A.N: Hey guys!

Sorry it took longer than usual to update but it was harder for me to get back on my 'Cradle of Hope' mood after reading Spirit bound… I guess that those of you who read it understand why.

Anyways I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review, you know how much I love reading you guys.

Thanks to Jessa for proofreading AND being very enthusiastic when I talk to her about writing my own version of Last Sacrifice.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Steffy2106

Chapter 20:

I woke up with the same feelings of plenitude still anchored deep in my bones. I knew it wouldn't last forever, but I had to enjoy it as long as I could.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in another room, but I was pretty sure I hadn't slept very long. Still no windows to give me an idea what time of day it was. That was one of the downsides of living in a Moroi world.

"So…" I heard Adrian's hushed voice. I could barely see them from the little opening in my bedroom door, but it was open enough for me to see both Adrian and Dimitri standing face to face.

"I just wanted to thank you again for everything you did," said Dimitri with a hushed, yet urgent, voice.

"I told you already, it's alright. I-I did what any good friend would have done."

Dimitri let out a small laugh, "Not with the feelings you had for her. You helped her so selflessly, it's unbelievable. I saw it all in your head."

And then I almost fell out of the bed because what I saw was so unexpected! Dimitri pulled Adrian to him in a hug.

"I need to ask you something," said Dimitri a bit louder as he let go of Adrian. "I mean, if you didn't help, Gabriel wouldn't be here. Rose already chose his Godmother and she gave me the choice in his Godfather and . . . well- I want you to be his Godfather Adrian."

"I-really?"

Adrian said that at the same time that I thought it. Well not that I didn't think Adrian would be a perfect Godfather for our little angel, because he would be. Sure he had some minor deviances, but I was sure that he would love Gabriel with his whole heart.

"Yes really. You are essential in this whole story and relationship. Plus . . . as long as you don't mix vodka in his breast milk, I'm sure you'll be a terrific Godfather." Oh my . . . Dimitri actually joking with Adrian? That was a brand new era of weirdness.

"I - would be honored to be that beautiful baby's Godfather. Thank you Dimitri."

They stayed silent for about a minute.

"I better get going," said Adrian pointing behind him. "But I'll be back with the others later. Just tell-Just tell Rose that I think Gabriel is even more perfect than I thought he would be."

"I'll tell her," said Dimitri before letting out a little chuckle. "But it's Rose we're talking about, what else could you expect?"

Adrian nodded, "Very true. Well I should go meet the others but I'll be back."

"See you later," agreed Dimitri before walking back into the room. He smiled brightly when he saw I was awake. "Hello beauty," he said taking the seat beside me before kissing my forehead.

"Did I sleep long?" I asked taking his hand that was resting on my stomach, intertwining our fingers.

"Just over three hours," said Dimitri quickly glancing at his watch.

"Oh, that was a long nap."

He brought his free hand to my forehead and gently removed some rebellious strands of hair. "You were exhausted, Roza. You needed the rest."

"Where are the others? What about my parents? How is Gabriel?" I asked in a rush.

Dimitri chuckled, "One question at the time." He brought our intertwined hands to his lips and kissed the back on my hand. "We've got all the time in the world.

"The others left about thirty minutes ago to get a quick lunch. Lissa needed to rearrange her meeting and Pavel needed to clock out for the rest of the day, but I think they might use him anyways. Adrian called your parents, even before joining you when you were in labor, their plane should land soon. As for Gabriel, ahhh," he smiled so brightly it took my breath away. It was a 'show all your teeth' type of smile, one you could rarely see on Dimitri's face. "He is perfect, truly perfect. I know you might think I say that because he is ours, but that's not the reason." He shook his head. "He's already bewitched everyone."

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"You should have seen them - and by 'them' I mean Pavel, Christian, Lissa and Adrian - in front of the nursery window. They were frozen looking at our son, like statutes."

I smiled. "I can't wait to see him now that I'm wide awake."

Dimitri stood up. "Yes, the nurse told me to come get her when you were awake anyways. Our boy might be hungry."

"Anything to check out my breasts eh?" I said trying to tease him.

"Hey I would get mine out, but I don't think he would be that interested."

"Probably not . . . but I might be."

"Really?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.

"You know I didn't mean it right?" I asked just before he reached the door.

He turned around and rested his back casually against the door. "What are you talking about?" he asked with a crooked smile. His smile led me to think he knew exactly what I was talking about.

"The all 'we'll never have sex again' stuff," I said grimacing. "I might have exaggerated just a bit."

"Just a bit?" he repeated incredulous with a glint of humor in his eyes. "Well that's a shame really." He rubbed his chin. "I was starting to come up with ideas that might convince you."

"Oh really?" I said trying to do his eyebrow thingy but failing miserably. "You may still need to use those."

"I intend to," he said with a wink before leaving the room.

I was still smiling at the silliness of our little banter when Dimitri came back and sat beside me again. "Our little angel is on his way" he said kissing my forehead.

Not more than two minutes later the nurse came in rolling a sort of clear plastic cradle.

"You look good Rose," she said as she rolled the cradle to my other side.

"How could I not? It's probably one of the happiest days of my life." I admitted. I was already starting to take off the sleeve of my gown to stick it under my armpit.

She simply nodded. "You know I've never seen a baby with such a big audience," she grinned. "He's a star."

I laughed, thinking of Eddie's teddy bear. "Yes he's a dhampir superstar."

"So do you remember the way I showed you to breastfeed? No problem if you don't, most new mothers are too exhausted for that."

"I think so," I said as she eased Gabriel into my arms. I slowly removed the fabric out of the way and placed him how she showed me. Almost immediately Gabriel started to feed, and like the first time, it took my breath away, our little baby.

"That's perfect Rose, really," she said with approval. "Well you don't need me. I'll give your little family some privacy, but ring if you need anything."

"Will do," I said evasively, still watching Gabriel feed. It gave me a strange sensation, but physically and mentally it was one of the best feelings in the world. I was so lost in the moment that I didn't hear the nurse leave.

Gabriel opened his eyes and they met mine. He was squinting a bit, even though the light wasn't bright. It had to be hard for newborn eyes. I noticed then that he had the eye color I hoped he would have, the same as Dimitri's bottomless brown eyes, the most beautiful eyes in the world as far as I was concerned.

Dimitri brought his hand up and gently caressed Gabriel's dark brown hair with his forefinger.

"He has your eyes you know," I said looking up to meet Dimitri's eyes.

He nodded and I could see pride in his eyes. "Yes I noticed."

I looked down again, "And he also has your nose." Your perfect, beautiful, straight nose I added to myself.

"Is that a good thing?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, a very good thing," I smiled at Gabriel. "He has a big appetite."

"That's something he got from you," said Dimitri grinning playfully.

"Hey!" I said in mock offense. "I love my food, sue me!"

At that instant we heard a faint knock at the door, but didn't get to answer as Christian walked right in.

His eyes widened as he took in the scene. "WOW! Sorry," he said taking a quick step back and closing the door again.

I chuckled, looking at Dimitri. He shrugged in a 'it's your call' way.

"Come in Fireboy," I said barely louder than a normal conversational tone. Living with Moroi and a former Strigoi had its perks. You never had to shout to be heard.

"I . . . don't know," said Christian from behind the door. Dimitri and I both laughed.

Laughing made my breasts move, and Gabriel wiggled a bit as if he wanted to stop my breasts from moving.

"Told you, just like his mother as far as food is concerned," said Dimitri as he stood up to open the door. We both knew that Christian wouldn't come in on his own.

I sent him a fake glare, but I didn't think that anything could bring me down today. Dimitri opened the door.

"Come in Christian, please," he said gesturing him in. "It probably won't be the last time you see Rose breastfeed Gabriel in the next year."

Christian grunted and walked in, looking everywhere except at me. I chuckled, but it was already progress.

"Where's the Godmother?" I asked Christian as he took the seat furthest from the bed.

He winced, "Believe me, you don't want to know."

"Scary?" I asked as Gabriel let go of my breast.

"Terrifying," he replied looking around in embarrassment.

Dimitri took Gabriel from my arms and began to pat his back, burping him. I watched him with astonishment; I guessed the fatherly instinct had hit him hard.

"I love seeing him in your arms," I said after readjusting myself. "It's okay Ozera, my breasts is hidden again."

Christian rolled his eyes at me, but seemed to relax in his chair.

"So where is the Princess?" I asked with a smile as Dimitri sat back. He handed Gabriel back to me, who was now sleeping in my arms.

"She's robbing every baby shop in a fifteen mile radius. You should hear her on the phone."

"That's some crazy shit," I laughed, but could only imagine her.

"I think Adrian is trying to restrain her, but it's not that easy."

"Restrain Lissa in a shopping fever?" I asked incredulous. "Good luck with that."

Christian smiled and when his eyes fell on Gabriel I could see his face grow with tenderness. "He's so perfect Rose, I . . . he is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

"Thank you," I said with emotion as I looked down at Gabriel again. "He really is breathtaking."

"Be ready Rose," said Adrian walking in and coming straight to my bed to kiss my forehead.

"Hey baby," he whispered to a sleeping Gabriel. "Do you even know how lucky you are? Well you have good parents, but you ended up with the most awesome Godfather in history!" he said grinning. He quickly shot a look at Dimitri. "I'm going to spoil you rotten. Well . . . you already have a crazy Godmother for that." He pointed to the door, "you'll see that in about ten seconds."

At this instant Lissa showed up. Well I presumed it was Lissa since I couldn't see her face and her arms were full of goodies and some blue balloons. Christian and Dimitri jumped from their seats to help her.

"Are you sure you got enough?" asked Christian sarcastically as he put some of the stuff on the table.

"Well it's the first baby in our gang," said Lissa quickly glaring at him. "And I got even more, except it would have been pointless to bring it all here."

"Thank God for that," mumbled Christian. Lissa ignored him as she had her eyes on me and Gabriel.

I had never felt so much excitement coming from her. She wanted to squeal so badly but didn't want to startle Gabriel. She also wanted to hold him, but she was scared to ask.

I smiled inwardly, Lissa was probably the gentlest person I had ever met, Gabriel would be safe.

"Nice of you to show up, Godmom," I said with a grin.

"I can't believe he's here!" said Lissa in a hushed tone that was still carrying her excitation. "He's so beautiful."

I smiled. "Do you want to hold him?" She couldn't contain her small squealing this time, making us all laugh.

"Go on," said Dimitri, probably to show her that he trusted her too.

Lissa walked slowly to me like it was a joke, and reached down for Gabriel. I helped her settle him in her arms. As soon as she straightened I could feel her joy and love for him, it was overwhelming.

"Hey Angel, I already love you so much!" she said sitting carefully in the chair by the bed. She was looking down, lost in her contemplation of Gabriel, and I was pretty sure she wouldn't hear me now.

Christian finally sat closer. "You're not going to get the boobs out anytime soon right?" he asked sitting.

"Boobs?" asked Adrian looking around. "Who's showing boobs?" I snickered. Adrian would always be Adrian, and that was also a reason for which I loved him.

"I came in, and bang! Rose flashed me," said Christian in mock seriousness.

I quickly looked at Dimitri who was sitting on my other side, holding my hand. He shook his head with a small smile.

"I was feeding my son!" I said pretending to be offended. "I'll get my breasts out as soon as he needs it."

"Uh . . ." said Adrian pretending to think. "He's one lucky kid!"

I expected Dimitri to get irritated at this joke, but he just laughed. "You got that right!" he said before reaching down kissing my lips softly.

This time I didn't need to fake surprise. "You're in a joking mood today. That's a side of you I've never really seen before, but I like it . . . very much.''

"I just had the most beautiful baby boy with the woman I love more than life itself. If I can't be deliriously happy today, well . . . I don't know when."

We all spent the next hour or so talking about everything and anything, excepting Lissa. I could feel it through the bond, she was contemplating all the things she would do with her, and I quote, 'heavenly Godson' that she tuned us out.

It was getting close to evening now, and I was getting tired as Gabriel was getting restless. Christian, Lissa and Adrian left. I fed Gabriel again, and really started to feel like a pro at that.

"You look tired too," I said gently to Dimitri after he helped me up to change Gabriel and go to the toilet.

"I'm alright. You're the one who did all the work," he said standing looking at Gabriel peacefully asleep in his crib.

"Dimitri . . ." I trailed off.

He nodded. "Okay, you know what? I'll go grab something to eat, shower quickly and I'll be back."

I knew it was the most that he would allow now. I smiled. ''Yes, you know where to find me.''

He kissed me a bit more passionately than before. "I love you so much," he whispered against my lips, "Both of you so, so much."

"And we love you too," I whispered back nibbling on his bottom lip.

Dimitri wasn't even gone forty-five minutes, I was pretty sure he used his Strigoi speed to get back quickly. He was barely back when Gabriel started to cry.

I reached for him as he was in the crib just by my head. "It's okay Angel," I gently rocked my arms in a soothing movement while singing Gabriel in hushed tone. I loved everything about him, even hearing him cry, but he stopped before I got to the second verse.

I had just set Gabriel back in his crib when I heard a deep voice from the doorway, "Kizim." I looked up to meet my father's eyes.

I could see he was tired from the trip, and had probably come straight from the plane to the clinic. The visiting hours were long past, but he was Abe Mazur, rules didn't really apply to him. I spotted a flash of red curls telling me my mother was just behind him.

"Finally my Büyükbaba is here," he said walking to the crib, watching Gabriel sleep. "Hey bebek, dede is here now," he whispered gently brushing Gabriel's cheek with the back of his forefinger. "He has our hair," he said finally turning to me with pride written all over his face.

"So I've seen," I said grinning back.

My father hugged me hard. "You did a fantastic job . . . both of you," he said finally acknowledging Dimitri. "He is perfect."

It probably didn't look like much, but my father acknowledging Dimitri's 'involvement' actually meant everything. It meant that the past was behind us and that he finally approved of him.

I looked away to meet my mother's eyes and they were full of tears. Not something you really saw often from Janine Hathaway.

"Are you okay?" I asked worried.

"I'm . . . I'm a Grandmother," she whispered. "My baby just had a baby." Her voice broke under the emotion.

"Yes, but you are one hot büyükanne," said Abe trying to lighten the mood.

Dimitri stood up and rested a hand on my Mother's shoulder. She quickly turned around and pulled him into a hug that caught both Dimitri and me off guard. Abe reached for Gabriel in the crib and started whispering some Turkish words that meant nothing to me, but that put a smile on my Mother's lips.

"What is he saying?" I asked curiously.

She shrugged dismissively. "Well he is a VERY protective man, and Gabriel is his first grandbaby . . . What do you think?"

I mock shuddered. "That is a scary thought."

We spent the next hour together, like a real family, and it felt nice. Gabriel didn't only have power in his blood, he had the power to bring us together. And, that was the greatest gift.