Lissa'sPOV
Thursday afternoon Dimitri, Mason and I returned from a study season in the library to find Christian cradling James in his arms.
"James!" Dimitri beamed and eagerly snatched his son out of my fiancé's arms. He started baby talking in Russian while winding his way through the house to find his own fiancée. The rest of us were completely forgotten as his world became his son and Rose.
"That would never happen if James was Tasha's not Rose's," Christian murmured against my cheek before kissing me passionately. Christian guided me to the lounge and I sat before he pulled my shirt up and started his own flood of baby talk. He was right though, if James wasn't Rose's I don't think he'd be nearly as besotted as he is. He'd still be a dotting dad, sure, but not nearly as obsessed and completely absorbed, his character change wouldn't be so obvious if James wasn't Rose's. Talk about a big teddy bear, or a bid softie or puppy at heart.
"Hey Lissa," Rose hugged me gently when she returned to the living room. Dimitri followed her like a big, lost, love-sick puppy, while cradling their son in his arms. Christian and Dimitri struck up a conversation while Rose took a seat beside me.
"Hey Rose," I grinned in excitement and happiness. I was glad she was here, even for a tiny little while. "How is he?" His aura looked so much stronger, and he looked twice the size he had been at birth.
"So much better," Rose beamed happily. "I just told Big Ted over there that I checked in at the human hospital on my way here and they were impressed. They said a week more of medicine and therapy and we should be over it, not simply over the worst of it, but completely over it." Her lit face fell a little. "But I'll believe that when I see it. The Court doctors said that the week after you left."
I draped a comforting arm around her. "Are you sure he wasn't just stressed from... you know?" I hadn't a clue what had really gone on, but I knew it was stressful for mother, father, grandparents and son/ grandson. "Are you sure that stress didn't just interfere?" I nodded to where James was giggling and gurgling in his father's arms. "He looks and sounds so relaxed now."
"Who? James or his hot-assed father?"
"James," I laughed. I don't know what would have been funnier; what actually happened: Dimitri was so absorbed in James and his 'bro time' with Christian that he didn't hear what Rose called him. Or if he'd heard and responded, starting a playful fight with Rose over what she calls him, how she describes him.
"Dimitri's always had that kind of effect on him," she mused affectionately.
"So you think the human doctors have this one right?"
She nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, I do. At least I hope they're right. We're here for a fortnight- I got it cleared with Hans... god, he's a bitch sometimes, but James has him as wrapped as nearly every other guardian around. Male and female alike."
I laughed. "I bet. They're envious and jealous. And he's just the cutest creature ever."
"Well, that's hardly surprising given he's got the hottest man that ever existed for his father," she gloated proudly.
Joy pulsed through me. I loved seeing her happy, and if sharing her with Dimitri and James was what made her that happy and radiant then that's what made me happy. Guardians were people too and I had to hope the Moroi seeing what Rose and Dimitri had to work with and work around made them realise the guardians sacrifice more than simply everything for us. When they give up their lives they don't just physically give it up (as the petty and selfish royals don't even stop to acknowledge even that much), but they give up so many opportunities and milestones. They're expected to have kids, give birth to more guardians, but how can they when they can't raise their own kids? Where's the motive to have kids of they're never yours? Where's the time and appreciation for the female guardians (and dhampir in general) who do have kids? The guardians give up their happiness and freedom the second they take on board that stupid mantra. And the snobby, snot-nosed, can-do-no-wrong female royal Moroi are the worst. They're the god-damn, two-faces purists who demand more guardians but who won't contribute to the next generation of guardians. They wouldn't even have to carry the baby if they start a surrogacy program. But no, even that's far too unorthodox an idea for them to even know the word. Gah! Society and the royals' stupid blind games were making me want to pull my hair out!
"Lissa, sweetie, the only way you're going to change those games is by playing them, and right now playing them is the worst idea ever. Stop stressing!" Rose's words pulled me back to myself just as much as her pulling the darkness did. If I weren't pregnant I'd go back on the tablets for Rose's sake if not for mine.