Adrian! To the rescue! (Should I give him a theme song?) Anyway, enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own the people, just the plot!

Adrian's POV:

Dimitri and I slowly approached the address that adorned all the letters that Sydney had sent to Rose. I was shocked, when after knocking, a middle aged Moroi man answered the door. "Can I help you?"

I took a deep breath. "Is this the Kohlberg residence?"

The man narrowed his eyes. "Is that what she is telling people?" He turned towards the inside of the house and started yelling in angry German. "Mädchen ... MÄDCHEN!" (Girl... GIRL!)

That was when Sydney appeared, her dirty blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Ja, mein Herr?" (Yes, sir?)

"Sind Sie erzählen Menschen ist das Ihr Haus?" (Are you telling people this is your house?)

"NEIN! Niemals!" (NO! Never!)

"Sie scheinen zu glauben, es ist …" (They seem to think it is.)

Sydney looked over and smiled in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

Her face fell. "You shouldn't have come."

What happened next was so sudden, I didn't have time to stop it. The man's hand came up and slapped Sydney across the face. "Never, EVER, tell a Moroi what to do."

Her voice came out a whisper. "I'm sorry."

He raised his arm to strike again, this time I was quick enough to step in front of Sydney and take the blow. Right as his arm was about to hit me, I saw Dimitri, quick as lightening grab the offending Moroi's bicep. "I wouldn't do that..."

"Are you trying to tell me what to do... Dhampir?"

I had decided this guy was a clueless moron, and I also knew Sydney didn't need to witness anymore. I pulled her to me and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay now. I won't let anything else happen to you."

She started sobbing. "I didn't want you to know. I wanted you to think I had a nice normal family that loved me."

I pulled away so I could look her in the eyes. "You do. His name is Adrian Gabriel Ivashkov and you are going to marry him, remember?"

She nodded. "I remember."

I smiled. "Good. One of the reasons I came was to give you thing." I pulled out a small box and opened it to reveal the Ivashkov ring.

Sydney took the small box from me and analyzed the contents. "This is beautiful."

"It has been in my family for generations." I took it out and slid it on her finger. "You are the first human to ever wear it."

Sydney looked surprised. "Your family is okay with you marrying a human?"

"They don't know yet."

"Oh."

I looked over at Dimitri who was giving me a 'we need to get out of here' look. I took a deep breath and looked at Sydney. "Since there is a good chance we are never coming back here, is there anything you want to take with you?"

She was quiet for a second before nodding. "Yes, come with me."

She led me up a staircase and into a small room. I pulled her towards me so her back was against my chest. "Is this your room?"

I was relieved when she said no. We walked across the room to a curtained off area. "This is my 'room'." She pulled the curtains back to reveal a cot and a small chest. She looked at me again. "All my belongings are in here. This is all I want to take with me."

I nodded. "Okay." I went to lift it up and it was surprisingly light. I looked at her in shock.

She gave a small shrug. "I don't have much..."

I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "From today on, anything you want is yours."

She smiled at me. "All I want is you."

I smiled back. "That can be arranged. Now, let's get you out of here."

We each took one of the handles and and carried the chest down the stairs and to the door where Dimitri was waiting. Sydney paused and turned to look at the visibly angry Moroi. "Oh, Mr. Klein?"

"Yes, Ms. Kohlberg?"

"I'm pregnant. With Lord Ivashkov's child." With that, she slammed the door and burst into tears. "What have a done?"

I pulled her close. "That right thing, and in the end that is all that matters." I gave her a second to calm down before I helped her to the car and we headed back to the airport.

Sydney's POV:

"Ow!" I pulled away as the piece of tissue made contact with my face. "Sadist..."

Adrian smiled. "You know you like it." He bent down to grab a bandaid. When he came back up, his smile was gone. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Anything. You know that."

"How long has this been going on?"

I decided to play dumb. "What?"

Adrian gave a frustrated sigh. "Sydney..."

"Twenty years. Ever since I was five."

"Is he your father? Are you a Dhampir?"

Anger surged inside me. "He is NOT my father. My father was a sweet man who wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone another HUMAN."

"Okay... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult him."

"My parents died twenty years ago, that was the reason I moved in with Mr. Klein."

His voice was quiet. "How did they die?"

I closed my eyes as I remembered the night. "It was my fifth birthday and my parents had taken me to the ballet. As we were heading home, they got a call that there had been a Strigoi attack, with injuries. My father was an alchemist and my mother was a doctor, so they went together. They told me to stay in the car and that's when I remember watching through the window and seeing a Strigoi. They took my mom first, and then Mrs. Klein, then my daddy... and finally the guardian that was with the Kleins. I'm not sure what happened, but they left Mr. Klein alone and left. It started to get sunny out and I just remember Mr. Klein looking sick so I went and pulled him to the car. We were in there a couple days, before he was strong enough to move. I was so scared, thinking that the Strigoi were going to come back and that Mr. Klein was going to die too. Then I remembered my mom saying Moroi ate blood. I took the car keys and made a small cut on my wrist..." I trailed off as I snapped back into reality. "I don't want to talk about this anymore..."

Adrian looked at me with concern. "Did he ever bite you?"

I shook my head. "No. He just guilted me into giving him blood whenever he was too lazy to go to a feeder himself. He blamed me for his wife dying."

"How was it your fault?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I think he was just so upset that it happened. I as a face."

"You are too forgiving."

I shrugged. "Maybe, but what is the point of being mad now. I am out of there and I have you to protect me."

He smiled. "That is right. Now, what do you say we go announce our happy news to the rest of the Ivashkovs?"

I started to get scared. "Do you think they are going to like me?"

"Sydney, you are smart, and funny, and put me in my place. My parents are going to love you."

I smiled at him. "Okay then. Let's do this." I took his hand. "Together."

Well? What do you think? How is Adrian's family going to react? Find out next week and PLEASE review!

Thanks!

Anni