There was no question that Dimitri would be staying with Rose that night. It was just simply understood between the two reunited dhampirs; wanting, needing to be together again, and with their son. Dimitri was still in awe with the fact that Rose was alive and that they had a son, she could tell. They woke up unanimously to the sounds of Immanuil crying for attention. Rose saw Dimitri look over at her groggily, confused, before his eyes widened adorably and he smiled widely as he remembered where he was.

She grinned back at him and moved to roll out of the bed to attend to her son, but she felt a strong arm stop her suddenly and pull her back. She was surprised to see Dimitri stand up quietly instead and head to the room where Immanuil was crying. She was honestly to shocked to get up and follow him, so she listened. Immanuil stopped crying almost instantly, and Rose felt tears prick the corner of her eyes as the giant Russian appeared in the door cradling his tiny child.

She was relieved that he stepped into the paternal role so quickly, though she really never should have doubted that he would. When she was pregnant, she had fears that he would not want anything to do with their child, just because he wasn't planned. Looking back on it, her fears were completely unfounded. The man was raised to respect and care for all people and be loyal, that wasn't about to change.

Dimitri slowly walked over to Rose, whispering in Immanuil's ear. He looked quite content, comfortably snuggled in Dimitri's arms. Rose sat up and Dimitri sat down next to her, unable to keep his wide smile off his face as he adjusted Immanuil in his arms to keep him content.

"What?" Rose asked. His smile grew wider.

"I have a son," he told her, as if it was a big secret. She rolled her eyes. "I'm a father."

"Yes, Dimitri. I know. I kind of gave birth to him," Rose told him. He chuckled.

"I still can't believe you're here, Roza, I missed you."

Rose's heart reached out to him. He must have suffered so much when she was gone. She had a hard time away from him, but at least she knew he was alive. He had thought she was dead, and that must have pained him so much.

"What are we doing today, Roza?" Dimitri wondered aloud. She knew what he meant. Would they stay inside and be a happy family or go out in court to face ridicule about their relationship, their child, or even the fact that Rose was alive.

She sighed. "Might as well go out. I want to get this over with as soon as possible."

Dimitri nodded solemnly and kissed her forehead, leaning over Immanuil to do so.

"Don't worry, milaya. People will be relieved to have you back. And we're going to face this together."

Rose nodded as well. "Our relationship will finally be out in the open."

This in mind, the two got ready fairly quickly. Rose fed Immanuil while Dimitri took a shower and she was amazed at how quickly their lives had become fairly normal again. They seem to have forgotten that they had spent the better part of the year apart from each other, and had jumped into a normal routine without realizing it or thinking about it.

Dimitri came out of the shower with damp hair and took his son back in his arms. Rose took note how he couldn't seem to let go of Immanuil or stop doting over him. It was very sweet, contrasting with the guardian reputation he had built for himself. She was more than willing to let him hang onto to Immanuil, as it gave her a break and the little boy didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he almost was calmer with Dimitri than he was with her.

Rose was about ready to head out the door when Dimitri stopped her and stood in front of the door, still cradling Immanuil.

"No matter what happens today with any of the people we encounter, remember that I love you," he said simply. Rose smiled a watery smile and hugged the two men that had flipped her world upside down. It was going to be their last moment of peace together on their own for a while, and Rose was willing to savor it.

Finally, they broke apart and Rose opened the door hesitantly. Dimitri followed her with Immanuil and they hurried down the apartment stairs. Rose had to take deep breaths to calm herself, terrified out of her mind about what would happen outside. Dimitri took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Calm, Roza," he said softly, and she squeezed his hand back as they stepped out into the sun of the court. She was filled with a sense of familiarty as she hadn't been here in so long, but she remembered vividly the time she was here for Victor Dashkov's trial. It was almost the exact same weather, even.

There were hardly any people around, and for that Rose was thankful. The people that were around were people she didn't know, and they didn't recognize her. People were giving Dimitri odd looks, though, since he was better known, and it was odd to see the large guardian holding a small bundle they had never seen before.

He just smiled casually at them, already more comfortable with this entire situation than Rose herself was. She was happy that he just seemed to accept she was back instead of acting weird around her.

Just then, Dimitri inhaled. She glanced at him, and his jaw was clenched. She followed his line of vision and stopped along with Dimitri. Janine Hathaway. She was facing the other way, talking with a man she didn't know, over by a small seating area filled with trees. She and Dimitri exchanged glances.

"Do you want to do this now, or do you want to walk away?" Dimitri asked her. She smiled softly, happy that he was still so considerate about her feelings. She though about it silently. Her mother would find out eventually, and wouldn't it be better for her to hear for herself and not from gossip?

"Now," she told him somewhat calmly, considering thr circumstances. Dimitri started to gently tug her toward where Janine was standing, since her feet didn't really want to walk. Her mother and she never got along before, but how would that change now? Especially with...Immanuil. She laughed suddenly at the realization that her mom was now a grandma. She probably never thought that would happen.

Fortunately, Janine apparently didn't hear her, and kept talking to the man. Unfortunately, he did hear her, and paused, looking confused, glancing at Dimitri and the child in his arms. By this point, they were already within ten feet of the two, and Rose knew there was no turning back.

"Belikov," the man greeted. Janine still didn't turn around. He was quite odd looking, with a weird sense of fashion and a scarf. Rose realized he was the same man she had seen in that picture at her memorial service standing next to her mom. Dimitri stiffened, but nodded back.

"Mr. Mazur," he responded tightly, holding Immanuil closer. At this, Janine finally turned.

"Dimitri, I've been meaning to talk...to..."

Her eyes snapped to Rose. Rose gazed back at her mother. She looked completely and utterly dumbfounded.

"Hi, Mom," Rose whispered. "I'm back."

At this, the man, Mr. Mazur, shifted his gaze to her as well, his eyes widening. Rose felt a little uncomfortable. She didn't know who he was, so she just focused on Janine.

"Rose? You're...what? What is going on?"

"I'm alive, I guess," Rose said, heart beating quickly. "I was captured a few months ago, well I was in a coma first, actually when I woke up, they told me, well, it was all a lot to take—but they wouldn't let me leave...and I just was let out..."

She had no idea why she was spilling all of this out, and Dimitri was slowly rubbing her shoulder, trying to calm her down. And that single thing was what Janine focused on. Not the fact that Rose was back. And Rose understood. It was a big concept to grasp, the fact that your daughter who you thought was dead was actually alive. But she saw the instant Janine's eyes snapped on Dimitri's arm, and narrow.

"Belikov. What...are you doing with your hand?"

"Rubbing Rose's shoulder," he answered simply. He didn't look to concerned, but Rose knew the Janine fury was coming.

"Why?"

"To calm her down. This is just a tad stressful for her, if you didn't notice."

Rose was glad he was doing the talking, her throat had constricted and didn't want to talk anymore.

"And who are you to judge that?" Janine asked dangerously.

"The father of her child," came an unexpected voice. Janine, Rose, and Dimitri turned, shocked, towards the creepy scarf-man.

"Ibriham, this is no time to—" Janine said in an exasperated voice.

"Well it's true!" Ibriham exclaimed, then looked towards Rose and Dimitri. "Isn't it? I mean, look at the boy in Belikov's arms. He looks exactly like both of them! And look how he's standing do protectivrly next to her!"

Dimitri glanced at Rose. She sighed.

Janine looked from this Ibriham to the two guardians. "Rose? Is it true?"

She nodded silently. Janine was shell-shocked. She was staring at Immanuil intensely. Ibriham just looked mildly amused, looking at Janine.

"Good job, kiddo. Your mother hasn't been frozen like that in years."

"And you would know?" Rose snapped, annoyed at this man, and scared about her mom's reaction.

"Indeed I would," Ibriham said with mirth. "But that's not for you to know exactly at this moment. Though I am glad you're alive, Little One. You had me worried. However, Belikov, we will have words eventually."

"Guardian. Dimitri. Belikov," Janine whispered. Dimitri's calm resolve seemed to waver finally.

"Guardian Hathaway," he responded respectfully, but slowly placed Immanuil into Rose's arms, obviously anticipating outburst. And he was right.

"You got my daughter pregnant?" She screeched. People around stopped to stare.

"Uh, yes?" Dimitri replied, twisting his hands together. Rose glanced between the two, not ready to step in yet.

"When she was underage?" Janine said aggressively.

Dimitri looked ashamed. "I know it was wrong, Janine, I'm sorry, I just—"

"So you regret it? My daughter isn't good enough for you?"

The poor man looked confused out of his mind. He didn't know what she was mad about.

"No, of course not, I just wish we had—"

"What he's trying to say, mom," Rose interrupted, standing between the two, "is that when it happened, we couldn't stop it because we were in love. Still are, in fact, and little Immanuil came out of that, and despite the hardships that have come since then, that love is still strong and I don't regret a single moment spent with this man and if you have a problem with that? You can leave."

Janine glared at Rose, and she glared furiously back.

"Rose, you're eighteen. You're young and have a whole life ahead of you—"

"And that means I'm incapable of showing love?" Rose asked angrily. "Look at your grandson. How can you deny that he was created by a beautiful union? Look at him. Look closely. This is the result of our relarionship. Are you going to deny the miracle that this child is? A dhampir and dhampir child?"

"But he's seven years older than you—"

"But we're in love! We have a son! You can't argue that!"

"But—"

"Janine, stop," Ibriham put an arm on her shoulder, and she quieted. Rose was beginning to realize their was more to that man that met the eye, especially in her life.

"They're not going to get rid of the kid, they're not going to seperate from each other, just because you don't agree with them."

Janine just humphed and turned away, quickly walking away from all of them. Rose's heart sank. It kind of hurt that her mom didn't care about Dimitri or even her own grandson.

"Sorry about her you two," Ibriham sighed. "I think she's just trying to protect you from the hurt, Little Rose. Nearly the same thing happened to her when she was your age, and the man she was with left her after you were born. Because he was afraid of the commitment of that responsibility. She's afraid of that happening to you."

Rose wondered how he knew that, pieces beginning to connect in her head.

"I can assure her that won't happen," Dimitri said fiercely. "I love these two with my life."

"Oh I don't doubt that," Ibriham. "And Janine will come around, I swear. You and me, Dimitri, we're not much alike."

xXxXx

And there we go! Next chapter! Do you think Rose will figure out who Abe is yet? And will Janine come around? I have more ideas for chapters so they may be updated more often soon! Please review! I love being able to hear your thoughts!!!