Okay, so no 200 this time... :c ... BUT, I can live with that. Just barely, but I can do it. ^^ So maybe THIS chapter will get me to 200? Because that would be freaking amazing.

*Disclaimer: Vampire Academy is the sole property of Richelle Mead... I'm just adding kids to the mix.

Previously...

"Momma, look," Jeremy breathed in wonder.

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I glanced at my son. His wide eyes - the same beautiful, expressive brown eyes that Dimitri had once had - were locked onto something behind me. I glanced back quickly, expecting to see my husband fall to his knees in agony. Instead, I saw my two daughters, giggling and smiling, coming toward us. What were they doing out here? I thought about it for a moment then beamed. Dimitri was so smart. He knew Adrian would never try to do anything with three witnesses around.

When Adrienne and Sabrina reached us, I set Jeremy down, ruffling his hair. "Hey, guys." My eyes flickered to Adrian momentarily.

His jaw had dropped, and his eyes were wide. He recovered quickly, his previously shocked expression turning cold. "Anything else you'd like to show me?" he snapped.

With a smirk, I showed him my left hand. Dimitri's ring glittered in the sunlight. Adrian looked furious, and I couldn't help but feel smug. He began to curse, but I threw him a murderous glare. His eyes narrowed, but he shut his mouth, thankfully. I didn't need my kids exposed to profanity at age three. I was suspicious as Adrian grinned widely and crouched down to Adrienne's level, smiling fakely at her.

"Daddy must be very rich," he said in a seemingly innocent voice. Only I could hear the venom below the surface. His eyes flickered up to me as he spoke, narrowing angrily.

Adrienne shrugged her small shoulders, her lips falling into a small, nonchalant frown. "I don't know."

"Oh, but surely you must have some idea," he persisted. He reached forward for Adrienne, and I snapped. I put my hands around her shoulders, pulling her back toward me.

"They don't know," I said in a hard voice, discreetly pushing the kids behind me. I wanted them to have a route of escape if things came down to a fight. I was eight-five percent sure Adrian wouldn't have the guts to start something, but I wasn't one hundred percent, and that was enough for me. Above all, the kids had to stay safe.

"Well, that's not nice," he snapped, standing abruptly, causing Sabrina to jerk back, frightened by his sudden movement. Sabrina was easily the shiest, most soft-spoken of the three. She was the one who tugged as softly as physically possible on your shirt until you realized she was there. Adrienne would get in your face and shout at you to pay attention to her. "They should know where their father gets his money."

Three pairs of curious eyes came to rest on me. Adrian smirked, knowing he'd gotten what he wanted. The kids would have thought nothing of it had he not pointed it out. I still didn't think that Adrian knew that Dimitri was their father. That was one good thing out of all of this. He had the authority to go to Kirova about this. While I was worrying about Dimitri, it dawned on me that my children were still waiting for an answer.

I crouched to their level, hating to talk to them like they weren't equals. I kept my eyes on Adrian's figure in my peripheral vision. I didn't need him cheating and punching me while I was playing into a trap. "Daddy gets his money from a very generous friend." I hated to call Adrian generous, and I hated calling him a friend even more . . . but, really, it was true. He was being generous. Dimitri and I didn't have to work because Adrian still gave us money.

Adrienne's eyes widened, and she nodded. I could see in her face that she really didn't care. Jeremy was pretty much the same. His eyes were locked on Lissa's house, and I knew he was anxious to go to his Aunt Lissa. Sabrina seemed to be the only one who was making the connection. Her little face was scrunched up as she tried to put two and two together.

"Of course he does," Adrian snapped. I stood up slowly, warning him with my gaze that if he wanted to bad-mouth my husband in front of my kids, I would kill him several times. His face turned sullen, and he scowled at me.

"Mommy," Sabrina whispered, her small arms lightly tugging on my shirt. I picked her up, letting her hide her face in my neck. "Daddy was scared. He told me to tell you," she whimpered. I tightened my grip. I knew she was scared. In Adrienne and Sabrina's eyes, their father was invincible. Nothing scared him - ever. Jeremy was even more skeptical when it came to Dimitri being afraid of something.

"Okay, honey," I replied softly, kissing her cheek, my eyes involuntarily flickering to Adrian every once in a while, making sure that he wasn't going anywhere. "Go back inside with Jeremy and Adrienne." I leaned down and picked Adrienne up with my free arm. Jeremy's hands curled into the fabric of my jeans, and he hugged himself to my leg. "Sabrina, tell Daddy that I'll be inside in a minute, okay?" She nodded slowly, unsure. Adrienne gave her a small smile, and Sabrina nodded once more, this time confidently. I set my youngest daughter next to her brother.

I looked Adrienne straight in the eye, putting my hand on the back of her head, kissing her temple. "Adrienne, sweetie? I need you to tell Daddy that he can't come outside, no matter what happens, okay?" Dimitri had to be okay. I couldn't bear the thought of him dying because I'd been a few seconds late running back to the house. I knew I would be okay, but Dimitri was always worrying about me. I'd been gone for a long time, by our standards.

Adrienne nodded, a smile taking over her face. "Okay, Mommy!" She threw her arms around my neck and squeezed tightly. She squirmed against me, wanting down. I set her down, and Adrienne smiled encouragingly at her siblings before saying, "Come on. Let's go back to Daddy." There was a short pause, then Adrienne began running back to the house. Her siblings followed her lead, like always.

It was quiet for a moment, then Adrian had to ruin the moment. "Who's Daddy?" he sneered.

I squared my shoulders, ready to fight if it came to that. "None of your business. Speaking of that, you didn't have to bring that up. That had absolutely nothing to do with them. You gave me that money."

"I thought you were coming back," he snarled, his hands clenching into fists. I felt momentarily guilty. I had tricked him into thinking that I would be coming back to him to try to be with him. I had lied, and I knew that. I accepted it as well. I had found Dimitri, and we were living the perfect life, like I knew we should.

"Things change," I finally said, my voice quiet. The impatience I'd been so famous for back at the Academy began to seep through my carefully neutral mask. "Now, why don't you go back to Lissa's house before things turn nasty?" I snapped.

He looked at me for a long while. "Sorry to have caused you any trouble, little dhampir." He smirked.

"Don't call me that." Adrian smirked once more before turning and heading back to Lissa's house. I watched him disappear into my best friend's house. I was motionless for a few moments before I realized that Dimitri was probably worried out of his mind. I began to sprint back to the house, smiling as I ran. I loved feeling wind rush past my face. It exhilarated me.

I opened the front door and slammed it shut as quickly as I could, hoping Dimitri hadn't been anywhere near the front door. I heard crying and pleading. What I saw shocked me beyond belief. Our children were hanging on to their father, trying to tug him away from the door.

"No, Momma said that you couldn't," Adrienne whimpered.

"Adrienne, I -" Though he'd spoken two words, I heard the pain and desperation in his voice.

"Dimitri." His crimson eyes flashed to mine in shock.

"Roza?" he whispered, letting his body relax. The kids slowly released their grip on him. I nodded slowly. He exhaled softly, and I gave him a swift smile. Dimitri moved toward me, quicker than he normally moved, but slow enough for the kids to see him. He looked me over carefully. "You're all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied quietly. He leaned in to kiss me, but I stopped him for a moment. "Kids, go to your room for a minute. Daddy and I need to talk." Our children glanced at one another, shrugged simultaneously, and ran up the stairs.

When I looked back at Dimitri, he was furious. Uh-oh...

I have a question for you guys... Would you like this chapter in Dimitri's POV just this once, or do you want me to continue with Rose's POV, and you'll never know how Dimitri felt... It's your call... Please, get me to 200? I BEG OF YOU.

- J.C.