hug and then ran upstairs. I laughed as collected Veda and rushed towards Adrian's house. I pounded on the door like a mad woman until he finally opened the door.

"Rose, what's wrong?" he asked stepping aside as Veda and I came in.

"Lissa needs to get away. We are going to the beach and I need you to watch Veda for a couple of days," I said breathlessly as I set Veda down on the couch. "Sweetheart, will you be okay with Uncle Adrian for a couple of days? Momma has to watch Aunt Lissa."

Veda looked up at me in a way I've never seen before. Her eyes told me she was trying to understand something that she couldn't. She looked confused and hurt almost. "Yes momma. I'll be okay."

"Okay," I said warily. I straightened up and turned to Adrian, who was also looking at her curiously. "I'm going to take her home and get everything ready, then can you pick her up in about an hour?"

He nodded. "Don't worry about it little dhampir. I'll take good care of my favorite niece."

I rolled eyes at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "We'll see you soon."

As soon as Veda and I walked through, she crossed her arms and turned around to face me. "Momma what were you and Auntie Lissa talking about?"

I tilted my head at her. "Lissa was just having a little crisis Veda. It's nothing to worry about."

She shook her head very quickly. "No momma. Auntie Lissa was telling you about Dimitri."

My eyes grew wide. "Veda, that was a long time ago. Dimitri and I have a complicated past, but at one point in time we were in love."

"He told me he still was," she said softly.

"What?"

"Dimka still loves you momma. He told me so. He also told me that when he left it was the biggest mistake of his life," she repeated perfectly. "Momma, I've heard you whisper things."

"About Dimitri and I?" I asked quietly bending down to look her straight in the eyes.

She nodded. "Momma, Adri said I have Dimka's eyes."

"When did he say that?"

"The other day when he thought I was asleep."

I fell softly to the floor leaning against my front door. I ran my hands through my hair. I should have felt relieved right? I mean not the cat was out of the bag. My daughter finally knew the truth, the whole truth. There were no more lies.

However, I felt completely shamed. Veda found out by accident, not from me. There was so much she didn't understand about the situation and so much she never would understand. She was only five years old. She shouldn't have to deal with all this drama.

"Veda-"

"Momma, is Dimka my dad?" she asked softly looking at me with accusing and betrayed eyes.

I closed my eyes and hung my head. I don't think she would ever forgive me for keeping this from her. "Yes."

"Why?"

I looked up at her question. Why? What kind of question is why? "Veda, sweetheart, what do you mean why?"

"Why is he my dad? He's not around, he doesn't make you happy."

My lips twitched at her reasoning. "It's a long story baby. The reader's digest version is that Dimitri and I were in love a long time ago. But you know how frowned upon dhampir relationships are, so we hid it. No one knows about Dimitri and I, or the little bundle of joy we had together."

I took a deep breath and pulled her over to me. "Veda, Dimitri never found out that he is your father. He is one of the best guardians we have and he was needed to protect the Moroi, which is why he left me before I had you. In many ways we do still love each other, but things have gotten so complicated. One day when you are much older I may be able to explain all of this to you, but you are too young to understand how important dhampirs are.

"Dimitri left to protect people like Aunt Lissa. I don't blame him for wanting to do the right thing." Even if the right thing meant starting a family with the bitch, I thought bitterly.

"But he's back now," she said softly.

"I know sweetheart, but he is starting a family with Tasha."

"Why can't he be in our family? Doesn't he want me?"

I pulled her closely, kissing the top of her head. "Veda don't ever think that. As much I would love him to be in our family, I cannot take him away from Tasha. I know how much you need a father, but you have Christian and Adrian and Michael. Dimitri will be apart of your life, and maybe someday soon he will be a father to you, but just not right now. Everything is just too complicated for him."

She sniffled and nodded, hugging me tightly. "I just want a dad momma. I just want you to be happy."

"I have never been happier than when I am with you, Veda. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

A knock came at the moment, and I picked up Veda with me as I pulled open the door. As though the universe wanted to play some cruel joke on me, Dimitri was standing on the other side of the door.

He looked curiously at my daughter who buried her head in my shoulder. Thankfully he didn't ask her if she was okay. "Are you ready?"

"For what?" I asked shifting Veda further up on my hip. She was starting to get too heavy for me.

"For your spontaneous trip with Lissa? I was ordered to accompany you two wherever you go," he said his guardian mask trying to hide any emotions he may have about this.

"Oh."

A/N: Well Veda now knows everything! I wanted her to find out before Dimitri because personally I figure she would be able to figure it out faster than him because they do talk about it a lot. Anyways the next chapter will have a lot to do with Dimitri and Rose. Then the wedding chapter is to follow shortly after where all hell will break loose. I'm excited!